Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Black-Haired Knight King
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The capital of the Northern Kingdom, Snowgarden, was still deep in reconstruction efforts today.
Of course, progress was only around 5%, but considering construction had started this spring, it was an astonishing pace.
On top of that, this state-led project had provided jobs for numerous refugees.
Workers with money naturally created demand, and demand spurred production.
Inns, taverns, general stores, eateries, permanent markets.
Even without the kingdom's intervention, people sought what they needed, and there were always those ready to meet that demand.
The Northern Kingdom's economy, which had been all but dead, was beginning to stir thanks to stable security and sound national policies.
Doesn't it all feel like one beating heart?
Prince Richard from the Eastern Kingdom murmured to himself as he pulled back his hood.
"Everyone's smiling."
The city's scale and infrastructure naturally favored the Eastern Kingdom with its long history.
But the Northern Kingdom brimmed with a vibrant energy they could never have.
Even if they went hungry and cold today, the hope that tomorrow would be better shone plainly on the faces of the Northerners working with smiles.
"...Truly enviable."
Richard, who had lived his life surrounded by pampered swine, found himself envying these Northerners who had just broken their own chains for the first time today.
Of course, what stirred in him wasn't mere envy, but a grand cause for the suffering people of the East.
I will make my people feel this same freedom and hope.
Having found a noble goal, Richard vowed as much.
"Your Highness."
As he looked around, a familiar voice called from right behind him.
Ronald, delayed a day from shaking off pursuers, had arrived at their prearranged meeting spot.
"Hah, I'm so relieved you're safe."
"Heaven was kind."
A merchant caravan employee he'd trusted had betrayed them at the last moment, forcing them to flee the procession in haste.
Without Ronald's efforts, they wouldn't have even crossed the border, let alone entered the capital.
Richard personally bandaged the wounds on Knight Ronald before walking through the bustling heart of the capital amid busy residents.
But there was one problem.
In their frantic escape from the caravan, they'd lost everything except the royal seal.
Thirst and hunger closed in.
Their gaunt faces and filthy state were hardly befitting a prince and knight.
"Let's find an inn first, Your Highness. From what I've heard, the path to the palace won't open until afternoon. We should clean up your attire in the meantime."
"Do you have money?"
"Pardon? Well..."
"Let's look for a well."
It's fine. A true leader must endure such hardships.
Richard comforted the darkening-faced Ronald and slowly moved forward.
Getting presentable came first.
Luckily, women carrying water buckets were in sight, so the public well wasn't far.
Thus, the prince and knight from distant lands trudged along, taking in the sights of Snowgarden, thick with the scent of people.
Sniff sniff.
But before reaching the well, a delicious aroma drew their eyes to a crowded open square where residents gathered.
Volunteers stirred massive pots brimming with something, while people waited in line holding wooden bowls from home.
Atop the bowls sat warm bread and generous portions of appetizing soup.
Gulp.
Richard swallowed hard.
Food he wouldn't normally touch—market fare as a side dish—looked utterly tempting now.
Richard and Ronald, starving for two full days, exchanged silent glances before quietly joining the end of the line.
Everyone seemed used to waiting.
Even the Eastern Kingdom, overflowing with rare minerals, had no such system; apparently, the Northern Kingdom had run this ration program as policy for quite some time.
Ronald, glancing around, marveled.
"The food quality is impressive."
A policy for the people.
Richard hurriedly jotted "rations" in his mental notebook.
Then the line shortened.
The prince and knight, coughing awkwardly, momentarily forgot decorum and shuffled along.
"Hey, you didn't bring a bowl?"
But at that moment, a female volunteer carrying supplies from outside the tent spotted the empty-handed duo.
"...A bowl?"
"Everyone else has one."
All in line held bowls and utensils from home.
Of course, oblivious Richard and Ronald blinked and stammered.
"Go get one. Got it?"
"W-Wait a moment."
They had no bowl to fetch.
The foolish prince and knight flailed in protest.
But their savior wasn't their princely status or royal seal, but a kind girl with her black hair neatly tied back.
"They're new here—don't be too hard on them. Here, use these bowls for your meal."
The black-haired girl offered clean wooden bowls and utensils to the flailing pair.
The volunteer woman bowed with a warm smile as if nothing had happened, and the crowd politely greeted the girl.
Is she the ration station manager?
Ronald, who had snagged the bowls by chance, sighed self-mockingly and tried to hand them to his struggling lord first.
"Hm?"
But the wise prince was gone.
Only a dazed young man stood before the girl he'd just met.
"Ah..."
Her black hair flowed like obsidian silk, and no plain clothes could hide her pure, pristine aura.
The fresh scent of wild grass and flowers brushing his nose evoked a wistful longing for a first love that never was.
She radiates light just by existing.
Today, Richard finally understood that phrase and passed his bowl to Ronald.
Then, as if entranced, he slowly approached the black-haired girl and confessed his feelings honestly.
"Y-You're beautiful."
"Pardon?"
"Truly beautiful."
Honesty is good.
But excessive honesty out of place is no different from rudeness.
Of course, Richard, who had only known adoration as a prince, was quite obtuse to such things and blindly believed the idiotic love stories from books.
Gulp.
Ronald swallowed dryly.
Flustered by the prince's sudden farce, he sensed the unnatural stares from onlookers.
Residents and plainclothes knights who had appeared unnoticed glared murderously at him and Richard.
The crowd, pausing their meals, blocked any escape.
The black-haired girl burst into soft laughter.
"You're a funny one."
"Ahh..."
Please stop, you idiot.
Ronald tried to drag away the prince, smitten even by her laugh.
Clop clop clop.
But hoofbeats sounded nearby, and the furious crowd parted like the Red Sea.
A middle-aged knight approached, helmet in hand, fresh from some sortie.
He extended a hand to the black-haired girl as if this were routine.
"You're late, Your Majesty. Let's hurry."
"Ah! Coming right now, sir!"
Your Majesty? Did he just say Your Majesty?
Snow-Covered greeted her mentor with a bright smile and mounted the deer.
She waved cheerfully to her people, bidding reluctant goodbyes.
How had he missed it? That striking black hair was practically the North's symbol.
Snapping to, Ronald chased after with the stunned Richard in tow.
At least now wasn't the time for romance novels.
"P-Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty."
"No, it was an amusing experience."
Despite the farce, thanks to the royal seal and the Sword Saint's memory, Richard and Ronald safely gained an audience with the king.
Of course, Richard's face burned red as he begged forgiveness, while Ronald sighed from his deeply wrinkled brow.
When they needed to make the best impression, his usually wise lord had openly confessed love like a fool.
But fortunately, the Knight King was merciful, and the ministers chuckled it off.
They were simply thrilled by the prince from the East who had sought them out.
The prime minister asked Richard.
"Are you here as an envoy?"
"...No. Father and the ministers don't even know I've left."
"An unofficial visit, then."
"Yes, exactly."
They had suspected as much.
What nerve would the long-subjugated Eastern Kingdom have to send an official envoy?
It was likely just a hot-blooded prince's escapade upon hearing of the North's revival.
The prime minister, who had anticipated this, bowed with a smile.
His role was done; all decisions lay with their sovereign, the Knight King.
Snow-Covered spoke gravely.
"Though young, I intend to uphold my predecessor's will. The Northern and Eastern Kingdoms have long been allies and friends."
"Indeed, Your Majesty!"
"But does the Eastern Kingdom feel the same? What of its king and ministers?"
She didn't want to be harsh.
Whatever the East's plight, she wished to maintain the iron alliance.
But if one side wills it while the other lacks resolve, harmony is impossible.
Do your king and ministers share your views?
Snow-Covered's question reminded the prince of his forsaken circumstances.
"...They're different from me."
"Then what do you seek? Overthrow the kingdom? Usurp the throne? Shall we kill all your ministers?"
"That's..."
"Even if we did, would it become your kingdom?"
Power without ideals is a sword without purpose.
Ideals without power are purposes without swords.
Snow-Covered, who had risen from the bottom, knew this philosophy better than anyone.
Richard gritted his teeth.
The naive fishbowl notion that meeting the Knight King would solve everything shattered under her rebuke.
Without his born title of prince, what was human Richard?
By what right did he beg their aid?
A goldfish escaped from its bowl.
All it could do was flop helplessly.
Richard squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the kingdom's reality to his bones.
But he couldn't give up here.
Longing for a golden age more than anyone, he dropped to his knees at the lowest point.
"The king does not rule. The ministers do not serve. But what pains me most is that the people do not rage."
Richard bore original sin.
The sin of being born of a king who sold out his people, of heedlessly passing a golden age, of ignoring and abetting all this outrage!
"Your Majesty, can humans without will be called alive, even if they breathe? We made them that way. We sold out a generation for one royal house's survival."
All these sins warranted death, yet even atonement was denied him.
He wanted to change this outrage himself.
"What must I do? How can I save them? O great Knight King of the North, lend me your wisdom. Teach me how the North rose again!"
Richard bowed his head once more.
He prostrated until his forehead touched the floor, casting aside all princely pride, superiority, and powerless sense of mission.
Then Snow-Covered smiled brightly and asked the prostrated prince.
The Knight King had never arrogantly thought to instruct the prince from the start.
"What do you see now?"
"...Only the floor."
"You've seen the lowest place."
Snow-Covered rose from the throne.
She approached the bowed Richard and gently offered her hand to help him up.
"Your Highness, there is no predestined fate."
Iron had rusted.
To return to form, it must endure scorching heat and the pain of being hammered body and soul.
Only then could the past—
the iron alliance binding all humanity—rise once more.
Snow-Covered said to me.
"Sir, don't we have many open squire positions?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You'll make a fine knight."
Sweat and achieve. Rise on your own.
The prince of the Eastern Kingdom formed a small chrysalis beneath the great tree of the North.