Chapter 24: Heading to the Marquess's House (2)

"The team is set, and the overall leader will be Senior Knight Hugo. We depart tomorrow, so everyone should be prepared."

"Understood!"

The knights responded energetically to the captain's words.

As the captain left first, the knights who had been lined up began to disperse.

"Surprising. Senior Hugo is going."

Knight Miguel, walking in the same direction, said to Knight Hugo.

"Well, there must be a reason."

Knight Hugo also looked puzzled. Bodyguard duty, he could do it, but it wasn't his specialty.

"Didn't you hear? If Senior Hugo is going, it can't be ordinary bodyguard duty..."

Hugo shook his head. If there was a reason, he would have been told. For now, he just needed to focus on the task at hand.

"More importantly, Miguel, are you okay? The other knights seem to be keeping their distance..."

"Well, there's nothing I can do. If I want to advance, I need to consider the future lord. Besides, some seniors treat me the same as before."

"......It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Isn't it time for a change? I'll talk to them, okay?"

"If I quit, Senior Hugo might have to do it."

"If that order comes, you'll just have to follow it."

Hugo's response made Miguel look awkward.

"Ha ha, no, it's my fault for bringing it up. Well, I feel overwhelmed and need to change, but the trainees won't let me go."

"An illegitimate child, huh... Do they not listen to you because you're a noble?"

"No, it's not that they don't listen."

Miguel glanced around. There was no one nearby.

"It's hard to teach them. Without using mana, they can match me."

"What... They're only 9 years old."

"Yes, just 9 years old."

"Could it be a growth enhancement ability?"

"Yes, physical enhancement. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a 9-year-old to be that strong."

"Even so, it's hard to understand how strong they are..."

Miguel was among the top young knights. To be on par with him...

"Physical growth due to inherited abilities, I can understand, but his sword skills are beyond me. His understanding of sword techniques is excellent, but his proficiency is as if he's been practicing 24 hours a day..."

"Didn't I hear he was a genius from a young age? Is it the same with sword skills?"

"I don't know. Is it because he's a noble, or is he just a genius that I, a normal person, can't understand?"

Miguel's words made Hugo shake his head.

"I've heard he's doing well, but to that extent... Why didn't I hear about it before?"

"It's not just you. I kept it to myself, and others were quiet too."

"Why?"

"To avoid unnecessary trouble."

The captain, who had approached them unnoticed, answered Hugo's question.

"Ah!"

Miguel stood up straight, looking flustered, and Hugo also looked awkward.

The captain had overheard their conversation.

"Did I ask something I shouldn't have?"

"I didn't ask, but Miguel told me."

The captain sighed.

"You two, despite your different personalities, end up doing the same things."

Both were good knights, loyal and honest. But he thought they should be a bit more worldly.

"Well, Hugo should be fine. It's not a big secret, just don't spread it around."

"Understood."

If an illegitimate child was too skilled, it could cause trouble for the family. The same thing had happened with the Marquess's house they were heading to.

But with the Grecia Duke's family, the Duke was there, so it might be unnecessary worry...

"No, it's better that Hugo knows. Your participation this time is due to the recommendation of Alex... sir."

"Huh? Alex sir?"

Miguel exclaimed in surprise at the captain's words, but Hugo just looked puzzled.

"I don't know him. I've seen him a few times, but we've never talked."

Hugo looked at Miguel.

"I've never talked to him either. Oh, I did explain the knight system to him once."

The captain also looked at Miguel.

"No, I didn't praise you specifically then. I just listed names."

"Well, we'll find out the reason later."

"More importantly, I called you two because of the youngest... the prince."

The captain first gave instructions to Miguel.

"Since he's joining the group going to the Marquess's house, Miguel, you'll return to your original post when he comes back."

"Ah, yes!"

Then he looked at Hugo.

"Hugo, remember that you're in charge of Prince Simon's secret bodyguard. It must be kept secret from Prince Simon."

Prince Simon wouldn't be happy to know his younger brother, an illegitimate child, was protecting him.

Though it was the Duke's order, both the captain and Hugo understood.

The captain glanced at Miguel.

"Lastly, Alex... the prince's skills don't need much explanation, do they?"

"No, sir!"

After dismissing the two, the captain looked at the mansion.

He had served the Duke's family for half his life.

"The kingdom's atmosphere isn't good, but I hope this trip goes smoothly..."

Though he was going as a secret bodyguard, it would be better if he didn't have to show his skills.

If an outstanding illegitimate child appeared, not only would Prince Simon's pride be hurt, but the Duke's family might also become as noisy as the kingdom.

* * *

Persuading my mother was a very difficult task.

The adolescent reasons I gave to the Duke didn't work at all.

I didn't know, but my mother was deeply worried about my safety.

The poisoning and assassination attempts when I was young had left a deep trauma in her heart.

It turned out that my training with the knight was also for my safety.

Despite her continuous objections, I had to be stubborn.

After a long argument and showing my skills to Miguel, I finally got her permission.

"If anything happens, you must abandon everything and run away."

But my mother, giving me a piece of paper with the address of her parents' house and some money, made me promise again.

"Yes."

In my previous life, I would have followed her instructions without question. In fact, I wouldn't have left home at all.

Unfortunately, in this life, it seemed I couldn't follow my mother's advice.

'Wait, didn't Simon go to the Marquess's house without any trouble in my previous life?'

As long as I didn't cause any trouble, I would return safely without any special incidents.

But I was going to cause trouble. I just hoped it wouldn't be too chaotic.

This trip was on a different scale from the previous outing.

There were more than two carriages, and the number of accompanying troops was several times greater.

The captain, Knight Hugo, and ten regular knights. There were also dozens of soldiers.

There were separate drivers for the carriages, and maids and other hired help.

It was said that the Duchess was supposed to go, but due to Simon's opposition, she didn't, as in my previous life.

Thanks to the stubbornness of a teenage boy trying to leave his mother's embrace.

Instead, the head butler was going. An old man whom even the Duke and Duchess couldn't treat casually.

He was a noble from a collateral branch of the Duke's family, but no one seemed to know much about him.

In any case, he was sufficient to represent the Duchess.

The departure of the group was a grand sight.

Knights in shining armor led the way on horseback, followed by soldiers with raised spears.

The carriages followed the soldiers, and the remaining soldiers and hired help brought up the rear.

Almost everyone in the mansion came out to see them off.

The Duke, the Duchess, and my mother.

Even after leaving the mansion, they continued to receive greetings from the people of the territory until they left the city.

The sight of people lining the road and bowing was impressive, but it felt a bit awkward, perhaps because of the lingering feelings from my previous life.

Was it because the greetings were for the Duke's family, not for me?

If the greetings were for me, I might have felt differently.

Simon, sitting in the front, looked very impressive.

He sat straight, looking out the window without a hint of discomfort, occasionally waving to the crowd. He looked like a model noble.

If his expression didn't occasionally twitch, it would have been perfect, but even this was commendable for his young age.

After a somewhat boring time, the group left the city.

After passing through the outer city gate, Simon sighed and leaned back.

"Good work."

The head butler, sitting next to me, handed a glass of iced water to Simon.

I didn't know where he got it from or how he kept it cold.

The head butler was indeed a mysterious person.

Simon drank the iced water in one go, and during that time, the butler spoke to me.

"Alex, you seem very calm. Is this your first carriage ride? It's as if you've done it many times."

Once... Ah, that incident is no longer relevant.

In any case, I had been on a carriage ride before, so it wasn't new. I had seen grander processions in my previous life.

"I'm actually quite surprised inside. I'm just trying not to show my nervousness."

Publicly, I was a carefree kid following my brother. A younger brother allowed by the broad-minded Simon.

I had to match my tone and actions to this role.

"I don't know why Father allowed it, but if you act carelessly, I won't let it go. Be as careful as possible."

"Yes, I understand."

My response made Simon look as if he had seen something he shouldn't.

His words weren't particularly pleasant, so it was a mutual dislike.

"By the way, do we really have to get engaged to the Marquess's daughter?"

Simon didn't seem to like this trip.

"I know that as a noble, I have to choose a partner for the family, but..."

Huh? The Simon I knew from my previous life wasn't like this?

"Adria's reputation isn't good..."

Ah, I haven't met Adria yet. Are there other rumors besides her beauty?

"Rumors about her sword skills... The Duke won't force it if Simon opposes it. You don't have to worry too much."

"Father will listen to me and not do it? No way."

Indeed, our Duke wasn't just like that with me. His consistent attitude made me admire him.

But this time, Simon doesn't need to worry. There's no way he'll oppose it.

While listening to Simon's grumbling, I looked out the window.

A deserted fortress on a hill came into view.

Has it been three years? Or is it one year left?

In any case, it looked no different from the last time I saw it.

I leaned out the window and looked ahead. Knight Hugo, leading the group, was looking at the fortress.

'Good that the recommendation worked. I'll get to know him a bit and ask about the fortress later.'

The journey to the Marquess's territory would take at least half a month. Considering the round trip, there was plenty of time.

In my previous life, it would have taken only a day, but in this world, distances were much longer.

Despite having a magical communication system that was almost real-time, travel was still like this.

It was all because of the monsters scattered across the world after the Great War.

I saw my first monster before we even left the territory.