We traveled to the palace in the Duke’s carriage since I couldn’t ride a horse in a dress.

The interior of the carriage was spacious enough for Arcadia, me, and the Duke, with plenty of room to spare.

In an uncertain silence, each of us looked out different windows.

It was Arcadia who broke the silence.

“Your Grace, are we going to the Emperor’s office, not the audience hall?”

“If His Majesty wishes. A public place.”

“A place to look down on the North in public, right?”

The Duke neither confirmed nor denied this.

‘Audience hall. A place to look down on the North.’

Even in my previous life, having lived a short but long twenty-five years, I knew what the imperial audience hall was like. I hadn’t been there but I knew about it.

On significant imperial events like the Founding Day or the ‘Holy Spring Festival,’ the audience hall is open to the general public.

Nobles from distant regions come to the capital just to see the majestic Emperor. It’s where they gather.

An improper space to welcome the noble Duke of the empire.

Yet, the Emperor called the Duke to such a place.

I involuntarily clutched the hem of my dress tightly.

Then, it happened.

A carriage, speeding incredibly fast, came up behind us. It narrowly missed colliding with us, passing by at a dangerously close distance.

Though it was a main road, it was still a pathway for pedestrians. It could have led to a major accident, not just for us but for others too.

Startled, the horses neighed and came to a halt.

The carriage rocked violently.

I lost my balance and ended up in the Duke’s arms.

“Are you alright, Esdel?”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry.”

Why is my heart beating so fast?

“The emblem of Lahert.”

The Duke commented, watching the departing carriage.

“These guys…”

Arcadia gritted his teeth.

“Shall I chase them and split their carriage in half?”

“That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

The Duke replied calmly, still watching Lahert’s distant carriage.

‘Did Lahert deliberately threaten us?’

“Esdel, would you mind getting down for a moment and checking if the people on the street are alright?”

The Duke asked.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Later, the carriage we were in arrived in the center of the great Delphast Empire’s palace.

‘This is the palace…’

In my previous life, I had only been near the entrance of the palace once but never actually inside.

A vast, flat land stretched as far as the eye could see, with the grand palace standing on it.

The building, built with the souls of numerous artists through history, exuded an overwhelming presence, reaching towards the sky in a Northern continental style.

Around the central palace, numerous smaller palaces proudly displayed their splendor, guarding the land.

Between the buildings were statues like figures from myths and legends, fountains, and numerous meticulously maintained gardens.

I gazed down from the carriage, unable to close my mouth at the sight.

“Is it beautiful?”

The Duke asked me quietly.

His eyes were low and deep as he gazed at me.

“……I don’t know. It’s beautiful but also feels desolate. I haven’t seen the Northern Duke’s Castle yet, so it’s hard to say it’s the most beautiful.”

Arcadia responded to my words.

“Your speech has improved, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m like an onion, layer after layer.”

I smiled at Arcadia. He then turned his head away with a blank expression.

Anyway, a pure face with not so pure attitude. I’m reminded again why I risked my life to save him from the black bugs… No, wait.

“Peel after peel? What does that mean?”

The Duke looked puzzled, glancing between me and Arcadia.

“It’s nothing, Your Grace. Esdel is just as she always was, only dressed nicely now. Let’s head to the audience hall!”

Arcadia instructed the carriage driver.
Regretfully, I leaned back to gaze at the receding landscape outside the window.

The carriage came to a final stop on the southern outskirts of the palace.

There, slightly less grandiose than the center of the Imperial Palace, was the hall for an audience with the Emperor. Numerous people gathered in front of the massive hall, built of pure white marble.

Arcadia and I stepped out of the carriage first, flanking its sides.

As the Duke alighted, people around the hall converged towards us. Seeing the shield emblem on the carriage and the Duke’s black cloak, they all either knelt or bowed their heads.

Most of them seemed to be middle and lower nobility. Although many were without attendants, their attire, adorned with various decorations, indicated they were nobles of at least baron rank from all over the country.

“Isn’t that the Duke of the North?”

“My goodness, visiting the capital. How long has it been?”

Whispers of surprise echoed around.

“Ah, Your Grace, the Duke! Our savior who saved our domain!”

“The Shield of the Empire, the Guardian of the North, we greet Your Grace!”

Some cried out in admiration, while others were moved to tears.

None dared to straighten their backs or lift their heads before the Duke.

‘This is the dignity of the Velpast.’