Circumstances Everyone Has (2)
The height of early summer heat was in full swing, yet the royal palace gardens remained completely unaffected. The moment they stepped through the entrance, the heat vanished as if they had entered an entirely separate world, replaced by a cool breeze. Maxim closed his eyes and savored the wind that cooled his sweat.
“So this is all created through magic,” he muttered.
Paola seemed impressed by the spell, glancing around and observing everything with keen interest. A massive barrier magic that blocked the influence of seasons and weather protected the royal palace and its front courtyard. Christine’s eyes followed a butterfly fluttering past, chasing after it with her gaze.
“The attention to detail is remarkable,” Roberto said, his voice filled with awe.
“It’s a barrier that has been maintained since the days when the royal palace was still an imperial palace,” Paola replied to Roberto. She reached out to touch a low-hanging tree branch, only to withdraw her hand under the sharp glare of a nearby gardener.
“How strict,” she grumbled.
“That could be considered disrespectful,” Christine said with a dry laugh.
Paola shook her hand as if she had been stung by a bee. Maxim shook his head at her utterly brazen attitude.
“And over there is the royal palace itself.”
The already cool breeze grew even more refreshing. Beyond a fountain with five streams of water flowing from it, the royal palace stood with its grand wings spread wide. As Maxim’s group stood overwhelmed by its majesty, a man dressed similarly to the messenger who had visited the knight order yesterday approached them with elegant steps.
“Welcome to the royal palace. I am Emil Bourdin, Chief Secretary serving His Majesty.”
As Emil Bourdin greeted them with a formal welcome, Theodora responded with perfect etiquette.
“We thank you for your hospitality.”
A monocle and a mustache. However, the excessive lace was restrained, and he wore no oversized brooch. Every movement carried dignity, as if he had been thoroughly trained in courtly manners. Without any arrogance or haughtiness, Emil Bourdin guided them with an attitude that stood in stark contrast to the messenger.
“His Majesty has been looking forward to this luncheon a great deal.”
“It is an honor to have been invited.”
“It only shows how high his expectations are for the Raven Knight Order.”
Just how long would it take to reach the main building? They seemed to have passed five guards with identical faces, yet they still hadn’t drawn close to the palace’s main structure. After walking for quite some time, the main building finally came into view. Beneath the king’s balcony stood a massive door plated in gleaming gold. The knights standing guard on either side opened the door with perfectly synchronized movements. The main building’s door opened silently yet heavily, without the slightest noise.
The term “royal palace” still felt insufficient to encompass this entire edifice. The chandelier on the ceiling and the beautiful murals on the walls reflected like mirrors on the marble floor. Sunlight patterned by the window lattices cast designs across the palace corridors.
“You’ve arrived at the perfect time,” Emil said as he guided them. “This allows me to escort you straight to the room where the luncheon will be held.”
Despite the palace’s immense size, aside from Emil’s voice and the knights’ footsteps, not a single sound could be heard. The servants walking through the palace made no noise at all, as if feathers were treading the floors.
After walking a long way down the first-floor corridor, Emil stopped before a door. As expected, a lion with a sword in its mouth was prominently engraved upon it.
“This is the Sun Room, where the luncheon will take place.”
Emil grasped one of the door handles.
“Then, please enter.”
When the door opened, it revealed the same marble floor and chandelier. In the center of the room stood a long ivory table accompanied by chairs of the same color.
“His Majesty will arrive shortly,” Emil said, casting a quick glance at Maxim. Behind the monocle on his left eye, Emil’s blue pupils gleamed sharply. “Even if it is uncomfortable, please remain standing until His Majesty arrives.”
The Sun Room seemed swollen with a subtle tension. Maxim couldn’t even think of moving his eyes, instead staring like a criminal at the palace’s rear garden visible beyond the table.
Then, footsteps echoed from afar. Several presences registered in Maxim’s senses, but only one set of footsteps could be heard. The only person in this palace who could walk with his head held high and footsteps ringing out boldly—George II of the Luar royal family. The king of this nation was approaching the Sun Room.
The door was already open. The footsteps reached the entrance, and the Raven Knight Order knelt to show their respect to the king. Just as they were about to offer their formal greetings, the king’s voice rang out.
Following the voice, the king’s presence entered the room with majestic authority. Emil bowed his head deeply to greet him. The king gave Emil a brief wave of his hand and surveyed the Sun Room with a single glance.
“Is the luncheon prepared?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We await only for you to take your seat.”
“Then let us sit.”
The king turned to Maxim’s group.
With those words, the king shot Emil a fierce glare.
“I ordered that if they arrived before me, they should be seated first and wait.”
Emil lowered his head even further.
“I beg your pardon. However, considering the dignity of the royal family, I could not dare to do so.”
“I am the royal family itself. How dare you presume to judge the royal family’s dignity on your own?”
“I beg your pardon.”
Under the king’s sharp rebuke, Emil kept bowing his head repeatedly.
“Wait outside. After today’s luncheon ends, I will summon you separately to reprimand you.”
“As you command.”
The king raised his voice to address those around him.
“Your Majesty, I beg you to at least leave a minimal escort force,” the middle-aged man who appeared to be the Captain of the Royal Guard whispered to the king.
“With you here, what is there to worry about? Besides, they are knights who have sworn to devote their bodies and hearts to this nation.”
“This servant has spoken out of turn.”
“Enough. Leave at once. I wish to enjoy the luncheon now.”
The king waved his hand dismissively. The officials in the Sun Room, including Emil, filed out in a line.
“Ensure that no one enters the room except when bringing in the food,” the Captain of the Royal Guard instructed the two knights following him, at the king’s signal. With them, every official who had been in the room departed.
The heavy door of the Sun Room closed silently behind them.
Having dismissed all his officials, the king plopped down into his chair and spoke to Maxim’s group, who still stood in place.
Maxim’s group was finally able to take their seats at the table. Maxim caught a glimpse of the king’s appearance. He appeared to be in his forties, around the same age as Paola. Deep wrinkles, like the scars of a knight, marked various places on his face. With dark brown hair and blue eyes, the king wore a robust expression.
“It is an honor, Your Majesty,” Theodora said, representing the knight order.
“Not at all. I am well aware of your reputation. Theodora Benning of the Snow Country. News of your exploits occasionally reaches even the royal palace, piercing through the bitter cold of the north.”
“It is an honor that you recognize me, Your Majesty.”
Servants began carrying out food on trays. With his stomach constantly twisting, Maxim wondered if he could even digest anything properly.
The meal began, and for a while it became a time for the king to ask the knights’ names and offer praise. Theodora, Christine, Paola, Roberto, and even Maxim. The king made eye contact with each of them as he spoke, as if trying to remember every member of the Raven Knight Order.
“In truth, I wanted to invite every single member of your order without exception, but my officials dissuaded me so strongly.”
“Just the thought alone is an honor, Your Majesty.”
The king chuckled at Theodora’s response.
“We are sorry.”
The king cleared his throat and straightened his posture, as if about to bring up the main topic. A low voice, both secretive and laden with heavy dignity, flowed from his lips.
Maxim recalled the knight order’s atmosphere, which had strangely focused solely on honing swords and martial arts while fostering friendliness among its members. It had all been deliberately guided that way. None of Maxim’s group dared to speak out of turn.
The king stared at the white flesh of the fish caught between the tines of his fork.
The king murmured as if to himself.
For a while, silence settled over the Sun Room. As if to lighten the mood, the king shrugged his shoulders with an exaggerated gesture and brought up another topic.
“Well, that is why your activities on the front lines will become important.”
The king took a sip of white wine to cleanse his palate.
“I hear there have been several anomalous phenomena occurring on the front lines adjacent to No Man’s Land. Am I correct, Commander?”
The king turned and asked the Captain of the Royal Guard.
“Yes, Your Majesty. The frequency is high and the severity serious enough that a royal-level investigation has been requested.”
“For a report to reach me directly, it must be no ordinary matter.”
The white wine in the glass the king set down swirled pale and turbulent.
No Man’s Land. Or the knights’ graveyard. The reactions of the members upon learning where they would be sent varied. Theodora simply maintained a calm expression. Although it could not compare to the true battlefield of No Man’s Land, the northern Kips region where she had stayed was just as harsh as its outskirts. Roberto’s eyes burned with fighting spirit. To the young knights unfamiliar with the ways of the world, No Man’s Land seemed like nothing more than a good place to show off their prowess. On the other hand, Paola poked at her utensils with uncharacteristically subdued eyes. Knights with sufficient experience who had seen many battlefields, no matter how brave, were reluctant to go to No Man’s Land. Paola knew all too well what the term “knights’ graveyard” meant. And Christine stared at Maxim sitting across from her with trembling emerald eyes. Like leaves swaying in the wind, her green eyes shook. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something. Yet Maxim merely continued slicing his fish as if none of it mattered.
The king watched the Raven Knight Order’s reactions with interest before issuing the rest of his orders.
The king did not confuse the knight order any further. After that, as if he had never brought up such a heavy topic, he spoke only of the luncheon’s dishes and the knight order’s training. The luncheon ended, leaving ripples in the hearts of the Raven Knight Order’s members.
‘Take a leisurely stroll before you go. The rear and front gardens of this palace have quite a few sights worth seeing.’
At the king’s suggestion, Maxim’s group followed Emil’s guidance out to the garden. Emil led the way with the same perfect etiquette as when they had first met him, and Maxim’s group followed. Christine, Paola, and Roberto each slowly looked around the garden, savoring the scenery. On the other hand, Theodora and Maxim, walking a little apart from them behind Emil with their own distinct paces, could not afford such leisurely feelings.
Maxim’s insides continued to twist. Or perhaps they were boiling. From the moment the meal had begun—no, from the moment they had reached the palace, or rather, from the instant he had faced Emil Bourdin—his stomach had been twisting and boiling.
“It has been a long time.”
After confirming that the other three members of the knight order had moved farther away, Emil turned to Theodora and spoke.
“My lady.”
Theodora looked at Emil with eyes that seemed coated in frost. Beyond Emil’s silver monocle, cold blue pupils gleamed.
“Yes, it has been a long time, Baron Bourdin.”
Not only Theodora’s gaze but her voice as well carried a northern wind that went beyond mere frost.
“It is late to greet the young lady of the main family. As a servant of the royal family, I had no choice but to commit this unintended discourtesy. Please forgive me.”
“...It is fine.”
Emil Bourdin. A palace noble belonging to the royal palace secretariat. Head of the Bourdin family, a branch family and collateral line of the Benning house, holding the rank of baron. Emil Bourdin bowed deeply to Theodora before turning to face Maxim, who stood quite a distance behind her. Then, the corners of his mouth lifted into a fake smile.
Maxim hated that expression and those eyes. He wanted to kick his chair away and leave immediately, or to beat that smug face to a pulp.
“And... Maxim.”
Maxim gritted his teeth and endured the nausea rising in his throat. He barely managed to hold together his crumbling expression.
“...My lord.”
The very person Maxim absolutely did not want to face—‘that man.’
“You still have such a stiff way of speaking.”
And then—
Maxim’s ‘future father-in-law.’ Maxim despised Emil Bourdin’s smile to the point of death.