Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Just as Princess Cheryn had expected, the two princes, Conrad and Elvin, struggled not to yield skilled knights even in a situation like this.

Thanks to that, raised voices were exchanged in the court every day, and sometimes even swords were drawn.

Without Roden even needing to gather information through the Brotherhood, the conflict between the two was reaching an extreme to the point that even people walking the streets knew about it.

Fortunately, it was not as though the royal family was doing absolutely nothing.

Once missives written in the King’s name were delivered to the lords near the capital, it did not take long before knights began pouring in.

While relatively poor hedge knights merely brought their squires and hired a few mercenaries, several lords led proper armies, accompanying dozens of retainers.

As it was impossible for the inns in Hasra to accommodate all of them, the nobles and knights stayed at the mansions of their acquaintances, while common soldiers pitched tents beside the city to stay.

And on the seventh day after the grand offensive of monsters became known.

Shan received an invitation from the royal family and visited the royal palace.

“Sir Shan of House Barendil and Squire Roden, confirmed.”

A low-ranking royal official bowed politely and let Shan inside.

Stepping into the palace for the first time, Shan realized that what illuminated the interior was not ordinary candles, but magic artifacts.

As if all the magic artifacts excavated from the Demonic Realm over the past hundreds of years had ended up here, the palace corridor was embedded with glowing magic artifacts that brightly lit up the surroundings.

A pure white light, so foreign that it differed slightly from the pale yellow glow typical of candlelight, reflected off the bluish marble hallway, creating a grand spectacle.

Compared to this, even Count of Shedil’s actual reception room that he had seen before was nothing.

This splendor even reached its peak upon reaching the banquet hall inside the royal palace.

The banquet hall, consisting of three floors in total, had a wide opening in the center so that one could look down on the first floor from the second and third floors.

Glowing magic artifacts hung in clusters from the pitch-black ceiling, making it look like the moon and stars of a night sky, while delicately carved gem lamps scattered the light coming from them, creating an effect as if meteors of all colors were falling.

On the walls hung banners emblazoned with the shield coat of arms symbolizing the Hasra royal family, and beneath them stood several sets of decorative armor.

On the extravagantly decorated first floor of the banquet hall, nobles and knights greeted one another and built friendly ties.

This banquet was a departure ceremony where everyone holding the status of a knight or higher in the ogre subjugation force gathered.

“Is that him? The Green-Eyed Knight?”

“Indeed it is.”

“Bestowing a knighthood on a mere Altoan… what on earth is that witch thinking…?”

Naturally, the gazes of the nobles directed at Shan were not favorable.

For he was an existence that directly defied Pendia’s long-standing unwritten rule of not granting titles to Altoans.

Among them, the reaction of the western nobles, where Old Faith believers were especially numerous, was particularly negative.

Of course, not everyone reacted so negatively.

“Oh, look who it is! Is that not Sir Shan!”

“It has been a while, Sir Asel.”

“To see you again like this! Well, a hero like Sir Shan would hardly back down before mere ogres!”

Unlike the nobles who sent gloomy glances, the knights (especially those who had built friendships with Shan under Callion’s lead) welcomed him without paying any mind.

Some of them even dragged over the nobles they had sworn loyalty to and introduced Shan to them.

“Come over here for a moment, my lord. This fellow is truly an incredible man…”

“Ah, alright, alright! Stop pulling on me!”

After chatting like that for a long while and seeing the people off, Shan whispered softly to Roden.

“To be honest, I don’t know why we have to do something like this.”

Even now, an ogre was leading a monster army and stirring up havoc in the east, yet instead of gathering the army and charging right in, they were laying out all sorts of food and throwing a banquet?

If the ogre had been moving alone without leading a monster legion, Shan would have gone to strike it down himself instead of wasting time like this.

At Shan’s grumbling, Roden gave a bitter smile in agreement and nodded.

“Well, I feel the same way, but given the circumstances, it can’t be helped.”

Now that the King was in poor health, the two princes had to try everything to package themselves in a good light.

This banquet was merely a stepping stone for that purpose as well.

Regardless of whether the common people suffered or not, for those in power, self-preservation always came first.

Along with his explanation, a loud gong resonated from above the staircase positioned on one side of the banquet hall.

It was a signal announcing the entrance of distinguished guests.

“In the name of the Goddess, the shield protecting the Kingdom of Pendia and humanity, the descendants of the Hasra royal family are entering!”

“Everyone, show your respects!”

Before long, four men and women accompanied by escort knights appeared on the central staircase.

The four children born to the current King Gizel by his three wives.

Shan locked eyes with Cheryn, who was at the very back among them.

Unlike her usual self, who tied her hair tightly back and wore amethyst glasses, her figure dressed in a dark purple gown and adorned with splendid jewels was elegant beyond measure.

Because of the whites of her eyes that were pale to the point of bluishness, her reddish-brown eyes briefly looked like the color of blood.

In front of such Cheryn stood a beauty with curly platinum blond hair, lake-blue eyes, and a slender frame.

Cassia Gizel Rana Hasra.

She was Cheryn’s half-sister and the woman whose engagement to the prince of the Ajun Kingdom had been broken off due to what Shan had done in the Demonic Realm a few months ago.

She was wearing a dress as white as snow, and because Cheryn right behind her happened to be wearing dark attire, the contrast between black and white looked exceptionally stark.

Even the corners of her eyes, which drooped slightly to look gentle, and the soft smile hanging on her lips were the exact opposite.

“Ha, Lady Cassia is beautiful today as well.”

“She isn’t called the Jewel of Pendia for nothing.”

“Perhaps because that witch is right behind her, the comparison is even more striking.”

The noble speaking mockingly cleared his throat as if feeling guilty when Shan stared intently at him, then turned his gaze away.

In truth, Shan’s existence also played a part in Cheryn being so disdained by the nobles.

For the act of knighting an Altoan had caused discomfort even to those who had not originally viewed her too negatively.

Soon, Shan’s gaze turned back toward the royals.

In front of the princesses walked the two half-brothers, who were currently fiercely contending to claim the throne, side by side.

Just looking at their steps, where neither wished to be ahead nor fall behind, one could tell the extent of their rivalry.

Although Conrad was only in his mid-twenties, he looked about five or six years older due to his slightly receding hair.

His large nose and small, slanted eyes gave off a sharp yet stern impression, and though he was not very tall, his broad-shouldered and imposing physique was noticeable.

Except for his signature platinum hair, he was completely different from Cassia, his only full sibling, and according to what Shan had heard, he possessed an appearance that resembled the King the most in a royal family where taking after maternal relatives was unusually strong.

In contrast, Elvin, who was two years younger than him, was a handsome man with a tall, slender build and impressive, well-proportioned features.

One could say he had the exact appearance of a prince out of a fairy tale.

His hair, combed straight back, was reddish-brown under the influence of his mother from the Ruman Kingdom, and thanks to the freckles resting lightly on the bridge of his nose, he looked like a playful boy.

‘And…’

Shan’s gaze locked onto the knight escorting Conrad.

The Lord Protector and head of the Royal Guard, Marquis Abel.

He was the owner of a record of sweeping all kinds of martial arts tournaments hosted by the royal family in his youth, and cutting down over a dozen knights single-handedly in the process of suppressing several past rebellions.

That was why the gossips of the Pendia Kingdom used to say.

‘The strongest knight in the Arman Alliance is Marquis Abel.’

Watching the way he walked, Shan could agree with that opinion to a certain extent.

‘As expected…’

Ever since he came of age, he had always thought that everyone in the world moved inefficiently and absurdly.

Like a puppet moved by a puppeteer hooking strings to the joints of its arms and legs.

However, Marquis Abel’s stride possessed a considerable level of rationality, unlike that of ordinary people.

A movement that smoothly sent power flowing from the toes to the heels, ankles, knees, and pelvis, and then through the waist and shoulders…

Although it was not to Shan’s extent, it was his first time seeing someone execute not just a single combat movement, but the everyday act of walking in such a manner.

Just how did that man fight, and how did he see the world?

As Shan watched quietly, lost in thought, Marquis Abel also looked back at Shan, perhaps having felt the gaze.

While the two warriors engaged in a staring contest, the two princes standing before the nobles attending the banquet looked at each other for a moment.

After a brief battle of wits, the one who opened his mouth first was the eldest son, Conrad.

“Warriors who have come in response to the royal call! I, Conrad, express my respect for your devotion on behalf of my Royal Father!”

When the nobles following Conrad cheered, the faces of the nobles on Prince Elvin’s side contorted.

It was because the choice of words about acting on the King’s behalf made them uncomfortable.

Taking over the floor next, Elvin shouted.

“This time, the royal family! Intends to bear all military expenses consumed in the battle against the monsters!”

“Woaaaaah!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

Absurdly enough, cheers poured out for the King, who could not even appear at the event.

Of course, considering that all those rewards would come from the royal treasury, one could not say the direction was wrong.

Afterwards, the two princes competitively appealed how critical this subjugation was and how immense the rewards would be upon successful completion.

*

After the princes’ competitive declarations ended, the banquet proceeded in a somewhat more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

While nobles clinked glasses filled with expensive alcohol and conversed, the knights greedily devoured the food.

Shan, who strictly observed the dining etiquette he had learned from Roden in the past, stood out quite a bit among them.

Other people might get away with it as valiant knights, but Shan alone could not afford to do so.

For sure enough, people would say that an ignorant and lowly Altoan had foul dining manners to boot.

Glaring at Marquis Abel standing beside Prince Conrad while stuffing a piece of food into his mouth, Shan turned his gaze to Roden next to him.

“I shouldn’t talk to the princess right now, right?”

“Of course. Even if you act like you know her, at most keep it to a thankful person who knighted you, nothing more.”

At the response he heard, Shan nodded while letting out a small sigh.

Really, this kind of political play was beyond exhausting and downright annoying.

Just then, he felt a dark shadow suddenly blocking his front.

It was the appearance of Sir Lug the Lanky, possessor of a height overwhelmingly taller than anyone else in this banquet hall.

“We meet again, Sir Shan! May I join your table?”

“Yes. But is it alright for you to be here? I thought you came as the Prince’s guard…”

As Prince Elvin’s knight, Lug had entered together with the four royals earlier.

Even now, Conrad’s and Elvin’s knights were guarding their respective lords, so why had he come alone to the place where other hedge knights were?

To Shan’s question, Lug chuckled and answered.

“I’m going this time as well!”

“To the ogre hunt?”

“Yes!”

This was truly unexpected.

Shan had thought that a skilled man of Lug’s level would naturally be kept in the capital, but for what reason?

Glancing subtly at Roden, he too shrugged his shoulders as if he did not know the reason either.

At any rate, it was welcome news for Shan.

For when it came to the upcoming hunt, the more capable companions there were, the better.

Looking excited, Lug babbled on about how he and Shan would work together to face the ogre.

So excited was he that while waving his long arms he spilled his drink, causing the knight beside him to grimace and stand up from his seat.

“So, when Sir Shan leaps off my hands and adds force…”

“It sounds like you’re talking about something interesting. May I join in as well?”

The owner of the voice that abruptly chimed in was none other than Prince Elvin, who had been giving an impassioned speech alongside his older half-brother just moments ago.

Surprised by his lord’s appearance, Lug quickly stood up from his seat and knelt on one knee.

“You have come, my lord!”

Even though months had passed since he became Elvin’s knight, his posture was stiff like a recruit who had just joined a mercenary troop.

Elvin looked at Lug with a troubled expression and waved his hand dismissively.

“I told you not to act like that, get up. Ah! Sir Shan Barendil, is it?”

“That is correct, Your Highness. Loyalty to the Royal House.”

Instead of kneeling like Lug after standing up from his seat, Shan bowed his head lightly to show respect.

“Yes, this much is just right. I wanted to see your face at least once for some time now.”

Contrary to his words, Prince Elvin had not attempted any contact after sending someone once to probe if Shan would become his knight.

Shan, instead of retorting like that, offered a formal response, apologizing for not coming to pay his respects.

“No, no. I didn’t say that to hear an apology. Has your mind still not changed?”

“Yes.”

At the firm refusal, Elvin narrowed his eyes.

A subtle mean and cruel look flashed across the face that, until a moment ago, had resembled a cheerful, handsome boy.

Comically, that look bore a considerable resemblance to his half-sister, Cheryn.

“Seriously, there’s no stopping knights when they go looking for honor! Give it another thought once this ogre subjugation is over. My arms aren’t open only to pretty young ladies, after all.”

Though it was a frivolous and light tone unbefitting the status of a prince, Elvin possessed the ability to package it as unpretentiousness.

One of the things in which he was ahead compared to Prince Conrad was precisely this talent.

Unlike Conrad, who was evaluated as stubborn and inflexible, Elvin used his unique sociability to capture the hearts of young nobles and knights.

The problem was that he used that talent all the way to sneaking into the bedrooms of unmarried young ladies or noblewomen of aristocratic families.

“Does Your Highness not already have a skilled warrior like Sir Lug here?”

“Hmm? Ah, right. Come to think of it, did you two compete against each other for victory in the jousting tournament?”

“Yes.”

“Runner-up is good, but victory is better after all. Well, if Sir Lug can learn more this time, that’s a good thing in its own right.”

Shan felt a strange sense of incongruity in Elvin’s tone.

As he was not particularly quick-witted in this sort of area, it was hard to be certain, but…

Perhaps he did not seem to value Lug as much as one might think.

Allowing him to participate in this ogre subjugation might be for that reason as well.

The moment Shan’s thoughts reached that point, Elvin suddenly assumed a sly expression and spoke.

“More than that, speak honestly. Don’t you have feelings for my sister?”

“Pardon?”

Asking back in spite of himself, Shan quietly added an “Excuse me.”

For it was just that sudden and absurd of a question.

“If you mean feelings…”

“I mean the natural affection that young men and women harbor. Otherwise, why would she suddenly bestow knighthood upon an Altoan boy she had never even met?”

In truth, rumors of this sort were already circulating behind closed doors.

It was because the reason Princess Cheryn had knighted Shan was just that mysterious.

However, the reason it did not gain much traction was naturally because Shan had not sworn loyalty to the princess, nor were they publicly entangled at all.

Elvin had probed like this because he knew through some route that Shan had once visited the villa where the princess stayed at night together with Roden.

Of course, bringing up such a topic openly in a place where everyone was watching was not normal.

Though taken aback for a moment, Shan mechanically recited the answer Roden had drilled into him.

“I received the knighthood through a coincidental occasion, and I harbor no such personal feelings.”

“Not even a little?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Truly.”

At the resolute answer, Elvin, who had been staring blankly at Shan, hummed softly with a small groan and grimaced.

“How strange. My gut feeling is usually quite accurate. Cheryn, despite how she looks, isn’t her face fine? She might seem a bit loose, but I think her figure is better than Cassia’s. The curves are more well-defined, too.”

Watching him spew vulgarly crude words about his two half-sisters with astonishing brazenness, Roden, who was listening behind, almost failed to control his facial expression for a moment.

In fact, the nobles and knights around who had been paying attention to Elvin’s arrival also cleared their throats repeatedly.

Compared to Old Faith countries like Libert or Ajun, Pendia was relatively open sexually, but even so, talk of this explicit level was considered ungentlemanly.

It would take a place like the Ruman Kingdom, which was so open that its noble banquets were criticized for being little more than brothels, for people to chuckle and discuss such a topic.

“I am sorry, but I do not wish to discuss this topic any further.”

Shan spoke, putting low anger into his response.

As he was somewhat late to mature in these matters, he could not clearly grasp the exact implication of those words, but at least through the atmosphere, he could infer that Elvin was trying to insult Cheryn.

Though phrased relatively indirectly, a mere knight had essentially told a prince to shut up, bringing silence to the surrounding tables where they stood.

A moment later, Elvin laughed exaggeratedly and clapped his hands.

“Ahahaha! It’s a joke, a joke! Losing your temper like that makes it look like you’re serious. Relax your face, friend!”

Although he spoke as if pretending to be cheerful, displeasure leaked through Elvin’s subtly distorted face.

After mumbling a bit more, when he stood up from his seat, the knights following Elvin glared at Shan before disappearing after him.

Shan looked at Lug, who remained at the table, and asked.

“Is it alright for you not to go with them, Sir Lug?”

“Pardon? Ah, well… he didn’t tell me to come, so…”

Seeing his somewhat dispirited expression, even Shan, who was relatively dense, could be certain to some extent.

That Lug was an outsider among Prince Elvin’s knights.

Should he comfort him, or should he pretend not to notice?

For Shan, who was clueless about human relations, it was truly a difficult problem to judge.

While pondering this for a moment, another small commotion arose behind them.

What entered Shan’s eyes as he turned his head was the figure of Cheryn approaching toward them.