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Chapter 60
The moment Kailrus passed through the gates of the Peln estate, he heard Riez shouting his name with all her strength.
He quickly looked out the carriage window, but the dust raised by the knights riding beside the carriage blurred his view.
He thought about stopping the carriage and getting down to check.
But he stopped himself.
Anger rose inside him at the fact that even after deciding to cut ties, he was still lingering.
‘It must have been my imagination.’
Even after telling himself that, it bothered him the entire journey to the duchy. And the fact that it bothered him was unbearable.
Kailrus tried to erase the face and voice that kept coming back to him.
He could not afford to waste his thoughts any longer on someone who had deceived and betrayed him.
Five days after heading north, the carriage procession finally reached the border of the Diern Duchy.
A fortress so strict that even royalty could not pass without permission from Selphius Diern.
Even after crossing it, they had to go over several more hills before reaching the ducal castle.
Kailrus looked out the window, feeling the dry and cold air against his skin.
Soon, a massive castle standing proudly on high ground came into view.
After crossing the moat and the single drawbridge, the heavy gates opened.
Only after passing through layers of strict inspections worthy of an iron fortress was Kailrus able to step down from the carriage.
He looked up at the castle that would become his home for the next few years.
When he was young, he used to visit during summer vacations, but after he grew older, he had not set foot here.
Seeing it again after nearly four years, the Diern castle felt even more desolate and colder than he remembered.
Even though it was April, when sprouts should be growing, snow still lay like ash in the shadows.
The tall towers had no sign of decoration, and the thick stone walls were completely colorless.
His breath came out white.
Perhaps because he had stayed somewhere overly warm until now, this place felt even colder.
‘I need to adapt.’
Kailrus reminded himself that this castle was now the world he would live in.
The vivid daydream that still tightened around his neck would slowly fade from his memory.
***
The morning after arriving at the castle, Kailrus went to see Selphius.
Carrying both tension and ambition in his heart, he knocked on the door of Selphius’ office at the top of the castle.
When the door opened and he stepped inside, the air itself felt heavier.
“Father, did you sleep well?”
He bowed politely. Selphius, who had been looking out the window, slowly turned.
Golden eyes like those of a beast fixed on him.
“I have a request.”
Kailrus gathered his courage and walked forward.
Soon, he knelt before his father, who looked down at him without emotion.
“Please teach me the sword.”
The cold from the stone floor seeped into his knees and fingertips. His voice trembled.
“I want to learn from you, the greatest swordsman in the kingdom. As your son, I will prove my worth.”
A silence colder than frozen breath filled the room.
Kailrus waited for an answer, not daring to look up.
“Will you train until you die?”
After what felt like endless emptiness, that question returned to him.
Kailrus raised his head sharply.
“Diern does not allow defeat. I asked if you will train as if you are ready to die.”
“…Yes!”
He swallowed dryly and shouted.
“Noem!”
At Selphius’ call, someone entered from the next room.
“You called for me, Your Grace.”
The dignified man with glasses was someone Kailrus had often seen before.
“Entrust Kailrus to Henrite.”
At Selphius’ quiet order, Kailrus flinched.
“Father. With respect, I am asking that you personally instruct me.”
“Prince Kailrus, please come with me first. I will explain.”
Noem’s gentle but firm urging left Kailrus no choice but to stand.
By the time they left the room, Selphius had already turned his back on them.
As they went down the stairs, Noem introduced himself.
“Prince Kailrus. I am Noem Wagner, aide to His Grace.”
“…Yes. Nice to meet you.”
“For any administrative matters, please ask me.”
“…Understood.”
“Your training will be handled by Sir Henrite, commander of the First Knight Order. Please follow me.”
Kailrus suddenly stopped walking.
“I came here to be trained by Father.”
Showing his displeasure, he watched as Noem turned calmly.
“His Grace is extremely busy. Sir Henrite will oversee your basic training.”
“I finished basic training long ago!”
“If you succeed in leaving even a scratch on Sir Henrite during sparring, His Grace will personally instruct you from then on.”
“…”
Noem did not even blink at his protest.
Unable to argue further, Kailrus followed him to the knights’ quarters.
At the large training ground, Noem sent a knight to call for Henrite.
A man soon approached, putting out his cigarette as he walked, grinning.
Messy light brown curls. A loose uniform. Hands stuffed into his pockets. Dragging steps.
It was hard to believe he was the commander of the knights.
Kailrus could tell at a glance he was a commoner.
“Sir Henrite, mind your manners. This is Prince Kailrus Diern.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Henrite Sheardun, commander of the First Knight Order. Nice to meet you, young master.”
Even after Noem’s warning, his tone barely changed.
Seeing his careless behavior, anger rose inside Kailrus.
“His Grace has ordered you to train Prince Kailrus for the time being.”
Henrite scratched the back of his head.
“Ah, damn. What a bother… Fine.”
His unwilling attitude made Kailrus even angrier.
Who did he think felt worse?
He had not come all the way here to learn from someone like this.
‘Commander or not, I’ll knock him down right now.’
“Let’s spar first.”
Kailrus grabbed two wooden swords from nearby and tossed one to him.
Henrite smirked.
“My, you’re impatient, young master.”
The moment Henrite picked up the wooden sword, Kailrus charged forward without hesitation.
He only wanted to break this arrogant man and earn his father’s recognition.
The world spun.
For the fourth time, Kailrus found himself staring at the ground.
If he was not careful, his face would slam into the dirt.
Henrite had completely overpowered him without even using his wooden sword.
With bare hands.
As if twisting a baby’s wrist.
“You’re full of openings, young master. What have you been learning all this time?”
The clicking of his tongue rang in Kailrus’ ears.
Grinding his teeth, Kailrus rushed at him again.
Henrite easily deflected the blade and struck his side.
“Ugh!”
“Your attacks are far too simple. Use your head.”
Panting, Kailrus supported himself with his wooden sword.
He already knew that the knights under his father were chosen purely by skill.
So he had expected the commander to be strong.
But he had not imagined such an overwhelming gap.
Henrite was strong enough to completely crush the swordmaster who had trained him in Peln.
As if reading his shock, Henrite stroked his beard and smiled slightly.
“Even if I look like this, I’m still the second strongest around here. Don’t underestimate me.”
Kailrus steadied his breathing.
“Even Young Master Darius only recently managed to match me evenly.”
At those words, Kailrus felt a chill.
If that was true, he could measure just how wide the gap between his current skill and Darius’ was.
The distant difference made him feel despair.
But at the same time, having a clear standard lit a fire inside him.
‘If I defeat this man and earn Father’s training, I can defeat Darius too.’
A crooked smile formed on his lips.
Fine. I’ll surpass him.
He was glad to finally have a concrete target.
Once he had something to focus on, nothing else entered his eyes.
Kailrus straightened his knees and took his stance again.
Fire flickered in his eyes.
Sensing the sharpened determination in him, Henrite muttered,
“Good grief. Isn’t this just a little Duke in the making?”
