episode_0025
by adminOn a bright day like always, I woke up at dawn and began my usual practice.
“Hoo… .”
“Okay. It’s gotten a lot better now.”
The man I should call father seemed to be enjoying teaching me a lot.
It was clear to me that his swordsmanship was improving, as I could clearly see that he was getting better.
Of course, it wasn’t just about practicing swordsmanship. Spears, bows, and darts. You had to practice every weapon you could handle. That was Baekhoga’s duty.
If I were just a soldier, there would be no need to do this, but at least on the surface, I am family.
Of course, such facts were not important to me. I was satisfied as long as I had the strength to deal with and win against those who would argue and fight with me.
Of course, I knew that not fighting was the best, but I was a knight and a soldier of this family.
A sense of mission that I never had had no meaning to me. Soldiers were simply beings who had to obey orders.
That was the life I had, that was the living.
Now, even the training to become accustomed to abilities that used to be done under the name of sparring has become a form of unconditionally pushing the master.
That also meant that I had become stronger.
‘To this extent… .’
Honestly, at this point, I didn’t need any more reasons to become stronger.
I just want to spend my time peacefully napping, wagging my tail in a place where no one comes, and watching the clouds drift by.
However, such a thought was a luxury for a soldier. Since I had joined this army where I couldn’t quit at will, I had to live like that.
“Thank you.”
I was jealous and tried not to express those thoughts.
To him, my father said with a grin.
“Please take good care of Hani today. Yeon-ah.”
“… Yes.”
Come to think of it, today was the day I went to the palace.
I don’t know what the King is missing that he’s summoning me for, but he said he wanted to see all of his children, so it’s only natural that I go too.
‘I just hope there are no annoying things.’
As long as nothing special happens, there shouldn’t be many problems protecting him.
Anyway, today’s training was over, and all I had to do was meet him.
“Your Majesty.”
As I headed to his room, I saw him already dressed and ready.
“… . Sir, what about your clothes?”
“Yes?”
“I mean, Kyung’s clothes. You’re not planning on wearing something so shabby, are you?”
“… No?”
For a moment, a rotten expression appeared before my eyes.
“Surely you won’t tell me that no one has ever taught you etiquette, right?”
“There wasn’t any… .”
“… … . Sigh… .”
He shook his head for a moment, then looked at me and said.
“Come here, sir. We’re about the same height, so we can wear similar clothes.”
“… Yes.”
Eventually, I was led by his hand and forced to put on my clothes.
“Please help me choose some clothes for Kyung-yi.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
It was clear that they would not want to take care of me, an illegitimate child.
“If you leave the clothes here, I will wear them by myself.”
At those words, everyone suddenly stopped.
“… ?”
As I looked around, wondering if I had said something wrong, the emotions I saw around me were strange. Those who were reflected in my eyes were like, how could someone who was raised as an illegitimate child refuse such basic care?
But I was used to wearing it alone. I always had, and everyone who shared a room with me would naturally do the same.
This reaction was so strange. It didn’t make sense.
I was just an illegitimate child who deserved to rot and decay. I was a child who had been treated like that. But, why were they looking at me like that? I couldn’t understand, so I quietly observed their expressions. Then, the master sighed and said to me.
“Let him do as he pleases.”
“Ah, yes… . I understand.”
Especially the one who looked older looked at me with pitying eyes as he spoke like that, and started taking out one by one the clothes that looked like knightly attire.
“I think this kind of clothes would be good. … . Hair… .”
“I don’t have time, so I’ll organize it later. For now, I’m satisfied with the clothes.”
“Okay.”
After saying that, the old man put down his clothes and left.
I had to leave the old man behind and change into unfamiliar clothes.
‘… . This feels strange.’
The soft texture of the clothes made me feel sleepy for some reason.
I don’t know if it was because I felt like I was being held warmly somewhere, but it was definitely a strange feeling.
‘… … . If I ask for these clothes as a gift, will I get in trouble?’
It was the first thing I ever wanted. I knew I shouldn’t be greedy for something like this, but the feeling of being held so warmly… seemed to give me a comfort that I couldn’t refuse.
“경.”
“Yes?”
“Are you okay? You look sleepy.”
“Ah… No.”
It was just a warm feeling, and I was able to get over it as a pleasant feeling.
So, for now, it was important to finish what had to be done quickly and come back.
“Then what… . It looks like you’ve already put on your light clothes. Should we go now?”
So we rode our horses and headed to where we needed to go.
The palace they arrived at was a low building, but it seemed to be twice as big as the family’s mansion.
I felt overwhelmed by the size of the family mansion, which was twice as big as mine.
-‘… Is this the palace you were talking about?’
For some reason, the ability that had been quiet spoke to me.
‘Yeah, here it is. Why?’
-‘… No, I just… miss you.’
The building itself felt like it was alive and breathing, an alien feeling. It was as if my instincts were telling me that this was my home, that I had to protect and be by my side.
“… … .”
“경?”
“Ah. Yes. I’m going now.”
‘… I have to be careful.’
If I wasn’t careful, the ability to react within me would trigger my instincts and I would feel like I wouldn’t be able to leave this place.
As we walked a little further into the palace, a servant sent by the palace greeted us.
“Hello, children of the Baekho family.”
“… . Hmm. Nice to meet you. Where should we go now?”
I knew that it was customary to ask for someone’s name, but the young master didn’t do that.
In the first place, I didn’t learn etiquette, so I don’t know… It seems like it’s customary not to ask servants, so I just quietly followed him.
I followed him quietly and found myself in front of a huge door with a sun drawn on it.
“His Majesty is waiting. Please come in.”
“Thank you.”
While the master was speaking and going in, I gave him a brief nod and went inside.
What was visible inside was a floor made of black but shining stone, tall red pillars, a giant dragon on the ceiling, and four guardian deities painted on each wall.
It was a huge room that was so magnificent that it felt like it would crush me.
“Meet the descendants of God.”
At his greeting, I also knelt on one knee. I thought it was right, since I was a knight after all.
“Nice to meet you. Are you the children of Baekhoga?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no need to be so polite. I invited you.”
“Thank you.”
We slowly rose from our seats and faced the king.
The king was thin. If you look at his age, his face was the same level as Baekhan’s.
I may have thought that way because I have never seen a proper existence called an adult other than the head of the household…
For a leader of a country and the last bastion to defend this place from approaching enemies, he was weak.
Just looking at the momentum, it was like that. The power it contained was nothing special. It was just to maintain and support this country. That was the thought that came to me.
However, it could not be ignored.
Her hair was so intensely red, and her eyes were as black as pitch, as if they were holding me and not letting me go. They were strong eyes, as if they already knew who I was.
Those strong eyes gave me a strange sense of discomfort.
“We sincerely welcome you.”
As he said this, he spread his hands.
“You must be wondering too. Why did I call you here? And why aren’t there any other families?”
“… … .”
Actually, that wasn’t important to me. I was just an illegitimate child. But I had to listen to what he said.
Because he is the highest authority who can give me orders regardless of family background.
“The other families have already come and finished their conversation. Rather than that- What I want to ask of you is… . I want you to be my crown prince’s playmate.”
It was a word coming down from the sky, and it was a word I had to hear. But, for some reason, I had the illusion that the sun high up there looked blood red.
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