The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 973: The Palace Awakens
But while the heir and newest part-owner of said place was trying to wrap his mind around the scale of the Imperial Palace, unbeknownst to him, several people and organizations had already begun mobilizing.
Every scrap of news was being monitored.
Every update was being tracked.
And the moment coverage for the banquet preparations began to circulate, a surprising number of citizens across the Empire tuned in from wherever they were.
Normally, this would have been the time when people eagerly awaited announcements about the Astral Cup.
But this year’s banquet was an entirely different ball game.
Varying kinds of fans were looking forward to very different things, and the anticipation was so intense that even children were allowed to stay up far past their usual bedtime just to watch their newest idols appear on screen.
Meanwhile, prominent researchers, masters, and innovators—people who normally would never waste their time attending social gatherings—were suddenly seen dusting off their formal attire.
Several even tripped over themselves in their rush to prepare.
Because tonight wasn’t just another banquet.
Tonight was an opportunity. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
If they were lucky, they might even get the chance to approach the most interesting people currently shaking the Empire.
At this point, it didn’t even matter if they only managed to speak to someone from the entourage.
Because the rumors had already spread.
The assistants.
The guards.
The maids.
Surely even they knew things that ordinary scholars and inventors had yet to grasp.
And that alone made them worth approaching.
Naturally, the media had reached the same conclusion.
Various outlets—especially those still nursing the humiliation of losing the previous scoop to Solaris Times—had already sworn that today would be the day they reclaimed their dignity.
They would capture something.
Anything.
Footage that would once again shake the Empire.
All they had to do was outmaneuver dozens of other reporters who had arrived with exactly the same goal.
But competition had never deterred journalists who already knew what was at stake.
Unfortunately, not everyone shared that enthusiasm.
Those working under Chairman Lan—including the man himself—could only feel the tightening of their collars as the hours ticked closer to the banquet.
They weren’t excited.
They were simply trying to survive.
If they could just endure tonight’s banquet without anything catastrophic happening, then most of them could finally disappear for a while until the storm passed.
At best, those who held lower positions could hand the remaining responsibilities over to the committee in charge of the Astral Cup.
It wasn’t something they would wish on their enemies.
But it was certainly not something they wanted for themselves, so they could only pass on the baton to such unsuspecting people. If anything, they already did their best to show the next group what to prepare for. And whatever they wish to do with that information was simply up to them.
Meanwhile, the members of the foreign delegations had their own thoughts about tonight’s grand event.
For them, there was nothing more exciting than the spectacle about to unfold.
As their respective vehicles arrived one after another along the illuminated approach leading toward the Imperial Palace, doors opened in elegant sequence.
One by one, representatives stepped out.
Long coats.
Ceremonial uniforms.
Tailored gowns.
Every movement was deliberate.
Every step measured.
The red carpet stretched forward like a battlefield.
And each arrival instinctively glanced toward the others.
Because no matter how polite the smiles were, everyone present knew the truth.
They were all here for the same prey.
Eyes met.
Calculations were made.
Some nodded politely.
Others simply looked away with quiet confidence.
It was the kind of atmosphere a certain little system reveled in—except this time, the stakes were far more real. And the parties sure as hell walked like they meant it.
However, beyond the competing foreign guests, the participating guilds, and the cadets who had already predicted the results yet still insisted on attending, there was yet another niche faction that began making moves the moment they realized what might happen.
Ideally, last but certainly not least, was the team under Imperial Butler Henry.
The man, who would never do this under normal circumstances, stood at the forefront of the palace’s welcoming procession.
And tonight, the welcome he oversaw was far grander than usual.
Rows of imperial guards lined the immense landing leading to the entrance stairs, their armor polished to mirror brilliance under the towering lights. Floating lanterns drifted above the avenue in slow, controlled formations, casting soft golden illumination over the arriving guests.
Beyond them stood specialized palace attendants.
Perfectly aligned.
Perfectly still.
Every noble who arrived was greeted with the same immaculate precision expected of the Imperial household.
Doors opened.
Names were announced.
Escorts guided guests along the sweeping corridor toward the grand entrance hall, where towering arches of luminous pillars framed the path forward.
It was extremely ceremonial.
To the observers watching from afar, it looked as if the Empire itself was welcoming its honored rulers.
But one newly minted Imperial wouldn’t particularly know that. He wouldn’t know that the palace staff had gone to such lengths that evening for a very specific reason.
For it was the only way they could properly greet the newest member of the leading family without giving anything away.
And so, both the arriving guests and the millions of viewers watching from across the Empire were greeted by what was easily the most astonishing banquet they’ve ever seen the Imperial Palace host.
__
Of course, the sentiment was touching.
If only they could be made aware of the fact that Luca was already beside himself with the floating road alone.
Because the moment their hovercraft began descending toward the Imperial Palace grounds, the young cadet had already leaned closer to the window, his attention completely captured by what was happening below them.
Stretching out around the palace was a vast body of clear, glasslike water. Under the night sky, it reflected the towering spires and radiant lights of the palace so perfectly that the entire structure seemed suspended between the heavens and its own mirrored twin beneath the surface.
At first, Luca had assumed the water was simply part of the palace’s aesthetic design.
But then their vehicle began approaching the landing path.
And suddenly the surface of the water stirred.
Soft rings of light appeared beneath the surface, spreading outward in smooth geometric patterns that shimmered faintly beneath the reflective lake. For a moment, it almost looked like stars rearranging themselves beneath the water.
Then, without much of a splash, sections of the water began to rise.
Platforms emerged gracefully from beneath the surface, lifting upward until they aligned perfectly with one another. Panel after panel slid into place with precise synchronization, forming a broad, floating roadway that extended toward the palace entrance.
It was a road that appeared only when vehicles arrived.
A moat system designed so the hovercrafts wouldn’t cause the water underneath to splash around.
Honestly, that alone was enough to leave Luca, the returnee, completely stunned.
Actually, scratch that—
In truth, the little miser had barely managed to keep it together even before the platforms fully rose.
Because just as he was staring at the floating road forming before them, his husband leaned slightly closer and spoke in that calm, almost casual tone of his.
"Welcome to your other home."
"!!!"
At that exact moment, Luca’s mind went completely blank.
Not because of the grandeur.
Not because of the sheer scale of the palace rising before them.
Not even because of the fuzzy feeling he felt after being welcomed.
But because a major, horrifying thought had suddenly taken hold of him.
Just how much was the upkeep of this place?!
