Exactly two weeks later, atop the wall of a border fortress situated at the northernmost end of the Sterling Kingdom.
Leading only a small force that had come out to escort me, I gazed silently at the northern plains.
'...A northern fortress, I thought it would be cold... but it's Jeju Island weather.'
By our kingdom's standards, this was the northernmost point, but on a map of the entire continent, it was on the verge of a warm southern coastline.
Thanks to that, my attire was relatively thin and light—a southern-style noble outfit unique to the Sterling Kingdom, loose and fluttering in the breeze.
"……."
The few Royal Army escort soldiers lined up behind me said nothing, all dropping to one knee and pounding their right fists against their left chests with heavy, dull thuds.
It was a gesture signifying the highest honor in the kingdom, one that only royalty could receive.
"…Sigh."
Honestly, I used to be a bit jealous when Joseph or Ellie received this, but now that it was my turn, I felt conflicted.
With a bitter expression, I nodded and accepted their salute.
From this moment on, I had to act perfectly not as Ian Harper, the second son of a baron, but as the noble prince of the Sterling Kingdom.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-
Before long, dust began to rise beyond the northern horizon.
They were imperial troops armed from head to toe in pitch-black darksteel.
"…Open the gate."
"Open the gate!"
The gate opened, and the vanguard of the imperial army approached with the harsh sound of hoofbeats.
Those at the front of their ranks spotted me and grinned like beasts.
"So that must be the baggage going as a hostage."
One rugged-looking imperial cavalryman spurred his horse closer.
The captain of the Royal Army escort standing behind me tried to hand him a leather bag containing my luggage.
But instead of taking the bag, the imperial cavalryman roughly swatted the escort captain's hand away with the back of his own, as if mocking him.
Thud.
My carefully packed bag was slammed into the dirt.
"You bastards……!!"
The enraged escort captain and the Royal Army soldiers all placed their hands on their sword hilts at once.
"These sons of bitches still haven't come to their senses even while sending off their own royal?"
Seeing that, the imperial cavalrymen sneered and leveled their spears.
In a hair-trigger situation where blood seemed about to spill at any moment, I hurriedly blocked the escort captain's path and held out a hand toward our side.
"Sheath your swords."
"B-but, Your Highness……!"
"I told you to sheath them. We've already decided to go; why would you seek to spill blood here?"
Shaking my head firmly, I bent down myself, picked up the bag that had fallen to the dirt, dusted it off with my hands, and slung it over my own shoulder.
"Krh…!"
Groans bursting with rage erupted from the Royal Army soldiers' mouths.
Seeing that spectacle, several imperial soldiers cackled and poured out blatant mockery.
"Haha! So this is the backwater prince from the south, even playing the part of a porter himself?"
"His skin is so delicate and he looks like some pretty-boy gigolo, wonder if he can even perform properly at night."
I wasn't particularly angry at the lowly mockery, but I decided to force myself to act angry.
"……"
I gripped the strap of the bag on my shoulder tightly and looked up at them with coldly settled eyes.
If I let this slide here, it was obvious I would be treated poorly all the way to the capital, no, even after arriving in the Empire.
"No matter that I am a hostage from a defeated nation, I am royalty of a country."
At my low voice, the soldiers' laughter faltered.
I stared straight at each of the bastards clad in darksteel armor and spoke clearly and deliberately.
"Does your Empire teach its soldiers to look down on and humiliate captured royalty so casually? Is this the extent of the military discipline of those who come bearing the imperial name?"
"Puhahaha! This punk can't read the situation and runs his mouth……!"
"I was taught that respect is given not to the person, but to the station. Though I am a hostage, I am royalty. I demand respect befitting royalty."
"He speaks the truth."
It was then.
From the very back, a knight clad in officer's armor—darksteel trimmed with silver borders—who had been quietly observing the entire situation, lightly leaped down from her horse.
The helmeted knight walked over with heavy, deliberate steps and called out the names of two subordinates in a dry voice.
"Gale. Van."
"Yes, Captain."
"Those bastards who laughed and ran their mouths just now—cut their heads off."
"S-Sir White? Ck!"
"S-spare—ck!"
The laughing soldiers' faces paled white, and at the same time, terrifying slashes tore through the air with a lethal hiss.
Blood spurted like a fountain, and a few drops splattered onto my cheeks as well.
Thud.
The heads of the four imperial soldiers who had cackled and mocked me until just moments ago rolled across the ground in an instant.
In the horrific scene that transpired in the blink of an eye, not only the Royal Army but even the bloodthirsty imperial troops fell into a frozen, perfect silence.
Amidst the reeking stench of blood, the officer slowly removed her helmet.
Beneath the silver helmet was revealed the face of a young woman with short, sand-colored hair and an exceptionally bold, refreshing countenance.
Even the small scar by her eye suited her like a medal. She lightly stepped past the pools of blood, approached me, and knelt on one knee with utmost courtesy, bowing her head.
"I am Amber White, a knight directly under Her Highness the First Imperial Princess Victoria of the Empire."
It was a gentle yet firm voice.
"By the Princess's command, I have come to safely escort Prince Ian to the imperial capital. I am terribly ashamed that you have witnessed such a disgraceful display from the imperial army. Will you accept my apology?"
"…I shall."
Amber rose and jerked her chin coldly toward the soldiers behind her.
"What are you looking at? Take His Highness's luggage immediately, before I hold you accountable for daring to burden the royal body with baggage."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Two imperial soldiers, their faces deathly pale, scrambled over and carefully took the bag from my shoulder as if to snatch it from me.
Only then did Amber turn to me with a friendly smile.
"We must pass through rough terrain unsuitable for carriages for the time being. I am deeply sorry to make your noble person ride a horse for a while, but may I ask for your understanding?"
"It is no matter. I am quite accustomed to riding horses."
When I answered with a serene face, a strange flicker of interest crossed Amber's eyes.
"…You remain calm despite four heads flying off before your eyes."
"I am endeavoring to maintain my composure. Would it not be undignified to wail and throw a fit here?"
"Indeed, you possess the dignity befitting royalty. I am impressed."
At Amber's words, a chill ran down my spine.
Could she know that I am a fake royal, or were those merely words?
"Then, allow me to escort you."
Positioned at the center of the imperial army that had begun to move, I turned my back on the northern wall and rode among the middle of the column.
Amber, riding beside me, glanced at me and opened her mouth.
"Honestly, I am a bit surprised."
"Regarding what, may I ask?"
"Her Highness the Princess gave a very harsh evaluation of the Sterling Kingdom, calling them weak and cowardly things without even a scrap of fighting spirit."
"…I suspect she used expressions even harsher than that."
"Yes, well, I shall not deny it."
Amber laughed refreshingly, her sand-colored hair fluttering in the wind.
"But seeing you in person, Prince Ian, you seem to have far more dignity and sense of responsibility as royalty than I thought. The way you handled your own luggage and cared for your subordinates, and the spirit you showed just now—it was a backbone rarely seen even among the young nobles of the Empire."
"I am honored to hear such words. I myself was greatly surprised today. Sir Knight, you are the most soldier-like soldier I have ever seen. I marveled at your decisiveness and discipline."
"Haha! The most soldier-like soldier? Having served under Her Highness the Princess, I suppose I've now heard the finest praise the Empire has to offer."
"…Although I would have preferred to hear praise about the imperial army's strict discipline, for instance."
"They are a strong army, indeed."
"A strong army is a strong army. The problem is they occasionally have men with lax discipline like those back there."
The short-haired female knight winked at me and slightly bowed her head.
"I shall escort you at once, Your Highness. The road to the imperial capital will be quite long and rough, but as long as I am here, such an unsavory incident will not happen again."
"That is reassuring. I am in your care, Sir Knight."
I nodded lightly.