Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: 13. Holy Kingdom (1)
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The Brioll army swept through the bandits as it marched on. Before long, a city with towering walls appeared beside a lake.
It was Gid, their waypoint.
The troops pitched camp outside the city.
The soldiers, weary of field life, were itching to head inside.
Yuri issued a warning.
"Cause any trouble, and you're dead. Be back by noon tomorrow. Violate that even once, and I'll handle you under military law. Keep it in mind."
They all promised they would, but in the end, someone was bound to get punished. Yuri knew showing an example was how you enforced discipline.
"Sir Raymond. Train them well before letting them in. Knights aren't exempt."
"Understood."
Yuri went straight to meet the lord.
He was a plump man, unnaturally so for such barren land. His outstretched hand welcoming Yuri glittered with several rings.
With exaggerated gestures, he pressed his lips to the back of Yuri's hand.
"It's an honor to meet the prince of Brioll."
"Good to meet you too."
Yuri sat across from him and discreetly wiped the back of his hand on his pants.
"His Majesty the King of Brioll racked up incredible feats against orcs in his youth. Now his son has come—orcs must be trembling in fear."
"Thanks for saying so."
"For the alliance's success, I'll do everything I can."
Gid had agreed with Balshard to serve as supply bases for the allied forces.
"On behalf of Brioll, I thank you for your cooperation. You'll be rewarded once this campaign ends."
"Not doing it for the reward, but it's nice to hear."
"I see."
Yuri grinned.
"Ever think that if the alliance fails, the orcs won't let Gid off easy?"
"The alliance losing? Impossible. Hahaha..."
Yuri recalled his past life.
After the orc subjugation failed, Balshard and Gid crumbled immediately. Orcs seized the plains, dragging people off as slaves.
"Right, of course."
Yuri hid his thoughts and just smiled.
"Anyway, we'll be in your debt."
"Stay as long as you like. You arrived early."
"No need to dawdle."
"Haha, you're diligent. Got it."
"Then..."
As Yuri rose to leave, the secretary entered and whispered to the lord.
The lord's face lit up. He spread his arms toward Yuri.
"Your Highness. The Holy Kingdom has arrived."
"Oh?"
"They're heading here now. Care to meet them together?"
"Sure, why not."
Yuri nodded. Getting acquainted with the Holy Kingdom like this wasn't bad.
Soon, the door to the lord's chamber opened. The lord stood to greet them.
"Greetings..."
Knights in white armor poured in.
There were a lot of them.
The flustered lord rolled his eyes and stammered on.
"...knights?"
They lined up along the walls of the lord's chamber one by one. The knight at the door spoke.
"Her Highness the Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom approaches."
As he finished, a woman entered, clad in even more ornate armor with her helmet tucked under her arm.
Her short, light brown hair swayed just below her ears.
She stared at the lord with an expressionless face.
"Are you Gid's lord?"
"Yes. I am, but..."
"I am Sibylla Arsainte, Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom and commander of its allied forces."
The lord stood dumbfounded. She lifted her chin.
"What are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
"Pay your respects."
Sibylla, the Holy Kingdom's Second Princess, extended her hand.
"Haha..."
Instead of complying, the lord flashed a friendly smile.
"Lady Sibylla."
He glanced sequentially at the lined-up knights and Sibylla before him.
"I'm sorry, but I'm neither a subject of the Holy Kingdom nor your vassal, Princess."
It was a far cry from how he'd voluntarily kissed Yuri's hand.
"So, no need to pay respects."
Yuri felt like whistling.
A man without backbone couldn't hold a city in this harsh land for long.
"I see."
Sibylla's eyebrow twitched faintly. She fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"If I've offended you, I apologize."
"Oh no, not at all. That's not what I meant..."
The lord laughed affably and clapped his hands.
"How could I have known the Holy Kingdom's Second Princess was so beautiful? Even as no subject, I want to offer praise. Might you grant me the honor of kissing your hand?"
The lord's tact was masterful.
He'd first pushed back against Sibylla, but when she acknowledged her misstep, he bowed graciously, saving her face.
Yuri adjusted his assessment of the man.
Smarter than expected. People like him could be useful when needed.
Sibylla nodded.
"Of course."
"An honor."
The lord kissed the back of her hand.
"..."
But it lingered too long.
Yuri seriously wondered if the lord wasn't clever—just a pervert.
"Lord?"
"Yes."
"That's enough."
"Understood."
Only at her word did he pull away. The lord gestured to the sofa.
"Please, sit."
He moved to introduce Yuri.
"This is..."
But before he could continue, Sibylla spoke first.
"Are you the lord's retainer? I have urgent business—step aside."
The lord panicked.
"Ah, Princess. He's..."
He tried to explain, but Sibylla pressed on.
"Or do you mean to say you're not a subject of the Holy Kingdom or myself?"
Yuri wasn't particularly offended. It was a misunderstanding—no need to make an issue.
He started to introduce himself calmly.
"I am..."
This time, the knight behind Sibylla cut in.
"He's still sitting. Even as Gid's retainer, that's rude. Her Highness is the Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom and commander of its allied forces. Show proper respect!"
His pride stung from the lord's earlier rebuke.
The Holy Kingdom knights were putting on a show. Unfortunately, they'd picked the wrong target.
The lord and Yuri's eyes met.
Deep embarrassment and a pleading apology filled the lord's gaze.
Under the knights' cold stares, Yuri stammered.
"I am..."
Sibylla furrowed her brow.
"You are?"
Yuri actually felt sorry for the Holy Kingdom—they'd be embarrassed soon enough.
"Brioll's Third Prince."
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
In the silence, the wall clock's second hand calmly ticked three times.
Yuri added.
"And I'm commanding the Brioll forces."
Sibylla's expression was a sight to behold.
They'd stormed in acting superior, only to get called out by Gid's lord—and now they'd been rude to a foreign prince.
Mistakes upon mistakes.
How must they feel?
As the fourth tick gave way to the fifth, the knight who'd called out Yuri spoke.
"Uh..."
Yuri smiled gently at him—a magnanimous offer to accept an apology. No grudges here.
The knight flushed.
"Forgive us. We didn't recognize you. We thought you were the lord's retainer..."
"Happens. Look how shabby I am. Anyone would peg me for some local grunt. Haha..."
"No, that's not it. Absolutely not..."
"My fault entirely. Should've dressed sharp like you knights. Shiny armor and all. My bad. I've committed a grave sin!"
"No, no..."
"Sorry!"
"No, we're sorry! Forgive us!"
"Sorry!"
"Your Highness! No, I mean—not that! Everyone, bow your heads!"
"Sorry... mff!"
"Oh dear, Your Highness. Please, stay calm!"
As Yuri threw his tantrum, the Holy Kingdom knights hastily retreated.
Now it was just the lord, Yuri, and Sibylla.
The lord kept wiping sweat from his brow, while Sibylla sat far off, looking utterly fed up.
Yuri checked his hair in the wall mirror.
"Lord. I've got plenty of fine clothes at home. Do I really look that shabby?"
"Hahaha, what are you saying? You look dashing, Your Highness."
"Right? So why did those knight uncles treat me like..."
Sibylla sighed.
"Sorry. Can you stop now?"
"Oh, should I?"
Yuri whistled and sat back down. As he took the sofa's center, Sibylla scooted further to the edge.
"Come on, you'll be fighting together. At least say hello."
The lord mediated between them.
"This is Yuri Brioll, Third Prince of Brioll and commander of its forces."
"H-Hi."
"And this is Sibylla Arsainte, Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom and commander of its allied forces."
"Yes."
"Now, a handshake perhaps."
The lord pointed at both with his hands, then clasped his own together.
"Sure."
Yuri extended his hand readily.
Sibylla hesitated with a reluctant expression before accepting.
Yuri shook it up and down vigorously.
"Nice to meet you. That was just a joke earlier."
"Ah, yes."
The mood hadn't thawed.
Yuri recalled what Lowmain had told him about the Holy Kingdom.
He could guess why Sibylla was so prickly. Even the knights he'd just met were rigidly uptight.
To gain recognition in such a group, you had two choices: shatter the mold or don even thicker armor.
And like most, she'd chosen the latter.
Yuri kept shaking her hand and asked.
"Sibylla."
"Yes."
"How old are you?"
Sibylla looked at him.
"We'll see each other often—better to get friendly. Your age?"
"Twenty..."
"I'm eighteen. Two years apart makes us pals. We can drop the formalities."
Sibylla's pupils dilated.
Before she could respond, Yuri continued.
"Nice to meet you, Sibylla."
Counting his past life, Yuri was a grizzled adult. He'd dealt with all sorts during his mercenary days. Handling a kid like her was easy.
Sibylla looked thoroughly flustered.
She glanced at Gid's lord, then back at Yuri. Her eyes wavered.
The lord stepped in.
"Ah, splendid."
"Uh..."
"Your stations and ages match well—build some camaraderie. You'll face brutal orcs ahead; wouldn't hurt to have comrades you can trust with your backs, right?"
"Right?"
Yuri chimed in.
Sibylla nodded abruptly.
"Y-Yeah..."
She seemed confused even as she answered. Regret flickered too.
But Yuri had no intention of backing off.
Before she could rethink it, he kept talking to scatter her thoughts.
"Sibylla. Didn't see your troops on the way. Knights arrived first?"
"Yeah."
"When're they coming?"
"Tomorrow sometime."
Yuri didn't like her answer.
If the Holy Kingdom's holy knights had reached Gid first, a few officers were likely staying behind to lead the main force.
Orcs were sneakier at ambushes than their size suggested. Even outside their turf, splitting forces carelessly was risky.
"Hope nothing happens."
Sibylla raised an eyebrow.
"The Holy Kingdom runs a tight ship. Think something'll go wrong?"
"You never know."
"Like what?"
"What else? Orcs."
"Orcs...?"
"Yeah."
Sibylla shut her mouth. She didn't seem to know much about orcs.
Yuri smiled to lighten the mood.
"Orcs pop up inside lines sometimes. Right, Lord?"
"Yes, exactly. Sneaky despite their bulk."
"Just saying. Should be fine, though. Holy Kingdom and all."
"..."
Yuri changed the subject.
"Anyway, let's get to business."
They discussed supplies and food Gid could provide, confirming terms and conditions.
Business concluded.
Yuri stood.
"I'll head out. Thanks for the help, Lord."
"When do you depart?"
"Rest tomorrow, leave morning after."
"Got it."
"You, Sibylla?"
"Going ahead."
She had more to discuss, apparently.
Yuri waved with a smile. Sibylla, composure regained, nodded coolly.
"See you."
He left the lord's castle.
Hernando was waiting.
"Waiting?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Let's go together."
"Where?"
Hernando's eyes gleamed.
"If you're in Gid, it's the talisman market."