Chapter 24: A Cruel Technique V

In the royal capital of Murakumo, a young Bright named Jada received a summons from his father – Duke Serpentia – to meet in his villa’s office.

“I was about to leave the capital when you called me here on urgent business,” said Jada.

“I have a favor to ask of you,” the duke replied in a grave voice.

“A personal request from you, Father? One of the usual jobs, I suppose.”

“I can’t say that for certain this time, but it will be troublesome. Do you remember the Squire from the Council of Four Stones with the large eyepatch?”

Jada donned a thin smile. “How could I forget? Until then, I’d never seen anyone other than Orthoclase state their opinion to Lord Gwen. Not only that, he also told the Supreme Commander to listen because ‘nothing tasted good anymore’. The audacity.”

“Something about that Squire bothers me.”

“Because of Adulelia’s support?”

Duke Serpentia nodded. “After all this time, she wouldn’t care so much about the lives of two Squires. Yet on this occasion, she made great efforts to save a pair of ordinary soldiers. Why is that?”

“Because that’s what the Squire with the eyepatch wanted. Adulelia said so herself.”

“Yes, she granted his request. One of the foremost nobles in Murakumo listened to the wishes of a single Squire, whose background still remains unclear. If this Squire possesses something great enough to make demands of Adulelia, I can’t ignore him.”

“You want me to investigate him? If I’m not mistaken, his next destination is…”

“Adulelia,” the duke replied, seemingly indifferent.

Now, Jada donned a wry smile. “You want me – a son of Serpentia – to venture alone into the lair of ice mutts? I’d rather be ordered into the middle of enemy territory stark naked.”

“For the foreseeable future, Princess Sa’salia will be staying with Adulelia. This is the perfect opportunity to make yourself known to the princess, who seldom interacts with the outside. With your looks, you’ll likely make a good impression on her. Don’t squander it.”

Jada let out a deep sigh. “When you assigned me to a northern fortress for emergency reinforcements, I was delighted to have an easy job for this first time in a long while.”

He spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

“…This is the reality of the situation,” said the duke. “We can send a random selection of your siblings to the north.”

“Is this another order from my aunt?” asked Jada, averting his gaze.

Suddenly enraged, Duke Serpentia swept the objects from his desk. “Shut up and go!”

Pens and papers scattered around the room, producing a noisy clattering.

Smiling, Jada saluted his heavily breathing father. “I’ve received my orders, and I’ll look for an opportunity to report.”

His next destination would be the stronghold of those who loathed Serpentia more than anyone else in the world. In a sense, this job meant heading towards his own execution. Nevertheless, the smile never faded from Jada’s handsome face.

***

Amue – the head of Adulelia – shredded a letter in a fit of anger, tossing aside the pieces.

“Should you be tearing up a letter from Queen Aventurine?” asked Kazahina, gathering up the torn and discarded pieces.

“Of course I should!” shouted Amue, slamming her fists against her office desk. “After everything that happened, she’s asking me to send Shuou to Aventurine to replace her lost guards. How utterly ridiculous!”

Gathering up all the torn pieces, Kazahina fitted them back together, checking the letter’s contents. “Two of her guards are severely wounded. Of the other two, one retired from being a Bright due to psychological issues, and the other might not be able to eat solid food for the rest of his life. His recovery is still uncertain. What did Shuou do to cause all this?”

Amue gave a satisfied nod. “He can slaughter Rabidaemons single-handedly. This should come as no surprise.”

A month had already passed since Shuou’s return. After sending him to Winter Fortress, he’d rescued the two Squires and returned early the next morning. For some reason, he’d come back looking refreshed. Though he hadn’t spoken much, there had been a quarrel, he’d explained. Later, he’d taken up residence in Amue’s capital villa, waiting to depart for Adulelia.

Kazahina continued reading the letter. “The queen wants to hire him as her personal bodyguard with a high salary. That’s incredible.”

“She’s likely tempting him with sweet offers to exact her revenge. Either way, Shuou is meant to be more than a bodyguard. Without a doubt, he will someday lead many people. I see no reason to keep him locked inside a sandcastle for such a low salary. Dispose of that garbage.”

Though it was comical to hear Amue refer to a monarch’s letter as “that garbage”, Kazahina did as told, throwing the torn pieces into the rubbish bin. “Everything went as you hoped, Your Excellency.”

“Indeed.”

The day after tomorrow, they would finish their work in the capital, heading towards their hometown of Adulelia. Afterwards, they would be busy preparing for the arrival of Princess Sa’salia. For that, they needed ample resolve.

“During his stay, Shuou will be under your care,” said Amue.

“Very well. Though he’s ostensibly under house arrest, how should I treat him?”

“Let him do as he wishes. There’s no need to flatter him, but give him anything he wants. Spare neither time nor money. While he’s still immature, we’ll pile on his feelings of indebtedness. So much so that he’ll never be able to repay us.”

“As you command.”

Amue sought Shuou’s loyalty. Though she didn’t say so outright, Kazahina understood that much. Now would be the perfect opportunity to make him feel indebted, for he was still young and uncorrupted. Gaining his affection should be easy. Yet at the same time, Kazahina wondered – somewhere in the back of her mind – if they could truly rein in this young man. After all, he’d returned from defeating a monarch with a composed expression.

***

“Thank you… for rescuing me… from…”

Finding his granddaughter writing with an unpracticed hand, Hinokaji yelled at her. “Miyahi! Who are you writing that letter to!?”

“Who?” she asked. “Shuou, of course. When we got back, I didn’t even have a chance to say thanks before he left. I should at least send a letter.”

Eyes widening, Hinokaji grabbed the half-written letter, crumpling it into a ball.

“Hey, what are you doing?” asked Miyahi.

“Never get involved with that young man again. You hear me?”

“Why?”

“Don’t question me on this.”

“What’s the harm of one letter…?” Miyahi pleaded. “He was fired from Winter Fortress for saving us, I heard. At the very least, I want to thank him.”

Despite being somewhat fault-finding, Hinokaji did spoil his granddaughter. Yet on this occasion, he wouldn’t back down. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him.”

Miyahi averted her gaze, falling silent. She might as well have given an affirmative answer. Despite finding his granddaughter’s straightforward awkwardness endearing, Hinokaji furrowed his brow, grabbing her shoulder.

“Forget that young man,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do about him.”

“But Gramps, aren’t you always telling me to hurry up and find a man?”

“Never mind that. I would rather you stayed single your whole life than end up with him. Are you listening? I’ll say it a hundred times. Never get involved with that young man again.”

Finding her grandfather’s behavior odd, Miyahi went back to her room, grumbling all the while. Remaining in the mess hall, Hinokaji downed his remaining liquor.

I saw him smiling.

Facing four Brights during an audience with the queen, the new Squire he’d referred to as “lad” had worn a thin smile while risking his life in combat. Hinokaji hadn’t thought it possible. In a situation where Shuou could rely on no one but himself, how had he been able to act so brazenly? Somehow, he’d leapt over the towering wall between commoners and nobility.

Seeing the young man defeat four Brights, Hinokaji had felt excitement unbecoming of his age. Even so, his fear had been even greater. Yes, Brights always acted audaciously, regardless of their surroundings. In that sense, Hinokaji had a harder time understanding Shuou. How could he be so bold despite his status as a commoner and young Squire?

He was truly thankful to Shuou for rescuing him. However, his desire to stay away from the young man far exceeded his gratefulness.

Did I really promise to teach him the sword?

Remembering that night, Hinokaji let forth a self-deprecating laugh. What could an ordinary person teach someone so capable? Thinking back on it, he could now understand why those young noblewomen frequently sent gifts to Shuou. In all likelihood, they had known. Known his true nature.

A bitter needle pricked Hinokaji’s chest.

What am I feeling?

Envy towards someone in possession of something he could never attain. Yet as an old man, jealousy would serve Hinokaji no purpose. Not knowing how to process these emotions, he could only wash them down with a drink.

***

Note: There won’t be any new chapters next week, as I need to start editing the third arc. After that, we’ll get back to the regular schedule.

Original text: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4006r/12/