The man, who had been blinking in silence several times, turned his head away, covering his mouth with his hand. Yuder couldn't help but doubt whether he had said something wrong.

"…Commander?"

"No… Just wait for a moment."

After blocking the approaching Yuder, Kishiar lowered his hand after a while, and turned back to Yuder. The first thing that caught his eye was the fiery look in his eyes.

"I never used to believe that honesty could be the greatest weapon… But you never know until you experience it."

"Pardon?"

"I mean, your words just now pleased me more than any praise I've ever received."

Had not complaining or getting angry because it didn't hurt really deserved to be taken as such great praise? He didn't understand why Kishiar reacted that way to his answer, but he decided not to ask any further since he seemed pleased.

"Yuder."

"...Yes."

What was he calling for this time? Kishiar's red lips curled into a smile at Yuder's slightly delayed response.

"Heal quickly."

"…Pardon?"

"I always wish for your recovery, but never have I wished for it as deeply as I do at this moment."

"I would like that too, if possible…"

But it was not something that could be done at will. Healing his body was now in the hands of Enon, Hellem, and Mick, so there was nothing he could do himself.

Even to find a way to complement Kishiar's skill, he wished that they would find a clue within a short time...

'...No, wait.'

While thinking absentmindedly, Yuder glanced at Kishiar's still-smiling face. Only then did it occur to him that the meaning of that smile might not simply be a wish for a speedy recovery.

And as if he had been waiting for that realization, a low and sweet voice rang in his ears.

"How much I long for the day when you look at me again with those eyes, and the time when we return together to our Cavalry... My assistant probably wouldn't understand."

Our Cavalry.

In the strange emotion that unfamiliar yet familiar words evoked, Yuder found himself unable to say anything.

…

After the Duke of Peletta and his Cavalry, achieved a significant victory at the western edge of the Great Sarain Forest, the monsters' attacks that had been disturbing the borderlands were reduced to the usual levels.

Not only did the Cavalry defeat a giant monster without losing a single man, but they also left their excellent elite members in the Great Sarain Forest to assist with monster subjugation, receiving the praises of the Empire's people living in the borderlands.

Additionally, when the rumor that the Duke of Peletta was confirmed by the Sun God Temple priests in the west to be the true owner of the divine sword began to spread, a new tension began to stir in the capital.

Naturally, it was the high-ranking nobles who had most doubted this rumor that caused the tension.

"…That's absurd. The priests recognized the divine sword?"

The sharp voice that carried far made Kiolle da Diarca halt his steps. His gaze fell on a small rose garden where the Duke of Diarca often enjoyed a leisurely cup of tea with his close friends. Today, too, the Duke was hosting a meeting in that place, famous as the most beautiful section of the extensive garden divided into several sections.

"The Tain Duke's house is keeping it quiet… but there are many who saw him win battles with that sword... It seems it couldn't be denied…."

“The reason I'm doing this now is, of course, to use the health of the Crown Prince as an excuse...”

“Are you going to burden yourself with the legend of the first Emperor…? But please, don't worry too much…”

In contrast to the clanging voice of the Duke Diarca, the voices of those around were faint and weak, barely audible. But what was being said was not difficult to deduce.

The new master of the Cavalry and the Divine Sword. Kiolle scrunched his nose and recalled the central theme of their conversation.

The news that Duke Peletta had become the new master of the Divine Sword had been dismissed as mere rumor since Emperor Keilusa's announcement. But as the achievements of the Cavalry in the West became the talk of the town, the doubters were gradually increasing.

Of course, the Imperial Knights mostly scoffed at the rumor, but Kiolle chose silence over agreement with them, as usual. He had personally seen the power wielded by the Cavalry and the inexplicable and unsettling intimidation demonstrated by the 'Dissolute Duke.'

When Kiolle first heard the announcement that Kishiar was the new master of the Divine Sword, he thought it might not be a political ploy but the truth. His father and others didn't believe it, though.

But judging by the words he had just heard, Duke Peletta seemed to have presented undeniable evidence this time.

If Duke Peletta were playing at being a leader with commoners, the nobles wouldn't care. But if the new master of the Divine Sword could lead those with strength enough to quell more than monsters and achieve great feats, it would be something they could not ignore. Especially in times like these.

The Crown Prince, who was bearing the future of the Diarca family, had been in seclusion for a long time since the assassination attempt by the Apeto family. Rumors spread that he had gone mad. Duke Diarca had tried to cure the Crown Prince while suppressing the rumors, but it was not easy to quell them, even with the Diarca family name.

What would happen if Duke Peletta, the rightful master of the Divine Sword, and the Cavalry returned in such a situation?

Even Kiolle, who had no interest in politics or power struggles, could see how much on edge his father had been lately. It would probably lead to a war without war.

Kiolle thought of Yuder Aile, the only Cavalry member he knew by name. He hadn't seen that arrogant and monstrous guy's face for quite some time. Through the mark of the oath on his wrist, he knew that Yuder was alive and well, but every time he heard news of the Cavalry from the West, Yuder's image came to mind.

'If the rumor about a Cavalry member defeating a monster alone in the Great Sarain Forest is true, it must have been him.'

It was more a conviction than a speculation, something he felt through personal experience.

Kiolle, shivering, decided to stop thinking and head home. He would have, if someone from the group with his father hadn't spotted him and called out loudly.

“Oh! Young Sir Kiolle has returned.”

The men, who had been sipping tea in the garden and elegantly cursing Duke Peletta, all looked at Kiolle warmly, lavishing praise upon him. Kiolle recognized his first and third brothers among them and frowned deeply. The brothers also looked at Kiolle, their irritation barely hidden beneath expressionless faces. Only their father, Duke Diarca, welcomed his youngest son with a softer expression and a gesture.

"Kiolle. Have you arrived? Come this way."

"...Yes."

Kiolle headed towards his father, swallowing a deep regret that he should have gone in earlier. As he approached, the courtiers around the duke became excited and began to praise him.

"Young Kiolle truly resembles the duke in his youth."

"It's as if I'm seeing His Highness's appearance from 40 years ago."

Duke Diarca was not particularly pleased that Kiolle had become a knight, but whenever he saw him in the knight's uniform, he gladly accepted such praise.

"Are you just returning now? You're later than I expected."

"Yes, I was a bit delayed as I was discussing the training plan with the Commander."

"The Commander of the Imperial Knights is Theorado Van Tain, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"The one with the most peculiar talent among those from the Tain family, the one who is so obsessed with the sword that he doesn't even go home. I hear his family is quite concerned."

"I also don't often go home due to training."

"Ah, but, of course, Sir Kiolle is different from him."

After responding insincerely to someone who was desperately trying to join the conversation with his father, Kiolle only looked at his father and closed his mouth.

'I wish he would tell me to leave quickly.'

It was more than annoying that he couldn't respond as he wanted due to the vow, but the Duke of Diarca, who by now Kiolle thought would tell him to go, was looking at him with a face lost in thought. Kiolle realized that his aging father's eyes were fixed on the emblem of the Imperial Knights on his chest and felt puzzled.

'Why is he doing that?'

"Kiolle. It seems that you have a close relationship with Theorado Van Tain."

It was more a dull relationship between a Commander and a subordinate knight than a close one, but Kiolle said nothing at first. Duke Diarca, looking at his son as if he had found a good way out from an unexpected place, asked,

"Have you heard anything about the situation in the Tain family lately?"

"Not particularly... no."

"The Duke of Tain says he trusts Theorado most among his nephews, so ask him about it the next time you talk."

"...Yes."

The answer that they were not close enough to have such a conversation was unnecessary to his father. Duke Diarca smiled and lightly patted his son's arm.

"I was angry when you used to make a fuss about becoming a mere knight, but lately, I think it was good that I listened to your stubbornness. Keep going as you are now."

The nobles, who had secretly known about the youngest son's many mishaps, exchanged meaningful glances. Kiolle saw a dark energy in the eyes of his brothers mixed in among them and furrowed his already furrowed brow even more.

'...This is really annoying.'

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