Sandy Rudolf.
As is known, he is the second child of the Rudolf Household. Entered the Marithus Empire National Academy at the age of 12 and returned home at the age of 22. He was immediately appointed to guard the New Free City which was always rioting by people from the empire.
According to Daniel Wilfton, Sandy's skill level was masked by the professors there. Therefore, he was immediately assigned to a place that was used as a battlefield by the imperial family, especially Crown Prince Xavier. They are wonder what will happen if Sandy continues to exist in the political world, of course his position is threatened.
Because of her stealthy arrival, Sandy had a change in his usual schedule at the duke's castle. In the morning, he would train the knights until noon. After lunch, who knows where he went, but Arthur saw him following Captain Hone to his quarters. As soon as it was evening, Sandy would be in his study which contained many books.
In this instance, Arthur was sneaking around to see what Sandy was up to. His younger brother seemed to be enjoying training with the knights at the outdoor training ground. He seemed to really like physical training. Arthur noticed that his body was getting thin. Duke Rudolf forbade him from practicing because of the incident in Heonith City earlier until an unspecified time.
From a distance, Arthur could see Sandy showing off her upper body covered by a white shirt. The shirt was soaked in sweat, revealing the curves of his very manly body. That man was also chatting and laughing with another knight until his face turned red. Arthur couldn't hear what they were talking about.
"Oh yes indeed, Young Master Sandy-nim is indeed very interesting."
Clinch!
Arthur turned around from his position hiding behind the wall. He found Milly standing behind him with a curious look at the field. Behind her, Sir Daniel was also glancing at the pitch. The two of them looked together like eavesdroppers.
"Damn it, you've got me!" Arthur exclaimed while clutching his chest. He caught his breath in surprise.
Sir Daniel made a scared face. "I-I apologize, Young Duke-nim."
Milly also apologized to Arthur. Both of them looked like cute puppies being scolded. Seeing the two workers, Arthur couldn't bear it.
"Do as you wish, but don't follow me! Oh my." Arthur immediately walked away from the two of them and ran in the other direction. Before they could catch up with him, Arthur left with a messy feeling.
Unintentionally, he ran until he came to a very quiet hallway. However, from the few doors that existed, it was clearly a knight's dormitory. It could be seen from some of their equipment stored in several places in the hallway.
Arthur continued walking until he reached the end, a hallway that had an indoor training room, where Captain Hone's office was also located. He entered the indoor training room and tried to hide there. Before entering, he checked his pocket watch.
'It's almost noon, it's time for Sandy to come in here.'
Then he went into the indoor training room and picked up some equipment, so that when caught, he could act like he was practicing alone. His brain prepared himself to eavesdrop on what was going to be said.
He tried to peek into the hallway, someone was walking there. Arthur didn't see who it was, but it seemed shorter than Sandy. It looked like someone else was going to join the conversation, but who?
Tuk! Tuk! Tuk!
His footsteps felt close. Arthur hid his head first until the person passed by. A well-built woman wearing a special maid outfit. He clearly knew who it was.
That woman looked to her right and left briefly before entering Captain Hone's office. Arthur felt something strange about that woman.
'Why does Madam Hone have to be so careful when she is entering her own son's room?'
Just as Arthur was thinking, another set of footsteps sounded. It was also accompanied by the sound of two men chatting with each other. Arthur peeked out a little and saw Sandy as well as Captain Hone walking and chatting. They two looked so familiar.
Until the two arrived at Captain Hone's office and went inside. Arthur slowly exited the indoor training room and tried to overhear what was being discussed inside.
"Sorry, Young Master-nim, I'm just greeting you now."
Arthur heard Madam Hone's voice which was so gentle towards Sandy. Why was she like that to his brother but so harsh to him?
'That old maid... she treats my brother like a successor, but treats me like the annoying next-door neighbor's kid.'
Arthur continued listening again, but this time his voice was farther away. He had already glimpsed Captain Hone's study, where the seats for chatting were at the far end of the entrance. They seemed to have moved.
"The situation ... is not very good ... have to negotiate with the empire ... still unable ... lack of strength unless establishing ...."
Arthur heard Sandy's voice slightly. He had never heard that serious conversation when Sandy was nearby.
"That Arthur ... should be able to ... Crown Prince Xavier... that's an opportunity."
'Huh? Why was my name mentioned?'
"Hyung... Prince... I can't trouble him."
'Wait a minute... are they discussing me intending to become a prince?'
Arthur felt surprised when his name was mentioned. Especially when their conversation revolved around royal matters. He smiled to himself imagining that the thought of people like them coming from the queen's faction would make him a prince.
'Hehehehe, they must be talking me into becoming a prince.'
In Arthur's brain, he was only thinking about his royalty. While continuing to eavesdrop, he didn't realize Captain Hone was already at the door.
Click!
Brugh!
"Ouch, damn it!"
Arthur's eavesdropping position with his cheek pressed against the door allowed him to fall easily. He rubbed his forehead as he collapsed to the floor. Captain Hone was surprised to see him there.
"Oh my, Young Duke-nim, I'm sorry!"
'Damn knight, I didn't hear footsteps. Was he still by the door from the start?'
Arthur just gave Captain Hone an annoyed look before saying, "Can't you see I need help?"
Captain Hone then came to his senses and helped Arthur up. He also noticed the wooden staff around Arthur's waist. "Young Duke-nim, are you practicing?"
Arthur, who had already prepared his answer when he was caught, replied, "You saw it with your own eyes."
At that moment, Sandy came out of Captain Hone's study. He showed a funny surprised expression when he saw Arthur. "Hyung-nim, what are you doing here? Did you fall down?"
Then he noticed the wooden sword at Arthur's waist. "Hyung-nim, do you know dad won't let you practice first?"
Sandy came closer and examined his brother's body. There were no wounds at all, but his face was full of worry. "It can't be helped, I have to tell dad so Hyung-nim can rest well!"
"Uh no! Shit, no! Don't tell dad, please. I just want to practice because I feel my knowledge is still lacking. Don't tell him!" Arthur looked really panicked now. Originally it was going to be used as a distraction, but instead it ended up like this.
'Damn this sneaky boy.'
Then Sandy smiled. It was a very sweet smile, but it looked frightening in Arthur's eyes. "Then, Hyung-nim want to train with me?
'Huh?'
"Y-yes! Of course if you want to. Isn't my beloved brother a Sword Master? Your teaching should be better than Sir Daniel's." Arthur was overwhelmed by the quick answer.
Sandy was still smiling. "Then, Hyung-nim should rest today. You must be tired from practicing alone all this time, right? Shall I take you?"
Arthur waved, indicating refusal. "No, hey, your hyung-nim won't faint that easily. I'll go by myself, okay?"
At first Kaptan Hone wanted to step up to accompany Arthur, but that man also waved at him. Arthur felt like it was one of his bad days for getting caught. He left grumbling to himself.
'Damn it. Why did I get caught?'
Arthur went through the hallway of the knights' dormitory and disappeared in front of Sandy and Captain Hone. Sandy was still smiling with a mysterious smile.
"Come, Young Master-nim please enter—"
"He lied."
"Huh?" Captain Hone tried to ask back what Sandy was suddenly talking about. That man felt clueless.
Sandy glanced into the indoor training room and said, "He's been here doing nothing. Apparently curious about us."
As a Sword Master, although still in the early stages, Sandy had extraordinary discernment and sensitivity compared to others. From the beginning, Sandy had realized that her brother had been in the training room without doing anything. Captain Hone may not have noticed, but he was aware.
"Is it that after the memory loss, our pact with father wasn't told to him?" Sandy said as if she didn't consider herself part of the Rudolf Household.
Captain Hone answered quickly. "Yes, Young Master-nim. The Duke-nim himself asked us not to burden him with the kingdom's internal politics."
Sandy then chuckled. It was a unique laugh because his face looked like a teenage prefix.
"Then, go ahead. Don't burden the throne on Hyung-nim."
Well, it looks like Arthur's expectations are inversely proportional.