Chapter 121

Chapter 121. I’m Here (5)

Sephira’s carriage, entering Lord Eslow’s direct territory, immediately headed toward the central district.

“Wow…!”

“It’s really amazing!”

Taragon and Catherine, visiting a big city for the first time in their lives, marveled like children.

The road, paved with expensive marble usually reserved for statues, shimmered beautifully under the sunlight. The artificial streams flowing on either side of the road were clean enough to drink from, and the cheerful sound of flowing water refreshed their spirits just by listening.

Buildings stood at generous intervals along the road. The structures, adorned with exquisitely carved wood and delicate metal decorations, were works of art in themselves.

The people walking about were all dressed formally. Neat, luxurious, and exuding confidence and elegance, their demeanor radiated pride as if they were the protagonists of this city—no, this world.

The road was quiet. Since arriving early wasn’t a virtue of the upper nobility, Sephira’s carriage reached its destination without any delays.

“Prince Mail. We’ve arrived at Pedders Hotel.”

A hotel for nobles, Pedders Hotel boasted 200 years of history and was exclusively for upper nobles.

As Didos, the captain of the 5th Lunar Knight Division, opened the carriage door, Mail closed the book he was reading. Before stepping out, he addressed the group.

“From here on, be mindful of your words and actions. Remember, you are here representing Sephira.”

Mail, especially glancing at Taragon, then turned his gaze to the side and made a troubled expression.

“Keter, you…”

The unspoken implication was clear: ‘Even if I tell you to behave, you won’t listen, will you?’

Keter waved his hand dismissively.

“I’ll handle it, bro.”

“…Just make sure your actions are manageable.”

“Come on, do I look like a mad dog? I won’t bark or bite at every passerby.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you.”

Mail, tightening his collar, stepped out of the carriage first, and the Lunar Knights lined up on either side.

Passersby stopped to watch. It was inevitable. The members of Sephira’s bloodline were all heavenly handsome men.

Golden eyes blessed by the sun and jewel-like purple pupils. Their sharp, sturdy builds, honed through archery, stirred the curiosity of many women.

Even the men stopped in their tracks, thanks to Catherine. Her neatly braided hair, dark sun-kissed skin, and toned, muscular physique resembled a wild horse freely roaming the plains. She was the epitome of health and beauty.

But among them, Keter’s presence was truly unmatched.

His silver hair, revealing a cool forehead, contrasted with his dark red shirt, which had about three buttons undone.

His sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets, and a lazy gaze that made it impossible to tell where he was looking or what he was thinking.

As Mail approached the hotel entrance, a guide in a sky-blue uniform greeted him.

“Welcome to Pedders Hotel, the first hotel in the kingdom. Prince Mail El Sephira.”

“Please take care of the carriage.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”

“Huh?”

Mail shot a look that asked, ‘What do you mean?’

“Unfortunately, there are no available rooms, Your Highness.”

Mail’s brow furrowed. This was nonsense.

Of course, during the Southern Sword Tournament, nobles from the southern region, as well as the east, west, and north, visited for sightseeing.

But southern hotels prioritized southern nobles, and among them, rooms were always reserved for prestigious families.

Moreover, Sephira was the first among the upper nobles to arrive.

Yet, no rooms?

This had to be the dirty, petty trick of a hostile noble.

But knowing this didn’t change anything.

Sephira’s position was such that even if he raised a fuss, the only response he’d get was a formal apology.

Mail, glaring at the guide, spoke politely.

“Tell the manager of Pedders Hotel that Sephira will never stay here again.”

“My deepest apologies.”

The Sephira group, unable to enter the hotel, turned away. This was a great humiliation.

Mail looked back at the group and said.

“They say Pedders Hotel is infested with rats. Let’s go somewhere else.”

But other hotels were no different. All were fully booked and turned Sephira away.

With nowhere to go, Sephira’s carriage stopped on the road.

“Your Highness. What should we do? Should we try an inn in the outer district…?”

Didos cautiously asked Mail. Just then, Keter, leaning against the carriage window, spoke.

“No place to go? Then let’s head there.”

Was there still a hotel left? Impossible. There were only five hotels in the central district, and Sephira had been rejected from all of them.

Everyone’s gaze followed Keter’s pointing finger.

“There? That place?”

“Do you even know where you’re pointing?”

“Young Master Keter. That’s the lord’s palace. Not a hotel.”

Keter was pointing at the palace. The tallest structure in the central district, impossible to mistake for anything else.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll go alone.”

As Keter grabbed the carriage door handle to leave, Mail grabbed his arm.

“Keter. I know this is absurd, but… do you know the lord?”

“Nope.”

“Then do you know someone in the palace?”

“Not a chance.”

“Then why suggest going to the lord’s palace?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“…?!”

“Disregarding Sephira is disregarding me, and insulting Sephira is insulting me. I can’t stand that.”

“I understand that feeling. But how does that relate to going to the palace?”

“It does. They wouldn’t have told the lord not to accept Sephira.”

“Of course not. No one has ever stayed in the lord’s palace. Not just us, but no family has.”

Snap!

Keter flicked his finger.

“Even better. The first family to stay in the palace, Sephira. Plus, they’ve probably prepared all sorts of tricks, but if we enter the palace, all of that becomes useless. Like a dog chasing a goblin off a cliff. Haha!”

Anis, unable to listen any longer, interjected.

“That would be great. But how do we enter a palace where no one has been a guest for hundreds of years?”

Keter’s answer was straightforward.

“I’m here.”

“……”

Everyone fell silent at Keter’s confidence.

Mail spoke with a serious expression.

“Keter, even if I stop you, you’ll go to the palace alone, won’t you?”

“Correct.”

“If you fail, I’ll be the irresponsible one who let you go. If you succeed, I’ll be the fool who didn’t believe in you. …Sir Didos.”

“Yes.”

“To the lord’s palace.”

“…!”

“But brother! If we’re turned away at the palace, Sephira’s dignity will…”

Anis tried to stop Mail, but it was futile.

“Anis. Our dignity is already at rock bottom. It can’t fall any further. Most importantly, if Keter hadn’t suggested this, I’d have no choice but to go to an inn. I wouldn’t dare suggest going to the palace like Keter. Anis, do you have a better idea? Something better than falling into our opponent’s trap.”

“…No.”

“Then we’ll do as Keter says. Not because it’s Keter, but because he’s the only one who suggested it. If any of you have other ideas, speak up. I’ll listen.”

Mail looked at Taragon, Catherine, and Didos as he asked.

Taragon opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the others silent, he closed it again.

“If no one has any objections, we’ll follow Keter’s suggestion. Let’s go, Sir Didos.”

Unanimously, the carriage headed toward the palace.

* * *

It’s not like I had some grand plan to go to the palace.

It’s just fun.

In this situation, it’s the most fun.

A palace where no one has ever been a guest. Becoming its first guest. Sephira, whom everyone ignores. Nothing could be cooler.

So, how do we get in?

I’ve met Eslow in a past life. That guy, known as the Weapon Master, truly handles every weapon like a ghost.

‘And he’s quite greedy. Especially for good weapons.’

The weapons he uses are all artifacts or level 5 magical tools equivalent to artifacts.

It’s strange. Where did he get so many artifacts and magical tools? Even for a lord, it’s unusual.

Anyway, if we’re to make a deal, it would have to be with artifacts. And Sephira happens to have some unused artifacts.

The ultra-heavy bow ‘Agarez’ and the wind bow ‘Tempest’. Rare artifact bows, so I thought Eslow might be interested…

‘But wouldn’t other prestigious families have tried the same?’

Of course, artifacts are precious enough to be family heirlooms, but they’re not as valuable as the lord’s favor. That is, many have offered artifacts to gain the lord’s favor.

Yet, no one has been invited as a guest, so trading with artifacts is out.

The same goes for other treasures. Eslow is the pillar of this kingdom. Anything he wants, he can obtain on his own.

A deal requires the other party to want something.

So, what does Eslow, the absolute strongman and lord, not have but want?

Based on what I can offer, what only I have, I recall all memories related to Eslow.

“If you ever leave Requer, will you visit Eslow?”

Found it.

My connection with Eslow.

It was a memory with Franken, the chimera mage and my medical teacher.

Back then, Franken had said this:

“Eslow has a child born with extreme mana stagnation. Before I came here, I treated them temporarily, but in about 10 years, the illness will recur. If I finish my business in Requer, I’ll go out and treat them, but if you leave Requer before me, mention my name and treat them in my place.”

Extreme mana stagnation.

A constitution where one’s mana adaptability is too high. They absorb so much mana that their body can’t handle it, leading to death.

Franken taught me how to treat extreme mana stagnation, but of course, in my past life, I didn’t treat them.

Fighting the queen is like fighting all four great lords.

I had no time to spare, and even if I treated Eslow’s child, there was no guarantee he’d side with me.

But now, things are different.

Eslow doesn’t see me as an enemy. I don’t know how much he loves his child, but one thing is certain.

Only Franken and I can cure extreme mana stagnation in this world.

I took out a business card from my pocket. On the back, Franken’s handwriting displayed his full name.

-Sinclair Frankenstein Wentworth.

If Franken treated Eslow, they must know each other. So, he must recognize this handwriting and full name.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

Didos spoke from outside.

The carriage slowed down.

“Keter.”

Mail called my name. He must be quite uneasy. He even put down the book he always held. Well, I can’t blame him.

I’m not entirely sure if this will move Eslow’s heart.

But I’m certain this is the best and only option, so I’m not anxious. Trying is what matters, not failure.

I stepped out of the carriage first.

Since I suggested this, I’ll do the talking.

The knights guarding the palace naturally surrounded the carriage. The Lunar Knights escorting the carriage remained calm in their positions.

“What business does Sephira have with the lord?”

The one who seemed in charge stepped forward. Unlike the other knights in gray armor, he wore dark armor. A knight captain, perhaps?

I handed him my business card.

“Deliver this to the lord.”

“…And you are?”

Wow, my face isn’t known yet?

Should I praise Sephira for keeping a low profile, or be upset that outsiders ignore me?

Didos spoke for me.

“This is the sixth young master of Sephira, Keter El Sephira.”

“Keter El Sephira. A name I’ve never heard. I understand you wish to inform the lord of your name, but I cannot allow it.”

“I’m not here to introduce myself. This is what I want to deliver.”

Showing the back of the business card with Franken’s full name, the knight frowned.

Can’t understand it, can you?

Understandable.

Franken’s handwriting is like hieroglyphics.

“What does it say?”

“That’s none of your business. And it shouldn’t be. What’s certain is that if the lord sees this, he’ll treat me as an honored guest.”

“…!”

At the mention of being treated as an honored guest, the knight’s eyes widened as he stared at the back of the card.

Staring won’t make it readable.

“May I take a closer look? Even if it contains an important message, I need to ensure the card itself is safe.”

“Sure.”

I tossed the card to him.

It flew smoothly into the knight’s hand.

“Hmm.”

The knight infused his eyes with aura to examine the card. It won’t help. It’s just a very sturdy business card.

“The card itself has no peculiarities. But… Prince Keter. Are you certain the content on this card is truly important to Lord Eslow?”

“One thing is certain. If the lord finds out you kept me waiting for over 10 minutes, even ten heads won’t be enough for you.”

“Such confidence.”

“You thought I was bluffing? Run and deliver it now.”

“Hmm… If it’s that important, I’ll do so. But if this is all a lie—”

The knight placed his hand on his sword.

“You won’t be leaving here alive.”

* * *

Anis shouted at Keter as he returned to the carriage.

“You idiot! What the hell did you do!? Even if we had no options, dragging the lord into this? Their warning that they’ll kill us is no joke!”

Mail, who should have stopped Anis, also looked pale. This was no longer a simple ‘we came to pay our respects’ situation.

It had become a matter of life and death for everyone.

“You’re spitting.”

Anis stepped back at Keter’s words, but her angry expression remained.

“You should’ve at least warned us before doing something like this!”

“Would you have believed me if I did? You’d have thrown a fit telling me not to.”

“That’s…”

“Men, so scared. If we die, we die. Why are you so desperate to live?”

“You’re the only one who thinks like that, Keter.”

“Then you’d better adapt. Stop making a fuss every time.”

“…Brother. What if Keter’s card doesn’t work?”

Anis ignored Keter and asked Mail. Mail muttered with a somber expression.

“It’s better not to resist. If they say they’ll kill us, it’s better to die obediently. That’s the only way to avoid harming Sephira.”

At the thought of dying without resistance, everyone’s expressions darkened. Only Catherine had a face that said, ‘I believe in Young Master Keter!’

Keter brushed his bangs aside and grumbled.

“Why is my image like this? Even if I drove the carriage into lava, you should be cheering, not screaming.”

“I’d rather dive into lava than insult the lord!”

Anis moved as far away from Keter as possible. Not that it mattered inside the carriage.

Then, from outside, Didos spoke in a tense voice.

“Prince Mail. The knight who took the card has returned.”

A heavy tension filled the carriage.

Mail swallowed hard and asked.

“How does he look? Does he look like he’s dying to kill us?”

“He doesn’t look angry, but his expression is very微妙.”

“Is he managing his expression in case we resist?”

“He’s right in front, Your Highness. I’ll step back now.”

Didos stepped away from the carriage. Soon, the knight in dark armor arrived in front of the carriage and spoke.

“Please forgive my earlier rudeness for not introducing myself. I am Jeffrey Edmund, captain of the 22nd division of the Immortal Knights.”

At Jeffrey’s introduction, Taragon licked his dry lips.

“Is he telling us whose hands we’ll die by…?”

“No matter how I think about it, dying obediently makes no sense. A knight should die fighting.”

Anis grabbed her bow and was about to make a scene by preparing arrows when Jeffrey knelt on one knee and said.

“Please forgive me for not recognizing an honored guest. I will escort you to the inner chambers immediately. Lord Eslow is waiting in the Sword Office.”