Under the strongest defense ever, Arendt was allowed only to eat, sleep, roll around, and muck around.
Even taking a single step out of bed was not possible because Lumiel looked at him with sad eyes.
“No, isn’t this a bit much?”
“You have to repay your karma. I’ll have Jen bring you so more snacks later.”
It was an incredibly annoying remark from Cantares, who ca during a brief mont of free ti.
Regardless of whether he was going crazy or not, the knights, elves, and attendants didn’t care at all.
Whenever he couldn’t hold out any longer and was about to explode with frustration, a delicious snack would inevitably be moved into his mouth.
“…”
In that case, Arendt had no choice but to munch on the snacks with a pouty face. The reality was that, right now, he couldn’t move without help.
Having succeeded in effectively confining Arendt, they next focused on fending off external pressure.
“Can’t I et with Sir Arendt just once? I heard he’s regained consciousness.”
“No.”
Richt gave a blunt answer to the nobles who were earnestly pleading.
“I don’t know what your purpose is, but he’s still recovering. If you have any further business, please contact him through the captain.”
“…”
It was a nice remark, but ultimately, if it was sothing they couldn’t even bring up in front of Laius, it ant, “Shut up and get out of here.” Thus, all the requests, bribes, and favours that could have been directed at Arendt were cut off from the source.
Arthur said incredulously, looking at the nobleman who was walking away with his shoulders slumped.
“What is that person’s purpose again?”
“I heard one of his relatives joined the Chernion Cult and disappeared. He’s probably worried about being implicated in the cri of association, so he wants to ask Arendt for advice.”
Laius and Cantares were people who would not budge at such a request, so his intention was to cling to Arendt.
“How many people have we t already? Yesterday, a priest from a distant Luce Church ca to visit, saying he wanted to discuss things.”
“What do you an discuss? He clearly ca to protest. Since there hasn’t been an official announcent from the Imperial Family regarding the Luce Church, they might think things can go back to the way they were.”
But there was one thing they overlooked…
Arendt was by no ans a pushover. Anyone who knew anything about him would avoid even eye contact.
Arthur sighed, watching the noble’s retreating back.
“There will co a ti when he will be glad that he was kicked out.”
“If he gets caught, it won’t end like that.”
Arthur said jokingly as Richt agreed.
“In fact, wouldn’t Arendt be delighted? If we threw him a toy or two like that, he’d finally be free of his boredom.”
“You can’t call people toys. And regardless of his wishes, our job remains the sa.”
After a brief pause, Richt added:
“If anything happens that could even slightly disturb Arendt’s rest, we all die at the hands of the Captain.”
“…That’s right, right. His Highness won’t stay still either.”
The two people, recalling the images of Laius and Cantares issuing the order, shuddered involuntarily.
That damn apprentice knight from the Third Knights had an overly strong backing.
“The death toll hasn’t even been tallied yet, and the number of missing people is unknown… This is really a headache.”
Cantares pressed his temples.
Jereon handed him a cup of warm tea while he was racking his brain.
“Didn’t you say that many missing people were found in the sa place as Warren and Stellar? They were said to be trapped inside the ghouls’ bodies?”
“That’s right. But only a few of the people found there could be identified.”
Cantares sighed.
They were also desperate to increase their forces. Surrendered civilians and captured victims were imdiately used as ghoul material and sent to the main body.
The few who managed to survive were summarily executed at Warren and Stellar’s discretion.
According to Warren, even those who were alive at the ti were in no condition to do anything. They said it was better for them to die.
Those whose identities were even known were among the lucky ones. Most would have been turned into ghouls and dealt with by the knights without anyone knowing who they were.
Cantares pressed his temples and fell into thought.
“First, let’s request support from the Neumann rchant Group… They say they secured sufficient supplies before the war, so for now, we should do our best to help the victims.”
“The elves and reinforcents from other kingdoms are also lending a helping hand, so I don’t think it’ll take too long to recover. And as for the Great Temple…”
Jereon trailed off.
“It looks like it’ll take so ti before they settle on a stance.”
“Haaah. I guess so.”
Cantares sighed, his head throbbing with pain. There was constant bickering over the restoration of the Great Temple.
“It will have to be rebuilt… but I’m not sure. The question is how much authority to grant the Luce Church.”
The priests of the Great Temple, who had lost their holy powers, responded lukewarmly to the topic.
And High Priest Lumiel was too busy taking care of Arendt.
So he thought it would pass more quietly than he thought, but he was wrong.
Instead, it was the Luce priests who remained in the province who ran wild.
“After all, seeing and hearing it in person is different from being inford of the situation in writing.”
Jereon spoke in a complicated tone. In the palace, most people were now listening to Arendt.
The claim that Luce and Chernion were accomplices, that Luce neglected the Chernion Cult to increase His own power and then used the Holy Sword and the people to achieve victory, was only now beginning to make sense.
Arendt, who was the first to make such a claim, not only received support from Laius, the heads of various kingdoms, and the dragon…
“And on top of that, he personally risked his life to rescue the High Priest.”
Cantares added, resting his chin on his hand.
It was safe to say that there were no more fools left to question Arendt’s sincerity.
“But those who haven’t experienced it firsthand will find it absurd. Because of a single remark from an apprentice knight, the Caerleon Empire’s national religion is about to lose its status.”
“What do you think, Your Highness?”
“Haven’t I already made my position clear a long ti ago?”
Cantares rolled his eyes at Jereon’s mischievous question.
“The local priests ca to protest again today. They said Arendt had slandered God. That’s not entirely wrong. What’s been revealed to the public now is half a fabrication.”
But even that was a lie to protect people from the hand of God.
“In the end, the truth beca sothing only Arendt knew…”
Cantares lowered his gaze. Although he claid he had slandered God, Arendt never revealed the truth.
‘Is it because he decided not to say anything, or because he can’t say anything?’
Unless Arendt opens his mouth, they would never know the truth.
“For now, we just have to insist that what’s known is the truth and push forward.”
Jereon asked casually, as if the sa thought had occurred to him.
“Have you ever considered asking Sir Arendt what the truth is? Since this is a matter of national importance, perhaps we should at least touch on it.”
“…”
A brief silence passed. Cantares, lost in deep thought, remained silent for a mont, unable to respond.
After a while.
“…It’s okay for now.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yeah. Stirring up a hornet’s nest for no reason would just make things worse. And if the ti cos and he feels we need to know, he’ll tell us himself.”
Cantares began to move the pen he had been using to process the papers again.
“The fact that he’s still keeping quiet ans we don’t need to know. And I’m not fond of poking a patient who clearly doesn’t want to talk.”
“I see.”
Jereon nodded in agreent. Then, Cantares asked.
“You won’t lecture ? Even though I’m deciding a national matter based on sothing as petty as personal sentint?”
“I will always follow Your Highness’ will. I have no objections.”
Cantares pouted as the aide smiled brightly.
“It sounds like you’re subtly suggesting that you’re leaving all decisions up to . Isn’t it the role of an aide to offer advice when your lord misbehaves?”
“That’s certainly true, but I know better than anyone that you won’t listen to my advice.”
“…”
There was nothing more to say about that part. When Cantares closed his mouth again, Jereon chuckled.
“And I agree. I don’t see any need to object. I think it’s okay to just cover it up and move on.”
“You call it ‘cover it up’ so blatantly.”
Only then did Cantares chuckle.
“Oh, and Sir Richt just reported that Count Olivia ca to see Sir Arendt.”
“Alright.”
Cantares nodded.
“I’ll rember it well.”
The Crown Prince’s tone, as he spoke, was laced with a hint of murderous intent. Nearly ten people had already left their nas in the Crown Prince’s “mories” in this manner. Jereon smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“I heard that Sir Arendt is recovering well. I went to deliver so snacks earlier and heard that Lord Lexion will soon cast his final healing spell.”
“Really? That’s faster than I thought.”
To monitor the recovery process and minimize aftereffects and scars, Lexion had been casting healing spells sequentially. And now, the final stage of treatnt had finally arrived.
“They say that so aftereffects are unavoidable, but… they say that if he doesn’t overdo it, it won’t affect his daily life.”
“The aftereffects… he didn’t take care of his body, so this is what happened in the end.”
When Cantares grumbled in displeasure, Jereon spoke comfortingly.
“Don’t worry, I don’t think there will be any major problems. Anyway, shouldn’t we start the preparations?”
“Preparation? For what?”
When Cantares raised his head, Jereon smiled brightly.
“It’s what Captain Laius requested.”
“Oh, right.”
Only then did a pleasant smile appear on Cantares’ lips.
“Even if Captain Laius hadn’t said anything, I was already planning to handle it on my end. But since things have co to this, we might as well do it properly.”
“If that’s the case, it would be best to expedite the recovery process. Only after the situation stabilizes can everyone eat and drink comfortably.”
A victory banquet.
That was exactly what Laius had asked: to hold a victory celebration after Arendt recovered.
“We can’t boast about our achievents while leaving out the apprentice knight who saved the nation.”
Cantares said playfully.
Now that the wounds of war had been sowhat healed, the ti had co to encourage the victors and to mourn those who had fallen.
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