Eve Festival (1)
“… … It has definitely shrunk.”
A soldier who occasionally glanced in the direction of the moat muttered as he walked along the ramparts.
It was the border of barbarian lands where a brutal battle had taken place not too long ago, but recently the momentum of the barbarians has definitely softened.
Especially on a foggy dawn like today, I couldn’t relax even for an hour, but these days I can even afford to appreciate the taste of the fog.
But soon the air around the area became heavy.
“What? That!”
A group of people rushing through the thick fog.
There was nothing to be offended by the intimidating sound of horses’ hooves with their wild movements, and the armor revealed through the mist glowed in an eerie achromatic color from the swallowed sunlight.
An alarm bell started ringing in the soldier’s head.
“A raid!”
An overwhelming spirit that makes you feel intimidated just by looking at it.
The body holding the spear stiffened with tension and did not move properly.
Are they enemies or allies?
That time when I couldn’t figure it out. Something strange caught in the soldier’s eyes.
“… … flag? Eh, Esteban’s flag!”
At a time like this, if there was a group of people who would show up with Esteban’s flag, that possibility was one.
The soldier hurriedly pulled the rope leading to the wall.
Ding Ding Ding Ding-
“Hurry!”
“It is the return of His Highness the First Prince! Come on, open the door!”
“Open the door!”
In the turmoil that continued from dawn, the soldiers guarding the wall moved busily.
The raised moat bridge began to lower, and soon the torches lighting the gates began to appear in places.
It was the second week since the expedition, including the first prince, headed north.
* * *
“excuse me! Please step out of the way!”
“Don’t push!”
“hey! Who keeps pushing?”
“I’ll pass!”
malevolent malevolent-
Upon hearing the news that the Northern Expeditionary Force had entered the capital, the procession of great crowds was enough to create an unprecedented uproar.
It was a level that could be said to outnumber weeds on the street, even jokingly.
It was the guards deployed throughout the capital for safety.
“Ji, calm down and step back!”
“this! Dangerous!”
As if they had never imagined that such a large crowd would gather, the guards sweated profusely and tried to organize order.
The unprecedented confusion was to the extent that they had to dispatch knights on the way to the palace.
Had I waited that long?
“Oh, it comes!”
Finally, knights in golden armor began to appear at the corner of the road they were waiting for.
The citizens who watched the modest movement poured out cheers and applause like thunder.
“Wow!”
“They must be the Knights of the Sun!”
“Oh my God! I came back from the land of barbarians, but hardly anyone was hurt!”
They were warriors of war who fought against the warriors of the barbarians.
Considering the damage suffered by them so far, the praise sent by the citizens was not enough, but it was never too much.
A knight who was concentrating on clearing the road muttered.
“Is there a reason why such a large crowd gathers… … .”
It was a monumental day when he came back with an attack for profit, not a reluctant defense.
From noble mtl dot com.
People cried out for victory, and the mood of the knights who watched them gradually began to rise.
However, the moment the expeditionary force got closer and I saw the face of the man at the forefront. The cheers, which seemed to reach the sky, stopped.
“That’s him… … .”
“… … Your Highness the 1st Prince.”
Citizens forgot to clap and trembled in a daze.
Despite being in a higher position than anyone else, a man who voluntarily took on the role of commander-in-chief of the heavy mission of entering the northern remote areas.
And he accomplished it brilliantly, proving his own abilities.
Even though he had digested the arduous journey, he was showing off his dignified and domineering elegance like the first time.
“Is that the ruler who will lead Esteban in the future…? … !”
The moment when no one could move because of the emotion and thrill that resounded in the heart.
Someone’s alarmed voice resounded like an echo in the quiet capital.
“Hey, look over there!”
The public’s gaze, which had been focused on Prince 1, began to turn slightly towards the direction someone had pointed out.
That direction was neither the Sun Knights nor the servants who helped them on their northern expedition.
Originally, it should not even attract attention, but it is a normal day supply wagon, far behind that.
“… … What is that.”
What is there is already a legend.
Fairies of blacksmiths who only appeared in history and mythology.
“… … !”
There were no more shouts.
No, there was only fervent praise.
“Wow!”
The cheers that poured out as if they had been waiting for them were shouted out from the capital’s plaza.
And the excitement of such citizens continued until the northern expeditionary force passed through the street and entered the palace.
floating-! floating-!
The military band arranged like a folding screen advances along the playing path.
He moved his steps to match the magnificent melody, and soon the knights raised their swords to their chests and showed their respect.
After a while, I approached my father who nodded, and I knelt down on one knee.
“The Northern Expeditionary Force successfully carried out His Highness the King’s order to stabilize the security in the North by guarding the border area and raiding the rear of the empty guys.”
It’s something I can’t do without it.
Also, no one else could have done it.
It was an expression of such confident confidence.
I didn’t stop there, I waited for a while until the attention of the nobles focused on me.
“Of course, as you heard from the news from the border area, we were able to establish a cooperative relationship with the dwarves, a different race that disappeared.”
mate- mate mate-
The palms of the people who participated in the ceremony were busy moving.
The eyes of the knights looking at me were full of awe, and the nobles were also genuinely delighted with respect, not desire, for the profit they had brought to Esteban.
Of course, the faces of some nobles were rotting away.
‘I can see clearly inside.’
During the cabinet meeting, they had opposed the Northern Expedition, citing that there was little benefit to return to Esteban.
Considering that the purpose was to put me at risk by reducing my support, it must be a really funny situation.
And what I feel more confident about my achievements than anyone else.
“… … is it.”
It was my father who was watching over everything.
“Good job. Blocking the northern border would have been impossible if it weren’t for your judgment. You are so proud.”
“It’s an overstatement.”
“Humility is a virtue, but in a place like this you don’t have to be shy. Allen Esteban, you deserve it.”
Needless to say, the troops had to be organized urgently, and even special ceremonies to boost the morale of the soldiers, such as the launching ceremony, were not conducted.
In the first place, no one forced the first prince to go to war.
However, despite the worst conditions, the defense and expedition of the border area went back to being a success.
Even in situations where you thought you wouldn’t get any benefit… … .
My father is me and the Knights of the Sun. Then he looked at the dwarves in turn and said.
“You may wake up.”
“yes.”
closely-
“omg!”
“… … Your Highness the King?!”
I feel the warm warmth of my father covering my body.
In public, he was the kind of person who clearly distinguished between public and private affairs… … .
I felt a bit embarrassed and smiled awkwardly.
‘Was it the first time since I was a kid… … .’
It was a memory from a long time ago even before returning, so even I couldn’t help but be shaken.
But that’s for a while.
Father, who soon withdrew expressionlessly as if nothing had happened, moved towards the dwarves.
“nice to meet. Are you the leader of the dwarf clan in the land of barbarians?”
“It is. Call me Surt. I am sorry for not being familiar with human etiquette.”
“I will.”
The guy was acting confidently, but he showed a pretty nervous look.
Of course, the cause of the tension wasn’t the numerous gazes staring at him with hot eyes.
I moved my lips so he could understand.
-You’re doing great.
“Kuhm!”
The ‘contract’ with life as collateral cannot be broken.
After all, he had the responsibility to lead the clan in a better direction.
“Thank you for inviting us dwarves to your kingdom.”
“I heard that part from the soldiers who brought the news from the border area. Did you need a place to live?”
“exactly. I had to move because the barrier that protected my clan was broken. At that moment, the one who appeared at the right time was the first prince over there.”
“… … You really can’t believe it when you see it yourself.”
And it was the same with the nobles who were located here.
That would be too. Until now, the existence of a dwarf was just a word that appeared in myths and legends.
Rather, from the king’s point of view, it was more surprising to see it with his own two eyes than when he heard the news and felt absurd.
My father looked at the dwarves with an intense gaze for a while and then said.
“There are a lot of things I want to ask, but people’s eyes will still be a burden. I’ll arrange a resting place for you, so I’ll just step back and talk to you later.”
“Thank you.”
So the guy withdrew.
I want to talk a little bit more.
I want to solve the curiosity in my mind as soon as possible.
After that, the aristocrats’ eager eyes followed them, but they were only satisfied with the sight of Surt, the Dwarven leader, leaving without looking back.
I was really happy with that kind of response.
The highlight of this stage was yet to begin.
‘Suddenly the atmosphere has matured.’
As I said before, I lightly beckoned to the Sun Knights.
Then, the Sun Knights came out with carefully sealed chests.
Father raised his eyebrows at that careful look.
“That one?”
“It is a thank-you gift from the Dwarves who were given a place to live. It was originally given to me, but as a person who has risen to the position of commander-in-chief with the spirit of the kingdom, I couldn’t do anything personal, so I want to dedicate it to the royal family.”
“Because of what… … .”
A powerful single-use magic chain used only when tying down monsters.
It would be a shame to waste it on just tying one box.
but… … .
“If it’s worth it, it won’t be wasted at all.”
“… … .”
“I will show you now.”
As soon as my signal went off, the seal that bound the box was released, and the doors of the chest opened simultaneously.
… … And it was an instant.
The moment the closed door opens.
“omg!”
“Me-what is that!”
The arms that received the sun’s light revealed their brilliant appearance.
In a heightened atmosphere that made it impossible to breathe, someone shouted.
“… … oh my god! Dwarf, Dwarf-made equipment!”
Dwarf-made equipment that only appeared in legends.
Even though it was made from crude northern ore, only the best of the weapons made over hundreds of years were selected.
In a nutshell. Offerings of value that could not be seen anywhere else, even the nobles lost their dignity and were shocked.
And this was the same for my father, who watched with a solemn expression.
“… … oh my god.”
I shrugged my shoulders at the stares of astonishment pouring down on me.
* * *
The party held in the royal castle was held grandly, as if to emphasize the achievements of the expedition.
Some naive nobles sent negative glances, saying that it was insignificant desk talk, but they couldn’t deny the fact that this party led to Esteban’s overall sense of uplift.
“The commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force! His Highness, 1st Prince Allen Esteban is entering!”
A chandelier that crumbles like starlight.
A group of nobles moving their bodies to the circle dance played by the royal orchestra.
The boring and calm atmosphere was quite different from the festival that someone expected.
George let out a snort as he watched the Sun Knights enjoying the party with awkward movements.
“… … I envy them because they don’t have any worries.”
The sincerity that comes from the depths of the heart.
The excitement of the first time looking forward to entering is gone, and now I just pick up and eat snacks in a corner of the banquet hall with a bored expression.
To make matters worse, even the nobles who would guarantee the fun were just watching from afar without approaching.
“I feel like a lion in a zoo.”
“If you think so, I will send you back to the office right now. Would you like me to study like you did at the party with the delegation?”
“… … It’s a joke. The party is so much fun.”
Looking at the face that can’t straighten up, it seems that even the world’s swindlers can’t stand it.
However, there are only two options given to him.
Do you appease yourself by watching foolish clowns play without even feeling inspired, or are you immersed in studying that you don’t want to do even if you die?
It could have been a truly ironic fate.
“Do what you like tonight. You can go back to your room if you want.”
“yes? Can I still?”
“It’s okay to act freely in a place like this.”
“The nagging you get in exchange for freedom is cheap.”
For sure. You must have heard what Baron Bona Mana said.
During the party, never leave my side… … .
Of course, there was no reason for me to take an attendant who was twisting with that expression on her face.
“Then I will go first.”
“hmm.”
That’s how he left the seat with a smile on his face and a snack in his mouth.
I also had no intention of continuing to kill time, so I tried to move my steps to the empty terrace to get out of the venue at an appropriate moment.
… … If it wasn’t for someone blocking the way.
“Long time no see. Brother Allen. I heard that you made a great major.”
A man leaning on a table and bringing a wine glass to his lips.
It was Esteban’s second prince, Albedo Esteban.