Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.27 – The Knight Doesn't Want to Be Reinstated (5)
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The Pendragon royal family has an extraordinarily small number of blood relatives compared to the royal houses of other nations.
Whether it's because they inherited the blood of dragons, having children is incredibly difficult.
In contrast to the royals of other countries, who have at least hundreds—sometimes nearly thousands—of relatives and collateral lines, the Pendragon bloodline consists of just ten members. That alone shows how few there are.
However, this scarcity might also stem from the extremely strict criteria for being recognized as royalty.
Silver hair.
It was proof of receiving the silver dragon's blessing, and without proving it, one could not bear the Pendragon name.
In other words, while other royals might have illegitimate children, Pendragons absolutely could not.
Thus, the Pendragon bloodline was so precious that every drop was invaluable.
Perhaps because of that...
"...Considering a knight's honor, suicide might be inevitable. However, I bear the noble duty of preserving the royal bloodline. The mission of royalty versus the honor of a knight—how could I neglect the royal duty when weighing these two on the scales? Therefore, I cannot die!"
"......"
"Thus, killing me would be utterly wrong. Do not kill me, you commoner!"
"......"
"A-And please stop threatening me with your fists..."
"...You're one hilarious bastard, aren't you?"
Even while begging for his life, he remained utterly shameless.
Infuriating, yet his tone somehow invited a punch while being laughably bold.
Arrogant and rude, but oddly endearing in his own way?
So Lee Han...
"I'm not benevolent enough to spare someone who drew a sword on me first."
"......"
"You should have mended your bad habits. Do you know how startled my delicate heart was?"
"......"
He issued a quiet verdict to the prince, who had thrust out his neck while buried up to it in the ground. Cold sweat beaded on Aren’s face.
Along with a foreboding sense that today might be his last.
"-That doesn't look like your first time doing this."
"Guys who picked fights with him weren't few and far between. Plus, he holds grudges like nobody's business, so he's probably used to this."
"......It's a wonder the victims didn't send assassins after him."
"They sent plenty. But all the assassins died, and the senders ended up half-crippled, unable to even control their bowels."
"......"
Yord resolved then and there: no matter what, never make an enemy of that senior.
...He knew it might sound like an excuse now, but Aren had threatened him without any intent to actually harm him.
"I-I just thought you were a parasite clinging to Her Highness the princess... Er, no, Crown Princess, as usual..."
"Why on earth would you think that? Lee Han was a knight properly invited."
"He seemed suspicious in many ways. Demoted, yet gaining fame at the academy in no time... How could anyone be that shady?"
"Suspecting him over something like that is a bit..."
Jake, who was extremely pacific compared to Lee Han and deeply respected the royals, still found Aren's words utterly lacking credibility.
Seeing Jake's rapidly changing expression, Aren hurriedly continued.
He knew that if he couldn't convince this normal person, the monster with the shovel would bury him again!
"O-Of course, that's not the only reason I suspected him! I heard stories!"
"Stories?"
"Th-That he's a brute. He looks down on powerless squad members and beats them senseless, yet he's desperate to cozy up to those in power... That sort of thing."
"......"
To Jake, who was listening, it was an absurd tale.
Lee Han looking down on powerless members, beating them at random, and fawning over the powerful?
'A namesake?'
On the contrary, such behavior was typical of the spoiled noble brats in the White Silver Lion Knights—completely unrelated to Lee Han.
"Who said such things?"
"......I can't say. How could a knight sell out a comrade's name!"
"...Then I can't help you..."
Jake's gaze flicked aside, where...
"Shall I beat him another hundred times?"
"Please hold back, Senior."
...a beast eyed him murderously.
"Y-You think I'll keep quiet n..."
"Argh! I said I can't say! How could I sell out Sir Baker and Sir Leman? I absolutely can't!"
"......"
"My lips are sealed! How could I mention that Sir Gamund said something similar...!"
"...Hmm."
Jake felt half his respect for royals evaporate.
'Better to just stay quiet, really.'
Still, one thing was clear.
'He'll live a long life.'
Despite zero tact, his survival instincts were slavishly keen. Jake figured he'd outlast any crisis.
"...What?"
Lee Han blinked at his one friend in the knights' order.
Wondering if he'd misheard.
But no, he hadn't.
"Looks like the 1st Knights have branded you a political enemy. In other words, you've been marked as a political rival by the royalist faction. And the prince—no, the 1st Knight Commander... seems to have been used."
"A royal?"
"A powerless one, and a massive parachute drop at that. Probably no one truly loyal to him."
"...Great survival instincts, but zero tact. What a guy."
The world is fair, they say.
A royal title, outstanding looks, and talent enough to become a knight. Sadly, it seems the prince was robbed of any sense or political acumen.
That's why he was so easily manipulated.
'Or is he just gullible and hot-blooded?'
Either way, he's doomed to a short life, yet his survival instincts are so sharp he'll probably endure crises and live long anyway.
'What an entertaining bastard.'
Lee Han shut off his irritation toward the prince—too dumb to even get mad at—and revisited his growing doubt.
"Why am I a political enemy...?"
The notion that the knights had designated him one felt utterly unreal.
He'd never provoked them, never cared—why this sudden label?
To that, Jake replied:
"You're too prominent. Should've toned down your heroics."
Essentially, he'd shone too brightly.
"Damn... this is insane."
Unlike the prince, Lee Han had tact and grasped his friend's point instantly.
The message was clear: the White Silver Lion Knights—or rather, the palace nobles—were wary of him.
Why?
He'd performed too well, too prominently...
"The Crown Princess's summons was probably the final straw, but factions were likely targeting you before. They just probed this time."
"What did I even do?"
Lee Han was baffled.
He truly hadn't done anything.
Even merits he'd earned were hidden or passed to others; he'd lived quietly as a knight.
Now they brand him an enemy for a bit of recognition? What nonsense...
"That's the problem—you did nothing."
"?"
"Don't you get it? Being in the White Silver Lion Knights means picking a side: royalists or nobles. You had to choose one. But you picked neither. That's enough to irk them, and with your skills? The nail that sticks out gets hammered."
"Damn it..."
"Yeah, total bullshit. But what can you do? It's the palace."
Jake shrugged lightly, while Lee Han's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
Get blacklisted for neutrality? What kind of idiot logic is that?
He itched to hunt down every knight and thrash them.
"Hold back—fighting won't help. They'd love you starting something; tarnish your image that way."
Jake urged restraint.
He understood the frustration, but his hard-earned reputation was at stake.
Fighting now risked turning fame to infamy.
His friend showed goodwill, hoping for a wise choice—
"Infamy's fine."
"......"
"Baker and Leman, right? Start by crushing those bastards."
"Ah..."
Then Jake remembered.
This guy didn't care about his image and crippled anyone who attacked him, regardless of status—a beast through and through.
And he predicted:
'Can't stop him...'
Several would be bedridden tonight.
"But, Princess!"
"It's Crown Princess, Your Highness."
"...Is that different?"
"......I wonder how many times I've explained this to you."
"Hehe, sorry."
"...Sigh, whatever."
Isis Irene de Pendragon had always been lenient with Leira Winter.
How could she not? There was no scheming malice in her.
Scheming, secretive types were easier for her to handle than transparent, innocent ones like Leira.
Her Achilles' heel, perhaps?
Thus, she couldn't even get mad at slip-ups from a mere maid.
She even treated her kindly.
If Isis had one natural predator, it might be the innocent, braided-haired maid before her.
"What did you call me for?"
"Hehe, nothing much... Uh, what was I gonna ask?"
"......"
"Oh, right! I just came from reporting—the knight was dragging Your Highness's little brother. Is that okay?"
"Little brother...? ...Ah, you're referring to that fool."
Even so, forgetting her brother like this? But she only remembered the talented ones.
She wasn't idle enough to fuss over clowns.
...Conversely, she did remember her talented siblings.
─The ones whose heads she'd severed or imprisoned.
Avoiding her attention was the wise choice.
"Hm, if he took that foolish clown somewhere, there's a reason. Perhaps the clown was played for a fool, oblivious as always."
"...?"
"...Sometimes I wish you were just a bit smarter."
"Hehe."
"Sigh..."
Her insight was so sharp it made one suspect clairvoyance; she hit near the truth instantly.
'The knights probably egged on the clown.'
Obvious.
With the royals at rock bottom, an 8th prince with no succession rights was fair game.
Those bastards.
'...What to do.'
Tok, tok.
Her delicate fingers, evoking "jade fingers of a beauty," tapped the teacup.
To some, it might look like an angel or fairy lost in thought—a beautiful sight.
But knowing deaths followed such deliberations made it profoundly ominous.
Drip.
"...Hmph, no need to agonize over it."
No need for her to intervene.
Of course.
'-My sworn brother doesn't tolerate such insolence.'
How could a great tiger endure the impudence of mangy dogs?
Isis knew her sworn brother well.
And sure enough.
Knock knock.
"Y-Your Highness! S-Sir Berhen is here! He urgently requests an audience—please forgive..."
"Enter. What brings the chief chamberlain to my chambers at this late hour?"
"F-Forgive me, Your Highness. It's... K-Knight Lee Han is causing a disturbance right now. Due to this..."
"A disturbance? You mean a spar, surely."
"...Pardon?"
The chamberlain dared question her, but Isis let it slide today.
Wasn't this the refreshing rain ending the drought of her boring palace life?
She decided to be lenient today.
"So, has a 'problem' arisen from the knights' '正当' 'spar'?"
"......"
Thirty-eight years in the palace.
Surviving the demonic royal court proved his ability, and the chamberlain understood: the Crown Princess ordered a cover-up.
Thus...
"...Ahem, 'minor injuries' from the '正当 spar,' but nothing major..."
The chamberlain realized he must frame this as a "spar," not an "incident," his hands trembling.
Overtime was guaranteed.
Isis nodded in satisfaction at his wise reply.
"Tragic. How many injured?"
"......The 1st Knights: sixty-three. The 2nd Knights: seventy-two."
"2nd Knights?"
"Th-They tried to intervene but got dragged in."
"I see. Total of 135, hmm? Quite the fierce spar."
"......Your Highness."
This wasn't a laughing matter.
One knight had crushed 135 of the 300 White Silver Lion Knights.
If word got out, it'd be a massive scandal.
The chamberlain's heart burned, but her pleased expression only heightened his anxiety.
Then.
"Chief chamberlain."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
At her call, he bowed reflexively, hopeful.
She was supremely astute.
Surely she'd provide a solution—
"Next time something this entertaining happens, summon me quickly. You made me miss the show."
"......"
"No tact at all..."
"...Your Highness......"
The loyal chief chamberlain Berhen suddenly craved retirement.