The day of departure to the imperial palace arrived quickly.
I woke up early in the morning and carefully packed food for the club members in an icebox, enough to last for three days.
“… I feel like I’ve become a mother bird.”
But there was no other choice.
Recently, Danya, Elena, and Lina had been lazing around so much that if I didn’t prepare for them, they’d probably skip meals entirely and just continue lying around.
“I want to laze around too.”
Perhaps because Danya had been absorbing my energy recently, I, too, had the urge to do absolutely nothing and laze around.
… But I swallowed that terrible thought.
Given the reward Asteria promised and the scenario resolution, it was clear I had to go.
This scenario could resolve itself smoothly if luck was on my side.
“Of course, there’s no way I’d be that lucky.”
So, I had no choice but to go. What else could I do?
— I’ll be back within three days, so make sure you all eat properly.
【Act 3: The Emperor’s Assassination Attempt】 is shorter than other scenarios.
A storyline that would unfold in just about three days—short enough to give me some relief.
With that, I began preparing, albeit sluggishly.
“First thing is clothing.”
I didn’t need to dwell on “What should I wear?”
They say that in front of the Emperor, it’s most polite to wear clothing that signifies your status.
So, I would wear the formal uniform of Lichten Academy.
— You need to tuck the shirt cuffs with your fingers like this. Yes, good. The fit is pretty nice, and you might even look a bit cool… Huh? I didn’t say anything!
Recalling Silvia’s advice as I dressed, I thought, ‘Hmm, even I don’t look too bad in this, right?’
That common delusion that occurs when standing in front of a well-lit bathroom mirror.
After running my hand through my hair and packing a few items, I finished my preparations.
“Time to head out.”
Let’s hope I don’t get my head chopped off.
◆
We instantly arrived at the capital’s portal checkpoint.
The Princess paid all the portal fees, and I heard that royalty gets a 90% discount for up to two companions.
Royalty. How enviable.
However, there are clear inconveniences to being a member of the royal family.
“There’s a portal checkpoint in the imperial palace, but we can’t use it. You need the Emperor’s approval.”
Apparently, even though they have a portal at home, only those with important business with the Emperor can use it. That rule applies even to princes and princesses. You could say they draw a firm line, even among blood relatives.
To ensure you feel the Emperor’s majesty as a slight inconvenience, you have to travel by carriage from the checkpoint to the palace.
— Clatter, Clatter.
“Here it comes… a carriage so large it’s almost a waste of tax money.”
The carriage was at least twice the size and more luxurious than the Princess’s personal carriage we used in the North.
On the side was the golden crest of the royal family, and even the pure white horses pulling it were adorned with flashy golden decorations.
While the size and grandeur left me impressed, I found myself agreeing with Silvia.
‘It’s a waste of money, really.’
Isn’t a carriage just supposed to move people from place to place?
That perfectly commoner-like thought vanished the moment I sat down in the seat.
“… Wow. This ride is something else.”
The seat cradled my body with such comfort.
It felt as if I were nestled in the embrace of a warm person, with all the tension in my body melting away.
On top of that, I couldn’t feel the usual bumpiness that comes with riding in a carriage.
Before I knew it, I almost asked how much it would cost to get one of these carriages myself.
“It would probably cost around 2 billion Krone per carriage.”
For a moment, I had to wonder if I had said my thoughts out loud. I don’t think I did.
“Everything you’re thinking shows on your face, Ian.”
Silvia smiled mischievously. Surprisingly, the one who reacted to her was the princess.
“Hmm. You’re not trying to claim Ian as yours in front of me, are you, Silvia?”
“Oh my, oh my. Why would I engage in a power struggle with you, Princess, after we’ve known each other for so long?”
I was taken aback by how quickly the atmosphere heated up.
Silvia and the Princess… did they know each other?
No, wait… Silvia, are you really okay going toe-to-toe with the Princess? Even as a noble lady from a prestigious family, getting into a verbal spat with royalty isn’t something to be taken lightly.
The more I watched, the more curious I became about the history between these two.
“Silvia, you’re still as sharp as ever. Though it seems your chest hasn’t grown as much as your wit. I envy how well your clothes fit.”
“Hm. I see the Princess is still getting all her nutrients in her chest. It must be amazing how any outfit you wear stands out.”
“I was complimenting you.”
“Oh, so was I. Your future children won’t have to worry about a lack of milk. You’ll be able to produce plenty, being as… well-supplied as you are.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for the compliment. After all, a woman’s power comes from the size of her chest. If you ever run dry, let me know.”
“What?”
“I’ll share some of mine with your children.”
Zap.
I felt an electric tension in the air and instinctively scooted to the far corner by the window.
The carriage was rolling through a fairly ordinary alleyway.
“… Ah, the scenery is nice.”
It wasn’t particularly stunning.
I just needed something to break the tension.
Thankfully, their verbal sparring quieted down soon after.
… Or so I thought.
At some point, it had evolved into a strategic discussion.
“I heard you’ve secured control over the North.”
“The Laurent Trading Company’s intelligence network has certainly grown, hasn’t it?”
“That’s expected. So, are you planning to target the Second Prince next?”
“Yes. Without the Northern Grand Duke, he’s a toothless tiger.”
“That works in my favor too. Emilia is aligned with the Second Prince.”
“You still don’t get along with Emilia Raymond, huh?”
“There’s no way I’ll ever get along with a sly woman like her. On the other hand, the First Princess’s faction…”
As their conversation unfolded, I started to piece together the imperial power dynamics.
– First Princess’s Faction: Traditional nobility + Holy Constantine (religious groups of Deus within the empire).
– Second Prince’s Faction: Former Northern Grand Duke (now gone) + Raymond family, aligned with trading companies and bourgeois forces.
– Third Princess’s Faction: The North (newly gained) + me.
Naturally, the Third Princess, Asteria, stood out with me, Ian Blackangers, on her side.
Is this going to be okay for us?
Asteria turned toward Silvia.
“Silvia, don’t you think it’s time you joined my side?”
“You know the Laurent Trading Company officially doesn’t support any faction.”
“Officially.”
“Precisely.”
A rather meaningful exchange of glances passed between them.
“Your insight is still impeccable, Silvia.”
“As is yours, Your Highness.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and finally asked.
“… So, are you two friends or not?”
Silvia and Asteria answered simultaneously.
“We’re friends.”
“We’re not friends.”
They looked at each other and answered again.
“Actually, we’re not.”
“Actually, we are.”
“…”
Their relationship was more confusing than I could ever understand.
As the carriage rolled onward, the majestic imperial palace came into view through the window.
Britannian Empire.
A glorious empire that directly ruled over a third of the continent and controlled over half of it through influence.
True to its name, the imperial palace was grand, luxurious, and overwhelming.
The gold adorning every corner of the building shimmered under the sunlight, like a sea of brilliance.
“…Wow.”
I couldn’t help but let out an involuntary gasp.
The carriage slid smoothly into that sea of splendor.
◆
The carriage stopped at the main hall of the palace. The hall where we were to meet the Emperor.
Normally, we would have had to walk quite a distance to reach it, but because we were in a carriage bearing the royal family’s insignia, we could come directly here.
“Once we enter, be very careful with everything you do. Unless, of course, you wish to disappear like morning dew on the executioner’s block.”
Despite Silvia’s grim warning, the hall itself was both imposing and breathtakingly beautiful.
As I marveled at the grandeur of the imperial palace—the very heart of the empire—one of the knights kneeled before us.
“I shall guide you, Your Highness.”
With the knight’s escort, we stepped into the great hall.
The hall was vast and open. As we walked along a corridor adorned with magnificent paintings, a striking blue line on the floor caught my eye.
“That’s the Sword Line. Beyond this point, even direct members of the royal family are forbidden from carrying any weapons.”
Asteria explained as she handed her rapier and staff to the knight.
“Make sure neither of you cross this line with any weapons.”
With practiced ease, Asteria walked confidently across the Sword Line, her heels clicking sharply with each step.
Silvia and I followed her lead.
As soon as I crossed the line, I felt a sudden churn in the mana circuits within my body.
‘…A magic barrier.’
Inside the Sword Line, I could not sense any mana at all.
“Please wait here. My apologies, but Lady Laurent of the Laurent family is not summoned by His Majesty at this time…”
“I know. I’ll wait quietly right here.”
“Thank you.”
Asteria, completely at ease, casually munched on the pastries laid out on the table, while Silvia sat still, her posture poised.
‘In the original scenario, I was supposed to side with Emilia and attend the prince’s birth celebration. But now, having turned Emilia into a clear enemy, the entire scenario has taken a different path.’
The shift was significant.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Asteria and I followed the knight’s instructions.
A giant door, easily three stories tall, creaked open with a heavy sound.
Beyond it, a red carpet spread across the floor, leading up to a towering throne.
There, sitting arrogantly upon the imperial throne, was the ruler of the Empire.
“Asteria. And Ian Blackangers.”
A deep, rumbling voice—like that of an aged but still fearsome predator—resonated from above, reaching me as I kept my head bowed.
“Raise your heads.”
The Emperor of the Empire, Remnus Estrid.
His piercing golden eyes, gleaming like a beast’s, fixed upon me, as if they were ready to devour me whole.
