Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Ten Years Later (1)
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The resplendent Northern Imperial Palace of the Leon Empire.
In a annex palace, numerous young people stood in perfect rows and columns.
All of them dressed in crisp white uniforms.
The chests of these recruits, who had yet to be assigned to a unit, bore no insignia whatsoever.
That was because their fates had only just been decided today.
「Year 8 of the Lea Reign, 91st Class Official Knight Appointment Ceremony.」
The tense new knights followed their respective superiors and headed to their assigned posts.
However, just two remained in the annex palace.
The unit they had been assigned to was right here in the Northern Imperial Palace.
In other words, the Verdant Knight Order, commanded by the Empire's Second Imperial Princess.
“...”
Until Vice-Captain Sinsiya of the Verdant Knight Order arrived, they waited silently at the entrance to the annex palace.
How much time had passed?
Someone leisurely approached the now-empty front of the annex palace.
A man with black hair, dressed in the same uniform as them.
Like them, his chest bore no insignia, marking him as a fellow newbie.
“Hey, you two newbies too?”
Scratching the back of his head with an awkward grin, he asked.
The two—a man and a woman—nodded.
“Yeah. But you too...?”
“That's weird. I didn't see you at the ceremony...”
He flashed a smile at the two, who eyed him curiously.
“Ah, I was on the northern front lines and arrived late. Got my assignment in the carriage and everything.”
“I see. Yeah, it does take a while coming from the border.”
The two knights nodded in agreement.
Then, they all shifted together into a relaxed at-ease stance.
“We're just gonna keep waiting here?”
“Yeah... Vice-Captain Miya of the Imperial Guard told us to.”
The woman, just turned twenty, answered flatly.
At that, I casually tossed out a question.
“You don't mean Miya Greta...? The famous senior.”
“Yeah, she's amazing. Uses a hand axe as her weapon, and her skills are insane.”
The female knight's eyes softened a bit, clearly in admiration of her.
However, the male knight standing beside her still looked tense.
“She seemed kinda scary, though. That piercing gaze and all...”
“You think so? So, who do you admire the most then?”
My nonchalant question eased his tension a little; he let out a deep breath.
He pondered for a moment before answering seriously.
“His Majesty the Emperor, of course. He's made the Empire even more prosperous in just ten years. And with three kids already, he still handles state affairs without a hitch.”
“I agree. Preparing and storing all the governance work ahead of his pregnancy periods is nothing short of miraculous.”
The female knight nodded in agreement too.
Seeing that, I lifted the corners of my mouth in satisfaction.
“Keuh... Yeah, yeah. Truly an incredible person. The stamina is just...”
“...?”
At the word 'stamina,' both recruits stared at me blankly.
I forced a laugh and changed the subject.
“Hey, among the men, anyone you admire?”
“Men...?”
The two knights pondered the mention of a high-ranking male figure.
Then, they spoke up at the same time.
“Sir Allen, maybe...? Supposedly super intellectual and strong. The rumor he was a mad dog in the past sounds cool.”
“For me, it's Sir Richard. Leader of the Radiant Knight Order, and he cherishes his subordinates like family.”
Hearing them, my eyelids twitched faintly.
“Besides those knight captains... There are others...”
“Then, Grand General Valerian. He's pushing sixty, but his presence is still overwhelming!!”
“Yeah, yeah, that roar at the ceremony was epic...!!”
As the two chattered away, my face paled and stiffened.
All while wearing a formal smile.
“You know... Someone younger!! Not a knight captain, not old—a young hero!!”
The two pondered my desperate question.
Then, they chimed in unison and finally shouted.
“Prince Leon!! He just racked up some real achievements in the south.”
“...”
I stared at the two newbie knights like a sulky fox.
With a deep sigh, I asked one 'final' question.
“Then, among the Empire's Greatest Swordsmen...?”
Empire's Greatest Swordsman.
The title of the Empire's strongest, awarded every four years.
The most recent two had gone to Black Knight Order Captain Lyn and Richard.
Their names had already been mentioned.
So, next in line would be...
“Well, there's Lord Veil Mikhail too, I guess...”
Finally, my name came up.
But that trailing 'too, I guess...' really grated on me.
“Isn't he basically a legend?”
“Yeah. He doesn't even show up at most events. They say he appears like a guardian deity of the East only in emergencies?”
The two nodded at each other.
Then, as if sharing a secret just among us, they whispered cautiously.
“I heard it's because he's lazy. Plays around seducing women with that pretty face. They say even the Emperor wasn't enough for him—he wagged his tail, got caught, and was held for days.”
“Yeah. Skills are top-notch, but he loves fooling around too much.”
The evaluations were completely opposite from everyone else they'd mentioned.
At that, I grinned and nodded.
“I see... Lazy, immature playboy...”
“You better watch out too. Who knows, with that face, he might seduce newbie knights.”
The male knight advised the female knight beside him.
She let out a scoffing laugh.
“I prefer diligent guys anyway.”
After her firm declaration, a hush fell over the annex palace entrance.
Then, I left them with a meaningful question.
“But hey, kids, do you really think Lord Veil went around seducing women?”
“What's that supposed to mean...?”
The two knights tilted their heads at my question.
“You never know. Maybe the Imperial Princesses pounced on him first.”
“What? The noble princesses would never...”
The fresh-faced twenty-year-olds started to rebut immediately.
But at that moment—
The sound of approaching military boots from afar made them snap their gazes forward.
What came into view was Verdant Knight Order Captain Allen and Vice-Captain Sinsiya.
His emerald eyes, framed by golden hair parted in the middle, gleamed intensely.
In his aura, the two rookies swallowed hard repeatedly.
I could even hear their heartbeats.
“Archimond and Reina, correct?”
“Yes!! Absolutely!!”
The two knights' booming voices echoed down the corridor.
However, standing right between them, I said nothing.
“Follow me.”
The blue short-haired female knight, Sinsiya, said in a cold voice.
As the two started to follow her—
They glanced back at me, standing there all alone.
“You not coming?”
The female knight asked in a small voice.
I gave no reply.
No need for me to say anything...
“Master. Up to your old tricks again?”
Allen explained it for me.
“Why always pull this on our knights?”
“Because this is the palace where I stay.”
The Verdant Knight Order captain let out a deep sigh.
Sinsiya, leading the two rookies, chuckled like a cat.
“But you, what do you mean 'old tricks'? I oughta just...!!”
“Urk...!!”
I threw an arm around Allen's shoulder and shook him.
Wearing a newbie knight uniform and pranking a knight captain like this.
The two young knights blinked in disbelief at the scene before them.
“Everyone, make your proper introductions. This is the Empire's Greatest Swordsman, Veil Mikhail.”
“Ah...”
The two knights' jaws dropped at the realization that I was the very knight they'd been trash-talking.
But they could only tremble, speechless.
“Yeah, yeah. I'm the immature playboy you were talking about. Nice to meet you?”
I chuckled and flashed a wink at the two rookies.
“S-Sorry...!! Lord Veil, Imperial Secretary...!!”
“We've committed a grave sin...!!”
They bowed so deeply it looked like their backs might snap.
I told them it was fine and to lift their heads.
“It's a joke, a joke. You'll hurt your backs like that!!”
“Yeah. Everyone, stand at attention. This guy's hobby is always messing around and undermining imperial discipline.”
I laughed heartily and waved as I said I'd be off.
Watching me go, Allen called out.
“Her Majesty returns soon—where are you off to?”
“Gotta hide again since she's coming.”
I hurried off to find a decent hiding spot.
Loosening my stuffy necktie, I strolled leisurely down the palace corridor.
Pondering leisurely where to slack off this time—
A chilling gaze from afar made me whip my head around in surprise.
That instant—
“...!!”
A woman had somehow sidled up beside me.
Irina, her lustrous silver hair neatly combed, approached.
“What's up, Veil? Why are you in full uniform?”
“Huh...? Irina, when did you get here...?!”
By now, we spoke casually with each other.
But perhaps because we'd grown too close—
The once prim and pure Irina now naturally hooked her arm through mine.
Like a she-wolf mated to one male for life.
“The imperial council just wrapped up.”
The silver-haired princess pressed her pert nose tip to my nape.
And inhaled deeply, tickling me.
“You didn't shower this morning, did you? I told you every day.”
“I prefer evenings...”
I answered calmly to her gentle, wifely nagging.
Then, the princess planted a deep kiss on my nape with her red lips.
*Smack...*
“Just do it twice a day.”
While I was caught by Irina for a moment—
A powerful mana presence approached from behind us.
“What a fool you are, Irina.”
We both turned at the stern yet sensual voice.
That instant—
“...!!”
Alongside the newly appointed Imperial Chancellor Damian, the Empire's Emperor—Empress Lea Andalusia—made her appearance.
Her blue eyes sparkled beneath a beautiful platinum blonde dress.
“That's exactly what makes Veil's scent so alluring. Washing it away would be such a waste.”
“Your Majesty, please mind your decorum...”
Damian cleared his throat awkwardly at Lea's candid words.
The accompanying maids flushed and turned away.
But Lea paid it no heed.
Instead, right there in front of everyone, she boldly approached my other side and sniffed deeply.
“Fwaaah...”
“Everyone's watching—what are you doing, Lea...? No, Your Majesty!!”
Lea elegantly chuckled at my horrified reaction.
Even at thirty-two, she still looked as fresh as a twenty-year-old.
“So what? We're husband and wife, aren't we?”
Lea's long fingers poked my cheek.
Irina immediately bristled and retorted.
“You're the Emperor right now? Act with some dignity.”
“Oh, jealous already, Irina?”
With my arms suddenly filled by the two women's slender waists, I let out a deep sigh.
Neither had changed—who'd they take after?—still brimming with energy after ten years.
No, perhaps their figures had grown even softer, their sensual beauty more pronounced.
*This is exactly why I wanted to hide...!!*
“Anyway, what's with the newbie uniform today? It makes you look just like you did at twenty...?”
Lea gently brushed the epaulet on my shoulder.
And whispered with a faint smile.
“This brings back memories...?”
I swallowed hard at Lea's whisper.
“With the kids' sports day today, they'll crash early from exhaustion—perfect timing...”
At the Empress of the Leon Empire's words, I closed my eyes.
Then, Irina rested her soft, plump cheek on my shoulder and said.
“Lea, you're pregnant with the fourth. Take care of yourself.”
“Still early days, so it's fine. You're the busy one lately—why not head home today?”
I forced a smile and slipped free from the two.
Voice trembling, I subtly backed away.
“Wow, time flies. I'll go check on the kids!!”
Like a fox fleeing predators, I hurried off.
The two women watched my retreating figure fondly and giggled.
“No pizza place with the kids again!”
The Leon Empire, in the greatest era of prosperity since its founding.
Another brilliant day rose vigorously.
As I dashed off, I pulled a paper from my jacket's inner pocket.
And memorized the list of kids to pick up today.
Just the names on that list numbered ten.
“Keuhat... It'll take all day to round them all up!!”