“There was absolutely nothing wrong with the exterior or function. No dangerous magic or curses were detected either. After applying lubricant to some parts and completing the adjustment, I just tightened the screws and brought it back.”
Hugo carefully examined the wristwatch he had entrusted earlier. Before him, a craftsman sat with his hands respectfully clasped, explaining the inspection results with a tense face.
Though it wasn’t the scheduled inspection date, if His Grace had ordered an inspection in advance, it surely meant there was some problem.
However, after a careful examination as a craftsman, no anomalies were found in the watch. Even after calling in renowned experts and discussing it for five days, its condition was so good it was hard to believe it had accompanied the subjugation.
“There were no problems?”
“Yes, that’s correct...”
His Excellency’s voice—asking again, as if it wasn’t the answer he wanted—made the craftsman’s palms sweat. Hugo stared at the world inside the watch turning at a steady rhythm, then shifted his eyes to the craftsman’s white-haired crown.
“Good work. You may go now.”
“Pardon? ...Ah, yes. If problems occur again, please let me know. I’ll come running right away.”
“Mm. When you go down, there should be a waiting carriage—take that back. While you’re here, take some food boxes too. The wheat harvest has been good recently.”
Hugo eased his tension with a bit of light small talk, slipping the watch onto his wrist as usual. The craftsman hesitated, wondering if he should receive such grace when he hadn’t solved anything, but after catching the butler’s eye, he bowed at ninety degrees.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
A servant who quickly approached bowed and led the way across the dressing room. The craftsman left the vast room after him, glancing at the busy servants. He had heard His Grace was scheduled to attend an important meeting today, and he only hoped the watch he had inspected for five days wouldn’t cause any trouble.
After the two left, Hugo fiddled with the watch’s crown, then finished tidying his attire in the mirror. Perhaps because he had worn only uniforms and combat gear for several months, formal clothes felt cumbersome all over again. Even so, the gazes around him were somehow filled with satisfaction.
The glossy hair styled with volume, the white and smooth skin unique to the Agrizendro family. The intelligent yet deep eyes, the neat face made up of only straight and elegant lines. The man who exuded both splendor and dignity gave the utmost satisfaction to all who had helped prepare the Duke for his outing.
If one were to capture the scene of a god manifesting in human form, surely this would be such a picture. The high-quality fabric wrapping his broad shoulders and chest created a silhouette without excess as it tapered at the waist. The long trouser legs below his sturdy triangular upper body ended neatly above his shoes. He was the embodiment of refined suit fit that no one could dispute.
The butler beside him smiled contentedly at Hugo’s dazzling appearance, but noticing his master’s stiff expression, he cleared his throat and casually asked:
“Ahem, if it’s bothering you, how about wearing a different watch today?”
“...It’s fine. If the maker says there’s no problem, he would know best.”
“I’ll instruct the attendant to prepare a spare watch just in case. Which gloves would you like? Since you have consecutive appointments until late afternoon today, I think a dark color might be good.”
“Go with that.”
When the butler held out the gloves he had prepared in advance, Hugo slid his hands into them as if donning combat gauntlets. Though it was too early to judge, it didn’t seem His Majesty was summoning him for anything good. After all, the very phrase in the imperial order had been a “summons to appear,” so it was natural for the one summoned to have all sorts of thoughts.
Though he didn’t know what had disturbed His Majesty’s mood, being called to the most secret inner chamber of Carseil Palace meant there was urgent business.
Loss of territory due to a volcanic eruption, a foreign invasion, the worst casualties?
Or the first Emperor’s secret, conflict with the Imperial Knights, Leonardo Blaine, Leonardo Blaine...
The more he retraced his steps, the more points of concern there were, and he had suffered with worry for several days. However, the servants who didn’t know the detailed circumstances were excited, thinking His Majesty was calling him to commend his achievements.
Yes, this was better. There was no good in transferring worry to others. Hugo deliberately relaxed his stiffened expression and lips.
‘Much to hope goes well.’
As he fastened the gloves’ buttons without showing his concern, Flynn and the attendants approached carrying heavy coats as tall as themselves. Hugo put his arms into the coat spread like wings, donning his final garment. Just then, an attendant who had been gathering his belongings asked beside his master while holding a small case:
“Master, shall I prepare cigarettes separately?”
Several people who had been tidying his collar turned with puzzled expressions. It was known to everyone in the mansion that the master didn’t smoke.
The one who received multiple gazes hurriedly added:
“Ah, because there was an opened cigarette case mixed in with the luggage sent from the Council earlier... I wondered if you had started smoking again.”
“It was in the luggage?”
The one who questioned was Flynn. Hugo gestured to the attendant to bring the case closer. When the attendant immediately opened it and held it out, a familiar yet strong smell hit his nose.
‘This is...’
An unforgettable smell. It was something he had confiscated from that fellow who had been smoking while he was away, even though he had been a serious patient until recently. It was also something improper that Kenis Weber had carried while hovering around Leonardo, trying to curry favor with him.
Come to think of it, he had said he would return it later, but he had forgotten its very existence for lack of time.
Hugo stared at the neatly arranged cigarette case, then tipped his chin, telling him to close it again.
“I don’t smoke. It must have gotten mixed in with the luggage. Don’t throw it away—store it somewhere appropriate. I’ll return it when I get the chance.”
“Yes, understood.”
Even as he said this, Hugo was reminded again that he had many things left unsaid to Leonardo before parting. He had meant to suggest quitting smoking for his health... but worried it might seem like interference, he had hesitated and ultimately missed the timing to say it.
Though he thought about talking about it when they met again, he realized each time—too late—that he had no means to find him first. At times like this, he did regret not attaching a location tracker. But he had promised to let him be free.
‘By the way, not a single contact.’
Hugo stared blankly at the communication magic tool placed in the transparent display case. Though he had put in a device paired to connect only with his own, there was no sign of any contact coming.
He wondered if perhaps he hadn’t discovered it yet, but given how he would explore here and there first whenever he found a new space or object, it seemed unlikely he wouldn’t know.
That he was doing well, that it felt good to be away from that detestable place. He wished he would let him hear his voice—anything would be fine.
“Master, it seems the carriage preparations are complete.”
A servant’s voice announced that departure was imminent. Rolling his eyes, Hugo quickly emerged from his thoughts.
With even a brooch of the simplified imperial flag on his collar, he stepped forward, his clothes fluttering.
“Let’s go.”
The attendants followed in a rush. It had been a busy morning no less than an enthronement ceremony.
*****
Though taking a carriage to the imperial capital was a regular occurrence, the road to the imperial palace never quite became familiar. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t particularly fond of that place. Moreover, since the general administrative and military control institutions were within mana control zone 2, even a duke had little reason to enter further inside unless summoned.
After passing through the eastern gate of the imperial capital and following the main road north along the Council’s walls, one could feel the city grow noticeably quiet. After passing through the temporary portal installed there, when looking out the window, a massive building rising high in the distance first caught one’s eye.
Porta Aeternitatis, the Gate of Eternity.
Between two pillars that looked like raised sword blades, a sculpture depicting the sun connected their meeting point.
This was a kind of gate, one of two entrances into mana control zone 3 within the imperial capital. Since only facilities and forces for protecting the imperial palace were stationed from zone 3 onward, this could practically be considered the beginning of the imperial palace.
It made the majesty of the gates forming each territory’s castle walls pale in comparison. The gate at the front boasted an overwhelming size and intimidation that defied comparison.
The reason for its official name being the Gate of Eternity was that a thousand years ago, this imperial palace belonged to the Raina dynasty. They, who had short lifespans due to genetic diseases from inbreeding, held the belief that when a king died, he would be reborn as a later descendant. This expressed their wish that the royal family’s lineage would continue eternally through cycles without breaking. However, with the death of Theodore, the last king, their aspiration remained bound only to this Gate of Eternity.
Hugo passed through the eternal entrance that felt like entering a completely different world, following ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the wide road paved with yellowish-brown bricks. Afterward, he briefly suffered discomfort, as if experiencing altitude sickness. It was due to the suppressive force on mana rising one level.
In this city within a city, lined with splendid spires, magnificent bridges, and geometric buildings, one could hardly use mana except for small-scale magic. This meant that until entering the interior of the imperial palace, which seemed to embody the heavenly realm from mythology, one had to move solely by physical power.
Though the time written in the imperial order was noon, this was why Hugo had set out early in the morning. His white carriage passed through the first checkpoint, then raced down the straight road with attendants’ carriages following front and back.
The reason it was safe to speed was that not even an ant stirred in this place. The golden city that inspired awe was brilliant, but it was impossible to shake the feeling that it was like a lonely civilization left on this land after the world’s end.
It was hard to find people except for the guards standing at attention at regular intervals. Just like that day when he had returned from the peninsula with Leonardo.
After passing the road where statues that seemed to contain souls were aligned on both sides of the main street, the endless wide lawn and the entrance to the imperial palace began to appear. After passing through gate after gate, and then through what looked like another gate-like castle wall, one could finally enter Carseil Palace, standing majestically among the glittering golden buildings.
Though there were many palaces with different names in the imperial palace, among them Carseil Palace was where successive emperors had most often resided. One couldn’t set foot inside there with ordinary status and honor. This was true even for the Duke’s attendants.
Before entering the palace, Hugo’s attendant got down from the carriage and delivered a card containing the audience request to Lord Casius, the guard captain in charge, then returned. Afterward, he received Hugo’s coat along with the other attendants and, after a brief greeting, moved with the carriage to the designated waiting area.
“Your Grace, I will guide you this way.”
Hugo climbed the ‘Stairs of Reason’ directly, following the guidance of Lord Chaud, who was both a palace servant and close aide to the Emperor. Whenever passing through here, he was enveloped by the feeling that the tower-like lightning rods spread to the left and right seemed aimed at him. Though the sunlight was warm, knife-like winds blew and chillingly stimulated the skin.
When Hugo’s face appeared slightly stiff after receiving the summons to appear, Chaud opened the conversation gently with a subtle smile:
“There are people who arrived first in front of the audience chamber. Since there’s still some time until noon, I’ll guide you to the reception waiting room.”
“...Were there audience schedules from the morning?”
“No. Some figures, including Lord Duncan, have visited to pay their respects ahead of the banquet scheduled for this evening. However, since His Majesty is still in his inner chambers, they’ve been waiting for a long time...”
In other words, it would be awkward for everyone if someone who came late entered first despite having an appointment, so he would arrange a different location to avoid meeting them. However, Hugo glanced at his wristwatch and answered while staring at Chaud’s profile half a step ahead:
“It’s fine. I’ll wait in the gallery as usual. To exchange greetings as well.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll guide you to the gallery.”
The Emperor’s servant was like the Emperor’s shadow. The attitude he showed to visitors was always consistent, while carrying nonverbal cues. Hugo observed the servant who wasn’t being rigid with him, while once again speculating about the reason he had been called here today.
“His Majesty was also pleased about your successful completion and return from the subjugation.”
“I should have paid my respects right after returning. I’m visiting too late.”
“He will understand, since you hold important duties.”
The two headed toward the top of the stairs while making light conversation. Hugo tried various remarks, trying to read the palace’s atmosphere from the other.
Meanwhile, he also kept watching Chaud, with his light wheat-colored hair flowing. He didn’t know why the Emperor’s young servant, who had changed about two years ago, particularly caught his attention today.
