CICN 84

Chapter 84

“Of course, you feel more comfortable with your big sister, don’t you?”

Hilde asked Ebi with a wide smile spread across her face.

The child blinked in surprise at the question, looking flustered, and Hilde had the sudden urge to just scoop her up onto her shoulders right then and there.

‘When His Majesty the Emperor summoned us, I wondered what it was about…’

In fact, the Imperial Knights had already been informed of the incident that had happened earlier that day at the Academy for Gifted Children.

“Fortunately, they say there were no serious injuries… but those insolent brats dared to lay a hand on His Majesty’s body.”

At those words, the entire Imperial Knights turned grim.

It had been a noble girl from the Academy who tried to grab Clois, but what if he had actually been injured, even just a scratch?

Of course, everyone knew Clois was strong enough to spar against trained knights, so that would never happen. But sometimes the weaker the opponent, the harder it was to defend against them.

And with the Emperor’s personality, he might very well find it bothersome to react at all and just neglect to defend himself.

If he were to get hurt like that…

‘That would be a disgrace to us all.’

So every knight was stiff with tension.

And then came another summons from the Emperor—not to guard him, but to guard someone else.

Someone clearly related to that daytime incident.

Knowing it was presumptuous, Hilde had planned to plead with him, to ask to remain by his side instead.

But the moment she saw Ebi step through the door, all such thoughts vanished.

Ever since Clois had been ordered not to bring children into the palace anymore, there hadn’t been any little ones seen inside.

Occasionally, a knight’s child would come by, but most were teenagers—sullen and awkward in their adolescence. Cute in their own way, perhaps, but still.

Normally, Hilde was surrounded only by her comrades—big, hulking warriors with bodies honed like iron.

But now, down the hall, came Ebi—tiny braids bouncing, little feet pattering along.

In that instant, Hilde found herself bending forward instinctively.

It was the same reflex one had upon seeing a child or a small animal passing by: “Aww, what’s this? So cute!”

‘It’s instinct. I can’t help it.’

A flimsy excuse for a knight who had spent her whole life trying to suppress such instincts.

And it wasn’t just her.

Even Rommel, the commander, had lingered beside Ebi and then all but sprinted out of the room, declaring to Clois, “I’ll escort her immediately, sir!”—as though the girl were the most precious cargo in the world.

And so here they were now.

Hilde carried Ebi’s little bag, filled with books Clois had packed and some sweets prepared by the steward.

Sized for a child to carry, the bag looked like nothing more than a toy when Hilde held it.

All along the walk, the knights kept offering,

“Shall I give you a piggyback? A hug? Or a shoulder ride?”

To them, it felt cruel to make such tiny legs walk this long corridor.

Not that it was, of course.

“Oh! That’s the Academy! That gate leads to the Academy grounds!”

After some time, the gateway linking to the Academy appeared at the end of the path.

The moment she recognized it, Ebi quickened her pace.

The knights, too, sped up naturally—though even then, compared to their usual stride, they were practically crawling.

‘The Academy headmaster said the earlier disturbance was already resolved.’

And with guards stationed at the gate, no one would dare cause trouble here.

Especially not with Ebi under their protection—not even a single hair on her head could be harmed.

But just as they neared the gate, a figure suddenly burst through from the Academy side.

“Ebi!”

So fast was the running figure that the guards at the gate couldn’t even stop her in time.

She rushed straight for Ebi.

The knights instantly drew Ebi behind them, hands on their sword hilts.

But then Ebi’s eyes went wide.

She darted between their legs, shouting—

“Irene!”

The two girls collided in an embrace, Irene burying her face against Ebi’s hair.

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt? Oh my god, what happened to your face? You are hurt, aren’t you? Is that why you were late?”

Though it was Ebi who had suffered, Irene’s voice trembled with worry, questions pouring out of her in a rush, as though greeting a long-lost family member.

The knights, realizing what they were seeing, loosened their grips and stepped aside.

“Why did you stay at the palace so long? And what about His Majesty? No, wait—what about Izriella? Did you hear anything about her?”

“Um… Irene, could you maybe ask one at a time…?”

Ebi’s eyes spun at the barrage.

Realizing her mistake, Irene released her grip slightly and examined Ebi anxiously.

Then, noticing the ring of armored knights around them, she blinked.

“Oh my, who are they? Wait—that crest… the Imperial Knights?!”

The knights expected her to recoil in awe.

But instead, Irene tightened her hold on Ebi and glared at them fiercely.

Her eyes said everything:

Shoo. Away with you. Shoo.

Despite Irene’s clear wish, the Imperial Knights escorted Ebi all the way back to the dormitory.

And that wasn’t all.

Hilde herself, with the male knights left at a distance, personally led Ebi and Irene right up to the girls’ room.

“Irene’s back!”

“And Ebi Alden’s with her!”

The problem was, it wasn’t yet curfew.

So every girl in the dorm had gathered on the balconies, eager to catch a glimpse of the day’s protagonists.

They whispered among themselves as they spotted Ebi under Hilde’s protection.

“I know that crest. They’re Imperial Knights.”

The murmuring swelled.

It wasn’t just that they were the strongest; it was that they answered only to the Emperor. They protected the royal family alone.

And yet here they were, guarding Ebi.

Did that not mean the Emperor had ordered her to be treated nearly like royalty?

At last, Ebi opened the door.

The familiar smell of the room eased her tension at last, her stiff expression softening.

She turned back and bowed to Hilde.

“Thank you for bringing me back. Please tell the other knights I’m really grateful too!”

Seeing all the students watching intently, Hilde suddenly pressed a hand over her heart and bowed deeply.

“Since we have completed the protective mission His Majesty the Emperor entrusted to us, we shall now take our leave, Lady Ebi Alden. May you have a pleasant night.”

She placed deliberate weight on the words His Majesty the Emperor.

All the way there, Hilde had chattered non-stop with a playful smile—“Call me big sis! Want a piggyback? When will you come to the palace again? How about visiting the knights’ hall?”

But now, her face was that of a flawless knight, bowing with crisp precision.

The Imperial Knights bowed only to the Emperor.

Even to the highest-ranking ministers, they gave only a nod of the head, never a bend of the waist.

And yet here they had treated Ebi the same way.

The girls watching from the balconies erupted in murmurs.

‘This is chaos…’

Irene pressed her hand to her forehead. Hilde, noticing her distress, leaned closer to whisper.

“Isn’t it already common knowledge that His Majesty favors her?”

“Yes, but… isn’t this a bit too much?”

At that, Hilde winked at them both.

“Why? With the Imperial Knights showing this much support, no one will dare pick a fight with you two. And if some fool does… well.”

Her voice grew solemn, the smile fading.

“That would be a challenge against the Imperial Knights—and against His Majesty himself. So if trouble arises, tell us immediately.”

With that, she told them once more to rest well, then turned and descended the stairs.

In the lobby, she swept her gaze across the crowd.

When her eyes met those of the watching girls, they flinched and looked away.

Hilde smirked faintly, then stepped outside.

‘His Majesty must have foreseen this much.’

There was no way he had simply assigned them by chance.

He had wanted everyone to see clearly—that such incidents as the one at noon would never be tolerated again.

Understanding her liege’s will, Hilde straightened her back with greater discipline than ever as she strode away.

Behind her, the cloak bearing the crest of the Imperial Knights fluttered boldly—

for everyone in the dormitory to see.