Chapter 24
The captain of the guard’s stern command brought the incident to a close.
What remained was determining who was responsible among those involved in the fight.
‘I just wanted to settle it with a simple duel…’
I sighed and looked at the people in front of me.
At the head of the long conference table sat Crown Prince Marius. On either side of him were the Chief Mage, the Deputy Chief Mage, the Captain of the Guard, and my superior, Kaiden.
I and the purple-haired guy stood behind our respective sides. Several knights and mages who had joined the fight lined up beside us.
The Crown Prince spoke.
“I’ve heard the general outline of the incident. Genba Jinski, the mage under Caroline’s direct command.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
So the purple-haired guy’s name was Genba Jinski. Even his name was annoying.
“From what I’ve heard, it seems you were at fault. Apologize.”
“B-But…!”
Genba Jinski tried to protest. At that moment, the Chief Mage stepped in.
“Your Highness. While Genba’s fault is clear, this was merely a personal conflict with Sir Marion. It could have been settled with a duel, but the knights escalated the matter. A fight between mages and knights within the palace could have led to a serious issue, potentially leaving the palace defenseless.”
I stared at the Chief Mage, who spoke so eloquently.
A young man with gray hair and black eyes. Of course, being a great mage, he was likely older than he appeared.
[His tongue is well-oiled.]
‘Exactly.’
I agreed with Blade’s comment.
“But, Your Highness. Upon hearing the details, Genba Jinski’s rudeness was tantamount to an insult to all knights. To dare tell Sir Marion, a Swordmaster, to kneel and beg! She is our pride and the sword of the empire! His words were not just excessive but outrageous!”
The Captain of the Guard spoke with fury. He was a middle-aged man with wheat-colored hair and blue eyes.
‘A handsome middle-aged man who speaks handsomely too.’
I silently thanked him for his support.
I could feel Crown Prince Marius’s gaze on me. Just as he was about to speak—
“Then…”
Bang!
“Who dared to insult my personal mage?!”
The conference room door suddenly burst open, and Princess Caroline stormed in.
“Caroline.”
“Brother! I had entrusted Genba with an important task today! What is this all of a sudden—oh my!”
Caroline barged in angrily but changed her demeanor the moment she saw Kaiden in the room.
As if she had never worn a fierce expression, she fluttered her eyelashes like a fan and spoke in a coy voice.
“Grand Duke Kaiden is here too.”
The Crown Prince looked at Caroline with displeasure.
“I was just wondering about that. What task did you assign your personal mage that required him to hide within the palace?”
“Ho ho ho. That’s a secret. Just think of it as a lady’s effort to win love.”
“…Love?”
The Crown Prince looked baffled. Everyone in the room shared the same expression.
“By the way, who did this to my Genba?”
Caroline went to her personal mage’s side and examined his face with her fan.
The purple-haired guy’s face looked like it had been thoroughly beaten. I didn’t hit him. It was just that the other knights had pummeled him for being arrogant.
Caroline turned dramatically and stared at me. I met her gaze with an indifferent look.
I wasn’t thinking much. It did cross my mind that Caroline resembled her brother, Crown Prince Marius.
“Punish those who harmed my personal mage, Brother.”
“Caroline, you mustn’t blow this out of proportion.”
“But look at his face! It’s a disaster!”
At that moment, Kaiden spoke.
“How about a one-week house arrest for both Sir Genba and Sir Marion?”
All eyes turned to him. Kaiden looked around and continued.
“Since the incident started with them, they should bear responsibility. However, the Founding Festival is just around the corner. With the recent wyvern attack causing unrest, a conflict between knights and mages is something we’d be ashamed to show His Majesty. This matter should be settled with a light punishment, and each leader should discipline their subordinates to prevent further issues.”
In short, he was suggesting to downplay the matter.
Kaiden’s words made sense. The Founding Festival was a week away, and any issues with security personnel during such a major event would be problematic.
The Chief Mage and the Captain of the Guard nodded. The Crown Prince glanced at Kaiden and nodded as well.
Caroline seemed dissatisfied but didn’t argue against Kaiden’s suggestion.
The Crown Prince spoke.
“But doesn’t Marion lack a residence in the capital?”
Kaiden responded.
“She can stay at the ducal residence, as she does now.”
The Crown Prince immediately shook his head.
“There are plenty of empty rooms in the palace. No need to trouble her with travel; she can stay here.”
Kaiden objected.
“But that wouldn’t qualify as house arrest.”
“As long as she’s confined, isn’t that enough? A room in the palace is perfectly suitable for confinement.”
“But Marion—”
“Excuse me.”
I raised my hand, interrupting their subtle power struggle. All eyes turned to me.
“Upon reflection, I deeply regret my mistake.”
People looked at me with surprised expressions. I continued with a theatrical, sorrowful face.
“Therefore, I wish to resign my knighthood and atone for my sins…!”
* * *
In the end, the house arrest was to take place at the ducal residence.
When I mentioned resigning my knighthood, the Crown Prince dismissed my words, saying, “Stay confined at the ducal residence,” and left, leaving the matter unresolved.
A day passed.
“Damn it.”
“You brat! What kind of language is that in the presence of elders?!”
‘Damn it.’
I cursed inwardly at the Former Grand Duke Leopold’s shout.
I was having breakfast at the ducal residence’s dining room with Leopold and Kaiden, just the three of us.
Being in the same room as the Former Grand Duke was uncomfortable.
He usually stayed at the ducal residence in the capital, so I rarely saw him, but on days like this, when we sat down to eat together, the old gentleman’s nagging never stopped.
“What kind of table manners are those?! Sit up straight! Don’t lower your head!”
He even tried to instill noble etiquette in me. While listening to him, my mind wandered elsewhere.
‘Can I retire like this?’
Blade responded.
[It won’t be easy.]
‘Should I keep causing trouble like yesterday and use taking responsibility as an excuse?’
[That’s not a good approach. Even if you’ve lived as a reckless knight, you should end things gracefully. There aren’t many rulers who’d let go of someone with such powerful martial prowess. It’s a battle of patience. So, please, start caring about your image from now on.]
‘But…’
What if Kaiden tries to kill me in the meantime?
The female lead, Stella, will appear soon. If I can’t retire before the story progresses as it does in the original…?
“Why are you eating so daintily?”
Kaiden asked. Lost in thought, I flinched.
“What? A sword-wielding person who can’t eat heartily! Butler! Bring more food!”
Before I could respond, Former Grand Duke Leopold cut in. I was suddenly faced with overeating at breakfast.
“I’m fine…”
“My apologies for interrupting your meal.”
Vito entered the dining room. All eyes turned to him.
Kaiden wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked.
“What’s the matter?”
Vito looked flustered.
“Well… You should come see for yourself.”
The Former Grand Duke, Kaiden, and I looked at him, bewildered.
Normally, a subordinate wouldn’t interrupt their superiors’ meal. It must be something serious.
Kaiden stood up and asked again.
“What’s going on?”
Vito hesitated before speaking.
“Princess Caroline… has sent a gift to you, Lord Kaiden.”
“What?”
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By Anna 💓
