Chapter 7: Audience – 1

“Hup!”

Cast aside distractions.

Right now, I am a single sword.

A weapon that exists to cut.

From a mid-stance, I exhaled sharply and swung my sword downward.

“Ugh!”

With an unpleasant scraping sound, my sword was deflected.

I gritted my teeth and looked ahead.

An unscathed, thick iron plate stood defiantly.

“Damn it.”

My hand tingled.

Unable to contain my frustration, I collapsed onto the ground.

How many times have I repeated this?

I stopped counting after about 30 attempts.

But I hadn’t achieved the desired result.

Even a tiny scratch would’ve been something.

“This can’t be all I’ve got.”

The imperial order to march to Heros, the Roselia Duchy’s domain.

Father had said so clearly.

The Axus Duchy, a knightly family loyal since the empire’s founding.

They stand at the forefront to eliminate enemies and act as the empire’s final bastion when defending it.

In other words, an imperial order to march means to eliminate an enemy.

“It’s been three days.”

Three days since Father left for the imperial palace to prepare for the mission.

Since then, I’ve been relentlessly training to cut this iron plate with my sword.

An ordinary iron plate would’ve at least taken a scratch.

But this one is protected by mana.

“Are knights some kind of monsters?”

In the empire, a knight is someone who belongs to a knight order and wields a sword.

But simply swinging a sword doesn’t make you a knight.

Only those born with talent.

And among them, only those with the highest skill can be appointed as knights.

Even for a knightly family like the Axus Duchy, you can’t become a knight without ability.

At best, you’d be relegated to an administrative role in the knight order.

What I’m doing now is the most basic test to become a knight.

Cutting a mana-protected iron plate.

Using only your weapon and body-enhancing magic.

A small scratch won’t do. It must be cut completely in half.

But I couldn’t even make a dent.

“At this rate, I can’t protect Reyna.”

The Axus Duchy’s marching order means eliminating an enemy.

And this time, the destination is Heros, the Roselia Duchy’s domain.

Of course, it’s not about fighting the Roselia Duchy.

I met Reyna last Friday, and she seemed no different than usual.

It’s unthinkable that the Roselia Duchy, one of the empire’s two great duchies alongside the Axus Duchy, would become an enemy.

But I know.

This world has already diverged from the original story I read.

There was no history of Reyna and the heroine meeting before Arcana.

At the ball, if not for that movement, Reyna would’ve died.

The overarching story is the same, but the details are clearly different.

Perhaps because I’m not the real Ike.

If so, Reyna could be in mortal danger during this mission.

“…No way.”

No matter what, I need to become strong enough to protect her.

At the very least, strong enough to help her escape.

But how?

I haven’t skipped a single day of training.

I’ve shed blood and sweat, enough to say I’ve worked hard.

Still, it’s not enough. Not just a little—woefully insufficient.

If I can’t even pass the basic test to become a knight, how can I protect her?

It’s the same body, the same method of enhancing my physique, so why is there such a gap?

If only someone could tell me.

“Young Master Ike.”

“Hm?”

As I lay on the ground lamenting, someone called out to me.

It was Noel, the maid who helped me change on the first day.

“His Grace has returned.”

“Already?”

I thought he’d be back tomorrow.

“Yes. And he’s summoned you.”

“Alright.”

I wanted to train more, but I couldn’t defy Father’s orders.

I stood, sheathed my sword, and followed Noel.

“Go to the palace tomorrow and prepare accordingly.”

“What?”

As soon as I arrived at the study, Father spoke.

“His Majesty has personally summoned you. It’s an honor.”

“W-What does that mean…”

“It means His Majesty acknowledges your abilities. So prepare thoroughly. There can’t be any issues tomorrow.”

What should I say?

It was so sudden, I couldn’t think of a response.

What did I do to earn such recognition?

“Father, tomorrow I’m supposed to meet Reyna…”

“His Majesty personally summoned you, and you’re thinking of that girl?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“I’ve already informed her, so don’t worry. Go now.”

“Yes.”

With that, I was practically chased out of the study.

What the hell?

This is too sudden.

“Damn it.”

I wanted to grumble, but of course, I couldn’t.

All I could do was prepare for tomorrow’s visit to the palace.

“Haa.”

I sighed quietly inside the rattling carriage.

This was my second time leaving the Axus Duchy’s domain, Akard, since the ball.

Both times, the destination was the imperial palace in the capital, Orkeon.

The difference was that last time, I went to the ballroom on the palace’s outskirts.

This time, I was heading to the main palace.

By the Emperor’s command.

Father never told me the exact reason.

Only that I was expected, and I shouldn’t betray those expectations.

That only brought more pressure.

The real Ike might’ve handled it, but the current me couldn’t meet their expectations.

…Still, I have to manage somehow.

I’m a noble now.

I have to prioritize the family’s reputation.

“Haa.”

As we neared the capital, the growing weight of pressure forced another sigh.

“It’s only for a day, Commander.”

“Ron, I told you yesterday, that was over a decade ago. What if he hears you?”

“But even you, Commander Kris, say the only true Central Knight Commander in your heart is Lord Ados.”

“…That guy’s still the same.”

Before entering the palace, Father was chatting with knights from the Central Knight Order, guardians of the imperial family.

Even for the Axus Duchy, entering the main palace required several inspections.

In the meantime, Father caught up with old acquaintances.

“And is this young master Lord Ike?”

“Yes. I’m certain he’ll join the Central Knight Order someday.”

“Indeed. Lord Ike, do you remember me?”

The knight called Ron suddenly turned to me.

“I-I’m sorry.”

I bowed as I answered.

Ron laughed and waved it off.

“It’s fine. It’s been over a decade since I last saw you.”

That wasn’t the issue I meant, but thankfully, it passed smoothly.

“Oh, uh, it seems you can enter now.”

Upon receiving word that the inspection was complete, Ron and the other knights straightened their postures.

“The sword that protects the empire! Salute to His Grace Ados, the 31st head of the Axus Duchy, and Lord Ike!”

“Salute!”

At Ron’s command, they moved in perfect unison, paying respects to Father and me.

Their sharp movements were almost overwhelming.

“This is the path you must walk.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Father’s words to etch the knights’ image in my mind, I nodded quietly.

It was my first time entering the main palace, but thanks to Father, I walked without hesitation.

As I followed him, I quietly observed the palace, which was simpler than I expected.

Compared to the extravagant ballroom on the outskirts, it felt almost underwhelming.

“Ike, straighten up.”

We arrived at the audience chamber.

At Father’s words, I took a deep breath, stood tall, and faced forward.

Two knights stood on either side of the grand audience chamber doors.

They bowed silently upon seeing Father and me.

Father returned the gesture and spoke.

“The sword that protects the empire. Ados, the 31st head of the Axus Duchy, and his second son, Ike, request an audience with His Majesty.”

“Eternal glory to the empire!”

“Eternal glory to the empire.”

The knights lightly tapped their spears on the ground.

The doors opened naturally, revealing the audience chamber.

As they fully opened, Father stepped forward confidently, and I followed slowly.

“…”

My thought that the palace was a bit plain?

It vanished the moment I entered the audience chamber.

The interior was adorned with countless dazzling jewels.

It was like gazing at a constellation of stars in the night sky.

At the center stood a massive throne.

It felt like the pinnacle of human grandeur, overwhelming in its majesty.

And seated on that throne was Emperor Raphael Aegis Astrayia, exuding a dignity befitting it.

“It’s been a while, Ados.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Father and I knelt to show our respect the moment the Emperor spoke.

“Ike Axus, second son of the Axus Duchy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve heard much about you. I called you here to speak with you.”

“It’s an honor.”

Who told him what about me?

I was dying to know, but I couldn’t ask.

“Then let’s move to another room. Someone’s waiting for us.”

“Understood.”

At the Emperor’s words, Father and I stood and assumed proper posture.

Moving to another room with someone waiting?

What did that mean?

I assumed this was about the Heros mission next week.

With those questions, I followed the Emperor and Father.

“Long time no see, Ike.”

“…Your Highness.”

Our destination was a reception room inside the audience chamber.

Waiting there, seated and smiling, was the Crown Prince.

“Sit comfortably. It’s just us.”

The Emperor smiled lightly and took the head of the table.

Father and I sat across from the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

“You’re participating in the martial tournament in Heros soon, right? Father and I are looking forward to it.”

The Crown Prince spoke first.

And with those words, my thoughts froze.

“…What? What do you mean?”

“Hm? The special martial tournament in the Roselia Duchy. I heard from Duke Ados three days ago that you’re participating.”

What the hell is he talking about?

I screamed silently in my mind.