I'm fucked.
Standing right in front of me, with her copper eyes and her ginger hair coiled into a crown braid that screamed "I could decapitate you and still look elegant doing it," was the Empress of the Roman Empire herself, Aurelia Aurea Augustus. She wasn't alone, of course. She had to bring her small army of royal guards. And right beside me, calm as ever, was my father, Richer Nivarea. The man radiated poise like it was his natural scent. Not that he wasn't terrifying in his own right.
The Empress smiled faintly at him, that regal tilt of her head making everyone else in the room subconsciously straighten their backs.
"Lord Richer Nivarea. I've heard many tales about you… but I did not expect to meet you in person."
He inclined his head slightly. "Nor did I expect the Empress to visit us unannounced."
Her lips curved, amused. "Spontaneity keeps life interesting."
I was standing there, hands shoved into my pockets, very much wishing I could melt into the floor. So I said the only thing my brain could offer.
"So, why did you come so casually, Your Majesty?"
Immediately, one of the female guards—tall, bronze-skinned, and clearly built out of discipline and bad temper—stepped forward and snapped.
"Watch your tone when addressing the Empress!"
I winced slightly, already bracing for the political fallout. But then my father turned his head toward her. His voice dropped a few degrees colder than ice.
"You are speaking out of line. You may not realize this, but the House of Argemenes holds the same standing in hierarchy as your Imperial House. You will not interrupt my son again."
The entire room froze. The guard's lips parted, but no sound came out. Even the Empress blinked once, then gently raised her hand.
"It's quite alright, Lord Richer."
Father inclined his head slightly. "It is, as long as your guards understand that you are not the only higher power in this world."
I bit my tongue hard enough not to snort because I was this close to laughing. Seeing my father politely mock an Imperial Guard was… honestly, beautiful. The Empress seemed unfazed though. She turned her gaze back to me.
"To answer your question, Lord Phasnovterich, I came to thank you for saving my life on July 4th."
I forgot about it. Norphie told me that she would come in the beginning of August. Why did she come so early though? Either way, I don't want to deal with someone who is an Outer and has a lot of power on her hands.
"Oh. Right. That thing."
"Yes, that thing. I could not come earlier. Lady Norphie insisted it would take a month before the Flux Corrosion stabilized."
At that moment, I felt Father's eyes turn toward me like two knives made of curiosity. I immediately straightened and forced a grin.
"Yeah, I'm fine now. Completely healed. I have no corruption at all."
I didn't exactly want to admit I was immune to Flux Corrosion. You don't just say that kind of thing in front of half an empire's security detail. That's like painting a target on your forehead that you tricked an Empress.
"I see. Then, allow me to offer my gratitude in person. I would like to invite you to the Imperial Palace."
"No."
The word slipped out so naturally that even I was a little surprised at how fast it came. The guards froze. Even Father blinked once.
"No?"
"Yeah. I'm good really. Not interested."
I would rather die than go to the palace. That place is a very dangerous place. I'm not suicidal enough to go to the palace. And of course one of the guards—the same one from earlier—took a step forward again.
"What greater honor could there be than receiving a personal invitation from Her Majesty herself?"
Oh, she was bold. I turned to her, studying her posture, the way her fingers twitched ever so slightly on her sword hilt. Her stance screamed "rule follower." She's definitely kind of person who wakes up at 5 a.m. to polish her armor and pray to the idea of "duty."
"Do you have a monotonous mind?"
"Excuse me?"
"You know, the kind of mind that thinks the world revolves around a throne and a crown. That kind of thinking."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Listen, I get it. You worship the idea of power. But not everyone has the luxury of doing that. Some of us have actual shit to deal with. I'm an Heir. The palace is the least I've seen and that's speaking a lot since I'm friends with Norphie."
There was silence for a while. Even Father's mouth twitched slightly—somewhere between pride and "you're on your own, kid." Not that I blame him. The Empress, however, looked… entertained.
"You're quite blunt, Phaser."
"Blunt keeps people from misunderstanding and saves time."
"Very well. Then allow me to put it another way. I owe you a life-debt. I cannot leave without offering recompense. What do you want, then, for saving my life?"
I tilted my head, pretending to think. There were a thousand things I could've asked for. Money, power, connections, information and such. But one thing had been gnawing at me for weeks that is going to be essential for the Act IV of the University Arc.
"I want access to go to the Temple of the Combat Goddess."
The Empress's composure wavered from my words.
"That temple is forbidden to most mortals. It's a sacred ground, sealed for centuries."
"I know. That's why I'm asking."
Father sighed softly beside me. I could practically hear the unspoken "Of course you would." The Empress studied me for a long moment. Then she smiled. I can see why shee number two most beautiful woman in MoDS. But with Hinesia's glow up, I doubt she holds that position now.
"You're a curious one, Lord Phasnovterich. Very well. I will see what I can do."
"Appreciate it, Your Majesty."
As she turned to leave, her guards followed, though that one female guard gave me a death glare sharp enough to cut glass. When the door finally closed, Father exhaled quietly and scoffed.
"Son."
"Yeah?"
"You just refused an Imperial invitation."
"I did."
"Then asked for entry to a divine temple no ordinary person has entered for years."
"Yeah."
"You're either insane or planning something."
"Bit of both actually."
He just sighed again and muttered, "You really are my son."
"You should go hang out with Xaessia and September in the city. I have to deal with the fugitive upstairs."