episode_0015

A mountain dove soars high.

The towering walls of the Yellow Palace.

Upon crossing them, a grand mansion comes into view.

Through the window, the splendid study room unfolds.

Dozens of golden birdcages hanging in the air.

Inside, several warblers were confined.

However, not a single bird among them cried out recklessly.

As if they had undergone extreme training to prevent crying.

Finally, the dove that flew into the study room landed on someone’s finger.

“We have arrived, Your Highness,” said a woman in glasses and formal attire.

She transferred all the memories the dove had seen to herself.

“Yes, Eri. What happened at the market today?” Leia, seated at the golden desk, kindly inquired.

On the desk lay an intricately carved wand.

Embedded in the handle was a recently researched mana amplification artifact.

Approaching cautiously, Secretary Eri whispered into Princess Leia’s ear.

Leia listened to the story with a blank expression.

Then, the topic shifted to Veil.

“Oh… Is that true?” Leia chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.

“She hit him based on the number of times their lips touched?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The princess aimed her wand towards the birdcage.

“Mocking the law for personal gain, what a charming child.”

As mana was infused, a fierce air reverberated around.

Thanks to this, the birds inside the cage began trembling, huddling together.

“Shall we separately track the apprentice who tried to replicate the artifact?”

Leia lightly shook her head.

And she spoke in a relaxed tone.

“Well, how many ‘apprentices’ dare to gather troops secretly, avoiding my eyes within the Empire?”

Eri clenched her jaw in response to the question.

“Forget about that, I can guess roughly.”

The princess stood up from her chair.

Leaving a hint, she slowly circled the study room.

“The merchant’s name was Toliso, right?”

“Yes, indeed. We procured military supplies for our Bright Knights.”

Showing Leia the ledger of the merchant she dealt with, the secretary spoke.

The ledger was thick, indicating numerous trading partners.

“Dismiss him.”

A brief and firm command.

At these words, Eri’s eyes sparkled.

“Yes… But we’ve been trading well until now.”

Dealing with merchants of military supplies is uncommon.

Hence, the secretary felt reluctant to sever ties with him.

“One day, he will cross the line. Just conducting secret trades without my knowledge is enough reason for expulsion.”

Eri nodded in understanding.

And she opened one cage, releasing a warbler.

The bird headed towards Princess Leia’s Bright Knights.

“So, you received help from a girl named Veil?”

The princess smiled joyfully, seeming pleased.

Then, she opened the door of another empty cage.

“I finally have a reason to meet her.”

Eri, who released the warbler, glanced at her cautiously.

And she asked carefully.

“May I inquire about the reason for your interest in the new recruit knight?”

Initially uninterested in Leia’s words, Eri was curious enough to ask despite the breach of etiquette.

The reason why Princess Leia had thoughts about a common knight.

“That girl. She’s remarkably strong.”

Princess Leia half-closed her eyes, reminiscing about the duel.

“When Richard fell, there was a glimpse of golden mana. It was undoubtedly a Sword Aura.”

“A Sword… Aura?”

Eri’s eyes widened in disbelief.

It’s hard to believe that a junior knight could use a Sword Aura.

That level is reserved for top-tier veterans even within the Bright Knights.

“Yes. She tried to hide her skills, but I couldn’t overlook it.”

Leia gently brushed the hem of her dress.

“Moreover, she could freely change the color of mana.”

At this revelation, Eri looked at the princess with a stunned expression.

Swallowing deeply, she asked.

“Surely…”

“Yes, it’s a level achievable only by Swordmasters.”

The princess cleared her throat as if parched.

With a plate in hand, she elegantly took a sip.

“But why hide your skills? If you’re a Sword Master at twenty, isn’t that a talent the Empire rarely sees?” Eri asked with a puzzled expression.

In response, Lea gazed at her secretary as if finding her cute. “Well… I think I know.”

Lea picked up her teacup and explained her deduction sip by sip. “Intentionally entering national institutions to avoid our princesses, hiding your skills despite being a Sword Master.”

As she walked, droplets of water fell slowly from her chest every time she drank. However, she seemed unperturbed, enjoying her deductions. “Even flattering the Valderian instead of the royal family might be part of that child’s strategy.”

“A strategy…?” Lea glanced at her secretary with narrowed eyes and casually remarked, “Doesn’t my dear secretary know about it?”

At her words, Eri quickly lowered her head. “I-I apologize…”

Soon, the secretary’s black hair touched the office floor. “When you become a princess’s guard, you have to compete with knights from prestigious families.”

Lea walked past cages, tapping each one with her fingers. “No matter how skilled you are, you could be pushed aside in power struggles or eliminated due to overwhelming talent.”

She stopped in front of a window, gazing at the wide-spread sunset. “But if you serve the nation as a knight and build a reputation?”

In the crimson sky, larger birds of prey soared through the heavens than those in the cages. “Without any competitors, naturally becoming a confidante of the emperor.”

Eri approached the cage. As Lea inspected the untouched cage door, Eri said, “But it’s very difficult to build a reputation in frontline positions. It’s not easy to stand out.”

As the door closed, the birds nestled comfortably, as if the cage were their sanctuary.

At her words, Lea smiled slyly. “It’s confidence.”

The princess picked up the wand on the table, pointing it at her neck. “The more I see, the more I like this child who vows to rise based solely on her own abilities.”

Her usually kind and elegant eyes narrowed. With a strange smile, she muttered to herself, “Relying only on her skills without depending on anyone…”

After a moment of contemplation, Lea put the wand back in the drawer. “She resembles me in many ways.”

She then picked up a pen and began writing something on a piece of paper. “Such talent shouldn’t be wasted in the Royal Academy.”

She wrote a letter with elaborate handwriting, carefully sealing it. Then, feeling a headache coming on, she furrowed her brows. “Are you okay…? Lately, you’ve been having frequent headaches.”

As the secretary approached, Lea held her head, pushing back gently. “I’m fine. It’s just a genetic condition from my cursed mother.”

She took a deep breath, loosening her dress buttons and removing her stifling jewelry, revealing her delicate collarbone and skin. “When is the upcoming banquet?”

The princess asked, adjusting her disheveled hair. “Next week, for Princess Lydia’s birthday party.”

Lea pressed her temple with her finger. “Invite the Capital Defense Knights as well.”

“Understood.”

While the secretary worked, the princess nervously picked up her teacup, inhaling the aroma and breathing calmly. “Oh, and also Irina.”

The secretary, jotting down notes, paused abruptly. She raised her head, wondering if she misheard. “Irina…? The Second Princess too?”

Once her breathing steadied, she lifted her head. “She’s also part of our bloodline. There’s no law saying she can’t come.”

However, dark circles had formed under the princess’s eyes. “This time, I’ll make sure to inform that child clearly.”

Lea looked at the empty cage with eyes full of certainty of victory.

As if envisioning a bird about to enter, she wore a decadent smile.

“Who suits an ambitious knight.”

The secretary gazed at the princess with reverent eyes.

“It’s definitely Princess 1! Planning to show an overwhelming difference on the official stage?”

“Yes, you caught on quite quickly this time.”

Both of them chuckled with sinister smiles.

“Just wait and see.”

However, Leia had no idea up to this point.

That the knight she admired preferred a plush sofa over the throne of power.

***

Her ears itched.

It felt like someone was approaching and whispering.

Due to the irritating sensation, she scratched her head.

“I can’t sleep well because of winter…”

She rose from the backyard office.

And stretched her stiff back.

“They said Tollyso would grow well anywhere.”

Watermelon grown from crushed Tollyso.

Selected from eating it and picking out small seeds.

She planted them in the backyard and watered them, but they didn’t seem to grow well.

“The taste was really good though…”

She roughly tossed the hoe she was holding onto the ground.

Then she absentmindedly stared at the setting sun on the horizon.

With no distractions, the day seemed so long.

So blissful.

I want to live like this for the rest of my life, tending to my garden and enjoying the pension in old age.

Perhaps thanks to the happy thoughts.

I could forget about boredom and focus on the backyard again.

Carefully picking up the stones laid on the ground.

However, in the midst of doing so…

A dark shadow loomed behind me.

I glanced back at the shadow.

“Mia, senior…?”

“Vale! Is the new recruit already up to something?”

A playful voice.

The senior shook me while holding a document.

“Gardening, that’s such an old man’s hobby.”

“An old man?… This is all part of retirement planning.”

Retirement planning at twenty.

Mia chuckled at my almost retired knight-like words.

“Now is not the time to tend to the garden.”

The senior unfolded a message from the Superior Defense Force for me.

But I wasn’t interested in the message.

“Look at this. The princess’s birthday party is next week!”

I touched the watermelon seed as I looked down briefly.

“Why does that matter to us? What’s our connection?”

“Well, our unit has been assigned to covertly guard this party.”

Mia’s eyes sparkled like a cat, already excited.

“Great. It’s a chance for us to impress the high-ups.”

She infused mana into her fingers.

And slowly started hoeing while controlling her strength.

“No, the General ordered two of us to go!”

My face, which had been nonchalant until now, stiffened.

Why send lower-ranking soldiers suddenly…?

This should be a privilege reserved for seniors.

“So, it’s just you and me going, right-.”

Mia confidently placed her hand on her chest.

“Don’t worry. Trust this experienced senior to give you all the tips about the banquet hall in advance.”

Watching her, I thought for a moment.

If the senior had cat ears, she’d probably be very pleased with herself.

“I’m in. I’m disgusted by noble parties. We’re just ‘guarding’ covertly, remember.”

I carefully placed watermelon seeds in the neatly divided field.

And lovingly covered them with soil.

“Oh, please – if not you, then I have to go with Senior Luper!”

Mia clasped her hands together and pleaded with me.

Seeing her desperate expression, I let out a deep sigh.

Going to a party with Luper.

“That definitely sounds a bit absurd.”