Katie's eyes widened in surprise at the man before them, while Li Wei raised an eyebrow.
"You're the king of the Empire?"
"That's right."
George V studied Li Wei carefully, then looked at Katie behind him. As a king, he naturally had a discerning eye. He could tell that their clothes were exquisitely made, and both wore styles favored by the imperial court. That meant they were citizens of the Empire, and...
George V's gaze sharpened slightly as he examined the crest on Li Wei's clothes.
A noble with a Family Crest had to be someone of considerable standing in the Empire. Yet he had never seen this man, nor even heard of him.
That was very strange.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Li Wei removed his hat and bowed to George V.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Li Wei, a Thistle Knight. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"A Thistle Knight?"
Li Wei's introduction left both George V and General Haig utterly astonished. Naturally, they knew what a Thistle Knight was, but... no one had been granted that title in many years!
"That's impossible! The Empire hasn't appointed a Thistle Knight in years!"
General Haig immediately objected, while George V remained silent. He merely frowned slightly at the crest on Li Wei's chest. Indeed, just as General Haig had said, George V remembered perfectly well that he had never personally awarded this young man the Thistle Medal, much less appointed him a Thistle Knight.
Yet he could also tell that the man's bearing and attire were genuine. Then there was the crest on the airship behind him-a skull surrounded by roses, with a dragon clenched in its jaws. That was not a crest just any noble could use.
Nor was any one of its elements something that could be