Chapter 1

Prince Yerker of the Karelia Kingdom, the fifteenth prince, at the age of seventeen, found himself for the first time in his life, cornered to the point of life and death.

The place was a castle in a border region he had come to inspect. In the large room where he was invited for lunch, what came out were not dishes but thirty fully armed soldiers in metal armor.

Yerker, who had come for a meal, naturally was not wearing armor, only the formal uniform of the kingdom's knights, which was black with gold embroidery, and a sword as a knight's custom.

Yerker had a well-built physique, but he tended to look slender due to his tall stature. Additionally, his gentle appearance contributed to the impression of being delicate.

There was no reason for the soldiers, filled with killing intent, to be intimidated by such a young man, even if he held a weapon.

After a long journey to the border, Yerker was invited to lunch as a gesture of hospitality and, along with his five subordinate knights, sat down at the table. The moment they did, the large door opened, and thirty soldiers stormed in.

Yerker instinctively drew his sword and knocked one of the soldiers' swords away.

Just as he was about to reprimand the ruffian, another soldier attacked. Yerker deflected his sword without killing him.

However, the third soldier came from behind, and Yerker, unable to aim properly, swung his sword forcefully, striking the soldier's head, causing him to collapse on the spot, likely dead.

With a look of regret, Yerker glanced around and finally realized that he had been set up by the lord of the castle where the luncheon was held and that the enemies were attacking with genuine intent to kill.

All five of his accompanying knights had been cut down, and the soldiers, now even more enraged by the deaths of their comrades, glared at Yerker with drawn swords.

Behind the soldiers, the lord of the Sarnare border region looked at him with a slightly surprised expression.

"This is unexpected. I didn't think you would cause such damage even with all the arrangements made. Well, it seems the top graduate of the knight school is not just a title."

The lord, who resembled a well-dressed toad, laughed nastily.

"I thought it was all due to the glory of the royal family."

Yerker inwardly cursed, thinking that as the fifteenth prince, he had no glory to speak of, but the words he spoke were different.

"Before we talk about explanations, I want to question your sanity first. Do you understand the implications of laying a hand on me, a messenger of the king?"

Yerker, who had graduated from the knight school just three months ago and had no combat experience, tried to put on a brave front, puffing out his chest. This was the first time he had ever killed someone.

Moreover, even though the lord resembled a toad, he was a lord with a territory, and Yerker had no experience facing someone of such status. The tension from that, rather than the swords pointed at him, made his knees shake.

The toad-like lord, however, was not the least bit nervous about facing a young prince like Yerker.

"Hahaha, I am deeply honored by your instruction, but as you might expect, your life cannot be spared with just those words."

Yerker was used to being the target of malice, but this was the first time it came with killing intent. He glanced around and laughed softly, thinking that this was all the killing intent he would face.

"Hey, I have a question for you, my lord."

"Hmm? A question? Not a plea for your life?"

"Yes, that's right. How many people do you think I can kill from here?"

"Huh?"

Yerker rotated his shoulders and bent his neck from side to side as a simple warm-up.

"I think I can kill ten people. But it doesn't matter what I say at this point. And you, I will definitely kill. Understand? You can kill me if you want. I was foolish to be set up, but I will not forgive you. I will make you regret coming within my sight."

With that, Yerker leaped onto the table and charged at the soldiers, and ultimately at the lord who was further back.

He suddenly remembered his attendants. They were just attendants and did not deserve to be killed. But he doubted the toad-like lord would show such leniency. Among them were young women, and thinking of them made Yerker's heart ache.

---

On a pleasant spring day, Yerker, dressed in his black military uniform, walked the streets of the capital of the Karelia Kingdom as if on a stroll, eventually reaching his destination.

Standing before the Marshal's Office, one of the most luxurious and ornate buildings in the Karelia Kingdom, Yerker, despite being a prince, felt a bit intimidated. This was likely due to his training at the knight school, where he received military education.

The entrance of the Marshal's Office was always bustling with guards and other personnel. Inside, there were many rooms, and Yerker was visiting one of them, the room of the Great Eagle Knights.

Before entering, he glanced down at his attire to ensure it was appropriate. The uniform, black with gold lines, was a symbol of a knight. The left chest bore the emblem of the royal family, and a smaller version was also on the collar.

Following the etiquette learned at the knight school, he knocked and entered upon receiving a response.

As Yerker entered, the middle-aged man sitting at the largest and most ornate desk, the Deputy Commander of the Great Eagle Knights, stood up with a pleased expression.

"Oh, we have been waiting for you, Prince Yerker."

The Deputy Commander led Yerker to a reception room, which was even more opulent than the rest of the Marshal's Office. The flags, shields, and swords hanging on the walls were all clearly expensive.

There were two chairs facing each other across a table. After being seated, the Deputy Commander got straight to the point.

"I have called you here for a specific reason. Since your graduation from the knight school three months ago, we have been considering assigning you a formal position as a knight in the military."

Yerker's surprise showed on his face. The Deputy Commander added, as if to explain further:

"Please forgive me, but we are aware of your current situation. Your territory is so small that it barely supports you, let alone your attendants. Therefore, at the Marshal's special request, we are bypassing the usual six-month probationary period and asking you to start immediately. Of course, we will provide you with work befitting a knight and a prince."

The Deputy Commander was right. Yerker's territory was so small that he could see the entire area from the roof of a farmer's house. Even with just himself, it was barely profitable, and with attendants, it would be a loss. The royal family of the Karelia Kingdom was large, and even important princes lived on a meager allowance unless given a significant responsibility.

If Yerker could receive a knight's salary from the Marshal's Office instead of a probationary one, it would be a great relief.

"Thank you for your generous consideration. What kind of work would it be?"

"Ah, you will accept it? It's not a difficult task. We would like you to lead five knights on an inspection tour of the border region."

For a newly appointed knight like Yerker to be given subordinates was an unprecedented offer. He had to confirm, as it seemed too good to be true.

"It's a generous offer, but as you know, as the fifteenth prince, I have no significant authority within the royal family, nor do I have influential connections. So, I don't see how I can repay such kindness."

The Deputy Commander shook his head.

"Not at all. Unlike other princes, you, Prince Yerker, entered the knight school and graduated top of your class, setting an example for the royal family. The Marshal has high hopes for your future, and he specifically requested this task for you."

Yerker's eyes widened at the unexpected words. During the swordsmanship exam before graduation, he had defeated the Marshal's beloved grandson in the first round of a tournament. He had suspected the Marshal might hold a grudge, but instead, he was being favored.

Feeling a mix of self-doubt and gratitude for the recognition of his hard work, Yerker felt tears welling up.

"I understand. Despite my lack of talent, I will do my best."

---

Yerker, introduced to five knights at the Marshal's Office, was also asked to take two more squire knights with him. Having been a squire himself until recently, he understood the joy of being given a mission.

"Of course, no problem. Can we meet them soon?"

The knight who was guiding him in the Marshal's Office asked him to wait. After a short while, the knight returned with one squire knight.

Yerker could not hide his surprise. The squire knight introduced to him was a rare female squire.

"I am Aili Forsius. Nice to meet you!"

More than that, her appearance was striking. She had short, neatly cut golden hair that shone beautifully, and her face was so radiant that it made her hair seem dull in comparison.

She was not yet an adult, and her youthful features made her more adorable than beautiful, but she would undoubtedly attract attention as she grew older.

Yerker found himself staring at her beauty and cuteness, and quickly averted his gaze slightly upward. The reason was that her height was so short that looking down at her face would have been awkward.

After glancing at the guiding knight to cover up, Yerker looked at Aili again. Her attire was simple and unadorned, emphasizing her role as a squire rather than her femininity. Her sword, though not particularly long, almost dragged on the ground.

The knight who brought her seemed somewhat apologetic for introducing such a young girl to a prince. Yerker, who might have been influenced by the knight's attitude, cleared his throat and composed himself.

"I'm Yerker. I was a squire until just now. We both have a lot to get used to, so let's work hard together."

Aili responded with a bright, cheerful smile, which made Yerker feel glad he had not been rude to her.

He then looked at the guiding knight, asking if the other squire was there. The knight, looking uncomfortable, explained that the other squire was temporarily away but would introduce herself later.

"Ah, that's fine. We'll meet during the mission. Do you know her?"

"Yes, we have a strange connection. Our situations are similar."

Yerker had to make a considerable effort not to show his surprise. The other squire was also a woman, which meant the second squire was female as well. However, asking her about it might make her feel self-conscious, so he refrained.

"Alright, I'll count on you then."

He ended their first meeting with a polite conversation. Aili and the knight bowed and left. As soon as they were gone, Yerker noticed something unusual about himself. Without realizing it, his left hand had been resting on the hilt of his sword. When he became aware of this, he also noticed that his right hand had been