Chapter 32

A day or two went by. 

Now, only four days remained until the start of the tournament.

Each Prince’s Palace, which had been designated as the lodging for this year’s competition, was bustling with visitors coming and going several times a day.

‘Of course, no one comes to our palace, though.’

The only place gathering dust was the Fifth Prince’s Palace.

Rumors had begun circulating among the participants that the Fifth Prince had changed, but most treated it as mere gossip.

The only thing that drew a bit of surprise was the claim that he had been chosen by the White Dragon Sword—though even that was met with doubt.

Whether flies buzzed at the Fifth Prince’s Palace or not, the Imperial Palace was lively for the first time in a while thanks to the influx of guests.

Even in places where people were rarely seen, there were now signs of life. For instance, the forest path leading to the library.

“Oh my, isn’t this the Lady of Valaris? What a surprise to meet you here. How delightful!”

On the way to the library, Yuwon and Renania were stopped by a young lady who greeted Renania as though they were acquaintances.

“My, what brings you here? For the Lady of Vallonin to come all this way—are you participating in the tournament?”

“Oh, no, of course not. What ability would I have to compete in such an event? I merely accompanied my elder brother’s entourage to broaden my horizons. Lady Valaris, are you participating?”

If the Valaris family was the head of the southern noble faction, then Vallonin stood as its right hand. 

The two young ladies, who had crossed paths many times in high society, exchanged polite greetings.

“I’m still undecided. But how nice it is to meet someone from the South here! Ah, where are my manners—allow me to introduce you. The man beside me is His Highness, Yurion, Fifth Prince.”

“Oh my, I was wondering who might be accompanying you, but to think it would be His Highness the Fifth Prince! It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Your Highness. I am Loibe Vallonin, daughter of Count Vallonin, who serves the Imperial Family from the South.”

“Yurion Aphahiel.”

Yuwon greeted her briefly, feeling already entangled in an unwanted situation.

“With such dazzling beauty, I suspected you might be the rumored Fifth Prince, but to think it’s truly Your Highness… what an honor to meet you in person—”

Her high-pitched chatter was grating to the ears.

‘In just a few days, I’ve already run into people on the way to the library several times. At this rate, even the library might become noisy…’

That was something he sincerely wished to avoid. He already found it troublesome that Renania had stayed behind under the pretext of the tournament instead of returning to her family’s territory.

‘She could simply rest at the Prince’s Palace—why must she keep following me around? The engagement’s been annulled, hasn’t it? If she broke it off because she disliked me, she should stay away and find someone else. Or is it one of those cases where she doesn’t want me but also doesn’t want anyone else to have me?’

At least she didn’t follow him into the library. Had she done so, Yuwon might have seriously contemplated whether the trouble of killing her was worth the peace that would follow.

In fact, he had already given that thought some consideration. Thankfully, she had the sense to quietly pick a book and read on her own once inside.

‘Come to think of it, if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have crossed paths with the Lady of Vallonin at all…’

The thought irritated him further. Yuwon ended the conversation one-sidedly.

“It was nice meeting you. I have a prior engagement with Viscount Bartlett, so I’ll take my leave. Please, continue your conversation at ease.”

“Ah, Your Highness…!”

Renania called out to him, but it was pointless. Lady Vallonin seized the opportunity and pulled Renania into another round of chatter.

“Have you and His Highness truly broken off your engagement? I heard you came to the capital precisely for that reason, but seeing you together makes me wonder if I was misinformed. Oh dear, I didn’t interrupt a serious conversation between the two of you, did I?”

‘Ugh… of all people, I had to run into the Lady of Vallonin, notorious for her endless chatter. Once she starts, she won’t stop for thirty minutes at least… What awful luck.’

Renania smiled on the outside but was crying inside. By then, Yuwon had already disappeared into the distance, reduced to a small dot.

‘They say poison cures poison… I suppose one nuisance just got rid of another.’

Having finally shaken off the clingy Renania who had been following him for days, Yuwon felt a great sense of relief. Before long, the library loomed ahead.

“You’re finally here.”

As Yuwon stepped into the library, Viscount Bartlett greeted him.

“Oh? You’re alone today? The Lady of Valaris, who’s been accompanying you these past few days—where is she?”

“She’ll probably be along much later. Why? Were you waiting for her?”

“How could I not be? The so-called Imperial Library may sound grand, but aside from the staff, hardly anyone uses it.”

Yuwon’s lips curled in amusement at the viscount’s whining.

“Why? You have me, don’t you? I’d say there’s no one more devoted a patron than I.”

Of course, the viscount wasn’t one to be easily outdone.

“And I’m most grateful for that. Without Your Highness, my position as Imperial Librarian would’ve been utterly meaningless.”

“Haha, you certainly have a quick tongue.”

“Since we’re on the topic, I must say, I’m always sincerely grateful to Your Highness—from the bottom of my heart.”

Hearing the viscount say such cloyingly sweet words without a hint of shame, Yuwon raised the white flag first.

“That’s enough. The fact you can say such things with a straight face… you’re no ordinary man, Viscount.”

At that, Bartlett laughed brightly.

“Haha, I learned a few things from Your Highness, so I thought I’d give it a try. How was it?”

“Not bad at all. Well done—I’ll give you that.”

The two exchanged light banter over a cup of tea. Some time later, just as Yuwon set down his empty teacup and began to rise—

“Your Highness!”

Renania appeared, wearing a pout.

“You’re finally here. You seemed quite familiar with Lady Vallonin—did you enjoy your conversation?”

Yuwon smiled teasingly.

“You left me all alone! Do you have any idea how much I suffered?”

“If Lady Vallonin heard that, it would be quite the sight. She seemed genuinely pleased to see you, yet to you she’s merely a nuisance, is that it?”

At those words, Renania suddenly felt a pang of guilt toward Lady Vallonin.

“No… it’s not that she’s a bad person, it’s just… she talks too much. Still, if you leave me there all alone, I…”

Renania fidgeted awkwardly, unsure what to do. She wanted to be angry at the prince who had left her behind, yet at the same time, she felt guilty toward Lady Vallonin. The conflicting emotions left her unsettled.

Seeing her like that, Yuwon let out a soft laugh.

“Haha, I was only teasing. No need to look so deflated. You’ve had a hard time—come, have some tea.”

Though his tone was gentle, Yuwon inwardly felt a surge of satisfaction. He couldn’t count how many times he’d been annoyed by Renania trailing after him these past days.

Across from them, Hastings, who had been quietly observing the exchange, smiled faintly.

‘They make quite the pair, yet they’ve annulled their engagement… What a waste. The southern Valaris family could’ve been a powerful ally to His Highness.’

“Is anyone here?”

Just then, a voice called out from the entrance of the library.

“Hm? Were we expecting someone else?”

Yuwon glanced at Renania.

“No, not that I know of. Lady Vallonin already left…”

But the voice was that of a man—it clearly wasn’t Lady Vallonin.

The voice came again, louder and clearer this time.

“I heard His Highness the Fifth Prince is here. Is anyone there?”

Someone had come to see Yuwon. Recognizing the voice, a smile spread across his face.

‘So he’s arrived already.’

It was a familiar, welcome voice.

“I’ll go see who it is. Please, you two stay seated.”

“No, allow me.”

Hastings rose from his seat, but Yuwon stopped him.

“Your Highness intends to go personally?”

“He’s my guest. And quite a welcome one at that.”

“…Who could it be, for Your Highness to go out yourself?”

Yuwon replied with a smile.

“Wait here. I’ll introduce him soon.”

Yuwon left Renania and Hastings at their seats and went down to greet his guest himself.

“I wondered when I’d see your face again, and here you are. Sooner than expected.”

“I’ve returned, Your Highness.”

The man bowed respectfully. His pale blue hair framed a sharply handsome face. It was Terrien Calmodet.

“Looks like you’ve tanned quite a bit—must’ve gone through some hardship.”

“Doesn’t this suit the Calmodet name better now?”

“Haha, you have a point. You finally look the part of a true Southerner.”

Terrien’s easy, confident tone brought a smile to Yuwon’s face.

The Terrien of old—burdened by his own inferiority as a concubine’s son—would never have dared speak so lightly, even in jest.

‘It’s only been a little over a month since Terrien left the capital… Seems he’s made that month count.’

Life could take a lifetime to change—or turn upside down in a single day.

Even from his bearing and the energy he exuded, it was clear Terrien had undergone a remarkable transformation.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. Planning to join the tournament?”

“Yes. Fortunately, even those of illegitimate birth are allowed to participate.”

Yuwon nodded approvingly.

“That’s what makes the Empire strong. A good decision.”

“Ah, about that—while I’m staying in the palace, I was wondering if I might impose on Your Highness for lodging. Would you grant me that favor?”

At those words, Yuwon’s expression hardened. That wasn’t something to be said so lightly.

“You wouldn’t say that without knowing what it means…”

This Houkijisu Tournament was different from any before.

To stay in the Fifth Prince’s Palace during the tournament was, in essence, to publicly align oneself with Yuwon.

A wanderer might not care, but once a man chose a master, switching allegiances was no simple thing. Yuwon wanted to be sure of that.

“…You won’t regret those words?”

The once jovial Terrien grew solemn.

“I will not. I came precisely for that reason.”

There was no trace of hesitation in his answer. The very fact that he didn’t even need to think about it told Yuwon everything.

“If you make a name for yourself in this tournament, other princes will certainly try to win you over. Any one of them could offer better prospects than staying under me. Even so, no regrets?”

“…I don’t like being asked the same question twice.”

“…?”

That response sounded oddly familiar.

“…When I first met Your Highness—or rather, when I met the changed Your Highness after you returned from the brink of death—you said those very words.”

“…Ah, that’s right. I did, didn’t I?”

Their first meeting.

It had begun with Terrien’s insolence—mocking a prince—and ended with Yuwon turning the tables on him. That encounter had been the start of their bond.

“…If it’s Your Highness asking, I can answer a hundred times. My answer will never change.”

With those words, Terrien knelt on one knee.

“Your Highness has mended the broken blade—please, take responsibility and wield it. Since the day I took up the sword again, I have recognized only one master: Your Highness.”

‘So my choice wasn’t wrong after all.’

Yuwon smiled.

“Is that so… Then there’s no reason to delay.”

He drew the White Dragon Sword from his waist. The pure white blade gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

“Terrien Calmodet, Son of the South—hear me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Yuwon’s quiet summons, the kneeling Terrien answered solemnly. Sunlight streamed through the library windows, bathing the two of them in light.

“I, Yurion Aphahiel, son of the Emperor Yulaios Aphahiel, rightful heir to Aphahiel, command thus…”

Yuwon tilted the sword, turning its blunt edge outward.

“…Terrien Calmodet, Son of the South—become my sword, and serve with loyalty all your life.”

“It is my greatest honor.”

Terrien’s voice rang out powerfully.

Yuwon swung the White Dragon Sword gently.

Left shoulder, then right.

The blade, white as falling snow, brushed against Terrien’s shoulders like the first snow of winter.

Terrien, head bowed, clenched his fist tightly.

‘There is no White Dog for me. To me, Your Highness has always been the White Dragon.’

Thus, the first knight personally appointed by Yuwon—Terrien Calmodet—was born.

That day, Yuwon gained a precious bond.

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