PTSD Military Chaplain of the Academy

The emperor’s command is solemn.

Although the Senate, composed mostly of nobles, and the Citizens’ Assembly, made up only of commoners, function to check the emperor’s powerful authority, a few influential nobles still have deep ties to the imperial family.

While it isn’t the case that one would follow an unreasonable imperial decree to return a territory, relinquish tax rights, or even completely abandon their title without question, it also indicates one cannot disregard less significant imperial commands either.

A political system where the imperial family and nobility, as well as nobility and commoners, blend smoothly.

Such was the current situation in the empire.

And for that reason, Maximilian von Adelheit, head of the Adelheit Ducal House, one of the few ducal houses in the empire, could not disobey the command to immediately enter the royal palace.

“Your Excellency. We have arrived.”

“…….”

“Your Excellency?”

“…Hmm.”

The Duke of Adelheit suddenly snapped back to reality and exited the carriage. A vast royal palace, adorned with white marble and gilded walls, appeared before him.

Though it’s also where the emperor resides, it is simultaneously a building bustling with imperial family members and various officials attending to their duties—all those who stand at the very pinnacle of this nation.

While it is true that the emperor and his family occupy only a small part of this palace, even just that is overwhelmingly magnificent.

The Duke of Adelheit, a member of the highest aristocracy in the empire, would undoubtedly find his mansion pale in comparison to the grandeur of the royal palace.

Truly, it is beyond comprehension. Above the sky, another sky exists.

“Your Excellency. We received word of your visit to the royal palace.”

As the Duke of Adelheit stood gazing up at the palace, a man in formal attire and holding a top hat approached and bowed.

“Master of the Horse.”

“Your Excellency, the President.”

Since the President of the Senate ranked higher in protocol than the Duke Adelheit, being addressed as such in the royal palace, the utmost formal setting, was appropriate. Duke Adelheit cleared his throat unnecessarily and continued speaking.

“I have come at His Majesty’s summons.”

“Yes. He is waiting in the palace.”

The Duke of Adelheit followed the Master of the Horse, Baron Dalver, who had taken it upon himself to act as his guide.

Baron Dalver’s hair on the sparse crown of his head was clearly exposed due to him having removed his top hat.

“Have you been searching recently?”

“Excuse me, what are you referring to…?”

“Um, well… about hair loss treatment.”

Baron Dalver’s footsteps, which had been steady as he guided the way, faltered for a brief moment before quickly returning to normal. He must have been quite preoccupied with that topic.

“I’ve given up now.”

“Oh dear… Why not search a bit more? I heard some news about a hair loss treatment popular in Daunton lately.”

“Are you referring to the Daunton area? If I may, may I ask the source of that information?”

“The Count of Daunton mentioned it during our last meeting. He said it has some effect, and it seems he is using it himself.”

“…Thank you. Your Excellency. Truly, thank you.”

Although his expression and tone didn’t give it away, the top hat he held trembled slightly in his hand, indicating his gratitude. It seemed he was quite desperate.

That might be the reason he wears his top hat year-round, regardless of the season, when he’s not indoors.

“Hair loss is a shameful thing, indeed.”

Pushing such trivial thoughts to the back of his mind, Duke Adelheit continued to walk.

A serene atmosphere accompanied by faint sounds of conversations filtered through like white noise.

Whether officials discussing duties or visitors to the palace engaging in political dialogue.

Neither would likely engage in deeply meaningful conversations; if truly important dialogue were occurring, the noise wouldn’t be so audible.

Duke Adelheit stepped through the white noise. With each step he took, other officials, visiting nobles, high-ranking military officers, or a few commoners stiffened and swallowed hard.

He was a figure standing at the pinnacle of the officials. To add to that, he had a history of serving as a general in the military, making him one of the top predators in the palace’s political arena.

Feeling the conversations in the grand hall of the royal palace, which were somewhat lively, gradually dwindle, Duke Adelheit experienced a nagging sense of unease.

The palace, splendid and yet simple, was a strange space where two sides incompatible with each other coexisted. It had always been this way since Duke Adelheit was a child.

Gazes flew from every direction—numerous servants and officials working in the palace, various bureaucrats bustling around the expansive palace grounds….

And with every step he took forward, people would close their mouths and fall silent.

In contrast, his heartbeat and footsteps grew louder, accompanied by an increasing tension.

“It’s maddening.”

It was an uncomfortable place, no matter when one visited.

As he passed through the hall, which began to resume its chatter, he headed towards the third floor, where visitors would nearly vanish, and only ministers and high-ranking officials would walk with dignity.

“Soon… I suppose.”

On the third floor of the palace, there is a meeting room. If the emperor is to meet Duke Adelheit at this time, it would likely be there.

Duke Adelheit quickly checked his attire. He found no flaws whatsoever.

Satisfied with that fact, he was about to stop in front of the approaching meeting room when…

“…Hmm?”

Baron Dalver continued walking past the corridor leading to the meeting room and shifted towards a wider hallway.

As Duke Adelheit, who had been standing in front of the meeting room out of habit, stared blankly at Baron Dalver, the latter belatedly turned around when he realized Duke Adelheit wasn’t following.

“Your Excellency? Is there a problem?”

“No… Aren’t we to meet in the meeting room?”

“The meeting room? His Majesty is not in the meeting room.”

“…Is that so?”

That was peculiar. If it wasn’t the meeting room where ministers of various administrative organizations and military generals met, where on earth would he be greeted?

Following Baron Dalver, who began to stride ahead once more, Duke Adelheit’s mind grew more entangled.

“If he is not in the meeting room… could he perhaps be in the White Palace?”

“No.”

“The Crystal Palace?”

“The Crystal Palace is temporarily off-limits due to internal sewer maintenance.”

“The Peace Palace? The Unification Palace? Could he be praying in the imperial church?”

“None of those.”

“Oh dear.”

Baron Dalver’s demeanor was profoundly frustrating. Answering only “yes” or “no” was a conversational style Duke Adelheit did not favor.

“Then where on earth is he? Has he perhaps finished his duties early today?”

Despite hearing Duke Adelheit’s question, Baron Dalver remained silent and continued walking.

With his extensive political experience, Duke Adelheit sensed an indescribable sense of foreboding within him, so he also kept quiet and followed behind.

After a considerable period of walking, Duke Adelheit finally discerned where he was headed.

Duke Adelheit’s complexion turned pale.

“Don’t tell me….”

A gigantic door—one that distinguished between palaces within the royal palace, essentially marking the boundaries of each palace—stood in the middle of the hallway.

To either side, two royal guards stood stiffly with swords drawn, resembling statues as they made no move whatsoever.

However, the critical aspect was not the peculiar looks of the visiting royal guards or how Baron Dalver composed himself regardless of their presence.

It was the dark antique wooden door, painted entirely black, without omission.

Toward that ominous black door, Baron Dalver gripped a short cane in reverse and struck down upon it, as if to smash it.

– Thud! Thud! Thud!

A tremendous noise echoed at regular intervals. On the right door of the black wooden door was an indentation, which was precisely where Baron Dalver had struck with his reversed cane.

After a short, neither too long nor too brief, time, the door slowly opened, revealing another royal guard.

“Master of the Horse.”

“Lord Benor. I bring the President with me.”

“Right this way.”

The guard, referred to as Lord Benor, stepped forward first, with Baron Dalver and Duke Adelheit following behind.

As two more royal guards in black coats joined in from either side, Baron Dalver finally spoke to Duke Adelheit.

“His Majesty is… in the War Palace.”

* * * * *

The Adelheit Duke Mansion had not changed since the last time I visited.

The excessively long mansion stretching on both sides remained the same, the unnecessarily expansive garden and lawn were unchanged, and even the unsightly golden nameplate was still intact.

“…….”

Gazing momentarily at the large door adorned with that massive nameplate, I boldly approached the guard standing in front of it. The two guards, keeping a watchful eye on me, appeared taken aback.

“Excuse me, are you Professor Antorelli?”

“That is correct.”

“The invitation from His Excellency….”

“Is it necessary?”

“Y-yes?”

I could see the most senior guard rush out hastily from the guardroom within. Turning my gaze back to the guard blocking my path, I asked again.

“Is it a place where I can only enter with an invitation?”

“W-well, typically that is the case….”

“Is there no exception?”

“…….”

Unless Duke Adelheit had lost his senses, he wouldn’t have restricted my entry. And that assumption seemed to have been correct.

The guard, looking confused, glanced at the other guard next to him for guidance. His eyes seemed to convey a question: ‘What should I do about this?’

The unfortunate guard received no answer, merely a shrug of ‘I don’t know.’

“Oh dear! Professor!”

Rushing toward us was the senior guard who had just burst through the door.

Or perhaps I should call him the chief guard, judging by the armband on his arm?

“Yanma! I told you to let the professor in immediately! What are you all doing? Don’t you know your duties?”

“B-but we still have to follow the usual procedure, right? His Excellency isn’t here right now….”

“Damn it… Professor, please don’t mind it. Come on, let’s go in!”

With remarkably overly friendly guidance from the chief guard, I was allowed to step into the Adelheit Duke Mansion without any invitation.

This time, there was no one to see me off. It was because of my sudden visit.

“That doesn’t matter.”

It was just fine. I walked straight along the main path crossing the garden, approaching the mansion.

– So, what should I do now? Why am I experiencing this? I fought in that war; why am I not receiving any recompense? Why on earth….

Today’s conversation might take a while.

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