"Are you sure you're going to stick with us Sir Knight?"
The boy asked the knight that was left behind.
"Call me Doran, and yes if its my Master's order I have to follow its an easy task after all."
"Then my name is Arthur, Sir Doran, this is Lilia."
"Nice to meet you two, now are you injured or do you need anything else? I promised to help you two for the rest of the day."
"Then can you help us buy a gift?"
Doran nodded as Lilia asked her question, he didn't want to ask any further he judt had to follow them around.
"Sir Doran, you are a knight yes?"
"Of course but in terms of rank, I'm just a measly Rank 3 knight, I don't know Aura if that's what you want to ask."
"I, I see, but can you teach me?"
"If that is what you want but I don't know if I would be a good teacher, after Young Miss Lilia's affairs then we'll do it"
Doran and Arthur continued their conversation while Lilia looked at the pouch in her hands.
She opened it and was surprised, there was more than she could hope for.
"Excuse me Sir Doran."
"Yes?"
"Is it really okay for us to receive this much?"
"If my Master says so then yes, if it burdens you, you can donate it or share it with others, maybe even buy your friend here some good training gear."
"I see, I just want to buy a gift gor a friend and since you're now here can you buy it for me?"
With that Lilia, Arthur and Doran left towards where Lilia wanted them to go.
As they were busy travelling Alfred was making connections with various nobles.
Noble who he deemed worty to be made allies.
"Are you done?"
Lucia asked him after he had greeted and talked to who he wanted to talk to.
"Most probably."
"Theo, Maurice, and Ian, those three?"
"Intuition"
If anything I was to thank Taehyun for it was this kind of knowledge, who to trust and who to ally.
The three aforementioned were considered to be great at business in the future and most of all would be loyal.
While their families were a Barony it wasn't that much of a hindrance as I wanted to be friends with them as well.
As I was in my thoughts a servant whispered into Lucia's ears
"Alfred, I have some guests arriving, its my friends."
"Friends?"
"I liked to sneak out a year ago so I inadvertently made friends while I was out."
"Do they know your Identity?"
"They don't, I just told them to come here and show them my emblem."
"I'll go with you."
"But they're not from nobility."
"Doesn't matter, if you say they're friends then that means you trust in them and that they're genuine."
Lucia just smiled and nodded, I followed after her.
"What are they like?"
"One is a boy, he says he wants to be a knight, specifically a knight in shining armor."
"The other one?"
"His childhood friend, a girl, she just wants to be happy, free and live life peacefully"
"Something we wish we could have."
"Exactly."
We both smiled bitterly, we looked at each other then had a small chuckle.
"Have you thought about it?"
"I have."
"What will you do then?"
"I've decided Alfred, to continue my studies, I can't keep running away."
I didn't say anything and just listened.
"As a Princess and the only child, I have my own responsibilities."
She stopped in front of me and gave a smile that I was used to seeing after almost three months of visits.
"So let's make the five years worth it alright?"
"If you wish to."
I smiled and bowed in front of her, we then arrived at the entrance where I heard a familiar voice.
"Lucia!"
Lucia slowly walked towards where the voice was, and I wondered why she was being called Emily
"Lilia, I'm glad you could make it, you too as well Arthur."
"Ye-yes!"
Arthur shyly replied.
"Young Lord!"
Doran, the knight who Noel informed me of his identity kneeled in front of me.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
"Neither did I my Lord."
"Go to your position now."
"My Lord, you see."
"Whatever you promised to them, do it after the event ."
"Yes."
Doran immediately left, Lucia, Lilia and Arthur all looked at me. Lucia coughed in a strange manner
"This is Alfred, he is, well he is my fiancé."
The two immediately had a shocked face as if they couldn't believe it.
"Fiancé?"
"Congratulations Lucia!"
Both of them said at the same time, I reached out my hand towards them.
"We've met earlier, I'll apologize again and introduce myself, I'm Alfred von Castrell."
"Ye-yeah."
Arthur, I'm assuming had a sour face, I didn't mind it but I knew what that look meant.
As I reached out for Lilia's hand she was very eager as if she was waiting for an opportunity.
She just smiled and I smiled back.
"Lucia, are you really the Princess Lucia?"
"I am."
Lilia asked to which she smiled from ear to ear.
"I'm happy that I made friends with the princess!"
I just watched them interact, even with Lucia and Lilia's difference in status, looks like it didn't matter to them which is good.
"Are you sure we're even allowed in here?"
Lilia asked as she dressed commonly unlike Lucia and the rest of the young teens, even Arthur was suddenly conscious about it.
"Don't worry about it, Martha, would you please?"
"As you wish, please follow after me, The Princess has already prepared your attires for today"
"Really? Thanks Lucia!"
Lilia smiled and hugged Lucia, she was a jolly girl that infected others with her happiness.
"Lucia, I"
Arthur mouthed off something before shaking his head.
"I'll come with Lilia, Maria, please take Arthur while Martha comes with me."
Another Shadow appeared behind her and escorted Arthur.
"I'll be taking my leave then."
I told them as Lucia nodded, Lilia waved me goodbye.
As I returned to where the party was I drank tea on the side while I also exchanged pleasantries with others who approached me.
"Young Master."
"Noel?"
"This may not be a good time but."
Just as he said that Lucia arrived with Lilia and Arthur and suddenly the windows broke and assailants appeared.
"Noel."
"Yes?"
"Please don't say anything ominous next time, go and help out the other defensless nobles."
Suddenly I felt a headache coming, I looked at where Lucia was and I felt relief that her four shadows arrived quickly beside her.
Lucia looked at me as if telling me to come with her, I shook my head.
Suddenly I remembered a drunkard Paladin's voice.
'Remember Lad, you can only gain experience by actual fights.'
Right, I unsheathed two of my swords, one for each hand, though I could use my family's swordsmanship.
'I will carve my own path'
I used my mana and coated each sword with different mana.
"Such an interesting child."
I heard a voice behind me.
"I'll play with you, but it looks like someone more valuable has appeared beside the Princess."
It was a man clad in dark armor, we both stared at each other not making a move.
Suddenly a pop up appeared in front of me.
[ Defeat the Unknown Knight! ]
'I thought you wouldn't pop up.'
I smiled and grinned as I could.
"Hey, why do you look weird! Am I a joke to you?"
I didn't say anything but immediately casted spells.
[ Bind ]
Suddenly arms appeared below him surprising the man.
[ Holy Chains ]
Chains appeared from below further binding him.
"You're ve-!"
Before the knight could say anything he saw a dark magic circle underneath him.
[ Curse of the Malevolent ]
He immediately yelled as he felt that not only the chains that were binding him were strong but they burned.
Even the hands dark yands that were grabbing his legs suddenly clutched it even harder and were breaking his armor.
Alfred who saw all this didn't say anything, he just stood there, the knight waited for him to speak as if asking for an explanation.
"You don't look so good."
Alfred came closer, the knight could feel it, Alfred had dual mana affinities, something that was rare.
He saw Alfred raise the dark sword on his right and before he could react he saw his own body from afar.