Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Ember (6)
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The knights didn't hesitate for a second once they learned that a rural farmhouse had been attacked by magical beasts. They sprang into action without delay.
That swift response was thanks to the unwavering first principle of the world restoration organization Prius—clear and unshakeable.
To save people from magical beasts and demons.
No matter their race, status, or the political circumstances.
By the time Shuren, Wedin, and the other knights from the dining hall returned to the public hall, the banquet venue—where the evening feast should have been in full swing—was in complete disarray.
Soldiers and knights rushed back and forth busily, while lavish dishes sat untouched on the long tables.
Flavia's lord and the nobles murmured restlessly, without even touching their meals.
Has word of the magical beast attack already spread? I wondered—but that wasn't it.
"The crown prince? This can't be happening. How can they just—"
A pale-faced duchess paced about in disheveled disarray.
Her gown was still resplendent, but even her fan couldn't hide her nervous nail-biting.
"Calm yourself, Evela. It may not be set in stone yet."
The White Guard Knight tried to soothe her, but his efforts were met with sharp rebuke.
"You still don't grasp the gravity of this. Prince Raymond is being made crown prince and given direct command of the royal knights!"
"While I've been away, what has your son been doing?"
The duchess snapped at him venomously.
The White Guard Knight remained composed, but those around him were stunned.
Especially Clemence, standing at his side—her face drained of all color.
"Lib, Shuren."
As the White Guard Knight struggled to calm the duchess, Father approached us.
I told him what we'd seen.
"Father, a remote farmhouse far out has been attacked by magical beasts. There was fire, and flying ones in the sky."
Father's face hardened instantly.
He stepped between the White Guard Knight and the duchess to relay the news.
As expected, the White Guard Knight took it gravely.
"Bad news keeps piling up. Blue Guard Knight, assemble a knight detachment and head out. Evela, I'll handle wrapping up the banquet—return to your room."
The White Guard Knight's orders seemed appropriate and efficient.
But the duchess clearly disagreed.
Ignoring those around her, she unleashed on him without restraint.
"Magical beasts are the problem right now? That fool of a prince is seizing power and turning the kingdom upside down! We need to lead the knights to the capital at once. You—to remind them that Prius is our ally...!"
"Evela!"
The White Guard Knight's furious roar was loud enough to turn every head in the banquet hall.
The air froze, chills running down spines.
I'd never seen him lose his temper like that.
"Go to your room. Now. We'll talk there."
Under his terrifying aura, the duchess paled and fell silent.
She shot a fierce glare at him and those nearby before turning on her heel and storming out.
As per the White Guard Knight's orders, Father assembled a detachment to drive off the beasts.
The Silver Guard Knights and Silver Moon Knights took the lead, joined by knights from the White Guard.
Many hadn't returned from dinner yet, so nearly all the knights at the public hall were included.
The whole process was over in moments, with just a word or two from Father. The knights finished preparations swiftly.
"Lib."
Just before departure, the Silver Guard Knight and Father called me over.
"We'll need Ash's help to reach the site. It'd be great if he could guide us."
"Got it. I'll talk to Ash."
It was only natural. Ash could lead them to the beasts by the quickest route.
Simple enough, I thought—yet my heart pounded inexplicably.
Was I really going to be separated from Ash, who was always by my side?
That would be... fine, right? Yeah, it'd be okay.
"Ash!"
Ash, waiting outside, bounded into the building at my call.
A few people startled, but he ignored them and came straight to me.
"Ash, we need you to guide us to the magical beasts."
'No problem.'
Ash replied curtly, then spun around and headed back out.
I nodded to the Silver Guard Knight and Father.
"Follow him."
The Silver Guard Knight, Shuren, the Silver Moon Knights, and White Guard knights all mounted up and charged after Ash in unison.
I watched their retreating figures.
Ash's presence and the knights' faded into the distance... until I could sense nothing at all.
An empty void bloomed inside me.
Anxiety I hadn't felt since turning twelve began to fill it.
"They'll be fine."
Father placed a hand on my shoulder, gazing out at the dust cloud billowing outside.
I knew his reassurance and my worry weren't the same, but I nodded without showing it.
They'll be back soon. No need to worry...
I repeated it to myself over and over.
"More pressing matters here, though."
The banquet hall was a total mess.
Lavish feast dishes lay cold and half-eaten on the long tables; servants milled about uncertainly, awaiting orders.
The White Guard Knight and officials awkwardly apologized to Flavia's nobles, sending them home one by one—a thoroughly embarrassing affair.
"I need to assist the White Guard Knight. Stay with your friends if you can... I'm worried about Clemence."
I spotted Clemence and Wedin at one end of the banquet table.
Clemence sat pale and rigid; Wedin offered her water, trying to calm her.
"Wedin and I will be with her."
Father patted my shoulder lightly and hurried back to the White Guard Knight.
The garden encircling the public hall was dark and still.
Untended shrubs and plants sprawled wildly over the paths; streetlamps flickered uncertainly, as if about to die out.
Still, it brought Clemence some comfort, thankfully.
"Fresh air makes it so much better."
She sighed, her face much improved.
Behind her stretched a starry night sky.
The cool breeze carried a hint of dust, but it was far more pleasant than the chaotic banquet hall.
I silently agreed with her.
With friends around, the anxiety surging since Ash vanished eased a bit.
"So, Prince Raymond becoming crown prince is a huge deal?"
We'd just started finding solace in the scenery when Wedin brought it up again.
He frowned, recapping what Clemence had told him.
"From Mother's perspective, yes."
Clemence leaned against the railing, her expression conflicted.
A wind from Flavia's plains whipped her silver hair.
"It's not that shocking for the only prince to become crown prince once he comes of age."
I stated the obvious, perching casually on a wooden crate.
At the height of the banquet hosted by Flavia's lord and nobles, a messenger burst into the hall.
He bore the crest of House Lesis.
Ignoring the stares and murmurs, he went straight to the duchess and delivered urgent news.
Last night, King Karon Lesis had named his son, Prince Raymond, crown prince—and granted him shared command of the royal knights.
The duchess panicked at the news, screaming; Sir Jennerd, captain of the royal knights, left in flustered haste with his men.
To verify what had happened.
"There've been endless rumors about Prince Raymond's character and qualifications. The nobles' backlash has been fierce—which is how Father was reinstated as Duke Lesis, riding that wave."
"Must've been intense opposition to even crown the only prince."
"Yeah... Mother says the king is faint-hearted and can't withstand the pushback.
Legitimacy technically lies with the eldest legitimate son, Raymond... but
Parents and nobles claim the Lesis royal family's 'true legitimacy' belongs to White Guard Knight Petron Lesis, firstborn of hero Allen Lesis."
"So Duke Ozric Lesis, the White Guard Knight's son, holds the 'true legitimacy'?"
Legitimacy versus true legitimacy.
Impossible to judge which matters more.
Or maybe legitimacy is just an excuse.
"Can they revoke or replace the crown prince?"
Wedin asked after some thought.
"Never happened in history."
Clemence answered firmly.
"That's why they've opposed the crowning so vehemently. Once named, succession procedures kick off one by one. Sharing royal knight command from the start is extreme, though."
"This doesn't seem like something we... or the White Guard Knight can fix."
Unlike the duchess's wishes, the White Guard Knight had no desire to meddle in Lesion Kingdom politics.
Clemence let out a deep sigh, glancing up at the lit third-floor window of the public hall.
That was the duchess's room. No doubt a fierce argument raged between her and the White Guard Knight right now.
"Grandfather accepted the Lesion delegation to establish a Prius knight academy branch in Elgrace.
He wanted to train Prius knights everywhere to save more people. But it feels like that wish is being exploited."
Clemence clenched the hem of her banquet gown in frustration.
"Clemence..."
Words of comfort wouldn't come.
Wedin wore a complicated look, silent too.
As tangled words settled quietly, a rustle came from the bushes behind us.
"Did you just...?"
"I heard it too."
Wedin stood.
No one should be here, at this hour, in this situation.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, Barkus emerged abruptly from the tree shadows.
"Oh, you guys."
Barkus, in banquet attire, blinked in surprise at us.
I'd heard he'd attended as court mage.
In his hand was an open box of red flowers.
"Ah, that...!"
I gasped.
If that red flower box was the long-range communication tool Barkus mentioned, he could grasp Elgrace's situation faster than anyone.
Whether Prince Raymond truly became crown prince, seized royal knight command.
What Duke Lesis was doing, where.
As I acknowledged him, Barkus panicked, snapping the lid shut.
He hurriedly tucked it into his bosom, as if to hide it from me.