Chapter 5: To the Taron’s Palace (1)

Raion, who had hesitated for a moment, continued speaking.

“I wish to move my residence to the Taron’s Palace on the eastern mountain.”

“Taron’s Palace?”

That place was located outside the royal castle, in the mountainous region to the southeast of the outer walls.

Originally, it had been built by the founding king of the Canel Kingdom as a facility to contain criminals. However, the fifth king later took a liking to its scenery and remodeled it into a detached palace.

At present, it had been abandoned for decades without anyone using it. The royal castle merely maintained it periodically.

“Y-yes… I wish to live there quietly.”

At that reply, Laskan’s brows furrowed.

After all, to him, it seemed as if Raion was trying to run away.

“Is life in the palace truly that unbearable?”

“N-no, not at all.”

“Then why insist on staying in such a remote place?”

“I wish to live quietly and t-train my body.”

In truth, Raion was already living quietly enough. Even before collapsing in the garden, he had spent his days reading and taking walks.

Of course, to Laskan, such behavior seemed unbearably stifling, which was why he felt anger rising once again.

“Haa…!”

At the sound of his sigh, Elina, who stood beside him, added softly,

“Would it not be better, then, to assign Raion a knight from the Royal Knights as his instructor?”

The Canel Kingdom’s Royal Knights were known to be among the strongest on the Phalon Continent.

Moreover, their training was infamous for being stricter and harsher than that of any other knightly order.

“Hmm…”

At the queen’s suggestion, King Laskan fell silent for a moment in thought, then turned his gaze aside.

At the end of his gaze stood Trine Diego, the King’s personal guard and commander of the Royal Knights.

He was clad in silver armor, upon which the emblem of the Canel Kingdom—a lion’s head struck by lightning—was engraved over the chest.

“Sir Trine, what do you think?”

The management of all knights within the royal household was entrusted solely to Trine Diego.

Even the King himself refrained from interfering carelessly, so his tone was measured.

At the King’s inquiry, Trine stepped forward and knelt on one knee, just as Raion had.

“This servant, Trine Diego, Commander of the Royal Knights, shall obey whatever command Your Majesty decrees.”

“I am asking for your opinion.”

Trine, who had been bowing his head, turned slightly to glance at Raion’s side profile.

Raion still looked timid and dispirited.

Of course, that demeanor was deliberately put on to deceive those around him.

He could reveal his true character if he wished—but there could be enemies anywhere seeking his life. Thus, he had to conceal himself as much as possible.

“What do you think?”

As King Laskan’s question came again, Trine bowed his head deeper.

“For the strength of the Canel Kingdom, I believe I can assist in the prince’s training.”

“Then, among the Royal Knights under your command, do you have someone suitable for the task?”

Honestly, this was not what Raion wanted.

However, he could not refuse, so he could only stay silent and observe.

‘Things won’t go as easily as I hoped. Still, if it must be a Royal Knight…’

If it couldn’t be avoided, then it would be best if the right person came as his instructor.

Raion recalled someone useful from his memory.

“Y-your Majesty. If it’s not too presumptuous, may I choose the person myself?”

At Raion’s sudden interjection, King Laskan looked at him with faint surprise.

“Speak, then. But you’ve always stayed within the Prince’s Palace—could there really be a Royal Knight you know?”

“I know one person.”

“It might indeed be better to have an instructor with whom you are acquainted. Who is it?”

“I request the knight Jade, of the Wind Wolves under the Royal Knights.”

At the mention of the name, the ministers began murmuring among themselves.

Not because the name Jade was well-known—but because no one had heard of him at all.

Meanwhile, Trine, who had kept his head bowed, widened his eyes in surprise.

In that atmosphere, King Laskan turned to Trine with a question.

“The Wind Wolves… They’re the lowest-ranked among the Royal Knight Orders, aren’t they? Sir Trine, is there truly a knight named Jade in that unit?”

There were a total of twenty knight orders in the Canel Kingdom, five of which were stationed within the royal capital.

The Wind Wolves were the lowest among those stationed in the capital.

Of course, being the lowest among the top five of twenty still made them formidable.

“There is indeed such a man.”

“Oh-ho… There are hundreds of knights under your command, and yet you remember one by name? Impressive.”

“It is only because of a certain connection I have with him. However, that knight…”

For the first time, hesitation was evident in Trine’s tone.

That hesitation made King Laskan suspect there might be some problem.

“What is it? Does he lack ability or character?”

“Neither, Your Majesty. But… he is of common birth.”

The hall instantly filled with murmurs.

Ordinary commoners were never admitted to knightly orders within the royal palace.

Until now, at least a title of nobility had been required.

Of course, since Trine held full authority over knightly appointments within the royal castle, it wasn’t technically an issue.

“An unexpected background, indeed.”

“I merely hesitated, wondering if a common-born knight would be suited to serve the royal prince.”

“Hmm… Prince Raion, is it truly your wish that this man be appointed?”

It was unclear whether the King sought to confirm Raion’s resolve or give him a chance to reconsider.

But Raion had already made up his mind.

“I believe Sir Jade is well-suited for the role.”

“Then it’s decided. Sir Trine, do you have any objections to this decision?”

“None, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Then Prince Raion shall have leave to reside in the Taron’s Palace. The duration is unrestricted, and he may take whatever attendants he wishes.”

With that decisive command, King Laskan dismissed the royal assembly.

As the ministers departed one by one, a sharp gaze fell upon the still-kneeling Raion.

It belonged to Queen Elina.

Her eyes were filled with suspicion—she couldn’t fathom what Raion was plotting to bring about such an outcome.

Keeping that in mind, she had already instructed a maid to investigate the knight named Jade.

—

Click, clack.

Elina returned to her chambers and sat on the sofa.

“That foolish boy dared to name his own knight? And one from the Royal Knights, no less?”

The unforeseen turn of events unsettled her deeply.

What made her even more uneasy was the way King Laskan had looked at Raion—with satisfaction.

It was the gaze of a stern father, proud of his son.

Naturally, for Elina, even that slightest sign of change could only deepen her anxiety.

Not long after, Elina’s personal maid, Vanessa—who had been sent on an errand—entered the room.

“Did you find out? What kind of man is he?”

Vanessa quickly bowed her head at the sharp tone, which was colder than usual.

“The knight named Jade, belonging to the Wind Wolves, is said to have quite a few unsavory rumors about him.”

“Rumors? What kind of rumors?”

“Well… It is said he has a frivolous nature—fond of drinking and gambling.”

“Drinking and gambling? How could such a man have joined the Royal Knights!”

Pressed by Elina’s questioning, Vanessa recounted everything she had learned.

“I heard that Jade’s father, who died when Jade was young, had a special connection with Sir Trine. It seems Sir Trine recruited Jade as a knight out of that relationship.”

At those words, a faint smile appeared on Elina’s lips, easing her earlier anxiety.

“…I see? Hohohoho! So even the stone-faced Sir Trine, famed for his rigidity in duty, isn’t immune to sentimentality? All the better, then. If such a man is to be the Third Prince’s instructor, there won’t be any serious problems.”

Had the chosen knight been someone famous for his swordsmanship, Elina would have raised concerns about palace security.

But Raion, out of all the knights available, had picked someone who could be called Trine’s Achilles’ heel.

If things went wrong later, it would even give reason to accuse Trine Diego—the Commander of the Royal Knights and one of the King’s closest men—of misconduct.

Of course, it would still need to be verified, but with such rumors circulating, it was hardly unbelievable.

—

Trine Diego, Commander of the Royal Knights, received King Laskan’s order and headed straight for the Wind Wolves.

Since the royal command had been issued, he had to deliver it personally to the one concerned—Jade.

Ordinarily, given Trine’s high rank, Jade should have been summoned to him.

However, within the entire knighthood, Jade was the only one who refused to heed Trine’s orders.

And so, Trine had no choice but to go himself.

When he arrived at the Wind Wolves’ quarters, the two knights standing guard at the entrance hurriedly raised their swords in salute.

“Salute to the Commander of the Royal Knights!”

Clang—!

“At ease. Are Captain Arel and Jade inside?”

One of the guards quickly answered.

“They should be, sir.”

“Good. Have someone call Jade to the captain’s office.”

“Yes, sir!”

After giving his instructions, Trine stepped inside and knocked on the office door of Arel, the captain of the Wind Wolves.

Knock, knock!

“Come in!”

Hearing Arel’s voice from inside, Trine opened the door and entered.

Inside, a blond middle-aged man—Arel—was working through a stack of documents.

When he saw Trine enter, he was so startled that he leapt to his feet.

“Commander Trine! What brings you here…!”

He had spoken informally before realizing who it was.

Trine, however, didn’t scold him and simply sat down on the sofa.

“I came personally because it’s an important matter.”

“What kind of matter, sir?”

“I’ll begin once the person concerned is here.”

“The person concerned?”

A moment later, there came another knock.

Knock… knock…

Even from the sound, it was clear there was little sincerity in it.

Then the door opened, and Jade entered with short brown hair and a sluggish gait.

“What did you call me here for?”

At his insolent tone, Arel frowned.

“Sir Jade! Even if you’re on familiar terms, that’s no way to address the Commander!”

“If you’re here to nag again, I’ll be going back. My shift starts soon.”

As Jade turned to leave, Trine sighed deeply and finally spoke.

“You won’t need to go on duty anymore.”

“…What?”

Jade stopped mid-step and turned his head.

“From now on, you will remain a member of the Wind Wolves, but you are relieved of all duties and missions.”

Even Arel, the captain of the Wind Wolves, looked shocked at the announcement.

“Commander Trine, what do you mean? You’re saying Jade is being removed from all knightly work?”

“I apologize for delivering this like a notification. But this is a direct order from His Majesty the King, so there was nothing I could do.”

“His Majesty the King?”

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