21st Century Archmage

Chapter 77: Arriving at the Imperial Palace

“Is this the place?”

“Saintess, you don’t have to do this…”

“It is alright. Treating the sick is something I should be doing.”

“Thank you, thank you. If only my brat of a son hadn’t caught an infectious disease….”

It was late at night. Her body and face covered with a traveler’s robe, Aramis followed an old woman along the streets of the shantytown, housing Denfors’ lowest class residents.

“But who is—”

Aramis was treated as a saintess in Nerman.

Under the airtight security of the knights, she couldn’t carelessly come out like this. However, when an old woman came to the temporary temple saying that her son was dying from an infectious disease, Aramis snuck out of the covert around dawn. The knights wouldn’t let her go out if they knew it was an infectious disease, so Aramis made a promise with the old woman and left without telling anyone.

Creaaaak. Bam.

“…..”

The door suddenly closed on her.

“Who—”

But the old woman was gone. Whirling in surprise, Aramis saw several figures. The door was closed, so she couldn’t see their faces, just their silhouettes.

“Mmf!”

The next instant, one man rushed in like the wind and blocked Aramis’ mouth with a rag. After breathing in whatever was soaked in the rag, Aramis’ body went limp in a deep sleep.

“We move at once. We have to leave Nerman before that bastard of a lord returns.”

“As you command!”

The men shrouded in darkness quickly stuffed Aramis into a sack.

Then, they disappeared outside as if nothing had happened.

And thus, exactly a week after the departure of Lord Kyre, Nerman’s Saintess, Aramis, disappeared. This happened exactly a week after the departure of Lord Kyre.

* * *

‘I can’t go to Kirphone like this.’

A week had passed since leaving Nerman.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. I enjoyed the trip and we reached the imperial capital. In the other territories, we didn’t receive any more of the “warm” hospitality Bebeto and I received at Atman County, and every territory gave me proper noble treatment.

However, I didn’t have a single shred of desire to land like this in Kirphone Covert. I wasn’t a fool who would offer up my wyvern with both hands to the hungry lions itching to kill him.

‘I have to leave Bebeto at a place where we can escape right away in case of danger.’

Even I would find it difficult to leave the empire without Bebeto.

In short, this place was somewhere that could offer both heaven and hell, a land where the emperor’s word was law.

It was the Bajran Empire’s capital city.

Unaware of my feelings, the three wyverns flew quite a distance ahead of us. I silently pulled the reins and changed directions. We had quietly followed the last few days, so the people ahead didn’t notice as I led Bebeto towards the capital city visible far in the distance.

‘Sis Irene, I’m sorry.’

I could have also told Irene ahead of time, but Viscount Betress who was always by her side would definitely stop me.

Flap, flap, flap flap flap.

‘Since I’m already going into the tiger’s den, I might as well personally negotiate with a real tiger.’

From what I heard, the emperor was on his sickbed. There was no reason for such a sick emperor to invite me, the temporary lord of a territory the empire had discarded, to his birthday party.

There was definitely some other scheme afoot. I didn’t know much about the imperial family and the nobles, but I did know something for sure—that one should never, ever trust royalty and nobles, those lamentable human beings.

‘And I have that. Huhuhu.’

Safe in my pocket was a certain emergency card.

Normally, any wyverns flying into the capital would be shot down, but an imperial family flag made with golden thread representing a noble operating under an imperial mandate was flying from Bebeto’s body.

It was something I had temporarily borrowed from Irene.

In that fashion, I said bye bye to the clueless Irene and flew directly towards the capital.

* * *

Thump!

‘It hasn’t even been very long, but why does it feel so unfamiliar?’

Under my guidance, Bebeto leisurely flew into the capital and landed at the hangar in the Bajran Empire’s inner castle made for the exclusive use of the imperial family’s wyverns. Before we landed, I saw the Imperial Knight Academy and the inner castle from above. As was becoming for an empire ruling over the continent, the landscaping and architecture with outstanding artistic value felt unfamiliar to the eye.

‘How cool…’

This was my very first time coming into the imperial family’s inner castle.

Even the hangar was incredible. The floor was neatly laid like a checkerboard with square stones coupled with a refreshing blue shade, and around twenty wyvern hangars were standing in tidy rows.

‘Shit, it’s even better than my house.’

The wyvern hangars were made of milky stones similar to the marble used for the Imperial Palace. My headquarters building back at home looked like a beggar’s hut in comparison.

Guoooo!

Pleased by his new quarters, Bebeto let out a happy cry.

Click. Swish.

Unclasping the safety ring and removing my helmet, I slipped to the ground, holding the basket with the mithril airplate I was going to give the emperor as a present.

Thump thump thump thump.

As soon as I jumped off, around ten knights came running over, their Imperial Guard crimson cloaks flapping as they dashed in at max speed. They must have spotted Bebeto’s golden stripes only after we landed.

“Please halt!”

Coming within 5 meters, the person at the very front told me to halt.

I could feel the powerful, electrifying aura he was sending my way. It seemed the Bajran Knights of the Imperial Guard, the elite troops of the empire, had realized that Bebeto and I had landed without formal permission.

“Haha, thank you for your hard work,” I said, flashing the knights a good-natured laugh as I smiled brightly towards them.

Cl-cl-clang!

However, my greeting was met with the sharp hiss of swords being unsheathed.

“How dare you intrude upon this place with your unbecoming hybrid wyvern!”

The Imperial Knight sternly rebuked me with rage. It seemed this milky-faced knight in his mid-thirties knew about Bebeto.

“And a mere baronet at that!!!!”

And of course, he knew me as well. He spat out my title and even bloodthirst on top of that.

“Huhu….”

My prickly temperament kicked in as a cold smile appeared on my lips.

Cla-cla-clang.

Before I knew it, Imperial Knights and Soldiers were appearing all over the place. Dozens of bows were being drawn at us.

“Arrest the criminal who invaded the Imperial Palace without authorization! Death is permitted in the case of resistance!”

“As you command!”

Among the Imperial Knights, the noble in the front was definitely a commanding officer. He ordered my arrest with complete conviction.

Their swords unsheathed, ten knights approached me. Their blades began to waver with blue mana.

‘Am I getting fucked today?’

From the very beginning, I didn’t like how the imperial family operated. If not for her invitation, I probably wouldn’t have even come.

I hesitated for a moment. I had to make a decision, right here and right now. If I made a ruckus here, Bajran mages, knights, and Skyknights might all gather to take me down.

“How dare a mere baronet dress like a Skyknight of the Imperial Guard… Even an orc passing by would laugh.”

The commanding knight threw red-hot coals onto my nerves, all with an insufferable smirk.

My hand silently moved to the hilt of my sword.

The knights fearlessly approached until they were 5 meters away, a distance where I could kill them in a single go.

‘Emperor’s birthday party, my ass!’

My personality was getting tougher as time went on. I decided to go for a round and started sliding my sword out of its sheath with rapid speed.

“STOP!!!!!!!”

“…..”

A sharp voice rang through the air.

“What are you all doing right now?! This person is my guest!”

“S-Salute!”

A certain woman appeared, her voice frosty and full of anger.

‘Igis!’

She must have run over, because Igis was standing with the hem of her dress in her hands. Her flushed face was beaded with sweat.

The knights saluted her with military respect.

“P-Princess, this bastard here violated the Imperial Palace and entered without authorization. He is….”

Slap!

Igis’ hand cut through the air and left a clear handprint on the knight’s face.

“…..!!”

At the Princess’ sudden action, the faces of the onlooking knights filled with shock.

The commanding officer of the Imperial Knights was no regular knight, but a noble. It was noble etiquette that even a princess could not carelessly lay a hand on a noble.

Igis stood there biting her lip, trembling with still unvented anger.

“Even though I CLEARLY said he is a guest of the Princess of the Bajran Empire… To call him a bastard! And Sir Kyre is a noble who has undeniably been granted a peerage from my noble Father. An Imperial Knight said to be the honor of the Imperial Family has no right to treat such a noble as a criminal.”

Igis told the Imperial Knight in no uncertain terms that he had no right.

‘As expected of a princess.’

The youthful appearance she had shown when escaping into the skies with Bebeto and me was nowhere to be found. Instead, Igis showed the dignity of a bonafide princess. I suddenly recalled how she looked when she fearlessly stood in front of the Crown Prince and defended me.

“For the crime of damaging the dignity of the Imperial Family, I offer my most sincere apologies!”

The Imperial Knight fell to one knee, showing the most respect a knight could give.

Ignoring the knight, Igis turned to me. “I apologize, Kyre-nim. I will apologize in their stead for the impoliteness of the Imperial Guard.”

A Knight of the Imperial Guard was originally under the orders of the emperor to protect the honor of the Imperial Family’s descendants. Igis apologized for the mistakes of such Imperial Knights.

‘Just know that y’all got lucky as hell today!’

If not for Igis, I would have shown them pure hell before high-tailing it out of there.

“It is nothing, there is no need for an apology. This all happened because of my foolishness.”

What I said was correct—if I were strong enough, how would the mere likes of Imperial Knights dare to think of arresting me or whatever? Everything happened because I lacked the power.

‘Next time, I’ll make you guys bow your heads on your own initiative.’

These bastards had really dented my pride. I continued to engrave their faces in my memory.

The Princess had clearly outstripped her maids in her hurry to get here, because they finally showed up. Igis smiled at me, not even thinking about accepting the apology of the knight.

‘She’s more heroic than she looks, I tell ya.’

Once again admiring Igis’ articulation skill and her actions, I bowed my head.

“Guide Kyre-nim’s wyvern to the guest hangar.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Unlike the gentle appearance she showed me, Igis was incredibly stern to the knights.

“Thank you very much for your kindness.”

“Hoho, what kindness. Kyre-nim is a precious guest of mine.”

Shine!

Princess Igis laughed brightly.

She was shining.

Completely erasing the unpleasant situation just now, Igis’ neat teeth gleamed as she laughed. It suddenly occurred to me that it was good that I came to the capital.

Kwaaaaa!

‘Haah, they sure caught on fast.’

Three Black Wyverns appeared above our heads. After spotting Bebeto and me, they circled in the skies above.

* * *

“Mobilize all the knights and soldiers and leave no stone unturned! Sir Janice, Sir Ryker, and Sir Cedrian, please quickly depart and search the surroundings!”

Although Derval always took care of matters with a cool head, his face was currently pale.

Priestess Aramis had suddenly disappeared.

Someone who should have been praying in the prayer room had disappeared without a trace.

Chaos ensued in the covert and Denfors. It wasn’t the outbreak of war, but a serious city-wide warning was issued.

‘We must find her. We must find her, before my liege returns!’

Before leaving for the capital, Lord Kyre had specifically requested Derval to protect Aramis.

Derval wanted to die.

His liege had even trusted him enough to pass over deputy command, but Derval had failed his liege’s expectations.

“It’s seriously fishy. People who can do things this perfectly must be…” said Ryker, formerly the guildmaster of the Mercenary Guild, with a frown. “They have to be on the level of the Assassination Guild.”

From Ryker’s mouth came the mention of the Assassination Guild.

“T-The Assassination Guild….”

Derval drained of all color.

The Assassination Guild was one of the shadow guilds specializing in kidnapping and contracted murder as long as coin was given.

They were people evaluated with the ability to assassinate important nobles and even royalty within every kingdom. They were declared in every empire and kingdom as an illegal organization, so they hid themselves thoroughly, but the organization never, ever revealed their true appearance.

“Still, we must find her. With our lives on the line!”

No, Derval would go as far as to give his life if it meant that Priestess Aramis could be safely brought back.

He was tormented by his failure to fulfill the mission his liege had commanded.

In his heart, Derval was crying tears of blood.

* * *

‘S-So this is the Imperial Palace!’

Even calling it otherworldly was insufficient. I could grasp the scale from the amount of money and care they put into the wyvern hangars, but my eyes were as round as plates as they took in a sight far beyond my imagination.

‘How beautiful…’

The Bajran Empire’s Imperial Palace held a history of hundreds of years.

Each and every building was imbued with an ancient dignity. The buildings of the Imperial Palace were at least ten times as magnificent and beautiful as the castles on earth that I had seen in movies or the internet.

The sight that met me after stepping through a large stone gate connected to the hangars made my jaw drop. Sculptors, architects, and various master craftsmen had created this palace with every ounce of devotion. From sculptures that looked so real they might move in the next moment, to flowers and trees I’d never seen and fountains everywhere, the scenery of the Imperial Palace was completely fresh to my eyes.

‘But since when was she waiting for me?’

Igis had run through the rather expansive palace grounds all the way to the hangars, an impossible feat if she hadn’t seen me right away. The distance was so large that she would have had to use mana to run.

“That building is called Isabel Palace, it’s where I live.”

During history class in the Knight Academy, I had heard that this palace was named after the eldest daughter of the founding emperor, Alvatreon. The elegant, white palace three stories tall wasn’t far removed from the hangars.

‘So it was true that the members of the Imperial Family living within the inner palace have their own palaces.’

Isabel Palace wasn’t very large. It was three stories tall and was elegant with its 30 or so trellised terraces. Of course, I also saw a garden, which was populated by far more beautiful white flowers in comparison to other flowers. It was about the same level as expensive gardens bought by world-class celebrities.

‘Isn’t she being too nice to me?’

She was the Imperial Princess of the Bajran Empire in name, a woman with a standing far different from a rookie possessing a baronet title.

However, she was walking next to me with a slight smile while wearing a blue dress with a rather full skirt that suited her wavy golden hair well.

“You arrived sooner than I expected. I thought you would come tomorrow or so.”

“To me, the Princess’ letter was more important than the imperial mandate, and I came at full speed.”

“Truly?”

At my words, Igis turned with a lovely cock of her eyebrows. Her sky-blue eyes were sparkling with happiness.

“This is a gift symbolizing my feelings.”

I halted my steps and took out a brooch from within my cloak pocket.

“Oh my!”

The dwarven-made brooch was encrusted with a red beryl. Framed by mithril more transparent than silver sparkled a red beryl around the size of a large coin. It was one of the few pieces of jewelry the dwarves made in a year.

“It is a product made by the dwarves living on my territory.”

“S-Such a valuable thing…”

Here, ‘dwarven-made’ held even more brand-name than Chanel and Gucci on Earth. Igis brightened as if to show that despite being a princess, she was also a woman fond of gifts.

‘It was worth giving her a gift.’

It wasn’t like casting pearls before swine, but casting pearls before a mermaid. My heart warmed at seeing the present make Igis so happy.

‘An imperial palace, huh….’

Turning my eyes away from her, I looked at the true Imperial Palace of the Bajran Empire.

The splendor of the Imperial Palace filled my eyes.

As I looked, I thought to myself.

I thought that I would construct a palace many times cooler and more magnificent than this one in my future paradise.

* * *

‘Kyaa, so this is how the members of the imperial family live.’

People permitted to enter the palace via the invitation of a member of the imperial family had the special right to lodge in that imperial family member’s palace. The only restriction was that you had to be a noble of definite standing. And I was clearly treated as one.

‘It must be over 130 square meters.’

As expected for the accommodations of a princess, Isabel Palace was flashier than it looked from outside. The corridor was carpeted with a lovely shade of blue, and there were excellent paintings and sculptures everywhere. Also, magic lighting and various magic items that even I had never seen before were commonplace.

Moreover, the guest room I was given was the biggest room with the best view in Isabel Palace, besides Igis’ room, of course.

‘To think I’d find a mattress with proper springs, this would put a Tempurpedic bed to shame.’

The room was filled with antique style furniture and decorations. There was a bed the size of two king-sized beds to one side, and when I sat on it, I was able to experience a plushy bounce for the first time in many months.

‘That must be the Honorable Palace where the emperor lives.’

Isabel Palace was situated on slightly elevated land, so I could see almost the entirety of the inner palace. Of all the buildings, the palace in the center stood out as the highest. It was the Honorable Palace, standing a proud 7 stories high.

“How nice…”

It was the peak of summer, but the room was pleasantly cool. I took a refreshing bath in the expansive bathroom at one side and finally felt like a real human being again. I was able to take a proper break for the first time in a while.

Knock knock.

“It is Igis.”

“Please come in.”

This was her palace, but Igis gave me utmost courtesy.

‘Is it okay for the Princess to be this polite?’

A normal princess would be real trash and go around with absolutely no manners, but Igis walked around with ‘I am modest’ pasted all over her face. Even now, inside her own palace, she carefully knocked and asked for permission to enter.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

‘NEVER!’

“Haha, it is more comfortable than my own house.”

“It relieves me to hear that.”

Igis gave me a smile like a blooming rose at my words. An incredibly refreshing fragrance spread throughout the room along with her smile.

“Your Highness, please allow me to go outside.”

“Pardon? Outside? But I had an evening feast prepared for you, Kyre-nim….”

‘Even a dinner banquet?’

I gulped a mouthful of drool. An imperial feast would be leagues above the feasts I had tasted at various noble houses on the way here with Irene.

However, I still had to go outside. There were many things I had to prepare.

“I came here in a hurry and was unable to prepare a suitable attire for the occasion. Tomorrow is the birthday banquet of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, and I can’t very well go out dressed like this.”

“Hoho, if that is the case, then do not worry.” As soon as I finished, Igis made a smile overflowing with confidence. “The formal attire to be worn by Kyre-nim has already been prepared. On that point, you need not worry.”

“What!!”

I was completely startled by her unexpected kindness. Even I, a gutsy fellow, could not help but be surprised.

Igis gave an honest chuckle at my surprise.

Just then, I heard urgent footsteps from outside the door.

Ker-chunk!

“Kyre hyung!”

[TN: Hyung is the Korean familiar term for older brother. And noona is for older sister.]

‘Eh?’

A certain kiddo barged into the door without any manners.

‘Razcion…’

It was Prince Razcion, the cute kid. His sky-blue eyes that were nearly a carbon copy of Igis’ trembled with happiness.

“Haha! It has been a while, Your Highness.”

“Razcion! Is this how you compose yourself before a guest!”

“Noona! Sir Kyre is the person who saved my life. So can’t he become my hyung? Right, Sir Kyre?”

Prince Razcion had become smarter in the few months I hadn’t seen him. He had grown enough to go to bat with his older sister, Igis.

“What kind of…”

“Of course. Razcion is my little brother.” I interrupted Igis, taking Razcion’s side.

“Hyung~!”

We had met just three times, but the little kid ran right into my embrace.

I happily patted the head of the monkey clinging to my waist.

“…..”

Igis stared at us with big, round eyes.

“You sure grew up a lot, didn’t you,” I said.

“Hehe, I have been working hard in order to become a cool Skyknight, just like you said. At the very least I can easily protect my noona on my own!”

Even though he was a prince, all kids had similar feelings. This kiddo obviously wanted to get praised by me. He proudly patted the small sword at his waist.

“Razcion, why are you calling Sir Kyre ‘hyung?’ Is there some kind of reason?”

This was the second time Igis saw Razcion calling me his hyung. Igis asked for the reason with curiosity.

“Yup! Before, in the library—um, when I had the emergency wyvern landing….”

“Library? Emergency wyvern landing?”

“…..”

Both times were obviously humiliating experiences for him, so Razcion shut his mouth and feigned indifference.

“It is a secret between men, Igis-nim.”

“That’s right! A secret between men!”

The clever kid pounced on my opening, emphasizing the ‘men’ part.

“Alright, I got it. I won’t ask.”

“Hehe… Thanks, noona.”

‘They’re pretty close.’

I could feel it when we first met in the library, but they had a great sibling relationship. Considering they grew up in the imperial family, there was strong familial love between them.

“Hyung, it’s stuffy inside so let’s go outside. My Datero is a head bigger than last time.”

As he spoke, Razcion pulled my hand. He treated the foreign me like a real brother.

“Razcion, you have to be careful outside.”

“Don’t worry, hyung. I, Razcion, am not that stupid.”

Upon a closer look, I noticed that Razcion’s front teeth were missing. He was at a very mischievous age.

‘Shall we look around then?’

This feeling of being accompanied by the little masters of the Bajran Imperial Family, the Princess and Prince…

It was just like going to the Blue Palace and asking the President’s children to go on a hike together.