The Rise of the Sword Expert
Meeting Known People

"Aren't you going to answer me?"

Look at his power-savvy attitude.

I moved my neck a little, a sense of tension coming at me. After that I looked at the princess with a smile.

"Hello Princess of the Great Saintess, forgive me for being a little late to greet you and answer your question. It's because I'm so fascinated by your beauty"

He was surprised, either because of a smile he had never seen before, or because of my nonsense just now.

The corner of her lips lifted slightly, but she could act gracefully. A person who gets the best education, he must understand the etiquette of nobles.

"Thank you for your praise, Young Baron Akion. Now you can answer my question,"

I smiled a little. "Daughter Lord Ophelia, don't you see I'm reading a book? Is there anything else being done in the library?"

"If I had known you had a need here, I wouldn't be so presumptuous to be here. The pastor who came to me earlier said nothing about you. Forgive him." I looked at the priest who looked down in fear.

His eyes looked coldly at me. "It turns out you're good at talking."

I closed the book I read. "I can say more if you wish, Princess Ophelia."

The situation became tense. I know maybe he's upset because of the emperor's offer I refused. Her pride as the most desirable woman in the Empire was hurt just because of the child of a poor Baron like me.

That's why he wasn't friendly, looking at me coldly from head to toe.

Isn't my appearance now different from what I used to be, I look more luxurious, right. That is the power of money.

"I will not interrupt the busy time of a youngest swordmaster of the empire. You must be a lot of activity."

"You are absolutely right, Princess Ophelia. I have a busy schedule. Then excuse me,"

I bowed and after that left her, with her face slowly stiffening.

After I came out of the library, I saw Princess Ophelia calling the priest earlier. What happens next I don't know, maybe he'll receive a little punishment from the Great Saintess.

**

We moved away from the main building of the temple, tracing the neatly arranged stone path. I let go of Tanka who was hiding in my pocket. He could have seen Tanka, not her eyes were the eyes of a god.

And I don't like it when he finds out about Tanka. Fortunately at the time Tanka was at a point of nowhere to be seen for her.

"Is that woman really a Saintess?" Tanka looked at me with a doubtful expression.

"Yes, right. What's up?"

"He's not what I imagined. Different from Caesar."

"Maybe it's because she's a woman and Caesar's a man,"

"Eitherway. Something's weird about him. I don't like it."

He scratched his head agitated.

I may not have responded too much to Tanka's talk about the princess, but I kept thinking about her and kept my guard up.

When night fell, we just arrived at the palace, I walked in the hallway of the western building which was not luxurious.

The service that met me bowed once, then just passed by. My disappearance for the whole day was considered no problem, or none of them were looking for me.

I rubbed my chin slowly, just then someone's head poked out from the intersection of the passageway.

It was Altair. His smile was as crisp as he looked at me with his eyes round.

"We'll meet again, Mr. Akion,"

I explain here, if he doesn't remember about his etiquette and dignity as the envoy of Count Elbram, he will definitely jump towards me and hug me.

"How are you, Altair?"

I smiled warmly at him. Meeting a known person is indeed able to release the burden of the mind.

Five minutes later we were sitting in my room.

The sound of a wooden window in my room when the wind blows. I just ignored him, but Altair looked at him not Accept.

"How can you alone be stationed in the palace of the western building?" Altair snorted with her reddened face.

I admire the sweet side that sympathizes with me. The other Nobles must have guessed the Emperor's treatment of me because of Akion's refusal. It aims to pressure me, and tell me who is in charge here.

"More this is an ugly room, and not worthy of someone as great as you, Mr. Akion,"

I agree on that, isn't the Emperor being too childish?

"I will protest against the Emperor,"

I sipped my tea first, and looked at it gently. I can't let this Selugu boy waste his life for nothing.

"Don't do that, Altair. You could've been killed for hurting the Emperor's feelings." I looked at him softly but full of threats. He kept his mouth shut.

"It's okay that I'm in this room. It's pretty comfortable."

That's not a lie. I have only been in Xellim for a few months but have felt many things, even sleeping on a horse or on the hard ground I have been through. Sleeping on a little rickety bed is not a problem.

"But I thank you for your concern, Altair."

His face quickly changed expression to happy.

"Thank you for visiting me too."

He held back that his smile was not too wide. Maybe if he had wings, he'd fly.

"This kid is funny." Tanka looked at her face up close. I'm nodding.

"Have you just arrived, Altair?"

I noticed that she was being timid and bold at the same time. He has a great tenacity to get close to his idol.

"I just arrived tonight and went straight for you, Mr. Akion,"

It's an honor for me. I stood up from my couch, his knight alert as I raised my hand and rubbed Altair's head.

Is he ashamed?

But from his expression even in wanting this thing for quite a while. This is the moment of closeness that Altair wanted from me, maybe Tanka asked why I was lowering my guard on him. I felt nothing but innocence from him.

He who was still shocked just silently accepted my treatment. After I pulled my hand, she looked at me confidently.

"You need to rest, Altair. Growth is important,"

He accepted my advice without refutation. Her soft and bright smile was as bright as the sun.

He's good-bye to me. His walking style is strong and confident.

After the door closed, Tanka looked at me as if she had found something.

"You're weak with kids?"

I smiled a little. He caught my tail. Since I am a child, I do not have a sister. I want it, then every time there's a kid I play with them.

He laughed innocently.

What was? A strange fairy.

"Is that embarrassing?"

"No, Akion. I just imagined you as a father,"

"I've become a father to Sunny,"

He shook his head and looked at me with a wry smile. No, I understood what that smile meant, what the previous words meant.

That explains me more as a biological father.

But I can't think until there. It's still a pseudo-fiction.