Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Embers in the Furnace Remain Unchanged (6)
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Arwen was a profoundly special presence to me.
To begin with, she was the first talent to stir my possessiveness, and the very first knight to pledge unwavering loyalty to me.
Though that initial bond had started awkwardly, born of coercion.
Even so, the Arwen of today was someone who filled a corner of my heart with solid reassurance just by thinking of her.
The most trustworthy knight.
That was Arwen Kirguyen.
Of course, it wasn't that I distrusted the other knights.
I placed just as much faith in Vincent and the rest of Winter Castle's retainers, as well as Adelia.
They would never betray me under any circumstances, and they would follow me anywhere, anytime. Even if hellfire awaited at the end of the path I chose.
That was the decisive difference between Arwen and the other knights.
When I marched toward hellfire, and everyone else followed without hesitation, she would stand in my way.
She would probably say something like this to me:
A misguided judgment. The wrong path.
She'd desperately try to persuade me.
I was an immature being, unworthy of my long years as a swordsman.
I'd already made countless errors in judgment, and there was no guarantee I wouldn't in the future.
And in those moments, only Arwen would voice dissent to my decisions and apply the brakes.
That was precisely why I trusted her the most.
Her personal skill went without saying.
Her realm already approached that of my uncle in his prime.
Just a few years ago, she'd barely grasped a single ring.
And she was still only in her twenties.
It was a truly astonishing rate of growth.
I was certain she would grow even further from here, reaching ever greater heights.
To the place where people called it Penta.
A realm I had never witnessed in centuries of swordsmanship, one I'd never faced myself.
Just imagining crossing swords with an Arwen who had ascended to Penta made my heart race wildly. My blood surged hot through my veins.
I cupped my flushed face.
I forcibly suppressed the leaking smile.
"It seems Your Highness doesn't dislike the idea either."
Lost in pleasant reverie and grinning foolishly, I suddenly heard Shiorin's voice.
"Hm?"
Snapping out of my thoughts belatedly, I realized the reason for my sweet imaginings.
Right. Shiorin had asked me that question.
"However, merely glimpsing Your Highness's inner thoughts isn't enough."
Shiorin spouted something odd as she looked at me.
What was this now? Glimpsing my inner thoughts?
"I hope Your Highness will give me a clear answer in words."
Ignoring my furrowed brow, Shiorin pressed on with what she had to say.
"What do you think of Arwen, Your Highness?"
Having already sorted my thoughts, I answered without hesitation.
She was the wisest, strongest woman I knew, with boundless promise for the future.
Shiorin shook her head.
"I apologize, but that's not the answer I seek. Thus, I boldly ask again. Does Your Highness intend to take that child as your wife?"
At that direct question, I thought of Arwen once more.
She was a sword— the straightest, most renowned blade among them.
"I..."
As I paused to think before replying,
Thud thud.
Someone pounded urgently on the door.
"Your Highness! It's Arwen! Pardon the intrusion!"
Bang!
Arwen, who would normally wait demurely for permission, flung the door open roughly and appeared.
"Your Highness. Forgive my rudeness."
"Seems like everyone's committing breaches of etiquette today."
Chuckling, I watched as Arwen apologized to me again before glaring at her father.
"Let's talk outside."
"I'm currently discussing critical matters for Your Highness and the family as head of House Kirguyen."
Shiorin rarely asserted his authority as family head in front of his daughter.
But it didn't last.
"Do you truly wish for me to abandon the Kirguyen name?"
Shiorin's expression crumbled at Arwen's single retort.
"Let's end it here for today."
Left alone, the father and daughter might actually disown each other, so I mediated appropriately.
Bow.
Arwen gave me a small nod before dragging Shiorin away.
When she, who had reached Silver Lion realm, put her mind to it, even the robust Shiorin was pitifully hauled out like a rag.
Even as he was dragged away, Shiorin mouthed something about hearing my answer later, or sending a letter if needed.
Blissfully unaware that Arwen watched his antics with a cold face.
In the end, Shiorin was forcibly removed.
Arwen stared at me blankly for a moment, then bowed and left as well.
Voices of the father and daughter drifted from beyond the door.
Didn't I tell you before? If you spout nonsense one more time, I won't hold back.
That's not it. I'm only thinking of you...
I don't want to hear it. What kind of spectacle is this in front of His Highness?
Arwen, my daughter. Please, give me a chance to explain.
At least if that explanation convinces me...
Then...
And soon even that faded away.
"He might actually get disowned at this rate."
Arwen's voice had been unusually icy from what I'd overheard, so I unwittingly wished Shiorin well.
"Come to think of it, he mentioned consulting about tomorrow's business."
Recalling Shorin, who hadn't even broached the topic before being dragged off, I muttered as much and flopped onto the bed.
The alliance discussions with Teuton were already concluded long ago anyway. If there was more to say, he'd return after a deep talk with his daughter. I closed my eyes without waiting further.
Shiorin didn't seek me out again that day.
One of two things.
Either the matter wasn't that important, or Arwen's anger exceeded expectations.
I prepared for the day's schedule while hoping for the well-being of the count who cherished his daughter dearly.
Clink. Clink.
Feeling Adelia's deft hands helping me don my armor, I looked down at the middle-aged man kneeling before me.
The Montpellier man called out to me, prostrated flat.
"Your Highness."
His appearance was markedly different from before.
For one, his once bloated body had瘦ened considerably.
He'd been constantly on edge, fearing assassination by vengeful kingdom nobles during my absence.
To him, I was both a shackle and a protector.
Indeed, when we met again, he'd rejoiced like reuniting with lost family.
Of course, I had no intention of treating him with familial care.
I'd use him like a dog, if anything.
"Montpellier. I hereby temporarily grant you the title of honorary count. The title's validity lasts until the Teuton negotiations conclude. Depending on the outcome, I may extend or permanently suspend its revocation. Produce satisfactory results, and you'll gain a fief as well."
Montpellier, now fully turned, held the rank of baron without land.
To a man who, until recently, had swaggered as a marquis and imperial ambassador, that hollow barony must have felt pathetic.
His expression changed instantly at my proposal.
Greed blazed in eyes sparkling excessively. His hips twitched as if ready to charge at the Teuton envoys.
At the sight of him wagging his tail like a dog before a meaty bone, I chuckled and said,
"Today, I permit your insolence."
I ordered him to harass Teuton as he once had the kingdom, in his days as imperial ambassador.
"Strut your stuff to the fullest and squeeze them for everything you can."
"Your humble servant, Count Montpellier of the Leonberg Kingdom! I shall devote my life to fulfilling Your Highness's command!"
Having swiftly upgraded his own title, he sprang up and marched briskly to the conference hall.
"Then let's leave the negotiations to the scribes and get to the swordsman's work."
I headed straight to the kingdom's training grounds.
My knights awaited me there.
Arwen was no exception.
Fully armored, she looked as composed as ever.
Tempted to tease by asking after Shiorin, I closed my mouth.
I'd belatedly sensed her demeanor was off.
She, who always met my gaze directly, kept avoiding my eyes today.
Her expressions and actions felt awkwardly out of place.
Whenever our eyes met by chance, she feigned calm.
Unaware of her own awkward face.
"Hm."
Ilai narrowed his eyes, glancing between her and me.
"Perhaps..."
He then asked me,
"Did Lady Arwen commit some blunder?"
Of course, I had no intention of answering Ilai's pointless question, so I brushed it off lightly.
"Strange. Lady Arwen isn't the type to err."
"Stop with the nonsense..."
Only after Arwen interjected did Ilai finally shut up.
The one-eyed cavalry commander and knights snickered at the sight.
"His Highness is present. Silence, all of you."
Kals sternly rebuked the knights.
But no one truly heeded him.
Adelia ignored the chatter around her, staring fixedly at my face as always.
Even with the kingdom's crown prince before them, the knights bantered freely, but it didn't bother me in the least.
The boisterous knights of Winter Castle before departure were no longer a novel sight to me.
Their clamor even felt endearing.
A chuckle escaped me.
But I quickly schooled my expression and addressed them.
"Anyone who loses to the Teutons today gets shipped back to Winter Castle for a decade. Bear that in mind."
The knights didn't flinch at my threat.
Defeat wasn't even on their radar.
Satisfied, I curbed my rising smile and turned.
"Let's go."
Ilai and Adelia followed behind. Kals took position at my side. Arwen trailed at a slight distance.
I halted and turned to her.
"Arwen. Your place is right beside me."
Startled at my words, she hurriedly moved to my side.
"Keep your wits about you."
At my remark on her uncharacteristic behavior, she gazed at me intently.
Her unfamiliar look made me frown, but she bowed to me.
"I've shown an unsightly side. My apologies, Your Highness."
Arwen took a small breath.
I felt her disrupted aura gradually stabilize.
Only then did I resume my halted steps.
The royal palace's training grounds awaited, where the West's foremost knight stood ready for me.
With each step, my aura naturally unfurled.
My beloved knights responded in kind, sharpening their own presences fiercely.
As if facing a grand battle.
I glanced back.
The knights smiled at me.
I bared my teeth in a grin back at them.
Hearts in sync.
I wasn't the only one with unquenched flames lingering from the abrupt ceasefire.
I reined in the heat threatening to burst forth and kept walking.
And finally, we arrived.
At the royal palace's training grounds, where the West's foremost knight awaited.
Whoosh!
The West's top knight and the Teuton knight order welcomed us with surging battle spirit.
The bloodthirsty air felt so welcoming.
I ended up grinning broadly.