My Strange Savior - Chapter 103

Chapter 103

[Capital]

“We’ll be in the capital soon.” 

Kalion said as the carriage approached. 

Gia, who was listening to Kalion’s words with the window down, involuntarily clenched her hands in unnecessary tension.

“I’m by your side, so don’t worry.” 

Although it didn’t entirely alleviate her concerns, Kalion’s words seemed to have a calming effect on Gia. Her racing heart gradually settled. The effect was palpable.

“Yeah.” 

Gia replied, finding solace in Kalion’s easygoing smile.

Perhaps sensing Gia’s feelings, the weather today felt almost like spring. It wasn’t fully spring yet, but a gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh grass into the carriage.

Come to think of it, Gia realized she had aged another year. Aging had halted for her as an enhanced human, but it still felt that way emotionally. Being with Kalion made her feel like an ordinary human.

The feeling of becoming an ordinary human, growing older year by year… That sense of becoming an ordinary person. People usually don’t like aging, but Gia didn’t mind at all. She suppressed the laughter welling up within her.

Yuria, who had been silently observing the couple’s interaction, secretly nodded her head. 

“It’s getting chilly. Please close the window.”

“Yeah.” 

Gia obediently closed the carriage window despite knowing she wouldn’t catch a cold. She followed his words, not wanting to worry Kalion. The concern of her lover approached Gia like the freshness of spring, making her heart flutter.

“You two seem close.”

Yuria commented uncomfortably. Gia rolled her tongue in response to Yuria’s awkward remark. Unfazed, she noticed Yuria discreetly clearing her throat and adjusting the lace on her sleeves.

“Big sister, have we arrived in the capital now?” 

Rey, sitting next to her, asked excitedly.

“Yeah.”

“So, where are we going now?”

“Kalion will probably go to the palace first… We might end up going to Kalion’s house.” 

According to what Kalion had conveyed, the knights and Oscar were supposed to report to the Emperor as part of the protocol.

Gia comforted him, saying it was okay for them to stay behind without Kalion. Reluctantly, Gia and Rey ended up staying at the Duke’s residence without Kalion.

Rey, excited by Gia’s explanation, kicked his feet in the air. He must have felt stifled inside the carriage. Rey, who had followed gracefully without showing any discomfort, looked impressive, and Gia’s hand rested on his head for a while.

Realizing they didn’t have to ride the carriage anymore, Rey joyfully bounced in his seat.

Gia smiled at his childish behavior. After a while, a loud cheer echoed from outside. It seemed the people of the capital had come out to greet Kalion’s procession.

The carriage slowed down as a multitude of people gathered. Kalion stood at the front of the procession like a victorious general. Sitting atop a grand Lux, he looked like a painting come to life.

If a prince riding a white horse, as depicted in a fairy tale, were to exist in reality, it might be Kalion. The crowd’s attention was focused on Kalion at the front. They cheered for the knights and allies arranged behind him.

The gazes of those with raised necks shifted to the carriage following Kalion’s procession. Was it the rumored dragon? People stared intently at the carriage, holding their breath.

Gulp.

Even the sound of swallowing was clear amidst the silence of the crowd.

Though hidden by a screen, people knew it was the dragon’s carcass. When Kalion nodded, the cloth covering the carcass was lifted.

“Huh.”

Sounds of people inhaling sharply could be heard from all around. To witness a dragon in person. The astonishment of the crowd spread as they stared fixedly at the carriage.

A murmur filled the air. Even the sound of someone gasping for breath was audible. People were shocked, calling out to the gods. 

“That… Dragon we’ve only heard about…”

“Wow, it’s real.”

“Ah, that’s unbelievable.”

The figure of Kalion advancing with restrained speed for better visibility was formidable. The seasoned Lux, too, bore a resemblance to its master, with a dignified posture. Lux, accustomed to having people beneath it, exuded an air of arrogance as it snorted and expelled a breath.

Kalion, with its black mane, held the reins in one hand. While listening to the applause of the crowd, Kalion slowly directed Lux’s head toward the imperial palace. Kalion glanced briefly at Gia’s carriage at the rear.

The coachman, meeting eyes with Kalion, nodded politely. Whether they had already communicated or not, the coachman discreetly left the formation.

Kalion, inspecting the carriage driven by the coachman, summoned Spencer. 

“Yes, Commander.”

“Escort Gia, Rey, and Lady Yuria to the mansion and return promptly.”

“Understood.” 

Spencer turned the horse’s head with a precise motion, leaving the formation to chase after Gia’s carriage.

Confirming the distance between him and the carriage carrying Gia, Kalion increased his speed slightly. Now, the only remaining hurdle for Kalion was the encounter with the emperor. He had spread rumors to incite the people, but Kalion couldn’t predict how the emperor would react.

Unable to relax due to the uncertainty of the cruel emperor’s plans, Kalion steeled his resolve. The procession continued endlessly towards the palace, and a long line of people followed, extending to the front of the palace.

As Kalion reached the entrance, he leaped down from Lux. The previously lively chatter among the people hushed momentarily as they glimpsed the dragon’s carcass.

The grand doors of the palace opened. Amidst the tension that couldn’t be delayed for a moment, Kalion hesitated for a brief moment before stepping inside.

The aging Chancellor, an equivalent to the emperor’s right-hand man, appeared. The absence of other nobles with different titles suggested an intention to monopolize the stage.

“Thank you for your efforts, Lord Bowers.”

“It’s been a while.”

At the chancellor’s gesture, young attendants emerged to take the reins of the knights’ horses. The shock on the chancellor’s face briefly flashed as he saw the dragon’s carcass lying on the carriage that followed. However, he adeptly concealed his emotions, fitting for someone standing beside the emperor. The chancellor, changing his expression as if asking when such emotions had ever affected him, waited for the carriage.

Soon, Oscar descended from the carriage, accompanied by the sounds of suffering. 

“You’ve arrived.”

“It’s been a while, Count Alce.”

The chancellor nodded slightly towards Oscar, whom he had seen long ago. Though more aged than before, Oscar’s keen eyes still retained their vitality. The chancellor scrutinized Oscar once and then turned his body.

“His Majesty is waiting; it would be wise to move.”

Following the chancellor, Oscar and Kalion walked with rigid expressions. Akin found himself excluded from this invitation, and thus accompanied his sister toward the Bowers Duchy.

Following the familiar path, an imposing imperial palace came into view. The palace adorned with all kinds of gold and treasures exuded an intimidating aura.

“Hehe… The palace seems more dignified than before.”

At Oscar’s remark hinting at amassing wealth, the chancellor lowered his eyes slightly. 

“Finally, it has become a palace befitting His Majesty’s dignity.”

“Is that so?”

Behind the unamused chancellor, attendants and maids followed politely. Shortly after, they arrived at the imperial reception hall. The chancellor cautiously knocked.

“Enter.”

“Yes.”

The chancellor, who entered first, seemed to be informing the emperor of the two visitors. Outside, Oscar and Kalion made eye contact.

Anticipating the difficulty of facing the emperor, their eyes reflected firm determination. The door opened again, and the chancellor stepped aside.

“Please enter.”

Between the opened doors, the emperor, with a gentle expression, awaited the arrival of the two.

“I greet Your Majesty, radiant as the sun.”

“I greet Your Majesty, radiant as the sun.”

Oscar and Kalion simultaneously offered their greetings, gracefully bending one knee, placing a hand on their chests, and bowing slightly at the waist according to protocol.

“Welcome, both of you.”

As permission was granted, Kalion, standing upright, locked his crimson eyes onto the emperor. The emperor’s face, pale as if he had applied something over it, resembled the face of an actor in a play, accompanied by a subtle hint of incense that pricked the nose.

The smell, intense enough to be bone-chilling, made Kalion lower his gaze. 

Was he forcibly suppressing the scent of death? With this thought, Kalion looked at Oscar. In response, Oscar, too, consciously exerted effort to avoid wrinkling his nose. Both of them maintained composed expressions as they observed the emperor.

The makeup, thickened and increasingly eerie, was applied to conceal the pallor of illness. Both individuals, aware of the emperor’s ailment, remained neutral as he took his seat of authority.

Despite sitting on a plush sofa, there was no comfort whatsoever.

“Well then, I have reviewed the reports. Count Shannon and Lord Bowers.”

“We apologize.”

Kalion felt an unwarranted guilt for something that weighed on his mind.

“Oh, no… I’m not here to scold you. Naturally, Lord Bowers, being a knight of the imperial palace, should have handled this matter appropriately, but…”

As the emperor’s words trailed off, Kalion swallowed hard.

“But the procedure was incorrect, wasn’t it? Count Shannon.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

The emperor, as if he wouldn’t let the mistake slide easily, turned to Oscar with a gentle expression. The slight upward curve of the emperor’s lips suggested satisfaction with Oscar’s response.

“I haven’t permitted any actions yet. Leading the imperial knights with arbitrary judgments.”

The only one laughing in the audience chamber was the emperor.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. Time was pressing to report…”

“Count Shannon.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I would oppress you without knowing anything?”

Oscar’s mouth snapped shut at the emperor’s stern warning.

“Both of you should know there are laws, orders, and procedures to be followed in everything, right?”

Even in imparting this, the emperor’s displeasure was evident.

“Yes, we are aware. Moreover, if Your Majesty deems it appropriate, we are prepared to accept any punishment.”

At Kalion’s willingness to accept punishment without any military formalities, the emperor merely smiled like a puppet, eyes overflowing with intensity.

“Do you acknowledge violating imperial mandates and acting on your own accord?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That unilateral decision… Are you suggesting it could be construed as rebellion?”

“Yes.”

Kalion respectfully nodded. Now was the time to prostrate himself.

“However, as this was a result of my unilateral decision, I wish to take full responsibility for this incident.”

“Hmm…”

The emperor’s laughter deepened at Kalion’s declaration of taking sole responsibility.