Richard followed the old servant out of the inn, finding that a luxurious carriage had already been prepared for him — guarded by ten mounted knights.

That alone showed how much respect the Empress had for him.

The old servant even personally acted as the coachman.

Inside the carriage, Richard was still lost in thought.

He tried to think positively, convincing himself that the Empress was merely fulfilling her duty — showing appreciation toward one of her most outstanding citizens.

That should be something normal.

With so many guards accompanying him, it didn't take long before they arrived once again at the grand palace.

However, the carriage didn't stop in front of it.

Instead, the old servant steered it to the side, ascending a sloped path that led to a rooftop.

That part of the palace truly had a massive rooftop garden, filled with all kinds of flowers growing directly from the floor.

Richard saw rows of maids standing neatly, and at the far end, there was a small dining table with only four chairs.

A few maids placed dishes and drinks upon the table — roasted meat and chilled grape juice.

"Sir Richard, please step down!" said the old servant politely.

Richard stepped out of the carriage, still glancing around since he hadn't seen the Empress yet.

"Sir Richard, Her Majesty will arrive shortly. You may take a seat first," said the servant.

Richard nodded and walked toward the table.

The maids even helped pull his chair for him.

As he sat down, he finally saw a tall woman approaching — wearing a tight, luxurious black gown that did little to conceal her breathtaking figure.

Her long crimson hair hung loosely, slightly damp, swaying softly in the cool night breeze.

The fragrance of the surrounding flowers was easily overwhelmed by her intoxicating scent.

Richard thought she was the most elegant woman he had ever seen. The aura of nobility around her radiated an air of unmatched grace.

He thought that an Empress truly possessed a different kind of brilliance compared to other powerful women.

"Thank you for coming..." The Empress spoke to him rather casually.

She walked toward him, signaling the maids to leave.

They quickly obeyed, disappearing until only the two of them remained.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Richard said respectfully, standing and bowing his head.

"There's no need to be so formal. Sit down and eat first," the Empress replied. Her voice, Richard thought, was pleasing to hear.

He sat back down, though he still felt awkward about eating.

However, the Empress gently pushed her plate a little closer toward him.

"You're not the shy type, are you?" she said, making Richard unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

Even if he wasn't a shy man, how could he act casually before the Empress?

Unless, of course, he was strong enough to ignore her presence.

Unfortunately, there was still a huge gap between their strengths. Richard knew very well how powerful she was.

Though her talent might not surpass his mother's, she was likely ten years older and had begun training far earlier.

Since she had spoken first, Richard finally began to eat — taking a bite of the meat only to find it incredibly delicious: tender, juicy, and carrying a perfect mix of savory and sweet that didn't come from simple salt or sugar.

"Try the sauce," the Empress said, pushing a small plate of sauce closer to him.

It looked like a mix of chili and various spices.

Richard dipped the meat into the sauce, and the taste became even more exquisite.

If he weren't in front of the Empress, he might have devoured it all in seconds.

When he sipped the chilled grape juice, a refreshing feeling washed through him immediately.

"Richard, you are the most extraordinary talent this kingdom has seen since its founding. Your chances of becoming a Grand Sovereign are incredibly high," said the Empress.

Richard was pleased to hear that, but he chose to stay humble.

"I know that Grand Sovereigns aren't always the most talented individuals. They are those who push themselves to their limits. Even if I am gifted, who can say whether I'll reach the same height the Grand Sovereigns achieved in their youth," he replied.

"Not always," said the Empress with a small smile. "Some people still manage to dominate their era through sheer talent alone."

"But from what I see, you're not the type to rely on talent alone. At the very least, your courage stands above others."

She was clearly referring to his boldness in challenging Bear — her older brother.

Richard smiled wryly, his expression naturally charming.

"Since you're from the Holy Star Kingdom, as members of the royal family, it is only natural that we support our most gifted citizens. Your talent far surpasses the rest; we sincerely wish for your future success. It will bring great glory to our kingdom," said the Empress again.

"Your Majesty, aside from me, there are still many great talents in this kingdom who are more senior than I am — such as Princess Lilith or Lady Rebecca," Richard replied.

"They are indeed outstanding..." The Empress agreed.

"But Lilith is the kind who focuses too much on her own pleasures. Historically, people like her never reach the level of a Grand Sovereign. Moreover, when you compare her to the wider world, her talent barely meets the lowest threshold among those competing for the World Magic Aether," the Empress said, expressing her opinion of Lilith.

"What about Lady Rebecca?" Richard asked, genuinely curious about her view of his mother.

"Lady Rebecca is more talented than she lets on..."

"Oh..." Richard was slightly surprised to hear that.

"She fought the King not too long ago. He couldn't even withstand her aura. He had to be assisted by an elder — and even then, Lady Rebecca was still able to fight him without losing."

Richard was, of course, shocked to hear that. An elder was at least at the Lord Realm in this kingdom. Some were even called Ancestors for reaching the Ruler Realm after countless years of accumulation — though their number was few, as the Holy Star Kingdom was considered weak compared to other kingdoms founded by a Grand Sovereign.

"If Lady Rebecca is that strong, why doesn't the kingdom support her?" Richard asked.

From the way the Empress spoke, it was clear that they had chosen to favor him over Rebecca.

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