The door to the audience room had elaborate decorations and gave off a profound feeling. The two knights standing in front of the door nodded to our direction.
As expected, my palms became sweaty from nervousness.
The Knight opened the door from Lord Kristoff’s signal.
I stepped inside the audience room, facing straight ahead. Headed by Sir Eckart, several people dressed like Knights formed a line along the red carpet spread from the door. On the other side, there were another group of people who seemed like civil officials. They formed a line like a path leading to the stage.
And ahead of that, there was His Majesty the Emperor.
Just as I heard from the rumors, he had short silver hair with some of them hanging down his blue eyes and a solid physique.
His handsome appearance spurred a sharp atmosphere overall.
I probably just caught a glimpse of one of the reasons why he was indeed called the “Aloof King”.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Princess Shane.”
After Lord Kristoff presented me,
“I have troubled you. You had to come to such a far place as Caspar. Welcome, I am Leonhart Caspar, the Emperor of this country. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
His voice was low and clear. There was no change in his expression.
“I am Shane Orannia. I extend my gratitude for allowing me the honor of having an excellent match for this occasion. I, too, find it a pleasure to meet you.”
Although I was thinking a lot of things, the nervousness did not manifest in my voice. Emperor Leonhart addressed me at that interval.
“I see you did not bring attendants with you, will you be alright? If you feel any inconvenience, you can say it immediately.”
That’s right, I brought no one from Orannia. Alex advised me to bring someone but I declined. It was because I wanted to reduce the possibility that my secret will be exposed even a little.
“Thank you very much. I was introduced to Elias not long ago so I think I will not feel inconvenience in my daily life. Besides, I received training from my homeland in order to accomplish anything by myself.”
I don’t really want to increase the people around me. I thought it was also the same for His Majesty, but I wonder if I looked so much like I cannot do anything?
“Is that so? I will have you participate together in various official occasions as the Empress Consort of the Emperor in the future. There will be numerous hardships but let us endeavor together.”
Those were kind words unthinkable of the “Aloof King” but his expression did not change at all.
“Yes. If it is something I can do, I will help in any way. Please treat me well.”
Afterwards, I was introduced to other people present during the audience and my first meeting with Emperor Leonhart came to a close.
—-
When I returned to my room, Elias was preparing tea.
“You seem tired, Princess Shane. I prepared tea so please have a seat.”
“Thank you very much. You, too, Elias. Please sit down with me.”
The first time i made him sit with me seemed to be effective. He obediently prepared tea for two this time.
“How was your first impression of His Majesty?”
“Let’s see, I experienced having him tell me kind words as opposed to his rumored nickname. It’s just that, I was already nervous with only His Majesty but then, the surroundings were full of great people so I became extra strained. Because of that, I ended up talking indifferently.”
We only exchanged a few words. With merely that to go on, I know almost nothing about Emperor Leonhart.
“Then it’s alright if you let your guard down, at least when you are with me. My social position also does not require you speak to me respectfully. I do not have the obligation to report on Princess Shane’s affairs so please be relieved. Although if I were asked, I might have to answer more or less…”
Seeing Elias scratch his cheek in embarrassment was heartwarming. His expression did not change so much, just like Emperor Leonhart, but for me who had been a commoner until recently, I feel that a Squire is easier to get on with than the top executives of the country.
“Thank you. Then I will accept your kind offer.”
When I answered so, Elias looked a little happy. I was also glad that it did not take time for me to learn to distinguish his expressions.
I also want to at least build a relationship with Emperor Leonhart in this level, but the issue at present was the approaching marriage ceremony and my debut 10 days later.
==
25. Regarding the Queen
[Elias]
There are two ways to become a Knight in this country.
First is to gradute from a Knight training school and pile up several years of experience as a Squire. Another one is to be recognized in military exploits and usual conduct as a soldier and receive a referral from the top brass of the Knight Order.
However, they say it’s almost impossible to become a Knight through the latter method. This is because a Knight must be both skilled in military arts and also possess social manners that will not be disgraceful as a representative of the country. The standards are frighteningly high. Therefore, majority of the Knights are made up of aristocrats who received military arts training and academic lessons from a young age.
Among them, I am one of the very few examples of commoners who passed a Knight training school. But as expected, discrimination due to the status of one’s family certainly exists. My daily life at school was by no means peaceful.
I finally graduated after great pains. I became a Squire and two years later, I turned twenty years old. Even though I became a Squire, I am haunted by my social status. It is to the extent that I cannot count the unjustified fault-findings from my seniors either. Even so, the current Knight Leader is not concerned with social status. It was mostly rumored that he give promotions to capable personnels.
I did not want to be deemed as someone who cannot accomplish his job, so I exerted effort more than anyone else.
Therefore, I despaired the moment I was told to become the personal attendant of the Empress Consort due to arrive for the marriage.
That day, I was told by my immediate superior to go report to the Knight Leader’s room. A direct summon from the Knight Leader is either a good or bad thing.
I don’t recall making a big mistake but still, I knocked on the door of the Knight Leader’s room while feeling uneasy.
I confirmed an answer from inside and entered the room.
“This is Elias Torazash. I was informed you called for me.”
I saluted to the man admired by all Knights in front of me, Knight Leader Eckart.
“Sorry for calling when you are busy. I summoned you since I had an earnest favor to ask. Well, sit down.”
“Excuse me,” I sat in the sofa in front of Sir Eckart. I felt a little relieved when it seemed like I’m not going to be reprimanded.
“Well then, you are aware that Emperor Leo invited an Empress Consort this time. I want to ask you to look after the personal needs of the Empress Consort.”
Is he telling me to be the personal attendant of a noble lady although I am aiming to become a Knight for the sake of the country and the Emperor? I felt weak from too much shock.
“I do not have any experience on taking care of another person. I also did not study for something like that.”
I put up resistance at the very least. Did he judged me to be so unsuitable to become a Knight?
“Sorry. My words were insufficient. I am not asking you to resign as a Knight. The Empress has special circumstances so I want to place only trustworthy people near her. Therefore, while I say you will be taking care of her needs, your main role is actually a guard. I cannot speak any more of the situation unless you agree to accept this job, but I think no one is even more suitable for this job than you, Elias. Please, will you accept it?”
I become ashamed at myself from a while ago. Since Sir Eckart said that much, I had no reason to decline.
“Thank you very much for evaluating me to that extent. I will accept that mission.”
“I believed you will say so. Well then, I will begin to talk in detail right away, but telling others what I will say after this is absolutely prohibited. If it ever leaked outside, be aware that you can only apologize with your own neck.”
After that, Sir Eckart talked about an unbelievable story.
Who would come up with making a man falsify his gender to become a bride?
“Shane-sama is also close to your age. Please, I want you to offer her support nearby. By all rights, a man must not be allowed to serve as the Empress Consort’s attendant but it would be unwise to appoint a woman in this case. Situations he might be unable to conceal alone might also arise so patch things up skillfully if that happens. Fortunately, Shane-sama has a chronic disease and has to have medicine delivered from her homeland once a month. Because of it, your existence is overcome with the reason that if anything happens, a female attendant will not be able to correspond to it with her weak strength. You may be subject to criticisms once you start this mission but I evaluated your patience, diligence and of course, your skills in military arts highly. That is why I gave you this request. I’m relying on you.”
“Yes. I will devote myself to the best of my abilities.”
I stood up and saluted.
It’s a princess of a country. Just thinking what sort of arrogant noble lady he would be is terrifying but since Sir Eckart asked this far, I decided to accomplish it by all costs.
Finally, the day of Shane-sama’s arrival, the whole country was in a welcoming mood and enthusiasm overflowed more than the usual. The sky cleared up, it was a good day.
For this day, I was taught about the job by the maids and butlers serving His Majesty and in cases of emergency, I also received sword training directly from Sir Eckart. There were people from around me who said some annoying things but I finally developed awareness of my own position so nowadays, I feel like they’re just the fluttering of insects.
Shane-sama’s luggage was delivered earlier than his arrival. I was suprised at its scarcity. I heard that a normal princess would make one room collapse from the amount of her dresses, but Shane-sama’s luggage is not even worth one carriage.
Above all, they included two potted plants with leaves that give off a nice fragrance. It indeed gave the impression of a native of “Capital of Flowers”.
When I diligently brought in the luggage to the room, Lord Kristoff, together with a petite woman, entered the room.
“Elias, this is Princess Shane.”
If Lord Kristoff did not inform me in a low voice, I wouldn’t have noticed at all.
I expected that no matter how much he looked like a woman, in some ways, there will be some parts of him that will make it clear he’s a man. However, if I look closely, only his somewhat low voice gives the feeling that he’s male.
And what suprised me above all, was that he was polite to an attendant like me. In addition, he apologized for having me take care of her personal needs.
There was not the slightest arrogant attitude I expected. Rather, I ended up feeling ashamed for being addressed too politely.
Shane-sama appeared really tired after his first meeting with His Majesty. When I proposed that he can ease up in front of me, I was thrown off balance by her kind smile and gentle words.
“I’m glad he is the Empress Consort,” it seemed natural to think so when I saw that smile.
Since then, drinking tea with Shane-sama became a custom. It was a very pleasant time hearing about Shane-sama’s favorite plants and talking about each of our countries. It seems like the leaves of the potted plant Shane-sama brought from her homeland can be brewed into a drink called “herb” tea.
“Let’s drink together when it grows up,” we promised each other.
I am looking forward to it from now on.
I still do not have the kind of loyalty where I will wager anything to serve Shane-sama. Still, I can somehow feel it’s only a matter of time, judging from Shane-sama’s personality.
Contrary to what I expected, this kind of life may not be a bad thing either.