Next day morning.
Esselgarde Mansion, Zerous province.
Carseain was running in the hallway as soon as he woke up.
He had a horrible bitter after taste lingering in his mouth.
He didn't even change his clothes.
The servants around him were startled.
"What's this first thing in the morning?"
"Ahh...Who the heck messed up?"
As soon as he saw his target, Carseain screamed from the other side of the Hallway.
"Ro..ve.. nin...!!! "
The servants gasped.
"Eh?!!"
"Sir Rovenin?!"
"He's the only one with reins on the Mad Hound"
"I might want to stop working if Sir Rovenin can't...."
Carseain screamed.
" You goddamn sly Fox!
You did it again!"
He was irked to no end.
Rovenin was giving the kitchen maid instructions.
Rovenin : " Egg Benedict with parsley and for the salad add a lot of cherry tomatoes also..."
Carseain : " ROOOVEENINNN!"
Kitchen maid: 'Deja Vu'
Rovenin saw him.
He tightened his shoelaces.
He took a deep breath and..
Dash!
He ran at full speed without a second thought.
Carseain ran after him.
"YOU DID IT AGAIN!!!
You fed me that shit medicine again in my sleep...
Why the fuck is it much worse than before!!"
Rovenin ran without looking back.
Carseain wasn't able to catch up to him.
"How the fuck is that lanky bastard so goddamn fast?"
Carseain grumbled.
He sensed a little magic coming from his shoes.
His eyes widened in realization.
"What the fuck?! He was prepared!
That damn... He predicted this!"
Both of them were running around the whole mansion.
Rovenin: ' Really? What a monster!
How is he even keeping up without breaking a sweat?'
They passed Kiha and Nox who were in the middle of work
Nox was acting according to last night's suspicions.
Kiha : " Geez ....Would anyone believe Young Master's a noble who runs in nightwear?"
Nox : " Young Master has been known for setting his own standards of being a noble."
Kiha : " That sort of sounded like Rovenin."
Nox : " Really?! Looks like I improved."
Kiha giggled.
Rovenin was running towards the Knights training ground.
Carseain stuck out his tongue like a predator.
Carseain: ' Soon the enchantment will wear off.
The time gap that appears when he'll cast it again is when I'll kill --'
"Thud!"
Suddenly, a knight jumped in his way.
Carseain hit the breaks.
"James?!!!"
James : " That orange-lad was right!
You were going to spar today!"
Carseain: "Huh?! My fox really planned it well."
Carseain passed James in one single swift movement.
Carseain : " Sorry James, I ain't got time to play with you.
I need to go fox-hunting"
He went after Rovenin but this time a sword slash made him step back.
" Ugh....What the fuck do you want, now?
Otto!"
Otto lifted his sword and pointed it towards Carseain.
Otto: " That babysitter of yours offered me a little 'token of nectar', that's all."
Carseain: "Whoa! Do I look as cheap as some alcohol?"
Otto : "Honestly, I'm pissing my pants now."
Carseain clicked his tongue.
"Then piss off, old man."
Otto threw a sword towards Carseain.
He caught it.
Otto: " He offered Veritas 682."
Carseain gasped and widened his eyes.
Carseain: "Ah...man...Veritas huh? And 682 no less... Totally worth it..."
Otto nodded.
Otto : "That's my disciple.
I've taught you well."
Carseain : "But ya know...you also taught me to always share good wine..."
Otto laughed.
Otto: " Don't worry, kid. I'll share it with ya."
Carseain suddenly attacked him and as he was dodging ahead past Otto.
Carseain: " Sorry Ol' Otto... but I'm on a drinking ban. So, I'll not let you drink too."
Three dames joined the party.
Carseain: "Tch...what now?"
' Sorry, captain. We just wanna see if that body is just sculpted well or even trained well'
"Please guide us well."
They said in unison and smirked
Carseain: " One lively bunch of new recruits now, aren't we?"
He clashed with them without holding back.
'What?!! He took us all out in one go?'
As he was chasing after Rovenin, he found all the other knights also jumping into the fray.
"Oh?! Captain's sparring?"
"It's 1 v 5!"
"Three of them are new recruits."
"Should we go too?"
"I mean we don't get many chances to go against him."
"You'll lose anyway besides you'll get reprimanded."
"That's true, maybe later? After I improve."
Rovenin entered the conversation.
"Then why don't you all go at once?
Also, I'm sure you won't get reprimanded.
Just think of it as teamwork training."
A girl raised her hand.
"Won't that be a little unfair?"
Rovenin smiled.
"Do you really think so?"
She hesitated.
Rovenin : ' Just one more push.'
"Also, I was thinking of arranging an all-night wassail"
{Wassail- A drinking party. This word is now obsolete. It was used during the 17th and 18th century.}
There was a glint in the knight's eyes.
"All night party."
"Free food."
"Never-ending ale."
The fire ignited in the Knight's eyes was too hot.
They all pounced at Carseain at once.
He saw Rovenin's fox-smile arrogantly smirking at him who was standing behind the Knights.
Carseain's perception was a little distorted.
Carseain : ' He's definitely mocking '
" Oh so that's how you wanna play it?"
Carseain laughed like a madman.
"Shaaa... Let's see what you've got!
16th regiment of Esselgarde knightage"
He screamed, ripping off his shirt.
The girls who had hots for his body suffered an immediate knockout, not forgetting a thumbs up.
"That's what we're talking about!!"
The others were a little baffled.
"What's with them?"
James : " A woman's heart is a mystery.
Leave it. It is too early for you to understand."
"Eh?!!"
It was an unorderly fray.
'People' (when they're displaying such indiscipline they can't be called Knights.)
were just aiming for Carseain blindly and he just took whatever came to him by brute force.
Rovenin sighed.
" If anyone saw this, they would have a hard time believing that this bunch of thugs are the elite Esselgarde Knights who you are supposed to protect the Empire.
However, it's nice to see the new recruits getting eased up around Young Master.
Servants can be dealt with anytime, but a good rapport with the knights is a must."
{"Rapport" - A mutual feeling of trust and reliability.}
Nox appeared after taking care of his 'duties'.
Nox : " Should you be saying that after you orchestrated the whole thing."
Rovenin laughed.
Rovenin : " A part of it is revenge."
Nox : " The Lady Gabrielle's matter?"
Rovenin smirked.
Rovenin : " Aren't you a quick one?"
He said ruffling his hair.
Nox : " The other half?"
Rovenin : " It's for the trust."
Nox tilted his head.
Nox : " Trust?"
" Yes.
Trust among the Knights is vital.
Trust that no matter what the orders will be executed.
Trust that the next step will surely happen as long as this step is executed.
Trust that as long as even a single fellow knight is breathing the reinforcements will arrive."
"We can't lose hope."
Rovenin thought as he saw the knights working as a team.
Teamwork was commendable but not outstanding.
Some new recruits were still faltering, some were waiting for orders.
"This won't do."
He mumbled.
" If this were an actual Battlefield, something like waiting for orders can turn lethal and they would lose their lives."
He said it aloud as he gritted his teeth.
Nox : " Does that mean they don't trust each other? "
Rovenin : "It's not that but more like the trust is only on a professional level.
Well to put it in simple words, when you first came in; You could trust me that I'd help you with a problem. That's professional.
But now you can tell that I'd also take revenge on whoever created that problem."
Rovenin smirked in a dark manner.
Nox giggled.
Nox : ' The identity of whoever is definitely Young Master.'
" Well, I think they just need time, right?
Both Young Master and the Knights.
It would be nice if he'd just talk to them once in while~~~"
He sighed.
Rovenin: " Well, I wonder if time can help Young Master.
However, I do believe he will interact more this time.
My goal today is ' A Knight's Invitation to Young Master to a Wassail '."
He said, pumping his fist and sparkling eyes.
Nox : ' What a gallant goal coming from the genius of the century.'
He thought with stony eyes.
Rovenin : " Well, even just trust isn't enough.
There should be a stronger bond.
When this trust is actually executed, the feeling of reliability and achievement turns it into "comradeship".
'Comradeship' is a bond that enhances teamwork and keeps each other in good stead in difficult times, especially during war and battles.
The sort of bond where you know exactly who will move if you move a certain way.
There are no words, no orders, you simply know what is your part. "
Nox : ' I didn't know he had such a soft side to him.
He sort of feels like the mother who's worried if her child will get along well with his peers.'
Rovenin watched over Carseain swinging his sword.
Rovenin : ' This is the only time he looks free.
I wish he'd have some friends to share that freedom and smile with.'
He sighed.