Chapter 14. The Invitation

“S-save me!”

Bethel cried out desperately, panting for breath.

“You were asking to be killed just the other day.”

“I have committed a mortal sin, Your Highness!”

Bethel looked at me with a face smeared with tears and snot and spoke earnestly. I shook my head very firmly. What he wanted was obvious. He wanted me to take off the considerable weight of the sandbags attached to his arms, legs, and waist.

“Since you’ve committed a mortal sin, run until you feel like you’re dying.”

“Me-mercy. S-save, save me!”

Bethel screamed. It was a truly unpleasant sound. So I walked up to him and kicked his leg.

“Ugh!”

As if he had been waiting for it, the guy fell backward. He made a pained face. But on that face was also a sense of relief that he was alive. I think I know why this bastard deserted.

“Hoo… Oh man, I’m dying. My arms and legs feel like they’re going to fall off.”

Bethel acted hurt, glancing at me cautiously.

“Gavis Bethel.”

“Oh, my. Your Highness… Aigoo…”

“Not getting up?”

“Y-Your Highness. If I could just rest for a little, just a little…”

“Really? Then stay like that.”

“For real? Thank… no, no sir, Your Highness. I think I’m better. Your Highness? I’m getting up. I’m really getting up!”

As soon as I started walking toward where my sword was, Bethel shot up from his spot. He’s exaggerating too much. He looks like he could chew through cast iron, but he acts like a child not even 10 years old. Even though he’s 23. But his face doesn’t look 23, it wouldn't be strange if he were in his early 40s… is he lying?

“A 1st Circle guy like you is whining over that!”

“I’m not whining. I seriously feel like I’m going to die.”

“You won’t die. I’m wearing heavier ones than you.”

“Well… that’s true, but… Your Highness is different somehow…”

“Stop talking nonsense and run. If you keep saying you’re going to die, I’ll show you what really dying is, you hear?”

As I shot him a threatening glare, Bethel swallowed hard. Then he lifted his foot, which was planted on the ground, with great difficulty. I watched his arms and legs closely. He was exaggerating, but it seemed true that he had moved to near his limit. Seeing his arms and legs trembling. To think someone like that walks around with his shoulders squared, calling himself a 1st Circle knight… Tsk, tsk.

“Bethel!”

“Yes? Yes, Your Highness.”

“If you’re a knight, you must overcome your own limits. Isn’t that right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

That fellow Bethel answered reluctantly.

‘Y-Your Highness! It’s not that I knew and did it…’

‘Shut up. Your foundation is rotten. A deserter, you bastard.’

‘Well… my dream was to become a knight, but I felt like I would suffocate and die if I stayed in the North…’

‘So you ran away because you felt like you were going to die?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Why didn’t you just endure it and die?’

‘Pardon? That’s a bit…’

‘That’s why you’re rotten. I, for one, don’t want to live with a rotten bastard, even if it’s temporary.’

‘Then where do I… the commander told me to stay here… he said he’d kill me if I ran away…’

‘We need to fix that mindset of yours.’

That’s the reason for the ‘Physical strength is national power! Training.’ Bethel’s skills were not bad. I could see why Chris had spared him. Since he held his life in his hands, he must have judged that he could make him work one way or another. Even a jagged stone will roll if you push it. But as long as he’s with me, he can’t stay jagged. I will carve out all the rotten parts. If you are a knight, you must have the proper knightly mindset.

‘His skills are usable, but his mind and body are complete trash.’

His core was weak to begin with. Since he couldn’t stand straight, his legs were strained and his arms went astray. So even when he executed a technique, it didn’t land sharply.

‘Look at that belly fat.’

I looked at the side of Bethel, who was running and panting. He had more fat than muscle. It wasn’t just his side. His entire body was like that. That’s why the tip of his sword wavered every time he swung it. Because the tip wavered, he had to use more force. With a lot of wasted force, his sword path became tangled.

His fundamentals were lacking.

“Run!”

I shouted at him while running the same course as Bethel. Bethel, panting and staggering, looked at me with a face that looked like it was about to cry.

“If you fall, I’ll cut off your feet.”

“Heek!”

Bethel increased his non-existent speed by a rat’s dropping.

“Is it to your liking?”

Chris had made his healthy trash food again today. He snickered, finding Bethel and me amusing.

“Not a chance.”

“I heard you cross swords with him from time to time.”

“It’s because Rodrigo won’t be my opponent.”

“Isn’t that because Your Highness is being nasty?”

“It’s not like that. Ah, whatever. Why are you here?”

At my question, Chris pointed at Bethel.

“To take him away?”

“No. I thought it wouldn’t be bad to leave him here for a while. It seems Your Highness is educating him well.”

At Chris' words, I snorted. It’s no big deal to beat some sense into a mindless guy. If you push him and push him again, the concept will sink in.

“When he reaches a certain level, I will take him then. By the way, about Bethel.”

Chris stroked his chin and scrutinized my face. I wonder what he’s trying to say, dragging it out like this… It’s making me anxious for no reason.

“He says your sword is strange.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“He says it’s a swordsmanship he’s never seen before. I was curious too when I saw it during the last duel. I couldn’t ask then because of the chaos…”

He suddenly trailed off. Chris' gaze became remarkably heavy.

“A sword whose spirit is fierce and heavy, felling thousands in a single blow.”

And he muttered as if chanting a spell. I just stared at Chris blankly.

“It is a passage I saw in a book.”

Isn’t reading books and researching what mages do in their spare time? I don’t know why he’s telling me this as if it’s something special.

“Do you know what book it is?”

“How would I know that?”

“It is a book about a man with the same name as Your Highness. Maximilian Leonhardt.”

He suddenly mentioned me. My heart pounded fast. My lips went dry. Many thoughts raced through my mind. Leonhardt was a taboo, he said. But for him to mention it… could it be? I kept saying I was strange whenever I had the chance, did he realize my soul had been swapped?

“So?”

I decided to assume he didn’t know and replied.

“Could it be…”

Chris' pupils shone sharper than ever before.

“Could it be what?”

“Have you read a book about Leonhardt?”

Hearing the specific question, the tension that had risen to my throat vanished anticlimactically. He clearly didn’t know. Then again, research on soul-swapping had never been conducted. I don’t remember seeing any related books either. So it probably wouldn’t be in Chris' head either.

“I told you before. I don’t read old books, you know? And everything related to that man is forbidden, you said.”

“You say no, but one can never be sure, can they?”

“If you can’t trust me, go and tell the Bureau of Inspection. That I read a forbidden book. If their people come out and investigate, it’ll be revealed.”

“……”

Chris observed me carefully as I spoke confidently.

“If you have it, you must dispose of it. It could become troublesome later if someone makes an issue of it.”

“Seems like there’s a whole bunch of people who’ll make an issue even without that.”

“Do you have it?”

“No. I don’t. Just believe me. And I have no need to see such things.”

I am Leonhardt, why would I read what someone else wrote? And in that era, there was no one stronger than me, so why would I read a book about Philip III or any other guy? What a waste of time.

“Understood. I will believe you.”

Chris nodded. His suspicious gaze seemed to remain, but since he said he believed me, he probably wouldn’t ask again.

“Your! Highness!”

Just as I was thinking of wrapping up the conversation and running again, Rodrigo ran into the training ground, panting. He was waving something like a letter frantically.

“What’s with him?”

“I wonder.”

Chris also seemed to have no idea why Rodrigo was running. The morning training is over for…

Thud!

Bethel, who was trudging along, and Rodrigo collided. What a truly chaotic morning.

* * *

What Rodrigo brought was a banquet invitation stamped with the royal seal.

“If you just say it is difficult to attend, I will contact the main palace. That Your Highness has not yet fully recovered and it is difficult for you to travel far.”

Rodrigo, with a fist-sized bump on his forehead, said. He was worried about the conflict that would arise with the other princes when I went to the banquet. He also mentioned the incidents at the military academy, worrying that it might have a bad psychological effect on me.

“What do you think, Elliot?”

I asked Elliot, who happened to bring tea just then.

“I also hope you don’t go. You were very sick.”

A similar reaction. Then the last person?

“You will do as you please anyway, won’t you?”

A very mage-like reaction that didn’t deviate from my expectations. Then the answer is set.

“I’ll attend!”

I said, picking up the invitation.

“Your Highness, please reconsider.”

“Your Highness! Please don’t go.”

Rodrigo and Elliot spoke strongly. Well, they saw me dying, so it’s understandable.

“Aren’t you guys being too negative?”

“Rest is the priority for now.”

“That’s right. Your Highness needs to rest more.”

Rodrigo and Elliot made pitiful and desperate faces. Even if I say I’ve rested enough, they won’t accept it. If I just insist on going, they’ll become anxious…

“Why are you looking at me?”

Chris, whose eyes met mine, asked with a frown.

“Because you’re coming with me?”

“I was not invited.”

Chris tried to cut off my thought with a gentle tone. But it won’t go as he wishes. What is public opinion? Unless one is a heartless murderer, it’s not easy to withstand the pressure of earnest emotions. Especially for a compassionate commander who offers a deserter a second chance at life.

“Count Dorléans! I beg of you.”

“My Lord Count! Please look after our Highness.”

The two turned the gazes they had sent me and shot them at Chris.

“No, this is troublesome. I was not invited.”

“Are you not someone who doesn’t need an invitation?”

“That’s right. You can just go, can’t you?”

“No, no. Look here, everyone. I am a busy man.”

“I beg of you.”

“Please. Please? Pretty please.”

Chris wavered slightly at Rodrigo’s plea and shook greatly at Elliot’s. He might ignore Rodrigo, but when Elliot comes out like that, he can’t help but be swayed. Because she has a strong puppy-dog-like vibe.

“Haa… If I attend the banquet, the atmosphere will become very unpleasant.”

“Is it any better if I go?”

As soon as Chris stated his reason for not wanting to attend the banquet, I latched onto it.

Chris swallowed a groan.

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled about going with Chris either. Because I would have to listen to that man’s twisted words constantly. It’s also uncomfortable to be observed by him for a long time, with just the two of us left in a small space. Nevertheless, there are various reasons why I want to go with him.

First, I don’t know what kind of tricks the 4th Prince and his cronies are planning. But if I arrive at the banquet hall with Chris, even those who were planning something will stop.

Because Chris is a 3rd Circle mage that even the king cannot treat carelessly, and he is the nation’s shield that protects the border. And another reason lies in the meaning that Chris moving with me gives. This is more important than the first reason.

“You’re cunning…”

Chris looked at me with displeased eyes. So I offered him a very bright smile. A smile filled with the meaning that he should suffer a bit.