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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Fortunately, Belle Meyer’s condition improved significantly after a good night’s sleep.
A good diet and plenty of rest were the best medicine for mental stability. The incredibly comfortable bed and fluffy blankets in our quarters undoubtedly played a part.
It was the first time since arriving in this world that I fell asleep naturally without cigarettes or sleeping pills. Even though I wasn’t particularly tired, I felt drowsy as soon as I lay down. Of course, I couldn’t resist a morning cigarette.
“Phew—”
I enjoyed a cigarette on the open terrace, savoring the fresh morning air, and returned to the quarters to find…
“Did you sleep well?”
Breakfast was already prepared. The table had been empty before I went out… Was this the perk of staying in quarters managed directly by the royal palace? I couldn’t help but be impressed again.
Back in my world, you’d need to be a VIP at a five-star hotel for this kind of service.
“Then we shall take our leave. Enjoy your meal.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
Everything was impeccably refined. Unaccustomed to such treatment, I awkwardly waved my hand. The realization that it probably looked stupid only hit me after the maids had left.
“Good morning, Platoon Leader.”
“Lumia, Belle. You’re right on time.”
“Of course. What a day it is.”
Drawn by the fragrant smell, Belle and Lumia emerged from their rooms. Their hair was slightly damp from their recent showers.
“Mmm, smells good.”
“They always hire the best chefs in the Principality to manage this place,”
Belle said to Lumia, whose eyes were already sparkling, shrugging her shoulders. Perhaps because of what she’d said yesterday, Belle’s image, which had seemed rather idle back at the base, appeared completely different now.
‘She really looks like a noble’s daughter now. And Lumia fits right in beside her.’
I had initially mistaken Lumia for a noble as well. Anyway, breakfast, as Belle had boasted, was delicious. While the menu, excluding the appetizers and desserts, wasn’t that different from the rations at the base, the quantity and quality were incomparable.
Now, with our stomachs full…
“Belle, Lumia, let’s get ready.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Certainly.”
It was time to attend to the reason we had come all this way to the capital.
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“The uniforms suit you all very well.”
“Thank you.”
As we stepped out the front door, Major Lannister greeted us with a bright smile. Instead of the white dress uniform like ours, he was wearing his usual black Military Police uniform.
“Let’s go.”
We boarded the carriage under his guidance, and it smoothly departed. The journey from the annex to Petrovna Palace, where the King resided, was supposed to take about ten minutes by carriage.
Even considering that the annex was the outermost facility on the palace grounds, the palace grounds were vast.
As the carriage stopped in front of Petrovna Palace, members of the Royal Guard, with a noticeably different aura from the Chernoe City guards, approached. They wore red wool coats and leather boots, reminiscent of the British Royal Guard.
A striking uniform.
“Glory to the Motherland!”
“Glory.”
Major Lannister casually returned the salute of the soldiers lined up in formation.
“The audience chamber is on the second floor. I’ll escort you there.”
“Please.”
As expected of the National Military Police. Even I, who wasn’t easily impressed, started feeling nervous as we arrived at the palace. Major Lannister confidently led the way inside.
‘I visited the Blyue House once… but a real palace has a different atmosphere.’
While the building was only two stories high, its presence was more imposing than a skyscraper. The antique wallpaper and baroque lighting created a cozy yet luxurious atmosphere.
The soldiers standing guard with rifles at every corner stood so still they could be mistaken for statues.
“…”
I glanced at Lumia, who was walking beside me. She was trying to appear calm, but her trembling eyes and fingers betrayed her nervousness. She seemed somewhat intimidated.
She didn’t look like someone confidently going to meet the King after achieving a great feat.
She looked like she was being led to some unknown fate.
Seeing this, I nudged Lumia’s shoulder with my elbow. She flinched. Did she almost scream and instinctively suppress it?
“Wh-Wh-What is it, Platoon Leader?”
“Why are you so nervous? Relax.”
“We’re going to meet the King! How can I not be nervous? Aren’t you nervous, Platoon Leader?”
“I can’t say I’m not, but being stiff like you, Sergeant Lumia, might lead to mistakes.”
“…Oh.”
Lumia, who had initially seemed cold and aloof, was surprisingly clumsy. While she was efficient when she needed to be, this clumsiness softened her cold image, which wasn’t a bad thing.
“The Platoon Leader is right. It’s better not to be too nervous. Being composed will make you seem more like a veteran,” Belle said calmly.
She seemed the most relaxed among the three of us.
“Straighten your back and stand tall. You’ve earned it, Lumia.”
“Belle…”
As if making up her mind, Lumia clenched her fists and straightened her back, puffing out her chest as Bell advised. The stiff material of the dress uniform seemed to amplify the effect, instantly changing her demeanor.
“Much better, Lumia.”
“Yes, yes, that’s good.”
“We’ve arrived at the audience chamber. Please prepare yourselves,” Major Lannister and the Royal Guard stopped in front of a large door.
-Knock, knock.
“Major Lannister of the Northern Branch of the National Military Police, and three others. Reporting for the audience!”
The Royal Guard knocked lightly and announced in a deep voice. The closed doors slowly opened.
The first thing I saw was a long hall. Stone pillars, seemingly made of marble, supported the ceiling like a temple. At the end of the red carpet stretching between the pillars, about nine people were seated at a round table.
Numerous medals adorned their uniforms. I realized they were the generals assembled for the audience.
And finally…
At the center of the round table, a man exuded an unmatched presence, greeting us with a relaxed smile amidst the generals. He wore a similar army dress uniform, but a gold braid stretching from his shoulder to his waist caught my eye.
‘Orlando Luce III.’
I instinctively felt the difference in status. An immense pressure sent shivers down my spine.
-Tap, tap!
“Attention.”
Major Lannister smartly aligned his feet, and we naturally lined up beside him.
“Salute, His Majesty!”
“Glory to the Motherland—!!!”
Although there were only four of us, our simultaneous, resounding shout echoed throughout the audience chamber. Our bodies reacted instinctively to the presence of our superior, the King, the absolute authority.
“Glory.”
He rose from his seat, accepting our salute, and slowly approached us.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, heroes of the Motherland.”
The current King of the Ukrainian Principality, the embodiment of the nation. And the last monarch of Ukraine, who would meet a tragic end in the world war five years later.
He looked much younger than I expected. I thought he was in his late thirties.
“Major Lannister, thank you for fulfilling your duty.”
“I only did what I had to, Your Majesty.”
“I always rely on the National Military Police.”
“Thank you!”
Orlando Luce III briefly commended Major Lannister and then turned his gaze to me.
“And you must be the officer I’ve heard so much about. Enoch Levandal, was it?”
“It’s an honor to be remembered, Your Majesty.”
“I hope you will continue to strive for the well-being of the Ukrainian Principality.”
I responded respectfully and concisely, maintaining my posture.
The King smiled and added, “Second Lieutenant Enoch Levandal.”
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