“It’s been a while.”

Leon Benning, standing behind the Second Prince, smirked as he mouthed the words to Teodora. Whether he meant to provoke or if it was simply a greeting, Teodora had no way of knowing, but she had to struggle to swallow the rising anger inside her.

Don’t show it.

Teodora reminded herself of this. She quickly lowered her head in a bow to the prince, feeling the glances from others behind her. Those who were unaware of the connection between her and her father mostly looked at her with curiosity or, perhaps, a mix of curiosity and expectation.

“Well done.”

The Second Prince’s voice echoed. It wasn’t dignified but rather arrogant, attempting to press down with an oppressive presence masked as authority. His gaze, looking down on the world, was blatant. Yet, behind all that pressure, there were glimpses of unfulfilled substance.

“His Majesty must be very pleased to have raised such an outstanding knight order in such a short time. It is indeed a blessing for the kingdom.”

Among the Black Crow Knights, those affected by the Second Prince’s dominance were impressed internally, while those unaffected sensed his hollow nature, some even feeling a twinge of disgust.

“Isn’t that right, Count? To have such people under my command, it’s as if fortune has fallen into my lap.”

“That’s exactly right, Your Highness. These knights, renowned from the borderlands, will undoubtedly be of great assistance to you.”

Count Benning’s nonchalant reply stirred curiosity in those knights who questioned the Second Prince’s merit.

“No matter how skilled they are, Count, could any of them possibly surpass you? You are my greatest strength.”

“You flatter me, Your Highness. Even my daughter, the captain of the Black Crow Knights, will soon surpass me as a warrior.”

The Second Prince’s tone brightened visibly when Teodora was mentioned.

“Yes, that’s true. I’ve heard the rumors myself. The knight who felled hundreds, if not thousands, of monsters in the north, and in the east, brought the mighty behemoth to its knees. And her appearance—they say it makes the hearts of many knights flutter.”

“She’s a promising child indeed.”

Being spoken of so flatteringly made Teodora uncomfortable. She was seriously considering interrupting the conversation, but just as she was about to, the Second Prince turned to the knights and issued a command.

“Raise your heads, my brave Black Crows, who will help me restore order and law within the royal palace.”

Speaking as though the Black Crow Knights were already his personal force, the Second Prince addressed the kneeling knights.

“You all have such courageous faces. And the captain here, a beautiful flower. I’m utterly delighted.”

As Teodora nearly scowled at his self-praise and nauseating compliments directed at her, she felt a weight pressing down on her cloak’s hem from behind. Judging by the placement, it must have been Paola lending her a discreet hand.

Teodora was deeply grateful for the gesture.

“Now, you will aid me in upholding order and law in the royal palace. I trust you will wield your mighty swords for the right cause.”

The Second Prince said, looking down at Teodora. The mention of palace order made her bristle, but she kept her head lowered and replied calmly.

“I will do my utmost.”

The Second Prince seemed pleased with her brief response, laughing heartily. Teodora couldn’t help but hear the laughter echoing within her, rotting her from the inside out.

“Yes, much better than those who drone on with endless speeches of loyalty. Your reply suits your cold demeanor.”

Apparently, the Second Prince hadn’t yet realized that loyalty is nothing more than a surface display. Regardless, Count Benning’s hollow babble only fed into the Prince’s conceit. Teodora let out a heavy sigh internally.

“Your Highness, perhaps it’s time to conclude this inspection.”

It seemed even Leon Benning couldn’t watch the display any longer as he subtly suggested to the prince to wrap things up. The Second Prince narrowed his eyes at the suggestion.

“Here I was, enjoying the company, and you’re spoiling the mood.”

“Your meeting with the mages of the Tower is imminent.”

Impressive or desensitized—Leon Benning didn’t even blink at the Second Prince’s arrogance. The Prince nodded at Leon’s explanation.

“Ah, yes, the Tower. I’m sure I will be just as satisfied with their finest minds as I am with this.”

“I understand. I shall see to these matters while you proceed with the mages.”

“Indeed.”

With that, the Second Prince turned on his heel and strode away with a single guard, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared down the palace corridor. As the Prince vanished, Leon Benning turned his attention to the Black Crow Knights with his signature hollow gaze. The moment the Second Prince left, the knights rose silently in unison.

“A remarkable man, isn’t he?”

With a twisted smirk, Leon Benning spoke. Teodora looked at her father with a face drained of all warmth, barely masking her disgust.

“The Count seems the remarkable one.”

“We’re alone now, with only your subordinates present. You can call me Father.”

“Yes, Count.”

Teodora’s quiet chuckle held a biting edge. She had no reason to fall for such an obvious provocation. Leon, perhaps having no intention of continuing their sparring, tapped the sword at his waist as he looked over the Black Crow Knights. His gaze lingered on some with brief curiosity.

“You will pair off in teams of two and take charge of guarding His Highness. There’s a designated area within the palace where you can reside. When not on duty, you are to train and remain on standby. An attendant will be here shortly to show you to your quarters.”

With that command, Count Benning turned to Teodora, giving her a mechanical smile. Teodora stiffened and took a couple of steps back from the Count.

“Well then, I leave it to you, Teodora.”

His words hung in the air, leaving a bitter taste. Leon Benning strode away down the corridor where the Second Prince had vanished. Teodora watched him go, finally sighing when he was out of sight.

“What a struggle you have on your hands.”

The sound of Paola’s voice brought Teodora back to reality. She glanced around at the knights who were now looking at her with concern, perhaps understanding the unreasonable relationship between the Second Prince and the Count.

“This is more exhausting than a full day of swordsmanship. And to think we’ll be stuck in this mess for months.”

“It’s best not to dwell on the duration. Clearly, they intend to keep us close, and resisting will change nothing.”

Paola grumbled, burdened by the weight of her position as Vice-Captain. At that moment, Lionel cautiously approached and whispered.

“Captain, about the Second Prince…”

Teodora raised her hand, cutting her off.

“Let’s head to our quarters first. There’s the attendant coming now.”

She gestured to the approaching attendant who was hurrying over, visibly intimidated by the knights’ presence.

“Greetings, knights. I’m here to guide you.”

“Lead the way.”

The attendant turned quickly, walking ahead, while Paola mused in a leisurely tone.

“Let’s put the complications aside for now and follow. The palace accommodations... I never thought I’d experience such luxury in my lifetime.”

In response, the knights expressed shared sentiments.

“I’m curious to see if our quarters are any better than the base. If not, I might just walk out.”

“Just breathing palace air is different. Even if they throw me out, I might just lay down and camp in these halls.”

As the knights continued their banter, Teodora relaxed her stiff expression and followed the attendant.

Before long, the Black Crow Knights blended into the bustling atmosphere of the palace, their intimidating presence softened by their lighthearted chatter. The attendant paused suddenly, peering down a hallway. Teodora tilted her head curiously.

“Is something wrong?”

“The Royal Guard is passing by. It is customary to make way for them, as they hold the highest duty within the palace.”

Paola’s face lit up with curiosity.

“Oh, the First Guard? I’d like to get a glimpse of them.”

“They are the kingdom’s finest knights. The strongest in the palace, perhaps the entire kingdom.”

“Interesting. I wonder just how skilled they are. I saw the captain once, and he seemed formidable.”

The attendant was taken aback by the barely hidden challenge in Paola’s expression.

“No matter how highly placed you are, challenging the Royal Guard would be unwise.”

“I know, I know. I was just joking.”

Leon Benning was silent, but his presence seemed to grow stronger as he approached. Teodora kept her composure but felt a curiosity bubbling up within her, wondering about the Royal Guard’s prowess.

“They’re coming.”

Paola whispered, and Teodora raised her gaze slightly to meet the sight of the guards.

There were three of them. At the front was a female knight with a fierce expression and shoulder-length hair. Next to her was a short man with a boyish face and a relaxed smile. Two others followed, seemingly paying close attention to the conversation of the two in front.

The man at the very back caught Teodora’s attention.

A strikingly handsome man with a sharp appearance and dark hair. His black hair had a slight curl, partially covering his face. He was quite tall, perhaps as tall as Maxime. For a moment, she felt her heart drop as she recalled Maxime.

Not now, Teodora. Don’t think about that now.

Teodora clenched her fist tightly, using the pressure to steady herself. It was hard to gauge his abilities, but it was a sign that he was likely very skilled.

“All three look very strong. That man at the back—could he be the strongest?”

Paola murmured quietly. Beside her, Lionel blushed slightly as she followed the rear knight with her eyes.

It was unclear if it was Teodora’s energy, Lionel’s gaze, or Paola’s words, but the dark-haired knight turned to face them.

Their eyes met.

Ah.

His pale skin contrasted sharply with his black hair, and his eyes seemed like deep wells, pulling Teodora into his gaze. It was strange; she was certain she had never met this person before, yet she felt as though she knew him.

The knight of the First Guard turned back to his comrades, leaving Teodora pressing her racing heart back down.

“I hear he’s the newly appointed Royal Guard. Isn’t he quite handsome?”

Paola nodded, and Lionel, cheeks still pink, murmured in agreement.

“Captain?”

The knights had passed, but Paola called out in a puzzled voice as Teodora didn’t move.

“Oh, yes. Let’s get going.”

Teodora took the lead once more, though a strange sense of unease continued to prickle at her.

 

“What is it, Arsen? Why do you keep looking over there?”

Maxime barely managed to keep his head facing his superiors, a feat of willpower alone. The younger-looking knight beside him briefly glanced at where Maxime had been staring.

“They’re all in black. So, those are the Black Crow Knights that the Second Prince is trying to acquire? They live up to their name. Why were you staring at them?”

“Dennis, can’t you ever shut up?”

With a look of exasperation, the fierce female knight snapped at Dennis.

“He’s new, aren’t you curious? I tried asking the Captain, but he wouldn’t say a word.”

“I’m telling you to stop pestering him.”

“But, Charlotte, what could we possibly teach him? Throwing him to us is like giving a finished product to be taught. There’s nothing left for him to learn.”

Maxime managed an awkward smile at Dennis’s sparkle of curiosity.

“No, I still have a long way to go.”

“Please. You’ve already had an audience with His Majesty, and you’re being modest? Boring.”

“You’re crass, Dennis.”

As they spoke, they reached the deepest part of the palace, navigating winding halls and climbing infrequently used stairs.

“There are many places within the palace where the king conducts official business. Rooms like this, guarded and accessible only to a select few.”

“Well, rookie, enjoy your time with His Majesty.”

“I swear, I’ll sew that mouth of yours shut someday.”

Charlotte pinched Dennis's side with frightening force, causing him to yelp in pain.

“…I’ll be back.”

“Yes, have a good talk with His Majesty.”

Not all Royal Guards were as solemn and quiet as the Captain. Maxime found himself musing over this as he entered the hallway.

Maxime made his presence known at the door. Before he could knock, the King’s voice invited him in.

“Come in.”

Maxime entered and knelt before the King, who greeted him with a satisfied expression, accompanied by the ever-present Royal Guard Captain.

“I told you there’s no need for such formalities.”

“How could I ever tarnish Your Majesty’s honor?”

King George II let out a hearty laugh.

“Stand up. You speak too well, which is both delightful and, at times, inconvenient.”

Then, he got straight to the point.

“The results you achieved in the east are beyond praise. Thanks to you, the royal family has bought itself some breathing space.”

“It was only possible thanks to the cooperation of the Count of Agon and the Border Count.”

When the Count himself went to persuade the Border Count, he readily agreed. A few days ago, we received a letter confirming that they would soon send forces to aid the First Prince. The King nodded.

“Our quick action has backfired on them. This time, we must proceed meticulously to turn that backlash into deadly poison aimed at their throats.”

The King tapped his fingers on the desk.

“How much time do they need to send people from the Border Count?”

The Royal Guard Captain, standing beside the King, answered immediately.

“It will take three weeks to a month at most.”

“I see… They can’t spare too many men from their post at the border.”

The King, seemingly resolved, addressed Maxime.

“Arsen Berne.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard the Count of Agon has sent a few knights and a maid to assist the First Princess. The maid, is she not the one Leon Benning attempted to kidnap?”

Marion. His fiancée, who had brightened considerably. Maxime nodded as he recalled her face.

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Then Michelle should be safe for now. If the Count of Agon went to the trouble of sending people, they’re certainly not ordinary.”

The King stopped tapping on the desk.

“Sir Arsen, I know you haven’t been here long, but I must ask a favor.”

“I am at Your Majesty’s command.”

“Until the people from the Border Count arrive.”

The King let out a sigh, almost resembling a lament. His voice, lacking its usual vigor, instructed Maxime.

“Remain by the First Prince’s side as his sword instructor for one month. Once the Border Count’s men surround the First Prince—”

The King’s tone returned to normal.

“Then, we will begin severing their limbs together.”