episode_0023

I passed through the corridor and returned to the Royal Hall.

There, Miyah and the two princesses were seated comfortably.

“It seems like you’ve missed seeing your senior’s face for a while…?”

“Veil, why did you come back alone? Where is Leia?” Irina asked as she rose from her seat.

In response, Lydia replied nonchalantly, “The carriage left a while ago; it seems to have returned to the palace.”

“Suddenly?” The Second Princess covered her lips with her fist, seemingly unable to comprehend.

The youngest princess then speculated on the reason, “Seemed quite angry. Her steps were unusually fast when she left.”

“Angry…?” Irina approached me, grasping her dress and looking intently into my eyes. “Veil, are you okay? What conversation did you have exactly?”

Her silver fox-like elegant hair framed her face, and her green eyes pierced through me.

“You asked me what I liked.” I responded absentmindedly.

However, Irina’s expression turned serious upon hearing my words, as if she had somewhat grasped Leia’s intentions.

“So… what did you answer?”

Her eyes flickered like restless animals.

I searched my memory and replied, “Princess Leia…”

As if playing a prank, I stopped at Leia’s name only.

At that moment, the expectant princess’s eyes began to waver.

“I answered that it was the sofa you provided.”

Upon hearing this statement, both the Second Princess and the eavesdropping Third Princess showed the same frozen expressions.

Faces hardened like ice.

Soon, Irina, doubting herself, repeatedly questioned, “Is that really true?”

“Yes.”

With my firm response, the Second Princess clenched her lips tightly.

Subsequently, her lips began to twitch.

“Pfft!”

Finally, Irina burst into laughter, a side of her not seen before. “Well done, Veil!”

She reached out to pat my shoulder, almost like a childhood friend.

“Oh…”

However, Irina’s hand soon stopped in mid-air.

The youngest princess, who had been watching from the side with a blank expression, stared at her disapprovingly.

“If someone sees you, they might think you’ve lost your dignity. Can’t you maintain some decorum?”

Irina stepped back with a sheepish expression.

Then, Lydia seized the opportunity to intervene.

“Ahem, Veil?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The youngest princess, who was nearly two heads shorter than me, looked up at me with a proud expression.

“Enough about Leia. So, how did you find my party today?”

With an arrogant gaze that seemed indifferent to any response I might give, her thick lips hinted at anticipation.

“It was impressive. Especially the power of Senior Batsu’s direct hit was considerable.”

I grimaced, forcing a frown.

Lydia, anticipating my reaction, chuckled softly. “Batsu is a pride of our Eastern region.”

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, she crossed her arms alone.

Then, squinting her eyes, she discreetly made me an offer, “Don’t you want to become strong like that too?”

“Me…?”

An unexpected ambush sent shivers down my spine.

“How about visiting our Eastern Knights’ training camp when you have time?”

“I’ve declined escort duties before.”

“Stupid, I’m not talking about escort duty, just coming for observation!”

Embarrassed by her outburst, Lydia covered her mouth with her fist.

After composing herself, she continued, “As an apprentice, you know?”

“Yes, receiving teachings from Batsu and other seniors, sparring, isn’t that great?”

Lydia made the proposal awkwardly, as if feeling sorry.

“I’ll personally allow it. Our training process is usually confidential, but-”

The youngest princess closed her eyes firmly.

Thinking I would naturally accept, she waited for my response in that state.

“….”

However, no affirmative response came, even after waiting for a while.

Instead…

“It’s okay.”

Only a resolute refusal came back.

The princess blinked her eyes, seeming to doubt herself.

“What, what…? Why this opportunity? Don’t you want to become stronger as a knight too?”

The youngest princess tightly clenched her hands.

Then, with an anxious expression, she asked me.

However, I responded with a smile to her question.

Currently, there is something more important to me than anything else.

“I need to tend to the vegetable garden.”

Vegetable garden.

Lydia’s focus disappeared from her eyes at those short, thick two words.

Irina, standing beside her, was the same.

Both princesses looked at me with faces that showed they couldn’t understand.

“W-what about the tour?”

Lydia’s face flushed red.

She started to argue with determination.

“Are you really going to give up the chance to visit the 2nd-ranked knight order?”

Oh dear.

It seems the youngest princess doesn’t quite understand.

“It’s not just any vegetables.”

I put on a serious expression.

“It’s a secret weapon for my retirement.”

Lydia was dumbfounded by my repeated refusals.

Whenever she threw a tantrum, anyone would usually try to appease her.

Even the Empress of the Empire and the Queen Mother of the Eastern Kingdom.

But now, in front of a mere defense knight.

And one who is rejecting herself over a vegetable garden?

In disbelief at this reality, Lydia pouted.

“A-are you daring to defy my orders?”

“No, it simply means I’m a knight more interested in gardening than swordsmanship.”

I bowed my head.

And very politely apologized.

“So please, I hope you understand my intentions.”

“You fool! You’re completely wasting this rare opportunity, you’re a complete idiot!”

Lydia turned her head sharply.

Then she met eyes with Irina standing next to her.

The second princess smiled slightly at her sister.

“Lydia, try to maintain some decorum befitting a princess, okay? You hate veils, don’t you?”

Irina confidently said, as if she knew people better than anyone else.

I firmly told her the same.

“Oh, and I will also decline the instructor position you mentioned.”

At that, even Irina’s relaxed expression soon crumbled.

“W-what…? Veil, what did you say?”

She pretended not to hear, but there was no choice.

There would be no exceptions made for Irina.

If you pay attention to one princess.

You have to pay attention to everyone to prove you’re not taking sides.

Ultimately, you’ll end up getting more involved in the royal family.

And repeating past mistakes.

My job ends here.

“After all, I am weaker than Allen. It would be strange for me to come as an instructor when there are seniors present, wouldn’t it?”

At my firm statement, Lydia’s lips curled into a smile.

The expressions of the two princesses switched as if they were enjoying each other’s misfortune.

“T-that… Recently, there has been an increase in novices, and there is a shortage of manpower… It’s not like you’re extremely important or anything.”

Avoiding my gaze, Irina muttered to herself.

“Novices?”

I asked, and Irina took a deep breath.

“Yes. Since we can only accept a few people through the appointment ceremony, we try to train them ourselves…”

Most royal knights finish their training and can only be selected through the appointment ceremony.

However, some nobles choose to select knights individually.

Among them, there are many like me, commoners with humble origins.

“Are these novices perhaps commoners…?”

I asked while staring intently at Irina.

Upon hearing this, the second princess smiled faintly and said,

“Yes, especially from orphanages.”

Training knights regardless of their background.

It’s not a bad method.

No, perhaps it’s an even better method.

Mana is usually inherited genetically.

But sometimes children born of commoners miraculously appear.

Moreover, naturally born orphaned children.

“They are desperate.”

Even if noble children work hard for honor.

They cannot follow the desire for survival.

Irina.

To think that a descendant of the royal family would have such thoughts.

Impressive.

With a proud smile on my face, I put on a victorious expression once again.

If you were human, it was as if to say, “Try rejecting this,” with a challenging look.

However…

“I hope everything goes well.”

Still, I have no intention of helping.

I’m just grateful for the good deed.

“Ah… Yes, thank you….”

I cut off her attempt at sympathy abruptly.

Thanks to that, my expression turned sour, my mouth corners drooping in disappointment.

“If you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do about it-.”

Watching from afar, Lydia shrugged her shoulders.

Then she approached me and explained the reason for calling me with formality.

“Since you worked hard today as a palace knight, I want to express my gratitude.”

Yes, that was the reason she called me in the first place.

I nodded respectfully at the princess’s words.

“So I intend to bestow a gift, is there anything you desire?”

Lydia suggested that I tell her whatever I wanted.

With a sly smile on my lips.

“A gift, you say….”

I hesitated for a moment at those words.

It seemed like a ploy to force gratitude by continuously sending gifts….

Surely, if I accept an expensive item, they will use it as leverage against me.

They would shamelessly ask why, despite giving me so much wealth, I couldn’t help them even once.

So I must choose something appropriately luxurious yet affordable.

“….”

The two princesses patiently awaited my response.

The Empire’s sword?

Or sturdy armor?

I tensed at the thought of how substantial their reward request might be.

“If you could provide me with a Sunstone, I would be grateful.”

I said solemnly to them as if making a significant demand.

As if asking for an artifact.

A Sunstone.

A common gem worth around 10 gold each.

Superficially red, its unattractive appearance renders it unsuitable for adornment.

Hence, in the northern regions, it is often thrown on the floor for heating purposes.

“What do you need a Sunstone for?”

“Well, winter is already over….”

The princesses, unaware of the purpose of a Sunstone, looked puzzled.

To such individuals, I replied nonchalantly.

“The sunny palace grounds are already experiencing spring, but….”

Was it because of Irina’s mention of orphaned children?

Memories of the chilly orphanage back home, where sunlight rarely reached, came to mind.

“There are still many places where winter has not left.”

On that day, I sent all the Sunstones I received back to my hometown.

I wasn’t particularly bothered by Irina’s words.

I simply chose them as an excuse to avoid the princesses along with the palace gardens.