episode_0027

“Recognizing the purpose of the leopard skin, I commend what you have laid on the ground.”

Lydia spoke laboriously as she looked at the torn traces.

“However, tearing apart the merchandise without repairing it is disappointing.”

The adjutant standing beside her also glared at me with a stern look.

As if demanding me to kneel immediately.

In response, I knelt briefly.

However, I did not show fear or a resentful expression.

Instead, I only thought of ways to overcome this situation.

I gazed intently at the problematic leopard skin.

The imprint of the princess lightly stepping on it was clearly visible.

Seeing that imprint, I smirked.

“Does it mean my merchandise torn apart is less impressive than the sword given by the princess?”

“No, Your Highness. In fact, I valued the leopard skin even more.”

Leaving it torn and neglected was actually managing it preciously?

At my words, Lydia raised an eyebrow.

“Valued it…?”

“Yes, let me clarify from the beginning. I am not the one who damaged the leather.”

I calmly replied, looking up at her.

“So, you’re saying you didn’t ruin it?”

“That’s correct, Your Highness. If you doubt it, you can request an inspection from the adjutant.”

I glanced at the adjutant, who seemed uncomfortable with being used by me.

His eyes showed suspicion about how I knew his abilities.

“It’s inevitable.”

Having spent over five years in the royal palace, I couldn’t be unaware of the strong magic powers possessed by the adjutants.

They were all retired magicians who had once excelled on the battlefield.

“Adjutant, please check again.”

“Understood.”

He adjusted his monocle once more.

Concentrating mana in his eyes, he tried to discern what happened to the Samid leopard skin.

“…”

The more he understood, the more the adjutant’s under-eyes trembled.

With a more displeased expression than when looking at me, he finished the inspection.

Approaching the princess, he whispered the identity of the mana that tore the skin.

“What…?”

The princess’s red pupils narrowed.

Soon, she glanced at me with a bewildered expression.

“Yes, Your Highness. As you heard, it was my senior who tore that leather.”

“Is that true? You should have confessed earlier if so!”

Lydia’s nose, which had been thinking I tore the leather, turned red.

In response, I chuckled.

With a mischievous look similar to a well-behaved imp.

“The most important thing for a knight is camaraderie. Therefore, I believe meticulously exposing a senior’s mistake is not a knightly behavior.”

Camaraderie.

Even the magician who had previously viewed me unfavorably nodded at the word.

The adjutant, having also served on the battlefield, understood the importance of camaraderie.

“And ultimately, it was my fault for not properly managing the merchandise.”

I placed a hand on my chest.

Then, with a humble expression, I deeply bowed my head.

The adjutant, touched by my gesture, cautiously spoke to Lydia.

“It seems Your Highness may have rushed to judgment this time.”

The adjutant, who had raised and cared for her all her life, was the only one besides the Emperor who could scold her.

Being questioned about her mistake in front of the knight I had recruited, Lydia started to stutter, looking embarrassed.

“T-then why did you leave the merchandise unrepaired…?”

A rather defiant expression.

She seemed ready to seize the office of the Eastern Knights at any moment.

“Well, that’s…”

To remedy this, I decided to lay out my trump card.

Bypassing Lydia, I picked up the leopard skin.

And politely presented it to her.

The shoe imprint she left behind.

“It was to ensure that the merchandise given by the princess is used meaningfully.”

I looked down at her with a faint expression.

Yet, she still did not understand.

To her, I confidently explained.

“The Samid leopard leather is an item that retains the traces of all guests who visit the palace.”

I traced with my fingers the shoe imprint personally left by Lydia.

Even more prominently.

“Although there remains a torn mark due to someone, this too is history, and ultimately left unrepaired without intervention…”

And I smiled gently, showing it to Lydia.

“Today, isn’t it possible to preserve memories with the princess in this way?”

Lydia stared blankly at the mark.

“I heard that even in the Eastern Palace, damaged leather is not repaired separately.”

The secretary nodded in agreement.

He raised the corners of his mouth, saying I had done something meaningful for once.

“That can’t be….”

I placed my hand on my chest with a sincere expression of gratitude towards the princess.

Then I respectfully bowed my head.

‘In fact, what nonsense.’

History, what history.

If it weren’t for Miyah Senpai’s story about the East, I would have been in big trouble.

‘But will this excuse even work?’

Originally, Lydia, the youngest princess, was famous for her rare personality.

She might not be satisfied with such a trivial reason.

Moreover, she remained silent while bowing her head.

I cautiously lifted my head to gauge the princess’s reaction.

“I never expected such deep meaning….”

Lydia’s red pupils subtly swirled like the surface of a lake.

She blushed, covering her lips with her hand.

“Were you really concerned about my feelings?”

‘That’s not true…?’

“Oh, well… yes. It’s because this gesture means a lot to me.”

Let’s just play along for now.

Since she seems somewhat appeased.

Lydia softened her voice.

Then she returned to her girlish demeanor, sitting gently on the sofa.

“Well, I understand your intentions.”

Her pink lips quivered.

As if she wanted to say something.

“Mi….”

She kept hesitating.

The secretary and I both waited solemnly for her next words.

“Mi, I’m sorry…. I misunderstood.”

I’m sorry.

It may seem like a simple apology.

However, the secretary’s reaction to Lydia’s apology was surprising.

He, who had been aloof until then, widened his eyes at Lydia’s apologetic gesture.

“What, what! I am a lord who knows how to admit mistakes!”

Lydia shook her head and closed her eyes.

“It’s a great sin not to trust the knights of my kingdom.”

“No, it’s not a sin….”

I reassured her and raised my head.

‘Okay, that’s enough. She should back off on her own…’

However, the moment Lydia opened her eyes again.

She clapped her hands with unfocused red eyes.

“So, as a sign of apology, we must provide a new reward.”

‘What…?’

Why does it end up like this?

I quickly waved my hands.

“No, no rewards. It’s not necessary!”

Lydia didn’t even acknowledge my words.

Instead, she gazed down at her white legs peeking out from her skirt.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s just to maintain my honor as a ruler by providing a suitable reward to my subordinates.”

She rested her chin on her thigh.

“Moreover, since my knights are helping with training, shouldn’t I increase the rewards?”

The youngest princess slightly bowed towards me.

Then, with a touch of regret, she whispered.

“In that sense, I will bestow upon you the honor of having lunch with me.”

A dinner with royalty.

It’s not just about eating together.

It’s a significant event where they endure various hardships.

Acknowledging them as true connections.

For ambitious knights seeking success, it’s almost like a gift from heaven.

However….

“It’s okay, I prefer eating alone.”

I firmly clapped my hands.

“Besides, it’s still working hours. I usually eat lunch while patrolling.”

Lydia’s eyes beneath her feigned regret trembled.

She gently pinched my collar as if she was irritated by repeated rejections.

“Work…? Are you trying to waste the opportunity to spend time with me for some trivial work?”

Lydia’s tone softened somewhat.

“Yes, just as the princess fulfills the duties of a ruler, I too will fulfill the duties of a knight.”

Not yielding in the slightest.

Finally, after seeing my unyielding stance, Lydia let out a deep sigh and asked, “What is this task?”

“Patrol. I must vigilantly watch over various places in Nostern alone.”

‘In reality, just sitting on a balcony to observe the scenery.’

“Oh? It seems like there is quite a bit of work compared to lounging in the office.”

The task of patrolling the vast city alone.

At this level, even the princess would have to relent.

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Highness Lydia.”

The youngest princess looked arrogantly at the middle-aged magician.

“Summon Jeon Seo-gu.”

“Understood.”

The chamberlain approached the office window.

Then, without saying a word, he simply reached out his arm.

―――――.

The sound of flapping wings could be heard from afar.

No matter how loud the sound was, as it drew closer, the office window began to shake.

Eventually, a giant shadow flew forcefully into my office.

‘That’s Jeon Seo-gu…?’

No matter how I thought about it, Jeon Seo-gu had massive wings.

And sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Princess 3’s Jeon Seo-gu was not just an ordinary pigeon.

‘A golden hawk.’

A predator of the sky.

With a flight speed several times faster than a pigeon, the majestic emperor of the skies.

The hawk, which seemed like it wouldn’t follow anyone, gently perched on the chamberlain’s arm.

Afterward, the magician returned to Lydia’s side with the hawk.

“I have returned.”

Lydia smiled with a relaxed expression.

“No matter how much I govern only the eastern part, I am also a noble of this country.”

Then, looking down at me with playful eyes, she said, “The north is also part of this country. But to think that a single knight patrols this vast city alone, truly breaks my heart!”

She placed her hand on her chest.

And confidently stated, “Therefore, today, I intend to order a special patrol for the Eastern Knights.”

The princess handed the hawk to the chamberlain.

Upon this, he issued detailed orders in a stern voice.

“Eastern Knights, from 1st to 5th companies. All members will begin city patrols in Nostern.”

With these words, the chamberlain released the hawk to fly away.

The golden hawk flapped its massive wings.

Slicing through the air, it soared high into the sky.

Later, in just 10 minutes, it returned to the northern sky.

Accompanied by dozens of other hawks.

Soon, they all flew into the office together.

―――――.

Strong winds swept through due to their massive flapping wings.

As a result, papers scattered on the table.

Lydia rose with the wind.

And with her black hair fluttering, she said to me, “Is it time now? Shall we go enjoy lunch together?”

Golden hawks circling around the princess.

The sight made my eyes widen.

Sensing my gaze, the princess smiled like a goddess from a myth.