“We have arrived.”
Kaiden, who had been sitting in front of us, spoke while organizing the documents he had laid out.
As he had said, after a short wait, the servant who opened the carriage door informed us of our arrival.
Indeed, the palace where the emperor of the empire resides is deserving of its name. It was more grandiose and splendid than any building I had ever seen, completely overwhelming my senses.
“I will inform His Majesty of your arrival, so please rest in your room. He probably won’t call for you today. If anything, it will be tomorrow at the earliest.”
Kaiden gestured to call over one of the nearby maids.
“I leave these two young ladies in your care. The rooms… Arrange for ones on the east side, away from unnecessary attention.”
Following what was more an order than a request, the maid approached us as Kaiden turned to speak again.
“In that case, I shall take my leave first. Please rest comfortably. If you’d like, you might enjoy a tour of the capital—it’s filled with sights, food, and entertainment, so it should be a pleasant experience. That will be all.”
Kaiden bowed with an almost excessive show of respect towards me and Selian, who were much lower in status, and then left.
The maid who had been instructed by Kaiden then guided the two of us, who remained in place.
“I will take you to your rooms.”
Guided by the maid’s graceful demeanor and soft-spoken voice, we moved silently.
The room we were shown to was larger and more luxurious than any I had ever stayed in before. Every piece of furniture within looked expensive.
As I unpacked my belongings, the concerns I had pondered during the journey once again clouded my thoughts.
Could the Emperor truly overlook the identity of those who seek an audience with him?
Perhaps the royal court had already completed their investigation into my background.
The false identity ‘Elysia Frentz’ created for me wasn’t much more than a fabricated cover, provided by a third-rate assassination guild with a few coins.
A shallow disguise, hastily made to avoid discovery during a short-term assassination mission.
My flimsy false identity could likely be uncovered with ease by the vast information network of the royal family.
If my identity as an assassin were ever revealed, or if it were discovered that I was pretending to be a noble, I would be thrown into prison and awaiting execution.
Thus, there remained in me a small shred of hope that my cover had not yet been blown. However, I must tread carefully when meeting the Emperor so as not to raise suspicions.
That’s why I once again reviewed in my mind the carefully memorized details of Elysia Frentz’s fabricated history.
*
“Shall I guide you?”
A day passed in a blur for both me and Selian. The next morning, the maid who had guided us to our rooms returned.
Having changed into one of the more formal dresses given by Yuli, I followed the maid.
The weapons I had brought were already handed over to the palace guard.
When we arrived at the audience chamber, it became evident that the Emperor intended to meet Selian and me separately, given that I did not pass her room on the way and she was nowhere to be seen.
The audience seemed already arranged; the maid knocked lightly on the door, entered without waiting for a response.
The Emperor’s audience room lived up to its regal reputation, radiating opulence with every detail.
Among all the grandeur, what caught my attention most was the woman seated at the center.
Was it because I knew she was the Emperor, or did she naturally exude an aura of majesty? Simply sitting there, she commanded attention, overshadowing every other extravagant feature in the room.
“His Majesty the Emperor.”
I knelt on one knee, paying respect to the most powerful emperor in the continent.
However, his next words were completely unexpected.
“Let’s skip the formalities and have you come a bit closer.”
“Your Majesty…”
His tone was casual, almost undignified for someone of his stature. Yet, his bearing and voice somehow transformed even this informal manner into something regal.
A middle-aged woman standing beside the Emperor tried to object to his casual language, but he seemed to pay her no mind.
“Ah!”
Inadvertently, I gasped as I noticed something surprising.
Fearful that my outburst might earn me an execution for alarming the Emperor, I quickly covered my mouth—but it was too late.
“Hmm? What’s the matter?”
Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t appear particularly upset.
“I recognize the lady beside you from before…”
The woman standing by the Emperor was the same person I had met with Selian in the Pelches market, the mother of the lost child we had helped find.
“Ah… Ahahaha…”
The Emperor turned to the woman and chuckled.
“Aisis, the benefactor who helped find your daughter is here. Ahahaha…”
Unlike the laughing Emperor, the woman called Aisis didn’t look too pleased.
“…Nice to see you again. It’s a pleasure.”
“A-ah, hello. I didn’t expect to find you here in the palace. Is your daughter well?”
“Ha-ha-ha!”
Amidst the Emperor’s laughter, Aisis shot her a sideways glare before speaking.
“…She’s so ‘well’ it’s a problem.”
A faint grinding of teeth could almost be heard from across the room, but surely that must have been my imagination.
“Ho ho… Well, let’s leave the jokes aside for now. The reason I summoned you isn’t anything particular.”
Though unclear what the joke was, the Emperor quickly moved to the matter at hand.
“I simply wanted to have a look at you.”
“Eh?”
I blurted out once more in surprise, then realized my mistake but it was already too late. The Emperor, however, didn’t seem too bothered.
“I wanted to see the hero of this generation and his companion.”
“…But Selian isn’t yet an official hero, is she?”
Selian was technically still just a “candidate” to become a true hero once chosen by the Holy Sword.
“Certainly, but with there being no other candidates, it’s understandable the Emperor speaks in such terms.”
“…And I doubt my own abilities to even qualify as Selian’s companion.”
“Hmm. Based on your record, I don’t find them lacking. And let me assure you, you will accompany Selian on the expedition against the Demon King.”
His voice was full of confidence. Could the Emperor know about my concerns regarding the Demon King expedition?
I still hadn’t decided whether I could reject Selian’s offer when she asked me to join her as a companion—it would undoubtedly be the sensible choice for my own safety, yet whenever I thought of her, I knew I wouldn’t be able to say no.
I wonder if the Emperor’s confidence stems from having foreseen all these matters?
“By the way… Elysia Frentz?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the call of my name, I bowed again.
“The sole survivor of the Frentz House… I offer my condolences for your family’s misfortune.”
I nervously swallowed.
I had been worrying about this moment since being summoned to the palace—now all I could do was pray that my false identity hadn’t been uncovered, that the imperial intelligence network didn’t dig too deep.
“Don’t worry so much. Your identity is more solid than you think it is.”
It felt like my inner thoughts had been revealed, but I maintained my composure.
“Moreover, there’s no need for such concern, as quite a thorough background has been forged for you. By someone who seems to care about you deeply.”
His words were vague—though it sounded like the Emperor might be aware of my false identity, his tone was equally ambiguous.
Even though he continued talking, I couldn’t grasp the meaning of it immediately.
The one thing that reassured me was the sense that the Emperor was unlikely to hold my deceit against me.
“Say, Elysia Frentz?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What is your purpose? Personal safety? Lifetime riches? Or perhaps the prestige admired by all?”
At this, the first thought that immediately came to mind was my personal safety.
But shortly afterward, another thought disrupted my mind—”Elysia Frentz.”
Her debt.
A debt no one knew about, one that I needn’t necessarily repay yet lingered in my mind relentlessly.
It felt like a binding promise and oath.
Ultimately, whether by my will or not, the words slipped from my lips.
“The restoration of the Frentz House.”
After speaking, I wasn’t entirely sure if it was the right thing to say, but the relief I felt was undeniable.
“Hmm… That was unexpected. I didn’t think you’d bring up that topic first. You’re certainly intriguing.”
I wasn’t sure what the Emperor had expected or why he found me interesting, but I remained respectfully silent.
The Emperor stood from his seat and approached me.
Daring not to stand on equal footing with him, I knelt once more.
“Your Majesty.”
As the Emperor moved forward to meet me, Aisis attempted to stop him, but he waved her off.
“Elysia Frentz. I make you this promise: You shall one day go on the expedition to defeat the Demon King. This is not speculation, nor a command, nor a prophecy, but a fact. If you succeed in defeating the Demon King, not only shall the Frentz viscount house be restored, but you shall also be appointed as a count.”
The Emperor placed his hand upon my head as I knelt.
“Ordinarily, there would be a ceremony and procedure, but what good are those? Ultimately, my word and will are ceremony and procedure.”
The Emperor’s earlier tone, slightly laced with humor, changed into one of solemnity.
“Survivor of the Frentz family, I hereby bestow upon you the title of viscount as of this very moment. Note that I merely bestow the title of viscount upon you. The restoration of the Frentz viscount house, and indeed elevation to a count, will occur after the Demon King’s defeat.”
I almost raised my head to protest, but his hand on my head stopped me.
“As of now, all I can grant you is a mere name that will prevent you from being disregarded elsewhere. After the Demon King’s defeat, I will provide all necessary support for the restoration of your family. By that time, you will likely have all the power and wealth that warrant such support.”
The Emperor’s tone lightened once more as he removed his hand and returned to his seat.
“His Majesty’s kindness is beyond measure.”
I expressed absolute respect and raised my head to gaze at the Emperor, but she simply waved her hand, dismissing me.
This unexpected turn of events left me bewildered for quite some time even after I left the audience chamber and returned to my room.
