Entering the Palace
Everyone else mourned the festival that had already slipped away, or dreaded the midterms that were fast approaching.
Or perhaps they cursed the professors who dumped assignment bombs on them the moment the festival ended.
The juniors who had been preparing group assignments with me right away all wore dazed expressions.
“Professor… I’m going to kill you… kill you…”
“Waa…. I want to burn the research lab down…”
“The exam isn’t even that far away, but they’re saying it’s group assignments here. Why are they handing out assignments everywhere else too? Professors, please just unify them!!”
Even second- or third-years, let alone seniors, were still first-years.
Seeing them turn into zombies and snarl like that was saddening, but it also left me wondering.
More precisely, how many assignment bombs had they dropped to turn them into this?
Of course, the same assignment bomb had flown my way too, since I was a first-year like them.
It was a bit tough. Was this even an assignment, or some kind of experiment to see whether you’d burst from the pressure and die?
But I managed to endure it. Unlike those juniors who were talking about killing themselves, I could handle it.
To be exact, I just didn’t have time to get annoyed because of other things.
- Karl Adelheit student. Is your preparation for entering the palace going well? -
I thought it was a joke. The Crown Prince had probably just tossed it out casually as a formality.
But when the palace minister sent someone to say it straight to my face, I finally realized this entire situation was real, not some prank or joke.
A lowly commoner nobleman entering the palace! Wow! Wow!!
I urgently asked my father for help, but his reaction was surprisingly calm.
[Karl. You keep forgetting, so think about what achievements you’ve received.]
My father’s words made me unconsciously glance at the medal I had tossed aside in a corner of the desk.
Yes. The reason I had been invited to the palace this time was all because of this.
Now, whether to add one more to this was a question the Ministry of Justice had already weighed in on.
This existence that others kept emphasizing, but I myself kept forgetting.
…Perhaps it wasn’t forgetting at all, but a desire to forget.
If it felt better for a moment but something still weighed on me, my chest would tighten.
[As a recipient of honors, it’s only natural. So there’s no need to feel burdened too much.]
“No matter what, a common nobleman going to the palace is burdensome. Father.”
[If it’s burdensome, you can just refuse to go.]
Huh? Is that possible?
[You are a recipient of the Medal of Honor, right? If you say it’s burdensome, His Highness the Crown Prince can withdraw his intention. Do you really want that?]
“…No. That’s not it.”
Can I really say no to the next Emperor having a cup of tea?
Someone who could actually do that was either insane or about to die soon.
*
In the end, it was just ordinary, and the day to enter the palace finally arrived.
While worrying what clothes to wear, I ended up in… damn. I never imagined it would be the army uniform.
It was too weird to wear the medal with other clothes, so I had no choice.
Hmm. Wearing this uniform made me remember the day I was discharged. That had been the best feeling.
‘Let me see. What did it look like when I entered the palace in my previous life?’
Recall. Books, movies, dramas. What picture had been painted there?
Strict security checks under heavy guard, knights glaring with furious eyes. Now entering, how to show etiquette, memorize the rules, kneel and bow… something like that. Maybe?
In short, there were tons of things to do.
Of course. It was the palace. The heart and head of the Empire nation.
Any great nobleman entering the Emperor’s residence had to respect the Emperor’s authority and naturally lower their head, no matter what.
Yes. So, thinking about that, when I said ‘There will be a security check,’ I had tried to spread my arms wide…
“Lanshutaek. Is this Karl Adelheit? I’ve come to escort you from the palace.”
No sharp security check? None. The knights’ eyes looking at me warily? None.
From before entering the palace, people had come to explain the etiquette and answers and education? None either.
This felt like they were bringing someone who should naturally be inside the palace.
Moreover, throughout the way, whenever I met the knights’ eyes, everyone was busy greeting me.
I had heard that the strongest and most noble knights in the Empire were these people.
The sword that protected the imperial family. Those who followed only the Emperor’s orders and lived and died with honor.
When these people showed such a low posture, my chest felt tight.
The thing that made me even more tense was this wall that had appeared. Precisely, because of the person standing in front of me.
“Lanshutaek. Finally seeing you. Karl Adelheit sergeant. Ah, should I call you Karl-kun?”
“Y-yes, you can call me comfortably. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Then I’ll call you Karl-kun. Instead, if you treat me like a brother and call me comfortably, it would be great! Hahaha!”
No. Absolutely not. A common nobleman calling the Crown Prince ‘brother’?
What kind of face would I get for that? Even if commanded, I would never do it.
“Originally, His Majesty the Emperor was supposed to welcome you, but there was a reason. I hope you understand that part, Karl-kun.”
“…”
Understand or not, don’t say that. Please. How far are you going to float…
Some people might envy this seeing it, but thinking about the name ‘Emperor’ made it impossible.
If it was a being that could move so lightly, the Empire’s name couldn’t be that heavy.
At first it had been burdensome that the Crown Prince came out, but now I was glad the Crown Prince had come out.
‘…This is amazing.’
Once again, I could keenly feel the power of the Medal of Honor glowing at my chest.
When I had read related content in a book before. Or heard it from others’ mouths.
I had just vaguely thought about the weight of this medal, and now I was feeling it with my own body.
Again, what kind of thing I had done, and how insane it was.
‘Wait a minute. But if they give me one more of this?’
It didn’t seem like it. That would be really tiring in many ways.
The Medal of Honor being two meant it was that remarkable, and at the same time, being treated as a shortcut to a final weapon that could be used anytime?
Right now, look. The Special Intelligence Agency hadn’t come asking for help with ‘hehe.’ rubbing their hands.
There were still Gganf bastards left, and diplomatic relations might change drastically in the future.
There was a possibility they would come asking for help again from there.
Honestly, if asked, I could do it. It wasn’t difficult.
The real problem was how to explain it to my mother and ask for forgiveness.
I didn’t want to see the scene where my mother opened her eyes with ‘Hoo?’ no matter what!
“The younger brother has been praising Karl-kun a lot.”
“Your Highness?”
“The first princess. Karl-kun has seen her, right?”
Clink-clink―
The Crown Prince poured real tea into my teacup. I received it with both hands politely.
“Thank you for the tea, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Please don’t be so formal. Considering what you’ve done for the Empire so far, the formal posture should be shown by me. If it weren’t for the imperial dignity, I might have asked for a signature.”
Is this a joke? Where am I supposed to use the signature of a conscripted returning student.
“Your face makes me think it’s a joke, but I’m serious.”
Where am I supposed to use my signature… Ah, no way. Is that it?
Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you married? Wait. Thinking about it, you weren’t married, right? Ah, really no way?
“Again, your face makes me answer as is. I’m a heterosexual!”
“Hah! Sorry! No, I’m sorry! Your Highness. My rudeness is―”
“This guy can’t even joke.”
Laughing heartily, the Crown Prince brought out snacks in front of me this time.
Is there poison or radiation in there?
Am I going to be judged for lese-majesty like ‘You know your sins, you know them!’?
“Hmm.”
The Crown Prince who had put down the teacup looked at this side for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“However, this will be officially announced at a formal place. It won’t end with just showing off.”
“What are you saying… Your Highness? Crown Prince?!”
I almost spat out the tea I had just drunk.
The Crown Prince sitting in front bowed his head. No, he bowed all the way to his waist.
In an extremely polite posture. With an atmosphere of performing etiquette. Showing a low posture to a common nobleman.
“Thank you. Thanks to your sacrifices, the Empire today can exist.”
“…”
“I know it’s not something that ends with just one medal. However, as such a medal. I want to remember it with such admiration. What kind of things you did for the Empire, and what processes you went through. For the sake of remembering. For the sake of never forgetting. So that someday, heroes like you can appear.”
For the sake of remembering. For the sake of never forgetting. For the sake of recording this proof, this witnessing.
Unconsciously, I touched the medal at my chest.
“What, this is it. Sorry. Was it too flowery?”
“…No. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Karl-kun just did what he had to do, right? Still, though. It’s okay to be a little proud. It’s not just praising your achievements, but also praising your comrades who fought with you.”
Yes. You bastards. That’s right. You damn humans.
We, it seems we didn’t suffer in vain. Damn, is this fortunate?
If I stayed still, tears might come out for no reason. First, quickly drink the tea―
“Do you need a handkerchief? Karl-kun?”
“…”
The quick-witted Crown Prince. Tch.