Ch.121121. Imperial Palace

After the continent, once divided into dozens of parts, was unified into a single empire, the world has enjoyed a long period of peace. While there have been disputes between nobles claiming legitimacy to seize territories, or conflicts between kingdoms over interests, there has never once been a threat to the empire itself.

The imperial family currently ruling the empire is the Callistur bloodline.

The first Emperor Kaiserion bestowed the imperial throne to his close aide, Talos Callistur, before ascending to godhood, and for hundreds of years since, the Callistur bloodline has produced emperors generation after generation.

The current emperor is Talorian Callistur. Though it is a peaceful era without war or plague, this makes the emperor’s capabilities all the more prominent.

People of the present day call Talorian Callistur a sage ruler.

“We are in the presence of Your Majesty.”

Charlotte spoke with an expressionless face. Vivien also erased her usual playful smile and bowed her head. Alvar had already been kneeling on one knee before the door even opened.

An emperor is the monarch standing at the pinnacle of the continent, a noble figure unique in the world.

The emperor’s authority surpasses even that of the apostles.

‘He’s here.’

Rex lowered his head and swallowed dryly. Not one, but two. Slow, heavy footsteps and relatively quick, light footsteps crossed and echoed. Eventually, the door closed. But Rex did not raise his face. Everyone gathered maintained silence. As the cold stillness continued, suddenly—

A gaze was felt.

It was so brief that it might have seemed like an illusion, but the gaze definitely rested on Rex. The gaze moved sideways. After scanning each person gathered, it soon stopped on the apostles lined up at the front.

“…Marquis Edenhart, it’s been a while.”

“I hope you have been well, Your Majesty.”

Charlotte’s tone was so polite that it was hard to believe it was the usually blunt woman.

“It’s been five years since I last saw you. You haven’t changed a bit since our last meeting.”

“I am truly glad to see Your Majesty still in good health as well.”

“Even during the previous emperor’s active years, you were the sharpest sword supporting the empire. I am always grateful for the Marquis’s hard work. Vivien, you as well.”

At the emperor’s words, Vivien raised her head.

“I heard that most of the expenses for this coming-of-age ceremony were supported by your guild. Thanks to that, the imperial family’s expenditures have been greatly reduced. The imperial family will remember the kindness of the Wealth Order.”

“I only did what was natural. The more splendid the coming-of-age ceremony for the Imperial Princess, the higher not only the prestige of the imperial family but also the honor of our order.”

“I will entrust the development rights of the Solein Mine, which you requested earlier, entirely to your guild. This should be a good compensation.”

“I wasn’t particularly aiming for it, but since you’re allowing it, I gratefully accept. Haha…”

Vivien answered while suppressing her twitching lips. The Solein Mine is a place where valuable gems are buried. Since it was a mine discovered in a remote land not owned by any lord, she had been competing with other guilds for development rights.

‘This is huge!’

The enormous expense she spent on the Imperial Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony was all to obtain the mine’s development rights. However, she never imagined they would be handed over so easily. If she could actually develop the mine, she could earn massive profits incomparable to the amount spent on the Imperial Princess’s ceremony.

“And Duke Drahenfelt. You…”

The emperor, turning his gaze away from the quietly giggling Vivien, looked at Alvar.

“I’m sure you understand my intentions without needing lengthy explanations.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Unlike Vivien and Charlotte, who mostly stayed far from Elysium due to circumstances, Alvar was different. As the regent who upholds the empire’s laws and order, he had stayed in Elysium for many years. Except for the imperial family, Alvar is the person who stays closest to the emperor. Just a few days ago, he was performing his duties by the emperor’s side.

“The children in the back, raise your heads now.”

Rex carefully raised his head. He didn’t speak. The emperor’s command was to raise his head, not to introduce himself.

‘So this… is the emperor.’

The first impression of the emperor was difficult to define. Belatedly, the thought ‘mysterious’ came to mind.

Mysterious.

That expression was probably right. Judging by appearance alone, he was just a man with somewhat unusual features. Blue hair, and eyes of an even deeper sky blue. He appeared to be past forty, with faint wrinkles on his face.

His level as a spirit cultivator was also ambiguous. He wasn’t completely untrained. Mid-luminescence. In truth, that level would be considered skilled anywhere else. However, the story changes when the person in question is the emperor sitting at the pinnacle of the continent.

The first Emperor Kaiserion was known as the Undefeated for never having lost in his lifetime. Of course, the emperors who followed him didn’t necessarily have to reach the same level. If one lacks powerful strength, one can fill that void with something else.

Dignity.

The emperor hadn’t reached the lofty realm like other apostles. He lacked the sharp aura unique to apostles, but instead possessed a dignity that commanded the audience. The overwhelming charisma unique to a monarch who had looked down upon and been revered by all people throughout his life. The spirit of a ruler trained over decades exerted pressure in a different way from spirit cultivators.

“Rex von Calibrant.”

The emperor slowly moved his steps.

“A free knight who received honors in the Lindvale Barony. I’ve heard about you.”

At those words, Rex couldn’t gauge whether he should answer or bow his head again. Then Charlotte secretly sent him a sound transmission from beside him.

[Since His Majesty spoke to you first, you may answer. However, refrain from disrespectful attitudes and only answer questions His Majesty asks.]

“I heard you received teachings from Marquis Edenhart.”

“Yes. I was fortunate to make a connection, and she graciously gave me teachings that were too good for me.”

“No matter how excellent the teacher, nothing can be done if the student is incompetent. Especially since Marquis Edenhart is the continent’s foremost swordswoman, it must have been your outstanding talent that allowed you to fully grasp her teachings.”

The emperor scrutinized Rex with curious eyes before bluntly asking:

“Do you have any bestowed territory? No, that’s a foolish question. Being a commoner-born free knight, you wouldn’t have any territory yet. Nor would you have a noble lord to serve.”

Rex swallowed his surprise as he looked at the emperor, but quickly lowered his gaze when their eyes met. The emperor might have heard his name, but the fact that he was a free knight and of common birth… wasn’t that too trivial information for the emperor to remember?

‘I must be considered a person of interest.’

Come to think of it, Alvar, the Apostle of Judgment, also knew about him before they met. Claine’s words—that he was already famous within Elysium—flashed through his mind.

“I have more to discuss with you, but I’ll save it for another time. Today’s protagonist is…”

The emperor impassively gazed at Chloe and Elin standing beside Rex. Passing over Chloe, who flinched, his gaze landed on Elin. The emperor’s words stretched out. An ambiguous expression that made it impossible to guess his thoughts appeared, and then the emperor turned his head and added:

“My daughter.”

“Really, isn’t this introduction too late?”

The girl who had entered the reception room with the emperor grumbled in a curt tone.

“I want to greet them quickly too, but you’re dragging out words that could be finished quickly. I felt like I was just a backdrop.”

“Tiara. Haven’t I told you to address me as Emperor, not Father, when outsiders are present?”

“It’s not like we just met yesterday, so why bother? Unless Father’s authority would be undermined if I called you Father instead of Your Imperial Majesty. But Father’s authority isn’t so shallow that it would be shaken by something like that. Right?”

The emperor exhaled a long sigh and muttered:

“After having five sons, I spoiled my first daughter born in my later years too much. Now that she’s an adult, she should show dignity befitting her position, but I don’t know when she’ll mature. I will definitely set her straight.”

“How rude, you’re exaggerating.”

The girl pouted and raised her hand. The opaque veil covering her face was removed. Glossy blue hair fluttered down. The beauty of the girl, who had inherited all of the emperor’s features, was as radiant as a freshly bloomed flower.

“Hello!”

That greeting was directed not at the apostles, but at Rex. Rex stared at the girl with round eyes. That voice, that face. Though a week had passed, it remained in his memory.

“…You were the Imperial Princess?”

“Yes! I couldn’t properly greet you last time. My name is Tiara Callistur. I am the Imperial Princess!”

Tiara straightened her back and placed her hand on her chest, and Rex’s mouth fell open. Judging by the level of her escorts, he had guessed she was a lady from a high-ranking family, but he never imagined she was the Imperial Princess. He hadn’t even considered it.

“I was disappointed when you left suddenly without saying anything, but what a coincidence! You came to visit before I could formally invite you to our home?”

“Tiara. Do you know Sir Rex?”

“I met him at a ball last week. Father, you were curious about Rex too, weren’t you? My brothers also wanted to meet him, so I thought it was perfect and asked him to come home with us. But for some reason, Rex hurriedly left, so I couldn’t invite him in the end.”

“…A ball? I’m sure I told you not to leave the imperial palace before your coming-of-age ceremony. You wouldn’t have left the palace alone, so who took you out?”

“Oops, that was supposed to be a secret… hehe.”

Tiara scratched her cheek with an embarrassed expression. The emperor stared at Tiara with a complicated look. Seeing his innocent daughter made his temples throb. The emperor pressed his fingers against his pulsing temples and muttered:

“This matter will not be overlooked.”

“What? But…”

“Enough. If today weren’t such a joyous occasion, I would punish you immediately… but considering it’s your coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll postpone it. We’ll discuss punishment after the ceremony is over.”

The emperor sighed deeply and pointed to the door.

“Go now. I—no, We are planning to have an important meeting with our guests. Please don’t disturb us and behave yourself until the coming-of-age ceremony begins. It’s not long now. Surely you can wait quietly for about three hours?”

“But I haven’t received my gifts yet…”

Tiara complained with a sullen face. At that sight, a vein popped up on the emperor’s forehead. Not only failing to maintain imperial dignity, but continuing with childish whining…! Before the emperor could shout, Vivien hurriedly intervened, clapping her hands together.

“Now, now, Lady Tiara? Of course I brought gifts. But there’s so much that I can’t give them to you now—they can only be brought after the ceremony ends. Please wait just a little.”

“Rex, you go with them too.”

Charlotte said in an indifferent voice.

“Tiara. These fellows are visiting the imperial palace for the first time. Could you show them what kind of place it is? Perhaps you might become friends while walking around together.”

“Hmm…”

Tiara stared at Rex with a dissatisfied face. Rex smiled awkwardly while sweating. Then Tiara also smiled and nodded.

“Yes! Since I want to become friends with Rex! I! Will! Personally! Guide you through the imperial palace!”

It’s hard to keep up with her fluctuating moods. Rex slumped his shoulders and followed the Imperial Princess.

“…Make sure my daughter doesn’t get into any mischief.”

“…Understood.”

Rex gave a bitter smile at the emperor’s whisper.

Thud.

The reception room door closed. Chloe and Elin somehow glared coldly at Tiara’s confident back as she walked ahead. Unaware of their gaze, Tiara turned around with a grin.

“Where shall we go? If there’s anywhere you’re curious about, please tell me anytime!”

“Imperial Princess, I’m sorry, but this is my first time in the imperial palace, so I don’t know anything.”

“Oh, don’t call me Imperial Princess. Just call me Tiara!”

Rex considered with a sour face. No matter what, would it make sense to call the Imperial Princess by her name? Anyway, though she had asked where they wanted to go, Tiara moved on her own without waiting for an answer.

“If you’ve come to the imperial palace, you must see that. This way!”

“Pardon?”

“The hero who established the current empire.”

Tiara smiled brightly.

“The portrait of Emperor Kaiserion, the first emperor.”