After saying goodbye to Faelynn, Darian entered the carriage with the knight Edger and Reina. The journey was slow, but Darian remained calmer than last time. Sitting in front of him was Edger, and Reina sat on his left side. Edger was looking at Darian, analyzing his body for quite a while. Finally, he broke his silence.
"Your Highness," he started, his voice filled with real, genuine awe in his face."You look ..... different from last time I met you, it seems like a new person."
Darian glanced at the glass windows of the carriage." Is that so?" Well, getting beaten up by the elf made my body bulkier than old Darian, he thought to himself. "It seems my physique has become more sturdy than I thought."
"It's not just physique, my lord, your overall presence has changed," Edger insisted.
"Well, it's not just me who has changed," Darian replied to Edger after inspecting him with the mana gaze. Edger's heart is filled with a crackling red aura, indicating how much he has advanced as a knight.
Maybe he is already an advanced knight, Darian thought to himself after the inspection.
"You awakened aura, huh? Edger, maybe you weren't lazing off while I was getting tortured by that dark elf woman."
Edger's eyes widened in shock, "Your Highness, how did you know?"
"Hehe, I have my own ways and methods, anyway, congratulations, you will not be replaced anytime soon."
Edger bowed his head with pride."Thank you, Your Highness. I trained every day so I could be useful to you."
"Oh, Reina, how were your days in the Duke's castle?" Darian inquired about her.
"It was good, your highness. I learned various things from the duchy maids; they were all very open and welcoming around me."
"Well, I guess you are missing them," Darian replies.
"It would be lying if I said no, your highness, but at the time I am your personal maid, and I can't run away from my duties either".
"Good for you," Darian smiles at her answer.
After hours of traveling, the scenery had changed to the royal capital's outer wall of the Highhelm Empire. Darian, after months of seclusion from society, could not hold his emotions. "Damn, I missed this place, or maybe it's just the bed without any bugs creeping in."
The carriage slowly approached the castle; people panicked upon seeing the royal carriage, which had been sent away about a month ago, return. Inside it was the trash prince, as expected, and a cold welcome was always.
Darian ignored the bothersome eyes and went to his room. " Finally, civilisation."
He sat on the empty chair and lifted his leg, put it on the table, and relaxed for a bit after that. He took out the parting gift that Faelynn gave him, and he looked at it closely.
Interesting, I have never seen an artifact like that in the novel.
The blade is made of a metal that isn't normal iron. It was dark, and the dagger was serrated, and in the middle, there was a gemstone. The dagger blade was embedded with a language that Darian could understand. How will it work? Well, since it's an artifact, I should pump mana into it. Darian pumped his mana into it, and the dagger's gem glowed red.
CRACKLE....
Darian used his mana gaze to analyze the weapon. His jaw dropped after seeing the dagger. "No way! The gem is shining red." Darian's black mana got converted to aura, a conversion artifact, he thought to himself.
"That elf was holding an unknown cheat item like this, even though it's not as super strong as other converter artifacts, this is actually good on its own."
He swung the dagger at a nearby pot, releasing the aura-charged dagger.
WOOSH... the pot split into two.
"Holy shit!" When Darian looked at the dagger again, the gemstone turned to normal. I see, so it's a time-limited artifact, huh? Well, one is better than none, isn't?"
While Darian was inspecting the artifact, as always.
KNOCK.....KNOCK....
Darian immediately put the dagger in his pocket and adjusted his posture ." Come inside," he called the person outside with a bored persona.
The door opened, and the butler came forward, "Welcome back, your highness," he inspected Darian's new figure and smiled.
"Cut the crap, what's the deal? I am tired, just state it and leave."
He adjusted his gaze and opened his mouth."Your Highness, His Imperial Majesty, wants to meet you." He continued, "If Your Highness doesn't want to visit Imperial majesty this fast, I will inform him."
Darian froze internally, shit, I just stepped into this place, a personal visit this fast.
"Fine. I will come," he answered.
Darian walked to the door. "Lead the way," Darian said to the butler.
He followed the butler through long corridors, eventually reaching the door of the emperor's office. The butler opened the door and entered.
"Your Highness, sorry for the wait. You can enter now."
The room was cold, as he remembered, filled with the scent of incense and paper. Behind the desk was the Emperor Rodric, who was reviewing his documents.
"Why did you call me, Father?" Darian asked as he walked to the center of the room. His voice was steady.
The emperor scanned him with his eyes, head to toe, analysing his improved body, a slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"It seems Faelynn went, full with training you," Roderic noted, with a calm tone rather than his usual.
"I see so you heard it from your best friend, huh? Father".Darian replied, "Is that the reason you wanted to see me?"
"Partially, but there is a more important matter," Roderic leaned behind and took a sigh. "Darian, it's your academic progress; not only is it poor, but moreover, no single person wants you there, teachers, and students, no one wants you to take a step there. Simply, your reputation is ...difficult."
Darian sat on the empty chair opposite the desk and sat down without any approval. "I can see why. Is that it? Am I expelled?"
Not quite, "Roderic continued." I have spoken with the dean. He said you can return, but under strict conditions. You mustn't pull your usual bullshit there again; if there are any mistakes, he will kick you out without my permission. I will not stop him again."
Darian thought to himself power of nepotism is something else!
He nodded, "Fair enough, I will try."
"And one more thing," the emperor's face hardened, "Mirael wants to see you, Darian."
Darian froze while the emperor continued with his talk, "She is the one who spoke with the headmaster on your behalf."
THUMP...THUMP....
Darian's heart slammed against his ribs. A wave of nausea and cold, his hatred washed over him, the hatred of Darian again flushed towards Min Jun's mind, the original Darian's hatred was reacting to the name of the woman who replaced his mother. The idea of the re-acceptance to the academy was her petty charity, which made his skin crawl.
Calm down, Min Jun ordered himself, forcing his breath to normal. It's not your body now, Darian, it's mine now, he told himself while suppressing the emotions.
He took a deep breath, relieving himself, and opened his mouth. "Okay, I will pay a visit."