Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 17: Duel Without Honor (1)
Early dawn, the streets of the Kingdom's capital were noisier than ever.
"Hey. Did you hear the news yesterday?"
"Of course, I heard. You mean the story that the 1st Knight Order and the 4th Knight Order clashed? I was so excited when I heard that story yesterday. It's regrettable I couldn't see it myself!"
"Tell me about it. If I knew it would be like this, I should have followed my wife when she went grocery shopping. Besides, isn't it the 1st Knight Order who lost in that sparring? I lost sleep after hearing that news."
Even though the sun had barely risen, the streets were swarming with more people than usual. Amidst the sound of a rooster crowing from afar, a man listening to the two people's conversation clicked his tongue.
"Ha! The 4th Knight Order beat the 1st Knight Order? I don't know where you heard such nonsense rumors, but it's completely wrong!"
"Hmm? Just what does that mean. Don't tell me this rumor isn't true?"
As the two showed interest, he intervened with a face full of excitement.
"Of course! Not the 4th Knight Order, but the 4th Knight Order's Captain Carmil alone smashed the entire 1st Knight Order! I saw it clearly with my own two eyes!"
At those words, not only the two people but also those around pricking up their ears couldn't close their mouths. At that expected reaction, he smiled with satisfaction.
"I-Is that really true? Captain Carmil alone dealt with the entire knight order?"
"Haha. Right. It must be hard to believe! Since I also couldn't distinguish whether this was a dream or reality until I saw it myself. But what can be done. The fact that I was there yesterday won't change no matter what happens!"
The man told everyone with a proud expression. Since he said it to that extent, everyone couldn't help but believe it.
At the battle and story he unraveled vividly, people on the street gathered in an instant. And that phenomenon was happening all over the streets.
"Now, now. That's not the end. Do you know what Captain Carmil said to Captain Leohar, who was left alone after defeating the last knight?"
Everyone gathered there gulped.
"'Now only you are left.'"
"Kyaa..."
"Along with those words, the time of the street stopped for a moment. Neither the cry of crows nor the screams of knights were heard. Only one thing was heard. It was just his breathing sound."
As the man praised with a moved face, everyone was just listening with bated breath. Before they knew it, the street became quiet, and the people gathered there didn't know how to leave.
"Haa. If only other knight orders hadn't come at that time, we could have watched the duel of the two as well. That is truly regrettable."
"This person. You have quite a lot of greed. Do you know how many people couldn't see that scene yesterday."
"By the way, to think they performed such realistic acting even though it was simple sparring. Is it really true that it was practice sparring?"
"Of course! If that was actual combat, why would there be not a single dead person?"
"True. Your words must be right. But still, to think it was such an amazing duel. Really, it's just my regret that I couldn't see it with my own two eyes."
Everyone agreed with his words. Hearing it vividly in words, they rather wanted to see it more. At the envious gazes of such people, the man made a satisfied expression.
Even though the man's story ended, people with lingering feelings couldn't leave easily. Rather, they continued this excitement a little more while sharing opinions with people next to them.
"Anyway, to think I would hear such a vivid story. It's worth coming out early in the morning."
"Haha. True. It's the first time I woke up earlier than the newspaper selling kid."
Looking up at the sky, dawn hadn't fully broken yet. The shape of the moon remained faintly, and the sound of the diligent blacksmith's first hammering was just heard now.
Nevertheless, the streets were already crowded with people. Amidst the quiet dawn air being chilly, people's heat was hot enough to forget even that cold.
"W-Wait a moment! Mister over there, don't take my job!!"
Just in time, a boy who had his story bundle snatched was shouting extra edition belatedly.
While the boy was soliciting customers more enthusiastically than usual like that, Carmil was passing behind him.
He fiddled with his mask watching that scene.
"Good thing I wore it out."
I expected it to some extent, but it was much noisier than I thought. Leaving behind that noisy street, he headed to the nearest tavern.
Creaak- Opening the door and entering, Carmil blinked his two eyes at that unfamiliar scenery.
"Ha. Was this what she meant by what she said yesterday."
He let out a hollow laugh recalling the words Yuria said yesterday. He leaned against the wall for a moment and watched the scene in front of him.
In a tavern that should have at most one or two people, it was swarming with people from early dawn, and at the center was a bard.
Along with his singing, the strings of the lyre echoed inside the tavern.
"Knights under the moonlight. The resonance of swords trembles. Someone shouts honor, someone shouts an oath. Dozens of blades crumble in vain against just one person. The Princess of the North standing at the center. Offering purity, swearing to become his. Ah, Hero of War. Engrave the honor of the sword on the world and shout an eternal promise to her..."
"Ooooooh!"
As soon as the bard's performance ended, the gathered people applauded with emotion. In an instant, the bard's pocket was filled with coins, and people were still unable to get out of that afterglow. Without knowing the fact that the person involved was dumbfounded beyond cringiness.
"Don't tell me she said she would become mine intending this."
Even the center of yesterday's battle had become her before anyone knew it, and the 1st Knight Order had degraded to villainous minions. Of course, it wasn't mentioned directly, but there was no one here who didn't know the fact that the 'knights' appearing in that song were the 1st Knight Order.
"Certainly, that guy Leohar must be feeling quite bitter."
Since he was a guy who always blabbered about honor, knowing this, surely he won't be able to stay still. Yuria also intends to aim for that gap and do something. Carmil admired her strategy inwardly. Up to here was a pretty decent plan.
However,
"Yuria, that girl. I think she is thinking too easily."
Setting a trap, she shouldn't get eaten instead.
Carmil looked at the Royal Palace visible outside the window for a moment.
"...Hmm."
In the tavern where everyone was gathering like that, only his footsteps headed elsewhere.
Clack. Clack. Amidst sunlight pouring down on the window, the sound of shoes passing through the royal hallway was much sharper than usual.
Passing servants didn't even dare to think of greeting such a her and just bowed their heads low. Soon, Ilene, discovering her target, approached with two fists clenched tight.
And blocked the way of the pure white girl walking in front.
"Lady Grand Duchess. Let's talk for a moment."
"Princess Ilene. Good morning."
"Ha..."
Since when were we close enough to call by name. Ilene pressed down that anger and brought up the story the maid told her this morning.
"I will ask just one thing. Do you happen to know Captain Carmil?"
"Yes. I know him well."
At those words, Ilene got choked up without realizing it.
"Knowing well. Just from where to where?"
"Probably I know as much as the time spent together."
"Heuh. Just how long were you together at most..."
"Yes?"
She ridiculed Yuria's answer.
At most, staying only two days. Just with what confidence is she giving such an answer. Compared to the mission of three days she spent with him, laughter was about to come out.
Since she kept coming out brazenly like that, Ilene also couldn't bear it anymore and exploded.
"Hearing this, I can't listen anymore."
"Princess Ilene? What do you mean by that suddenly?"
"Ha. Do you ask because you really don't know?"
As Yuria blinked her two eyes as if she really didn't know. Rather, that expression provoked her anger.
She threw away almost all dignity as a Princess and asked.
"Let me ask just one thing. Is it etiquette for the delegation of the North to poach people despite being invited to another country?"
"Pardon? It's a story I'm hearing for the first time. Don't tell me, did someone among our delegation commit such an act?"
"Yes. Who would that be. It's the brazen person right in front of me."
Even passing subjects were astonished at Ilene's venomous answer. Yuria was also slightly surprised at that straightforward remark.
Nevertheless, Ilene looked at her, who was speechless, with a relieved expression.
"Why are you like that? Did you think I was an immature fool who doesn't know outside news?"
"No way. It seems the Princess has misunderstood something."
Misunderstanding? Just what misunderstanding? A misunderstanding where some brazen woman appears and flirts with a country's Hero? Or a misunderstanding of proposing openly in front of people?
She was beyond dumbfounded to the point of not getting angry. Indeed. They said warriors of the North, it seems conscience was also buried together with that cold snowy field.
Ilene shot back at her with a hollow laugh.
"Really? Was it a misunderstanding? Trying to poach this country's Hero dare I say without my knowledge was all a misunderstanding? Then I really want to hear with that mouth. Just which part was a misunderstanding."
"P-Princess. Dignity..."
"I am barely keeping it, so keep your mouth shut."
"Hiik..."
The maid who intervened carefully stepped back hurriedly. At such anger of hers, Yuria nodded as if understanding.
"Princess Ilene. I understood what you mean. However, I think there is one thing you know wrongly."
"Hmm. Really? Then what is that?"
"I never told Captain Carmil to become my person. Just, saying that I want to become his person was all."
Yuria continued speaking quietly looking at Ilene thinking isn't that the same thing.
"So I never made remarks like poaching Captain Carmil. I just honestly conveyed the words kept in my heart. Or, does the Princess restrict even such private life of a Hero?"
"Th-That is not it..."
"Then that's fortunate. It seems the misunderstanding is resolved."
At Yuria's watertight answer, Ilene groaned inwardly. She wants to say right to that face stop playing innocent, but the victory already passed to that side. Not knowing what to do with that resentment, Ilene teared up with the words kept inside.
"Sheesh. L-Liar. While intending to poach. I heard you flirting. I know everything..."
"I have a negotiation soon, so I'll excuse myself first."
Pretending not to hear that mumbling, Yuria passed by her side. A sound of flopping down was heard from behind, but right now a more important matter was right in front of her nose.
She took a deep breath for a moment in front of the gate of the audience chamber.
'It's fine. Just do as planned. The initiative is already with me.'
The street was already noisy with yesterday's matter, and the tavern was also full of the two people's song lyrics.
It was worth giving money to bards in advance.
"Phew... Haa."
She put her hand on her chest and exhaled greatly.
"The Delegation of the North is entering!"
Kuuung- Finally, the huge door in front opened with a heavy sound.