The City of Peach Fire - (13)
The gatekeeping knights guarding the castle gate stared intently at the boy with the rare appearance. Crimson eyes like the dawn that soaked the early morning sky, and hair that gleamed silver. A gaze that looked both steadfast and sharp.
“Tsk, how can someone be that ridiculously handsome?!”
The knights scrutinized the boy from head to toe, feeling an almost uncomfortable sense of inferiority. Even after racking their brains for every bit of knowledge they had about clothing, they couldn’t find a single precedent for the refined design he wore. It was unmistakably a top-tier formal suit made from the finest fabric, by the hands of master artisans, using the most expensive dyes.
“Not only is he handsome, but it looks like he comes from a good family too!”
His face was so strikingly beautiful that it seemed to cast an inexplicable halo of gold and jewels behind him. The knight commander, who had been steeling himself, decided he would deliberately act rude and curt toward this young man who looked as if he had been born with the blessings of the gods themselves!
But the true identity of that halo was none other than the jewels adorning various parts of the man’s body. From the sleeves to the shirt’s seam lines, the cuffs, and more—every inch of the boy’s attire was studded with rare gems.
‘W-wait, could he be the son of an incredibly powerful noble?!’
On top of that, black diamonds and purple diamonds—stones said to cost as much as an entire mansion—dangled extravagantly from the hems of his pants and other places.
Of course, all of it belonged to Dragonai’s servant, Cube. Dragonai himself had complained that anything too cumbersome was annoying and had gone out wearing a light, flowing linen shirt typical of commoners.
*
In the estates or mansions of ordinary nobles, or even in the palaces of mid-sized kingdoms, it was customary for regular gate soldiers to stand watch. However, in the Lusa Empire, there was an entire dedicated knight order solely responsible for guarding the gates. Naturally, their work ethic, security standards, dignity in representing the imperial family, and every other qualitative aspect far surpassed those of ordinary gatekeepers.
Therefore, the position of gate knight commander was prestigious enough to correspond to the rank of baron. Among the five peerage ranks—duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron—it was the lowest. A viscount’s title.
Yet that was only considered low among the empire’s privileged elite. To ordinary commoners, even a viscount was a lofty figure to be revered and looked up to as if he were the sky itself.
“Attention, everyone!! Salute to His Excellency the Great Noble!!”
The gate commander, Harold, barked the command in a voice louder and sharper than ever, his military discipline razor-sharp.
“Welcome! We sincerely welcome your visit to the palace in Lukan!!”
In an instant, he bent forward at a perfect ninety degrees in a crisp, disciplined bow. Despite the other party appearing far younger than himself, the massive knight commander—who stood just under seven feet (213 cm)—used the most respectful language possible. Harold had already finished his rapid calculations in his head.
He might be the son of a ducal house. Or perhaps a royal envoy from the autonomous region of the Adriana Kingdom or the Dekovan Kingdom in the distant south. At the very least, he didn’t seem to match any of the imperial family members Harold knew by sight. He had every one of them memorized.
‘Heh heh. For someone with such a frail-looking body, he’s wearing ridiculously expensive clothes and is accompanied by a beastman attendant who looks ridiculous and a knight in shabby black armor. It seems he doesn’t have a single trustworthy person around him, does he?!’
Harold decided that if necessary, he would take leave starting tomorrow. This was the perfect chance to make a fortune.
‘I, Harold, a knight among knights! The one who earned the highest elite title of First-Class! If I follow him around for a few days and provide special escort service… of course, I’ll make sure to charge a hefty escort fee! And if he wants, he can even scout me outright!’
The job of imperial palace gatekeeper paid decently. But it was also one of the most grueling duties. That was why Harold had long dreamed of catching the eye of some ultra-wealthy visitor to the palace and retiring in luxury.
And now, right in front of him, appeared the most expensively dressed young man he had ever seen. In his eyes, Cube in his priceless outfit had to be the son of some unknown great noble family, while the boy in the shabby linen shirt—who was quite handsome in his own right—must be a page serving that great noble.
* * *
“Welcome, Your Excellency the Great Noble! Even though it may be incredibly rude of me to ask upon our first meeting, would it be permissible for this humble one to inquire after the honorable name of one who carries such noble blood? If you wish, I will personally give you a tour of the imperial palace and guide you myself!”
I couldn’t help but feel genuine admiration on the inside. To stand there every day in that heavy full-plate armor, remaining perfectly upright under this scorching sun, and still deliver such a professional greeting! I had no intention of criticizing knights like these.
Not yet, anyway.
“Ah, you’ve worked hard.”
I waved my hand in greeting to Harold—who was bowing so deeply it looked like his body had folded in half—and to the rest of the gatekeeping knights.
At that moment, unlike when they had looked at Cube, their eyes widened as they glared at me.
What the hell? These bastards. It looks like they want to pick a fight.
But… they didn’t stop Cube as he walked past in silence. Instead, only in front of me did a palm the size of a pot lid shoot out, stopping right in front of my face.
“Oh? Look at that expression. You wanna get hit?”
“Hmm…”
The massive knight commander in front of me ignored the rest of my party and fixed me with a fierce glare. Then he turned his head and spoke to Cube with perfect politeness.
“Please excuse me, but I must ask you to state your purpose for visiting and your identity. Ah, of course, His Excellency the Great Noble may continue his stroll around the palace. His page here can explain the situation in his stead.”
Our knight commander was pouring every ounce of flattery he could muster toward Cube, who was simply walking quietly. On the other hand, he was being incredibly rude and aggressive toward me.
“First, your name!”
“My name is Dragonai.”
“……Hah.”
That was the moment they all started mocking me at once.
“Hahahahaha! He says his name is Dragonai.”
“Yeah, and what’s your surname?! Is it something like ‘Redheart Soulsilver’?!”
“Kyahahahahahahaha!”
I paused for a moment as I watched the sneering knights.
“……? That’s right.”
Cube, who had walked quite far ahead, turned around. Dana and Katasan did the same, looking back at me. Cube immediately shouted.
“Ah, Master Dragonai! Hurry up! What are you doing?”
“Ah, just a moment. I have something to take care of.”
Instead of dying down, the knights’ laughter only grew louder.
“He says he’s Dragonai. Puhahahahaha!”
“Stop messing around and just give us your real name and your purpose for visiting so we can be done with this.”
I closed my eyes, exercising superhuman patience. Then, wanting to avoid causing any trouble, I smiled brightly and said,
“My name is Dragonai Redheart Soulsilver von Yugna Kingdom Lusa.”
“Puhahahahahahahaha!!!”
“And I’ve come to meet your emperor. Is that enough? Now get out of my way.”
“Kyahahahahahahahahahaha!”
“What did this guy just say? Huh? He thinks he’s the master here! The master!”
I engraved the word “patience” into my heart once more and smiled again.
The reason I was holding back my anger right now was simple. I wanted to make this imperial palace tour a wonderful memory for Katasan and Dana, who were visiting the imperial capital for the first time. That was why I was even willing to take a detour.
That was when it happened.
BAAAANG!!!
Harold finally lifted the spear he was holding and roared in rebuke.
“Wait! You! Stop right there!”
“Hmm… me?”
I paused in my steps and asked back.
“Yes, you!”
“Youuu? Heh heh heh.”
“Yes, YOU!!!!!!!!!!”
Harold shouted while pointing his spear directly at me.
“I told you to stop joking around and give us your real names!!”
Now he was outright yelling. At that, his subordinates all began pointing their spears at me as well.
Clack. Clack.
“Ha, seriously. Don’t make this a big deal and just tell us your real name already.”
Cube, who had been urging us to hurry up, turned around and muttered softly,
“Sigh… This kingdom… is doomed…”
Katasan and Dana silently nodded in agreement.
“Heh, heh heh. Hehehehehehehehehe……”
I laughed as if I found it amusing and took a single step on the ground.
And at that moment—
KWAAAAAAA—BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!
One of the imperial palace gardens that the empire had been so proud of… disappeared.