episode_0018

“I came by order of the princess. Please come with us.”

The person beyond the door said so.

‘Princess?’

There were several princesses in the Hoern family that ruled Quien, but the princess the author is talking about is probably Mary Hoern.

I have never met other princesses and have no reason to meet them.

‘What you’re calling me is… I guess it’s because of the subjugation.’

It was highly likely that they were calling to hear stories of the time or to give additional rewards. Last time we all got together and received a reward, but since my report played an important role, I may be able to receive something separately.

Of course it might not be. Still, if possible, I would like to show distribution befitting the eldest daughter of a marquess.

‘I’m sure it won’t be a bad thing.’

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have come to pick me up so politely.

When I opened the door, there was a knight in uniform outside. She was tall and had navy blue hair tied into a ponytail, and looked at me with cold eyes.

“Are you Ethan?”

She asked in an emotionless voice.

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Princess Mary asked me to bring you.”

I pointed to my body with my hand.

“Like this?”

I didn’t have to go out anymore today, so I was wearing comfortable clothes. If you’re just going out, it’s not a big deal, but it’s a bit… .

Even if I dressed up properly, it wasn’t enough, so I had nothing to say even if I was reprimanded for being rude if I continued like this.

If Mary Hoern was sensitive to these things, she might go and leave with only a curse.

However, the driver spoke without changing his expression.

“It’s okay.”

I waited for more to come out, but that was it.

“… … .”

“Why are you doing that?”

She raised her eyebrows as if she was surprised that I was staring at her.

“That… no. Let’s go right away.”

The driver, who seemed to be a bit too reticent, took the lead with a measured gait.

I felt several people on the first floor of the inn turn to look at me and the driver at the appearance of a person wearing clothes that were rarely seen on a daily basis. She must have felt these gazes too, but she just passed by silently without showing any signs of it.

It feels like a truly knightly knight. I had a subordinate like this before, and he was ruthless when he violated me.

Although it was because the respect they had for me, who had become a knight in the body of a man, was betrayed. He said he wasn’t a knight or anything, but later found it absurd that he was enjoying it more.

‘I hope you’re doing well.’

Unlike me, he stayed in the estate and I was curious about how he lived.

We took the carriage waiting near the inn and headed to Yeongju Castle.

‘Oh, the ride.’

Perhaps because it was a high-grade carriage, there was little shaking. It was a comfortable ride, except for the gruff driver sitting next to me.

‘It’s awkward… .’

It was very comfortable.

When we arrived at the castle, we went to see Mary Hoern without delay.

“Princess, I brought Ethan Julius.”

“Come in.”

The driver opened the door, came out, and the driver went inside.

The princess stood up and looked out the window. She said with her back to us.

“Do you know why I called you?”

It didn’t seem like a question I was asking for an answer to. She continued speaking immediately.

“There are two reasons. Let me tell you the first reason first.”

The princess turned around and faced us. There was a faint trace of some emotion on that face. But I didn’t know what that feeling was.

“Ethan Julius. A silver-level adventurer from Quien. A reward was given last time for participating in the operation to suppress xie jiao. Today, I would like to commend the achievement of being the first to discover, kill, and report a heterogeneous wolf.”

She said that and winked at the driver behind me.

“Haley. Bring it with you.”

A knight named Haley went somewhere and brought back a long box.

‘The size is roughly… Is it a sword?’

There’s no guarantee that it didn’t contain anything else, but based on the shape of the box, it was highly likely that it was a sword.

Although I had a sword that I used, a good sword was always welcome.

The princess opened the cover of the box the knight was holding.

‘That’s quite… .’

What was inside was, as expected, a sword.

It wasn’t a flashy style. It even looked ordinary at first glance.

‘It’s simply a well-made sword.’

However, if you knew how to look at a sword, you could know its true value.

It gave the impression that the overall balance was well established, and above all, the blade was smooth and well-cut.

A weapon that emphasizes substance over appearance. In some ways, it seemed like she resembled Mary Hoern herself.

It wasn’t at a level that could be called a famous sword, but it wasn’t a sword with any shortcomings either.

The princess carefully held the sword with both hands. I quickly got down on one knee.

“Thanks to your report, we were able to take prompt action. As a member of the Hoern family, I commend you for your contribution to protecting the safety of the city.”

The driver next to me said.

“Rise and receive the sword the princess gave you.”

I quickly got up and politely accepted the sword. Even though I just touched it, I could clearly feel its anticipation.

“Please prepare the sword sheath separately. Replace this with this now.”

The princess held out a white cloth. I wrapped the sword with cloth.

As usual, since I had received my reward, it was time to step down. But there was still one reason she said.

The princess did not immediately bring up her business and just stared at me.

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The knight, the princess, and I remained silent without saying a word. There was a suffocating silence in the room.

While memorizing the tile patterns on the floor, the princess finally opened her mouth.

“Ethan Julius.”

“Yes, princess.”

“Would you believe me if I told you that I’ve known your name for a long time?”

“… Yes?”

There was something unusual about the atmosphere. I pulled myself together and gathered my nerves.

“A few years ago, a war broke out between our Traum Empire and the Kingdom of Palus.”

The Kingdom of Palus is where I lived.

“At the time, our family did not directly participate in the war. There was no need for that.”

The princess continued her story.

“However, according to my mother’s orders, I joined the army led by her close friend as an adjutant. It was a decision to gain experience. I am still immature as a commander.”

“… … .”

“The kingdom’s army was a ragtag group. It’s natural. It would be even stranger if the army of a country ruled by a corrupt monarch and a greedy traitor was strong.”

Slowly, the story was getting to the point.

“I saw and learned a lot from being around an experienced commander. They say you can learn the most from a strong opponent, but as someone who lacked experience, I was able to learn meaningful things from a weak opponent as well. As time passed, I gained confidence. I am confident that I too can lead to victory.”

What do you want to say? I don’t know what it will be, but it will never be a good story for me. But all I could do was listen quietly.

“In the meantime, some information came in. Information about the kingdom’s small units. I thought it was a good opportunity. I made a suggestion to the commander and was given the authority to directly command some units.”

The princess was not looking at me. I was just staring into space.

“I was confident. But even now, I don’t think I let my guard down. It was a situation where we could be confident of victory. The opponent may have been exhausted, injured, and depressed, but we were a courageous army whose morale had risen to the fullest as we achieved successive victories. I expected victory.”

The conversation stopped for a moment. The princess shifted her gaze to me.

“What do you think happened? If you were to bet money, who would you bet on?”

I couldn’t answer the calm voice asking.

“Unexpectedly. I thought it was obvious to anyone, but it seems you think differently.”

“… … .”

“Are you saying you won’t answer? Well, it doesn’t matter.”

She calmly started talking again.

“The knights and soldiers under my orders left for the raid, and as time passed, they returned. Even though I was in complete disrepair. It was a crushing defeat. I couldn’t believe it. Those who returned alive said that there was a knight who could truly be called a berserker. A knight from the kingdom slaughtered the knights of the proud empire. It was said that his presence led the enemy to victory. Do you know what’s even more surprising?”

“… … .”

I could feel the heat in the princess’s black eyes.

“They said it was a man, not a woman. Although he was as tall as a woman and had dark skin, he was clearly a man. And only one person told me his name. That his enemies called him Ethan Julius. The person who gave me the name passed away from an injury, so only I knew the name.”

I continued to remain silent. The intense gaze was still on me.

“Since then, I have not forgotten the name that brought me shame, Ethan Julius. And when I met you I knew … Who are you?”

I never dreamed that she would know about me. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have even set foot in this city.

But it has already happened. I think it’s unlikely that the princess will give me a sword and kill me, but I don’t know what the future holds.

Even if you don’t kill her, you can always punish her in other ways. I racked my brain and tried to find a way to overcome the situation.

The princess said, perhaps guessing what I was thinking.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing you or harming you. Even if I had intended to do so, I am not cruel enough to severely punish those who have contributed. It just brings a little humiliation. It is nothing more or less than giving back what I received as a member of the Hoern family.”

Should I put in a dogeja even now? It didn’t seem like he really had any intention of killing him, but it seemed like a wise choice to show an apology first.

I suddenly fell down on the floor.

“I’m sorry, princess. A mere mortal committed an unforgivable sin against the noble princess, the eldest daughter of Hoern.”

It was not possible to see what kind of face the princess was making. I prayed that it would make her feel a little better.

After being silent for a moment, the princess spoke in a low-pitched voice.

“One thing is lacking.”

Gulp.

What didn’t you like? A cold sweat broke out.

“According to you, a sinner who has committed a sin that cannot be washed away dares to wear clothes in front of me?”

Oh my.

“Take off your clothes. And take your stance again.”