Chapter 363: Imperial Palace (3)

The captain of the guard was more of a young man than someone bearing the weight of his rank.

“Hahaha, to meet you like this! I’ve always been a fan of yours, Lord Heavenly Sword. Since when? Ah, of course! Since the tragedy of Joaquin!”

However, his voice had a magnetic pull. In other words, it was charisma.

— He said he was your fan, in the past tense, without realizing. Although someone as great as you, Lord Heavenly Sword, can read the hearts of men, so it doesn’t need explaining… but I’ll say it anyway…

Just to be clear, I have no mind-reading skills. I’m not omniscient or all-powerful. On the contrary, I struggle every day to stay as human as possible.

‘Just how far will this blind fraud’s imagination go…?’

Well, if she wants to spill everything herself, I won’t stop her.

“Your performance during the recent Parsy incident was also incredibly impressive. Truly, Lord Heavenly Sword must be a hero sent from the heavens. I even tell the heroes under my command to watch your recordings every day and learn from you. In fact, I just came from doing that!”

While pretending to listen solemnly to the captain of the guard…

— What they’re really doing while watching your recordings is analyzing them, looking for even the slightest weakness. He’s an insolent man. How dare he… how dare he… do that to Sir Heavenly Sword…!

…I was also receiving the interpretation sent by the officer through the Blessing of Transmission.

For someone like me, who’s not great at multitasking, the situation was starting to make me dizzy. The dissonance between the voice in my head and reality left me with a slightly nauseated expression.

“Captain of the guard.”

The officer noticed my state and immediately diverted the captain’s attention to herself.

“What brings you here?”

“Ah! How careless of me!”

The captain tapped his forehead.

“I got carried away seeing Lord Heavenly Sword, whom I admire so much. The reason is that I haven’t been able to see the Emperor since last night.”

“His Majesty said he wished to spend these days alone.”

The captain’s well-shaped eyes narrowed slowly.

“…Even with Lord Heavenly Sword staying at the palace?”

I understood his hidden intent immediately.

‘He fully intends to keep an eye on me.’

When people act, there are always habits they can’t hide. It’s a common trait of those who’ve succeeded from a young age without ever failing. They simply don’t believe they can be wrong.

In my past life, I traveled across the country and was recognized as the best swordsman in Korea. I faced nearly every VIP worth meeting, and people like this captain fit perfectly into one of the categories I’d already established.

— I knew it…! Sir Heavenly Sword… Everything was in the palm of your hand… Long live, long live, eternally long live!

The officer expressed her admiration—or rather, worship—creatively, based on my social experience.

‘Don’t read my mind without permission. That’s a warning, officer.’

— A-Ah… yes…

She flinched.

Still, she didn’t let it show in front of the captain. As expected of someone serving the automaton Emperor. She knew how to hide her emotions instantly.

“Yes. I was assigned the responsibility of attending to Lord Heavenly Sword. The Emperor added that I should do so with the highest degree of consideration during these two days.”

Archer Garyeon replied to the captain’s inquiry.

“Well, well, even so… The Emperor should’ve told me something, being the captain of the guard. But oh well, our sun must have his reasons. Thank you very much for your time, Lord Heavenly Sword. And you as well, Officer Garyeon.”

“No problem.” I added one more sentence.

“Still, if you truly want to thank me, I’d like to visit the guard’s headquarters someday.”

I stopped the captain just as he was turning to leave. For a moment, he was speechless at my bluntness. His tilted hat seemed to reflect his confusion.

“Haha… Sir Heavenly Sword has more talent for softening the atmosphere than I imagined.”

I gave the officer a mental order. It took me just over an hour to complete the ‘Garyeon usage manual.’

‘Translate it.’

The imperial court’s language is deeper than everyday speech. Elliptical phrases are frequent.

‘Say it in a comprehensible way.’

I’m only going to be at the palace for three days. There’s no point in learning a new language if I have a top-level telepath by my side.

I wish I could tell the Emperor this.

Your subordinate is on another level.

— He says he’s a madman beyond imagination.

I don’t like it. She said it very bluntly, almost painfully.

‘…Translate it tactfully.’

— He says he’s someone who doesn’t read the room.

‘Without the word “idiot,” please.’

— Someone who doesn’t catch on to anything…

‘…That’s fine.’

Leaving behind the dizziness that briefly overwhelmed me, I looked at the commander of the guard. He slightly parted his lips before politely declining.

“I’m sorry, Lord Heavenly Sword. Observing the Imperial Guard’s training requires His Majesty’s approval…”

“I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”

Garyeon stepped forward quickly to interrupt him.

“On what authority does Officer Garyeon say that…?”

“Didn’t I mention earlier? His Majesty ordered me to facilitate Lord Heavenly Sword’s stay in every possible way.”

“Even so, observing the guard’s training is a prerogative exclusive to His Majesty. Moreover, the final decision is also mine.”

Garyeon arrogantly raised her chin and declared.

“Lord Heavenly Sword even visited the Infinite Library yesterday with His Majesty.”

“The Infinite Library…?!”

“Does the commander of the guard consider imperial secrets and the Guard’s training to be on the same level?”

“…”

“That’s not just my opinion as a temporary delegate. I imagine His Majesty feels similarly, with all due respect.”

Dang, dang, dang.

The sacred bells rang three times. While the commander of the guard held back a sigh, Garyeon continued firmly.

“Of course, the final decision is yours, Commander. You can reject Lord Heavenly Sword’s request, even place your authority above the Emperor’s. It’s entirely up to you.”

“That’s not what I…”

“Oh, I know. Of course I know. I’m merely making a prudent suggestion. Even if I understand, negative rumors could circulate in the palace.”

Garyeon gave a mocking smile.

“I don’t think it would be beneficial for you, Commander Oscar, to be seen disrupting the established power dynamics.”

“…”

“You should also consider your dependents.”

A shadow passed over the commander’s face.

‘Wow, this officer knows how to apply pressure.’

What a twist. The same woman who seemed timid at breakfast was now subduing the commander with words alone.

“It’s just that… no one had ever spoken so highly of Oscar. I thought if compliments became a habit, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Truly impressive.”

— Thank you.

‘I told you not to read my mind.’

— Sorry. I can’t help it when I’m praised.

‘She really understands her role well.’

Anyway.

‘It’s convenient that she says what I can’t express well.’

I wasn’t in a position to draw my sword in the palace. If I overstepped, the blame could fall on Victoria.

‘Even if I’m faster with sashimi than with words.’

Only if it’s about myself. If others are involved, I must be careful.

Living cautiously? There’s no other way. Everyone lives like that. I’m no exception.

‘Either way, I ended up gaining an unexpected ally.’

And a very capable one at that. Garyeon even gave me a clue during her argument with the commander.

‘His “dependents.”’

It had a double meaning. It could refer to the entire Imperial Guard under Oscar’s command.

‘But if that were the case, she wouldn’t have emphasized the term.’

In this context, ‘dependents’ refers to those behind Oscar. In other words, the faction planning to assassinate Princess Victoria.

I don’t believe Oscar is acting alone. What would he gain from harming Victoria? Only hatred and an early death.

‘It’s obvious the group conspiring with Oscar in secret is of royal blood.’

Oscar, wearing a bitter expression, eventually nodded.

“…Understood.”

“That will be a great help. Thank you.”

“Could you give me some time? I need to inform my subordinates.”

“No problem.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Then…”

Oscar left behind a chilling breeze.

Glance.

Garyeon gave me a subtle look, so I sighed and said.

“It’s only three days, but I’d appreciate your help.”

Garyeon opened her mouth, then gave a small smile.

“With pleasure.”

***

As soon as Oscar arrived at the guard’s break room, all his subordinates stood up.

He frowned. That alone was enough to change the atmosphere of the place. It wasn’t a good sign. He could feel it.

“Listen up, everyone.”

Oscar spoke with a stern face. His usual friendly expression had vanished.

“It seems Officer Garyeon has allied herself with the Heavenly Sword.”

The entire guard stirred.

“But Officer Garyeon is one of the people closest to His Majesty… how can that be…?”

One of the three main officers questioned him.

“I don’t know. Even though I’ve known her for years, I’ve never been able to read her intentions. And even less so with Heavenly Sword. That vulgar butcher with a human face—I neither can nor want to know what he thinks.”

The members of the guard nodded silently.

But openly criticizing Kang Geom-Ma was not something they dared to do.

His strength was terrifying, and deep down, no one wanted to make an enemy of him.

Even so, they had already chosen a side. If they hesitated, they would die.

They wouldn’t just be dismissed—they would be eliminated brutally.

They were all on the same boat.

And if someone wanted to jump off midway, they’d take care of it internally.

“By the way, Heavenly Sword wants to observe our training.”

“So you agreed.”

“There was no other choice.”

“…”

A grim silence took hold of the room. Then, one of the deputy officers, leaning against the wall, opened his eyes wide.

“What if we use this opportunity to get rid of him?”

He immediately became the target of murderous glares.

Are you crazy? Do you think that would work?

But the deputy smiled maliciously and shrugged completely calmly.

“I’m not talking about killing him physically.”

“…Then?”

“In front of the people.”

His murky voice slithered among their shoulders like a snake.

“We need to show how dangerous that man is. If the imperial guard is completely defeated, the nobles will panic and unite.”

“The guard’s authority could be undermined.”

Oscar expressed his displeasure. The deputy responded with narrowed eyes:

“As long as we return with strength during the succession, it won’t matter.”

***

After that encounter, I walked leisurely through the palace.

At lunchtime, Officer Garyeon came running. She practically dragged me to the banquet hall.

I was going to settle for a cup of ramen due to how I was feeling, but I couldn’t resist her insistence and ended up following her.

Victoria wasn’t there. I was told she felt unwell after breakfast and decided not to attend lunch.

Makes sense.

If I were Victoria, I wouldn’t want to see Garyeon either.

‘Well, after what happened, I started seeing her in a different light.’

But between them, the animosity was too deep.

The good thing, at least, was that there were fewer witnesses now watching how a blind woman attended to me during lunch.

Even if I firmly rejected her, Garyeon clung to me as if her life depended on it.

‘Maybe it’s because she’s blind… blindly devoted.’

I gave in.

While I resigned myself to her care like a fledgling chick.

The unexpected happened. Someone burst into the palace.

“My lord—!”

Choi Seol-Ah flung open the doors of the banquet hall. I’d later find out Ryozo had sent her as her personal secretary to prevent her from causing a violent scene in the palace.

My beloved wife, Ryozo.

Thank you for your quiet consideration, even if you don’t express it in words. But I’d be even happier if you trusted your husband a little more…

“W-what… are you saying…?”

“Ah…”

What a mess.

“My lord.”

From behind Choi Seol-Ah, Shail’s pink hair appeared. Why are you here again? Apparently, Abel had also submitted a strange transfer request, similar to Ryozo’s.

Taking advantage of the fact that Garyeon was still clinging to me like a leech, they bypassed formalities and completed the entry procedure in simplified form.

Both arrived with the status of representatives from the Joaquin and Nibelung families.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The first to break the silence was—

“I expected the imperial protocol to be a model of etiquette…”

It was Shail, the maid of Sigurd Castle.

“But it’s not that great, is it?”

“…”

Garyeon froze.

“My lord doesn’t eat peanuts. He’s allergic.”

“…”

“And you didn’t even know that…?”

Three women. One man.

An atmosphere so dense it was suffocating.

My personal assistants had just kicked off a competition.

And what a place they chose to host it.