115. Swordsmanship Tournament (2)

Larael turned her head back with a smile at his trivial remark.

The match, which was expected to be a close contest, ended easily as Joy, who had regained his composure belatedly, launched a one-sided attack. Gerard collapsed easily in the finals, making his advancement to the finals seem meaningless. Gerard finally dropped his sword and surrendered when Joy’s sword was pointed at his neck.

The announcer declared Joy’s victory, and the arena filled with applause and cheers celebrating the winner.

Edward also rose from his seat with Larael and applauded the tournament winner.

“Larael, let’s go down together.”

Edward extended his hand to Larael. She hesitated before placing her hand on his. After descending into the arena filled with excitement, Edward raised his hand to calm the audience. As the Emperor’s hand went up, the venue instantly fell silent.

Edward approached the winner. As Edward approached, Joy knelt on one knee.

“Unnamed knight, reveal your identity to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Joy slowly removed his helmet. His sweat-soaked hair glistened, reflecting the sunlight. After removing his helmet, he smiled brightly and looked at Larael standing beside Edward. His face showed the satisfaction of having kept his promise to her.

“I am Joy. I come from humble origins, so I have no surname.”

Edward tilted his head at the sight of him. It was a face he had seen somewhere before, but he couldn’t quite remember where. Edward held in his hand the sword to be given as a reward to the winner. Joy knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and raised both hands.

“Congratulations.”

Edward handed the sword to Joy’s outstretched hands.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

Joy’s actions appeared very natural, as he had already practiced for when he would win. Larael was trying hard to suppress a smile that was about to break out. It was new to see the rascal-like Joy behaving so politely.

“…I have a wish.”

At Joy’s words, Edward’s smile faded from his face.

“Speak.”

“I wish to join the Imperial Knights.”

Edward nodded willingly. It was a natural reward given to the winner.

“And… if I am allowed to join the Imperial Knights, I wish to become the Empress Conosrt’s knight guard.”

With those words, Edward’s eyes sank deeply. Hearing Larael’s name from his lips, Edward’s mind cleared as if fog had lifted, and he remembered when he had met Joy.

‘Back then, when people couldn’t recognize us because of the magic item, he recognized Larael.’

At that time, Edward hadn’t realized that Joy was skilled enough to win a tournament where formidable experts participated, perhaps because Joy had completely concealed his abilities.

“I dedicate my sword to Her Highness the Empress Consort.”

At Joy’s words echoing through the quiet arena, the audience began to murmur. The murmuring grew louder. He didn’t fully understand the significance of his words. Joy, with an innocent expression, extended the sword he was holding toward Larael.

“And…”

“Joy, stop!!”

Larael quietly stopped his words. Fortunately, because the venue was noisy, Larael’s words weren’t heard except by Edward and those around him. Joy looked at Larael’s flustered face with a puzzled expression, staring blankly at her. He had thought Larael would be simply delighted and praise him.

The tournament winner is given the qualification to join the Imperial Knights with treatment equivalent to a commander. That’s why knights belonging to the Imperial Knights occasionally participated in the tournament. Of course, some were reluctant to participate because if they were eliminated early in the competition, they would be ridiculed for a long time.

But for the winner to pledge allegiance to someone other than the Emperor was tantamount to denying the very meaning of the Imperial Knights’ existence. It might seem like an exaggeration, but it was a situation that could easily be twisted by someone harboring ill will toward Larael.

Edward turned his head to look at Larael. Feeling his gaze, Larael met Edward’s eyes. Edward gave a faint smile as if to reassure her.

“Indeed. Loyalty to the Empress Consort is no different from loyalty to me.”

Edward’s deep, low voice resonated throughout the arena. The noisy arena instantly fell silent.

“After fully enjoying the joy of victory, come find me at the palace. We’ll discuss the details then.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Joy rose with the sword and bowed his head toward Edward and Larael. Larael exhaled a long sigh and took Edward’s outstretched hand. She was blaming herself for not having warned Joy in advance, as she hadn’t expected him to speak like that.

Larael was anxious as Edward didn’t say a word while leaving the arena.

“Your Majesty, he’s a child I took in, and I had no idea he would enter the swordsmanship tournament.”

“You don’t need to inform me of everything, but…”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t need to apologize in the first place, and that’s not what I meant. Having a skilled knight guard by your side would put my mind at ease too.”

But Edward couldn’t shake off his uneasy feeling. He didn’t like the way Joy looked at Larael at all. Reminding himself that he wouldn’t tolerate any inappropriate thoughts, he squeezed Larael’s hand firmly.

***

Edward stared expressionlessly at the Empress Dowager who had come to see him.

He had heard that the Empress Dowager had been secluding herself in her palace lately, but he had also received reports that she had begun to resume her external activities starting with the Founding Festival.

“I heard that the winner of the swordsmanship tournament pledged allegiance to the Empress Consort rather than the Emperor. Is that true?”

A sneer settled on Edward’s face. He had wondered what wind had blown her to suddenly appear and ask after his well-being, but in the end, this was the reason she had come to see him.

“Do you know how much the Emperor has become an object of ridicule because of this? People are saying it’s as if the Empress Consort is sitting above the Emperor’s head. I couldn’t remain silent after hearing such talk, so I came.”

“I’ll hear what you want to say. Go ahead.”

Edward sank deep into the back of his chair. His eyes quietly gazed at the Empress Dowager. Although she didn’t like Edward’s attitude, which seemed to say ‘try if you dare,’ the Empress Dowager had no choice but to speak.

“How many times has our imperial authority been undermined because of the Empress Consort? This is no longer a matter to be overlooked. I hear the tournament winner is a child taken in by the Empress. How little must they think of the Emperor if even those serving the Empress Consort act this way?”

“Will you continue?”

“What does the Emperor think?”

At this sudden question, Edward straightened his back, which had been deeply sunk into the chair, and sat upright. He rested his arm on the armrest, supported his chin, and gazed into space with downcast eyes. His brow narrowed with unbearable displeasure.

“I just want to overlook it. Isn’t this an excessive interpretation?”

“An excessive interpretation… I’ve just made my mouth sore by bringing this up unnecessarily. It seems that no matter what this mother says, the Emperor won’t listen.”

Edward almost nodded. He glared at the Empress Dowager with sharp eyes. The Empress Dowager pretended not to notice his gaze.

“I heard that the tournament winner wants to become the Empress Consort’s knight guard. Do you intend to allow it?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t I also feel reassured if such a talented person protects Larael?”

“Protect her from what? Who would harm the Empress Consort who sits above the Emperor’s head?”

“……”

Instead of answering, Edward stared blankly at the Empress Dowager.

“And doesn’t the Empress Consort already have two knight guards? There has never been an Empress Consort who had Imperial Knights as her guards. Not just one, but two… and now you’re saying she will have three guards?”

“Didn’t you also receive protection from the Imperial Knights when you were Empress Consort?”

Edward asked in response to the Empress Dowager’s words.

“I was soon to become the Empress, wasn’t I?”

The Empress Dowager said, twitching the corner of her mouth. Edward’s chest became as heavy as if a stone had been placed on it. His eyes sank darkly.

“Then… Larael is also to become the Empress.”