Ch.5454. Is It Not Selden Alphonse’s Duty?

“You can just lie down comfortably.”

“No, how could I possibly…”

“Hmm?”

“I-I’ll at least sit up, Your Majesty.”

A private audience with the Emperor of the Eastern Continent in his chambers—how uncomfortable could this situation be?

As the saying goes, ‘A guilty conscience needs no accuser.’ Perhaps because I had concealed my identity, I felt even more uneasy.

“I hear you saved our Etherian?”

From the conversation to the slightest movements…

Everything about him felt methodical and deliberate.

His expression and gaze projected overwhelming power, and his authoritative tone commanded attention without effort.

“I merely fulfilled my duty, Your Majesty.”

“Then let me ask, what exactly is your duty?”

“Though I serve a single noble house, as a knight of the Eastern Continent, it is naturally my duty to protect the Princess.”

“That would be the duty of Knight Jawil Wilson, not Selden Alphonse, wouldn’t it?”

For a moment, my heart lurched at his direct statement that pierced straight to my core.

Was he testing me?

Or was he giving me a chance because I had saved the Etherian Princess?

But pushing forward with lies seemed unwise—my opponent was the Emperor himself.

“…You knew, Your Majesty?”

“Silver hair, silver eyes, the spitting image of Baron Byron in his youth—how could I not know?”

“I apologize. There were circumstances.”

“I’ll hear them before making any decisions.”

“First, may I make one request? Will you grant it?”

“A request?”

Emperor Malilius furrowed his brow at the word “request.”

Understandable, given that I had already infiltrated the imperial palace under a false identity and was now making presumptuous demands.

However, if he refused my request, I couldn’t explain in detail.

Even if it meant risking my life once more.

“If it displeases you, I will gladly accept punishment for concealing my identity.”

It was a kind of threat.

Perhaps reading the determination in my eyes, the Emperor reluctantly nodded.

“State your request.”

“First, I ask for confidentiality, and second, that no one else suffers consequences for what I’m about to tell you.”

“No consequences for others… Does that include yourself?”

“No. As I said before, if you find me guilty, I will accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate.”

“Very well. I’ll maintain confidentiality as well.”

It was an unavoidable choice.

I explained how I had coincidentally met Princess Sirin in Evis territory and why I had concealed my identity as a result…

Emperor Malilius listened silently without interruption, his composure never wavering.

“…That’s what happened.”

“Haha, so you recognized Sirin from childhood memories and deduced she was the Princess from the imperial insignia.”

“Yes. I must emphasize that I only intended to quietly attend the ceremony and leave, fearing consequences for my family. I had no other motives.”

“So you made this request to me before explaining, to ensure Sirin wouldn’t face any repercussions?”

“Regrettably, yes.”

Emperor Malilius stroked his beard and chuckled softly.

“I had already noticed that Sirin had left the palace.”

“I… I see.”

“But allowing her to go as far as the dangerous Evis territory was my oversight.”

“She must have been curious after living confined to the palace. I humbly ask for your generous forgiveness.”

“I’m a man of my word, so you needn’t worry.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Perhaps because I had saved Etherian and made this request to protect Sirin?

Emperor Malilius continued with a somewhat warmer gaze.

“I heard you were attacked in the carriage on the way to the palace.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Based on the circumstances and their skills, they seemed more like hired assassins than mere bandits. What do you think?”

“Well, they did feel more like assassins than bandits, but I couldn’t be certain.”

“I heard the survivors took poison and killed themselves?”

“That suggests as much, but I can’t be completely sure.”

Emperor Malilius made a subtle expression before adjusting his posture.

“Were there any similarities between those assassins and the ones who attacked the Etherian Princess? Having fought both, you might have noticed something.”

I had no reason whatsoever to be completely honest.

As our conversation progressed, it seemed the Emperor would no longer press the issue of my false identity.

Besides, if the Etherian Princess had truly wanted me dead, she would have killed me on the spot.

I needed to extract myself from this situation.

“…There were none.”

“You fought for quite some time. Did you exchange no words?”

“What need is there for conversation in battle, Your Majesty? We simply fought.”

“Are you certain?”

Something felt off as I spoke.

It was as if he already knew everything.

However, telling the truth would entangle me in imperial politics.

I needed to keep my lips sealed, even if it meant mixing in some lies.

One hasty answer could bind me to the imperial court forever.

“Yes, I’m certain.”

“Hmm… Speaking with you makes me realize how inadequate our imperial intelligence is. The reports described you as a good-for-nothing with terrible swordsmanship, yet you’re the complete opposite.”

“Isn’t it said that rumors are half-true and half-false?”

“Then which half is true?”

“Since you’ve already confirmed my swordsmanship, perhaps the rumor about me being a good-for-nothing is accurate.”

“You don’t seem like one to me.”

“What kind of deranged good-for-nothing would act arrogantly before His Imperial Majesty?”

Emperor Malilius paused before laughing heartily.

“Haha!! True enough! By the way, what do you think of our Etherian?”

I blinked momentarily, unable to grasp the Emperor’s intention behind such a broad question.

Still, I felt obligated to answer the Emperor’s inquiry.

“Though we didn’t converse much, she seemed intelligent and wise.”

“What about her appearance?”

“…Pardon?”

“I asked about her appearance.”

I recalled when Elina Parseche came to our estate to withdraw her request for breaking off our engagement. I had asked Pedericks if she was pretty, even though I hadn’t seen her face yet.

I hadn’t understood Pedericks’ uncomfortable expression then, but now I think I did.

“How could I presume to judge the Princess’s appearance?”

“Just between us men, what did you think?”

I remembered saying something similar to Pedericks: “Speak candidly, as one man to another.”

But this was different—my conversation partner was her father, the Emperor of the Eastern Continent!

I carefully organized my thoughts, recognizing this as potentially the most life-threatening question yet.

“I’ve never dared to think of the Princess in romantic terms, but her beauty was so beyond approach that someone of my mere noble status would find it difficult to even address her.”

“Why so roundabout? Explain simply.”

“…I meant she was beautiful.”

“I see.”

“May I ask why Your Majesty inquires about the Etherian Princess’s appearance?”

This time, Emperor Malilius seemed lost in thought before slowly speaking.

“This is the second time Etherian has tearfully begged me to spare someone’s life.”

“It seems the Etherian Princess appreciated someone risking their life to protect her.”

“Well, at least I granted her request this second time, so perhaps she’ll hold less of a grudge against me.”

I see.

The Etherian Princess must have seen similarities between me and her uncle.

After our duel ended, she went to her father to request mercy for me, even though she had initially wanted me dead.

“…I’m truly honored that the Princess would think so highly of someone as lowly as myself.”

“Aren’t you curious about the first person I mentioned?”

Of course I knew the first person was the Etherian Princess’s uncle, but I feigned ignorance with a faint smile.

“My father always said: regarding imperial matters, not only should one refrain from speaking of them, but one shouldn’t even think about them.”

“…Indeed, that sounds like Baron Byron. Even during his days as a knight, he always quietly handled his duties.”

“Is that so? Whenever I meet my father, he lectures me so much that I thought he was quite talkative.”

“Haha!! It seems even Baron Byron can’t help himself with his own child.”

“Isn’t that how all people are?”

We exchanged a few more words.

I felt more at ease than at first, but still maintained my guard, given that my conversation partner was the Emperor.

“Well, I’ll be going now. Please, remain seated.”

“Ah… but do you intend to tell the Etherian Princess or Princess Sirin about my true identity as Selden Alphonse?”

Emperor Malilius gave me a puzzled look.

“They already know.”

“What? But how—”

“Ah! You’ve been continuing your act as Knight Jawil Wilson, unaware your identity was exposed. I came primarily to check on your recovery progress, so I didn’t pay it much mind.”

“Haha… I understand.”

I laughed hollowly.

So everyone knew already…

While Princess Sirin and I had both concealed our identities from each other, facing the Etherian Princess would now be somewhat awkward.

As soon as the Emperor left the room, Jawil Wilson rushed in.

With an arrogant expression, he proudly shrugged his shoulders.

“See? I told you our identities weren’t compromised, right?”