Turning Chapter 1032

“To the champions of the hour, may this feast prove more than satisfying.”

The spread provided by the Emperor and Empress that afternoon was as abundant as it was comfortable. It avoided excessive spice or extravagance, lacking the rigid formality that usually made royal banquets so stifling.

Everything was perfect—save for one glaring detail: every dish set before Yuder seemed to contain nearly double the portion size of anyone else’s.

Because he was capable of eating it all, he managed to clear his plates, yet for some reason, the Empress appeared both gratified and slightly regretful.

“It pleases me that you found the meal to your liking, Yuder, though now I fret that it might have been insufficient for you.”

“...Not at all. It was quite substantial. Truly.”

Despite his clear assurance, the arrival of dessert brought a plate topped with a literal mountain of ice cream, nearly thrice the volume of the portion served to Kishiar. Garnished with fruit jam and nuts, and served alongside crisp crackers, the towering confection was so massive it made Yuder feel faint just looking at it.

Yet, Yuder was the only person present who seemed unsettled. The others acted as if this were entirely normal. The fact that a mere subordinate aide to the Emperor’s brother was receiving larger servings than the monarch himself didn’t seem to bother Emperor Keillusa or the Empress in the least. Even Kishiar, who looked as delighted as if he had received a personal gift whenever he saw Yuder eating well, showed no surprise.

Even Nathan Zuckerman simply finished his own meal without a trace of doubt or hesitation, leaving Yuder in deep thought.

‘...I must have definitely given them the wrong idea.’

It appeared he had been branded as a glutton simply because he never left food on his plate. Since no one else took issue with it, he found it difficult to object. However, in Yuder’s mind, the capacity to consume a large amount of food was entirely different from possessing a greedy appetite.

‘I will have to set the record straight later.’

While working through his dessert, Yuder silently observed Kishiar as he conversed with the imperial couple.

The dialogue mostly revolved around the events that had transpired during their absence from the capital. The incidents in the south occupied a significant portion of the talk, though they touched upon matters in the east and west as well. Both the Emperor and Empress seemed genuinely thrilled to learn the minor details that were often omitted from formal written reports.

‘Even in this regard, Emperor Kachien was the polar opposite... Kishiar truly takes after his family.’

Kachien had loathed long-winded reports, yet he simultaneously hated being uninformed. Consequently, every debriefing Yuder gave after a mission had been an ordeal.

Kishiar, however, was a different breed. He embraced new information—no matter how trivial—and frequently showed a keen interest in the thoughts and feelings of those on the front lines.

While Emperor Keillusa didn’t seem quite as obsessed with every tiny detail as Kishiar, he shared his brother’s lack of displeasure regarding things he didn’t yet know. He was particularly keen to hear Yuder’s thoughts on the new Cavalry members. When the topic of the sparring match with Meghna Curlieva arose—which happened just before they departed the South—he pressed for more details. After hearing from Yuder, Kishiar, and Nathan Zuckerman, the Emperor finally leaned back with a heavy sigh.

“It is a pity I could not witness that duel myself. It would have been the perfect moment to see the prowess of everyone gathered here today.”

Having said that, the Emperor directed a mock scowl at his younger brother, who sat there with a relaxed grin.

“Isn’t having two such talents a bit much? Perhaps you should send one of them my way?”

At the mention of “two,” Yuder noticed the Emperor’s red eyes—visible behind his glasses—flicker between himself and Nathan Zuckerman simultaneously.

“Your Majesty. Both my aide and my lieutenant are indispensable to me. Regardless of your envy, I don’t believe this is the appropriate time for such requests—especially during a dinner celebrating my own birthday.”

With a playful retort, Kishiar brushed off the Emperor’s prodding. As she often did, the Empress stepped in to play peacemaker between the two brothers.

“Your Majesty. If they serve the Duke, they are ultimately serving the same cause, are they not? As the Duke mentioned, today is a day of celebration. Please do not ruin it with small jealousies. We should simply be grateful for those who waited so long and returned home safely.”

Upon hearing her gentle reprimand, the brothers’ expressions shifted instantly, as if the bickering had never happened. It was obvious this was a frequent routine for them.

Their banter was lighthearted, almost juvenile—yet there was a profound sense of love and brotherhood beneath every word.

The individuals in this room did not feel like distant, mysterious royals. They felt like a single, cohesive unit that could only be described as a family—or perhaps comrades.

Having reached this point by sharing a history Yuder was not privy to, it was hard to find a better description for them.

What truly startled him was that, as he watched them, he didn't feel like an outsider at all.

‘Perhaps it is because they keep including me in the conversation.’

Even Nathan Zuckerman, the most soft-spoken person there, and the busy steward moving through the room, seemed to fit perfectly within the small circle these people had created.

It felt as though he had stepped into a place where everyone occupied their rightful position. This seamless, relaxed atmosphere was entirely foreign to Yuder. While he was lost in these reflections, the Empress suddenly spoke to him again.

“Yuder. There is something I have been wanting to ask since your return. May I ask it now?”

“Yes. Please, whatever you wish.”

“I heard rumors of some sort of connection between you and Kiole di Diarca—who, by all accounts, has been behaving like a completely different person lately. Is there truth to that?”

“...”

‘Behaving like a different person’? Him?

For a fleeting moment, Yuder almost spoke his disbelief aloud but managed to restrain himself.

In truth, he had expected this inquiry eventually. Before their arrival, Kishiar had mentioned, “His Majesty is concerned about Kiole di Diarca. May I assure him he has no reason to be?”

‘I just didn’t expect it to come up right now...’

“Yes. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a relationship... but I can say with total certainty that His Majesty no longer needs to worry about him.”

“How fascinating. Such confidence... What exactly did you do to the boy?”

The Empress’s eyes shone with a bright, irrepressible curiosity.

‘What did I “do”? More like... I simply prevented his death and forced him into an oath so he wouldn't disappear like he did in my past life.’

The oath itself wasn't particularly complex. It was merely a set of constraints to stop Kiole from acting foolishly. Even afterward, Kiole remained an idiot—and likely always would be.

‘But at the very least... he didn't turn a blind eye to the crisis in the South. That was a genuine change.’

Yuder remembered the slightly altered expression on Kiole’s face during their final encounter in the South.

Frankly, Yuder had assumed Kiole would be useless even if he returned to the capital. However, when the South was desperate for military aid, Kiole had actually succeeded in deploying the Imperial Guard.

‘Initially, I thought it was a mistake... but the dispatched guards confirmed there was actual communication between their leader and Kiole.’

He hadn't secured the direct support from House Diarca that he had promised, but the arrival of the Imperial Guard was a much better result in the end.

It turned out that even an arrogant, dim-witted young noble—who once looked down on everyone—could contribute something meaningful if he was kept alive.

With that thought, Yuder stole a glance at Kishiar. The man caught his eye and nodded with a smile, signaling his permission to speak freely.

“There was a situation where a member of our Cavalry went missing after visiting their home. I went to investigate personally.”

Yuder began the tale with the incident involving Debran Hartude. The Emperor and Empress, likely already briefed on the basics, nodded for him to continue.

“—The comrade taken by House Apeto was rescued shortly after, but during that mission, I happened upon Kiole di Diarca in the East. Though he is not an Awakener, he had been captured after losing a fight to the kidnappers.”

“He was close to death, wasn’t he?”

“He would have died if I hadn't intervened. After settling the matter, I saved him—and to ensure the incident didn't get back to House Diarca, I made him sign a binding oath.”

“What sort of oath?”

Emperor Keillusa asked with genuine interest. Even Nathan Zuckerman, who had been silent, looked over at Yuder with curiosity. Yuder hadn't intended to go into specifics, but after a short hesitation, he gave in.

“—First. Kiole di Diarca cannot mention the incident to anyone. Second. Kiole di Diarca must not give unilateral commands, initiate duels, or use derogatory language against Yuder Aile or his associates. Third. Kiole di Diarca must assist Yuder Aile to the best of his ability from now on. Should any of these terms be broken, the seal of the contract will trigger, and he will fall into an eternal slumber... That was the essence of it.”

“......”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then, suddenly—like a bursting dam—the room exploded with boisterous laughter.