Chapter 60

※This is a story that takes place while Phil, who gave Lucia a ring, was back at the northern fortress. It consists of two parts.

"I said I would continue to think of you even in the northern land, but it's still hard not to see you. ...Right now, I'm the unhappiest man in the world...!"

Muttering these words, the silver-haired knight sighed wistfully.

However, the men around him merely rolled their eyes and looked away, clearly exasperated.

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The northern fortress, located in the northern part of the kingdom, serves as the base for the Third Army, which is led by three commanders.

One is a northern noble marquis, another is an eastern noble marquis, and the third is a member of the royal family. Currently, the three commanders are still in place, and among them, the one who is effectively the top of the Third Army is a person known as "Phil."

His formal name is Philode.

He is the younger brother of the current king, with hair as silver as a mirror and a strikingly handsome appearance.

His beauty is not his only asset. His physical abilities are said to be similar to those of the person who founded the kingdom, and his martial skills are so impressive that even the eastern nobles, who are known for their meritocracy, are in awe.

Despite being a royal family member, a position that would usually be just a figurehead, he has the overwhelming support of the knights. His unpretentious personality also means he is often placed at the center of events.

Even after Phil returned to the capital after six months, things were no different.

In the heat of the northern fortress, where the cold outside air contrasts with the traditional martial spirit, he was seated as the guest of honor at a banquet celebrating his return.

...Part of the reason for this was that the knights were relieved to see him riding a horse normally upon his return.

His previous return from the capital had clearly been a "escort." During the journey back, he had become a "fugitive" halfway through.

In comparison, even if he seemed gloomier than usual, the sight of him riding his horse with determination was impressive.

At least, that's how the relieved knights saw it, and the women who frequented the fortress, regardless of age, were exclaiming, "He's so melancholic and handsome!"

As a result, the banquet became one of the most extravagant in recent years.

However, the northern fortress is not a place for leisure.

When a report of suspicious movements near the border came in, Commander Philode, who had been gazing lazily at the sky, changed his expression and issued an order for a part of the army to set out. The knights, who had drunk heavily the day before, calmly headed to the border.

Of course, there was also the possibility of a feint, so surveillance was conducted simultaneously in other areas.

Fortunately, large-scale conflicts were rare. If the actions were seen as the usual harassment, the alert would eventually return to normal levels.

When that happened, another banquet would be held in the name of consolation. As usual, Phil was kept company until morning, but this time, he had no respite the next day.

"It's been a while, Your Highness! I heard there's a rather interesting story, so I came over!"

Suddenly, representatives of the eastern nobility visited.

It seemed they had heard something from one of the clans in the Third Army of the northern fortress.

No matter how troublesome it might be in his heart, hiding it and greeting them with a smile is the role of a royal family member. Philode, faithful to his duty, smiled and offered them seats.

"By 'interesting story,' do you mean the recent provocation by the neighboring country?"

"Of course not! It's not a daily occurrence. It's a rare story about a certain commander being in love and going on a rampage because of it!"

The moment he heard this, the silver-haired commander secretly clicked his tongue.

He was annoyed, thinking, "Who spread this unnecessary story?" but no one around him sympathized; they just laughed and blamed him.

With no choice, he continued to deal with the persistent questions from the eastern nobles, maintaining his smile.

He thought he had managed to deflect their questions with a smile, but somehow everyone around him was getting excited, and before he knew it, he was invited to a hunt.

The hunt itself wasn't bad.

However, being entertained with a hunt meant that it wouldn't end there. As usual, the night would end with a banquet. Whether it was two days in a row or not, no one in this place would care.

Phil was confident in his physical strength, but he was already feeling tired, and the alcohol was starting to affect him.

Noticing this, the women, with unusually bright eyes, gathered around him, asking, "Is it true you have a lover?"

While smiling and casually brushing off the women, the knights, with bright eyes, approached him with wooden swords, saying, "Now is the time to increase our chances!"

It was common for knights to approach him when they saw an opportunity.

For the knights, who were full of energy, it was as natural as the morning following the night. Phil, who had once been a knight, would usually enjoy it.

Even when it became troublesome and he would boast, "Come at me all at once!" it was just part of daily life.

As a result, whether he defeated everyone and declared victory or was stopped by a human wave and had a cute ribbon tied to his head, it was a small entertainment in the northern fortress.

But... tonight, everything seemed troublesome.

Although it was more relaxed than the palace, he couldn't let his guard down easily in this place. Thinking about this, he recalled his days in Laguren.

In that place, he could let his guard down and be himself. He could get drunk without a care and eat as much delicious bean dishes as he wanted.

Beans were rarely cultivated in the north, so bean dishes were a treat when he returned to the capital. The salted stew was also something to look forward to when he returned to the capital.

And the food made by his friend's sister was better than anything the palace chefs could make.

It wasn't just that he preferred traditional flavors.

The smile on her face when she refilled his plate, the kindness in her eyes when she covered him with a blanket when he was drunk, and the way she happily worked in the fields despite her rough hands... Thinking about these things made his heart warm.

The more he remembered, the more painful it was that he couldn't see her.

He lamented that he was "the unhappiest man in the world."

When that proud young lady was betrothed to a foolish man who didn't understand her charm, he had wondered why he was born as the king's son.

He had vented his frustration by throwing knives countless times.

But those worries were gone now.

She wore the promise ring, and even after learning his name, she still smiled at him. She called him "Phil" with the same smile as before.

If she continued to wear the ring and the engagement remained, the two years promised to his brother would eventually pass.

As the first step, the engagement would be officially announced on his next return to the capital.

After that, he would be able to walk around with that young lady without any reservations. She was not used to the capital, so exploring various places together would surely be very enjoyable.

Philode smiled softly and tilted his head as if realizing something.

"Hmm? Could it be that I'm still the happiest man right now?"

Philode was completely serious.

But those around him let out heavy sighs.

"...What are you mumbling about? You've been grinning all along!"

"Was I smiling? Lucia was very cute before we left."

"Ah?! What is this prince rambling about?!"

The knights, gathering with drinks in hand, looked exasperated.

Beside them, Phil sighed and looked up at the sky. Then, with an elegant gesture, he pulled a knife from the table and threw it at the wall.

"Wow! Despite your rambling, you still don't miss with your knives, Commander!"

"We can do that too!"

"Hey, Uncle, you're too old for that!"

Cheers rose from the crowd. The representative of the eastern nobility began to compete with the knights by throwing knives.

But the noise barely registered with Phil.

In his mind, he saw the smile of the tall young lady with black hair and green eyes.

She was bright and expressive, and when he got close, she would look surprised and blush, which made her even cuter.

Moreover, the salted stew and simple bean dishes she made were truly exquisite. He wouldn't allow any disagreement on this. He had no intention of challenging anyone to a duel over it.

"...The bean dishes were delicious. I want to eat them again..."

He sighed and muttered softly.

Recalling the days in Laguren with a melancholic expression, he lightly turned and looked back.

There, a knight pretending to be drunk was about to approach him. He deftly avoided the knight's hand and twisted it up.

"Ouch! I surrender! I surrender!"

A rough cry immediately rose, so he let go of the hand.

But another knight, grinning, tried to pour more beer into Phil's cup. Phil, of course, didn't miss it and grabbed the man's jaw, taking the pitcher.

"Damn! I thought I could get you drunk because you were more tipsy than usual!"

"Too bad. You can drink that beer yourself."

Phil smiled at the man, who had turned pale for a moment, and said, "Understood!" before starting to drink directly from the pitcher.

Misinterpreting this, the competitive eastern nobles also stood up to drink directly from the pitcher.

"A toast to the proud warriors of the east!"

"No! If you keep this up, our head chef will be furious!"

Some knights tried desperately to stop them, but others laughed and encouraged them.

The head chef's anger was due to the knights' excessive rowdiness, and it was only a matter of how much rationality they had left.

This was a common scene in the fortress.