CH 37

The planned site for the temple was a personal residence of the deceased owner. It seemed that the wealthy merchant who was the owner had passed away a few years ago, and the place had been left untouched ever since. The deceased merchant had no family, and it seemed that it had been abandoned because it was difficult to find a buyer.

However, it was said that the place was spacious enough and could be used as a temple and a base for knights with a little renovation. That’s what was written in the documents handed to me by Ioel, Thanasios’ secretary.

In the end, I decided to go to the planned temple site alone. Thanasios and the maids were busy, and there was talk of assigning soldiers as escorts, but it seemed like it would take too much time, so I declined and left somewhat forcefully.

Normally, it would be a problem to let the princess go out alone, but this was Styx Kingdom, and the public safety in the capital was excellent. Moreover, the place I was going to was a quiet residential area where former Uranos Principality knights were gathering. It was not a problem for me to go out alone in a simple tunic, as no one would recognize me as the princess, but rather as a poor girl. It was sad, but it was the truth.

Walking along the clean cobblestone streets, following the map provided in the documents I received, I arrived at the planned temple site in no time. Surprisingly, it was just a stone’s throw away from the royal castle. I thought to myself that I could come here every day.

Approaching the place, I saw several knights loitering at the gate. They looked like travelers and seemed a bit worn out. It was understandable since they had come all the way from the Uranos Principality. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened there to make them come all the way to the Styx Kingdom. However, I shook off those thoughts and focused on the task at hand.

First, I approached the knights at the gate and spoke to them.

“Excuse me, hello. My name is Eleni. I have been sent here by Prince Athanasios.”

“Princess Eleni!”

Before I could finish my sentence, the knights stood up and straightened their backs, shouting my name.

Hearing the commotion, other knights came out as well. I had never been surrounded by so many men before and I panicked, looking around desperately for someone to help me.

Then, I spotted Korya among the knights and called out to him.

“Korya!”

He must have noticed my desperate plea that sounded like a scream. Korya, who had grown his hair a little longer, pushed aside the knights and came to me.

“Eleni-sama, it’s been a while… no, we met the other day. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Likewise, Korya. But more importantly, where is your leader?”

“If you mean the Knight Commander, he’s over there. Please, allow me to escort you, Princess.”

Korya was in high spirits as he took my hand and led me inside the mansion. The hall had a high ceiling with a mosaic-tiled arch-shaped roof, walls, and floors. They all indicated that this mansion was built by a very wealthy person.

Although I wondered why such a place had no buyers, I put that question aside when I saw the former Uranos Principality Knight Commander walking towards us.

The Knight Commander knelt down on one knee and showed his formal knightly respect. The other knights followed suit without a word and performed a splendid ceremony. Even I, who had no knowledge, could understand how much these knights had trained and how proud they were. They never lost their pride as knights, even if they became travelers of hardship.

The Knight Commander, who was slightly older than middle-aged, raised his head.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Eleni. Since Korya is the only one among us who has met you in person, we were not allowed to come and greet you, and we have been frustrated. However, we have come this far to pledge our loyalty to you.”

Huh? To pledge loyalty to me? Why?

They should be loyal to the Duke of Uranos, not me. Yet they left the Uranos Principality and came all the way here. What happened in the Uranos Principality?

To find out, I first thanked them.

“Thank you for coming all this way. If you don’t mind, please tell me the story of how you came here.”

The Knight Commander nodded deeply. He stood up and tried to guide me to a room with chairs.

——I never imagined that I would hear such a story.