Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“So Sir Orge is still keeping his mouth shut?”
“Yes. That’s why I suspect there’s something deeper going on. My apologies to you, Sir Damian.”
The next day, the commander called me separately and spoke about Orge, who had been captured the day before.
No matter what kind of interrogation they tried, he had not said a single word.
Because of that, it was now clear that there was likely a very sensitive reason behind this case.
“Isn’t that just proof of loyalty to whoever ordered him? I would probably do the same.”
“That’s not it. The interrogation may simply be too mild. From today, I plan to increase the intensity.”
“I see. Still, I’m sure he’ll eventually talk.”
Most imperial knights were like flowers grown in a greenhouse.
They were skilled with the sword, but not trained to endure professional interrogation or torture.
Once a certain limit was crossed, anyone would eventually break.
“Come to think of it, there haven’t been any intruders like last time, have there?”
“If someone had the guts to break into my barracks, I would actually welcome them. Hahaha.”
“That’s true.”
Now that I thought about it, there was nothing to worry about.
It was impossible for someone with hostile intent to infiltrate the barracks of the imperial knight commander, the strongest swordsman in the empire.
Anyone of equal or greater strength would simply be killed on sight.
“By the way, I heard the youngest princess is going out again today. Will you be accompanying her, Sir Damian?”
“Yes. She personally ordered me during my night shift yesterday.”
After I had briefly discussed her outing during a late-night moment when Yuria Rosehill was awake, she had instructed me to accompany her again today.
So after lunch, I was scheduled to escort her to the outer regions of the capital.
“As you know, many people target the youngest princess. All because she carries the blood of the dragonkin.”
The reason Yuria Rosehill was targeted was simple.
She carried the blood of the dragonkin.
The dragonkin were a mixed race born from humans and dragons, a species that no longer existed.
They were warriors and mages capable of immense power, rivaling entire kingdoms despite their small numbers.
The reason they were now spoken of in the past tense was because humans had deemed them a threat and wiped them out one by one.
Of course, the Rosehill Empire had tried to mediate, considering them fellow beings with human blood.
But humanity did not listen.
They pushed the dragonkin to near extinction.
In the end, the dragonkin vanished to protect themselves.
Then, after a long time had passed, Emperor Perseo Rosehill fell in love with a woman and made her his third empress.
She turned out to be a surviving dragonkin.
And the princess born from her was Yuria Rosehill.
The reason she was threatened was because of that blood.
“On the day the princess comes of age, her dragonkin blood will awaken. Until then, her life will always be in danger.”
“I will make sure that never happens. That is my duty.”
“I trust you. Honestly, among all possible successors to the Emperor, the princess is the most ideal. I remain neutral, but I see and hear enough to know that much.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“There is no need to say more. I’m counting on you, Sir Damian.”
“Leave it to me.”
The day Yuria Rosehill would come of age was next year.
When she turned twenty, the dragonkin blood within her would awaken.
Until then, without protection from Cecilia Sylvester or me, she was nothing more than a fragile girl.
But after that, she would become something far more dangerous.
And that would likely mark the beginning of her true retaliation against those who had tried to kill her.
“I’ll take my leave now. It’s about time.”
◈
“Theron, I heard the youngest princess is going out again today. That girl with the barbarian blood.”
“Yes, I heard as well. Along with the commoner named Damian, who has been causing rumors, and that Sylvester girl.”
Theron Rosehill, the first prince of the Rosehill Empire, nodded to his mother, the First Empress.
“Since the Second Empress failed, it might be a good opportunity for us to make our move. Even if we fail, suspicion will fall on her side.”
“Now that they’ve lost Maximus, the Second Empress is no longer a threat. It might be time to remove those eyesores as well.”
The First Empress smiled as she lifted her teacup.
“The only issue is the First Princess. She is sharp. If she notices anything, she will try to find evidence.”
“Don’t worry about her. A marriage proposal has already come from another kingdom.”
“She would accept that?”
“She has no choice. With the Second Empress weakened, she needs political allies. That kingdom is her only option.”
“Thanks to Maximus, we’re gaining power easily.”
“Indeed. That’s why we must eliminate the girl before her dragonkin power awakens. Only then will the Emperor have no choice but to name you Crown Prince. Hohoho.”
“I’ll prepare an assassination team. If needed, we can even take that commoner’s family hostage.”
Theron spoke coldly, leaning back in his chair.
“Her father is said to be the ‘Giant Slayer,’ a mercenary. Probably just exaggerated rumors.”
“Even if that is true, what can one man do if his wife and daughter are taken? He would have to submit.”
At that, the First Empress laughed.
But then—
“Mother. You are mistaken.”
A new voice cut into their conversation.
“Maximus? What are you doing outside the imperial library?”
The Second Prince, Maximus Rosehill, stood there holding a thick book.
“I think this conversation is more important than my location, don’t you, brother?”
Theron frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“The story about the Giant Slayer is not fiction.”
“What?”
“This book contains verified records of his achievements.”
He handed the book to Theron.
“Read it. And then decide whether what you’re planning is sane.”
Theron flipped through it.
And then he stopped.
“Defeated a giant troll alone and earned the title Giant Slayer…?”
“There’s more.”
Turning more pages, Theron’s expression gradually stiffened.
“An imperial village-devastating drake… slain alone at the age of 28…?”
“Now do you understand?”
A silence fell.
“That man might be beyond peak aura mastery. He could be what ancient texts call an Aura Master.”
“That’s ridiculous. That level no longer exists.”
“Maybe. But he is still a monster. So I suggest you don’t touch Damian’s family. If you must act, focus only on Yuria.”
With that, Maximus took the book back and left.
Theron stared at the empty space he left behind.
“…Should we revise the plan, Mother?”
“Perhaps… we should.”
◈
“Why did we come to the outskirts, Your Highness?”
“I heard there have been issues with security in the capital. I think the cause might be here.”
“How did you know that, Your Highness?”
It was a valid question.
Yuria rarely had access to outside information.
Even Cecilia Sylvester, who stayed constantly by her side, looked confused.
Since no one knew she was a regressor except her and me, this kind of vague explanation would normally be hard to understand.
‘Should I help here?’
Explaining it properly would take too long for Cecilia to accept.
It was better if I spoke.
“Your Highness likely suspects a criminal organization operating in this outer district, Senior Cecilia.”
“A criminal organization?”
“Yes. Anyone familiar with rumors would know. There’s a loan-sharking criminal group operating here. As a mercenary, I’ve had encounters with them before.”
Cecilia Sylvester was the type who focused entirely on sword training and protecting Yuria, ignoring rumors and external information.
So it wasn’t strange she didn’t know about it.
“Correct. That’s exactly it.”
Yuria followed my lead and confirmed it naturally.
“You also knew about this, Your Highness…”
“It’s not strange that you didn’t know. Even people living in the capital don’t all know about it. And Cecilia has been focused solely on protecting me.”
“That’s right, Cecilia. You’ve had no time to focus on anything else because of me.”
Yuria and I worked together to ease Cecilia’s expression.
It seemed to be working.
“Then let’s proceed.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
And so, we moved forward.
To investigate what was threatening the capital’s security.