Chapter 22

‘I’ll do it.’

There was no sound, but the mouth movements could be fully understood. Schwartz, who thought that he would have hesitation no matter how intimidating he was, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

It was true that the Northern Knights were the most difficult to enter in the empire. However, it was also the Northern Knights that all knights avoided.

It was already under the notorious Archduke Hyer.

The saying that it would be faster to die at Logan’s hands than to be cut up by enemies was no joke.

It* was filled every year, but just by looking that the number of knights kept decreasing, anybody could tell. The number of applicants was decreasing as the northern members knew what they were doing in the Grand Duchy.

[*T/N: The Northern Knights]

The reason why the Knights Templar was able to continue was because they did not consider the origins* of the people at all. It was almost the only way to rise in status in Shertian for those whose natural origin was lowly. An excessively high salary for a single knight may have also played a part.

[*T/N: This means that the Northern Knights did not see whether the person applying to be a Northern Knight was from a poor family or a noble family or was they a beggar and could rise to a higher status without any discrimination.]

So the most persecuted people gathered one by one. Those who used to roam around the back alleys and used to rob because they had skills but had no identity.

Most of them had no last name for that reason.

However, no matter how much they chattered behind their backs, none of the people in the Empire could belittle their origins in the Knights Templar.

“Are you saying you’ll join us for an expedition?”

He asked back even though he heard the answer clearly. He made a suggestion, but he didn’t know he would get an okay at once. No wonder, even the knights familiar with this did not want to go.

Schwartz, who had been looking at Ian, nodded his head casually whether he knew it or not, and sighed quietly.

“About Rox…, I apologize for mentioning it. You nodded your head right away, it makes me laugh.”

It was because even he, who was speaking, could not understand the intention of the Archduke. Schwartz recalled Logan’s face last evening when he was talking about Ian.

ㅡI’m thinking about bringing him.

As always, Ian was not interested in the other person’s intention.

He knew that rejection would only bring disadvantages because he was a person who would do so.

Logan was not a man to give many chances.

In order to achieve what Ian wanted, he did not hesitate to do things that were common sense. If this prince’s weakness was his country, the same thing that happened just now would happen on a daily basis.*

[*T/N: Since Ian realised that he was a prince whose weakness was his country, he knew that even if he refused this offer he would be taunted or blackmailed regarding his country on a daily basis.]

But still, Ian’s appetite was bitter*. In the first place, Schwartz hated the method of dipping and pressing** the most. Even though he got the answer that he was hoping for, he was not happy at all.

[*T/N: It probably means that Schwartz was not happy with the answer he got from Ian which is compared with bitter appetite.

**T/N: Probably means, repeatedly asking the same question to get or force out the desired answer.]

Unlike Schwartz, Ian, who had no interest in Rox, was calm.

Because it was a country that he had never heard of and only knew its name, it didn’t matter to him what happened there. Furthermore, if one guessed here and there, they would know that it was no different than selling yourself to the enemy country.

“……..”

Nevertheless, the reason why Ian nodded was something else. He didn’t know exactly what the expedition was about, but it seemed certain that it was a chance to face that man. There must be a reason why Logan chose him over other Knights.

In fact, Ian was able to predict to some extent.

This was because there were things that he unintentionally heard while walking around the room.

ㅡI can’t believe he still doesn’t have a wife.

Most of them were careful about what they are saying in front of him, but they could not stop the leak of the story as they came and went. As anyone would hear, most of the words that were said in a lowered voice were about the Knights or the Grand Duke.

Wife, marriage, successor.

In particular, at first glance, the anxiety about the Grand Duke, who still did not have children, was enormous. Considering that he only seemed to be in his late 20s, there seemed to be nothing to worry about, but Ian, who heard something from Kyle, was able to grasp the situation roughly.

Didn’t he say they all live for a short time? I think it is said that they usually die suddenly in their early and mid-30s.

The weak Archduke had yet to decide on adopting a successor and had not even chosen a wife. From an employment standpoint, Ian understood that there were so many worries. If he suddenly died at this rate, the job they got would become unstable. No one knew whether the new owner would extend the contract or not.

That may be why no one was sheltering Logan at the time of the attack.

Some people would hate a man who has so much power but no heir.

If so, he could understand the sudden threat to his life, the bystanders, and the reactions of anxious Knights.

It was half right and half absurd, but from Ian’s point of view, that was the best he could grasp on.

“The next expedition is in a month.”

It had already been a month since he opened his eyes here. It was about two weeks ago that the Knights returned, and now they said they would go on an expedition again in less than two months.

He didn’t know if it was going according to a schedule, but it didn’t really matter. Schwartz, who was still looking at Ian, nodded his head and added as if he was trying to assure him, ‘You’ll be with the Grand Duke, so you won’t have to worry. I hope you can let me know what will be okay.’

“Besides that, I heard you can’t speak Shetier…..”

Ian thought this was the end, but he immediately moved on to the next topic. He had a rather serious expression than Ed’s. On top of that, since the other three, who were quietly listening to Schwartz, and were gazing intently, Ian felt like he had become a little lacking in an instant.

“Unfortunately, no one here knows Roxian.”

Due to the walls built along the border, even exchanges were cut off. Originally, Rox sent an interpreter who could speak both Shetier and Roxian along with Ian, but they were killed.

“I think it would be better to learn writing for simple communication. I’m glad there’s no problem with listening, but…, there must be something you want to say too.”

It was possible to make a request to the royal capital, but it was unclear whether there would be any applicants. Considering that he was going on an expedition, Schwartz was right.

Ailee, who nodded next to him, said,

“Then assign a certain teacher. Shetier is quite difficult for foreigners to learn.”

“Oh, that’s true, too. Then, Ailee, you…”

“Nope. I’m so high-skilled that it is like a waste of resources.”

Even before the solicitation was over, it was cut as if with a single knife. It was when Schwartz tapped his chin as if he was in trouble, not that Ailee’s sharp reply was wrong.

“Then what about me?”

It was Kyle, who was standing behind Ian like a shadow till then. Ian wondered how long a human being, who usually would have been flirting with him, could keep quiet at the commander’s words.

“I’m a little free because I just returned. It may not be as good as aristocrats, but the goal is not to speak fluently, but just to be able to communicate, right?”

“What do you mean, Kyle? It’s too difficult for low-level personnel.”

“Wow, you’re so incredibly mean.”

Kyle whined to Ailee, who treated him as a low-level subordinate with a completely unhurt face, bent down.

“In this respect, I also have a connection with our prince.”

Kyle, who lowered his head near Ian’s shoulder, who was sitting down, softly whispered.

“I was only listening until I was thirteen, but I couldn’t write. But now? Look, I’m posting a report to the Grand Duke.”

Every time he spoke, his breath touched and tickled. At the act of narrowing the distance between them as if they were close friends, Ian was agonized over whether he should hit Kyle on the chin or just let it go.

“Move away.”

Claude, who sat next to Ian, ordered in a blunt voice as if he seemed to have sensed that feeling. It was a remark without hesitation, even though he knew that the other party would likely not obey him.

“But, what if I don’t want to?”

And again, Kyle, who was on the wrong beat as expected, was about to take another step. He obviously intended to reach out to Ian’s hair, which was loosely untied. Claude’s eyebrows narrowed as if he was playing around with a few strands hanging on his index finger. He looked at the rude man with a shallow habit.

No matter how much he was sent as a hostage, Ian was a member of the royal family of a foreign country. That was an obvious disrespect to Claude, who had learned manners and laws since he was young. It was said that the Roxians valued their hair, so it wouldn’t be a bad thing to cut Kyle’s finger at this time.

“Stop…”

A brief warning was given.

Had Ian not turned his head sideways* at that moment, Claude might have asked for the commander’s consent to cut Kyle’s finger.

[*T/N: This means Ian turned his head sideways doing a gesture saying “no” to Claude.]

“Huh?”

Kyle stopped fooling around when Ian, who did nothing but nod expressionlessly like a doll, turned his head towards Ian and affectionately made eye contact.

‘What’s wrong?’

As Kyle whispered, Ian, who was still looking up at Kyle, briefly beckoned. As if to come a little closer. It had been a while since they met, but it was the first time he saw Ian asking for something. When Kyle let out a small laugh and bowed his head a bit more…

“Ouch!”

His hair was caught.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

T/N: SUPRISE! A little christmas gift from me.(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)