Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Crossroads (1)
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Clemence was furious about it. She clasped her hands tightly together and glared down at her toes.
"Uh... wait a second. What about you?"
Wedin asked, sounding confused. Clemence let out a small sigh at the end of her anger.
"Grandfather said it's my choice. If I want to become part of Lesion's royalty, I can leave Prion and live with my parents. If not, I can stay here and live as an ordinary citizen."
Clemence... Lesion royalty.
I'd known about her bloodline for a long time, but since we'd grown so close without any reservations, it didn't feel real.
Bloodline aside, Clemence was just an ordinary girl who loved tending to the garden with her own hands, dirt and all.
"So I chose to stay here."
Clemence looked up. There didn't seem to be any hesitation in that choice.
"When did this come up?"
I leaned in slightly toward her.
"About a year ago. My parents sent a messenger saying I'd been reinstated as royalty."
"And you chose to stay in Prion as an ordinary citizen?"
"Yeah. I thought that was the end of it, but three weeks ago, another messenger came. A delegation request to Lesion Kingdom... And my father and mother said they have the right to take me with them."
"What does that mean?"
Wedin spat out in a cold voice as he shot to his feet.
Clemence bowed her head. Seeing her shrink back like that made my insides burn.
Wedin got angry on her behalf.
"Your parents weren't even around for you. And now they want to take you away?"
"Grandfather said the exact same thing. He was furious and said he wouldn't let them do as they please."
Clemence gave a wistful smile.
It was more than enough reason for the White Guard Knight, who doted on his granddaughter, to lose his temper.
I felt my own anger boiling up too.
I couldn't let them drag her off, ignoring her wish to live ordinarily in Prion. Not even if they were her parents.
"After that, Grandfather looked into things. Apparently, the situation in Lesion Kingdom isn't great."
The current king, Karon Lesis, has one son, but he's said to be fierce-tempered, selfish, and openly hostile toward other races.
"If that guy becomes king, it could sour relations with other countries and spark a war. So the opposing nobles want to elevate Father... I mean, Duke Lesis, to the throne."
Even if it's the nobles pushing it, her father's own ambitions must be involved.
Not content with just reinstating himself as royalty, Clemence's father now aimed for the crown.
"And they need me for that."
Clemence gripped the hem of her dress tightly with her pale hands.
"Why you?"
"Probably as a political bargaining chip. Like a political marriage..."
"No way."
I cut off her words.
I didn't even want to think about something so awful.
Wedin clutched his head and groaned.
"And you're just going along with it? Couldn't you have said no?"
"Grandfather always respects my choices. If I'd said no, he would've let me stay."
"Then why?"
Clemence looked at us with calm, resolute eyes.
"Because my parents won't stop. They'll use any means to take me, no matter what. They've been obsessed with reclaiming their status all this time, barely even visiting me."
Her voice carried resentment and sorrow, leaving us unable to say more.
At the same time, Clemence stated firmly, her resolve unshakable.
"So I'm going to meet them myself, judge the situation, and try to convince them. Grandfather said he'll support me."
"What if you end up having to stay? You won't come back to Prion?"
We wouldn't get to see Clemence anymore?
Just the thought made my chest burn black.
Clemence smiled faintly and shook her head.
"I'll definitely come back. Prion is my home. Even so... they're still my parents. I want to know why things turned out this way. I don't just want to resent them."
Her strong determination made me swallow hard without realizing it.
It was heartbreaking and infuriating that she'd been pushed into this unfair situation, but she was facing it head-on to resolve it somehow.
"Still, I wish you wouldn't go."
Wedin said in an angry voice.
"What if your parents force you to stay? Or trick you with lies? You're too trusting; you might fall for it..."
"Then Wedin, you watch over her."
I suggested a solution.
Wedin's mouth fell open, and Clemence's eyes widened.
"Wedin? You're going with the delegation too?"
"...I haven't decided yet."
Wedin shot me a dissatisfied glare. I chuckled.
"Now you can decide. Saint Grain is joining the delegation to Lesion Kingdom, and he's gotten permission for his disciple Wedin to come along."
"I see..."
"I'd feel better if Wedin went with Clemence."
Kind and gentle Clemence might decide to stay and help her parents, even sacrificing her own future.
I really didn't want to see that as her friend.
With Wedin's suspicious nature, he'd definitely be helpful.
Wedin crossed his arms, thought for a moment, then nodded toward me.
"Well, in that case... I'm more worried about you."
"...Huh?"
What did he mean?
I turned to Clemence, who sighed softly and nodded in agreement with Wedin.
"He's right. Lib would be left alone. It's good that Shuren's back, but with the Blue Guard Knight, Wedin, and Saint Grain all away..."
"Wait, why worry about me? I'm planning to hole up in the northern forest all vacation."
I asked incredulously, and Clemence and Wedin exchanged meaningful glances.
I should be the one worrying.
With recent sightings of magical beasts and demons on the rise, the journey to Lesion Kingdom wouldn't be easy.
"We know, but you just seem so precarious somehow."
"Precarious...?"
Clemence chuckled softly.
"Maybe it's a habit from worrying about you since we were kids, with all those incidents."
Ugh, seriously.
I let out a small sigh.
Those past events were so vividly etched in everyone's minds that people often looked at me with concern, like I might vanish at any moment.
Even now, as a proper student in the Knight Academy's magic division, hanging out with peers and living normally. Though my stamina and height still lagged behind...
Knock knock.
There was a knock at the door. Shuren poked his head in.
"What are you all talking about?"
His face was flushed; he must have drunk quite a bit. I smiled a little.
"Bro, you haven't had too much to drink?"
"This is nothing."
I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
Shuren giggled as he came in and plopped down in the empty armchair.
"Ahh, I'm beat. Hope I didn't interrupt."
"No. We were talking about the Lesion delegation leaving next week."
Shuren nodded at Clemence's words.
"I heard a bit. A huge delegation with the White and Blue Guard Knights."
"And these two are going too."
Shuren sat up straight in surprise at my addition. The alcohol seemed to have worn off.
Wedin grumbled beside him that it wasn't decided yet.
"Really? Why?"
"There's a situation. I'll explain later. It's late today..."
As Clemence straightened her pale dress and stood, Wedin and I instinctively rose too.
"Leaving?"
"Yeah. Time to head back. Thanks for caring... I'll visit often before the delegation leaves. Gotta see your faces a lot."
Clemence smiled lightly, much more at ease.
It seemed impossible to change her mind now that she'd set it so firmly.
She listened to and respected others' opinions, but she was honest with her own feelings and incredibly resolute.
Probably inherited from her grandfather.
Shuren and I saw Clemence and Wedin off down to the lower path of the mansion.
Wedin insisted to the end that he hadn't decided, but he seemed pretty set on it.
Unlike Clemence, he wasn't honest with his feelings—that was his personality.
And I felt an emptiness in my heart at the thought of not seeing them soon.
Shuren slung his arm over my shoulder.
"Don't look so down, Lib. I'll be here."
"I'm fine. It's just for a little while."
I tried to play it cool.
They'd been my constant friends since childhood, always there whenever I wanted. But for a while... it'd be tough.
I swallowed a deep, sighing breath and looked up at Shuren.
"You'll be busier soon, bro. Gotta choose which knight order."
Having finished his graduation exam and knight escort duties, all that was left was official assignment to a knight order and missions.
He had to pick one from the White Guards, Blue Guards, Red Guards, or Black Guards—a crucial crossroads that would shape his life, duties, even life and death.
"Still thinking about it."
We walked slowly toward the house.
A quiet night with the white moon risen.
The area was all mansions with vast gardens, no people or noise.
"Most people go for Red or Black Guards. They recruit the most new knights... But they operate abroad mostly, so no living in Prion."
"They recruit a lot because it's that dangerous, right?"
The Red Guards under Red Guard Knight Merian Cortis, and Black Guards under Black Guard Knight Jin Gregor.
Both operated overseas, rarely returning to Prion.
"Dangerous, sure. But I've gotten strong enough to face it. The orders you can live in Prion with are White and Blue Guards..."
"White Guards serve under the White Guard Knight?"
"Yeah. Biggest unit, mostly patrolling, guarding, defending in Prion. Occasional external support."
I nodded.
That's why most knights in Prion were White Guards; other colors were rare.
"Blue Guards are training and education. Special unit of instructors and trainees; hardly any new recruits.
So White Guards it is... Safer than others since it's in Prion."
"Sounds good."
Either way, I'd rather Shuren be safe than risk danger.
But Shuren shook his head with a wry smile.
"Thing is, traveling the last year and a half made me realize living in Prion is a real blessing.
Ran into lots of magical beasts, bandits. Even shady folks preying on travelers, kidnapping them.
Helping people in trouble, knowing I could do something... felt great."
"...I see."
"Body aches, but if it's something I can do, I want to tackle it all. That's why I studied and trained hard."
True...
I agreed, but I couldn't shake the wish for him to take a safe path.
"Working in Prion would be safe and comfy, but I'm not sure I'd be satisfied."
"So you want Red or Black Guards?"
Shuren fell silent, deep in thought.
"Yeah... Not worried about danger, but being away from Prion long-term bugs me. Still time, so I'll think more."
If he went Red or Black, it'd be hard to meet again.
Regret filled me, but knowing how hard he'd trained, I couldn't be selfish.
I grabbed Shuren's arm around my shoulder.
"Just choose what you want, bro."
"I will."
Shuren tightened his arm and pulled me into a tight hug.