“Honess, let me ask you one question.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Are you able to join my bodyguard?”
Although the crown prince has been decided, that doesn’t mean the meaning of the prince’s status has faded.
There is no change in the fact that he is a royal family, having inherited the blood of the queen.
But to apply for a place where you have to risk your life to escort someone?
“Yes, it is possible.”
“… … Are there any laws that allow that?”
“No, that’s not it. But there’s no rule saying no to it.”
“Wouldn’t you think that it’s not worth mentioning because it’s usually not possible?”
“It’s okay, I already checked.”
“… … Check what?”
“It is a precedent.”
The time when the kingdom of Grandets was first established.
He was talking about the fact that the king’s younger brother had joined the Royal Guard at the time.
“I don’t think there will be a problem as long as I have enough skills.”
“… … Well, it is.”
A feeling of uneasiness settled in my heart.
I don’t have any reason to say no because my intentions are firm… … .
‘Is this what you were trying to say then?’
Before going to the Feyer Continent, I remembered that he was going to say something while seeing me off.
If that’s the case, it means that I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time… … .
“First, let’s see your skills.”
“Yes, brother.”
I decided to look at Hones’ skills first.
I was personally curious too.
sereung.
Hones, who drew his sword, slowly used his mana.
I didn’t do anything further, but I realized it instinctively.
‘… … Are you strong?’
Being a wizard, I didn’t know the level of strength that a soldier had to step on.
However, it was possible to infer the opponent’s skills based on experience.
‘I’m not at the level where I just entered the 6-star level… … .’
Alan was like that, but Hones was different.
I taught Alan this and that from when he was at a low level.
Because Hones had been training alone before I went to the Feyer Continent.
He stared at Leah and Rahos without saying a word.
It was to see the reaction of the two.
Perhaps it was because they were both unmanned, and they seemed more shocked than I was.
Although Lahos stopped at just wriggling his eyebrows.
From what I’ve seen while keeping him by his side, he’s always been expressionless, so he must have been quite surprised.
“Okay, if you stop.”
“… … Are you talking already? I have only lightly swung my sword yet.”
“I know roughly what level it is. My question… … I wonder if this has a meaning.”
It was because I expected why Honess wanted to join the SS.
The moment I reveal my true intentions to the great families, a long war will begin.
Then I will stay on the front lines and fight them.
Given his personality, it was understandable to throw himself into such an environment.
“Hones.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Joining the Royal Guard means that it is difficult to receive protection and treatment as a prince. you know?”
“This is what I hoped for.”
I could feel Hones’s eyes getting darker as he answered.
It felt like I had just given a strong motivation, as if I had ignited a fire in my will.
… … did you just ask?
“Okay, let’s go out first.”
So Hornes went out and didn’t call the next waitlist for a while.
Because I was thinking about this to myself.
“What do you guys think? Accepting Hones into the SS.”
The condition was also put forward, but the feeling of being uncertain was still the same.
While feeling embarrassed, not knowing why, Leah opened her mouth.
“I don’t think there is a problem because both skills and potential are sufficient. Some missions may be difficult to accomplish, but… … .”
“Hmm.”
“If you think about the growth rate, you will soon become strong enough to be counted among the best in the kingdom.”
“That’s right. I don’t think I’ll be quiet if I don’t pick it.”
“I can understand Your Highness’s concern about the deterioration of Hones, but I think it can’t be helped.”
“… … worry? I?”
“Yes, isn’t that why you keep thinking about it?”
“No, I… … .”
… … Are you really worried about that?
I thought it was just because I thought it could be a weakness on the battlefield… … .
[Keuk kuk, worrying about your younger brother is not a strange feeling, Cruz.]
‘You be quiet.’
… … Although he was furious at Skadi’s teasing, he couldn’t deny Leah’s words.
“… … Ask the next person on the waiting list to come in.”
After that, I couldn’t help but be surprised when I greeted the applicants.
Those who applied for success or fame were expected.
I didn’t know that there would be so many people who simply wanted to fight for me.
‘The wizards of the Mage Tower expected it, but I didn’t expect so many to come from the Royal Palace Knights and Blue Lions.’
In addition to the 6-star intermediate level, the conditions I set were quite demanding.
It’s not just a high level, it’s because I’ve seen many kinds of experiences.
Even so, the fact that the number was close to 200 meant that the power below that level had also gathered considerably.
then a few days later
Currently, I was in Daejeon leading the elite of the SS.
There, the queen, the main officials of the royal palace, and high-ranking nobles were gathered.
It wasn’t the level of the installation ceremony, but I couldn’t help but be a little surprised at the scale that reminded me of a New Year’s party.
“Hmm, are they the elite of your bodyguard?”
“Yes, Mama. Of the 5,000 troops, 500 have been selected.”
She looked around at the guards with a colder gaze than usual.
His gaze was stricter than usual and cold-hearted.
All 500 people were overwhelmed by one queen.
jerk, jerk.
The Queen, who was looking down at them from the seat of honor, slowly came down and stared at the five people in front.
“Can you see these people as your closest aides? Cruz.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“You were Felix, the captain of the 5th Division of the Blue Lion, right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! It is an honor to have you recognize me!”
There were a few people from Cheongsaja who supported the SS, but Felix was the only one at the rank of captain.
Considering his skill and experience, there was no reason not to have him on his side.
“Hmm.”
And then the queen slowly looked away.
Felix, Rhea, Lahos, and Hela.
The queen, who looked at the four in turn, stopped her gaze on the fifth figure.
“You are Inari Loft, a member of the Royal Palace Knights.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! The honor of remembering your name, I will never forget it for the rest of my life!”
Inari Loft was a somewhat unusual warrior who mainly used a bow.
Due to its speciality, its one-on-one ability is somewhat lacking compared to those of the same level.
Her ranged sniping ability will be of great help.
Although his personality is a little peculiar… … .
It was clear that it was essential to the unit I envisioned.
Swoop.
After looking around the front, the queen turned her gaze back.
Then, he stared at the two men blatantly.
It was none other than Hones and Alan.
“I was a little surprised when I heard the report, but… … You really have made up your mind, Hones.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“It’s the path you chose, so I won’t ask any more.”
The queen’s last gaze fell upon Alan.
That time was noticeably longer than when watching others.
This was reason enough to raise Alan’s tension to the peak.
“Are you the eldest son of the Rothstein family?”
“Huahuahua, Hwang Gong, Your Majesty!”
“It’s a piece of wood that Cruz deserves attention.”
After observing, the queen went up to the seat of honor again.
After that, I looked down at the guards for a while with indifferent eyes.
Then his eyes turned to me.
I felt a slightly softer gaze than looking at others.
“You said you wouldn’t be allowed to fight if the strength of the SS didn’t meet my standards.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“You overcame my pressure well.”
“If there is pressure… … .”
“It is said that people only look at their skills and appreciate what they didn’t pack up.”
If you feel pressured by this and only look at your skills and form the SS.
I added that the queen would not have allowed me to participate in the war.
“The SS is not just a strong military group. Skill and loyalty, of course, should be high.”
It clearly shows the creator’s disposition and discernment, said the Queen.
“This is also a clue to how you will rule the kingdom in the future and who to surround yourself with.”
After finishing her appreciation, the queen looked down at the SS again with hard eyes.
“After this time, you will have to give your highest allegiance to Cruz Alexander, not to me.”
“… … !”
Those words were enough to make everyone in Daejeon hold their breath.
To be loyal to me rather than to the queen, and to prioritize my orders.
“You have to swear absolute loyalty to Crews, to the extent that if Crews tells you to hit me, you will do so.”
… … That bold statement surprised even me.
Even bureaucrats and nobles doubted their own ears, and their complexion changed.
But the Queen didn’t care and continued.
“This will be my final order to you.”
* * *
After the Queen’s evaluation, the seated priest, Adam Erden, quietly approached me and said:
“Don’t be too surprised, Your Highness. Originally, the ceremony for the appointment of the SS was like this.”
Adam had to go this far to get out of the position where he could only do everything with the Queen’s permission.
He added that he could become a crown prince in the true sense.
“… … That’s a little strange, I haven’t seen any record of Mama going through anything like this.”
“Because the previous king didn’t do it.”
“Why?”
“… … It’s difficult to say that directly. I just want to say that it is clear that this is a tradition.”
As a result of finding out later, the established theory was that the former king had no intention of making Annette Alexander his successor.
I didn’t specifically reveal that meaning, but looking at the situation at the time, it was.
It was only thanks to the Queen’s ability that I came this far.
‘… … Maybe that’s why Mama cared about me.’
After that, he was concentrating on training the SS in Ireland.
Of course, all I did was instruct, not teach myself.
“So, can you?”
“If Your Highness commands, we will only do it.”
I entrusted various important responsibilities to the five people I selected as my closest aides.
General training of the soldiers was given to Felix, who had experience as a captain in Cheongsaja.
I entrusted Hela with fostering the magician unit I ordered.
“Then I will leave the formation of the elite troops to you.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
There was no other person more suitable for this than Lahos, who was counted among three fingers in the Royal Guard.
Until now, it was just a group of strong individuals, but if you leave it to them, that problem will be solved sooner or later.
“By the way, Lahos, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you.”
“Speak, Your Highness.”
“Why did you apply for my SS? When I asked my mom, I heard that she wished for it herself.”
At this, Lahos held his breath for a moment.
It was a somewhat new look because he had always responded bluntly.
After a brief thought, Rahos slowly opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, I am not of Kingdom origin.”
“… … Are you from the Feyer Continent?”
“Yes, Lahos Slvania is my real name.”
I knew the Sylvanian family.
It’s a small family under Solstad, but I’ve heard that the strength of the members is at a high level.
“Members of my family died in their traps. I was the only one who barely survived.”
“So you’re saying that Mama got you?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Since then, I have sworn absolute loyalty to Your Majesty and the kingdom.”
“Then, did you join my bodyguard to get revenge on Solstad?”
“… … .”
Rahoth’s lips curled slightly.
The answer must have already been decided, but he seemed to be thinking about how to say it.
“I will not deny it. It’s because I came this far with that one thought alone.”
“Then I will ask. Can you carry out the duty of the SS even if the enemy is in front of you?”
“… … Yes, Your Highness.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you not respond right away.”
Unlike me who laughed happily, Rahoth’s face was serious.
“… … It is absolutely not that I applied for the runaway. It is to add strength to destroy them with my joining.”
He added that if he was concerned about his feelings, he would not participate in the battle against Solstad.
“Forgive me for revealing this belatedly. I was going to tell you when my feelings are sorted out… … .”
“Rajos, I think motivation is a very important factor in humans.”
He could have been this strong, of course, he must have had a great talent, but that vengeful spirit is probably the reason.
I’ve had a similar experience, so I can be sure.
“So there is no need to forcefully kill that feeling. Just be quiet, wait for the right time, and sharpen your knife.”
“… … .”
“There is only one restriction I put on you. Don’t run amok and attack Solstad.”
“Never, that will never happen.”
“Yeah, I believe too. If you follow that, I will definitely prepare for you.”
“If you are ready… … ?”
“A stage where you can thrust your sword into your enemies.”
His eyes, which had been calm all this time, were alive.
His eyes were so fierce that I wondered if it was the Lahos I had been seeing.
“In preparation for that time, let’s nurture and train our elite troops.”
“… … Yes, Your Highness.”
“Okay, let’s get some Inari next.”
Remembrance.
From nob le mt l dot com
Lahos gave me a more forceful salute than usual and went outside.
After a while, Inari Loft, whom I had called, entered the office.
“You look great today too, Your Highness!”
… … I unknowingly grabbed my forehead at her overly bright greeting.