Chapter 6

The cobblestone path was bustling with carts coming and going, and several people hurried along the side, their quick steps suggesting they were busy with something. Just a little off the main road, where stalls were prohibited, a narrow space was filled with street vendors selling everything from food to daily necessities, and even dubious magical items.

The bustling atmosphere of the capital never changed, no matter when you came. Even though it had been just ten days since his last visit, it felt strangely nostalgic.

Yerker, Stina, and Airi walked down the main road toward the castle. As they went deeper, the buildings around them became more luxurious. As this area became more upscale, the traffic gradually decreased, but the area around the Marshal's residence remained as lively as ever. Despite the noise of the main street they had just passed, the unique liveliness of this place, where the nobility gathered, felt oddly unreasonable to Yerker.

"You're back, alive."

Stina wasn't immersed in sentiment like Yerker; rather, she looked bored.

"You wouldn't have been killed by something so trivial."

Airi nodded in agreement, and Yerker corrected and protested.

"No, I thought I was going to die in the mountains of Lanome, not in the border territory. You guys, I thought the first day would be the hardest, but the days after were even worse. What was that valley of poisonous mist? It looked like the end of the world."

The three approached the Marshal's residence, with Yerker leading and the other two following. When they visited the room of the Great Eagle Knights, the deputy commander was seated in the same position as before, but he jumped up in surprise at the sight of Yerker and the others.

"Y-Your Highness!? Is it really you, Prince Yerker!?"

"Yes, I've come to report on my mission."

The deputy commander was flustered, then led the three to a reception room and asked them to wait. They were left waiting without even a cup of tea, and when the deputy commander returned, he was accompanied by ten knights.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Your Highness. Now, let's hear your report. Please be detailed, including the fact that no one else is present."

The knights were a mix of seasoned veterans involved in the administration of the order and renowned warriors known for their skills. Surrounded by them, Yerker reported the events that had transpired. Occasionally, the knights would snicker, especially when he mentioned defeating thirty knights with just three people, easily breaking through the border territory of Sarnare, and crossing the mountains of Lanome.

Yerker understood their skepticism. It was indeed hard to believe, but it was true. The deputy commander pressed on.

"Your Highness, to confirm, is this report correct? This will be reported not only to the Marshal but also to the Chancellor. If there are any corrections, you can make them now."

He was essentially saying, "If you're going to lie, at least make it a better one."

Despite this, Yerker, with as sincere a face as he could manage, replied.

"Thank you for your consideration. But this is my report."

"Is that so? Then, I expect we'll have a more formal hearing in the future. Be prepared for that."

As the three left the room, laughter could be heard from inside. Yerker, accompanied by Stina and Airi, left the Marshal's residence.

"Do either of you have plans after this? If not, would you like to come to my house? I want to celebrate our safe return."

Stina, for the first time Yerker had seen, had a plastered smile on her face.

"Your Highness, if we were to assassinate all those bastards, is there any way to do it without getting caught?"

"Hey, what are you saying all of a sudden?"

Airi, trying to maintain a neutral expression but failing, had her cheeks twitching and veins popping on her forehead.

"Your Highness, how many people are stationed at the Marshal's residence? If we kill them all, there won't be any evidence."

"Save those ominous words until we get to my house! Anyway, let's go to my house first, okay?"

With the two still sulking, Yerker headed to his house.

Just as they left the Marshal's residence, a young nobleman came running, out of breath.

"Helge."

Yerker's face twisted in annoyance, but Helge, who had run with two other knights, was shocked to see Yerker.

"What the hell!? Why is Yerker here!?"

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm alive. I broke through the border territory and managed to escape."

Yerker added with a sly smile.

"In situations like this, even if it's just a formality, you should be happy for someone's safe return, Helge."

Helge, provoked by Yerker's taunt, immediately became angry.

"Don't joke with me! You! You'll pay for disrupting my grandfather's schedule!"

"Really? So this was the Marshal's doing?"

"What? Ah, well, my grandfather can do that... But that's not the point! Yerker! You submitted a ridiculous report! The deputy commander was really angry!"

"Is that so? And how did you hear about it so quickly? It just happened a moment ago."

"Shut up! Submitting a fake report like that! You must have hidden somewhere and never went to the border territory! Ha, ha! Abandoning your mission and dragging women along, then blaming the knights for their deaths! You're the worst!"

Yerker, who had thought Helge had improved the last time they met, realized he hadn't changed at all. However, Yerker wasn't the only one present today.

Noticing the ominous aura coming from behind, Yerker said in a normal voice, without turning around.

"Don't move until Helge draws his sword. Of course, even then, you'll be dealing with his two attendants."

The two knights, who were familiar with Yerker's exceptional sword skills, tensed up. The aura from behind grew even more intense. Stina and Airi interpreted it as permission to attack, not to wait, and their intent was clear: draw your swords.

Of course, Yerker knew that Helge, even with the two knights, would never stand a chance against him, so he said it with that in mind. As expected, Helge, though displeased, did not draw his sword.

"With that report, there are plenty of ways to corner you. You're finished, Yerker."

"Before I went to the border, you already thought I was finished, didn't you? Remember, before I left, I asked if we could spar? Of course, I would go easy on you as usual."

Helge stomped his feet in frustration, a sight Yerker had never seen before. The repeated stomping was frightening in its own way.

"Damn it! I'll make you regret this! Damn, damn! Always, always! You! I'll never forgive you!"

It wasn't Yerker's job to calm Helge down. Feeling satisfied, Yerker turned and left, with Stina and Airi following.

Helge continued to rant and rave on the spot for a long time.

Yerker's house was surprisingly small for a royal residence, about half the size of a typical noble's mansion. Despite its size, the house was clean and well-maintained, and the garden was neatly kept. The dining room where Stina and Airi were led was tastefully decorated with good lighting and flowers.

The two were still sulking. Yerker, taking his seat, smiled wryly.

"Neither of you have experienced this kind of harassment before, have you?"

Stina and Airi also took their seats but remained sullen. Airi expressed her anger clearly.

"At least I haven't. What do they think of a person's achievements?"

Stina looked away.

"...I have, but it's still unpleasant."

Yerker found it endearing that Stina was so blunt, and it made him feel happy.

"I've always been like this at the knight school, so I can't get angry about it anymore."

Airi looked puzzled at Yerker's words.

"I've been wondering, Your Highness, you don't seem to hold the royal status in high regard..."

"It's not much, really. There are more than ten princes, so it's not special at all."

Stina, who had also been curious, joined in.

"Still, you are royalty. Even if they don't respect you for your economic power, ordinary nobles would fear and respect you."

"Is that so?"

Yerker's face twisted in dissatisfaction, showing how hard it was for him to believe Stina's words.

Stina asked seriously.

"What happened at the knight school? It's a place only high-ranking noble children can enter, right?"

This time, it was Yerker's turn to look away.

"Before entering the school, I trained hard to maintain the royal family's honor. But when I got there, I found that some of the students couldn't even run properly and complained that heavy swords made their arms tired. The despair I felt in the first week was overwhelming."

Airi, who seemed to share Yerker's sentiments, expressed her frustration.

"Indeed. It's unbelievable that the future knights of the Kingdom of Karelia could be so incompetent."

Stina, who had already seen the reality, wasn't as upset.

"So, did you tell them to stop slacking off?"

"Of course not. I have some social skills. I struggled to keep my frustration from showing."

"Then, were you the best in sword skills from the start?"

"Of course. There was no one to compete with, so I set the instructors as my goal."

"Jealousy, perhaps?"

"I wish I could have slacked off, but I couldn't. The fact that I had to slack off in a place that was supposed to train the future knights of Karelia was something I couldn't accept, and I dragged myself through until graduation."

Stina cut in.

"Maybe that's why you were resented. If someone acts like they're better than everyone else, it's natural to feel unhappy. Especially if that person is more competent than anyone else, it's not surprising that they would feel hostile."

"Stop saying it like you've seen it."

"I'm just guessing. But there's one thing I can say: I actually wanted to apply to the knight school but was glad I didn't get in."

Just as Yerker was about to complain, the servants brought in the meal and wine. What was strange was that they all had smiles on their faces. When Yerker asked them later, they said they were happy to see him bring someone to the house and talk so enthusiastically. Yerker blushed in front of the servants.

The meal was neither particularly good nor bad, but it was clear that the servants had put a lot of effort into it. As they enjoyed the food and wine, the conversation continued. It was more like a lively discussion among commoners in a tavern than a noble gathering.

Airi, after downing a glass of wine, spoke with enthusiasm.

"So, Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, you should form your own knight order! The knight order is independent of the military, so you don't have to fear the Marshal!"

"It's not that simple! Even if I formed a knight order, I wouldn't have the money to recruit soldiers or maintain it!"

"Just go on a campaign and earn more achievements! Oh, the border territory has rebelled, so you could volunteer to suppress it!"

"They wouldn't give such an important mission to a newly formed knight order! And I don't know how to recruit soldiers!"

Yerker and Airl shouted at each other, and Stina, watching them, had her wine refilled by a servant. Noticing the servant's genuinely happy expression, Stina asked.

"Is their shouting that enjoyable?"

"No, it's just that it's been a long time since I've seen His Highness so enthusiastic and loud, since he was a child."

"It seems His Highness has been through a lot. Is the management of the territory not going well?"

"I can't say much, but His Highness's knight's salary is the main support."

Stina, feeling a bit sentimental, decided to join the shouting.

"Your Highness, if the problem is money, I can find the locations of the domestic bandit groups and help gather funds by eliminating them."

"Threatening bandits is worse than being a bandit!"

"I didn't say I wouldn't eliminate them. Don't be rude. I'll kill them all and contribute to the country's security. I'll just underreport the funds they've accumulated."

"Would the royal family lead such corruption? ...But, Stina, can you find the bandits?"

"Famous ones, yes. They usually scatter like cockroaches when the army moves, but we can capture them with a small group."

"Hmm. Yes, but it's a small group..."

"Three of us, Your Highness, Stina, and I, should be enough. We'll do the infiltration."

Yerker, after a moment of thought, finally spoke the words he had been holding back.

"Hey, Stina, Airl. Would you consider becoming my knights?"

Stina and Airl, surprised, looked at Yerker with wide eyes. They didn't answer immediately. Yerker, trying hard not to make excuses, looked at them steadily. He wanted them to understand that these words, spoken in this place and at this time, were his true intention.

Stina looked at him with a probing gaze.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I understand your situations. Despite that, I want you to join me."

As they exchanged these words, they heard a sob and turned to see Airl wiping her eyes and crying.

Yerker, panicking, asked.

"What's wrong, Airl? Did I say something terribly rude?"

Airl, still crying, shook her head.

"No... Your Highness, please hear a shameful story of mine."

"Um, yes."

"Becoming a knight from a squire is very difficult. Even if we achieved great deeds, it would be hard to restore our noble status. So, when I was invited to your house, I had expectations. I thought you might ask us to become your knights."

Stina, who was included in the "we," remained silent.

"Your Highness belittles your royal status. But as a royal, you have the power to make us knights and restore our noble status. That's why I disliked seeing you undervalue yourself."

Yerker remained silent.

"In the end, I was just pretending to do it for you, but it was all for my own benefit. Now, you're offering to make me a knight, knowing all my circumstances. I feel so ashamed and embarrassed..."

Yerker, gently, asked.

"I understand. So, Airl, will you become my knight?"

Airl, with a determined look, stood up.

"Of course, I would be honored!"

After a firm nod, she turned to Stina.

"Stina, what about you? Will you become my knight?"

Stina smiled warmly in return.

"Yes, of course. I would be honored to accept."

"Thank you, both of you."

The knighting ceremony has various formalities and methods, and a simplified version could have been performed right there. However, all three felt that, even if they would perform the ceremony later, they didn't want to do it now. They wanted to be bound by something warmer than the formalities and pride of knighthood.