Chapter 2

Suddenly, the door of the house was knocked on.

"Wha!?"

Startled, Slein almost let out a cry but immediately restrained himself and turned to look at the entrance. He had been gradually sorting through his mother's belongings during his free time between chores, so it was already night. He had even finished dinner. The sun had already set, and at this hour, it was unusual for anyone to visit.

"Excuse me. Is Master Slein at home?"

Immediately after the knock, a refined voice, belonging to a man who was at least middle-aged, called out. It was a voice he had never heard before. Moreover, no one called him "Master Slein."

Who could it be? What could they want at this hour? Confused, Slein felt a great sense of unease.

"Excuse me at this late hour. Is Master Slein at home?"

The door was knocked on again.

The light from the candlestick would be leaking through the gaps in the window, making it impossible to pretend he wasn't home. Slein steeled himself and stood up.

"I, I'm coming."

Conscious of the criticism he had received from Elvin in the morning, he responded in a slightly louder voice and cautiously approached the entrance. He unlocked the door and gently opened it.

In front of the house, a carriage was parked, surrounded by several mounted soldiers.

And standing in front of the door, right in front of Slein, was a man who appeared to be the leader of this group. Behind him stood two more soldiers.

The man in front of him was clearly not just a soldier. He wore metal armor on his torso and forearms, and the quality of the armor was evident. He was clearly a high-ranking military officer, probably a noble. He was probably in his mid to late thirties.

This military officer, taller than the average man in this country, looked down at Slein, who was shorter than average.

"Are you Master Slein, the son of Almar the scribe?"

"Uh... well..."

Slein let out a confused sound.

The man in front of him was likely a high-ranking officer in the kingdom's army. Why would such a person use honorifics with him, a mere commoner in a small town?

"Is it you, Master Slein?"

"...Y-Yes, I'm Slein."

Slein was about to ask what the matter was, but the man in front of him spoke first.

"I am Viscount Viktor Barendorf, appointed by His Majesty the King as the commander of the Haasenvellia Royal Guard. By the order of His Excellency, Chancellor Sergei Nordenfelt, I have been instructed to escort you to the royal castle. Please come with us."

"Huh?"

Viscount, commander of the royal guard, His Majesty the King, the chancellor, and His Excellency. Unfamiliar words flew out one after another, and Slein couldn't help but let out a bewildered sound.

Haasenvellia was a small country, but the royal family and the nobles who served them were like figures from a different world to the common people.

Why would he, a mere commoner, be summoned to the royal castle, the heart of the country, by such high-ranking individuals? Slein couldn't understand.

"Um, excuse me..."

"I understand that you must be confused, but please get into the carriage. We are drawing attention here. We need to move before it causes a commotion."

The military officer—Commander Barendorf—stepped aside and gestured to the carriage parked in front of Slein's house. On the carriage was a crest depicting a crow with golden eyes, the symbol of the national bird of this country, with golden eyes made of rutile quartz, the national stone. This was the crest of the Haasenvellia royal family.

No one other than the royal family was allowed to use this crest. This carriage was undoubtedly owned by the royal family, and Barendorf was undoubtedly a messenger of the royal family.

"I apologize, but please hurry."

With a polite but firm tone, the viscount spoke. Pushed by the viscount's back and surrounded by his subordinates, Slein got into the carriage in his current attire.

He was seated facing the direction of travel, and Viscount Barendorf sat opposite him. When the carriage door was closed, the windows were also shut, making the interior pitch black. Barendorf activated a magical lighting device inside the carriage, and a small light illuminated Slein and the viscount's faces.

Soon, the carriage began to move.

"I have been ordered to bring you to the royal castle without drawing attention, so we will be traveling at night. We will arrive at a fortress on the way by morning, where we will rest. We will start moving again in the evening and are scheduled to reach the capital, Yuzelheim, the day after tomorrow."

After saying this, Barendorf fell silent.

Slein was still confused, and Barendorf did not offer any further explanation. The carriage was enveloped in silence.

After a while, unable to bear the silence, Slein spoke.

"Um, why am I being summoned to the royal castle? And if I'm being summoned by the chancellor's order, why is the carriage bearing the royal crest?"

Slein had heard from his mother that only members of the royal family or those recognized as their guests could ride in a royal carriage. If he, a mere commoner, was being summoned by the chancellor's order, they wouldn't use a carriage with the royal crest.

"Also, I don't know what business you have with me, but why is the commander of the royal guard himself serving as my escort? ...Why is a viscount and the commander of the royal guard speaking to me, a mere commoner, so politely?"

The royal guard was an elite unit that protected the royal family. It was unthinkable for the commander of the royal guard to personally escort a commoner summoned by the chancellor's order. He should be guarding the royal castle.

Moreover, he had introduced himself as a viscount. Given his position as a viscount and the commander of the royal guard, he could have simply ordered Slein, "It's the chancellor's order. Follow me."

"..."

Barendorf did not immediately respond to Slein's questions but looked at him as if assessing him.

Then, with a meaningful smile, he spoke.

"I apologize, but I cannot provide you with detailed explanations. My mission is solely to bring you to the royal castle. Please understand."

"...I understand."

Slein had no choice but to accept that. In his position, it was impossible to persistently question a commander of the royal guard.

Barendorf fell silent again, and the carriage was dominated by silence.