Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

Time seemed to stretch and the distance to the training grounds was far, so I focused on building endurance by swinging my sword inside the room for quite a while.

As it appeared to be nearing dinner time, hunger slowly crept up on me, and just as I was about to leave the room, Chamberlain Alberto revisited.

The old man arrived with his hands full of snacks and grinned.

“I came across these while I was out beyond the Defensive Wall. Would you care to sample some? Not at the level of palace chefs, but the street food in the capital is quite decent. It has a strangely stimulating flavor.”

Alberto casually set the snacks down on the desk. Although bringing snacks seemed a little out of the blue, he likely intended them for Rani.

After expressing my thanks, Alberto took a seat on an empty chair.

Considering his position as Chamberlain, tasked with overseeing all matters within the Imperial Palace, it was unlikely that he visited merely to deliver snacks.

He likely came to speak about the Noble Selection.

Perfect timing. I also have something to give to Alberto.

‘No one else is around.’

There was no presence I could sense nearby.

Currently, only Alberto and I are in this room. Meaning no one else is listening.

While conveying my gratitude appropriately, I placed the brooch I had received from Master on the desk and began.

“Lord Alberto, someone from my hometown asked me to deliver this brooch to you. Shall you check it?”

Alberto’s expression was curious as he examined the brooch.

“This is…”

To avoid confusion with any possible namesakes, I inquired with the maids if there was anyone named Alberto within the palace. They all replied that the only Alberto was the Chamberlain.

Since my master instructed me to give the brooch to Alberto of the palace, the Chamberlain Alberto in front of me must be the person my master mentioned.

After scrutinizing the brooch with a complex look, Alberto spoke.

“Lord MacBilian, do you know what the crest on this brooch represents?”

“I am aware. Isn’t it the crest of Eremwald?”

White, green, red, blue, black. Among the colors subtly painted on the edge of the crest, black is a color exclusively granted to dukes within the Altain nobility.

Eremwald is one of the four dukedoms in the Altain Empire.

My master, Landeck, is the grand duke who received the title of ‘Ascension Duke’ for being the first Swordmaster.

“By any chance, what is your relationship with the owner of this brooch?”

“He is my swordsmanship teacher.”

Upon hearing my answer, Alberto closed his eyes quietly.

Is he reminiscing about something? The elder sat quietly for a while, then reopened his eyelids.

With a bitter smile, he looked at the brooch with gravity.

“That mangy bastard. He’s still alive then?”

Alberto handed the brooch back to me.

“How’s Landel doing? He had quite the vile taste in food, didn’t he?”

“Fortunately, he enjoyed the meals made by Rani and is likely taking a peaceful nap by now.”

“Nap?”

Alberto laughed heartily and returned to his usual dignified and gentlemanly demeanor.

“That’s right. If Landel gave you this, then…is there anything you need, Lord MacBilian?”

Need?

Until I arrived at the palace, I hadn’t paid much thought to Alberto. There were frequent attacks during the journey to the capital, and I had no idea who Alberto was at the time.

I only thought I was entrusted with the brooch to deliver greetings to some high-ranking noble in the capital.

But if Alberto is the Chamberlain of the palace, that changes things. Thank you, Master.

“Lord Alberto, I must pass the Noble Selection. I only require a little help. Just enough to avoid minor disturbances.”

Iris. To safely reach the Empress’s side, I need the Chamberlain’s assistance.

For a long time, he has been involved in all affairs big and small within the palace and is closer than anyone else to the empire’s sovereign.

His influence is something even the central nobles cannot ignore. Even the leaders of factions do not take Alberto lightly.

Since the Noble Selection can be swayed by the tastes of great nobles, even if I carry out my assignment without issue, there’s a possibility that powerful nobles might deliberately nitpick and manipulate the results.

But, if the Imperial Palace Chamberlain stands behind me, the great nobles won’t meddle so freely.

Upon hearing my request for help, Alberto chuckled.

“As a disciple of Landel…you’re related to Carlos too, so I understand. That’s within my capability. Don’t worry.”

Alberto nodded readily, discussed a few more details about the Noble Selection, and then stood up.

“The first trial will take place in the Inner Palace. You will be informed of the specifics before tomorrow morning.”

Having concluded our conversation, Alberto left the room with composed steps.

Click.

The door closed gently, and the sound of his footsteps in the corridor faded away. The room was so quiet that even faint breathing sounds became clear. After a while of staring at the door, I sat down.

‘Finally, it’s beginning.’

While I gathered information during the journey to the palace, the details about the Noble Selection were limited to whispers and rumors.

All prospective candidates are inevitably killed.

This was the only certainty.

The information had to be limited. After all, candidates die before even participating in the selection—none remain alive to relay information.

‘But at least I’ve reached the palace.’

The central nobles aligned with various factions are probably already wracking their brains right now.

Their candidates, whom they had expected to eliminate effortlessly, have arrived safely. They must be frantically planning how to deal with me.

‘They’re surely in panic.’

The arrogant nobles. Sending assassins openly and the calm reactions of the people in the capital—or the silent stance of the guards—highlight a need for serious reform.

‘The internal situation doesn’t seem simple either.’

There were many knights roaming within the palace. Most were knights bearing the crests of various nobility while the presence of the Imperial Knights was almost nonexistent.

One is not allowed to bring armed forces into the Inner Palace, but the knights of noble houses openly parade around. This means the Royal Knights Guild is not functioning as it should.

With the likes of Knight Jerome at the Inner Palace gate, or the knights that protected the envoys, they don’t seem completely useless, but still…

This ridiculous selection process clearly disregards the Empress’s wishes, and it must be concluded quickly.

*

I spent a bit of time appropriately engaging Rani, who was enthusiastically showing off her newly acquired knowledge of palace maid duties, and the following day arrived without issue.

In the morning, I received a message from a maid instructing me to visit the administrative department of the Inner Palace later in the afternoon.

With some time before my tasks began, I leisurely sampled the food prepared by the royal chefs.

“Indeed, this is the capital.”

The food was of superior quality compared to what I had tasted in Ruben.

Meat that was firmly yet tender, spices generously used without restraint, freshly baked warm bread, hearty soups with rich flavor—it was all exquisite.

The meals the maids brought to my room were all delicious.

It would’ve been nice if Rani had dined with me.

I imagined Rani eating alongside the maids at the moment. Her cheeks looked unusually rounder when I last saw her, which suggested she might’ve put on a bit of weight.

She’s been eating snacks continuously since we left Ruben.

Though Rani is still in the growing phase, even that doesn’t excuse neglecting her health; obesity is a potential risk. Proper supervision was necessary.

‘I should make her exercise soon.’

Clatter.

I placed the thoroughly cleaned plates aside.

Mentally sketching out a hellish health exercise routine to teach Rani, I finished off the tea served to me, which was appropriately cooled.

“Hmm?”

A strange heat sensation as it went down my throat.

The warmth in my stomach slightly boiled, but the peculiar sensation spreading inside was quickly subdued by a rising heat from within. A familiar yet unfamiliar feeling. Poison.

‘It wasn’t there during inspection.’

I checked each item carefully and found nothing suspicious at the time. However, after drinking the tea, the poison began to spread within me. Neither the tea cup contained any poison.

“…Possibly a combination poison.”

The food must’ve contained a compound poison activated upon combination.

“Did you need something?”

The maids clearing the dishes looked at me curiously. I shook my head to indicate nothing was amiss, and they bowed silently before leaving with the dishes.

A desolate room once everyone left.

I rested my chin on my arm, leaning on the chair, and closed my eyes in the peaceful silence.

‘Hmm.’

The maids did not add the poison.

Even with the poison administered, seeing my unharmed face, no one reacted strangely.

Thus, it was either introduced during the cooking process or sneakily added later by someone.

Since my immunity to poison is nearly flawless, death wasn’t a concern, but it didn’t make the situation any less unpleasant.

‘Soon they’ll know.’

The guiltier a person is, the harder it is to erase their stench, no matter how they try to wash it away.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and poison answered with a blade.

Preparing to head to the Inner Palace, I grabbed the sword sheath leaning against the wall and stood up.

*

The Altain Empire was a nation nearing 500 years old, starting with the founding empress, Empress Irisryze’s declaration of the establishment of the empire.

Supported by the overwhelming power of the empire, it dominated the Western Continent as the ruling force until the rise of the Sylvester Empire.

The Western Continent was once entirely governed by Altain, boasting Swordmasters even beyond the realm of mana users.

That is, until the Sylvester Empire emerged with its two sudden Swordmasters.

Thus, why am I bringing up Altain history?

The vast nation’s royal palace grounds were disgustingly extensive, so much so that a newly arrived noble from a distant region couldn’t help but get lost.

“F***…”

Everything went well until I enthusiastically marched out of the room, but as soon as I arrived at the Inner Palace grounds, I found myself lost.

The maids, who were visible all over the palace, were absent.

There were a few maids working in the inner quarters of the Inner Palace, but they were scarce, and those few never ventured out to the outer areas.

Still, fortunately, I occasionally encountered visiting nobles heading to the Inner Palace to ask directions.

“Excuse me. Can you tell me where the Southern Management Support Office is?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

A bald noble glanced at me, smirked, and disappeared.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me about the Southern Management Support Office?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’ve only just arrived here…”

“You should ask the servants. Hmph, that’s why provincials are.”

A skinny noble furrowed his brow and quickly departed.

Afterward, I asked a few more people, but they either avoided answering or swore at me before walking away.

“…”

Should I chase them and slash them?

I placed a hand on the sword sheath at my waist. The firm and cool feeling against my fingers as I gripped the handle made me recall the disappearing faces of those nobles.

Most nobles aren’t so rude. They might be harsh to commoners, but generally, they treat fellow nobles with some restraint.

‘They’re probably part of a faction.’

Adhering to the old customs of the founding emperor and guardians, Altain nobles train in martial arts and honor duels in outdated traditions.

This means there would be no problem if I pursued and defeated them in a duel since they instigated it first.

While weighing the idea of having a conversation of steel, I was approached by an all-too-familiar middle-aged noble.

“Lord MacBilian?”

A middle-aged noble carrying a stack of documents was looking at me.

I’ve seen his face somewhere.

The gentleman with the stylish mustache who came as an envoy to Ruben greeted me with a bright smile.

“Good to see you again since Ruben. It’s fortunate you’ve arrived safely. It’s almost been a year since a candidate has reached the palace, so I’m oddly glad.”

Though the middle-aged noble spoke in an inviting manner, I was somewhat stuck.

His face was familiar, but I couldn’t recall his name.

Awkwardly staring at him while hesitating, the noble continued.

“I’ve skipped formalities, haven’t I? Pleased to see you. I’m Grem Wideburn. I received a baron title from the late emperor and work here at the Inner Palace.”

“Pleased to meet you. Wideburn Baron. I am Cain MacBilian.”

After a brief introduction, the gentleman with the stylish mustache looked at me curiously and inquired.

“Speaking of which, Lord MacBilian, what are you doing here? Didn’t you receive the notification to go to the Southern Management Office?”

“I received the notification and am on my way. But…”

After hearing the details, Grem furrowed his brow.

“The faction brats are still at their childish antics. Follow me, Lord MacBilian. By coincidence, I was heading to the Southern Division anyway, so I’ll guide you.”

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