'The crowd had finally calmed down'
"I didn't expect to meet you here young master Lewis. I'm glad I came" She offers her hand to me asking for a handshake.
I extend mine as respect.
'Odd… but I guess it is normal for a lady like her to ask for a shake rather than a kiss on the back of her hand, after all, she is wearing a uniform. Same blue color and golden embroidery with the Imperial knights.'
"You're an Imperial knight?" I asked
"Close enough. I'm the royal knight of Her Majesty the Princess."
"Forgive me if I didn't know, I'm quite a hermit myself"
She laughed
"I'm well aware young master, and It's not weird that you didn't know. I was just appointed not too long ago"
"Well, that's because you are incompetent that you need to train harder" Elijah spoke starting another fight between them
I saw happiness in her eyes as she smirked and calmly replied to him.
Having full control over the conversation.
Her Uniform suited her very well, she had the aura of someone with honor. Thanks to the brooch on her chest, I could easily know who she was. The symbol of fire between two swords and that dark red hair paired with golden eyes. It is a well-known identity of a pure-blood member of the Royse dukedom.
As far as I can remember from the book I read, there are only three children in the house of Royse.
and this girl is the youngest of their family Ms. Blaire Royse the sword master who can transmit magic through her weapon.
'Such great talent benefited her. Not all ladies can protect themselves and their kingdom.'
"Young master?" – "Hey Lewis you alright?"
Both of them stopped when they noticed I was thinking too much.
"Yes, I am"
"We should visit the doctor today" Elijah insisted with a calm and sweet voice. His deep blue hair matches his light blue eyes especially if he's showing emotion.
'Is this guy gay or something?'
"Lewis?" he called again.
"*cough No, I am alright just thinking about things"
"You should stop for now. You aren't fully recovered yet"
"I'll try my best" agreeing with him
"Doctor? For what?" Ms. Blaire asked as she glanced at me
"It's nothi- "
"He is hurt!" Elijah cut me off
"Young master? Why?"
"Hah! It's because someone pushed him that caused his head to hit a lamp in the imperial palace!" Elijah shared what happened to everyone here.
"What? When?" Ms. Blaire asked and I know I need to stop this conversation fast.
"Alright that's enough, it's nothing important. I am alright, no need to see the doctor" I explained to Elijah reassuring him.
He looked at me with those doubting blue eyes.
"You sure you aren't just afraid of meds?"
"AFRAID OF WHAT?"
I unexpectedly raised my voice because of shock. Once again, people start to glance at us
'Calm down Clyne, etiquette, remember your etiquette'
"Ehem, sorry 'bout that. I am not afraid of meds"
Elijah was trying to hold back his laugh as he nodded his head.
*Sigh…
"Even though you felt alright young master you should still visit a doctor" Ms. Blaire insisted.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
'The only way to reject these kinds of people is to lay your back in the chair, cross your feet, and smile at them as if it's the best day of your life. Then let them think you would reconsider their opinion.'
"It's fine, but alright, I'll visit the doctor on the way home"
Her serious face has calmed down.
"Great! I'll pray for your health, young master"
"Thank you for worrying about me"
"WAIT- you listened to her but not to me?!" Elijah slammed the table and pointed toward Ms. Blaire
"How rude of you to point at a lady," Ms. Blaire said as she held Elijah's finger and bent it back slowly.
I could see Elijah fighting back
"From what I can feel right now, I could make a mistake and call you sir" Elijah glared at her
I saw Ms. Blaire's eyebrows flinch for a second then smirked back.
"Well, your hand is so soft that you might be the lady."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Hah."
"Alright, enough."
Both of them stopped.
'Just how many times a day I am supposed to stop them? Benefactors job is harder than I thought'
I stood up walking towards the door, and the two of them followed me outside.
"I'll be going now, for I still need to rest" I excused myself and tapped my vest as I looked back at them "I'd like to invite the two of you to the dukedom soon, I'll send a proper invitation" I added
Ms. Blaire nodded as well as Elijah.
I walked away first going to the beer house where Mr. Roderic was staying, I could still hear the two of them fighting.
"Kids" I smiled as I walked inside the beer house.
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"Strange…." I continue to watch young master Welsh, as he walks away.
"Indeed, it is strange...…. how come you got invited," Elijah said as he looked at me as if he was disgusted.
'This guy…'
"Well because I am an acquittance or maybe he likes me or sooo…" I smirked at him
"HAH! Just acquittance but that's all and nothing more!"
Elijah walks away and I remain glancing at him from afar.
"I- "
[Hey blae you don't have to worry about those guys. I promise that I will find you and take care of you so those bad guys won't approach you anymore! So, stop crying! Because am always and will be by your side!]
"Hah. This is going to be a long hide-and-seek. Ejah"
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"Sir Lewis! You should have contacted me, so I could come and pick you up!" Roderic was shocked to see me enter the beer house.
Even those who were already drunk stopped when they saw me.
'The whole place is quiet, why…?'
"It's alright, shall we?"
"Yes, young master!'
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"What's with them?" I asked Roderic as he drove the carriage
"Them?"
"Yes, those guys from the beer house. They stopped moving when I entered the place"
"Oh, that- Well young master it is well known for every commoner that no noble enter that kind of place. There might be some in the past but they're wearing cloaks to hide their identity." Roderic explained
'Oh, so in those 500 years, the gap from my past nobles don't enter that kind of place anymore these days. Back in my time, we could even have a small victory drink from our successful battle. Remembering that right now made me realize how foolish I am for trusting those people.'
"I should wear a cloak next time I go there"
"Yes, Sir Lewis" Roderic agreed
After thinking. I realized something from what Roderic said
"Ah wait. Roderic"
"Sir Lewis? Do you want me to turn back?"
"Ah, no-no. I just realized. Earlier you said. Some nobles or so, entered that place wearing some cloaks?"
"Ah yes. I saw them on the way last time"
"Last time. Do you possibly mean the time I came back home from the palace lamp incident the other day?"
Roderic shrugged his head.
'Damn, I thought I have a lead now'
"Not that day but two days before that accident" Roderic followed
I look at him in surprise
"Two days Before?"
"Yes. The Palace event is held for two days so we arrive earlier. You don't remember Sir Lewis?"
'Ah- '
"O- of course, I remember." I panicked as I slammed the small window between me and Roderic.
'That was close. I Hope Roderic won't notice'
I looked through the window on my right. I saw a lot of people having fun and enjoying their life.
"Future… Where people don't need to keep fighting for their life running from those nonstop monster attacks and slavery. If the Austyn Kingdom is still alive, is this also the future we can create?"
The carriage stopped as we got surrounded by a lot of people. Roderic opened the small window and glanced at me
"Something wrong?"
"Sir Lewis, the people here want to talk to you, should I get rid of them?"
Roderic looks serious.
'Roderic looks like a trained knight right now, wait is he though?'
I glanced back outside at those people.
'They look… worried'
"No need, I'll hear them."
Roderic nodded.
I opened the door and calmly went out, meeting these people face to face.
"What's wrong?"
"Young master you should go back to the city." The big guy with a scar on his face said as he held his daughter on his arm
"Why? Is something wrong with the path?"
"There's a group of monsters ahead. They attacked our cart and took my son!" The lady screamed as she kneeled on the ground. Other people helped her sit on the nearest stool.
"That's why you need to turn back for now young master. It is not safe yet until the Imperial Knight comes. We could never guess what will happen if you come to cross paths with those monsters" He suggested
'These people worry about nobles like me rather than despising us for wealth.'
Roderic came near me.
"What should we do now sir Lewis? Shall we detour or stay for the night?"
"Detour would take time. Also, I promised Melissa and Niven that I'll be coming home so staying here could be a problem and I don't want everyone to worry again."
Roderic could only remain silent as we continued to listen to people's cries.
The guy who warned us brushed off her daughter's hair and gave her candy.
"Hey" I called
He glances back at me
"Yes, young master?" his daughter hides behind him.
"How many hours before the imperial knights arrive?"
"We reported 15 minutes ago. I don't know If they would send reinforcement" he said.
"I see, then let's wait for them, Rode- "
"What if they won't come?!" The crying lady cut me off.
She stood up and ran towards me grabbing my collar.
"Sir Lewis!" – "Hey don't!"
Roderic and the other guy tried to stop her but I raised my hand to stop them
"You nobles don't know how hard is it to live a commoner's life! All you do is breathe and everything you want will be served in front of you! You have all the luxuries in life but how about us? We need to keep moving to survive! My son! My son is the only person left in my family after we became slaves and separated from my husband! If something happens to my son, I will never forgive you! NEVER!" She screams as she cries her heart out.
The others pulled her away from me.
"Pls forgive her young master. But all she said is true." He carried his daughter again and walked away.
"Are you alright young master?" Roderic tried to fix my collar.
I look back at them.
"Yes, I know!" I shout back at them calling all of their attention
"Yes, nobles got it easy in life. But don't dare compare me with them. Because this noble, won't wait for those knights and will save your son."
Roderic and everyone were shocked at what I said.
"W-wait Sir Lewis! Sa- save? Are you planning on going there yourself?!" Roderic holds my shoulders.
"You can't!"
"Yes, I can. And I will." I brushed off his hands and walked toward the gate
"Wa-wait Sir Lewis!" Roderic tried to stop me
"I'll come with you!" That guy said as he carried his rake.
"What a noble thing for you to do" I smiled at him.
"The only part is that I don't need to be born as noble to do this" He replied.
"This is not the time to smile Sir Lewis!" Roderic cries
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We walk towards to dense forest. Far from the outskirts of the Floyent Kingdom.
"Are you sure it's alright to leave your daughter alone?" Sir Lewis said.
The other guy could only laugh
"I trust those guys. Whatever happens, they will take care of her"
"What a great friendship and loyalty you guys have." Sir Lewis laughs as well
'How can they laugh like this' I can feel my tears falling. 'The duke told me that I should take care of young master with my life on the line and here I am letting him walk to death *hick. How can this sick master walk like nothing's wrong?'
"Are we nearing?" Young master asked.
The guy grabbed some torn cloth hanging on the branch of a tree
"Yes."
I felt a presence coming from our back. It jumps straight to the young master.
As fast as I could, pulled out my sword and sliced through the monster.
"Woah, what a great reflex you have Roderic!" Sir Lewis clapped.
'Pls don't clap, if something happens to you, my head will roll *hick'
"We're here" The guy pointed to a small abandoned house in front of us.
"That's the well-known house lair of monsters here" he followed
"Well-known? Then why did the knights let this place stand?" Sir Lewis asked.
"Because those knights never care." He replied straightly to Sir Lewis's face.
'It's not sir Lewis's fault, you dare glare at him!'
"I see. Then. Let's remove this place on the map."
"Remove the what?"
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This noble guy walks out on his own.
'What's wrong with this noble brat? Want to die that badly?'
"Sir Lewis! In front!" his escort shouts.
A spider-like monster crawled fast on him.
I ran forward and tried to stab the monster with my rake, but it dodged and jumped toward him.
"Watch out!"
Noble brat raised his hand towards the monster.
A small magic circle appears in front of his hand with the symbol of unknown words.
The monster froze in the air and screeched
"Ash" the noble brat calmly said.
The colorless magic circle changed its color to gray.
The monster turns to complete ash and falls to the ground.
'What the'
"So, shall we look for the child inside?" he calmly looks back at us
"I- Yes. Young master"
I said as I bravely followed him with ease.
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'I don't know what just happened but, as long as sir Lewis is safe, my head too'
"Something wrong Roderic?" Sir Lewis asked me as he stood in front of the abandoned house door.
'Actually, everything but- '
"Nothing Sir." I scratched my neck and smiled awkwardly.
'I can't just say, I don't understand everything…'
The guy tapped my back and smile
"I know" he smiled at me.
I could only smile back.
"Alright. Let's go" Sir Lewis again raises his hand pointing at the door and some magic circle with unknown symbols.
Sir Lewis spoke "Break" changing the magic circle color again and destroying the door.
He keeps on repeating and killing monsters inside by turning them into ashes.
"Seriously what is that? I only know circles with elements but that." I whispered
"Right. And he didn't even chant" The guy replied to me, whispering.
'Right a caster with no chant. And a circle without element… what?'
"I think I heard some cries inside" Sir Lewis pointed to a small broken cabinet.
The guy rushed towards it and opened it.
A child age 5 or so, appeared crying as he covered his mouth to hide from the monsters.
"Sen!" This guy hugged the child and the child hugged him back crying and screaming "Uncle Phil!"
'Oh, his name is Phil'
"We shall leave," Sir Lewis said. All of us followed him outside.
"Get back." Sir Lewis stomped on the ground.
A much bigger magic circle appeared below the abandoned house covering the whole place as another horde of monsters came near us. The monsters froze as another layer of those magic circles marked them on their body.
"Step outside the mark," sir Lewis said. We followed him.
Once we stepped outside the magic circle. Sir Lewis snapped his finger and all the marks activate.
The whole place explodes turning every monster to ashes while the whole house disappears as if it never existed.
"Removed from the map…" Phil shivers as he whispers.
"Damn. He's not an heir for nothing"
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"You still haven't slept, your highness?"
He holds his candlelight lamp as he walks near me.
"Right. I'm worried about chess"
"You don't have to. She can protect herself."
"I know. I just hope for the better" I glanced towards the window, where the flower bed of my great grandfather was deader as always.
"Want me to remove and replace those, Your Highness?"
"No. My great-grandfather cared for those flower beds until now. He chose that rather than the throne. He keeps saying that one day it will bloom and when it does, he hopes to meet his friend walking on it like their old days… but I wonder when" I stared and stared as I saw a small spark from the flower.
"Woah, did you see that?!"
"What is your highness?"
"Those flowers just spark!" I pointed
He doubtingly looks at it and back to me.
"Need some drinks your Highness or some me- "
"WINE! The strongest!" I frustratedly shout at him.
"Very well, I shall present it to you in a minute"
Jay walks outside.
"I think too much stress paired with Sleep deprivation and great grandfather tea time is attacking me"
*sigh
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"PHILHOR!" The people outside the kingdom's outskirts shout my name.
"DAD!" - "OH LORD, SEN!" My daughter and Sen's mother came rushing toward me.
"Thank the gods!" Mary bawls while she hugs her son tightly.
"You should thank the young master. He did all the work." I proudly told them.
The people look at him. As the young master laughed tapping his escort's shoulder.
"He's not bad like other nobles. No, He is different." I followed.
All of them slowly approached him.
"Sir," Mary called him with fear and nervousness.
The young master slowly approached them.
"About what I said… I, thank you" Mary spoke sincerely.
"You don't have to worry" The young master smiles as he taps her shoulder. "I perfectly understand. Every mother would react the same."
Mary continues to bawl.
"But you aren't a mother" His escort replied.
The young master's eyebrow flinched as he grabbed a stick and threw it at him.
The people rejoice.
Suddenly a group of running horses appears.
The knights proudly stopped in front of everyone.
"Fear no more commoners! For I Stevhen Hejlsberg is here! So, come in front and beg" he proudly introduces himself.
All the other knights laugh.
"Those guys…" The people glared at those full-of-crap noble knights who couldn't even swing a sword properly
*Tsk
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"What are you waiting for? If you want us to save you. Y'all should learn to beg" Another knight said.
"What in the sun's name —what's going on?" Sir Lewis whispered to me.
I can't answer him. It's so disappointing that I don't know what to reply to.
"Are you guys deaf?" the knight Stevhen Hejlsberg pointed his sword to Mary.
The young master walks in front.
"Is this how you treat people that knights are supposed to protect?"
Everyone was shocked but all of them came hiding behind the young master.
"It's going to be alright" Sir Lewis whispered to them.
"The situation is clear, and you guys came later than expected. In my opinion, you are the one who needs to learn how to beg." Sir Lewis said as he stared calmly at the knight.
"U-us beg? HAHA, guys look! A low-ranking noble who acts like a hero is trying to order us!" That guy shouts making all of the knights laugh.
'THIS LOW ASS SHIT KNIGHTS DARE TO CALL THE HIGHLY RESPECTABLE YOUNG MASTER A LOW-RANKING NOBLE? DO YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!... That's what I want to say but… I can't just start a fight with everyone.'
The people show pity in their eyes.
"Young master step aside, please don't embarrass yourself. It's our fault, we will beg" Phil said.
The knights smiled.
"No. They will beg." Sir Lewis insisted.
Phil looks nervous. "Young master, we don't want you to be a laughing stock. You are the only person who treats us fairly."
A carriage with the Imperial knight's emblem arrived.
The young master laughed. "Who said that I'll be a laughing stock."
"Yes?" Phil looks confused.
'That's normal after all they don't know who my young master is!'
A guy came outside the carriage.
"What's going on here," He asked with his tone full of authority.
"General it's them. They don't know how to respect us" The knight tried to change the story.
The People shout in disagreement.
"You guys are the ones who came late! My son almost died and you trying to make the young master and the people beg!" Mary shouts.
The knights glared at her but she was not scared.
"Young master?" the general asked
"It's that low-ranking noble brat who keeps teaming up with the commoner sir!" The knight Stevhen Hejlsberg said as he pointed toward Sir Lewis.
The general slowly turns to us. His face became pale.
"Y-YOUNG MASTER!"
General ran towards us and kneeled.
"I greet the heir of the Welsh!" He shouts making everyone surprised at who my master is.
Even Phil and the villagers can't believe what they heard
"H-heir of the Welsh" Stevhen Hejlsberg nervously said.
The other knights slowly stepped back leaving Stevhen Hejlsberg alone.
"Pleased to meet you here. I didn't know you'd be the General in this area." The young master smiled.
The General could only nod and awkwardly agree to Sir. Lewis.
"Now-Now. I'm quite in a problematic situation here. Your men trashed those people. Treating them like garbage. Right now, I could ask you to kick them out of the troop never letting them hold swords and wear armor again. But I know that the Kingdoms need manpower. So, if you want to settle this peacefully. I will Humbly ask for you to, get your troop in front and K-N-E-E-L while B-E-G-G-I-N-G to everyone here. NOW!" The young master said with full authority.
He ordered his men to follow.
All of them kneeled and begged the people and the young master.
'That's right! A young master is someone with higher authority like a prince.'
"Heh," I smirked.
"You're enjoying this huh" Sir. Lewis whispered.
"Absolutely"
Sir Lewis laughed as he ordered them to never repeat this situation.
"Go now, don't make me change my mind," Sir Lewis said.
The knights move out of the place faster than when they came.
"Y-young master, please forgive us for not recognizing you" Phil and the people bow.
Lewis raised his hand.
"It's alright. You guys, to avoid those knights coming back again here. Tomorrow, when the sun sets. Come to the Welsh Dukedom. You can work there and live peacefully. Merchant life is harder than it looks. I'll be waiting for you guys"
Sir Lewis waved goodbye to everyone as he entered the Carriage.
I climbed in front as well and drove the carriage away.
We can still hear their praises from afar.
"You think they will come?"
"They will. For safety." Sir Lewis said as he closed the small window between us.
'I'm glad, I'm working with you, young master.'