All along the way, Arendt asked Isabella various questions.
Most of the incidents were about the Motier estate and the Count’s family.
What was the population, what kind of person was the lord, were there any unusual signs before and after the incident?
Although she answered every question, Isabella couldn’t help but feel that the situation itself was strange.
In the end, Isabella had no choice but to take advantage of the break to ask Laius a question.
“I think it’s good that the apprentice knight is interested in this case. But isn’t it a bit much?”
“I apologize for Sir Arendt’s rudeness. I’m sorry. He has a very bad way of speaking.”
Laius bowed his head silently and apologized.
But Isabella shook her head.
“No, I don’t intend to reprimand him for that. I just find it a little strange.”
Of course, Isabella was also aware to so extent of Arendt’s position in the Empire.
She had also heard the story of when the Great Temple of the Caerleon Empire was attacked.
But even taking that into account, the atmosphere right now felt a bit unusual.
“Is there anything I should know in advance? If you let know, I will take note,” Isabella said calmly.
Then Laius looked at her with a slightly surprised look.
Isabella read the captain’s gaze and sighed lightly.
“I have a knack for things, Captain. It just doesn’t seem like you’re turning a blind eye to the antics of an apprentice knight…”
Isabella glanced at Arendt, who was mingling with his colleagues.
Arendt was having a pointless argunt with Llewellyn.
Around them, several other knights and even elf warriors were gathering, chiming in with a word or two, and Lexion pretended not to care and listened to their conversation, then made a comnt.
And even during the break, the Nephele Royal Knights did not disperse and could not take their eyes off them.
“Do you see the Royal Knights? Everyone is watching them curiously. But Captain Laius, this sight seems very familiar.”
Although Llewellyn was a man of easygoing nature, he was still a prince of a country.
However, the Third Knights did not seem to care at all about Llewellyn’s status.
Moreover, they were mingling freely with elves, who were famous for not getting close to humans.
The conversation between them was not always pretty, of course, but the sight of them talking comfortably across class and race was a refreshing sight to Isabella and the Nephele Royal Knights.
What was even more surprising was that the center of this odd combination was an apprentice knight who rarely smiled and was just plain grumpy.
“I would not be so foolish as to neglect the one who can persuade the dragon. To make such a mistake would an that I am unworthy of the throne.”
Isabella smiled bitterly.
“I already knew before we set off that he was a young man who could not be judged by appearance alone.”
When Arendt first visited the palace, she realized too late that he had only been pretending to be docile to get what he wanted.
“So, personally, I don’t like him that much… but he is still the benefactor of the Nephele Kingdom, and I can’t ruin the mood when he is helping again.”
“…I am just grateful that you look at it positively.”
Laius bowed his head slightly.
Isabella looked at him and continued speaking seriously.
“But since this is a situation that doesn’t make sense, I’m asking for advice on how I should take it. There’s a chance that I or the Royal Knights might commit a mistake.”
Isabella paused for a mont and then added.
“To be honest, I’m trying to prevent that from happening in advance because I’m afraid that if I touch on it for no reason, it’ll just upset .”
“…”
Laius closed his mouth.
It was sothing he couldn’t deny.
After a brief silence, Laius began to speak.
“…That guy is difficult for to understand, so it’s hard for to say anything easy. However, if Your Highness permits, I think I can tell you a few things.”
“Please.”
Isabella granted her permission.
Laius, who had been taking a deep breath as if choosing his words, slowly began to speak.
“Arendt doesn’t do aningless things. Even if it’s hard to understand at the mont, he’s the kind of person who will bring about definite results later on, so I would appreciate it if you could be generous and understanding even if his actions make you feel a little uncomfortable.”
“…Okay.”
Isabella nodded, and a flash of intense interest crossed her eyes.
Was he really the one who saved the hero’s life?
It was too much trust for a re apprentice knight to handle.
But neither Laius nor Arendt, who accepted that trust, seed to find that point strange at all.
While she was lost in thought for a mont, Laius spoke again.
“And there are a few more things I would like to tell you.”
Isabella began to secretly anticipate what words would co out of the hero’s mouth next.
“Yes, go ahead.”
Because stories about a straightforward hero and his eccentric companions were always fun.
But unexpected words ca out of Laius’ mouth.
“I hope you don’t listen too closely to what that guy is saying, because half of it is nonsense. I think it would be best to convey this to the Nephele Royal Knights as well.”
“…”
“It might be better not to talk to him at all. Otherwise, soone will grab the back of their neck in anger even before we reach our destination.”
There was a certainty in Laius’ voice that so of them would be provoked by Arendt.
Isabella found herself making a strange expression without realizing it.
“That, Captain Laius. I don’t an to scold you, I’m just curious… I heard that Sir Arendt is still an apprentice knight, and he seems sincere in following you, but can’t you stop him?”
“No.”
Laius answered firmly.
“It would be easier to fight the dragon than to stop Arendt. Even Lexion has given up.”
“…”
For Arendt, even dragons were treated as convenient vehicles.
After a long while, Isabella nodded with difficulty.
“…I see. I understand.”
As advised by Laius, it seed necessary to notify the Royal Knights in advance before anything happened.
Although Llewellyn and the knights did their best to keep Arendt away, and Isabella even inford the Nephele Royal Knights about him advance, it was inevitable that so people would be sacrificed.
By the ti they finally reached their destination, the tension that had been surrounding the Royal Knights had lted away like snow.
Instead, the number of people who were angry at the insolent apprentice knight and started gritting their teeth, vowing to get revenge soday, only increased.
“I am honored to et Your Highness the Crown Princess. I am honored that you have co to my humble estate in person.
The lord, who ca out of the castle himself to welco the Crown Princess, kept checking Isabella’s expression as she looked strangely tired.
“It has been a long ti since I have seen you, Your Highness… it seems that you have been tired from the long journey. Should we first prepare a place for you to rest?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Isabella refused with a forced smile.
The fatigue she felt now wasn’t due to the long journey or anything like that.
She, too, was a mber of the royal family and had received swordsmanship training, so it was unlikely that she would tire easily from a journey of this magnitude.
It was just a little disheartening to see her knights lose their dignity just because of a single apprentice knight.
“This is Captain Laius de Winfried of the Third Order of the Imperial Knights of the Caerleon Empire. He is accompanied by the Acting Captain of the Fog Forest Guard, Instructor Zakar, and Prince Llewellyn of the Everan Kingdom.”
Isabella simply changed the subject.
Fortunately, the head of the Marquis Raytar family, the lord of the house, turned his attention towards the distinguished visitors.
Marquis Raytar smiled brightly and shook hands with Laius.
“It is a pleasure to et you, heroes who bravely fight against the Evil Cult on the front lines. The Nephele Kingdom will never forget this favor.”
“I am Laius de Winfried. Nice to et you.”
Laius, who ca forward as a representative, took the hand extended by the Marquis.
“The situation is urgent, so I would like to keep the small talk to a minimum and get straight to the point. I heard that the survivor of the Motier family is being protected here. Would it be possible to et with him?”
“Ah, you’re talking about Grimson. What a pitiful fellow.”
Marquis Raytar’s eyebrows imdiately furrowed.
“His condition is still not very good, but I will prepare for the eting as quick as possible. I have also prepared a room for you all to stay in. Please follow . I will guide you.”
“Thank you.”
Laius nodded lightly.
The Marquis, who had bowed his head to him, turned again to guide the group.
Then Isabella called him over.
“Marquis, may I ask you one thing?”
“Hmm? Of course, Your Highness. Feel free to ask anything.”
Marquis Raytar looked puzzled by the sudden question.
Isabella said seriously.
“If possible… I would like to have separate quarters for the Imperial Knights and the Royal Knights. I don’t mind if the Royal Knights stay in a separate inn outside.”
It was a rather unexpected request.
“Yes?”
Marquis Raytar blinked his eyes in puzzlent.
Next to the Crown Princess who had a serious face, Laius was holding his forehead and unable to even raise his head.
Beside him, Llewellyn was desperately holding back his laughter, while Zakar began to slyly make fun of the situation.
The Marquis, who had been standing there blankly, unable to understand the situation for a mont, quickly nodded his head.
“I’ll tell them to get it ready. It might take so ti, but I’ll be able to get it ready in no ti.”
“Arendt is a plague. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to isolate him, guys?”
Llewellyn, unable to hold back his laughter, asked jokingly.
Zakar, who had been observing the situation, quietly intervened.
“It’s not just Sir Arendt. The Third Knights have also been affected quite a bit.”
“And the Fog Forest Guard as well.”
Llewellyn spoke with a hint of mischief.
Zakar, who still had so conscience left, did not deny it.
Laius’ head lowered even further.
Isabella, unable to either confirm or deny the answer, simply stayed silent.
After letting both sides enter the quarters, Laius and Isabella gathered only the core mbers and headed to the drawing room to et Grimson, the caretaker who had escaped from Count Motier’s territory.
They were accompanied by Arendt, Lexion, and the Royal Knights who were Isabella’s escorts.
While waiting for Grimson in the reception room, the captain of the Nephele Royal Knights looked at Arendt and Lexion and questioned with a suspicious look.
“Why are those two together?”
“It is impolite to ddle in the affairs of other nations, Captain Neville.”
But Isabella cut him off.
Neville imdiately lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
But he still looked like he couldn’t shake off his doubts.
If Prince Llewellyn or Zakar, the instructor of the Fog Forest Guard, had accompanied her, then it might have been different, but Arendt was rely an apprentice knight.
Moreover, since Lexion was not even a mber of the Imperial Knights, but was simply disguised as an archmage, it was natural for Neville to find it strange.
Furthermore…
“Captain Neville, how many tis have I told you that it’s all because I’m so good? Your learning ability is really lacking.”
“…”
Neville was the one who Arendt harassed the most during their journey.
Laius, who had noticed the tendons on Neville’s forehead rising again, quietly intervened.
“Be quiet, Arendt. I’m sorry, Captain Neville. Let apologize on his behalf.”
“…No. It’s okay.”
Neville answered with a face that didn’t look all that okay.
Isabella sighed inwardly, pressing her temples.
‘Captain Neville was never a pushover either.’
It was almost surprising that a person could beco like that in just two days.
Fortunately for Neville and Isabella, there wasn’t much ti left for small talk.
Not long after, the door to the reception room opened.
“Thank you for waiting so long. I brought Grimson.”
Behind Marquis Raytar, who was speaking politely, a man was barely able to enter the reception room, supported by a servant.
Isabella and Laius composed themselves and sat up straight, restoring the disrupted atmosphere.
From now on, they had to stay sharp.
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