Published: January 4, 2026
The next morning, after breakfast, I was summoned to the palace and arrived at the garden.
Among the colorful flowers, I spotted Your Majesty indulging in a hobby, training a parrot. I hurried over with long strides.
"Noah Alarate, I have come in response to your summons," I said, kneeling on one knee and bowing my head.
Your Majesty spoke in an unusually cheerful tone.
"Oh, you’ve arrived. Now, raise your head."
"Yes."
"I received a report from Henry last night. The assassin has talked."
"Really?"
"Yes. He was one of the rebel forces. Apparently, they intended to capture you and use you as a trump card."
"I see."
I wasn’t surprised, as I had expected this. What amazed me was how quickly he spilled everything—just in one night.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"It seems he confessed too easily. Isn’t there a possibility that he lied?"
"You are wise," Your Majesty said with increasing cheerfulness.
"If that’s the case, there’s no need to worry. There’s a way to verify whether the person who confessed spoke the truth, and according to that, it is true."
Like the saying goes, it takes a serpent to catch a serpent.
I’m not well-versed in torture methods, so if that’s the case, I’ll accept it at face value.
"That’s why, well done, Noah. Had you been caught, the empire would have faced a difficult choice."
"I am grateful beyond words."
"And also—"
"Yes?"
Was there more? Just as I wondered—
"To think you targeted the feed, impressive."
"—!"
This caught me completely off guard.
The idea to buy up the feed in the surrounding lands to weaken the cavalry’s power for the Almeria campaign was something I had just thought of last night and only told Byron about.
Yet, Your Majesty had already heard about this.
This wasn’t the first time such things happened, but this was the most surprising.
Without paying any attention to my shock, Your Majesty praised me excitedly.
"A siege by starvation is something anyone can do. But to consider the people and focus solely on the horses, and moreover using your own private funds—"
Your Majesty approached me and patted my shoulder.
"This idea and your initiative are remarkable. Few could do such a thing."
"Thank you."
"I must give you some reward. Money here would be too vulgar... Alright, Cruise."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
From the shadows of the garden, the eunuch Cruise appeared.
As always, I had no idea where he was hiding until called.
"I grant permission to add a sword to Noah’s crest. Issue a proclamation."
"As you command."
Cruise immediately set to work.
While surprised, I knelt again and bowed my head.
"I am deeply grateful."
The empire is a land of warriors, and honor is mostly linked to battle.
Among these, adding a "sword" to a public crest requires the emperor’s permission.
The same applies to merchants or guilds’ emblems.
Using a "sword" motif without permission is considered an act of disrespect, punishable by death in the worst case.
Conversely, being allowed to use it means it is among the highest honors bestowed by the emperor.
I raised my head and stood up.
Your Majesty was smiling, with dimples appearing on the wrinkled face.
He looked happier than I did.
Suddenly, as if recalling something, Your Majesty said.
"By the way, Noah, have you decided how to select the knights?"
"…Yes, I have a plan."
"Oh? What is it?"
"May I explain here?"
"Yes, you may."
Your Majesty nodded magnanimously. I beckoned to a junior eunuch standing nearby.
I whispered the plan to the eunuch, instructing him to prepare.
Obediently, he rushed to make arrangements.
A few minutes later, tables and chairs were set up in the garden, and several more eunuchs arrived.
A tea set was placed on the table, and one eunuch held a bucket of water.
Actually, it would be easier with soldiers, but no weapons are allowed within the palace without Your Majesty’s permission, so we did it this way.
I glanced at Your Majesty.
He nodded with a smile, looking forward to what I was going to do.
I nodded back, sat on a chair, and took the tea set.
In this palace garden, the most expensive paradise in the world, I played the part of enjoying an elegant tea time.