The blue belt signified an individual who served the Emperor directly, and the five knots represented over fifty years of service in the palace. The golden tassel symbolized the most brilliant sun, a privilege reserved solely for the head of the Emperor's attendants.
Yuder had no memory of seeing this man in his previous life. It seemed he had vanished along with the death of the current Emperor.
"His Majesty awaits you in the Second Palace. Please, follow me."
"I'm here today not as the Duke of Peletta, but as the Commander of the Cavalry. I'd appreciate it if you addressed me accordingly."
"Ah, indeed. This old mind of mine is slipping," the head attendant responded with a faint smile.
It was clear the head attendant was well acquainted with Kishiar. Yuder didn't miss the quick yet careful glance the man cast over the Cavalry members as they proceeded.
"..."
The Cavalry members hardly dared to breathe as they passed through the long corridor and into the garden. Among them, Kanna was visibly the most tense.
Yuder noticed her habit of bowing her head and walking excessively low, continuing the peculiar behavior she had exhibited before they arrived. It seemed she was trying to hide her appearance from the gaze of others. Though curious about the reason, the current situation wasn't conducive to striking up a conversation.
The head attendant confidently led them down the third corridor and through the garden. As he had mentioned earlier, their destination was the Second Palace, meaning they still had several corridors to cross. Yet, despite walking through such an expansive area, there was hardly any sign of life within the Sun Palace.
In his previous life, Yuder remembered the Sun Palace as constantly bustling with attendants, nobles arriving for imperial audiences, and foreign diplomats. This stillness felt unnerving to him, but both the head attendant and Kishiar seemed unfazed.
'Is the Sun Palace empty due to an imperial decree from the current Emperor?' Yuder speculated.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the head attendant suddenly stopped.
"Someone is approaching."
Moments later, as he had said, several figures appeared from beyond the pond to the right of the garden. Upon spotting the head attendant, Kishiar, and the Cavalry members, they halted in unison.
From the belts they wore, Yuder recognized them as attendants. However, the color of their belts was a deep red, as rich as twilight. Yuder knew well what that red represented.
Red was the color of the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the Empire.
And the current Crown Prince was none other than Katchian La Orr, the Emperor Yuder would eventually serve until his death.
"I was out for a walk when I thought I saw a familiar figure. It turns out Duke Peletta is paying a visit."
The tall group of attendants parted to reveal a young boy. His features bore the unmistakable traits of the imperial bloodline, strikingly similar to Kishiar La Orr.
His golden hair, a blessing from the Sun God, his red pupils, and youthful yet distinguished appearance all pointed to one thing: he was of the imperial family.
Though smaller and much younger than when Yuder first saw him in his previous life, there was no mistaking that face.
Unconsciously, Yuder clenched his fist tightly. The sharp pain in his palm grounded him in the present, reminding him that this boy was not yet the Emperor Katchian La Orr, who would one day know his name.
Right now, he was simply the Crown Prince, oblivious to Yuder Aile's existence. His focus was entirely on the head attendant and Kishiar.
Observing this, Yuder repeated to himself: This is not the past. Many things had changed, and many more would.
Preventing the Crown Prince from issuing that calm, cold-blooded order to assassinate Kishiar La Orr—that was the future he sought to change.
To say Yuder had no resentment toward the Emperor before his execution would be a lie. Yet, even that bitterness had eventually faded. Yuderain Aile, Commander of the Cavalry, did not return to dwell on regret.
He remembered his final moments—exhausted, reflecting on his life with bitter self-deprecation. There had been no thirst for revenge.
He hadn't returned to the Cavalry for revenge.
Of course, there was no way he would let Katchian La Orr ascend to the throne as smoothly as before. He had to save Kishiar and ensure his own survival.
In his previous life, the Crown Prince had become far from an exemplary ruler. But now was not the time to challenge that; Yuder hadn't yet gained enough power to intervene. It was still too early.
Yuder slowly opened his eyes, which had closed as he wrestled with his thoughts, and looked forward. The first thing he saw was Kishiar's broad back, standing tall and relaxed, like a towering tree casting a protective shadow over the Cavalry.
That image alone calmed the turbulent emotions in Yuder's chest. His usual composure returned as he took a few deep breaths. With that regained focus, he could now observe the conversation between the Crown Prince and Kishiar with clear eyes.
"What a pleasant surprise to meet Your Highness the Crown Prince here," Kishiar said, his smile easy. "It seems my luck is in today."
The Crown Prince returned the smile, his face lighting up as though he were genuinely pleased.
"Duke Peletta, you must be busy. I hear you've been even busier lately, but I'm glad to see you looking so well."
"You've been concerned about my health? I'm honored,"
"But who are these unfamiliar faces with you, Duke? I don't recognize them."
The Crown Prince's gaze swept over the Cavalry members, briefly landing on Yuder. As it did, Yuder clenched his fist again, before releasing it gradually.
"They are members of the Cavalry, a group I formed recently," Kishiar explained. "These individuals possess talents that will one day strengthen the Empire."
"Oh? I've heard stories about the Cavalry. Hearing the Duke speak so highly of them raises my expectations. I look forward to seeing their skills firsthand someday."
"Haha. You'll be in for a surprise," Kishiar replied smoothly, his tone light.
As the pleasantries continued, the Cavalry members exchanged glances, sensing the undercurrent in the conversation. After a few more words about the Cavalry, the Crown Prince finally revealed his true intent.
"Actually, I sensed a strange energy from a distance, which led me here. After meeting you, Duke, I understood its source. What exactly is inside that box you're carrying, to give off such an impression that I should not approach it further?"
His tone was courteous, but the implication was clear. Yuder's gaze shifted toward the small box in Kishiar's hand.
From his years of observing Katchian La Orr, Yuder could tell the prince wasn't asking out of ignorance. He already knew what was inside. He merely wanted confirmation.
'Coming to confirm in person, even though he already knows. He's verifying something. It could be nothing, but if not… it might be connected to whoever is behind targeting Kishiar and the Red Stone.'
Throughout the journey to the palace, Yuder had been contemplating the identity of the mastermind behind the recent intrusions. The list of possible suspects was long.
Foreign kings coveting the Red Stone, the Sun God's church—which might view this newfound power as a threat despite declaring it a divine gift—the Pearl Tower mages eager to study the stone, and many more. Among them was Katchian La Orr himself, who in Yuder's previous life had ordered Kishiar's assassination. Though unlikely, given the Crown Prince had no obvious reason to seek the stone in such a manner, it was a possibility that Yuder couldn't entirely rule out.
Oblivious to Yuder's inner scrutiny, the prince smiled.
"I apologize, This concerns a task His Majesty entrusted to me. I'm afraid I cannot disclose anything before reporting to him."
Kishiar's words were accompanied by a calm smile. Unlike the prince, whose expression could turn cold and fierce when he wasn't smiling, Kishiar's countenance remained perpetually serene and unreadable.
"Ah, if your business with His Majesty is so pressing, I won't keep you any longer. Let's have tea another time," the prince said, retreating gracefully the moment the Emperor was mentioned.
"I understand. The weather is lovely today, so I hope you enjoy the beautiful scenery," Katchian responded, stepping back.
As the prince departed, the Cavalry members bowed, albeit awkwardly. Their uneven salutes, each different from the others, caused the prince's attendants to frown in disapproval. It was clear they regarded the Cavalry as uncultured and beneath them.
Yuder followed Kishiar for a while, but then, out of curiosity, he turned his head slightly. In the distance, he caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince and his entourage receding into the garden.
"Would you mind waiting here for a while? I need to report to His Majesty,"
The squad continued to walk through the palace grounds until they finally arrived at the Second Palace. The journey took them deep into the palace complex, a place connected by intricate corridors and expansive gardens.
The Sun Palace consisted of seven buildings arranged in a unique formation. From the inside, the layout felt maze-like, but it was said that from the sky, it resembled a constellation.
The numbering of each palace didn't follow a logical order in terms of position, due to this design. The Second Palace, being the farthest from the entrance, was the most inconvenient to access.
In Yuder's previous life, when Katchian La Orr was Emperor, he had rarely used the Second Palace. Previous emperors only retreated there when they grew old and sought isolation from the outside world.
Now, it was the current Emperor, Keilusa La Orr, who awaited them inside the Second Palace.