The Empire’s Only Princess - Chapter 59

“I don’t think you should be saying that though? As someone who hasn’t even shown her nose for 5 years since she left for training.”

 

“Ahaha! That’s right, come to think of it! I returned three days ago because of His Majesty’s letter that Her Highness the Princess would be having an escort knight inauguration ceremony.”

 

She giggled and Lora rubbed her shoulder which was strongly hit with a sad expression.

 

“Well, anyway, Your Highness, you can look forward to it.”

 

Dame Leone winked at me. Somehow I could feel Dortha from her.

 

“The knights that applied this time look good.”

 

“Look good?”

 

“There was a knight that received the knight’s appointment last year and at the age of 11 he is the youngest to do so, and when I peeked at him earlier, he looked quite useful for his age. I’m sure it won’t be a loss if you take him.”

 

“Thank you for the good information.”

 

Usually, the average age of becoming an official knight after the knight appointment is around the age of 20. Somehow I couldn’t wait to meet the young knight that held that position nine years earlier.

 

When I entered the banquet hall leaving Dame Leone behind who said she needed to finish preparing, it was filled with young ladies and young masters of my age.

 

I think it’s the first time I’ve seen so many people of my age.

 

I tried my best to ignore the gaze that paid attention to me and walked straight. The interior of the hall which had as many as four crystal chandeliers emitting brilliant light was very luxurious.

 

The innermost part of the hall was a wide platform with a curtain hanging, and on both sides of the hall were chairs facing towards the center and was the same as the number of nobles participating. At times, I could also see children who attended with their parents.

 

I entered alone after barely stopping my dad who was about to follow me after throwing away his meeting, but I should have just come with him, I regretted it a little bit.

 

As I tried to take a seat anywhere,  Lora led me. In the front right seat of the podium, there was a distinct golden chair that was probably for me.

 

“….Really?”

 

Lora laughed lightly as I stared at the chair as if I saw something terrible.

 

“What can you do? It’s proof that His Majesty loves you very much.”

 

So it’s dad’s doing. I wanted to hurry up and tell them to get rid of it then take a different seat but if I did, it would go straight into Dad’s ears, and he would be very disappointed.

 

“It can’t be helped.”

 

As I sat on the soft cushioned chair, the people gathered around me and talked to me from here and there.

 

“I see the glory of the Empire. Baron Coron’s Young Master—”

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person—”

 

“Oh my, this dress is the work of Lady Dortha, the designer of ‘Apiachere’, right?”

 

“Oh my, You are so beautiful—”

 

Before I knew it, I was suffering from the crowd of ants, then the servant waiting outside shouted in a fussy voice.

 

“Here comes the Emperor—!!!”

 

At that cry, everyone’s gestures towards the entrance stopped as if the whole place was frozen for a moment. Dad?

 

I jumped up from my seat and looked at the door. However, I couldn’t clearly see my father among the crowd because I was short.

 

When I peeked in between, as the servant said, my father, dressed in a full dress attire, was approaching me across the center of the hall with elegant steps.

 

Dad didn’t even glance at the people stepping aside and bowing like a miracle of the Red Sea. His eyes were fixed on me.

 

“Are you going to keep on staying here?”

 

Somehow, at my father’s voice, which seemed to be tinged with viciousness, the aristocratic children around me dispersed quickly with gasping sounds.

 

“Rosiane.”

 

When my dad smiled affectionately and hugged me, the quiet banquet hall overflowed with gasping sounds. It was so loud that I thought everyone might collapse.

 

“As expected, It’s kind of strange to send you off alone.”

 

“What about your meeting?”

 

“….. It was finished in a hurry.”

 

It’s definitely a lie. but,

 

“Thank you, Dad.”

 

I couldn’t help being happy. I carefully made eye contact with my father and smiled.

 

* * *

 

“… Is it normal to have this many applicants?”

 

“Well, there are usually a lot of applicants, but there’s especially a lot this year. They’re all probably aiming for the position of Your Highness’s escort knight.”

 

l was getting utterly tired at the countless knights that repeatedly appeared then disappeared.

 

It was a format where fifty people came into the room and introduced themselves one by one, then the nobles chose who they wanted, although the appeal time was short, it was longer than expected due to the large number of people.

 

By the way, it is said that it is possible for the Imperial Princess to have up to four escort knights, but so far, I have no one I want to pick.

 

“Oh.”

 

As the appointed knights rushed out, Lady Tarantena could be seen sitting across diagonally where I couldn’t see before.

 

Sitting next to her were people who looked to be Viscount Tarantena and his wife, and they seemed to be pretty decent people smiling affectionately at the lady.

 

As we made eye contact, she quickly greeted me, and I also waved my hand lightly. Then, the knights followed Dame Leone’s lead again.

 

Their ages ranged from 20s to 50s, and among them, 20s seemed to be the most common. Sometimes, there were also young-faced knights that looked like teenagers.

 

My dad quietly asked me as there was no response from me this time as well.

 

“Do you like anyone?”

 

“Not yet…”

 

Perhaps because the escorts I had all these time were Sir Boyd and Lora of Zion where only the best are gathered, everyone felt so weak.

 

I could feel a strong energy just looking at my family around me, so I guess my standards have become too high.

 

“Oho, he’s 19 years old and he caught a monster by himself.”

 

“Really? Then I’ll choose that person!”

 

The daughter made a decision immediately after the man sitting next to her said. Is it amazing if you caught a monster alone at 19? It’s hard to choose because I don’t know anything.

 

“Is it amazing to catch a monster at 19?”

 

“I’m not sure, I caught a monster even before turning ten. Rosiane, didn’t you catch one too?”

 

Come to think of it…….. I asked needlessly and it became more difficult. The only thing I can be sure of is the fact that my father is unusually strong.

 

“It’s amazing, if he’s 19.”

 

“How old were you when you caught one, Lora?”

 

“I was fifteen.”

 

Urgh, it became more difficult. Either way, based on these people, it became clear that there was no one I could choose here.

 

Well, if someone were as strong as these two, they wouldn’t be out here, as they would already be considered superior as a war hero.

 

“Hello!”

 

The man who introduced himself this time looked like he was in his early thirties, but he had a very threatening appearance. That bursting forearm almost looked like the size of my head.

 

Somehow I thought he could crush an apple with his hands. I also thought that it would be okay to ask for apple juice.

 

Perhaps he noticed me staring at him, I heard my dad whispering.

 

“Do you think he’s good?”

 

“Looking at his forearms, he looks strong.”

 

“Dad is strong too.”

 

As I was puzzled by the sudden answer, the man was appointed as an escort knight of a young master.

 

“Dad, did anyone catch your eyes?”

 

I thought he would be better than me in this area, so I asked him, but he shook his head firmly. Right, my dad’s standards are probably higher than mine.

 

Time went by as I watched a knight showing off his sword skills while introducing himself. Lady Tarantena had already picked a knight.

 

I was probably the only one who didn’t pick one. This is troubling. It’s time for the last team to come in, what if I can’t pick an escort?

 

Fortunately, Dame Leone, who led the knights, looked somehow differently elated than before.

 

Perhaps the youngest knight she spoke of was assigned to the last team. Dame Leone, who happened to meet my eyes, winked and turned around to continue the process.

 

“Have you gone senile…….”

 

I could hear my father murmuring softly. I barely managed to hold back my laughter and began to look at the knights.

 

Time went by and now half of the knights in the last team have been appointed. The problem is, I still haven’t picked a single person.

 

I was looking at the knights with an anxious heart, and at that moment, I made eye contact with a bright yellow gaze.

 

My heart let out a loud noise…. It looks like he’s the youngest knight that Dame Leone talked about.

 

Is there such a coincidence? Smooth copper skin, black hair and underneath that were golden eyes shining like jewels.

 

It was much bigger than three years ago, but it was definitely Shuiesha.

 

We made eye contact for quite a long time. Neither I nor he said anything, but strangely, I felt like I shouldn’t avert my eyes.

 

Finally, it was his turn, and Shuiesha bowed silently and pulled out his sword. The sword came out with a chilling sound.

 

I thought he was only good at handling shadows, but his sword skills are also of high quality. To the point that the skills of the previous knights felt like a child’s joke.

 

When he finished his swordsmanship demonstration and put away his sword, a very heavy silence lay in the banquet hall.

 

“That’s….. a Serenata swordsmanship. I didn’t expect anyone to still use that swordsmanship……”

 

“Where did he come from?”

 

Behind Lora’s voice, which seemed to have accidentally said something, the voice of my father, who somehow looked frozen, could be heard.

 

“What is Serenata Swordsmanship?”

 

“Ah, that’s…….”

 

“It’s nothing important, Rosiane.”

 

Lora’s evasive voice was cut cold by my father. Their reaction that hadn’t been like that so far, anyone could tell it seemed to be hiding something.

 

Serenata swordsmanship hm…. I’ll go to the library later and look it up.

 

Meanwhile, there was a disturbance in the banquet hall. Young children began to whine, saying that they would return the knights they chose and pick Shuiesha.

 

“You cannot return a knight that has already been appointed. It’s against the law to break the pledge.”

 

The disturbance gradually died down at the stern voice of Dame Leone.

 

“I’ll choose him.”

 

“Rosiane?”

 

“You can’t!”

 

Dad and Lora’s violent reactions came out at the same time.

 

“If it’s not him, I won’t pick an escort.”

 

It’s not the way I like it, but I threatened intimidatingly. My father, who was restless at my reaction, eventually raised the white flag.

 

There were five people who offered to take Shuiesha, including Lady Tarantena. Thank goodness he was almost last.

 

” Many people raised their hands, what do we do?”

 

“The knight himself will choose the noble he will serve.”

 

Dad looked at Shuiesha like he wanted him to choose someone else.

 

Putting me to shame for being a little worried that he would go to another noble, Shuiesha came up to me and knelt on one knee as if he didn’t need to see anyone else.