Chapter 107: Chapter: 107 Many thanks.

After a long day of travel, they finally reached the capital city, Deldi, of the Indrath Empire.

The city was grand and full of life.

It looked like everything had been planned carefully long before people started living there.

The capital was divided into three main parts.

The first part was where the common citizens lived.

The houses there were simple but neat.

None of them were more than two floors high, and they were built in perfect rows.

Even though the houses stood close to each other, the area didn’t feel crowded.

Every house was connected to a proper drainage system, showing how well the city was designed.

The second part of the city was more luxurious than the first.

The buildings were taller, cleaner, and more beautifully made.

This area was where the officials and workers of the royal palace lived.

They didn’t own these houses; they were provided by the empire.

The streets were wide, and the place had an air of pride and discipline.

At the very center of the city stood the royal palace.

It was smaller in size compared to the other two sections but looked far more majestic.

The palace shone under the sun, its towers reaching high into the sky.

It was surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains that made it look even more elegant.

Beside the palace stood the parliament building, where all important decisions about the empire’s laws and policies were made.

In short, the city was shaped like a circle, with three layers.

The outer layer was for the common people, the middle one for palace officials, and the innermost circle was where the emperor lived.

Each layer was divided by a strong wall, thirty feet tall and thirty feet wide, making the city look like a mighty fortress built with care and power.

Vivian and Charlotte had just passed through the second gate and entered the third section, where the royal palace stood.

The wide tile roads were already busy with activity as many officials hurried toward their duties.

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the marble streets, making the city look even more alive.

Though Vivian carried the memories of the original Vivian, this was still his first time truly seeing the capital with his own eyes.

He couldn’t help but feel a quiet awe at the city’s beauty and order.

The tall white walls, the elegant carvings, and the peaceful gardens all showed the empire’s wealth and power.

However, his amazement didn’t last long.

He quickly calmed himself as they arrived before the grand royal palace.

The palace gates stood open, guarded by soldiers in shining armor.

Many people were already waiting there to greet them, servants, guards, and nobles lined up with respect.

Among them stood the Third Prince, wearing a pleasant smile.

His looks were rather ordinary, blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, but there was something unusual about him.

His eyes held a sharp glint, narrow and clever, reminding Vivian of a fox watching its prey.

"Hmm, he doesn’t seem simple," Vivian muttered under his breath.

He could tell that the Third Prince wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

People like him were sharp, always watching, always planning.

Vivian had a feeling he already knew why the prince had come to greet them personally.

His gaze shifted toward Charlotte, who was quietly staring at him.

For a moment, her calm eyes caught him off guard, but he quickly regained his composure.

It wasn’t strange for her to act this way; she was always composed, even in the most unexpected situations.

Vivian turned his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

The reason for the prince’s warm welcome was clear.

He wanted their support.

Vivian wasn’t just anyone, he was the heir to one of the three great ducal houses, and Duke Sant, his maternal grandfather, was a man whose influence reached deep into the empire.

His own talent added even more weight to his name, after all, becoming a swordmaster at the young age of fifteen was something no one could ignore.

Charlotte, on the other hand, had already made it known that she had no interest in claiming the throne.

That made her neutral position valuable.

If the Third Prince could gain the support of both Vivian and Charlotte.

Then it would strengthen his claim so much that the throne might as well already be his.

As the carriage rolled to a stop before the grand palace, rows of servants hurriedly lined up on both sides, forming two neat lines.

At the center stood the Third Prince, his expression warm and confident as the servants bowed in unison.

"Greetings to Her Highness, Princess Charlotte, and Sir Vivian D. Zenithara!"

Their voices echoed together.

Vivian stepped out first, opening the door with practiced grace before offering his hand to Charlotte.

She accepted it lightly, stepping down from the carriage with her usual calm poise.

The Third Prince’s smile deepened as he watched them approach.

His sharp, fox-like eyes narrowed slightly.

"Sister, how have you been?"

He asked in a smooth voice that carried just the right amount of warmth.

Charlotte returned the smile, though her eyes remained distant.

"I’m well, Third Brother. What about you?"

"I’m good," he replied, his tone light, though his gaze soon turned toward Vivian.

"And if it isn’t the young heir of the Zenithara family, the youngest swordmaster in the empire."

Vivian moved to bow as courtesy demanded toward a member of the royal family.

But before he could lower his head, Charlotte’s voice cut through the air, calm but commanding.

"You are not allowed to bow before anyone," she said firmly.

Vivian froze for a heartbeat, his eyes meeting hers.

There was quiet strength in her gaze, leaving no room for argument.

The Third Prince’s pleasant expression faltered for just an instant, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face before he quickly masked it with another smile.

"There’s no need to bow,"

he said smoothly, his tone polite, but his eyes glinted with something unreadable.

"Then I’ll take that offer," Vivian said politely, straightening his back with quiet confidence.

A faint smile touched his lips, not forced, but measured.

The Third Prince’s eyes gleamed for a moment as he nodded.

"That’s perfectly fine. If anything, you’re the only one who deserves such respect. You are, after all, the future of our empire."

"Many thanks," Vivian replied, his tone calm and courteous.

He didn’t deny the compliment, because deep down, he knew it was true.

His skill, talent, and bloodline made him someone the empire could not ignore.

For a brief moment, the Third Prince seemed caught off guard by his composed response.

But, like a seasoned politician, he quickly recovered his poise and smiled again.

"Not everyone has arrived yet."

He continued, "but those who have are waiting in the audience chamber. I was actually on my way to escort both of you there."

"Many thanks," Vivian repeated, his voice even and polite.

He didn’t add anything more.

The fewer words he used, the fewer chances there were to get pulled into the prince’s games.

Charlotte had already made her stance clear, her support would go to the second Prince.

Naturally, Vivian’s position would follow hers.

The Third Prince’s smile didn’t waver, his expression as smooth as ever.

"Then follow me," he said, turning gracefully toward the palace entrance.

"Many thanks," Vivian replied once again in his usual polite tone.

That was the final straw for Charlotte.

She suddenly burst into laughter, her voice ringing through the quiet courtyard.

"Hahahahaha!" she tried to hold it in, but failed miserably.

Vivian’s face turned red in an instant.

"Charlotte!"

He whispered sharply as he reached over and quickly covered her mouth.

. "Many... my apologies," he said, his words rushed and awkward.

The Third Prince’s lips curved in what looked like a smile, but veins were clearly bulging on his forehead.

"It’s quite alright," he said tightly, though his tone betrayed his irritation.

Without another word, he turned around and began walking ahead, his back a little stiffer than before.

Vivian lowered his hand, giving Charlotte a helpless look.

She only grinned, clearly amused, her laughter fading into soft chuckles.

The two of them then followed behind the prince in silence.

After walking for a while, they finally arrived at the large gates of the audience chamber.

Along the way, many servants bowed and greeted them respectfully, and both Vivian and Charlotte responded with polite nods.

When they reached the grand doorway, the Third Prince stopped and looked at the two guards stationed on either side.

"Open the door," he commanded.

The guards immediately bowed deeply before moving to push the massive doors open.

Creak...

The heavy sound echoed through the hall as the grand chamber slowly revealed itself.

Inside, the space was vast and bright, lined with tall pillars and shining marble floors.

On both sides stood rows of high-ranking officials dressed in formal robes, their eyes turning toward the newcomers as they entered.

The air was thick with importance and silent tension.

Vivian’s gaze moved across the faces until he froze for a moment, two familiar figures stood side by side among the officials.

’Father... and Grandfather too?’ he thought in surprise.

His father, Duke Zenithara, stood a little stiffly beside his maternal grandfather, the Patriarch of the Sant House.

The old man’s hair was gray, but his sharp eyes and strong posture made it clear that age had not dulled his spirit.

His presence alone commanded respect.

Vivian couldn’t help but notice how awkward his father looked beside him.

He must have gotten scolded again, Vivian guessed, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

His maternal grandfather was known for being strict, especially with his son and sons-in-law.

Yet whenever he saw Vivian or his mother, his sternness melted away, replaced by the warmth of a doting father and grandfather.