Chapter 35

 

"Stop!!"

 

At Burger's command, the young soldiers all lowered their wooden swords and collapsed onto the ground.

 

Heavy breaths filled the training ground.

 

Along with the intense breathing, cheers erupted here and there.

 

The ones cheering were the "Kylo Unit"—in other words, our side.

 

"...Haah."

 

The opponent whose neck I had my wooden sword pointed at let out a sigh.

 

He was Yanes, like me, responsible for leading 50 young soldiers.

 

At 18 years old, mature, and rumored to have had relations with a maid... a man with a faint beard.

 

A mock battle had taken place between Yanes's unit and mine.

 

A battle that ends when the leader of the opposing unit surrenders.

 

Yanes yielded to me, and the training concluded.

 

"What did I get hit by just now?"

 

Yanes grumbled as if feeling wronged, pushing away my wooden sword.

 

His forehead was red and swollen from where I had just struck with my wooden sword.

 

"Even with this size difference, I get beaten up every time..."

 

Hearing his words, I laughed and extended my hand.

 

Yanes looked at it for a moment, then nodded and grabbed my hand to stand up.

 

Standing up, he was a head taller than me, and his build was solid.

 

He looked me over and said,

 

"Aren't you still growing? Seems like you get taller every month."

 

"Yeah, still growing."

 

"Just how much of a monster will you become when you're fully grown... Is this why Rondor lost?"

 

Yanes muttered to himself like he was complaining, and Balon, Willas, and Martin approached with grins, patting me on the shoulder.

 

"Good job, Kylo! Thanks to you, we don't have to do the laundry!" Balon said with a smile.

 

Willas called out slyly to Yanes, "Yanes, make sure to wash the clothes thoroughly."

 

"Clean up the dormitory properly, too!" Martin chimed in.

 

They snickered as they teased Yanes.

 

From what I could tell, ever since the rumor about the maid spread, the teasing towards Yanes had become even more relentless.

 

Yanes shook his head with a smile as if finding their provocations ridiculous.

 

Seeing the slight curl at the corner of his mouth, he didn't seem too upset.

 

This kind of conversation wasn't exclusive to us.

 

Even the young soldiers from my unit who had fallen while fighting against Yanes's unit were busy teasing their opponents from the ground.

 

Watching them, I felt something on my own.

 

Testing physical strength and tactics was one thing, but more importantly, it was significantly helping build the unit's camaraderie and trust.

 

If I had stayed in my hometown, I would have had to manage and lead knights like my father, so I couldn't help but notice these aspects.

 

"Salute to the Lord!"

 

At the sudden command, the young soldiers who were sprawled on the training ground hurriedly stood up.

 

And then they saluted the red-haired girl approaching from afar.

 

I just stood still and looked up at her.

 

Her eyes were also searching for me.

 

—Nod.

 

Vivian gave a brief nod, signaling to me.

 

I handed my wooden sword to Balon and asked,

 

"Could you put this away for me?"

 

"Getting called away again. Don't let her bully you," Balon said, taking the wooden sword.

 

"We'll be resting for a bit," Yanes teased as if getting back at me.

 

I shook my head and started walking.

 

.

.

.

 

I stood slightly behind Vivian, following her.

 

It didn't seem like Vivian had a specific destination in mind.

 

She walked aimlessly as if trying to kill time.

 

"Why did you call me?" I asked her.

 

Vivian hesitated for a moment, then answered in a flat voice while looking ahead.

 

"I think we need to have dinner earlier today."

 

"Why?"

 

"...I have something to do tonight."

 

After dinner, when night fell, Vivian always locked herself in her room.

 

Even if I knocked, she'd tell me to go away, and when I tried to open the door, it was locked. I was always curious about what she was doing.

 

Perhaps my unease stemmed from my concern that she was in a precarious state.

 

However lately, she seemed to be finding her footing, so I was somewhat less worried.

 

"What do you do every night?" I asked abruptly.

 

"..."

 

Vivian remained silent for a moment before replying in a low voice.

 

"What does it matter to you?"

 

"I was just curious."

 

Seeing my deflated reaction, Vivian sheathed her sharp tone.

 

She sighed and answered.

 

"...Studying."

 

"..."

 

Studying.

 

I couldn't really react.

 

Having observed her efforts lately, I felt bad about teasing her any further.

 

I followed her silently.

 

At the corner of the castle, Vivian turned right.

 

I stopped her and pointed toward the river ahead.

 

"Let's go that way. Let's take a break while we watch."

 

"..."

 

Vivian didn't respond, but her feet obediently headed toward the river.

 

The riverside was always pleasant.

 

The gently flowing water brought peace to the mind and offered an escape from the hostile adults around us.

 

The stifling atmosphere one feels when cooped up in the castle seemed to wash away with the flowing water.

 

If you stationed the guards a little further back, it became a perfect place to rest.

 

Perhaps knowing this, Vivian had the guards stay behind near the riverbank and approached the water's edge.

 

After taking in the scenery, I picked up some stones lying on the ground and started skipping them across the water.

 

Vivian quietly sat beside me, watching the stones skip on the water.

 

I threw stones and glanced at Vivian several times.

 

Seeing her dazed expression, it seemed she was deeply troubled.

 

I asked, "Does it feel real?"

 

She blinked, returning to reality, and asked back, "What did you say?"

 

"Does it feel real?"

 

"...What does?"

 

"You gathered everyone and scolded them. Do you feel like anything has changed?"

 

Finally understanding my words, Vivian let out a small laugh.

 

In her laughter, there was an inexplicable fatigue and a hint of self-mockery.

 

"It feels real. Their expressions are all so fierce. You'd have to be in my shoes to understand."

 

Suddenly, Vivian lay back as if she wanted to look at the sky.

 

The grass bent softly, becoming her bed.

 

Her long red hair spread out, flowing gently in the swaying breeze.

 

Seeing Vivian gazing at the sky with a peaceful expression made me catch my breath.

 

Finding it hard to look at her, I just kept throwing stones into the river.

 

"Everyone seems eager to kill me..." Vivian whispered, unaware of my change in demeanor.

 

Hearing those words made my heart even heavier. Trying to lighten the sinking mood even a little, I joked, "What are you going to do? In ten days, I won't be here either."

 

In ten days, all the knights of Rondor would depart.

 

This time, we'd be out for at least ten days.

 

It meant I'd be separated from Vivian for ten days.

 

I expected her to reply with something like, "I'll be fine without you," or "Who do you think you are?" or "I told you I don't need you to protect me," but Vivian was silent.

 

Puzzled by her silence, I turned around to look at her and saw a quiet fear and worry on her face.

 

I felt embarrassed for bringing it up.

 

I wondered how much pressure she must be under to break her tough façade like this.

 

I realized that her comment about the vassals' expressions being fierce was no mere exaggeration.

 

She noticed my gaze and quickly hid her expression.

 

I pretended not to notice and threw another stone into the river.

 

"...Well, you'll have to plan well. You know, prepare ten days' worth of food. Like last time... uh, so you don't go hungry."

 

I mumbled incoherently, but I could tell that such words weren't comforting her at all.

 

In the end, perhaps this was a kind of growing pain.

 

Even if the vassals acted more hostile, even if she had to be exposed to more dangerous situations in the process... she had no choice but to endure.

 

"...I should have more maids around me."

 

Vivian finally muttered.

 

But both she and I knew that wasn't a fundamental solution.

 

Trying to increase the number of maids attending to her might instead bring those who wanted to harm her closer.

 

Our feelings awkwardly collided, and Vivian slowly got up.

 

I didn't look at her.

 

She dusted off her clothes and walked away slowly.

 

She was now heading back to the castle.

 

"...Or."

 

At that moment, I spoke without realizing it.

 

When I turned to look at her, Vivian was also looking back at me.

 

Not with her usual stubborn gaze... but with eyes that seemed to seek a bit of help.

 

I could feel that she was focusing on my words.

 

"...Or, you could come along on the expedition."

 

"...What?" Her eyes widened.

 

If she came along on the expedition, I could stay by her side.

 

Though she'd have to be among smelly men, eat tasteless food, walk to the point of exhaustion, see gruesome sights... she'd have to endure some hardships, but at least she'd be safe.

 

"As the lord, it would be good for you to see what your soldiers are doing. A lord who gives orders only in words is less appreciated than one who participates together."

 

I even provided an excuse for her to come along.

 

"..."

 

Vivian's eyes wavered for a moment.

 

Seeing that she didn't immediately reject my proposal, I felt a bit of hope.

 

"Have you been outside?"

 

I cautiously continued.

 

"The scenery is quite beautiful. Rather than being cooped up in this stifling castle, even if it's tough, wandering around and taking it all in can be more enjoyable than you'd think."

 

Like a wheel that had started rolling, I found myself seriously persuading her.

 

I felt more at ease with her by my side, even if the journey would be rough, than leaving her alone in the castle, trembling with anxiety.

 

After staring at the ground and pondering for a long time, she slowly looked up at me.

 

Our eyes met.

 

...I could tell that she wanted to come along.

 

"...I can't."

 

But her answer was the exact opposite.

 

"...My uncle will arrive in Roctana during the expedition. As the lord of Rondor, I have to greet him."

 

She rejected my proposal with a much more solid logic and reason than my excuse.

 

"...Do as you wish, then."

 

Knowing that she couldn't abandon her duties, I couldn't say anything more.

 

Vivian also turned her back and walked toward the castle.

 

In the end, all that remained from our conversation was a sense of unease.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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