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Yanik watched Gilbert’s back as he left the reception room with his usual stoic expression, but this time, his gaze shifted to his master.

With a cold, unreadable look and tightly sealed lips, there was no trace of the earlier farce. It was as if the previous act had been a lie, with not a hint of a smile on his face.

Finally, Seraphina had returned to her original self, the one Yanik knew well.

“Princess Seraphina. I have something I wish to ask you.”

“Yanik. I believe I made it clear that such titles are forbidden within the Academy.”

“My apologies, Lady Seraphina.”

Yanik bowed his head, seeking forgiveness. It was an uncharacteristic mistake, but Seraphina’s unique aura had unconsciously compelled him to address her as “Your Highness.”

Without realizing it, one might casually call her “Your Highness,” as Seraphina was a person who fit the role of a princess so perfectly.

This must be what they call the dignity of an emperor.

Yanik couldn’t help but nod inwardly.

“Very well. What is it you wish to ask me? The Yanik I know would usually swallow his doubts.”

It was rare for Yanik, who believed that loyalty meant not opposing his master’s will, to voice his concerns. Normally, he would try to understand the meaning behind her actions rather than question them. It had been quite some time since he had asked for her thoughts, so Seraphina was intrigued.

“Why did you say such a thing to Sir Gilbert earlier?”

“Such a thing… What do you mean?”

“About granting him your time as a reward.”

“Ah, you mean that.”

Yanik watched his master quietly sipping her now-cold tea.

Seraphina was originally a meticulous and charismatic leader who could bend her subordinates to her will. Her overwhelming presence made ordinary people shrink back as if cursed by dark magic.

This was precisely why she was chosen as the next emperor. It was only natural for Seraphina to stand above others.

But at some point, Seraphina had changed. Unlike before, when she never joked, she now often made light-hearted remarks and playful banter.

Just moments ago, she had made a joke that would have been unimaginable in the past. Considering her status within the Empire, even in private, such jokes were something to be avoided. A single careless word from Seraphina could easily become the subject of gossip.

And politics was built on such small things piling up and gaining power. It was the start of everything that could give someone a reason or an opening to strike.

That’s why Yanik couldn’t hide his confusion. It was hard to imagine that Seraphina, known for her deep insight, had overlooked something so obvious.

There must be a reason.

Yanik was curious about it.

“Yanik. What kind of man do you think Gilbert Lion Heart is?”

“That is…”

As Seraphina quietly sipped her tea, Yanik felt a sense of déjà vu. He had definitely heard this question before. Thinking back, it was during the entrance mock battle for this year’s Demia Academy freshmen.

At that time, Yanik had harshly criticized Gilbert as “disrespectful, dishonorable, and a worthless man.” It was an objective assessment based on his reputation and information from the Empire’s Intelligence Agency, with only a slight bias from his disdain for the spoiled noble brat.

But now, several months later, he couldn’t give the same evaluation. Gilbert’s actions since entering Demia Academy were completely opposite to his previous behavior.

Disrespectful? The man who led the charge against the enemies of the royal family?

Dishonorable? The man who never retreated in the face of countless enemies?

Worthless? The man who single-handedly defeated numerous foes and stood alone?

Yanik shook his head.

As the personal disciple of the Empire’s top swordsman and the sole priest of the Infractus Empire’s first princess, Gilbert had been granted a knight title as an academy student and had the ability to hold off dozens of colossal mechs alone. There was nothing lacking in him.

Of course, from a political perspective, his past reputation could still be a liability. Many high-ranking nobles remembered his past misdeeds and held grudges.

But Gilbert, who had brilliantly thwarted the academy attack, was now being hailed as a hero. With the public sentiment calmed by his actions, any political maneuvering against him would risk being dismissed outright.

Yanik organized his thoughts and cleared his throat, feeling Seraphina’s gaze waiting for his response.

“Sir Gilbert is a loyal servant of the Empire, a man who knows honor and never retreats in the face of countless enemies, and a brave man who confronts the Empire’s foes before anyone else.”

“That’s a different evaluation from before.”

“My judgment was narrow-minded, and I failed to understand Sir Gilbert properly.”

“No, anyone would have thought the same.”

Seraphina, rubbing the rim of her empty teacup, called a maid to refill it. As the reddish tea filled the cup, she added a few sugar cubes and stirred with a teaspoon.

Watching the solid sugar dissolve into the warm tea, she gently placed the teaspoon on the saucer.

“Yanik.”

“Yes, Lady Seraphina.”

“I admire talented individuals. Like stars twinkling in the night sky, the brilliance of their talents is truly beautiful.”

“I know. You’ve always been passionate about discovering talent, haven’t you?”

“Yes. They will become the pillars that support the Empire. As such, I cannot help but admire those with great talent.”

Seraphina had always been thirsty for talent. Born with exceptional abilities herself, she knew well how far talent could take someone. She gathered talented individuals regardless of their status, driven by a near-obsessive desire.

In a way, it was almost a compulsion, but her reason for doing so was singular: for the Empire.

“The Empire is the most important thing to me. The progress of the Empire is my life’s goal and direction. How could I neglect talented individuals?”

“Then…”

“Gilbert is a gem among gems. It’s been less than half a year since he entered the academy, but look at him. He has already left a deep mark on the Empire. Only those with heroic spirits can achieve such feats. In the future, he will be the one to change the continent’s landscape.”

Seraphina savored her tea and closed her eyes. As she did, the memory of her first encounter with Gilbert came to mind.

Every year, Seraphina attended the entrance mock battle to scout promising freshmen for her faction. This year, with rumors of exceptionally talented newcomers, her expectations were higher than ever.

Indeed, the freshmen this year were more skilled than the previous year. Many showed remarkable prowess in piloting colossal mechs, and there were several she wanted to recruit.

But as usual, she couldn’t recruit everyone, so she began to sift through the candidates. Just as she was about to finalize her choices, she noticed him.

Gilbert, known as the troublemaker of a count family.

He displayed the most outstanding colossal mech piloting skills among the freshmen, eventually defeating all the commander cadets and winning the mock battle. His actions were so contrary to his previous reputation that even Seraphina was surprised.

She suspected that his past behavior might have been a ruse, perhaps to protect the Empire’s safety. Given her position, she decided to keep him close for observation. When he later asked to become Briana’s personal disciple, she allowed it with that intention in mind.

But Gilbert’s actions defied her expectations. Not only did he thwart the Resistance’s terrorist attacks on the academy, but he also led the charge in operations to eliminate the Resistance, achieving remarkable feats.

During the recent Demia Academy attack, he single-handedly held off dozens of colossal mechs and protected both the cadets and guests.

While Seraphina, always cautious, didn’t fully trust him yet, she felt a deep sense of trust. Above all, she felt she couldn’t afford to lose him, which was why she was building such a close relationship.

“So, you’re being informal with Sir Gilbert to draw him in?”

“If such actions can bring Gilbert into my fold, I will do them without hesitation.”

Yanik, moved by Seraphina’s calm words, closed his eyes. Serving a master who, despite her noble status, could lower herself when necessary was a source of pride and happiness for Yanik, who prided himself on his loyalty.

To doubt Her Highness’s actions…

Yanik scolded himself for his impious thoughts and reaffirmed his loyalty to Seraphina.

“Of course, it’s also true that having a priest who matches my tastes is a bonus.”

“Excuse me? Your Highness… What are you…?”

“I too have personal preferences.”

As Seraphina chuckled and sipped her tea, Yanik felt his earlier loyalty waver, his mind slightly dazed.

Surely, she’s joking?

But Yanik could swear he had never seen Seraphina make such a joke before.

***

Briana, busy with the paperwork piled up after the academy attack, suddenly checked the time. By now, Gilbert should have finished his audience with Princess Seraphina. She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn’t noticed the time passing.

Briana finished organizing the documents and picked up the teapot to brew some tea. Her family had sent some herbal tea leaves good for physical recovery, and now seemed like the perfect time to brew them.

Though some time had passed since Gilbert had pushed his limits, she thought it wouldn’t hurt to have him drink the tea just in case.

Knock knock.

Just as she finished brewing the tea, there was a knock at the door. It seemed he had arrived right on time.

“Master. It’s Gilbert.”

“Come in.”

Gilbert cautiously opened the door and entered. Briana gestured for him to sit at the reception table. As he sat down, she poured the herbal tea into two cups and placed one in front of him.

“It’s herbal tea, good for physical recovery. It should help with the aftereffects of pushing your limits.”

“Thank you.”

As Gilbert accepted the tea and drank it, Briana couldn’t help but chuckle.

It was so like him not to question anything.

“Is something good happening? The atmosphere seems softer than usual.”

“Well… What master wouldn’t be pleased with their disciple’s growth?”

At Gilbert’s question, Briana composed herself. She hadn’t realized her expression had softened.

“More importantly, how’s your body?”

“As you can see, I’m fine. I wasn’t injured, after all.”

“I know. But you definitely pushed past your limits that day. No one can guarantee what problems might arise from that.”

The limit realm. It was different from the breakthroughs that all practitioners, whether in martial arts or magic, desperately sought. It was a dangerous act of forcibly pushing past a realm that was not yet permitted, using sheer talent.

In a state where physical and mental growth were insufficient, breaking through the realm could have unpredictable consequences.

Briana had seen too many cases of people who had mistakenly stepped into the limit realm and suffered permanent damage. She herself had once pushed past her limits and had to recuperate, so she knew all too well the dangers of the limit realm.

“The limit realm…”

“That’s why you were able to use the Winter Sword’s ultimate technique during the academy attack. The limit realm allows you to exert divine power beyond your current limits. But from now on, I forbid you from entering the limit realm. While it grants power beyond your current level, the rebound on your body and mind is severe. One wrong move, and you could become a cripple.”

“I’ll avoid using it as much as possible.”

“It’s not about avoiding it. It’s an absolute prohibition.”

“Understood.”

Hearing his firm answer, Briana finally relaxed her stern expression. Her anxiety that her precious disciple might ruin his body by falling into the limit realm had somewhat eased. After all, as one’s realm improved, entering the limit realm became increasingly difficult. Forcing one’s way to the next realm through talent was never easy.

With Gilbert’s talent, he would soon surpass his current realm, so this warning should suffice.

“Is that why you called me?”

“That’s the main reason, but not the only one.”

Briana had called Gilbert for another reason besides forbidding him from entering the limit realm.

She looked at her disciple, who was staring at her blankly.

His golden hair, fierce eyes, and the piercing dangling from his ear made him look every bit the troublemaker he was reputed to be.

But Briana knew her disciple better than anyone. Gilbert was a swordsman with an unparalleled passion for the sword and a true knight who could never ignore the danger of others.

During the attack, he had saved her from certain death and single-handedly held off dozens of colossal mechs without retreating. After defeating all the mechs, he moved to protect the cadets and civilians who couldn’t evacuate, disregarding his own life in the process.

Facing dozens of colossal mechs was an overwhelming task for a cadet who had just started shedding his freshman label. Yet Gilbert, as a first-year cadet, had accomplished it brilliantly.

Even Briana, who was usually stingy with praise to guard against Gilbert’s arrogance, couldn’t help but praise him.

“Gil.”

“…Yes?”

Gilbert was startled by Briana’s soft tone as she used his nickname. It was the first time he had seen this side of her since becoming her personal disciple. The usually cold and composed Briana from tactical combat was nowhere to be seen.

Even he, a seasoned veteran, was taken aback by this unfamiliar expression.

Gilbert swallowed hard.

“As a master, there’s no one who wouldn’t be pleased with their disciple’s growth. Especially when the disciple is heading in the right direction. I’m very proud of you, Gil. I hope you continue to move forward without straying from the path.”

“Understood.”

Was this the result of clearing a death route in tactical combat?

Gilbert clenched his fist as he looked at Briana’s affectionate smile. His actions to save her had been to minimize the academy’s losses, but personally, he had also wanted her to survive.

How could he dislike someone who willingly sacrificed herself for her students?

His efforts during the attack had been driven by a strong desire to save her, and now, seeing this smile, he felt he had received his reward. The satisfaction was immense.

“Ahem. In that spirit, clear your schedule for next week.”

“That won’t be a problem, but… Is there a reason?”

“My disciple has worked hard enough to be called a hero. As a master, it’s only right to give him a gift. There will be a grand award ceremony soon, so I’ll get you something to wear for the occasion.”

“You’re saying this, Master?”

“Yes. And as a token of appreciation for your hard work, I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

Briana, coughing awkwardly and sipping her tea, looked even more unfamiliar than when she had been smiling softly.

Gilbert could only stare in bewilderment. Still, it wasn’t a bad offer, so he slowly nodded.

But isn’t this almost like a date?

As he sipped his tea, Gilbert shook his head.

Nah, couldn’t be.

 

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