After verifying the performance of the prosthetic arm during the morning training, I couldn’t help but marvel.
The prosthetic arm provided by Letia perfectly fulfilled the role of my lost left arm.
Its performance was so exceptional that my lifted lips refused to come down.
“How’s the new arm?”
“It’s amazing! Sure, the frequent maintenance is a bit bothersome, but it’s nothing compared to the inconvenience of not having an arm.”
“Should I add a mana stone with an auto-cleaning function?”
“No need to go that far. I’m already satisfied as it is.”
Sensory synchronization, pseudo-perception, precise movements, and more.
The features engraved on the prosthetic arm were already more than enough.
Adding extra convenience could lead to laziness.
Most importantly, it was the first gift from my wife, so I wanted to care for it myself and cherish it.
“I’m relieved that you like it.”
“Fine-tuning the movements will take some time, but it’s already good enough to head straight to the front lines!”
“Seeing you this happy makes me feel great as well.”
“Thank you so much. I’ve tried many prosthetics since losing my arm, but this is the first one that feels as comfortable as if it were part of my body.”
“That’s because I personally measured the dimensions of your stump and meticulously recorded them before commissioning it from the Tower of Magic!”
“R-Really?”
Ironically, I couldn’t recall giving Letia permission to measure my dimensions.
She must’ve done it after giving me a sedative.
Though her surprise was a bit extreme, I decided to let it slide since it was for my sake.
“Even just a custom order must have been expensive. Adding mana stones on top, how much was it in total?”
“Zenith will tell you.”
Trailing behind us with a grin was Zenith.
When I turned around, she quickly changed her expression and gestured for me to bring my ear closer.
It seemed like confidential information, so I leaned in as instructed.
“66 million.”
“What?!”
An astronomical amount far beyond what I could dream of earning with the meager salary I received from the Empire.
It was akin to wearing a mansion on my body.
Receiving such an absurd gift left me feeling heavily burdened.
“You don’t need to feel so burdened. Aren’t spouses supposed to share their wealth? Consider this prosthetic arm as joint property between you and the Lady.”
“Well, that’s true…”
“If you’re still uneasy, how about embracing her tonight while telling her you love her? The Lady values receiving love from you more than expensive possessions.”
“I’ll try.”
“What are you two talking about so cheerfully without me?”
As Zenith and I continued our conversation, Letia, standing a little distance away, puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
Her clenched fists rested on her hips, and her lips pouted visibly—an obvious display of jealousy.
She clearly didn’t want to share time with me, not even with her aide.
Even when we were younger, my wife was quite the handful.
“Lady, if you start getting jealous over conversations between a husband and a servant, it might make him lose affection for you.”
“I wasn’t jealous! I was just concerned about being late when His Majesty is waiting!”
“That’s a weak excuse.”
“It’s the truth!”
Amidst the lively chatter, we boarded the carriage headed to the royal palace.
Letia, who was deeply sulking, clung to my side and kept glaring at Zenith, who was sitting across from us.
On the other hand, Zenith maintained a calm, expressionless demeanor, choosing silence.
From a third-party perspective, it almost looked like a sulking daughter being dealt with by a composed mother.
“I lost everything with my family, but thanks to good people, I grew into who I am now.”
I found myself curious about how the relationship between Letia and Zenith began.
However, it didn’t seem like the right time to ask, and I figured I’d find out eventually while spending time with Letia.
There was no need to rush.
Relishing the peace I could never have hoped for in the Empire, I entered the royal palace.
“What a neat-looking palace.”
The palace, built from white marble, had little ornamentation, presenting a simple yet clean image that was pleasing to the eye.
It contrasted starkly with the imperial palace, adorned with red carpets, gold-embroidered drapes, and extravagant decorations.
According to Zenith, King Leonhardt was a peculiar man who had no interest in luxury and preferred to spend money on national affairs.
Surely, such a man was a ruler deserving of the highest respect.
Despite my doubts, I finally understood Zenith’s words when I met King Leonhardt.
“Oh! You’re the one who won the recent tournament and naturalized into the kingdom!”
“It is an honor to meet the Sun of the Kingdom.”
“The Sun of the Kingdom, huh… Pfft!”
“Did I make a grave mistake in my words?”
“No, not at all. It’s just that calling me the Sun feels a bit embarrassing. You don’t have to use such titles next time.”
“In that case, may I ask your wisdom on how to address Your Majesty appropriately?”
“Just saying ‘I’ve come to pay my respects!’ works fine. These days, heroes are the trend, and kings are often in the background.”
Even so, isn’t it inappropriate to act casually toward a king, the representative of a nation?
I couldn’t tell if someone of his status should be making such remarks.
My mind grew muddled.
“Your Majesty, please don’t forget that I am also present.”
“I hear you boldly declared your marriage in the arena—is that true?”
“Yes! We haven’t had the ceremony yet, but we love each other.”
“Your affection is so strong it’s almost sickening. I recall quite a few men coveted you; they must be bitterly disappointed.”
“I’ve always been clear that I had someone I liked. If they continued liking me despite that, then the fault lies with those who wouldn’t give up.”
Some nobles in the audience chamber reacted to Letia’s words.
It was clear some secretly admired her.
Well, Letia was a renowned hero in her homeland, both beautiful and strong—a true paragon anyone would desire.
No wonder there was such public opposition to her marriage.
“Interesting. It seems like you’ve liked each other for quite a while. Did your bond form while fighting on the front lines?”
“Our first meeting was ten years ago. Back then, I was just a little girl.”
“Ten years ago…”
King Leonhardt’s expression shifted as if a particular incident came to mind.
It was the day Letia lost her family and her entire house.
Although she claimed not to care about it anymore, it was a memory that filled me with guilt.
I was the one who had stolen her childhood happiness.
“I see I’ve touched on an unpleasant topic. I apologize if I upset you.”
“It’s fine. People call that event a tragedy, but for me, it’s the anniversary of the day I met my one and only destiny.”
“Is that so? Hahaha! At this rate, you’ll end up living your life completely under your wife’s thumb, just like me.”
“Yes… That seems to be the case.”
Even in front of the king, Letia refused to let go of my hand.
There was likely no one else who would dare flaunt their love before royalty like she did.
“In any case, welcome to the Kingdom of Lyor. From now on, this kingdom will be your home, your birthplace, and your family. That is my promise.”
“I will do my best to honor that.”
With this, I was reborn as a person of the kingdom.
The imperial audience chamber, vastly different from that of the kingdom.
The emperor, once a figure of unshakable authority, now sat on his throne pale and frail, his long-standing illness having worsened.
Without medical specialists by his side, even moving was difficult for him, and his labored breathing carried a faint wheezing sound.
His face, aged prematurely by his illness, was deeply lined with wrinkles.
“Cough, cough! Sss… Hah… How did the tournament hosted by the Kingdom of Lyor go?”
“Well…”
“Judging by your hesitation, we lost, didn’t we? It’s laughable to think a disgraced prisoner could achieve victory.”
“Unusually, an imperial knight achieved overwhelming victory in the tournament.”
“So, you’re saying we won?”
A smile crept onto the emperor’s face, which had been marred by the repeated news of defeats.
At last, a victory, one as precious as gold, had been reported.
He intended to use this as a pretext to bolster the morale of the downtrodden imperial army and lay the groundwork for a reversal.
The story of a prisoner risking their life to win the tournament was the perfect tale to inspire.
A knight who, even in captivity, sought to uphold the Empire’s honor—such news would serve as an ideal example for the soldiers.
If only there weren’t a twist to the good news.
“Your Majesty, the knight who won the tournament has sought refuge in the Kingdom of Lyor.”
“Refuge…? Just as we had the chance to write the opening chapter of our counteroffensive! How dare they…! Cough!”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
The emperor’s face turned bright red with rage, veins bulging visibly on his forehead.
Though he needed absolute rest, he could not contain his anger and ultimately collapsed, coughing up blood.
Those who witnessed the scene scrambled to tend to him, but it was already too late.
On the day Siyoon was welcomed as the sun of the kingdom, the once-blazing sun of the empire quietly set.
“Is it true that the champion is said to have one arm?”
“Yes, the rumors spreading across the Kingdom of Lyor seem to confirm this.”
“If the rumors are true… then Siyoon is alive.”
Ariel, the imperial princess, bit her lip, her expression dark with grief.
With her at the forefront, a new wind began to stir within the Empire.