ALL NOVEL Chapter 12
The Imperial Palace of the Audrich Empire was located not far from the Imperial Assembly, at the center of Caprice. This was designed with the consideration that it was quite common for the Emperor to attend the Imperial Assembly in person.
Caprice had a powerful fortress wall encircling the entire realm, making it stronger than any other stronghold in the Empire, but the palace built within it was a fortress of a different dimension beyond mere fortifications.
With a thick double wall that would raise doubts if even the Earth’s artillery could breach it, surrounded by 28 protective magic spells, and towering spires that provided a panoramic view of the realm.
Even if the first defense line of the territory was breached, the determination to safeguard the palace was evident in this building. Jeongjae knew that the moment such a stronghold fell would be as despairing and symbolic as the fall of Constantinople, but if luck had it, it could remain a symbol of hope, showcasing impenetrable defenses like Minas Tirith from “The Lord of the Rings.”
Perhaps this thorough preparation would turn pointless if the situation improved, preventing enemies from even coming near the territory. Whichever way it went, it was now a matter dependent on Jeongjae’s former comrades. And if Jeongjae hadn’t entirely escaped the war through this, it was also somewhat in his hands.
“I am Wizard Park Jeongjae. I have come to meet His Majesty the Emperor today.”
Jeongjae showed Gwen the invitation he had received as he approached the guards at the castle gate. The guard examined Jeongjae’s invitation without a word and then saluted him with both feet firmly touching the ground.
“Confirmed. Congratulations on receiving the title of Baron!”
“Ah, thank you. I’ll be entering now.”
It made him think that the palace guards were indeed properly disciplined. Of course, such external discipline didn’t directly translate to high battle efficiency, but compared to Walter’s situation, where the soldiers from different fiefdoms were struggling to be controlled…
As Jeongjae stepped through the open castle gate, he felt a sense of nervousness seeing the guards lined up in the huge inner garden of the palace. To be honest, during his 21 months of military service back on Earth, he hadn’t served in an extremely “strict” unit.
As Jeongjae instinctively shrank back slightly while passing through the garden, he spotted a familiar red-haired knight walking from the other side.
“Oh, it’s you. You made it back safely in the end?”
The Imperial Princess, Rose Caprice, approached Jeongjae, extending her gloved hand among the soldiers. Jeongjae shook her hand lightly in a brief handshake and nodded.
“They said they would make you a noble, so of course, you had to come. It’s a pity that you’re no longer one of your previous comrades.”
“That’s harsh. Just because they’re saying they’ll dismiss you from your title, it doesn’t mean they’re cutting ties, right?”
As Rose took the lead, the previously stiff atmosphere softened a bit. Of course, from the soldiers’ side guarding them, it must have been nerve-wracking since the noble princess was passing by.
“So, have you heard anything about the reason behind that dismissal?”
Jeongjae asked Rose with a glimmer of hope. Rose shrugged her shoulders, showing that she was troubled as well.
“You know as well as I do that I don’t understand everything about Walter.”
“Walter should feel lucky to have met someone who likes him, even without fully understanding him.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Plus, once married, the position of the head of state is guaranteed. Where else can you find a groom like this?”
Rose spoke casually, boasting about her bloodline. To Jeongjae’s thinking, the last remaining condition for a marriage partner must be quite rare indeed.
“There’s… no other groom like that besides you, right?”
“Really? Don’t pretend not to know. There’s another one. Margaret. What about it? Have you met her since then? Have you talked a bit?”
“No, I haven’t met her. I’ve just been staying at the Magic Tower.”
Come to think of it, Jeongjae had neither met Margaret during his time at the Magic Tower nor had he thought about visiting her.
While there were certainly circumstances that made it difficult to leave the tower, he could have sought her out if he really wanted to.
There were no more excuses. Jeongjae was simply afraid. Afraid of the relationships that had suddenly changed with his former comrades. He was frightened to find out how that change would manifest in the end.
Especially with Princess Margaret, whom he had seen in such a way that day.
Fortunately, Rose’s words of ‘it’s a dismissal, but we aren’t severing ties’ provided some comfort to his heart. Anyway, were they still friends? Was it alright for him to still seek a sense of belonging to this world from them? Anyway…
“Anyway, when you meet Margaret, make sure to apologize properly. You have no idea how much trouble she went through because of you. After seeing that, I understand. That Fairy Lord likes you.”
“Then is that true?”
“Of course it’s true.”
“Is it really, really true?”
“You’re really testing my patience here.”
“Is it really really-”
“Are you turning into Walter? If you don’t want your nose broken by the ironclad authority, you should stop it here.”
Rose growled as if to warn him. Jeongjae still felt confused whenever the topic of Margaret liking him came up, but he didn’t want to receive a Baron title with a broken nose, so he sealed his lips.
Before long, they reached the end of the garden and a door leading to the grand hall appeared. Passing through that door, he would likely find the Emperor and nobles and vassals loyal to the imperial family.
“Then, I’ll go in first. You wait a bit and enter when I give you the signal. Good luck. Make sure to make progress with Margaret!”
“Did you really have to add that last part?”
“What? You don’t like it? That’s too bad. I’ll tell Margaret that regrettably, you weren’t her type.”
Suddenly, Rose said something chilling. Jeongjae couldn’t be certain exactly what was so chilling about it, but he instinctively realized that those words should never reach Margaret.
“Excuse me, Your Highness the Princess? That’s not true, right?”
As Rose was about to elegantly open the palace door, Jeongjae called out desperately. In the last moment as Rose opened the door, she glanced back at him, sticking out her tongue.
“Alright, then I understand it means I’m the type of woman you like. So that’s how I should pass it on, right?”
Had she been aiming for this from the start? Rose didn’t give Jeongjae the chance to refute this time, slamming the door on her way into the grand hall of the palace.
Jeongjae stood there dazed, glaring at the soldier beside him for no reason.
“Wh-what did I do wrong? I apologize!”
“Um, no. It’s just my expression is a bit odd right now, so I’m actually the one who is sorry.”
Receiving an unwarranted apology from the guard, Jeongjae was instead flustered and waved his hands. Even though he had been officially dismissed from the hero’s party, the position of Grand Mage was high. Adding the title of Baron on top of that, from a common soldier’s standpoint, he could already be a daunting presence.
Jeongjae had once saluted a 4-Star General Commander during his military days. That time was perhaps when he let out the loudest voice he had ever produced in his life.
“Anyway, it’s nothing important, so please don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, understood. Thank you.”
What he was thankful for, he wasn’t sure, but it seemed the soldier was relieved that Jeongjae didn’t seem upset and resumed his proper posture.
The promised time was nearing, and Jeongjae waited with a slightly anxious heart for the door to open.
It had been almost a few months since he last met the Emperor. Although he was receiving unjust assessments about being overly cautious of the Harker faction among the public, the Emperor was indeed the Emperor. He was the absolute monarch of a nation bearing the heavy burden of leading a united empire in a dire age of fighting against demons.
The time had come, and the door creaked open with a sound.
A red carpet laid on the floor. Following that carpet, Jeongjae arrived at the Emperor’s audience chamber in the palace.
The atmosphere inside the grand hall was stark rather than splendid, even though a red carpet was laid, as if the Audrich Empire wanted to show it was in a crisis.
The chandelier that should create a bright atmosphere swayed precariously, indicating the current reality where flames could fall from above at any moment.
Instead of the heads of typical game or lavish ornamental displays hanging on the walls, axes or swords seemed ready to be pulled out at any moment.
This was the Caprice Palace of the Audrich Empire. And in the highest, deepest place of this grand hall sat the Emperor of this Empire, Anton Caprice.
“Everyone, rise! The Grand Mage of the Audrich Empire, the gift from another world, known as the companion of the Hellhound, Park Jeongjae, is entering!”
As the booming voice, whose owner was unknown, filled the grand hall, everyone, including the Emperor and the Crown Princess Rose sitting beside him, stood up.
For a hero who had made legendary achievements in the war against the Demon King, even the Emperor would respectfully rise.
This regulation, which at first glance might seem to undermine the Emperor’s dignity, was surprisingly established not by the Imperial Assembly, but by the Emperor himself.
And this regulation, it must be asserted, never diminished the Emperor’s grandeur. On the contrary, the sight of Emperor Anton rising from his throne at the moment Jeongjae entered seemed to amplify his majesty dramatically.
Jeongjae approached in accordance with the protocol of this world and knelt before the Emperor.
“I see Your Majesty, the esteemed Emperor of the Audrich Empire, Park Jeongjae.”
“Stand.”
The Emperor commanded. As Jeongjae rose with that command, the surrounding vassals and nobles, including Rose, all took their seats in unison.
Only the Emperor and Jeongjae remained standing, gazing at each other.
Emperor Anton Caprice looked regal in a splendid white uniform with a luxurious red cape, resembling a king from a bygone era of England.
The shining crown on his head was neither too big nor too small, fitting perfectly on his head.
After standing for a while and stroking his thick black beard, the Emperor spoke to Jeongjae as if casually greeting him.
“Grand Mage Park Jeongjae. A gift from another world. I have heard some astonishing stories.”
“Is that so?”
Jeongjae replied, filled with tension.
“The Hellhound Walter has declared that he will no longer take you as a comrade on the battlefield. And he has requested that you be granted the title of Lord of Harriet’s Territory.”
“Are you referring to Harriet’s Territory?”
Jeongjae raised his head in surprise. If it was Harriet, it was certainly Simon Harriet. Was it not the same name as Walter’s ancestor who had come to this continent hundreds of years ago?
“Yes. That land is legally owned by Walter Hellhound. He declared he would transfer ownership of his land to you, saying that you would have a role to play there. I am unaware of what that role might be, but since it was a request from Walter H. Hellhound, the Sage Hero, I accepted without hesitation.”
Jeongjae found himself once again in a situation where he couldn’t hide his confusion. Walter had handed over his territory, which was his property, to Jeongjae. What could this possibly mean?
Was it an intention to apologize for dismissing him from the party by gifting his own territory? No, that seemed too simple and odd.
“Lastly, I would like to confirm. I am ready to bestow a title upon you at any moment, but I am curious about your opinion. Will you accept the land of Harriet and become Baron Park Jeongjae of Harriet?”
There was no time to think deeply.
He had made up his mind to come here. Whatever Walter’s intention was, and whatever awaited him ahead, that was now Jeongjae’s call.
“Yes. Your Majesty. I will proudly accept the title of Baron and vow to be a wise Lord.”