He had no idea how much time had passed. The world was wrapped in a silence so deep it seemed absolute.
No sound could be heard, and the only thing visible was darkness. Not even the slightest sensation reached him. In that state, Damon stared blankly beyond the darkness.
‘Am I truly dead? Have I finally crossed the boundary of this world and set foot in the next?’
But when he thought over the circumstances, it did not seem so. He clearly remembered fighting desperately against Verkis’s mental magic, and the moment the Sevenfold Locking Art—the shackles he had never been able to escape until now—activated. He also remembered the countless fragments of the Iron Golem collapsing down toward him. Each and every shard was sharp enough to pierce not only flesh but bone as well.
At that moment, Damon had no choice but to accept death as the reality immediately before him. Though he had been freed from the mental magic, its aftereffects had left him unable to move even a finger, and he could not even dream of deploying magic. If he took those razor-sharp fragments head-on, his chances of survival were, in a word, nonexistent. Unable to move, he could think of nothing but the word death.
‘Must I end my life like this without taking revenge? Without even saving Daphne…’
Damon stared, devastated, at the heap of fragments pouring down. At that moment, a pitch-black shadow suddenly fell over his body. In an instant, Damon was pinned beneath someone.
“I am truly glad that I can give my life for you, Damon.”
At the familiar voice, he lifted his head and saw eyes gleaming through the slit of a helmet visor.
Eyes filled with simple honesty. They were eyes Damon knew all too well. Realizing who it was, Damon was shocked.
“H-Helton. It’s dangerous.”
But Helton, who was embracing him protectively, instead let a smile appear at the corners of his mouth.
“Damon, meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life. I believe the other comrades feel no differently than I do.”
The moment his words ended, the terrifying mass of fragments crashed down upon them. Naturally, Helton, who was shielding Damon, had to take the full brunt of it. Through Helton’s chest pressed against him, Damon felt the impact of the fragments striking home. Helton’s sturdy body jerked again and again from the force, yet he did not let out even a groan.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
What soaked his body with warmth was probably the blood flowing from Helton’s body. Damon shed tears of blood.
“Thank you, Helton. I will never forget your heart. And I swear it. No matter what happens, I will make them pay the price for your life…”
The impacts of the exploding fragments continued even after that. Covered completely in Helton’s blood, Damon vowed revenge endlessly. And soon, he blacked out. The enormous weight of the fragments that had completely buried both their bodies made it impossible for him to breathe properly. That was the entirety of the memory left in Damon’s mind.
‘After MacMillan, now Helton. You, too, have placed a heavy burden upon me.’
Though he could see nothing and hear nothing, Damon silently sank into thought.
‘Are the other men safe? I saw Bieri fall to the golem, but…’
Thinking of Bieri, who must now be in the afterlife, filled Damon with sorrow. With his spine broken, there was no possibility that he had survived.
‘If he hadn’t met me, he wouldn’t have died… What happened to the Death Knights? Since I lost consciousness, they must have lost their power as well…’
All at once, fear of Verkis surged up within him. In a word, he was a dragon so powerful that he could not even be compared to the likes of Russellant. From his magical ability to the guardians under his command, Damon had never imagined that he would be so strong.
Compared to the might of the Iron and Bronze Golems, the liches of the Sixth Circle were literally nothing more than mere guards. If not for Katroi’s unexpected help and the participation of the Crosen knights, probably not a single member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps would have survived.
‘That bastard Verkis. He was strong enough to make my teeth chatter. But if we clash again, I won’t be beaten so helplessly as I was this time. Experience gained from facing an opponent once is that precious.’
Even afterward, Damon remained deep in thought. After a while, he fell into a deep sleep. He knew that sleep was the best thing for healing the body…
He did not know how much time had passed. Without the slightest sense of the flow of time, Damon opened his eyes. At that moment, an unfamiliar voice burst out nearby in a fluster.
“H-He has awakened. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has regained consciousness.”
From the manner of speech, it seemed to be a servant attending a noble household. A look of puzzlement spread through Damon’s eyes.
‘Crown Prince? What kind of nonsense is that?’
He heard someone running toward him. Then, right beside his ear, he heard a voice that was aged yet thick with emotion.
“Y-Your Highness. You have finally awakened. This lowly subject… I hardly know where to place myself, to be granted the honor of seeing Your Highness again.”
That voice, too, was unfamiliar. It buzzed indistinctly enough that he could not quite make it out, but it was clear that it was no one he knew.
‘Who is it?’
Damon, unable to understand, merely blinked. His vision had still not fully cleared. Of course, he could not speak either. Though he tried, no sound escaped from his tightly closed throat.
‘What on earth happened? And where is this?’
Damon endured in silence and simply waited for time to pass. It seemed he would only be able to grasp the situation around him once his sight had fully recovered. At that moment, something heavy pressed down on his chest. Since a hot sensation came through from there, it seemed his senses were slowly returning. The same voice sounded again.
“Punish this disloyal servant. I, who as the commander of the knight order that protects the imperial family, failed to fulfill my duty of guarding Your Highness.”
Damon quietly kept his silence. In order to understand the situation, it seemed best to listen without moving. The owner of the voice continued to wail, pouring out his heart.
“I never dreamed that the wicked Ludwig, while holding the important post of vice commander, would dare lead Your Highness into the jaws of death. It was clearly my mistake to trust that man and entrust him with Your Highness’s escort. I have regretted that decision countless times until this very day.”
While the owner of the voice was rambling on in lament, Damon’s sight slowly returned. In his eyes appeared the face of an old man, streaked with tears. Though the image was still blurry, Damon could recognize the other party without much difficulty.
‘Marquis Williams?’
Since he had no idea why the man was behaving this way, Damon could only stare silently at Marquis Williams’s face. Marquis Williams continued speaking.
“With Your Highness’s return, this lowly subject has finally been able to lay down the heavy burden he has carried. Ever since that incident seven years ago, there has not been a single day when I slept in peace. And yet Your Highness has returned in such good health… My heart feels as though it will burst from joy.”
Damon’s mind began to whirl busily.
‘Seven years ago would be around the time I had just escaped Verkis’s lair… Then?’
Damon’s eyes suddenly gleamed. Only then did his curiosity about the original owner of this body rise to the surface. The blond young man who, after suffering a severe head injury and falling unconscious, had exchanged bodies with Damon. Damon knew absolutely nothing about the identity of that young man, whom he had suspected might have been an idiot from the start. He did not even know his name. After all, he had changed bodies with the other party while the other was completely unconscious.
It was not as if he had never wondered what sort of person he had been, but because he had had no time at all to think about it, Damon had simply forgotten. Yet the way the situation was unfolding now forced Damon to recall the buried question once more…
‘Then could the original owner of this body be the Crown Prince of the Crosen Empire?’
Judging by the situation, the possibility was remarkably high. But it did not seem wise to act rashly.
‘If he truly is the commander of the Crosen Knights, there is no way he would leave me alone when I took on a commission to assassinate the Crown Prince.’
It seemed Marquis Williams had not yet noticed his true identity. That is, the fact that an entirely different soul was inside the Crown Prince’s body. Without saying a word, Damon continued to observe what Marquis Williams did.
“Please do not worry any longer. So long as this subject keeps his eyes wide open, no one will be able to aim for Your Highness’s life.”
Having finished speaking, Marquis Williams slowly rose. It was because a knocking sound had been coming from the door for some time. Marquis Williams strode swiftly to the door and shouted in anger.
“How dare you make noise in the place where His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince resides… What is the matter?”
His hearing also seemed to have recovered to some degree, for Damon was somehow able to hear the whispering from outside the door.
“His Grace Duke Ferstein is waiting with one hundred Duke Knights in attendance. He insists that he must see His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, so we do not know what to…”
“Hah!”
Rage surged into Marquis Williams’s round eyes.
“Did I not already order that no one was to be permitted entry? For the safety of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, no one may enter this place. Not even Duke Ferstein.”
“H-However, His Grace the Duke’s will is so firm…”
Considering the adjutant’s position, Marquis Williams let out a long sigh. For a mere adjutant, not even a vice commander, to block the path of the greatest man of power in the Crosen Empire was, in a word, absurd.
“Very well. I will go out and deal with it.”
Marquis Williams turned his head and looked at Damon.
“Please wait a moment. I will handle this at once and return.”
While Marquis Williams was gone, Damon carefully examined his surroundings. Since he had no idea how the situation would develop, he intended to prepare countermeasures. The first thing that entered his eyes was a large magic circle engraved on the floor. After closely inspecting the diagram of the magic circle, Damon gave a bitter smile.
‘A magic circle with divine power mixed in… In a word, it’s the natural enemy of black magic. Seeing that, it seems they are on guard against me after all.’
The security in the room was extremely strict. Roughly thirty knights stood lined up along the walls, keeping watch. Not a single one of them was anything less than a Sword Master.
‘Indeed, they did say that all one hundred or so members of the Crosen Knights were Sword Masters…’
Because he had forced himself to lift his head, his neck began to ache. Realizing that his physical condition was still not normal, Damon lay back down on the bed. It was an endlessly luxurious bedroom, but from the beginning, such things had no reason to stir Damon’s interest. Lying in bed, Damon sank into thought about how he should act from now on.
“Marquis Williams. I ask that you open the way at once.”
Duke Ferstein glared at Marquis Williams’s face with burning eyes. Behind him, roughly one hundred Duke Knights waited tensely, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Seeing that all thirty-two Sword Masters belonging to the Duke Knights were included, it seemed he had gathered every capable fighter under his command. But Marquis Williams did not so much as twitch an eyebrow.
“Impossible. In the name of the Crosen Knights, who protect the imperial family, I cannot allow anyone to enter until His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has fully recovered.”
Duke Ferstein’s eyebrows bent into a sharp frown.
“Do you not know who I am? I was Crown Prince Alkaris’s guardian. In other words, I am no different from his protector.”
“And how could such a person sit by and allow His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Alkaris to vanish seven years ago?”
At Marquis Williams’s cold reply, Duke Ferstein was left speechless. In any case, the duke was not entirely free of responsibility in that matter. Soon, Duke Ferstein’s rebuttal followed.
“After learning of that fact, I sent many knights to Truvenia in order to rescue His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince—”
“I dispatched them. And you know as well as I do that most of them were killed in battle, don’t you?”
Marquis Williams folded his arms firmly, as if to say there was no chance.
“In any case, I cannot permit entry. Traditionally, the escort of the imperial family has been handled by the Crossen Knight Order. I am sure Your Grace is well aware of that fact. His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in need of absolute rest. Until his body has fully recovered, no audience can be permitted, no matter what status the visitor may hold.”
“Y-you….”
Duke Perstein clenched his fists and trembled all over. Had it not been Ludwig, one of the vice-commanders of the Crossen Knight Order, who had lured Crown Prince Alcaris away and taken him to Truvenia in the first place? Yet Marquis Williams was showing an attitude that made it clear he would not argue the matter at all. It was only natural for anger to surge up within him.
At the sight, the Duke Knights standing behind him grew taut with tension. In the worst case, an order to attack might be given. But the duke regained his reason sooner than expected.
‘Endure it. This is not something that can be resolved by acting rashly. Now that it has been confirmed that Crown Prince Alcaris is alive, I must handle matters in the proper order. No matter who his true identity may be.’
He already harbored a trace of suspicion toward Crown Prince Alcaris. Crown Prince Alcaris, who had suddenly appeared in the midst of that fierce bloody battle. Judging by the circumstances, it was clear he had a deep connection to the black magician. The fact that not a single trace of the black magician had appeared left no other conclusion. Duke Perstein hardened his resolve.
‘No matter what it takes, we must take custody of Alcaris ourselves. And we must protect him thoroughly.’
To him, this matter was no different from gaining an army of ten thousand. At last, a path had opened by which he could use Alcaris, the First Imperial Prince, to legally drive out the Second Imperial Prince Dviers, who had been a thorn in his side. Considering that ninety percent of the members of the House of Nobles had already pledged loyalty to him, this matter was as good as accomplished. And if Crown Prince Alcaris’s identity was truly the person Duke Perstein suspected…. A faint smile brushed across the duke’s lips.
‘If that is the case, everything will go according to my will. In a word, this is an opportunity bestowed by the heavens.’
But to do that, thorough protection of Crown Prince Alcaris was essential. If, by any chance, something unfortunate were to happen to Crown Prince Alcaris, the duke’s plan would collapse into nothing. Of course, even if matters proceeded that way, his ambitions would not be utterly broken, but the most important issue was whether or not he could absorb the Crossen Knight Order.
The Duke Knights and the Crossen Knight Order. What Duke Perstein sought was to preserve the strength of both these mighty armed groups intact. If anything bad were to happen to Crown Prince Alcaris, the two forces would inevitably clash, and in nine cases out of ten, both would surely suffer damage close to annihilation. That was precisely what Duke Perstein feared. It was to prevent mutual slaughter and obtain the full strength of the Crossen Knight Order that he was striving so hard to secure custody of Crown Prince Alcaris. Having reviewed his plan, Duke Perstein calmly settled his mind.
“I came to guard Crown Prince Alcaris thoroughly. I have no other intentions whatsoever, so I hope you will refrain from useless suspicions. If Your Lordship truly will not let me in, then I will wait here until His Highness the Crown Prince’s body has fully recovered. Of course, the reason I brought the Duke Knights is for His Highness the Crown Prince’s thorough protection. Do you understand?”
Even so, Marquis Williams did not withdraw his suspicious gaze.
“If that is your intention, I will permit you to remain. However, no one may enter the detached palace. Even if the heavens were overturned, that fact would not change. The Duke Knights, too, will only be permitted to guard the perimeter.”
Hearing those words, Duke Perstein let out a long sigh.
“Very well.”
When he turned his head, he saw the Duke Knights’ expressions filled with resentment. Each and every one of them looked as though their pride had been wounded by being told to take charge only of the outer perimeter. Calming them with a glance, Duke Perstein gave his order in a composed voice.
“You all heard him, didn’t you? From now on, the Duke Knights will take charge of the perimeter. Since the interior is to be guarded like an iron wall by the Crossen Knight Order, there should be no issue. Understood?”
“Understood.”
The Duke Knights nodded silently and began to move swiftly to their assigned positions. Duke Perstein also slowly made his way toward the outskirts. His bearing made it clear that even if he had to stay awake for several nights, he would meet Alcaris without fail. Marquis Williams stared intently at the duke’s back with a suspicious gaze.
‘I do not know what he is scheming, but this is troublesome. I, too, can no longer leave this place. I suppose the remaining matters must be entrusted solely to Regent Theodore.’
At present, the only person he could trust was Regent Theodore. He was the only one as loyal to the Crossen imperial family as himself.
‘Considering how he thinks of His Highness Crown Prince Dviers, I can trust him, at least.’
However, he could not even dream what Regent Theodore truly had in his heart. Between the Crossen Knight Order and the Duke Knights, who focused on their guard duties with hands clenched tightly around their sword hilts, a strange tension had begun to form.
That night, a modest party was held at the detached palace of the Crossen Empire. It was a party for the participants of the selection ceremony who had barely survived after undergoing countless hardships. Its purpose was to comfort the hearts of those who had been forced to experience something horrific in a single day.
However, very few people attended. The number of Crossen knights present could be counted on one hand. Only three or four vice-commanders of the knight order attended out of courtesy. Most of the remaining attendees were princesses and escort knights from other nations. Only those who had not been injured were present, and as if trying to shake off the terrible memories, everyone had immersed themselves in alcohol and dancing. Because of that, the mood of the party quickly ripened.
“Hohoho. Cheers.”
“Hahaha. Might I dare ask you for a dance, my lady?”
As if proving that humans were creatures of forgetfulness, they forgot everything and devoted themselves to drinking, singing, and dancing. Thanks to the imperial family’s consideration, high-class liquor and food were provided without limit, so the party seemed as though it would easily last through the night. Then, just as the atmosphere had fully matured, the door to the party hall opened a crack.
“The night in Crossen is terribly chilly.”
The one blowing on her hands as if she were very cold was a beautifully adorned young lady in the prime of her youth. Wearing a splendid formal dress and laden with ornaments, it was obvious at a glance that she was a princess who had attended the selection ceremony. Her name was Selene. She was a princess from the Kingdom of Kusmilla in southern Arcadia, and she had narrowly escaped with her life from that cauldron of hell. She had attended the party to shake off her dreadful memories. And now she had just slipped out of the party hall in order to meet someone.
In the gleam of her eyes, shining from her somewhat dusky face, there was unmistakably the passion unique to women of the south. Her face was flushed red, as though she had drunk quite a bit, and in her beautiful eyes there lingered a light as if she had resolved herself to something.
“I must meet him. Before he is the benefactor who saved my life, he was such a magnificent warrior.”
In Selene’s mind, the image of the splendid warrior who had saved her life was being drawn. It had been a situation where everyone was sunk in terror before the savage charge of the Bronze Golem. At that moment, there had been one warrior who proudly stood in front of the Bronze Golem, and the majesty of that warrior, clad in bloodstained armor dented and crushed all over, could be described in a single word: invincible. In the sight of that warrior, Selene was reminded of the true heroes she had heard of in old tales, the ones who slew dragons and rescued princesses.
For Selene, who had only ever seen dashing royal guards prettily dressed, that warrior’s martial valor could only be described as a shock. The Bronze Golem was a monster dreadful to behold. Yet the warrior had faced it bravely without retreating a single step. Selene could not forget for even a moment the sight of that warrior, who, after finally bringing down the golem through countless hardships, stood atop it and let out a victorious roar. Although his face, age, and appearance had been completely hidden by his visor, by his majesty alone, he was an incomparable warrior. Had Selene not decided to drag her exhausted body to the party in the first place in order to meet that warrior?
‘But he did not come. Everyone who attended the party is nothing but a coward with a glossy exterior. I must meet him. He alone is a true warrior.’
Having made up her mind, she moved to one side without further thought.
‘They said he was a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps, did they not?’
The only thought in Selene’s mind was that she had to meet the warrior who had saved her life. However, as if proving that security at the Crossen court was tight, she had not taken more than a few steps before a shadow sprang out of the darkness and blocked her path.
“Stop. Where are you going?”
Judging by the armor glittering in the darkness, he seemed to be a guard knight rather than a royal guard. She spoke to him with the brightest smile she could muster.
“Do you happen to know the lodging where the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps are staying?”
“…….”
A troubled look appeared on the face of the knight who had blocked her. As it happened, he was a knight belonging to the Duke Knights. Because of that, he knew very well where the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps were staying.
‘Should I call her lucky? If she had asked those Crossen fools, they would have said they did not know, without a doubt.’
After hesitating over what to do, he finally made up his mind. He extended a finger and pointed over there.
“Go straight along this path. There will probably be three or four more checkpoints. State your purpose, then say you are going to the Fourth Annex, and they will likely let you through. If you turn left at the end of the path, you will see a large building. The members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps are staying there. That is the Fourth Annex.”
“I understand. Thank you sincerely for your help.”
Selene smiled gently and approached the knight.
Kiss.
Leaving behind the knight, who stood at a loss with the mark of her lips clearly stamped on the face guard of his helmet, Selene walked away with quick, light steps. After remaining silent for a while, the knight let out a sigh of regret.
“Damn it. If I’d known this would happen, I would have raised my visor….”
Letting out one more sigh as if he found it a great pity, the knight returned to his post. Of course, he did not forget to take out a handkerchief and wipe the lip mark from his helmet. The discipline of the Duke Knights was harsh enough to be in no way inferior to that of the Crossen Knight Order, and if the lip mark were discovered by any chance, he would have to be prepared for severe punishment. Rubbing his helmet vigorously with the handkerchief, the knight let out another lament.
“If only I’d had the damn visor up, I wouldn’t have had to wipe it off…. What a waste.”
Just as the guard knight had said, Selene had to pass through several more inspections. But perhaps because they all belonged to the Duke Knights, the guard knights readily let Selene through.
Thus, at last, she was able to arrive before her destination, the Fourth Annex.
“Hm?”
Selene’s eyes filled with puzzlement as she arrived. Many people had already gathered in front of the annex and were murmuring among themselves. They were all women, and each was dressed splendidly, laden with ornaments. As Selene drew closer, she soon realized who they were.
‘These women?’
A sharp glint flared in Selene’s beautiful eyes. The gathered women were all princesses whose faces she knew. Moreover, they were those with whom she had grown closer after experiencing danger together. In other words, they were all princesses whose lives had been saved by the very warrior Selene had come to find.
Judging by their appearance, they too seemed to harbor affection for the warrior. That much was obvious just from the way they kept glancing at Selene and sending hostile looks her way.
‘Hmph! As if I would yield because of that….’
Selene walked straight toward the door of the annex. The princesses’ gazes focused on her all at once, but
She did not mind in the least. A single strand of hope was quietly sprouting in her mind… and it stemmed from the fact that she knew the name of the hero who had come to her aid.
‘The hero’s name was probably Mitchell. I asked a member of the Kassim Mercenary Corps myself, so it must be right.’
After the last Bronze Golem was destroyed, the princesses were immediately moved to safety. But Serlene, who had somehow escaped injury, asked the name of the hero from a man passing nearby at just the right moment—someone she guessed was likely a member of the Kassim Mercenary Corps.
“Could you perhaps tell me that gentleman’s name? The one who brought down the Bronze Golem.”
The man, who looked rather glib, answered without the slightest hesitation.
“His name is Mitchell. Mitchell Bruno. And my name is Patterson.”
But there was no way Serlene would care about the man’s name. After being escorted to safety, she treasured the hero’s hard-won name deep in her heart. There was only one reason: so that she could find him later. If she did not know his face, then she at least needed to know his name, did she not? Because of that, Serlene now believed she had seized the high ground over the other princesses.
When she stepped to the very front of the line, the door of the annex came into view, with two knights standing guard.
Serlene immediately approached the guard knight.
“Um… I came looking for someone…”
Before she could even finish, the guard knight promptly replied.
“Pardon me, but are you here looking for the hero who brought down the Bronze Golem? I am sorry, but every person inside is someone who brought down at least one or two Bronze Golems. For that reason, I too find it most regrettable that I cannot help you find him.”
An utterly mechanical answer. Thanks to that, Serlene understood why the princesses had been murmuring in front of the door. After all, one had to know at least a name in order to call someone out, did one not? But Serlene had nothing to fear.
‘But I’m different from you. You stupid little girls.’
Sweeping a triumphant gaze once across the princesses, Serlene spoke to the guard knight in a gentle tone.
“I came to find a hero among the Kassim Mercenary Corps named Mitchell Bruno. He saved my life, so I wanted to convey my thanks.”
The guard knight’s face clouded with bewilderment. It was difficult to find any particular reason to refuse someone who had stated a name so precisely. In the end, he knocked on the door. A moment later, a low voice came from inside.
“What is it?”
The knight explained the matter in an exceedingly polite tone.
“Pardon me, but a beautiful lady has come seeking a hero by the name of Mitchell Bruno. She says she has come to thank him for saving her life, so I am not certain what should be done…”
Silence lingered beyond the door for a moment. Soon, there came the sound of someone approaching the door.
Click.
When the door opened, the gazes of the gathered princesses focused all at once. The desire to see the handsome hero who had saved their lives was plainly written in their eyes.
The one who opened the door and came out was Mitchell. Still wearing armor so hideously gouged and dented that it was not enough to describe it as battered, with dried blood clinging here and there, Mitchell appeared with his hair in utter disarray.
His eyes were bloodshot, as though he had not slept at all, and fatigue was evident on his face. But none of that diminished Mitchell’s handsome features. The faint scar etched across his face, together with the dried blood, made his appearance all the more striking. He looked over the gathered princesses with a somewhat surprised gaze.
“I am Mitchell. Who was looking for me?”
The princesses’ eyes turned dreamy the instant they saw him. To think that the hero who had been so valiant was such a young and handsome man… Hearing his voice, there was no doubt he was the same person. It matched perfectly with the voice of the hero who had laughed so heartily atop the wreckage of the Bronze Golem.
‘He’s exactly as I hoped.’
Expectation rose thickly over Serlene’s face. Her benefactor, who had saved her life, was not only valiant but handsome as well… Even the dented armor that plainly showed the traces of fierce battle was imprinted in her mind as wild charm.
In Serlene’s mind, the resolve to capture the hero’s heart no matter what solidified firmly. Without further thought, she bowed her head.
“I owe my life to you today, sir hero. That is why I dared to come here, hoping to see you just once. Now that I have seen you in person, you are truly a splendid man. It is an honor to meet you.”
Having stated her purpose, Serlene extended her gloved hand without hesitation.
‘W-what is this…’
Perhaps somewhat flustered by her boldness, Mitchell hesitated briefly before kneeling on one knee.
After lightly kissing the hand Serlene had offered, Mitchell rose again.
“An honor? Not at all. I merely did what I had to do.”
His voice flowed out quietly. A look of triumph flickered across Serlene’s face. She had been the first to seize the chance to dance with the hero, beating out countless rivals. Of course, regret was passing through the eyes of the princesses who were watching.
‘That fox of a girl.’
‘At the party, I’ll be sure to steal the hero away. Surely my beauty is far superior to that swarthy wench’s.’
Receiving the jealous gazes of the many princesses, Serlene proudly extended her arm.
“Shall we go to the party together? I would like to grant you the honor of daring to ask me for a dance.”
Across all ages, there was no knight who would refuse a dance first requested by a lady. Because of that, Serlene had no doubt he would link arms with her without hesitation. But Mitchell did not. His gaze suddenly turning cold, Mitchell met, one by one, the piercing stares of the princesses looking at him.
“Have all of you come to ask me for a dance?”
As soon as Mitchell finished speaking, expectation flashed across the princesses’ faces. Surely that hero did not find the swarthy girl from the south to his liking. Thinking so, the princesses spoke up one after another without hesitation. Serlene’s flustered expression was most satisfying to see.
“I shall also give you the opportunity to ask me for a dance.”
“Why don’t we go to the party together and enjoy ourselves? You are the hero who saved my life.”
Through the clamorous voices of the princesses, Mitchell’s voice rang out clearly.
“I am sorry, but I have no desire to do so.”
When Mitchell refused, the gathered crowd fell silent all at once.
“I will not ask any of you to dance, nor will I go to the party. Please return.”
Having stated his intent coldly, Mitchell turned away without lingering.
Thud.
After Mitchell went inside, the door of the annex closed firmly. The princesses stared at the door in a daze. For what reason had he refused? Could it be that not a single woman among them pleased him? As they pondered the reason intently, the knight standing guard answered their question.
“Regrettably, ladies, you chose the wrong time.”
“……”
“The members of the Kassim Mercenary Corps are inside right now, mourning the two comrades who died today. From the look of things, they seem likely to grieve through the entire night. It appears that very dear comrades of theirs have died. You may not know this, but to a knight, the death of a comrade-in-arms is an indescribably sorrowful thing. To ask for a dance in such a situation… Even if I were in the same position, I would naturally refuse. To attend a party and enjoy oneself while mourning the death of one’s comrades? In a word, that would be utterly out of the question.”
Having heard the guard knight’s explanation, the princesses’ faces turned deathly pale. The thought that they had been hasty surged up within them, but the water had already been spilled. The princesses could only gaze endlessly at the door of the annex, bitterly regretting their rashness from moments before. Of course, among them, Serlene’s regret was the most acute.