Suspicion

Despite being young she was treated as the role model of all priests.

Skill and intellect for work.

Grace and pity for the weak.

With the image she has created it would be hard to dislike someone like her if you didn't knew about her real personality.

"Year 387 at the fourth of December, both of your parents died due to bandits. Year 388 at the first of January, both your younger siblings committed suicide due to your parents' death. Year 391 at the twenty-seventh of May, the only sibling you have died due to fatigue. Did I get everything right?"

"I am sorry but what are you talking about, lady Emond?"

"I am saying that those are bullshit. And also, the next time the temple send someone please ask the pope to send someone else, I feel like I am about to vomit when I see your disgusting face"

Clap, clap.

With two claps a maid entered the room.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Lead high priest Margaret to the door and make sure that she doesn't step foot into this palace ever again"

"Understood, my lady"

Keeping her perfect image intact, she swallowed her pride and left quietly as she followed the maid that was ordered to see her off.

"Sir John, did you felt something?"

"Yes. It was killing intent. I am surprised to feel it from the icon of the temple to be honest"

To begin with no one in this world knows about her past since she was meticulous enough to cover all of her traces. Not to mention, she never trust anyone.

"Sir John, can we go to the training grounds?"

"What for my lady?"

"I would like to see just how strong the vice-captain of the imperial knights is. Would you allow me the spectacle of seeing you fight firsthand?"

"Yes. I am afraid that you might say something about my past so I will just say yes to your requests from now on"

So he got scared. And here I thought that he would ignore the way I taunted Margaret.

As we arrived at the training grounds of the knights of the imperial palace all the knights openly glared at me, as if they weren't trying to hide their hostility. Some even had lustful gazes as they lick their lips in delight.

"Line up!"

John yelled.

The knights immediately obeyed the vice-captain's order.

"By the request of lady Emond I would show my ability worthy of the title of vice-captain of the imperial knights..."

All of the knights were even more hostile than earlier after hearing John's words. I supposed that their respect for him is genuine.

"So, I would be fighting you all at the same time. Right here, right now"

There are currently more than thirty knights here in the training ground and yet he plans on taking them all by himself at the same time?

Interesting.

I went to a bench which was located under the shade of a tree.

They all unsheathed their swords, except for John who took a wooden baton, and went to their battle stance.

The fight began and finished instantly.

John did not used brute force to defeat the knights. He didn't used speed to overwhelm them. Rather he took advantage of their numbers and led them bumping onto each other.

"What do you think my lady?"

"Your spatial ability and balance is very impressive. It is a shame that I did not saw you using your sword though"

"I supposed only the captain of the imperial knights is the one who can force me to unsheathe my sword"

After having a rough estimate of how strong he is I figured out what the best action to take later on.

...

Days passed by and it was the day for the yearly auction at the Olbrecht county hosted by count Olbrecht.

Ever since our first game, the empress would invite me everyday to her office to play a game of chess. And no matter how hard I try I never won against Empress Lucia.

"My lady, prince Henry Arte Vanifi is currently waiting for you at the second drawing room"

"Alright"

After being informed by the maid, I went to see the prince who was wearing over the top, high end clothes. His long hair which would normally reach his thighs was braided and now goes all the way to his hips.

"Greetings your highness"

"Lady Emond, it is so nice to see you again. So, have you thought about my proposal?"

"You mean about the yearly auction at the Olbrecht county?"

"Yes"

"Sadly, the empress wanted me to go with her. As you know I am in no position to reject her majesty"

"I understand. Then, I shall wait for you at the auction house"

"Thank you for your kind consideration, your highness"

Three hours later the carriage arrived. Inside was her majesty and the captain of the imperial knights.

"It is an honor to ride a carriage with you your majesty"

"How many times do I have to tell you that there is no need to be so formal when it is just us"

"Well, I am sure that in this case, we are not alone though"

"Hmm~ That is true. Then, Aiden, Jonathan go to the count's manor by your-"

"Please wait your majesty. I give up so please, there is no need to make them go through all the trouble"

"Good"

As it was my first riding a carriage outside of the palace I was able to see the difference between Loate and Vanifi even more up close.

"Your majesty"

"Speak"

"May I ask you to have some of your men to follow the second prince secretly"

"While I did heard that he visited the emerald palace a couple of times, is something wrong for you to ask me something like that?"

"The second prince of the empire is very strong and capable"

Which is also the reason why the empress never stop him when prince Henry was busy harassing the heroine.

"However, his behavior is weird. The way he speak, the way he moves and the way he does things is different from the prince I know"

"You speak as if you know everything about my brother"

Unfortunately, I do.

"Well, as you've said he is acting oddly enough to catch even my attention"

The prince Henry from the novel was a total casanova. The clothes he wore were clothes that were easy to take off, but the prince Henry I have met so far always wore clothes that needs at least ten minutes before you can removed everything.

His behavior in the novel was that of an arrogant man as if he is on top of the world no matter who it was, even to the empress herself. But prince Henry was very polite and kind whenever he visited the emerald palace.

"Maybe my little brother likes you? Don't you think so?"