Read Novel Full Chapter 570: Meeting Mikazura for the First Time
Chapter 570: Meeting Mikazura for the First Time
"I didn’t expect we’d be going to the palace this soon," Evalyn said with a helpless expression.
Walking beside her, Nolan chuckled softly. "Me neither. But it’s fine. The sooner, the better. Once we’re done here, we’ll head to the hot springs."
Evalyn nodded slowly. "Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. She truly wanted to enjoy the hot springs that flowed directly from nature. It would surely feel refreshing and relaxing.
Before they realized it, they arrived at the imperial palace complex. Since it was still within the capital, they didn’t need to take a horse-drawn carriage.
"Woah... Is that the imperial palace? What an incredibly beautiful building," Evalyn whispered in admiration.
Nolan looked up at the palace rising behind the towering walls, his eyes filled with equal admiration.
Although he couldn’t see it in its entirety, the palace was massive and imposing.
Ten-meter-high walls surrounded the complex. At the top, there were openings every five meters, each fitted with a three-meter-long cannon.
Their purpose was to protect the imperial family if the capital’s fortress were ever breached.
With his eyes of chaos, Nolan could see thousands—no, tens of thousands—of magic circles layered across the massive walls.
Even before an enemy could touch them, the magic circles would activate and annihilate them.
This was not surprising, considering how vital the imperial palace complex was.
It would have been far stranger if there were no additional layers of protection like these magic circles.
The guards on duty immediately bowed when they saw the envoy, Ikizaki, who was guiding Nolan and Evalyn.
They entered the palace complex without undergoing any inspection.
After all, Ikizaki’s status as a subordinate of Prime Minister Mikazura was more than enough to prove that the two were honored guests.
As they passed through the gate, Nolan and Evalyn were greeted by a breathtaking sight.
Before them stood the magnificent imperial palace, adorned with giant dragon carvings at every corner.
Standing before it made them feel incredibly small.
"The architecture of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi is truly extraordinary," Evalyn whispered in awe.
Although she had seen similar architectural styles in shops and houses throughout the city, it never grew dull.
Nolan nodded in agreement. For some reason, simply gazing at the structure before him brought a strange sense of comfort.
Could this be what people call returning home?
The imperial palace complex was divided into five main palaces—the Central Palace, the East Palace, the West Palace, the South Palace, and the North Palace.
The concept was somewhat similar to the imperial palace of Velmora, but the layout in the Eastern Empire of Izanagi was far more intricate.
For example, the Central Palace was the most important among the five.
It served as a meeting hall, an administrative office, and the center for many other critical functions.
The South Palace was reserved as a residence for ministers, while the East Palace housed the empress and her personal maids.
The Eastern Emperor also stayed there, though he had a private chamber within the Central Palace.
The North Palace served as the residence for servants and guards.
It was also the largest of the five, which was not surprising considering the vast number of servants and guards who lived within the palace for duty.
Meanwhile, the West Palace was the residence of the princess, Kaede, and the prince, Ryuusei Taira.
At the mention of the prince, Nolan recalled the incident aboard the silver ship.
Ryuusei’s decision to send assassins after Kaede was reckless—so obvious that it could even be considered suicidal.
After all, they were siblings. Revealing such blatant intent to kill her would only spark public outrage.
Fortunately, Kaede would suppress the matter for now, preventing an immediate uproar.
Even so, the incident could not remain hidden forever. Sooner or later, the assassination attempt would come to light. And when it did, chaos would likely sweep through the capital of Hinode.
Nolan and Evalyn were then led toward the Eastern Palace—where Prime Minister Mikazura resided.
Upon arrival, Ikizaki stopped at the entrance and said, "The Prime Minister is waiting for you inside. I can only accompany you this far."
Nolan had no objections. He smiled and replied, "Thank you."
Ikizaki gave a slight nod before walking away, leaving Nolan and Evalyn standing in front of the room where Mikazura was staying.
Just as Nolan was about to knock on the door, a calm voice—smooth like flowing water—came from inside.
"Come in, Your Highness. The door is unlocked."
Nolan’s hand paused midair, a faint smile forming on his lips.
He slid the door open and was greeted by a minimalist yet elegant interior.
The room was spotless. A round table stood at the center, surrounded by four cushions.
Prime Minister Mikazura sat there, dressed in a black kimono that suited him perfectly.
On the table rested three clay teacups and a clay teapot. Thin white steam rose from the spout, showing that the tea had just been brewed.
Prime Minister Mikazura turned toward Nolan and Evalyn and welcomed them.
"Please, come in."
Nolan and Evalyn stepped inside. After closing the door behind them, they approached Mikazura.
"Have a seat. Your journey must have been exhausting, wasn’t it?"
He poured tea from the teapot into two clay cups.
Nolan sat on one of the cushions and replied casually, "Yes, it was quite tiring, Prime Minister. But we enjoyed it."
Evalyn sat beside him without saying a word.
Fortunately, they were speaking in the language of the Central Continent, so she was able to understand.
"By the way, your sister already informed me of your arrival. I know she’s very busy, so I didn’t expect her to accept my invitation. But unexpectedly, she asked you to come instead." Mikazura chuckled softly as he sipped his tea.
Nolan took a sip of his tea and replied calmly, "Yes, I didn’t expect it at first either. The Eastern Continent is very far away, and I haven’t been back from the Northern Continent for long."
A trace of helplessness appeared on his face. Now that he thought about it, he had indeed been extremely busy over the past few months.
He was no longer like his usual self—the one who stayed in his room and rarely stepped outside the palace.
"I can sense your hardship," Mikazura said with a faint smile.
The two continued their conversation, subtly probing each other.
After all, they had never truly interacted before, so this initial exchange was necessary.
It would make their future discussions feel more natural.
"By the way, you seem to have a deep appreciation for calligraphy, Prime Minister Mikazura," Nolan remarked as his gaze swept across the room. "Did you once aspire to become a calligraphy master?"
Five or six calligraphy pieces hung neatly on the wall. The craftsmanship was flawless.
Although Nolan was not particularly knowledgeable about it, his mother was fond of calligraphy, so he understood it to some extent.
"Yes, I do enjoy it. But becoming a calligraphy master... you overestimate me, Your Highness," Mikazura replied with an easy smile.
Nolan did not believe his modest words. The strokes were refined and precise—at the very least, they were of master level.
’Just as I thought,’ he muttered inwardly, irritation flickering in his eyes. ’Those called geniuses always act humble. It’s really... annoying.’