Chapter 106: The Knight Doesn’t Want to be Reinstated (5)

The bloodline of the Pendragon’s royal family was extremely small compared to the other kingdom’s. It was unknown whether it was because they inherited the dragon’s bloodline or not, but it was really hard for them to have children.

If the royal families of other countries had at least hundreds or thousands of relatives and collateral lines, the Pendragon’s bloodline only had ten. From that, one could see how much smaller it was.

However, their strict standard probably contributed to the small size of their bloodline.

Silver hair.

That was the proof that someone had received the blessing of the Silver Dragon. Unless they had that proof, they could not use the Pendragon surname. In other words, it also meant that, unlike other royal families, the Pendragon could never have children out of wedlock.

That was why the bloodline of the Pendragon Royal Family was always precious.

Maybe that was also why…

“…If I were to consider the honor of a knight, then it is only natural that I have to take my life here. But, I was tasked with a noble mission to carry on the bloodline of the royal family! The mission and the honor of a knight. When these two things are weighed on a scale, the balance naturally tipped to the former! How could I neglect the mission? That’s why, I can’t just die here!”

“…”

“Killing is never the right choice. So, please, don’t kill me, commoner!”

“…”

“O-Or at least, s-stop threatening me with your fists…?”

“What a funny kid…”

He’s begging for his life, but he’s still prideful.

He’s annoying and his way of speaking makes me want to punch him, but honestly, it’s kinda funny.

He’s arrogant and rude, but I can’t see him as an annoying guy.

With that in mind, Lee Han…

“I’m not a kind enough person who’d let someone who drew his sword toward me leave unscathed.”

“…”

“This is a habit you need to fix. Do you even know how surprised my young heart felt?”

“…”

Lectured the prince—who was buried in the ground with only his neck out—in a soft tone. Although, the prince had a cold sweat running down his face.

His heart was enveloped with an ominous feeling that today might be his last day of living.

Meanwhile, at the side…

“It doesn’t seem like something he had done only once or twice?”

“There were more than one or two guys who picked on him, and every single time, it caused a bunch of fuss afterwards. This is probably something he’s extremely used to doing…”

“…It’s surprising that the victims didn’t send assassins.”

“Oh, they did. Like, probably tens of them. All of them died though. As for the ones who sent those assassins, they were all paralyzed to the point they couldn’t even go to the bathroom.”

“…”

At that moment, Yord decided. He would never, ever become an enemy of that senior.

This would sound like an excuse, and Arren knew it, but he didn’t have any choice. He really didn’t have any intention of harming Lee Han, he just wanted to threaten him a little.

“I-I thought he is a parasite who is trying to cling to Her Highness the Crown Princess just like any other guys…”

“Why did you think that, Your Highness? Lee Han was a knight who was rightfully invited by Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

“W-Well, he was suspicious! Y-You know, he was demoted, but he quickly gained fame in the Academy? T-There’s no one as suspicious as him!”

“It’s a bit much to suspect him just because of that…”

Jake, who was a pacifist by nature and more respectful to the royal family compared to Lee Han, found his reasoning so unreasonable that he couldn’t even defend him.

Arren, who saw Jake’s rapidly changing face, continued speaking urgently. After all, he knew that if he couldn’t convince this guy, the most normal person in the group, the monster with the shovel would bury him again.

“O-Of course I didn’t suspect him just because of that! I-I also heard a lot of things about him!”

“A lot of things…?”

“Y-Yes! I-I heard he was a cruel person, someone who looked down on the powerless members of the order and beat them up indiscriminately. On top of that, he was desperate to get in touch with people in power…! Those sorts of things.”

“…”

Jake, who was listening, found his story to be ridiculous.

Lee Han? Looking down on the powerless members? Beating them indiscriminately? And desperate to cling to the powerful people?

Are they mistaking him for someone else?

If anything, the nobles in the Silver Lion were the ones who did those things, not him…

“Who said such things?”

“…I can’t say that. How can a knight sell his comrade’s name!”

“Then I can’t help you either, Your Highness…”

Jake slightly turned his gaze. And at the end of his gaze…

“Should I hit you one hundred more times?”

“P-Please hold it back, Senior.”

There was a beast with a murderous gaze.

“Even if you hit His Highness, I believe that he’ll still keep his mouth shut, there’s no point—”

“H-Hii! I-I already told you that I couldn’t tell you! There’s no way I could just sell Sir Baker and Sir Lehman’s names! Absolutely not!”

“…”

“My mouth is sealed! I will never tell you that Lord Garmond also said something similar…!”

“…Uhh.”

…Hearing that, Jake’s respect for the royal family was immediately waned in half.

He should’ve kept quiet…

Although, Jake became certain of one thing.

He’s going to live for a long time.

In Jake’s eyes, even though he didn’t seem sharp and was a cowardly person, he seemed to be someone who was destined to live a long life.

“…What?”

Lee Han blinked at the explanation that his only friend in the Knight Order gave him. At first, he thought that he had misheard him, however, it didn’t seem to be the case at all.

“Apparently, the First Order labeled you as their political enemy. In other words, the royalists took you as their enemy. While the prince…no, the commander of the First Order…was used by them…”

“They used a royal…?”

“A powerless royal, and a large parachute. There probably aren’t many people who would be loyal to him.”

“…His survival instinct is something else, but jeez, why is he so dumb?”

The world was fair. He was a royal, extremely dashing, and he also had the talent to become a knight. Unfortunately though, the God took away sharp wits and political sense from him to balance it out.

Hence why those nobles could use him so easily.

No, rather, he just took everyone’s words literally without verifying anything and got duped by them…

Normally, someone like him would definitely die young, but it wasn’t so in his case. He was so faithful to his survival instinct to the point that Lee Han was certain that he’d survive even if he got stuck into a huge crisis.

What a funny guy.

Now that he knew the prince was so stupid, Lee Han didn’t even feel like getting angry at him anymore. So, he just ignored him and asked the question that had been on his mind since earlier.

“Why did I turn into their political enemy again…?”

The Knight Order had designated him as their political enemy. It was something that confused him to no end. After all, he never really touched them, and he had zero interests whatsoever in them. Why were they suddenly calling him a political enemy?

Jake’s response to that question was…

“While you barely did anything, you are too inconspicuous.”

That.

“Haa… I’m going insane.”

Unlike the prince, Lee Han had a sharp wits, so he immediately understood what his friend was trying to say.

Basically…

The Silver Lions—no, the palace nobles, were wary of him.

Why?

Because he was doing too well, and recently, he made a name for himself.

“The crown princess’ call this time was the final blow. Prior to that, they probably had kept their eyes on you, but after that, they decided to stab you.”

“What did I do?”

Lee Han was shocked.

He really didn’t do anything. Even when he made achievements, he hid them all and passed them onto others, he just lived a quiet life as a knight.

But now, when he made just a single achievement, they suddenly treated him like an enemy.

Just what the fuck is wrong with those guys…?

“Actually, that’s the problem. It’s because you didn’t do anything.”

“?”

“You don’t know? Well, the moment you entered Silver Lion, you had to make a decision. To support the royalists, or the nobles. What did you do? You picked neither. That alone is enough to make them hate you, and then there’s also the fact that you’re exceptionally skilled. It was just a matter of time when the cornerstone was hit.”

“Fuck…”

“I know, right? It’s fucking annoying. But what can you do? I mean, this place is…”

The palace.

Jake shrugged lightly, and Lee Han couldn’t help but frown.

To be labeled as an enemy because he didn’t take sides, it was nonsensical.

He felt like going to all the knights and beating them up.

“Hold it. Fighting them won’t do much good for you. Rather, they’d rather you pick a fight with them. After all, it will tarnish your image.”

Jake urged him to hold on. He understood that he was upset, but the reputation he had was something he’d earned with great effort. But if he fought the knight order now, there’s a risk that his reputation would turn into infamy.

He was a good-willed man who didn’t want his friend to become infamous, and he hoped that he would make a wise choice—

“I won’t lose anything from that, no?”

“…”

“Baker and Lehman, right? I’m going to beat the shit of those two first.”

“Ah…”

At that moment, Jake remembered something.

The guy in front of him didn’t care about his image at all. He was a beast who’d cripple anyone who attacked him, regardless of their status.

And thus, he could already see it…

I can’t stop him, can I?

Several people would be bedridden today.

“By the way, Princess!”

“It’s Her Highness the Crown Princess for you.”

“…Is that different from just calling you Princess?”

“…How many times has I explained this to you again?”

“Hehe, I’m sorry.”

“…Haa, forget it.”

Isis had been generous to Leila Winter since the very beginning. She couldn’t help but act this way because there simply wasn’t the slightest bit of slyness in the maid’s heart.

Although, from her perspective, it was easier to deal with those who were sly and had veiled interest than it was to deal with those who were transparent and innocent like Leila Winter.

After all, people like that had a weakness that wasn’t really a weakness in their eyes.

That was why she didn’t get angry, even though the maid made a careless error right in front of her.

Instead, she just treated her kindly.

Although, it got her to think that if she ever had someone that she could call a natural enemy, it would be this innocent-looking maid whose braided hair suited her well.

“What did you want to tell me again?”

“Hehe, it isn’t anything important… H-Huh? W-What was it again?”

“…”

“Ah, right! I just saw Sir Knight took the princess’ younger brother away. Will it be okay?”

“Younger brother…? Ah, that idiot.”

One might wonder how she could forget her own younger brother like that, but it was her nature to only remember capable people.

Besides, she wasn’t free enough to pay attention to a [Jester].

Of course, she remembered all of her excellent siblings, or to be more specific, the ones whose head she cut off or imprisoned. So, it was a wise move from that guy to not attract her attention.

“Hmm, if he took that stupid jester away, then he must have a reason. That jester might have been used just like a real jester. That too without even realizing that he was being used.”

“…?”

“…Sometimes I wish you were a little smarter.”

“Hehehe.”

“Haa…”

With an insight that would make Lee Han wonder if she had clairvoyance, she immediately made a guess that was close to the truth.

The Knight Order probably incited that Jester.

It was obvious.

Since his status in the royal family was at rock bottom, they probably thought they could toy with him, as he had no right of succession and was practically useless.

What a bunch of wicked guys.

…Well, what should I do now?

Thud-! Thud-!

The delicate fingers that naturally brought the word ‘slender and delicate’ to mind, tapped the teacup. To some people, this might seem like a beautiful sight, like an angel or a fairy in distress, but to people who knew, this was an act that would get  more than a few people killed. And so, to those people, this was an incredibly disturbing moment.

Thud-!

“…Huh, now that I think about it, it’s not something I need to worry about.”

But then she realized that there was no need for her to step forward.

After all…

That step-brother of mine won’t tolerate it.

A tiger wouldn’t ever tolerate the arrogance of lowly curs, after all.

Isis knew her step brother well.

And as she expected..

Thump-!

“Y-Your Highness! It’s me, B-Berhen! I-I have urgent news to tell you, so I would like to ask for an audience. Please forgive me…”

“Come in. What kind of business is so urgent that the chief chamberlain has come to my room at this late hour?”

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. K-Knight Lee Han is currently causing a disturbance….”

“No. It’s not a disturbance, it’s a duel.”

“…Huh?”

The chief chamberlain had the audacity to question her words, but Isis decided to let it go for today.

It was a rare occasion where a refreshing rain had breathed life into the boring palace life.

So, she had decided to not be angry today.

“So, what kind of ‘problem’ the ‘knights’ proper sparring’ had caused?”

“…”

It had been 38 years since he first started his palace life. The fact that he had survived this far was proof of his ability. That was why he immediately could tell that the crown princess had ordered this matter to be ‘covered up.’

And that was also why…

“A-Ahem, d-due to the proper sparring, there were a lot of ‘injured people,’ b-but, u-uh, it doesn’t seem like there will be any major problems…”

The chamberlain’s hand shook. He realized that he had to somehow change this ‘incident’ into a ‘sparring’. Not only that, it was pretty much a certainty that he would be working overtime for a while.

Isis nodded, satisfied with the chamberlain’s wise answer.

“That’s too bad. So, how many people were injured?”

“…In the case of the First Order, 63 people, while in the case of the Second Order, 72 people…”

“The Second Order?”

“Well… They tried to stop them, but they were caught in the crossfire instead.”

“I see. A total of 135 people, haha, the sparring must have been intense.”

“…Your Highness.”

This isn’t a laughable matter!

The chamberlain was right to be concerned. After all, because of a single knight, 135 out of 300 members of the Silver Lion Knight Order were hurt.

If this was known to the outside world, a huge scandal would ensue.

The chief chamberlain’s heart burned, but seeing how joyous the look on the princess’ face was, he felt extremely anxious.

At that moment…

“Chief.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At her call, the chamberlain instinctively lowered his head.

She was a person with infinite talent.

Surely, she would give him a clever solution to solve this problem.

“Next time, if something interesting like that happens, call me quickly. Your report came in too late, I missed the chance to see it.”

“…”

“What a clueless guy…”

“Your Highness…”

Hearing that, the loyal Chief Chamberlain Berhen suddenly felt the urge to retire.