'Master...'
'It really does sound nice...' Ellis couldn't help but think, a smile forming almost instinctively, as he heard Silas's voice.
Not just because of the way she called him, but because of who was saying it, as after these four years, their relationship had deepened once again.
If before she saw him as the prince first, then as a child, or anything else.
Now, it was different.
Now, his identity as a prince was a secondary thing for her... and Ellis himself had beco more important than anything.
Her priorities had changed!
He had beco her everything!
She, herself, had said she wanted to give him her loyalty, after all. And he could feel it... her dedication, her devotion, in the way she acted afterward, in how it only grew stronger with ti.
Had he really done sothing so special to deserve that?
Actually, no... he had just been kind to her. Kind to a normal extent, if he ignored his mischievous, lewd antics.
... So, was it simply that he was that charismatic?
Or did society, and her past as an orphan, have sothing to do with it?
"Finally..." While putting these thoughts aside, he couldn't help but say with excitent, rising from his seat in the library and heading toward the main hall.
Galen Valeson, the Royal Knight Commander.
For Ellis, who had so many thoughts and fantasies about magic, but still ended up not walking the path of a mage and instead focused on theory, the existence of knights held great importance.
They represented a possible key... sothing that might help him find a way to raise his physical strength.
After all, in the four years he had lived in this world, Ellis's constitution hadn't improved through his own efforts at all.
The only changes were what ca naturally with age—he had simply grown a bit stronger, like any child would.
But was that enough for him?
Naturally, no.
But Ellis was unable to find any clue about the way knight training worked through the library, and even Silas didn't give him any satisfactory answer.
So, he had been waiting eagerly for his fourth birthday, for the chance to finally begin knight training himself, and uncover the thod they used to raise their physical strength, on his own.
Of course, he still believed magical knowledge was important. Crucial for the future, even, it could very well hold answers to problems he might one day face.
But it didn't translate to direct power. So, it didn't hold that high of a priority for him.
Right now, what he lacked the most was in his close-range ability... physical strength. And he intended to fill that gap with knight training.
... Because relying on blank points to raise his constitution was even more difficult.
After all, he couldn't possibly go out and start searching for monsters, when he is just four years old... let alone start killing people.
And if there are other possible paths in front of him, he wants to explore them.
Anyway, he felt that the training knights went through could be a perfect match for him.
So, while he still planned to continue training in his skills, and even keep studying magic knowledge, his main focus from now on would be knight training.
And his soon-to-be teacher... or instructor? Had finally arrived!
...
Entering the reception room, Ellis's eyes swept over the familiar space, taking in how much it had changed since his first tour of the house three years ago.
Back then, everything had seed too debilitated... faded walls, dusty floors, and neglected corners that told its neglected story. So, who would've thought that just through so cleaning, and a few repairs here and there, the place could transform this much?
Now, as he stood beneath the towering ceiling, and his gaze wandered across the intricately carved walls, their patterns no longer hidden, he couldn't help but notice the difference.
There were still only a small number of furnishings, and even fewer decorations though, but sohow, that simplicity gave the space a quiet dignity.
It still needed work, of course... but it no longer looked like a place on the verge of collapse.
Ellis stood there for a mont, quietly taking it all in. Then, finally, his eyes settled on the man waiting for him.
"Your Highness."
The knight commander, Galen Valeson, bowed his head slightly in greeting, offering Ellis the kind of respect the royal family deserved.
Respect.
Sothing a prince like Ellis should already be accustod to. And yet, due to his circumstances, nothing felt more foreign.
And that... naturally gave Ellis a good first impression.
He had already asked Silas for so information regarding Galen beforehand, and the details she provided already told his personality, but now, seeing the man in person, Ellis found himself even more convinced of his choice.
After all, aside from Silas, who had been a very peculiar case since the start, none of the servants or attendants he'd co across during the past four years had ever shown him this kind of respect.
So were subtle in their disregard, keeping up appearances and treating him like royalty in word alone. But even then, their eyes, their tone, the little details—they gave it all away.
The light bow from the knight commander... was different. For the first ti, Ellis genuinely felt respect in it.
And that made him genuinely pleased.
Especially since he was planning to ask this man for help with his knight training.
Silas, as much as she ant to him, and as much as she wanted to help, simply wasn't strong, or knowledgeable enough for that role.
Not to ntion, she also had an injury that still hadn't fully healed. So, he couldn't afford to let her push herself.
Now, as he looked at the man standing tall before him, who, at a glance, appeared to be in his late thirties, despite his actual age being far older, the first word that ca to Christian's mind was... huge.
But it wasn't due to his physical build. No, it was about the overwhelming impression he gave off.
The sheer presence he carried, made even the air around him seem different, after all.
And Ellis was naturally impressed... even more, he felt reassured about his decision to start knight training with the help of the man standing before him.
But, shaking off these distracting thoughts for the mont, Ellis refocused on the task at hand. He still needed to convince the man before him to beco his teacher, after all.
And so, finally, he returned the greeting.
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