If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them (3)
"Uh..."
"..."
"Doesn't seem to be the White Knight..."
"..."
"And you are... who, exactly?"
"...Hmm."
A heavy silence settled over the drawing room. Whether the fault lay with me—for answering with the casual ease of a host when I was only a freeloader—or with the servants who had simply accepted that answer, the blame was hard to pin down. What was clear was that the situation was far from ideal.
How was I supposed to dig myself out of this one? After a brief moment of thought, I decided to buy some time.
"Please, have some tea first."
"Ah. Very well."
"..."
The hand holding the teacup trembled. I took a sip, hoping that Ru or her father would walk in while I swallowed, but of course nothing so convenient happened.
Maybe I should just tell them the truth—that I was a criminal suspect under investigation in Ru's house. Of course, saying that would only get me labeled a madman, so I settled on a carefully partial version of the facts.
"The master of the house will be here shortly. So please, don't mind me."
"I suppose so. Still, running into a stranger in a comrade's home, one can't help but ask who you are."
"I'm simply a guest staying at Ru's house."
Even I had to admit the phrasing was a little strange. So I casually produced the crest of House Everdeen that Ru had once given me, hoping it would cement my identity as a legitimate guest.
The two men, however, didn't even glance at the crest. Instead they latched onto something I never expected.
"Ru... you say? Who is that?"
"I don't really... ah. That must be the White Knight's real name. I've never had occasion to use it, so I'd completely forgotten."
"It's not that you never had occasion—you simply never dared. And yet this man speaks it so naturally..."
"Surely not...?"
"...Hmm."
What on earth were they muttering about? Two big men whispering to each other. There was no hostility in their gazes, but being the focus of unnecessary attention was never pleasant.
I must have cleared my throat without meaning to. At once their faces lit up; they laughed heartily and said:
"My, my. It seems we've been terribly rude. We never meant any offense. It's simply rare for anyone to visit House Everdeen, you understand."
"Is that so? I wouldn't know. In any case, I'm only a guest myself. Once Ru arrives, feel free to ask her whatever you like."
"Hahaha. You must be quite close to Sir Everdeen, whether you realize it or not. Might I inquire as to the nature of your relationship...?"
"As I said, I'm just a guest."
"Hahahaha. Of course you are. Silly of me to ask the obvious."
I had only stated simple facts, yet they kept laughing and agreeing as if it were the funniest thing in the world. Then they huddled together again and began whispering once more.
"...Meticulous. Barely shows a thing."
"Just as the knight predicted—someone has been helping the White Knight from the shadows."
"And the odds that this man is that someone look extremely high. But who in the world...?"
"...From the look of it, it doesn't seem like a purely professional relationship either."
"..."
How rude, talking about someone right in front of him. Were all knights like this? I thought of that knight named Dyke who had come looking for me in Beimesher, and took another sip of tea.
That made me wonder, just a little, how he was doing these days. He was a bit lacking, but a solid young man in my opinion, so I decided to ask after him while I was at it.
"By the way, is that knight Dyke doing well?"
"Wh—huh? Ah, Sir Dyke. Why the sudden question...?"
"I heard the knight order is holding him. Isn't that your side of things?"
"That is true, but... might I first ask why you're inquiring?"
"No reason. Just curious. If you'd rather not say, forget it."
Maybe it would be better to just ask Ru later. I shrugged once and lifted the teacup again. At the same moment, another eerily familiar scene unfolded before my eyes.
"...He just cut straight to the heart of the matter. What is he after?"
"Perhaps he was the one behind Dyke's arrest. Asking how far things have progressed, no?"
"Even so, how could anyone discuss such things in a public place like this? There are servants of the estate all around."
"A bold man. He really must be the White Knight's hidden ally."
"...We need to uncover his identity before the White Knight arrives."
"..."
What in the world had they been whispering about this whole time? The half-heard muttering kept tickling my ears, and irritation began to surge. At this point I was starting to doubt whether they were even real guests of Ru's.
No—doubt alone wasn't enough. Noble houses always attracted more swindlers and beggars than genuine visitors. Maybe the servants had let the wrong people in.
Lia had always advised that one must carefully screen every guest. Taking a page from her cautious attitude, I spoke with a deliberate edge.
"You two seem to have an awful lot to discuss between yourselves. Don't you?"
"Ah, hahaha. Rude of us again. Forgive me—speaking so freely in front of the master of the house..."
"I've told you several times already that I'm a guest, not the master. Now I'm starting to get a little curious myself."
"Curious about what?"
"..."
"Are you two even really knights?"
I tossed the question out with complete nonchalance. At those words, the old knight and Sovern both forgot why they had come and simply sat there with their mouths hanging open.
The shock lasted only a moment. Sovern was the first to flare up. Questioning the qualifications of a Knight of the Round Table—of all people—was an insult worthy of a duel challenge.
"What kind of outrageous nonsense is that...! Are you questioning our credentials right now?"
"..."
"Take it back at once. Otherwise..."
"...Heh heh."
"Hm? Sir Gorban?"
"Heh heh... heh heh. Ahahahahaha!"
Suddenly the old knight burst into roaring laughter. Once started, the laughter showed no sign of stopping, filling the entire drawing room until it overflowed.
Sovern forgot even his own anger and simply stared at him in a daze. The old knight no longer bothered to lower his voice as he spoke.
"So that was his meaning after all. Now I understand."
"What on earth are you talking about, Sir Gorban?"
"You still don't see it? That man is testing us. Asking whether we truly possess the qualifications of knights."
"That's exactly why I'm furious. Even if the White Knight stands behind him, how dare he question our—"
"No. He's asking about the qualifications of a true knight, Sir Sovern. Whether we are the sort of men who can rebuild the kingdom's order side by side with the White Knight. That is what he is asking."
There were many knights in this kingdom. Even among the Round Table the same was true. But if one asked how many knights could truly be trusted, the answer had become painfully difficult of late.
Especially for the White Knight. To that great hero, the difference between a knight and an ordinary person must have seemed almost negligible. And if that was true of the White Knight, how much more so for her one and only ally?
An old knight who had barged into the estate uninvited would have looked like nothing more than another mediocrity. Tossing out something as stupid as "Who are you?" only made it natural to be dismissed.
"I thought I'd accomplished a fair amount after decades of service to the kingdom. Yet it seems I don't measure up to the new power structure the White Knight is building. How vast a design is being drawn... my own abilities can't even begin to imagine it."
"...?"
"My heart is racing. To think that even at my age there is still something left to prove. But remember this, young man."
"Look, I still have no idea what either of you is talking about."
"The day of that proof may come sooner than you think."
The old knight's eyes flashed in that final moment. Only then did Sovern's expression shift into one of dawning comprehension. Claus, of course, continued to watch them both with the same blank face as ever.
Just as their gazes crossed, the White Knight finally strode into the drawing room. Having thrown on her full armor for the first time in a while and rushed over, Ru first extended a hand toward Claus.
"There you are, Cl—no, you. What were you discussing?"
"Nothing special, really."
"I'll have to ask them, then. It's been some time, Sir Gorban, Sir Sovern. May I inquire what business brings you here?"
"No need. We've already said everything we came to say, White Knight. Remaining any longer would only get in your way. We'll take our leave."
"Already?"
"I have no desire to waste your time without purpose. I truly apologize for the great discourtesy, White Knight."
He clasped the White Knight's hand and bowed deeply. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he stepped sideways and offered his hand to Claus as well.
Perhaps he simply wished to show respect to a talented young man he had not seen in a long while. That may well have been part of it—but in the final moment he leaned in and whispered to Claus:
"Contrary to what you may think, we already possess the necessary qualifications. I will prove it to you."
"What?"
"Three days from now, beneath the green grapevines where the bat's gaze cannot reach. Come there, and you will understand our intent."
"Where is that even—"
"Why play dumb? You already know full well."
It was a coded invitation to the tavern called Basil, on the northern outskirts of the Capital—the opposite side of the South Forest where the Vampire Elder lived. An old retired soldier who had always favored green armor ran the place, so aging knights had long referred to it that way.
It wasn't a story well known among the young, but a clever youth like this one would figure it out in no time. With that certainty, the old knight finished his farewell by giving Claus's shoulder a couple of firm pats.
Meanwhile, Sir Sovern was exchanging awkward pleasantries with the White Knight. Embarrassed by the way he had raised his voice earlier, he too was eager to leave as quickly as possible.
"Then I shall take my leave as well, White Knight. I truly apologize for the trouble."
"Not at all. More importantly—what was your actual business?"
"Nothing of consequence. I simply wished to congratulate you on your return."
"Hmm."
A textbook answer, yet hardly a convincing reason. As Ru stared straight at Sovern's face, a certain fact suddenly surfaced in her mind.
"Now that I think of it, you were in charge of Sir Dyke's interrogation. How is that progressing?"
"No progress. He still refuses to open his mouth."
"You must extract as much information as possible. Between us, I do not believe the traitor is Sir Dyke alone."
"Is that so? On that point... well, I actually agree, but..."
Something seemed to catch in Sovern's mind; he let the sentence trail off. Then he glanced carefully around before lowering his voice.
"Actually... there is something I must tell you in private."
"What is it?"
"Sir Dyke has not, in fact, said nothing at all. He did speak. And because I trust the White Knight more than anyone else in the Round Table, I have told no one else..."
"So what did he say? Speak quickly."
"He said this: that there is only one person to whom he will open his mouth. And that person, he claimed, is currently in the White Knight's custody."
"..."
"When I pressed him further..."
Sovern checked their surroundings once more. Then, in a voice even lower than before, he whispered to her:
"He told me to bring the man the White Knight kidnapped. Does such a man... truly exist?"