Chapter 19
“?!”
For the Imperial royal guard, it was the most shocking moment of the year.
Not just any superior, but the Empress, who resided in a place so high and distant?
‘That’ Empress, no less?
‘She’s going to train??? Why?’
However, the Empress did not provide an explanation.
She simply dropped the bombshell and returned.
The remaining royal guards looked at each other with bewildered expressions.
“…Hey, this feels like that, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it feels like that.”
The Empress was far more delicate than the average person.
It was widely known that she was so sickly that she couldn't even take a walk easily, which prevented her from attending to state affairs.
Therefore, the royal guards didn't really believe that the Empress would actually train.
However, the mere fact that she would appear at the training grounds at six in the morning, a time when even ordinary nobles wouldn't be awake, sent shivers down their spines.
Even if she didn't come every day, the fact that ‘she might come at any time’ was even more terrifying.
‘If we show this kind of mess again, we’re really going to lose our heads.’
In the meantime, they, along with the newly appointed commander and vice-commander, had been indulging in drinking parties.
This was because the current commander was simply chosen for being the oldest, and the vice-commander was selected by lottery.
Since the enthronement of the current Emperor, the royal guard had become quite pathetic.
Their budget was cut, their honor diminished, and the bonuses they received at the end of the year, as well as the gifts from the Imperial Treasury on their birthdays, were far inferior to what the royal guard or the Crusade received.
royal guards, after all, were a breed that lived for honor, and without it, the meaning of their lives disappeared.
They envied their colleagues from good families who were able to transfer to the royal guard, and they felt bitter about the unchanging reality. The Saintess, the real power in the Imperial Palace, had no interest in them. The Emperor was the same.
Both were close to the royal guard or the Crusade, so it was only natural.
They had never even expected anything from the Empress.
What could they expect from someone who was ill?
So, all they did was drink and lament their misfortunes.
“But why do I feel good, though?”
“Yeah, me too. I feel nauseous inside… I’m sweating cold… but why do I feel good?”
“The Emperor completely ignores us. But the Empress is trying to give us a chance before we get kicked out, isn’t she?”
When Chedef, Giovanni, and Schopen each said a word, the other royal guards soon agreed.
No matter how they thought about it, it seemed like she was trying to give them a chance.
“Yes, she must be trying to somehow restore us, who have been living like trash in despair, back to our original selves!”
“Ah, Empress… to think she had such generosity!”
A couple of the more emotional ones got excited and even cried.
There were two masters of the country.
The Emperor and the Empress.
The royal guard were only loyal to the Emperor and only listened to the Emperor's orders.
For the Crusade, the absolute being was not royalty but God.
However, the Imperial royal guard also pledged allegiance to the Empress.
‘The Empress must be trying to pay attention to us.’
For the Imperial royal guard, the reason didn't matter.
If there was a chance to soar once again, they wanted to seize it.
Since they would be disbanded anyway if things continued like this, holding onto the Empress's hand was like their only lifeline.
“I wouldn’t mind giving my life for my lord. If only we were given the chance.”
“That’s right. If only she needed our loyalty….”
The Emperor did not need the Imperial royal guard.
He had been like that since he was a prince.
Why would he need the royal guard when the Crusade was on his side?
Moreover, the Crusade were those who thought they were superior to others because they possessed divine power.
They were annoying and irritating, so the royal guard had always been at odds with the Crusade.
The reason they sided with the First Prince during the last battle for the throne was not because they liked the First Prince, but because they predicted that the result would be like this if they didn't.
The future they had predicted unfolded exactly as they had expected.
The only difference was that the Empress had reached out her hand.
Whatever the reason, the Empress needed them.
That was enough.
Some of the royal guards looked down at their bellies and scratched their heads.
“Ah, look at this gut.”
“I’m going to die tomorrow…….”
Still, they were looking forward to tomorrow.
It had been a long time since they had felt that way.
From the next day, I really started going out for dawn training.
I tied up my long hair into a bun and wore clothes that were easy to train in.
What I was wearing looked similar to the royal guard's uniform, but this type of uniform was not used by the current Imperial family.
The jet-black pants and red jacket, tailored to fit perfectly, were all made of highly flexible fabric, and the boots were high-quality items with sturdy leather added to prevent ankle twisting.
Dressed like that, I arrived at the royal guard's training ground with a slightly excited feeling.
‘Oh, they all have the potential to be great.’
Derek and the members of the Empress Palace were taken aback by my unconventional behavior.
But if it was a reckless act that I really shouldn't do, I wouldn't have even considered it.
Because my life is precious.
‘I’ve roughly filled my lifespan, so now what I need is physical strength.’
It's different from before when I would collapse from just a cold breeze.
The high concentration of yang energy allowed my dying body to move.
‘I just need to move enough for rehabilitation training. Even that will be hard enough to die for, though.’
If they still felt like drinking when the supposedly sickly Empress was taking the lead, then they were truly hopeless. They should be expelled from the royal guard.
But if it was because they were despairing at the thought of having no future….
‘I can create a future for them.’
I need you guys.
I smiled at the royal guards lined up.
“Soldiers.”
“Yes!”
“Good. It seems like you haven’t been drinking.”
Derek had been carrying my wooden sword while we were coming here. I reached out my hand to Derek, and he handed me the wooden sword with a reluctant look.
‘Ugh, my wrist hurts.’
It wasn't to the point where I would drop it as soon as I picked it up, but my weak wrist muscles were trembling as I held it.
I stuck it into the ground like yesterday and continued speaking.
“Look at what I’m wearing.”
“You look beautiful!”
“I know that.”
One of the royal guards flattered me loudly, but when I cut him off sharply, laughter erupted from all around.
The atmosphere was quite good.
“If you lose weight and get in shape, I will provide you with this uniform. It’s not an official uniform, but I guarantee it will be very comfortable. I will also gift you with boots made of the highest quality family leather.”
“Thank you!”
“The summit is not far away. Are you going to give the glory to the royal guard that day as well?”
“No!!!”
Their answer was so clear and refreshing.
I could see clearly what their desires were, as if I had them in my hand.
The Imperial royal guard wanted to be recognized.
Their abilities, their worth.
And as I always say, I cherished what was mine.
“Let me be honest. This summit banquet is very important to me. It’s the first banquet I’m hosting in the name of the Empress.”
Behind the ‘public image,’ I had to show a ‘private image.’
That way, they would feel a sense of familiarity, believe that their superior had opened up their heart, and become more loyal.
I changed my tone slightly and pretended to be familiar.
“But the royal guard has no intention of lending me a hand. And I can’t summon the Crusade, who are dealing with Magical Creatures all over the country.”
“…….”
“So, I need your help.”
Not an order, but a request. Not coercion, but an appeal.
Wasn't it the nature of royal guards to protect the weak and be loyal to their lord?
If so, how would they react to a weak, needy lord?
“I don’t want to be deprived of what’s mine anymore.”
A wave of empathy spread through the silence.
They were the same as me.
I found out that they were being treated unfairly compared to the other two royal guards.
“If you join me, I will speak up so that you can receive the best treatment. I can’t give you a definite answer because my position is unstable, but I will try.”
“We… that’s enough for us.”
The one who said that was the commander of the royal guard, who seemed half-drunk yesterday. The vice-commander next to him nodded enthusiastically.
That was enough for the moment of emotion before training.
I smiled with satisfaction and shouted briefly.
“Start training!”
On the first day of training, I walked and ran half of the three laps around the training ground before collapsing.
But the next day, and the day after that, I went to the training ground again.
My legs gave out, my mouth tasted strange, and my vision was dizzy, but I stubbornly endured.
Physical strength doesn't increase unless you do this.
The royal guards shook their heads at me, calling me a madwoman.
Derek silently guarded my side, moving like a snail according to his standards, but his one step was my three steps.
“Hah, hah.”
About two weeks passed like that, and finally, news arrived that the desert Emperor's procession would arrive at Nix Imperial Palace tomorrow.
I had already announced in advance that I would not stop the dawn training.
Even though I was panting like this, I could clearly feel that my physical strength had improved after exercising for almost two weeks.
“Cheer up, Empress!”
“You can do it! Fighting!”
“Let’s take one more step!”
The royal guards, who initially had beer bellies, had achieved even greater changes than I had.
Rumors spread that the Imperial royal guard had come to their senses as if struck by lightning and were spending all day at the training ground. In just two weeks, they had regained their former strength and physique.
I chuckled at the sight of the royal guards who were cheering me on as they passed by me like the wind.
It’s really hard. My whole body was drenched in sweat, and my thighs were trembling.
While they were running 30 laps, I had only run 3 laps, but I was like this.
‘I wish I could pick up the wooden sword and do swordsmanship training soon… but I shouldn’t be too impatient.’
Soon, I stopped and stretched.
These days, Enrique and Helene haven't been picking fights with me for no reason, so it's been very peaceful.
From tomorrow, it will be war again.
‘But it’s okay because I’m not alone.’
I’ve also become very close to the palace staff. I memorized the names of the children I saw passing by and called them, and they liked it so much.
And I always praised them for even the smallest things.
No palace staff would be unhappy to be praised by the Empress.
‘I’ve also become close to the Imperial royal guard.’
At this point, it’s worth fighting Helene.
“Everyone, gather.”
“Gather!!!”
At my word, the royal guards gathered in an orderly manner.
I looked at them one by one and uttered just one word.
“I will send a tailor today, so have new clothes made.”
“Wow!”
The same clothes create a sense of belonging.
Those who have the high-quality clothes and boots that I gave them will feel an even stronger sense of belonging to me.
‘What I have, but Helene doesn’t.’
There are only two things.
‘One is overflowing wealth, and the other is the legitimate title of Empress.’
First… let’s see if I can win with money. Helene.
