Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Imperial Capital Karnias (3)
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"I hereby formally challenge you to a duel!"
Edelra's sudden declaration of a duel.
"P-Princess!"
The one most flustered by the princess's abrupt action wasn't Rion or even Cloe—it was her maid, Evril.
"Challenging a guest invited by the Imperial Family to a duel? That's absolutely unacceptable!"
"I-I'm challenging you to a duel! Come to the training grounds right now!"
"Princess!"
Rion and Cloe were currently guests personally invited to the palace by the Imperial Family. Declaring a duel against such guests was an enormous breach of etiquette.
No matter how royal she was, there was no way she could shamelessly tarnish the Empire's image.
"Urgh..."
Not even if she was Edelra, the emperor's beloved daughter adored by everyone in the palace.
"I'm sorry. I got too worked up."
"Uh... yeah..."
What the hell is this person?
Just moments ago, she'd been charging like a wild animal, and now she was calm again.
Is it... anger management issues or something?
"I really admire Lady Sion, you see. I guess I couldn't help feeling jealous of you, Rion, for having someone like her as your master."
"W-Well... I get it..."
Truth be told, she didn't really understand, but as invited guests, there was no need to press the issue.
For her, it was actually a relief if Edelra stopped there.
"Ahem... Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Edelra Leonias, princess of the Leonias Empire."
Unlike moments before, Edelra had returned to her dignified princess demeanor and introduced herself to Sion's group.
No one present was unaware that Edelra was the princess, so this was merely a formality.
"I'm... Rion."
"I'm Cloe."
Edelra's attitude flipped like the turn of a palm.
The two were briefly taken aback but weren't so rude as to ignore someone who had introduced herself first.
"The reason I wanted to meet you both first is due to an unwritten rule of the Imperial Family."
One of the Imperial Family's unwritten rules: before a guest meets the emperor, a member of the imperial household tests that guest.
To determine if they were worthy of an audience with the emperor.
"It's a largely nominal rule these days, but traditions carry more weight than you might think. Please understand."
But like many ancient traditions, this rule had become an empty shell.
Now, it was treated as little more than a formality to ensure guests didn't commit any faux pas before meeting the emperor.
"By any chance, are the two of you familiar with imperial etiquette to some degree?"
Even though they were invited guests, the one they would face was the emperor of a nation.
Foreigners or not, observing basic etiquette was only proper.
"Hmm... well..."
"No, not really."
"Me neither..."
[Aren't you just forgetting it, Rion?]
"Shh..."
Of course, the two had zero knowledge of imperial etiquette.
...Sion had received a few lessons at some point, but naturally, she'd wiped them from her mind.
"As I thought."
Presenting two complete novices before the emperor would be an embarrassment for everyone involved.
"In that case, I'll assign an etiquette instructor from the palace."
In any event, their audience with the emperor wasn't for another three days.
Sion had arrived early in the capital via teleportation to avoid Olivia, that's all.
"Etiquette might feel cumbersome and unnecessary, but I'm doing this so our guests aren't embarrassed. Please bear with it graciously."
This was content Olivia would normally have taught them en route in the carriage, but circumstances had changed.
'Ah... what a hassle...'
"Urgh... sure..."
"Understood."
Sion naturally despised etiquette lessons, but she had no choice except to accept for now.
Unlike her usual wild self, she was currently disguised as Rion.
She definitely needed to play along with the Empire's customs to some extent.
"Thank you for understanding."
Edelra gave a slight bow of gratitude.
"You've had a long journey. I've taken up too much of your time. Vera? Please escort these two to their guest quarters."
"Yes, Princess."
With that, she dismissed them and assigned one of her maids to guide the pair.
After Sion's group departed, only Edelra and her maid Evril remained in the audience chamber.
"Um, Princess."
"Yes, Evril?"
"If it's not too presumptuous, may I ask something?"
Evril had one lingering question from the conversation.
She hadn't asked immediately because she knew her place well.
"Um... Why didn't you tell them who their etiquette instructor would be?"
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Evril seized the moment to voice her doubt.
"And... the reason you didn't mention Lady Linie either..."
If Edelra had simply forgotten, she could accept that, but the Edelra she knew wasn't one to make such mistakes.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that?"
But Edelra's reaction was outside Evril's expectations.
Her words claimed it was an oversight, but her expression said otherwise.
Before she knew it, Edelra's face had twisted back into that of a spiteful, jealous girl.
'She did it on purpose.'
Realizing Edelra's true intent, Evril said no more.
A servant sometimes needed to feign a certain level of incompetence for their master's sake.
Following the maid's guidance to their guest quarters, Sion's group rested briefly before heading to the etiquette training hall.
Sion still felt a touch of nausea and wanted more rest, but Cloe, utterly ignorant of etiquette, was eager to start practicing as soon as possible.
If she messed up during the audience, it would tarnish her master Rion's reputation.
Cloe wanted to avoid that at all costs.
"Meh... I'm fine either way..."
"I'm not."
[You're just trying to slack off, aren't you?]
"Ahem..."
"This way, please."
Guided by the maid to the training hall, the two were stunned by the identity of their etiquette instructor—someone they never could have imagined.
"Hey, Rion! Over here~"
"...Hero?"
The one tasked with teaching them etiquette was none other than Karl Leonhardt.
'Why the hell is this guy here?'
The Empire's hero and eldest son of a high noble house appearing in the palace wasn't strange at all.
Someone like Karl, who disregarded etiquette, serving as an etiquette instructor was utterly bizarre.
"...Then I'll wait outside."
The maid empathized with their bewilderment but chose to step aside discreetly.
"Alright, shall we start the lesson right away?"
"W-Wait a second... You're really our instructor...?"
"Huh? Didn't Edelra tell you?"
"...She didn't...?"
"Really?"
Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if pondering something.
Watching him, Sion grew even more uneasy.
'Whenever that guy's deep in thought, nothing good ever comes of it...'
Karl was usually blunt and unhesitating when speaking to others.
Unlike nobles who wrapped their words in flowery euphemisms, he was excessively straightforward.
For him to choose his words carefully was never a good sign.
"Then you probably don't know this either? Actually, there's one more person coming besides you two."
"...One more?"
Fortunately, what came out of Karl's mouth was fairly ordinary.
'That's no big deal...'
Even someone as antisocial as Sion wouldn't be too bothered by just one extra stranger.
If anything, after bracing for the worst, this anticlimactic reveal actually put her at ease.
-knock knock-
"Ah, speak of the devil. Come in."
However, there was one thing Sion hadn't anticipated—
"Why the hell do I have to learn etiquette of all things... Huh?"
—that the situation could turn disastrous depending on who that one person was.
"L-Linie...?"
"...Who the hell are you?"
"Eek!"
The Demon King Subjugation Party, composed of seven elites.
Now more famously known as the Seven Stars, this party surprisingly lacked trust among its members.
They had merely cooperated temporarily for their individual goals, and contrary to public expectations, their relationships were no more than an awkward cohabitation.
The fact that they scattered to their respective nations immediately after slaying the Demon King spoke volumes—no bonds to speak of, even if you searched with a magnifying glass.
And among them, the worst relationships were between the elf Linie, the beastkin assassin Velka, and the grand archmage Sion.
"L-Linie...?"
The little elf with lake-clear aquamarine hair and pointed ears.
This odd-eyed elf, with her right eye matching her hair color and a contrasting crimson left eye, was no stranger to Sion, at least.
"...Who the hell are you?"
Linie scowled fiercely, glaring at Sion.
"Eek!"
Sion hurriedly ducked behind Cloe's back, avoiding her gaze.
"...Lady Rion?"
It wasn't that Linie's stare was particularly frightening.
...Honestly, that wasn't entirely untrue, but there was an even bigger reason.
'Linie's dangerous...!'
Linie was the only one who could instantly see through Sion's disguise as Rion.
Linie was born with innate magic eyes that could pierce through others' mana.
Meaning she could sense something off about Rion, who possessed the exact same mana as Sion.
That's why Sion had immediately hidden behind Cloe upon spotting her...
"Hold on."
But Linie had already visually captured Rion's mana.
"...What are you, really?"