118 Expedition Arc 3 Audience with the Emperor

Short and sweet.

"Alright, let's go."

After changing into formal attire, I follow Kyle’s lead toward the audience chamber.

Along the way, he teaches me the proper etiquette.

"Once you enter the audience chamber, walk forward and stop at a suitable spot. That’ll work fine with me as a reference.

Then kneel—left knee down, right knee up—and bow your head.

That’s when you greet. Just follow my lead and say your greeting too.

When the Emperor says ‘raise your face,’ you do so. Then keep your mouth shut until questioned.

Don’t speak unless asked. When told to step aside, rise and exit. That’s the basic etiquette, I guess."

"I’ll just try to mimic Kyle… somehow."

"Hey, it’s just a greeting. No need to stress."

By the time we’re chatting like this, we’ve arrived at the antechamber of the audience chamber.

The emperor’s not gonna stand around in the audience chamber waiting forever, so timing’s gotta be sorted out, I guess.

My heart’s racing. I’m a natural-born prince—no actual blood relation to the emperor.

I’m just a distant cousin with a claim to the throne. What even do I do with my face right now?

After sipping tea for a while, killing time, we’re finally called. Time for the audience.

“It’s fine. Just a greeting.”

Kyle tries to calm me down. Feels good to have someone solid beside me.

We reach the massive doors of the audience chamber.

“First Prince Kyle, Sixth Prince Akira—your imperial highnesses have arrived.”

The guard at the door announces our presence. At the same moment, the great doors swing open.

A crimson carpet stretches straight from the entrance to the emperor’s throne.

Flanking the carpet, the empire’s most powerful figures stand in formation.

All eyes snap toward me at once.

Yeah, first prince isn’t exactly rare. Naturally, the spotlight’s on me.

Feeling like I’m about to get skewered by stares. Should’ve brought Lartel along, maybe?

No. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t bring guards here.

Lost in that thought, I’ve already reached the emperor’s presence.

Kyle kneels on one knee. I follow suit, head bowed.

"First Prince Kyle, having answered Your Majesty’s summons, have arrived."

"Sixth Prince Akira, likewise arrived."

"Excellent. Raise your faces."

There he was—Emperor of the Empire—right in front of me. Late forties, sharp features, eyes that cut through like a blade.

A warlord forged in battle, the kind you’d picture as a glorified Oda Nobunaga from some game. Not that his portrait’s bad—just saying the real thing’s nothing like the art.

And just like that, I realize I don’t even know the Emperor’s name—panic sets in, now.

The Emperor locks eyes with me.

“You’re Akira. Came in a cruiser, I hear.”

Is that a question? Should I answer?

“Yes. The only ship available by deadline was my Personal Ship.”

“Huh. Still got a cruiser as your Personal Ship?”

“Yes.”

“Odd. I’ve never heard of a cruiser equipped with a dimension-hopping (warp) drive.”

“Haha.”

I just laughed it off. Couldn’t do anything else.

“Meeting the impossible deadline? Unheard of. Fine, Akira—join us at the next military council.”

“Haha. What a blessed fate.”

I deployed every trick I’d picked up from period dramas to get through it.

Just a greeting, right? Kyle!

The senior officer to the right of the Emperor, having lost interest, gestured for us to leave.

Kyle and I stood and stepped through the great doors without delay.

"The Emperor was utterly fascinated by you. Didn’t even glance my way."

"Uh, that’s probably just because you’re always around."

"Let’s just leave it at that. I’m also summoned to the war council afterward. Come with me."

"So you’re called too, huh."

"Guess so. But being called means being ordered to fight. There are some in the Emperor’s personal military corps who don’t take kindly to your favor. Keep your guard up."

Please, no jealousy-induced solo charges into battle, thanks.

If I’m going to survive, I might not be able to keep my secret weapons secret after all.

At least I’ll get enemy intel if I show up at the war council.

If this reckless plan gets me wiped out, I’ll just dimension-hop—er, warp—outta there.

“Hey, what’s the Emperor’s name, again?”

“Huh? You didn’t know?”

“Yeah….”

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