Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 9
Ilene (7)
Early morning, the faint sound of a bell was heard along with the warm sunlight. The pure white curtains fluttered with a pleasant breeze.
At the singing of birds settled on the branch by the window, Camellia opened her eyes and stretched at the same time.
"Huaaam. I slept well."
Camellia raised her body from the fluffy bed while letting out a short yawn. After grooming herself with the help of maids, she came out of her room.
"Good morning, everyone!"
"Good morning. Princess Camellia."
With her appearance, the hallway was overflowing with more laughter than usual.
After the 4th Knight Order departed, a small peace visited the Royal Palace for a while. There was no need to smell the blood of the War Hero who always came to report, nor the need to see the corpses he brought. As there was no need to wipe the blood stained on the palace floor, the atmosphere of the subjects also relaxed considerably.
Now that he wasn't here, Camellia also liked these days very much as she could roam anywhere in the Royal Palace.
"Hehe! Where should I explore today."
Like that, she planned to go play in the office where her dad was and get plenty of snacks today too.
"What are you doing? Everyone move quickly!"
"Now, now. Prepare quickly! They are returning soon."
"What? They already passed the forest!? Then send the knights to the castle gate right now!"
But for some reason, the hallway was noisy today. Not only the passing maids but even the nobles were running around busily.
"Huh? What is happening?"
She tilted her head looking at that appearance with eyes not yet fully awake. Did something fun happen perhaps? Looking around here and there with curious eyes, a maid passing by busily was caught on her sparkling radar.
"Hey, hey. What day is it today? Is it a party perhaps!?"
"Ah! Princess. If you call it a party, it could be called a party. Princess Ilene will be returning soon."
"Unnie is!?"
At the unexpected gift, Camellia jumped up and down on the spot. Passing knights and butlers glanced at that appearance, but she didn't notice.
Rather, she jumped higher and clapped at that happy news.
"Where is she? Where is my Unnie now? I want to go greet her too!"
"Ah, that is..."
The expression of the servant who answered smiling hardened, realizing a mistake. Should I tell her the truth? Since she couldn't lie to the Princess, the maid was troubled about how to tell her.
Just then, one of the nobles watching that situation intervened naturally.
"Ahem. Do not worry too much, Princess. Since the 1st Knight Order has already gone to greet Princess Ilene."
"Eeh? That's unfair! I wanted to go too, why only you guys go. Wait a bit. I'll go wear clothes quickly!"
"Is that so? Currently, a dessert just for the Princess is prepared in the dining hall though."
"Uh..."
Camellia, who was whining, froze as she was.
...Thinking about it, I'll meet her soon anyway, so is there a need to go out to greet her?
Her footsteps trying to run to the room naturally bent towards the dining hall. Watching her back, they were relieved only then.
"Phew. It worked out somehow."
The minister looked out the window. Just in time, knights were seen passing the city square and heading to the castle gate.
Most nobles had already entered the Royal Palace, and His Majesty had also risen long ago.
However, the reason wouldn't be solely because of Princess Ilene.
Today was the day the 4th Knight Order returned to the Royal Palace.
"...'Hero' is too undeserving a glory for a barbarian."
Step. Step.
Those harboring similar thoughts were heading to the audience chamber one by one.
Dawn broke under the sky laid with twilight, and the early morning breeze tickled the knights' cheeks. After running for a long time with the sound of horseshoes shaking the quiet earth, the familiar city view was waiting for them as they exited the forest.
"We finally returned."
Ilene muttered with a voice soaked in emotion. It had only been four days since they left, but she felt like she would tear up for no reason.
Carmil encouraged her, seeing her like that.
"You worked hard. Princess."
"Fufut. The Captain and knights did all the hard work. Since you carried an immature child throughout the mission."
Saying that, she looked towards the city. On the first day, just until passing that castle gate, she pledged to return as an honorable knight. Now, every time she recalled it, she was kicking her blanket.
While running on the wide plain, she glanced at Carmil next to her. Looking back, the things he taught in this mission were all things she had never learned even once until now.
It wasn't something grandiose like the swordsmanship the 1st Knight Order Captain taught, nor chivalry and honorable dueling methods other knights showed.
Just starting from how to pitch a tent to how to dig a drainage ditch when it rains. And although she didn't want to know, she also learned this time that insects and bugs can sometimes become food. Starting from such basic camping methods, she could learn briefly how to survive on the battlefield.
While he taught many things like this, all she showed him for the past four days was a disastrous dark history. Watching all those disgraceful behaviors, what would he be thinking of her now?
Surely he won't recall these events every time we encounter in the future, right?
'...Should I just jump off the horse.'
She soon shook her head. No, that would just add one more dark history. He would think this immature child can't even ride a horse properly now.
While Ilene sighed facing her dark history, Carmil asked while examining her appearance.
"Are you tired perhaps?"
"Yes? Not particularly. Why do you ask?"
"Because you look tired. I wondered if it was perhaps because of standing night watch yesterday."
Night watch? Ah, come to think of it, I stood it yesterday. And the 2nd shift at that.
Actually, just in time, she also had something she wanted to say because of that.
"Captain. Umm, I thought about it carefully, and standing night watch is better when doing it first."
"? Isn't that obvious."
"N-No! I'm just saying. Ahaha..."
Yesterday when the first shift woke her up, she genuinely resented that moonlight and glared at it for 2 hours. It was the first time she realized time could pass so slowly.
Only then did she realize Carmil's kindness on the first day and thanked him inwardly once again.
'Haa. I have to repay the favor, but it's rather piling up.'
While chatting like that, they arrived in front of the castle gate before they knew it. They hadn't even entered yet, but cheering sounds were already heard from inside the castle.
"Fufut. Surely the citizens are waiting for us."
"Something like this is, how should I put it, quite a long time no see."
Not only Carmil but other knights also scratched their necks at the unfamiliar experience. Of course, there were times often in the past, but it was so long ago that they couldn't even remember now.
Carmil smiled small seeing his subordinates inwardly rejoicing.
"I didn't know I would receive such cheers again."
"What are you saying. There will be plenty in the future too. All the citizens over there must have come to meet the Captain and members!"
"Well. I don't think that would be the case though..."
"If no one comes out, I will come out at least. Then someday other people will also know how cool the 4th Knight Order is. Just like me right now."
Ilene made a confident expression saying she was sure. At that clumsy comfort, Carmil responded with a laugh.
"Yes. Thank you. Princess."
"Now, now, let's go in quickly. Everyone must be waiting for the Captain. Surely the citizens came out from early morning too."
Carmil nodded at those words. Leaving himself aside, he hoped his subordinates who suffered all this time would receive the citizens' applause more than anyone else at the front.
Like that, finally Carmil and the knights were about to go on the triumph road.
Clank. Clank.
Until the 1st Knight Order revealed themselves with the sound of metal.
"Please stop. Captain Carmil."
"...Vice-Captain Ruan."
They approached right up to the castle wall, but the opening of the castle gate didn't happen. No, it opened, but accurately speaking, it didn't open for the 4th Knight Order.
From inside, the appearance of knights holding weapons was seen first rather than citizens' cheers.
They blocked the front of the 4th Knight Order trying to enter and confronted them as they were.
"We sincerely welcome your return. Princess Ilene."
Ruan passed Carmil as he was and bowed to Ilene right behind him.
There was no need to even share a conversation with one who violated military regulations.
"Ruan? Just what is this..."
She looked as if she didn't know the reason, but he continued the message received from the 1st Knight Order Captain.
"You worked hard on the long journey. Now, please go in quickly. Your Majesty is waiting."
"B-But..."
"Of course, our Captain was also worried all along. Saying you are the one and only most precious disciple."
Saying that, he glanced back. There, the appearance of Carmil confronting the 1st Knight Order was seen.
Ruan smirked as if he knew it would be like that, looking at his blood-stained armor.
"You don't need to worry anymore. From here on, our 1st Knight Order will protect you, so come with us..."
At that moment, no one could answer the question that cut off Ruan's words.
Ruan also thought he heard wrong at first.
But when he turned his head, before he knew it, red eyes inside the helmet were glaring at him. That was an appearance he didn't know because they had been allies until now, and because he had never stood on his battlefield.
"I warn you. Vice-Captain Ruan. If you don't intend to ruin my subordinates' triumph ceremony, take those things and go back even now."
"Ha, haha. Just what are you saying right now? Don't tell me you are saying you would attack us? You seem not to know, but do you even know what the position of the 4th Knight Order is within the Royal Palace right now..."
Thud!
At that time, as Carmil struck the floor with the scabbard, the ground he was standing on vibrated.
Hiiiiigh-
Thanks to that, the horses the 1st Knight Order were riding were terrified and extremely agitated.
"Kuk!? Th-This is!"
"Damn, stop. Stop right now!"
"You guys. Seem not to grasp the situation yet."
"Huk!?"
For a moment, Ruan slowly lifted his head with the illusion that his neck had fallen off.
While calming the horse, before he knew it, he had entered Carmil's range.
"I'm telling you not to stand here if you want to live even a little longer."
At that one word of warning, no one among the 1st Knight Order there dared to open their mouth.