Chapter 198
Chapter 198
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: The Shield's Oath
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Seira."
The crown prince Julius seemed to sense that this could turn into a real hassle, rubbing his throbbing temple with his fingers.
"I'm speaking literally. Do you think the pirates of the Punish Archipelago are just some street thugs from a back alley? It's not called one of the continent's forbidden zones for nothing. No matter how much of a spitfire you are, how could we send a noble daughter of the royal family into a barbaric hellhole overrun by those savages?"
He wasn't wrong. The archipelago was infamous as a place where once captured, you couldn't escape—not even in death, with your soul trapped forever.
Besides, for all her wild streak, Princess Seira, who had come of age two years before me, was renowned throughout the kingdom for her beauty.
It was only natural for a protective older brother to balk at sending such a precious sister into danger.
But Princess Seira scoffed as if the idea was utterly absurd.
"Brother—no, Your Highness Prince Julius. Are you aware your thinking is full of contradictions?"
She addressed him not as "brother," but as "Your Highness the Prince." It was a sign she was treating him not as family, but as a member of the royal house.
"Not just Young Master Jerome right by your side, but every knight dispatched from the royal family. Even the carpenters and laborers. Not one of them is expendable."
The calm demeanor of Princess Seira showed no trace of the spitfire who had once singed Duke Braum of the Sword Family bald.
"Moreover, with the Sword Family—whom you despise so much—dispatching their heir Viktor, who would stay loyal to the Ikenia royal family if we alone tried to preserve ourselves?"
"That's a completely different matter! When have I ever told you to bask in royal privileges without fulfilling your duties as a princess? There's plenty a princess can do from her position!"
As Princess Seira dug in her heels, Prince Julius bellowed.
"Ha! Duties, you say? Do you mean cowering like a coward behind our brave citizens spilling their blood on the front lines, offering empty words of comfort and encouragement?"
"Seira!"
"I...!"
Princess Seira shouted even louder than the prince, glaring straight into his eyes with blazing fury.
"I didn't learn magic to live like a coward, a mere puppet. If you have power, it's only right to bear the responsibility it demands. Isn't that the noblesse oblige the royal family preaches?"
"...!!"
Prince Julius had no retort, merely gnawing on his lower lip.
"...Then I'll go instead. Since the Sword Family sent Viktor, it would only be fitting if I... "
"Ah, Brother. Please."
Zzap!
Princess Seira sighed and summoned her mana, firing a light bolt of electricity at Julius's toes.
Her spellcraft—once used to scorch Father's beard and Duke Braum's hair—was as precise as ever, striking his big toe without a hint of error.
"Gahhh! S-Seira!! What the hell?!"
As Julius rolled on the floor clutching his foot from the sharp jolt, Seira sighed again.
"See, Brother? You yelp like a weakling from a tiny shock spell. Where do you think you're going?"
"...!!"
Undeterred by bruising his masculine pride, Seira pressed on.
"Besides, you're the one destined to succeed Father and uphold the kingdom. No matter how much power the Sword Family wields, never forget—you are the next sovereign of this realm."
"...!!"
Julius fell silent under the starlit intensity of Seira's gaze.
When had that mischievous hellion who singed the hair of kingdom's great nobles grown into this?
"...Young Master Jerome, we'll continue this later."
Rubbing his toe, Julius spoke evenly and left the banquet hall first, leaving only Princess Seira and me behind.
Seira shrugged at me.
"Well, the mood suggests he'll cave eventually, right?"
"True enough... but are you sure about this, Princess?"
"The one who dragged me into this in the first place? You're not some scaredy-cat."
Hm. Not wrong, but I hadn't expected her to volunteer so eagerly.
Noticing my expression, perhaps, Seira flashed a bright smile.
"Kidding, kidding. Truth is, it looks good for the royal family to send one direct bloodline. With the Sword Family dispatching their heir, we need to balance the scales—either you or Brother. As you saw, I'm better equipped to protect myself than he is."
Poke!
Seira playfully jabbed my side.
"I hate to say it after asking you myself, but it could be dangerous."
"You'll make sure it isn't, won't you? A capable man like you."
She had a point; feigning humility forever would be ridiculous.
'...But something feels off. No matter how I look at it.'
There was a peculiar fervor in the smiling princess's eyes.
Recognizing that heat, I suddenly understood her motives.
"...Princess. This is about Saladin, isn't it?"
Flinch!
Seira's shoulders trembled faintly—I definitely saw it.
"H-Hohoho. Whatever do you mean? Lightning magic is effective in naval battles, you know?"
"Princess, you're sweating on your forehead."
"Ah, ahaha. No idea what you're talking about. Maybe the banquet hall's too warm. It's spring already, but awfully hot. Hohoho."
Just like Julius before her, Seira fled the hall, claiming it was too stuffy.
Pfft!
"Why not take off that outer coat if you're so hot? It's obvious."
With the royal siblings gone, I savored my wine alone.
As I'd noted earlier, the aroma and flavor marked it as top-shelf vintage.
A single glass was enough to sense how much the royal finances had improved since years ago.
'I can change it. I will.'
One step at a time.
The fruits of my quiet labors were starting to show, however slightly.
I wouldn't let this chance slip away.
"Ow, this is good. Nom nom."
In the midst of my resolve, I spotted Saladin in the distance, munching chocolate while Mimi and Nene stood by.
'...Speaking of, what exactly went down between that guy and Princess Seira?'
Now I was genuinely curious.
Three days had passed since I'd enjoyed the changed atmosphere at the spring festival banquet.
Today, instead of the ornate attire from the past two days in the hall, I wore something different.
The black uniform from my family, gleaming mithril greaves, and gauntlets equipped without a gap.
As I stepped toward the door, a brooch on the table caught my eye.
"......"
After a brief hesitation, I pinned it carefully to my chest.
"Alright, let's go."
Swish!
Today's banquet would draw every eye to me, like it or not.
In that case, I would stand taller than anyone. Until the moment I stood alone, I would act in a way befitting a direct heir of the Shield Family.
"Haha, so anyway... Hm? You listening, buddy?"
Dave, a young eastern noble I'd been half-ignoring mid-story, scowled.
Ignoring someone so blatantly was a grave breach of etiquette; Dave's face twisted, but Leam stared blankly at the banquet hall entrance, oblivious.
"Hey, you...?!"
As Dave moved to scold Leam, he finally noticed the odd hush.
The buzzing hall had fallen deathly silent.
And everyone stared at the entrance as if on cue.
'What the hell?'
Dave glanced back and instantly understood why Leam and the others gawked.
'Reminds me of my first spring festival.'
All eyes converged fiercely.
And small wonder—a fully armed noble entering a banquet hall was no everyday sight, unlike guards or soldiers.
"Wh-what? Why's Young Master Jerome armed?"
"Armor to a banquet? Was this planned?"
"Nah, no way..."
Buzz buzz!
The dazed young nobles snapped to and began murmuring.
By continental etiquette, arriving armed to a banquet was a severe faux pas.
A banquet was for forging bonds openly. Thus, entering unarmed was basic courtesy.
A gesture saying, 'I have no intent to harm you.'
Appearing armed implied, 'I don't trust my host enough to disarm.'
In other words, my attire signaled distrust of the royal-hosted event.
"Jerome! What is the meaning of this insolence?!"
Seizing the moment, Dephos of the Sword Family—who'd been quiet till now—shouted. With his brother absent, he aimed to score points for his house. Perfect pretext, too.
"Showing up armed to a banquet hosted by our royal family—by His Highness the Prince, no less! Are you in your right mind?!"
A moment's thought would reveal I had no reason for such folly.
'Of course. The last you saw of me was that spoiled brat from childhood.'
Preconceptions were terrifying.
No matter the rumors, they paled against one's own memories.
Thus, spotting the sole exception was no easy feat.
"I won't stand idly by on this..."
Dephos's words were drowned out.
"What is this commotion?!"
A voice of majestic authority shook the hall.
Prince Julius and Princess Seira had arrived.
Clack, clack!
Seeing my armed state, they said nothing and proceeded to the high seat.
The young nobles' eyes widened gradually.
The sole continental exception permitting arms at a banquet.
An exceedingly rare occurrence, now unfolding before them.
"Jerome von Carviot, step forward."
Clack, clack.
In the vast hall accommodating nobles from across the kingdom, only my footsteps echoed.
Halt!
Before the prince, I slowly knelt on one knee.
Shing!
Julius, gazing steadily at my kneeling form, rose and drew the royal sword from his waist.
Tap!
The blade touched my left shoulder.
"Jerome von Carviot, you saved our kingdom from unprecedented famine and peril."
Tap!
The blade shifted naturally to my right shoulder.
"You also shielded our precious ally, the Philador Kingdom, from being trampled by the minions of that arrogant Holy Empire. Young as you are, your deeds are more than worthy."
Tap!
Finally, the blade hovered over my head.
"I ask you, Jerome von Carviot: Do you pledge your loyalty to the crown and stand ready to give your life for kingdom and people?"
A formality. As long as I didn't blunder like a fool, the prearranged title would proceed smoothly.
But I wanted more.
"The third son of the Carviot Count family—the northern shield guarding the realm—Jerome von Carviot, speaks before Your Highness."
Thud!
I slammed my gauntleted fist beside my knee and declared.
"For kingdom and people, I swear upon the flame of oath. As an honorable, valiant shield, I vow to fight without retreat against all evil and injustice threatening the realm—until this soul burns to ash and fades. I shall be the shield guarding kingdom and people."
A soul-deep vow. Notably absent: any mention of the royal family.
Yet Prince Julius smiled broadly, utterly pleased.
"A truly splendid oath, Young Master Jerome."
Shing!
Sheathing the sword, he extended his hand; the cape on his back billowed dramatically.
"As first prince of the royal family, in place of our great King Horn van Ikenia, I proclaim here: To Jerome von Carviot, who has labored tirelessly for the kingdom, we grant the baronial title and the southern territory of Olivia! This is the will of King Horn van Ikenia himself! Let all nobles celebrate the birth of our new baron!"
In the prince's proclamation, the nobles finally grasped why I'd arrived armed.
The one continental exception:
The ceremony pledging fealty and receiving noble recognition from the banquet's host.