Chapter 34
"Arian, I'm off."
Franz, with the carriage behind him, spoke to Arian who had come to see him off.
What need was there to state the carriage's destination? It was, of course, the Imperial Palace. Having received a letter personally written by the Emperor himself, there was no way he could refuse.
"Yes, I'll be waiting."
Arian's voice held a strange tremor. Along with that, she nervously clenched and unclenched her hands repeatedly.
A small worry sprouted in Franz's mind because of this.
'Could something else be wrong?' — he wondered.
However, he didn't voice it.
Having already told her to speak up anytime if something was troubling her, he figured there must be a reason if she wasn't saying anything.
So, well, the farewell was over.
All that remained was to depart for the Imperial Palace.
Just as his gaze, which had lingered on Arian for a long while, shifted towards the carriage.
"T-Tower Master...!"
At Arian's urgent voice, Franz looked back at her again.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"Th-that is..."
Arian's eyes began to shake violently as if an earthquake had struck, and her hands flailed aimlessly in the air. He didn't know what was wrong, but she looked extremely flustered.
So he waited.
Until that confusion subsided.
There was also a tiny part of him that wanted to arrive at the Imperial Palace even a little bit later.
A short moment passed, and then,
Hooo—.
Arian let out a long breath, stopping her flustered actions.
It seemed she had calmed down.
"I-it's nothing much, but..."
Hesitating like a shy child, Arian approached and held something out.
It was a handkerchief.
A handkerchief that screamed luxury at first glance.
"You lent me your handkerchief and haven't bought a new one yet."
Her words were indeed correct.
He hadn't purchased a new one since lending her his.
But...
"How did you know that?"
She spoke so naturally, as if it were common sense, that his mind momentarily went blank.
Unless she was spying on him, there was no way she could speak with such certainty.
"Because you're the Tower Master? I just figured you wouldn't have bought one, thinking it was too much trouble."
"Ah, so you just guessed?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
True, they had been stuck together from morning till night every day for the past year.
She could probably predict simple actions easily enough.
Along with that, Arian's expression, seemingly baffled, added to her credibility.
Well, if Arian said so, then so be it.
He decided to think that way and let it slide.
What good would come from needless suspicion other than hurting each other's feelings?
"So, aren't you going to take the handkerchief?"
"I should. I'll use it gratefully."
Franz tucked the handkerchief Arian handed him into his coat pocket.
"Alright, I'm really going now."
"Yes, please travel safely."
Unlike their previous farewell, Arian's voice was remarkably calm.
Furthermore, her hands were neatly clasped, so she no longer looked anxious.
It seemed the handkerchief really had been the issue.
Relieved at the sight, Franz waved to her and boarded the carriage.
Not long after, a faint vibration was felt as the carriage began to move forward.
Franz rested his chin on the window frame, lost in thought as he watched the ever-changing scenery outside.
'How long has it been since I went to the Imperial Palace?'
The last time was when he ascended to the position of Tower Master, so it was about a year ago.
'He definitely ordered me around back then too.'
━ Deal with the remaining magical beasts.
━ Could you perhaps lend some strength to repairing the collapsed castle walls?
━ Breathe vitality into the land devastated by the demon attacks...
The Emperor had requested these things verbally himself, making refusal impossible.
So, well, what choice did he have? When the person above gave an order, you had to follow.
He had simply run himself ragged like a dog.
Of course, the Emperor hadn't made him work for free.
He had provided adequate compensation.
Things like gold coins, treasures, jewels.
It was just that such luxuries were completely unnecessary for him, so they didn't feel like compensation.
He already had more money than he could spend in a lifetime.
He would have rather spent that time handling affairs at the Magic Tower or sleeping tucked away in some corner.
Anyway, just as it had been until now, it seemed likely he would be asked for something this time too...
'I'll just have to work hard...'
If he didn't like it, he'd have to stage a coup and take the Emperor's throne, but no matter how he thought about it, this way seemed far easier.
Judging by how His Majesty the Emperor's face aged day by day, the crown seemed to weigh heavily.
* * * * *
The carriage carrying Franz soon entered the Imperial Capital, the capital city of the Empire.
This happened about an hour after departing from the Magic Tower, which could only be described as truly bizarre.
The distance from the Magic Tower to the Imperial Capital, where the Imperial Palace was located, was a journey that should have taken at least three days by carriage, possibly even four.
In truth, this was Franz's doing.
As the carriage sped along the dirt road, the unevenness of the ground transferred directly to his body, and unable to bear it, he had ended up teleporting the entire carriage.
'I should have them do some research on carriages too.'
The wheels couldn't be helped, but couldn't they at least make a suspension system?
Just that much would likely make it sufficiently tolerable to ride.
Lost in such useless thoughts, how much more time passed?
The carriage gradually slowed down before coming to a complete stop, and looking out the window, there stood an enormous castle whose size was impossible to gauge.
They had finally arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Hooo—.
Franz let out a preemptive sigh for the events to come and stepped down from the carriage.
Soon after, standing before the castle gate, he encountered a familiar face.
"Oh, isn't it the Tower Master?"
The Imperial Knight Commander greeted him with a welcoming expression.
He had built a connection with him since the Hero's party was first formed, so they could be considered quite close.
Although there was a considerable age difference, they communicated well, and above all, his respectful attitude towards Franz, who was much younger, was deeply admirable.
"It's been a while, Knight Commander."
Franz bowed his head respectfully in greeting.
This was out of respect for the man himself, regardless of title.
"My, bowing your head like that puts me in a difficult position."
"I believe I've always done this."
"And it has always been difficult."
A brief silence fell, and then both burst into laughter simultaneously.
He had felt needlessly stifled ever since leaving the Magic Tower, but that single laugh blew all those feelings away.
'So there was a reason people said you should live laughing.'
"Ah, right. By the way, what brings you to the Imperial Palace?"
"...His Majesty summoned me."
"Is it perhaps because of Duke Ishtar?"
Franz nodded.
He didn't even want to mention that guy's name.
Not only did he cause trouble, but Franz also had to clean up the aftermath; he was just a lump of nuisance.
Did that sentiment show on his face?
The Knight Commander looked at him with pitying eyes.
"Then I shall guide you. Let us go."
"Yes, thank you then."
The Knight Commander began to walk through the massive castle gate, and Franz followed him.
'It's always staggering no matter how many times I see it.'
As expected of the place where the Emperor lived, from all the dazzling ornaments to the beautifully maintained flowers, every aspect could only be described as magnificent.
It wasn't so much that he wanted to live in such a place, but rather the overwhelming feeling made him simply stare blankly in appreciation.
How much time passed after passing through the castle gate?
Franz finally arrived in front of the Emperor's audience chamber.
The door to the audience chamber was guarded by two knights, both of whom were also formidable warriors.
Almost on par with the Knight Commander.
Franz's gaze turned towards them.
"Inform them that Tower Master Franz Gilbert has arrived."
At those words, one of the knights silently bowed his head.
He then turned to face the dazzlingly decorated door and raised his hand, knocking on it with a steady rhythm.
"Your Majesty, Tower Master Franz Gilbert requests an audience."
His resonant, yet disciplined voice echoed.
Not long after, a low voice came from beyond the door.
"Let him enter."
With the Emperor's permission granted, the two knights simultaneously swung open both sides of the door. The interior of the audience chamber then unfolded before Franz's eyes.
Truthfully, even calling it an audience chamber, there was nothing particularly special about it.
It just felt exactly like an incredibly spacious office.
Entering the audience chamber, Franz immediately knelt and bowed his head.
At first, kneeling had felt quite humiliating, but now it didn't bother him at all.
He supposed he had pretty much become a local.
"Tower Master Franz Gilbert greets the Sun of the Empire."
"Franz, raise your head. There's no need for such formalities between you and me."
'What kind of relationship do we have?'
'A one-sided labor exploitation relationship?'
...He wanted to ask, but that was impossible.
At least, not if he wanted to keep living on imperial soil.
Treason meant the extermination of one's family.
In the end, he had no choice but to do as ordered, so Franz raised his head and met the Emperor's gaze.
White hair, eyes shadowed as if tired.
It seemed the Emperor too was enduring difficult days.
"Welcome, Franz."
A smile spread across the Emperor's lips.
Ominously so.