Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Eve kept her eyes shut tight for a long time, but never felt the impact she was expecting. She cautiously opened her eyes. Her vision was filled with Mikael’s purple eyes just a short distance away. Unexpectedly, he had stopped her fall with a single arm, using his other arm to grab a bar, anchoring them both.

Huh? His hands...

The chained cuffs that had bound his hands were gone. The handcuffs had doubled as mana suppressors, so they must have shattered in reaction to the imprint ritual. The mana that had long been blocked from Mikael now began to flow through his body at a swift pace, displaying itself through his rapidly darkening hair.

Creak.

The cage, having reached the end of its pendulum arc, now began to swing back in the other direction. In response, Mikael quickly shifted so that his back was against the bars and wrapped both his arms tightly around Eve to keep her secure. Mikael was offering his protection like it was the most natural thing in the world, and it made Eve blush.

I’ve never experienced this kind of attention before!

Only when the floating prison had come to a complete stop did Mikael loosen his embrace. Eve hurriedly stepped out of his arms, but Mikael didn’t seem to think much of it. His hair was now completely black. He spoke in a calm, unaffected tone.

“It seems you succeeded.”

“Really?”

His protective touch just moments ago had wiped her mind of all other thoughts. Eve looked at Mikael doubtfully, so he explained his reasoning.

“I feel strange.”

“Strange how?”

“My body moved on its own. When I recognized that you might be hurt, my body reacted before I could even process it.”

This was a common reaction from an imprinted knight. Mikael’s observation proved beyond a doubt that the ritual had been a success. Mikael felt uncomfortable that something now took a higher priority than his own personal will.

He looked at Eve, confused, and asked, “Do you not feel any change yourself?”

“No, I don’t really feel that different,” said Eve apologetically. While the imprint ritual resulted in a massive change for the target, the imprinter usually experienced nothing themselves.

Mikael’s continued in a resigned tone, as if he had expected this, “So only I change to become attuned to the other’s needs... this truly is a one-sided arrangement. Imprinting is the most unfair contract imaginable. I take back my statement that personal knights are slaves. This is so much worse than slavery. To imagine that I must live with an inexorable feeling of concern, worried that my lady may so much as stub her toe!”

“Your lady? You mean me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Eve could not help feeling touched as she looked at him.

Mikaelis Agnito really is my personal knight now.

This was a foundation for her new life. She had avoided the possibility of treason and thus the empire’s fall.

Mother, I did it!

Her mother deserved the recognition for this accomplishment, considering all the resources and talent her mother had given Eve which had made this possible. As the tension began to leave her body, Eve realized that she was completely drained. She’d never had much physical stamina to begin with, and she’d used every bit of energy she had to make sure the ritual succeeded.

Her knees gave way and she flopped to the floor. Mikael looked startled and stepped forward.

“What is it? What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”

“Tired? What tired you?”

“The ritual took more energy than I expected. I even used up all my mana for it.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I do remember hearing that humans are weaker than us homunculi. I will take note of that,”said Mikael. His voice held no animosity as he offered his hand to her.

This seemed to mirror Eve’s earlier gesture of offering Mikael her hand before the ritual. Eve smiled and took it.

“I’m glad that went well, Sir Agnito.”

“As am I, for now at least.”

The floating platform carrying Baronet Ercah and Sedella was approaching in the distance. It was time to show Mikael the outside world.

❇

Eve was summoned by the Emperor as soon as she returned to the imperial palace. She sent Mikael and Sedella back to her quarters so she could go see the Emperor alone.

“Ah, there you are. I’m told you were successful?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hmm.”

“...”

The Emperor looked very serious as he paused to gather his thoughts. Eve’s felt herself tense up with apprehension. Imprinting Mikael could be interpreted as a direct challenge to the Emperor’s power. Though His Majesty had given Eve permission to try, there was the possibility that he wasn’t pleased that she’d succeeded. Eve wondered if her father was thinking of some way to find fault and impose a punishment for her actions. Thankfully, the Emperor was not that petty. Pushing aside his documents and locking eyes with her, he congratulated her.

“So, you were able to do it. You truly are my daughter, Eve. I can’t overstate how proud I am of you. The stain upon our family name has been removed. I am greatly pleased.”

“I am undeserving of such praise,” Eve said humbly while sighing with relief internally.

The Emperor asked, “But where is your new personal knight whom you succeeded in imprinting? If he is waiting outside, have him come in.”

“My apologies, Father. He was in an unpresentable state after being in his cell for many years. If you would grant me a day, I shall have him more fittingly prepared for an audience with you.”

“I would have liked to see him with my own eyes, but tomorrow will do just as well.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Father. I will bring a fresh batch of tea for your headaches then as well.”

The Emperor turned his attention back to his documents.

“Be as quick as you can. He bears only your imprint right now, correct? He is still a dangerous monster. An allegiance ritual must be performed on that homunculus as soon as possible to prevent him from doing any harm against my person or anyone else in our family.”

Though his tone was calm, the authoritative force of his command was not one to be disobeyed. The allegiance ritual was actually the reason that Eve had been reluctant to bring Mikael before her father. By succeeding in imprinting Mikael, Eve had suppressed Mikael’s resistance. The allegiance ritual, being a lower level than the imprint, should not be difficult to perform now. However, because Mikael still held a deep hatred for the imperial family, she couldn’t be certain if he really would submit to it in the Emperor’s presence.

In her previous life, Mikael had developed a firmly controlled disposition from his many experiences. The current Mikael, however, still harbored a rebellious soul that bubbled just beneath the surface of his calm exterior. Gaining him this small amount of time to prepare had been the least she could do.

Eve bowed politely.

“Yes, Father. I shall have him prepared as quickly as possible so that the ritual may be performed without delay.”

“Here you are, so quick to comply with procedures. Eve, you truly have become a princess of the imperial family.”

“I will continue to do my best to please you as your daughter, Father.”

“Of course. And I don’t doubt that you will.”

With a satisfied smile, the Emperor rang the bell on his desk. Its crystalline tinkles summoned the grand chamberlain, who had been standing just outside the door. He brought in a beautifully ornamented chest decorated like a jewel box and opened it before Eve. It was loaded with gold coins! It looked like it could be enough for an average yearly budget of an adult princess.

“This is a reward to show my appreciation for you finally appointing a personal knight.”

“My goodness... You are giving me all of this?”

“Of course. Did you think I’d only give you part of it? My generosity is not meager.”

“Wow!” Eve exclaimed in wonder. In her previous life, Eve had never received more than the bare minimum in allowances. Such a grand reward was completely novel to her.

She suddenly put her hand over her mouth, realizing how openly she had expressed her shock, but the Emperor just laughed. He seemed to enjoy her innocence. Eve couldn’t take her eyes off all the coins.

That is such a huge sum.

Although Eve had been mostly a social recluse, she didn’t have a bad sense for finance. In fact, she was actually quite skilled at budgeting. This was a result of her dedicated studies, since alchemy required considerable funds. It had been very challenging to fund her research given her small allowance.

I will have to work to earn more money in addition to this. I’ll need substantial funds to begin my activities in high society.

Eve mentally added the item to her ongoing list. Now seemed a good time to find an opening to have herself dismissed, but the Emperor apparently wasn’t finished.

“By the way, Eve, I’m told you have only one personal maid. Is this true?”

“Yes, Sedella, from the House of Arpel, has cared for my needs for a very long time.”

“Tsk. She does seem to be a fine maid for you, but how can a member of the imperial family have but a single maid? I see she isn’t available to be here with you now, so that reinforces my view. I will have the third empress consort send you two maids and an attendant.”

Eve could not deny that she was short-staffed. Additionally, the third empress consort had no children to favor and therefore maintained a politically neutral position. She was known to be fair and trustworthy.

“I am grateful for your kindness, Father.”

“All right. You look tired after that ritual. You should return to your room and rest.”

“I will then take my leave, Father.”