CH 133

[Dragon Knight]

Ten days after King Frederick’s death.

The news that Lloyd, who was rushing over leading his knights from Youg Hannotes, had arrived at the royal capital came to the mansion.

With his arrival, our house arrest was lifted, and we are waiting outside the mansion to welcome him, but——

“I knew he would, but… to think father would put his idea into practice this quickly… I had misread him…” (Noelia)

“Yeah, I thought it would take a little longer, but… to think he’s already having his knights use them.” (Frick)

“Err, no matter how you look at them, they’re wyverns, right?” (Alfine)

In the courtyard where we are waiting to welcome Lloyd, we can see wyverns resting their wings and knights feeding and caring for them.

“Frick, Noelia, Al. I am glad you are all safe.”

The one who calls out to us who are looking at the wyverns resting their wings in a daze is Lloyd who’s looking a little tired from the long journey.

“Lloyd-sama… these wyverns are…” (Frick)

Lloyed, receiving a question from me, turns his eyes to the wyverns.

“After all, it’s unfair that only Gawain and Frick get to ride wyverns. After getting the information on how to subdue them from Gawain, I picked some candidates among the knights, and went to the Yasuba Hunting Ground to caught them.” (Lloyd)

They caught them at the Yasuba Hunting Ground, he says…

The subduing method Gawain taught him must be the one he had taught to me.

Remembering the time when I was making Dimol submit, I turn my gaze to the knights who are taking care of the wyverns.

From the way they behave, I can tell that they are experienced fighters.

“As with Dimol, wyverns have a rough temper. However, once you make them submit, they are really faithful, and they are smart, too. Also, they have excellent maneuverability. They will most likely play an active part in reconnaissance in the war against Abyss Walkers. On that note, it is as you two had said, riding them placed a heavy burden on the rider.” (Lloyd)

The face of Lloyd, talking about wyverns, looks like the face of a child who just got a new toy.

“Lloyd! You do know the meaning of riding a wyvern, a dragon species, in the royal capital, don’t you!?” (Cassandra)

The face of Lloyd, looking at the wyverns with a broad grin, instantly turns pale hearing Cassandra’s voice.

“Mother-in-law. Y-you said in the letter “There’s an emergency, so come to the royal capital as soon as possible.” Therefore, I kept the number of knights accompanying me to the minimum, and rushed over here from Youg Hannotes only with those who could ride a wyvern. As I am a noble of the kingdom of Hartford, I, too, naturally know that the people of the royal capital hate dragons. However, I concluded that I should hurry over despite that, considering——” (Lloyd)

“Fool! I had sent you a messenger with the follow-up report describing the current situation of our family, hadn’t I! During this unstable situation, you brought along many wyverns and flew over the sky of the royal capital. Many noble families would take that as an act of showing-off our power! Didn’t you consider the possibility Chancellor Boris happily taking advantage of that to worsen our situation? You battle junkie!” (Cassandra)

“Mother-in-law!? I did it for——” (Lloyd)

“Say no more. In the first place, had you stayed in the royal capital, did work in the royal court, and left the governance of Youg Hannotes to Knight Captain Meiss, I wouldn’t have to work hard still until now! Do you understand that?” (Cassandra)

“I apologize for making Mother-in-law bear such a burden despite your advanced age, but Youg Hannotes is a kind of noisy land, so Meiss alone won’t——” (Lloyd)

In front of the angry matriarch, Cassandra, even Lloyd, her son-in-law, can only helplessly receive the scolding and is troubled; he moves his gaze to his daughter Noelia to ask for help.

“Father, you are at fault this time, so please apologize to Grandmother. Bringing wyverns into the royal capital is overdoing it.” (Noelia)

Come to think of it, when I was protecting the royal capital from Genocider’s explosion, I openly rode Dimol, too, didn’t I…

The residents of the royal capital really hate dragons, partly because of the demonic dragon Gae Briggs, so I kinda understand where Cassandra coming from.

I also never thought that Lloyd would tame wyverns and ride them over here.

Getting abandoned by his daughter, Lloyd turns his help-pleading gaze toward me and Al.

N-no, even if you ask us for help, we also did the same thing, so we’re not in a position to say anything to Cassandra-sama.

I silently shake my head to the help-pleading gaze of Lloyd.

“Gunu. Even Frick and Al abandon me——” (Lloyd)

“Well, what’s done is done, so let’s just make full use of it. Youg Hannotes’s Frontier Count has formed a powerful dragon knight corps, and he has come to restore the security of the royal capital that has fallen into disorder— that pretext should be good enough for the time being. Crown Prince Rodrick must also be looking forward for Lloyd, who has powerful force, to come and pledge loyalty to him in this situation where the Royal Guard Knight Order has become a mere shell. I have already sent a messenger to Crown Prince Rodrick, and the meeting will be held in this mansion soon. Noelia, assist Lloyd well. Both Al-dono and Frick-dono, too, should be present at the meeting.” (Cassandra)

““Y-yes.””

And thus, we will be present at the meeting with Crown Prince Rodrick who will become the new king as the successor to King Frederick.