An Audience With The Emperor

“Huh, this place…”

The place Jonah and Patricia had been teleported to.

It was in front of Dr. Günter’s clinic in the Imperial Capital.

(Ah, aaah… The teleport always lands us here, so that was a bit of a misstep…)

Thinking that, Jonah scratched his head.

Unfortunately, the promised appointment with Dr. Günter is a week away. There’s no need to be here yet.

“Hmm. It seems this is the slum district of the capital, in front of the clinic. But if you’ve been teleported here, Jonah, does that mean you’ve used this clinic before?”

“No.”

He didn’t want Patricia to know about his broken body.

Jonah put on a mask of a smile and denied it in a flat voice.

“I see. Then let’s move to the palace at once. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from here.”

“Y-yes.”

Led by Patricia, Jonah left the clinic, but along the way he turned back toward it several times.

Patricia was not unaware of Jonah’s behavior.

That said, Jonah himself was deceiving even Patricia and refused to speak, so she did not press the matter further.

And then.

“…!? P-Princess Patricia, Your Highness!?”
“…!? P-Princess Patricia, Your Highness!?”

“Huhu… I’m back now.”

The palace guards, who stood watch at the gate, voiced their astonishment at Patricia, who appeared as if she had dropped in casually.

They knew from the letter Stern had sent that she would return, and though using sea travel from Karelia Kingdom’s capital Helsing makes the distance relatively short, it would still take at least two weeks.

Yet only a week had passed since the palace received the letter. Under normal circumstances, her arriving this quickly was impossible. Their reaction was understandable.

On the other hand, Patricia smirked triumphantly.

She had managed to surprise the guards, who had been complacent, thinking she wouldn’t return this soon.

“As I wrote in the letter, I returned ahead of the Imperial forces. If it’s just me alone, this is no trouble.”

“I-I see…”
“I-I see…”

Given Patricia’s skill, known as the ‘Silver Sword Princess’, that might indeed be possible.

Even so, the guards couldn’t quite believe it and gave an uncertain reply.

“W-well then, the boy over there, is he… Sir Jonah?”

“Hm? Ah, he’s our guest Jonah.”

Although she was curious about the guards’ reaction, Patricia assumed they were simply being deferential to her guest and nodded it away.

Then.

“W-welcome to the Estraia Empire! Sir Jonah!”
“W-welcome to the Estraia Empire! Sir Jonah!”

“Huh…?”

“Hmm…?”

At the guards’ deepest bows aimed at Jonah, both Jonah and Patricia couldn’t help but blurt and tilt their heads in bewilderment.

◇

“P-please wait here.”

“Y-yes…”

Led by a nervous chamberlain into the reception room, Jonah sat down with Patricia in confusion.

It made sense that Patricia would meet the emperor to report Lindwyrm’s defeat, but Jonah could not understand why he too was being brought into the same reception room.

“W-well, perhaps the palace arranged it so I could return to Jonah as soon as I finish reporting to His Majesty. Don’t worry about it.”

“Y-yeah, that’s right!”

Their faces twitched, but they forced smiles to cover it up.

Let’s not think too deeply about this, they decided.

Their resolve was ruined in an instant.

“…Thank you for waiting. Princess Patricia, Sir Jonah, I will escort you to the audience chamber.”

“Huh…?”
“Huh…?”

The elderly chamberlain bowed politely, and he had come not only for Patricia but for Jonah as well.

Even the two of them couldn’t hide their surprise.

“W-wait a moment. Never mind me, why Jonah as well…?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has been eagerly awaiting Sir Jonah’s arrival. Please do grant him an audience.”

“E-eh…”

Since running away from the Langheim ducal house, Jonah had been traveling as a commoner. There was no way the Emperor could know of his existence.

Yet why would the Emperor know Jonah and request a meeting with him specifically?

“Why. Why does His Majesty wish to meet Jonah?”

“W-well, that’s…”

“Speak. If you don’t, you won’t get off lightly.”

Patricia emitted a fierce murderous aura and glared at the elderly chamberlain.

It was enough to actually take the chamberlain’s life if she continued.

“I-I’m fine, Miss Patricia. I don’t know what business His Majesty could have with a commoner like me, but I’ll go and see anyway.”

“Jonah, b-but…”

“Thank you for doing this for me.”

Saying that, Jonah bowed politely.

Touched by Jonah’s sweetness and kindness in giving in for her sake, Patricia almost wanted to hug him, but she held back.

But Jonah felt the same way.

Even as the First Princess, the Emperor’s orders are absolute. Yet she had been willing to defy the Emperor for his sake.

“G-good grief… I can’t beat Jonah, can I?”

“Ehehe.”

Seeing Jonah’s bashful smile, Patricia gave a wry smile.

The elderly chamberlain breathed a sigh of relief and said:

“Then, this way please.”

The two were guided to the front of the audience chamber.

“Jonah, I’m here, so don’t worry.”

“Yes.”

The doors were thrown open, and the two stepped inside.

“Well done for coming. My daughter Patricia, and… hero Jonah.”