After Tatsuo's declaration, the Emperor slammed his hands on the table, his voice booming. "No! If you insist on going to the Lion Flame Domain, you will take two thousand soldiers! You are a prince of this empire!"
"Father, please trust me," Tatsuo pleaded, his voice firm. "I can protect myself."
"You are a stubborn child..." The Emperor began, but the Empress interrupted him. "Because he is your son!" she stated, her voice calm but firm. "That's why he is like that."
The Empress was a woman of few words, speaking only when necessary. She was also the only person in the entire empire who could interrupt and scold the Emperor. Her decisions were absolute, even the Emperor himself dared not challenge them.
After the Empress spoke, the Emperor sat back down, his expression subdued, like a child reprimanded by their mother. The Empress turned her gaze to Tatsuo. "I will allow you to join the Southern Army," she said, her voice clear and decisive. "And I will permit you to go without the two thousand guards. However, you will take one guard, whom I will personally select."
"But—" Tatsuo began.
"But…." The Emperor interjected, but a sharp glance from the Empress silenced him.
"No more buts," she declared, rising from her seat. "This is my final decision." She turned and walked towards the exit.
The Emperor quickly rose and followed her, his voice pleading. "Mei, forgive me..." he whispered.
In the dining room, Fen and Yui looked at Tatsuo, their faces etched with worry. "Big brother, do you really want to go to the border?" Yui asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I've heard it's incredibly dangerous. What if something happens to you?"
"Don't worry, little sister," Tatsuo reassured her, smiling gently. "I'll be fine. I need to become strong, to protect you all." He stood up. "I've finished eating. I need to prepare for my journey."
Tatsuo walked towards his room.
He saw Hui waiting outside of his room with a young man beside him, "Your Highness" they bow
"Come. inside of my room." Tatsuo answered, they entered. Tatsuo sat on the sofa. Tatsuo's room is huge. It's like a usual royalties room.
He looked at the young man beside Hui. "So this is a man that was arranged by my mother?"
"Yes your Highness, This is Rota from Torio he is a Knight Apprentice under my command, Rota is a year older than you , this kid is good my prince" Hui introduce Rota
Tatsuo nods while looking at Rota. He thought "this is good I can directly join the army with him, I thought my mother will give me an old man."
Hui thought that Tatsuo didn't like him. He explained "My Prince you can trust him. He is like a son to me. His father was one of my soldiers when I was in the army. He was a great warrior but died protecting me, so I took his son and treated him as my own…"
Tatsuo raised his hand "you don't have to explain I'm really satisfied" he looked at Rota "Since when did you start using a sword?"
"Since I was 5 years old my father teach me after he dies Sir Hui continue to teach me my Prince" Rota Answered
"Oh! So you've been practicing swords for more than a decade now. That's good." he looked at Hui "Sir Hui give me a sword!" Hui didn't know what to do, he just gave his sword to Tatsuo. "Rota Kneel Down!" Rota didn't know also what's happening he just kneel on his knee
``Be it known to all men that I, Prince Tatsuo Ryujin, am minded to raise Rota of Torio by virtue of his honor, loyalty, valor, and skill at arms, to the rank of knighthood."
"Rota of Torio, do you swear and acknowledge Prince Tatsuo Ryujin to be your true and lawful liege?"
He is really confused but he still answered "I do so swear your Highness"
``Do you also swear fealty to the Shinku Hou Empire, to defend and obey him until he departs the throne, or death shall take you?"
After thinking in a while he understand what is happening and he answered firmly "I so swear Your Highness"
"Let this be the last blow you receive without just recourse."
Tatsuo strike Rota with the flat side of the sword while he is kneeling before him, placing his hands palm-to-palm and upraised.Tatsuo places his hands over the Rota's head
"Repeat after me: "I,Rota Uno, do solemnly swear and pledge my sword to Tatsuo Ryujin, my liege, to defend and obey him until he depart his demesnes or death shall take me, and to uphold the honor of knighthood."
He repeated what Tatsuo says with a watery eyes because Tatsuo is giving him a surname. Surname is really important in this place because it's symbol of nobility.
"And I, for my part, do swear to defend and honor Rota Uno as befits a true knight'
Tatsuo rise the sword and taps Rota lightly on both shoulders with the sword
I dub thee Sir Rota Uno. Serve and defend me and this Empire. Arise, Sir Knight.
Before Rota stand he said "I promise on my faith that I will in the future be faithful to the lord, never cause him harm and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit." After he said it he raised and he felt something on his body, he checked and he saw that his cultivation level rise by three
Tatsuo gave back the sword to Hui and sat on the sofa "I gave the Uno surname because you are my first Knight. Also hope that someday you can prove to me that I'm not wrong on you."
Rota kneeled down again and swore "Yes Your Highness! Until my last breath!"
"Your land I will give it to you after our return. You two can leave now, and Rota we will leave at the end of next month" Rota and Hui left the room
"Ding! Congratulations master for you 2nd Subordinate"
"Reward special skill Military Tactical"
…
A series of notifications rang from the system
Tatsuo sitting on his sofa "Steve open Rota's Status" A blue screen appears in front of Tatsuo
Name: Rota Uno
Title: First Knight
Military Rank: Knight
Cultivation: Sky Gate Realm 2nd Level
Fame: 20
Can command up to 10 soldier
Special Skill
*Flame Dance Sword
*Flash Fire
*Flame Arrow
*Brute Slash
Magic skill: N/A
Attack Skill: Advance Flame Sword Technique, High Brute Sword Technique, Middle Rank Sniper
Ability: Middle Rank Fire Resistance
Sword: Double Sword