Everyone Has Their Own Circumstances (1)
The royal messenger who brought the letter had eyebrows arched arrogantly downward. His outfit was lavishly decorated with jewels and excessive lace on the hem—likely the current fashion at the Royal Palace. Combined with the typical air of royal nobles flaunting their nobility, the knights felt uncomfortable.
In the reception room prepared in the lobby of the Raven Knight Order's main building, Maxim served tea to the messenger, hoping the two absent people would return soon.
The messenger didn't even say thank you, picked up the teacup, and drank while showing off the ring on his plump finger.
When Maxim returned to his place, Paola asked in a small voice, "...When are your lady and the commander coming?"
"...They must be having a deep conversation."
Though unlikely, Maxim hoped Christine wouldn't ask Theodora about their relationship, just as she had asked him.
"They seem to have arrived." Paola said, looking at the main entrance of the building.
Following her gaze, Maxim saw Theodora and Christine entering the main building through the door.
As Christine and Theodora entered, the messenger stood up. In his hand was a letter rolled up and tied with fine thread.
"The Raven Knight Order shall pay respects before the king's letter."
At the messenger's words, the knights immediately knelt to show respect to the king's letter.
Only after confirming that all members of the order had knelt did the messenger begin to convey the contents of the letter.
"I hold great expectations for the Raven Knight Order. Thinking of the Raven Knight Order that will be reborn as the center of the kingdom in the future makes me excited as it reminds me of the glory of our predecessors."
The messenger cleared his throat for a moment before continuing to read the letter.
"Therefore, before you advance to the front lines, I intend to invite the Raven Knight Order to the Royal Palace as a gesture of encouragement."
Christine is going to have a hard time. Well, that's what happens when you volunteer for the annoying role of vice-commander. Maxim had expected the commander and vice-commander to be summoned, but his body stiffened at the messenger's next words.
"The commander and vice-commander of the Raven Knight Order, along with five representatives including former members, are requested to attend the luncheon tomorrow to grace the occasion."
Ah... Maxim's stomach churned once at the premonition that something troublesome was about to happen.
After the messenger left, an unexpected training frenzy swept through the Raven Knight Order. It was all because of the participant issue specified in the royal letter.
The sun was brightly warming the training ground. The knights were eager to be the ones called to the palace, and Maxim looked at them with eyes full of incomprehension.
"Haaaap!"
"Urgh!"
Thud.
One member collapsed to the floor. Roberto Miller had just taken down his second opponent. Maxim felt another pang of sympathy at the pitiful sight.
Roberto was pouring out all the frustration from his defeat in the vice-commander competition into this sparring. The other members were overwhelmed by his spirit and couldn't properly draw their swords in the matches. Perhaps they sympathized with Roberto in a similar way to Maxim.
"So, how do you feel, Maxim?"
Paola, standing beside Maxim, looked very relaxed. In his hand was a halberd, which couldn't be called a weapon favored by knights. He had used a regular longsword in the selection test, but perhaps because he was from the soldier ranks, he seemed capable of handling a variety of weapons.
"I feel like I want to give up my spot."
"Everyone else is so desperate to go, but you're really strange."
"I, on the other hand, can't understand those who are desperate to go."
Maxim gave a bitter smile.
"Aren't you similar to me, senior?"
When Maxim asked that, Paola laughed loudly and shook his head.
"No. I'm not desperate enough to risk my life to go to the palace like Roberto, but if I had to choose, I'd say I'm closer to those members than to you."
"For someone who says that, you seem too relaxed."
Despite Maxim's words that could be taken as sarcastic, Paola just smiled.
Paola answered while thudding the halberd on the ground.
"Because I have the confidence to go."
Whether that statement was a boast or real confidence, only time would tell.
"You're really strange."
"...What else is there?"
Paola tilted his head left and right.
"If you chose to stay in this knight order, you must be someone who still has ambitions as a knight, yet now you're talking as if honor and glory are unnecessary and bothersome."
Maxim felt a pang in his chest at Paola's words. He was asking an unnecessarily sharp question.
"Since you're young, wouldn't it be fine to live more passionately?"
"...I'll pass."
Paola laughed and patted Maxim's shoulder. The palms striking him were quite heavy.
"Well, I'll go fight then."
Having said only what he wanted, Paola shouldered the halberd and walked toward the training ground.
Maxim let out a long sigh, exhausted.
"...What a mess."
"Indeed."
Maxim flinched at the familiar voice that reached his ears. Christine, who had now proudly worn the vice-commander's insignia on her uniform after receiving the position, had somehow appeared beside Maxim.
"Ah..."
"It's quite a mess, senior."
He had forgotten. Maxim looked down at Christine, at a loss for words. His reflection was visible in her leaf-like eyes.
Yes, this cute junior with whom he had shared life and death for quite a long time was now his superior. She had taken the position he once held.
Whether Christine knew this or not, she was smiling at him as always. No, she must know, which is why she approached like this.
The more Maxim's troubled expression lingered, the more Christine's lips curled upward. In contrast, Maxim's mouth only twitched in place.
"You're enjoying this."
"You? Senior, no matter how much of a junior I am, shouldn't you show at least minimal respect to the vice-commander of the knight order?"
Grinning. Christine gave Maxim an annoying smile.
Maxim barely suppressed the urge to grab and stretch those impudent, soft cheeks.
Endure it. She is a superior for now.
"...Vice-Commander."
A voice like an ant crawling out escaped through Maxim's teeth.
More playfulness settled in Christine's eyes. It was as if stars were twinkling in them.
"What did you say?"
"...Understood, Vice-Commander."
A flower bloomed on Christine's face. The star in her eyes that had been growing brighter burst and sparkled. Like green glass marbles.
It was an expression that suited summer very well. If that expression had been directed at other men instead of being a prank on Maxim, it would have made many of them cry.
Maxim spoke without hiding his bewilderment.
"Is it that good?"
Christine laughed out loud.
"I love it. It's refreshing. It's new. It's thrilling."
"Shall we stop here then?"
"No."
Maxim's expression twisted in frustration.
Christine continued to laugh while watching Maxim's face.
When Maxim placed a hand on his head as if he had a headache, Christine finally spoke with a smile.
"Call me that until I'm satisfied."
"...Yes, understood. Vice-Commander."
Maxim put special emphasis on the four words "Vice-Commander," but Christine kept a bright expression as if it wasn't scary at all.
When the Empire that had dominated the world's hegemony was divided into three kingdoms, the Liant Kingdom took the northern territories of the Empire, centered around the location where the Empire's capital had been. The Empire's capital was a place where the Empire's most brilliant legacies lived and breathed. The Liant Kingdom declared itself the spiritual successor of the Empire and preserved those legacies intact.
Among the Empire's legacies, if one were to pick the greatest, nine out of ten would point to the imperial palace that had now become the Royal Palace.
In front of the Royal Palace, in the endlessly sprawling imperial garden, flowers from all over the continent bloomed in changing colors with each season, and rare and beautiful butterflies fluttered among the flowers.
If one ventured deep into the garden, which boasted the size of a small forest, one would see a massive fountain that could be considered a symbol of the Royal Palace.
And if one raised their gaze along the marble path laid behind the fountain, there stood the Royal Palace, looming over the world like a giant and overwhelming all visitors who sought it.
The Royal Palace, once the center of the world, still asserted its influence today.
As the saying goes, "All culture of the continent originates from the Liant Royal Palace," the palace leads every trend. Whether it be manners, fashion, or adornment methods.
The Liant Royal Palace, the object of longing for the entire continent, regardless of age or gender.
Maxim's steps toward that Royal Palace were like those of a pirate's captive walking blindfolded on a plank.
"Loosen up your expression. People might think you're a prisoner being escorted."
"I must not have gotten enough sleep."
"Don't tell me you're spouting nonsense about not sleeping because you were excited. I saw everything yesterday."
Paola spoke to Maxim, who was walking slightly behind the group.
It seemed Maxim was destined to become close with that talkative man. He also seemed to have the skill to speak with confidence.
"Yeah, walk positively, Maxim. You should feel sorry for the other members who couldn't join us here."
The one chiming in from the side was Roberto Miller, with his long hair tied back. He had ultimately secured the right to represent the order after a fierce series of sparring matches against five members. Roberto made no attempt to wipe the dark blood flowing from his characteristic hooked nose, calling it a wound of honor.
"Everyone really has tremendous passion."
Maxim replied in a drained voice.
Roberto frowned deeply at Maxim's words.
"No, Maxim! It's the Royal Palace, the Royal Palace! It's normal for even nonexistent passion to arise, so it's stranger that you look so gloomy!"
"Ah, perhaps you have some unspeakable memories of the Royal Palace? Tell this Paola about it. Then I could understand why you couldn't sleep."
Maxim was gradually finding it harder to handle these two talkative people. It was better than factional fighting while watching each other's eyes, but the fatigue was accumulating.
At that moment, Roberto, grabbing Maxim's weary shoulder, spoke nonsense.
"Look at this gloomy face, Commander! Commander Benning! Shouldn't you say something to this fellow?"
Correction. It would have been better to have factional fighting.
The color drained from Maxim's face, turning pale.
Maxim's fist flew toward the back of Roberto's head but struggled in place, restrained by the thread of reason.
Theodora, who had been walking silently at the front, turned around.
Maxim was able to properly face Theodora's face for the first time today.
Her platinum blonde hair fluttered brilliantly as it brushed against Theodora's cheek while she turned her head.
Yes, Theodora was still as beautiful as ever, enough to steal one's soul.
But today, she seemed to have put extra care into her appearance for the visit to the Royal Palace, adding even more radiance.
Forgetting his own situation, Maxim stared blankly at Theodora's appearance.
Those crimson lips, the straight nose, the fair skin, and above all, her eyes.
Theodora's storm-cloud-colored eyes were staring straight at him.
Though not an appropriate sentiment for this situation, Maxim wanted to utter at least this one thing.
Damn it. She's too pretty.
Maxim could feel his heart pounding painfully.
It was a very brief encounter, but Theodora's appearance seemed sufficient to captivate him.
Theodora shot Roberto, who had asked the question, a sharp glance and uttered a short remark.
"Walk properly."
Theodora then turned her head sharply again and walked forward.
Her platinum blonde hair swayed and then settled.
At her words, Maxim unconsciously changed his trudging steps.
"...The commander doesn't seem to be in a good mood either."
From behind Maxim came Roberto's voice, as if he still hadn't come to his senses.
"You shouldn't say things like that out loud, Roberto."
Paola seemed more sensible by comparison.
A sharp pain was felt at Maxim's side.
Maxim barely held back a scream that almost escaped his throat.
Christine was pinching Maxim's side.
Maxim spoke to Christine in a voice full of injustice.
"Why are you..."
"I don't know. And use formal speech."
Christine said that briefly and walked ahead of Maxim.
Today, the feeling was bad from the very start.
Maxim looked up at the sky, which was sunny in contrast to his mood.
Fluffy clouds, clearly clumped like cotton, drifted by.
'Now if only I don't meet "that person," it would be perfect.'
Maxim mocked himself inwardly.
Of course, praying that, no matter what, he would absolutely not encounter "that person" at the Royal Palace.