#358
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358
“Meeting the Knight Commander.”
The commander of the Imperial Knights with a solemn face looked at the new recruits.
His gaze lingered particularly long on one of the newcomers.
Asuka.
Of course he knew Asuka’s identity.
“What is life like as a knight?”
He suddenly asked a question. Within the Knights Templar, one’s position within the Order is strictly followed.
Even though they were members of the royal family, they were naturally inferior to the Knight Commander.
“It’s okay.”
Asuka answered. He roughly thought of the Knight Commander as a schoolmaster.
Even at Greta Academy, the principal and instructor were his superiors, regardless of their status.
It was a tone that could be criticized as being rude, so the other three people looked at him in confusion.
But Asuka remained calm.
The knight commander was not angry. He rested his chin and spoke in a calm tone.
“The new member seems to be adjusting well.”
Are you doing well, or have you managed to avoid an accident? It was an ambiguous matter, but in any case, all you had to do was avoid an accident.
The rest of the new recruits managed to agree to that statement.
“You guys have something special to do.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the words that soon came out of the knight commander’s mouth.
“The personnel arrangement has changed, so you will be in charge of guarding His Highness the Crown Prince during the day for the time being.”
Prince? The other three were also surprised, but Asuka was the most surprised. Isn’t the crown prince his cousin?
Of course, I’ve never seen his face.
The current emperor has two sons and one daughter born solely to the empress.
Although the daughter was younger than Asuka, the crown prince was much older than Asuka, and the second prince was similar in age to Asuka.
‘My father said he would make friends and let me meet strange guys, but he didn’t let me meet my cousins.’
It was as if Asuka was not qualified to face them.
Just as they do not officially announce him as the son of Archduke Farnese.
Suddenly, the crown prince’s bodyguard. It was suspicious.
Getting close to powerful people is not an opportunity that should be given to newcomers. Even if you are a newbie, it is something that can only be granted to someone who has been proven and verified.
After Asuka joined the Knights, such a decision was clearly influenced by Archduke Farnese.
Does Asuka, who graduated at the top of Greta Academy, now have the qualifications to face the crown prince?
Asuka thought crookedly.
Even Asuka, who was considered inferior in her father’s eyes, may have thought that she was a decent person now that she had excellent swordsmanship skills.
I didn’t like that fact.
The knight commander continued.
“Don’t get excited about the opportunity to be noticed by His Majesty, but stay faithful to your duties.”
“Yes, I understand!”
“Then let’s go.”
Instructions and warnings. With that, the interview with the knight commander ended. The new recruits, who were very nervous, looked back at Asuka after leaving the meeting place.
“Hey, I didn’t ask until now, but what kind of family is it? Why are we in charge of protecting His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“If you were from a sword family, you would have been well known anyway, but no one knows the name Asuka.”
“I heard you are from Greta Academy. There’s a rumor going around that he’s a commoner, but that’s ridiculous, right? Of course, your attitude is not particularly aristocratic.”
Ralf, Niall, and Gannon followed with suspicious looks. Asuka remained silent. Archduke Farnese did not ask Asuka to remain silent.
But for some reason, I couldn’t open my mouth and say, ‘Actually, I am a member of the royal family and the secret son of Archduke Farnese.’
If you do that, you won’t be able to take it out or put it on.
“it is a secret.”
Asuka blurted out and took a long stride as if to avoid it.
He felt three other people following behind him. He ground his teeth.
‘What kind of situation is this? ‘Suddenly he becomes a crown prince.’
But maybe this could be an opportunity?
‘He holds the crown prince hostage and escapes from the imperial palace.’
Asuka had a vain delusion. Since Archduke Farnese has been serving as a knight as instructed by Asuka for two weeks, there is no guarantee that he will let him go smoothly even if he decides to leave.
However, there was no picture of Asuka safely escaping the imperial palace.
First of all, the question is whether it is possible to take them hostage, and if they do that, it is completely over.
In that case, you don’t know what will happen to yourself, but you can’t guarantee Xian’s safety.
Even for Asuka, who was just starting out, it wasn’t easy for her to do something like that.
‘I have work to do.’
I decided to go with Helmut. He hasn’t heard the details of the plan, but he will find out when he gets to Baden. It was difficult to be held back like this.
‘The crown prince… … .’
He probably knows about me, but I don’t know how he will treat me.
Anyway, Asuka wasn’t the type that high-ranking people would like.
So I hope you don’t like yourself enough to want to kick me out.
Then Archduke Farnese would have no choice. Asuka scratched her head roughly.
Of course, whatever agony he went through was a separate matter from Xian, who was smiling happily in the imperial palace library.
He was just enjoying the present, not caring about Helmut or Asuka.
*
Baden. The moment I entered the place, which always maintains a mild climate, I felt a familiar atmosphere.
It is a city of wizards, and at the same time a city of academics. A collection of academies.
However, what cannot be left out in Baden are prosecutors.
As soon as I felt the familiar air, a rush of nostalgia came over me.
Helmut gently closed his eyes and opened them. His buried memories came to mind.
“How do you feel about coming to Baden after four years?”
Area asked. For a short period of less than a year, Helmut attended the Greta Academy here.
But he learned a lot there and experienced some of the most peaceful and special moments of his life.
Including Area. Also gained a lot. What was gained here saved Helmut.
“I guess this place…” … .”
I think I missed it. The Forest of Farhe was a place where Helmut had lived his whole life, but he did not miss it.
In the Forest of Pahe, Helmut was like a foreign body, a place he did not belong and had to leave.
Now, four long and short years have passed, and Baden has not changed much from my memories.
Elaga spoke to Helmut, who was feeling sentimental for a long time.
[Is this the academy or something? I heard you just came in first place?]
“okay.”
[Are Susan and Sarah here too?]
“maybe? “If it arrived properly.”
Ethan Kudrow will be taking good care of them. Even if that were not the case, they would have settled well in Baden since they had wealth.
Although they were connected through Antiol, they seemed determined to become independent and did not contact Helmut at all.
That in itself means that there is no problem with them.
“let’s go.”
Helmut and Area slowly walked through the streets of Baden. Moments of walking and hanging out together suddenly flashed out of my memory.
Helmut realized that he was feeling regretful.
‘It’s a shame… … .’
What if he hadn’t met his mother four years ago. If only Linosa had not attacked him and sent him to the Forest of Pahe.
He may have graduated from Greta Academy safely.
Instead, Asuka would have been the valedictorian, but she wouldn’t have felt particularly unhappy about that fact.
During those four years, Helmut must have stayed here in Baden, spending countless hours learning and experiencing human life and building memories.
Of course, what you can learn in the swordsmanship department is limited, and it is not very helpful in refining your swordsmanship.
Helmut’s experiences made him grow, and the achievements he gained in the Forest of Pahe were great.
It is difficult to expect such an achievement in Baden, and even though that achievement was the most important thing for the prosecutor, it was disappointing.
A feeling of emptiness surged deep within my heart.
Things he missed and had to miss. It was meaningful beyond Helmut’s accomplishments.
It was an unfamiliar feeling to realize that my priorities, which I believed were solid, were in fact not so.
Moments he lost forever.
Even though something like that happened, I realized something new and gained something again, and although it was not just an achievement as a swordsman, it did not make Helmut’s loss nothing.
Helmut was forever deprived of any experiences and times he could have enjoyed. At that time, he must have had Area with him the whole time.
My heart feels hot.
Linosa had to pay a price. No, not Linosa. Helmut knew exactly who he had to make pay.
Mother, Grand Duchess Marguerite of Linosa. He had no faith between himself and Michael, but he had faith in his mother.
Because she is a mother. Because Helmut is a child.
He took the first step. And now it’s time to start the second step.
Before I knew it, I could see Ethan Kudrow’s mansion in front of me. Naturally, my steps led me there.
Because that was always the first place he had to look in Baden.
Area followed him without saying a word.
The door to Ethan Kurdo’s mansion remained the same, only slightly faded over the past four years.
The guard tilted his head when he saw Helmut. It was a familiar impression. It was like that for each other. There seems to be one more thing that hasn’t changed in four years.
the guard asked.
“Uh, maybe… … . that.”
Helmut opened his mouth.
“Helmut, I’ve come to see Ethan.”
The guard’s eyes widened. He ran straight inside.
Not long after, someone was seen running to the door.
Ethan Kudrow was always a calm and solemn instructor who could not be imagined jumping up and down like that.
He always acted like a father to Helmut.
But now he was showing Helmut a side he had never shown before.
“Helmut!”
he shouted. Even though he must have heard the news from Susan and Sarah, he looked incredulous.
Helmut smiled at his old benefactor. It was a rare display of emotion for him, who had never laughed out loud before.
“long time no see.”
With eyes filled with countless emotions, Ethan Kudrow wrapped his arms around Helmut’s shoulders.
After a while, he groaned.
“Let’s go in first.”
They had many stories to share.
