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Chapter 11
The next day, Rosalyn was startled the moment she reported for duty at the knights’ order.
“We’re going to the Argent Order?”
The Empire was represented by two great knightly orders.
The Obsidian Order, led by Cassis.
And the Argent Order, also known as the Imperial Guard, the Emperor’s very own.
If they were headed to the Argent Order, it meant entering the Imperial Palace itself.
But that wasn’t the real reason Rosalyn was so shocked.
Just yesterday, the “Tiger” she had told Zion to get in contact with—was in the Argent Order.
And that “Tiger” was none other than…
“Commander Erich has requested a discussion. Prepare yourself.”
That Commander Erich.
“Me as well?”
“The aide’s role is to assist the commander, is it not?”
Cassis’s reply was as indifferent as ever.
Following Cassis out of the commander’s office after making hasty preparations, Rosalyn mulled things over.
‘Is this a response to my message?’
Cassis seemed completely unaware. It might just be coincidence… but still, the timing was suspicious.
Ordinarily, moving the Commander of the Obsidian Order simply because of a contact request was absurd.
Yet Rosalyn didn’t find it strange at all.
If it was that arrogant, shameless man who always believed the world revolved around him—
It was more than possible.
‘Speak of the devil, and he appears.’
Only this time, the devil had walked right into her den.
The carriage finally arrived at the Imperial Palace.
After passing the security of the royal guards and riding yet further, they reached the Argent Order headquarters.
The moment Rosalyn stepped down from the carriage, she couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp.
“Wow…”
Even though she had ties to Commander Erich, this was her first time seeing the Argent Order’s headquarters.
‘Now that I think about it, it’s also my first time inside the Imperial Palace itself.’
When would a commoner ever have reason to set foot in the palace?
And even if she could, it wasn’t exactly a place one wanted to be tangled up with.
In any world, a palace was always dangerous ground.
But Rosalyn, ever the opportunist, thought differently.
‘When else will I get the chance to come here?’
She eagerly let her eyes wander.
As expected of the Imperial Palace, it was a feast for the eyes.
The Argent Order’s headquarters gleamed with walls as white as pure marble, its pillars, roofs, and doorframes adorned with gold.
Every line of the building exuded imperial dignity and majesty.
At the main gate, the sculpted golden lion’s fangs flashed sharply under the sunlight.
It was oppressive in a way utterly unlike the grim, lethal aura of the Obsidian Order.
A knight of the Argent Order, clad in a white uniform trimmed with gold, approached.
His attire was so ornate it seemed more ceremonial than practical.
He gave Cassis a curt nod, then pointed at Rosalyn.
“And this one?”
The words were clipped, bordering on rude.
But then again, he was an Imperial Guard—an order that acknowledged no one but the Emperor himself.
‘Still… Cassis is the commander of the Empire’s other order. Isn’t this a bit much?’
Rosalyn glanced at Cassis.
He didn’t appear to mind at all.
“My aide.”
The knight’s arrogance was like a sparrow puffing up its chest before a stork—useless posturing.
It couldn’t put the slightest dent in Cassis’s authority.
At last, the knight asked properly:
“What brings you here?”
“Commander Erich said there was a matter to discuss.”
The knight’s expression said clearly: I’ve heard nothing of this.
‘Didn’t even tell his own men?’
Knowing Erich, Rosalyn could only shake her head at such brazen shamelessness.
Still, the knight seemed to conclude that the Commander of the Obsidian Order had no reason to lie, and so he gestured for them to follow.
“This way.”
Inside, they walked for what felt like ages.
The corridors of the palace were endlessly long, each one more gilded and imposing than the last.
Eventually, they arrived at the back garden.
Even though it was the knights’ headquarters, the garden had been landscaped with surprising beauty.
And there, under the patterned shadows of a gazebo roof, sunlight falling in pieces through the lattice—
Two men were seated leisurely, enjoying tea.
One was a platinum-haired man seen only from behind.
‘That must be Erich, no doubt.’
Across from him sat a boy Rosalyn had never seen before.
‘There aren’t many people who can sit face-to-face with Erich in the palace… Could it be—?’
The answer came at once when Cassis inclined his head in formal greeting.
“The Sword of the Empire greets His Imperial Highness, the First Prince.”
Prince Mikhail of the Aleon Empire.
‘The Crown Prince? Here? Seriously?’
Rosalyn was still reeling when Erich finally turned his head—
And their eyes met.
The man, with features so perfect he seemed torn from the pages of a painting, smiled.
A smile so polished, so picturesque—so insufferable.
‘That sly snake… he set this up on purpose!’
Whatever business he had with Cassis, it certainly hadn’t required them to join the Prince’s teatime.
If Cassis had expected to meet royalty, he would have warned Rosalyn.
‘So what game are you playing, Erich?’
As Rosalyn speculated, the young prince spoke.
“Sir Cassis. A pleasure to see you.”
His voice was cold.
Cassis carried an aura of chill detachment himself, but the boy prince’s tone held something more—dismissal.
And yet, when he addressed Erich, his voice transformed completely.
“Erich, if we had an appointment you should’ve told me. Otherwise, I’d have thought I needed to sneak past Mother again.”
He sounded his age then, petulant and careless.
Erich merely bowed his head with practiced ease.
“My apologies, Your Highness. If it displeases you, you need not stay.”
“Forget it. Sir Cassis is no fun anyway.”
So that was the reason for his disdain.
‘Not fun? That’s it? Good grief.’
Rosalyn bit back a laugh. She’d known the First Prince was immature, but this… this was worse than she imagined.
From what she’d heard, Erich was the prince’s fencing tutor.
No wonder the boy preferred him to Cassis—Erich indulged him, even played along with his whims.
The stiff, unsmiling Cassis must have seemed unbearably dull in comparison.
Indeed, the prince often snuck away from the Empress’s watchful eyes just to visit Erich.
Now, however, unhappy with the intruders, he stood abruptly.
“I’m leaving.”
As he strode away, Erich called after him.
“Don’t neglect your basic training, Your Highness!”
“Ugh, it’s boring!”
“Complete it, and I’ll spar with you.”
At that, the boy’s head snapped back.
“Really? You promise? With real blades!”
“If you wish.”
Rosalyn nearly choked.
‘A real duel? With the Crown Prince? Have you both lost your minds?!’
The thought of putting a true sword in that reckless boy’s hands was terrifying.
Then again—why was she worrying?
It wasn’t her problem.
‘Like they say, the most useless thing in the world is worrying about celebrities.’
And royalty were nothing if not celebrities.
Delighted with his prize, Mikhail practically skipped as he headed down the path.
Since there was only one exit from the gazebo, he naturally came toward the spot where Rosalyn and Cassis stood.
As always, Cassis bowed with due respect.
As always, the prince ignored him.
