CPBF 27

Chapter: 27

The training grounds for the rookie knights were noisy from early morning, stirred up by the appearance of two new faces.

One was me—an exceptionally rare case in the history of the Imperial Knights, having joined midway through service.
The other was Bin, who had risen to the position of Vice Commander and was now in charge of training the new recruits.

“You lot who didn’t participate in the war probably only know me through rumors. Let me tell you one thing—those rumors were not exaggerated. That’s all. Irlin Header, step forward and introduce yourself.”

With Bin’s somewhat aggressive opening remarks, my first training session began.

At his call, I stepped forward before my fellow recruits and bowed my head.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Irlin Header, newly enlisted.”

“You probably have a lot to say about someone joining midway. To all of you, I have only this to say. Nix Heyman. Step forward.”

At Bin’s call, Nix awkwardly walked out and stood beside me.

What on earth was he planning to make the two of us do?
Amid the puzzled looks from everyone, Bin spoke again.

“Draw your swords. Sparring match begins.”

At those words, a ripple of unrest spread through the recruits. I could hear their whispers clearly.

“A man and a woman sparring?”

“Nix has at least trained for about a month. Sparring against someone who just joined today?”

“Isn’t this less a match and more a showcase of Nix’s skills?”

“Those two were childhood friends, weren’t they? Guess he’s not going easy just because of that.”

“This isn’t going easy—it’s bullying, isn’t it? I heard they weren’t even close friends. Apparently the rookie liked the Vice Commander one-sidedly, and he despised her.”

“Oh dear. Looks like she’s paying for a childhood mistake.”

No one seemed to think I would win.

Bin probably wanted to say, “She’s strong enough to crush you all with ease, so don’t look down on her just because she joined late.”

“The first to score one point wins. En garde, allez. (Prepare, begin.)”

Bin signaled the start, and Nix and I leveled our swords at each other.

And then—

“Irlin Header, victory.”

Without even time for a battle of nerves, I struck first, and the match was decided.

I was someone who would eventually have to measure strength against Raphel Isdan—the strongest being in this world.

A mere rookie knight who didn’t even reach her toes was, to me, no different from a three-year-old child.

So don’t even think about crawling up to me.

Thanks to Bin, I was able to make that message crystal clear.

Not with words—but with my sword.

I would leap over all of you in a single bound, and one day, I would place my blade at Mona White’s throat.

After that, during the continued training, Nix—no, unmistakably—was subjected to an unusually intense level of drills.

“Y-you said you were childhood friends with the Vice Commander, right? I had no idea you were that skilled, and I really acted carelessly… Could you ask him to stop? Please, I’m begging you.”

With his face completely drained of energy, as if he’d turned into a zombie, Nix whispered his plea to me.

“Oh dear. How tragic. You look really exhausted.”

“Yeah. At this rate, I might actually collapse and die from exhaustion. That could even get the Vice Commander punished. For your friend’s future—and for poor me—could you please say something to him?”

“Hmmm… what should I do… hmm… I just thought about it very carefully, and my answer is… no!”

“What? Why?!”

“Because I don’t need someone to carry my shopping bags or be my partner at parties.”

“That was careless of me! Hey—wait! Where are you going?!”

“Vice Commandeeeer!”

I deliberately trotted over to Bin, who was focused on supervising the other knights’ training, and whispered in his ear.

“That’s enough. At this rate, someone’s really going to die.”

In truth, all I did was pass along Nix’s request.

“People don’t die that easily.”

“What if he collapses? You’d still get punished.”

“He is being punished right now.”

“Even so, this is too much. Why are you like this? Are you holding a grudge over what happened yesterday?”

“Yes. I am.”

“And…?”

Bin looked at me calmly, as if asking what the problem was.

Throwing his authority around just because he didn’t like something.

If he’d been born Crown Prince, he definitely would’ve become a tyrant.

Honestly, there was no hint of this in the original story—how did he turn out like this?

“I don’t get it. He was rude to me, not you. Why are you the one holding a grudge?”

“Don’t try to understand.”

“Why?”

“……Don’t ask. There are things like that.”

As if unwilling to answer, Bin turned his back and walked away.

I hurried after him, pressing for a response.

“Hey, Vice Commander! Stop for a second! Why can’t I ask?!”

And then—

My back suddenly burned, like it had been touched by fire.

I felt a familiar presence watching me.

Cold sweat welled up and ran down my spine.

Even though I already knew who it was, I reflexively turned around to confirm.

“……”

The Crown Prince’s red eyes—burning hot, as if they could incinerate me at any moment—were fixed on me.

I was doomed.

Of all times, to get caught chasing after Bin.

Am I an idiot?

Why did I throw myself into the fire—for Nix Heyman, who had nothing to do with me, and for Bin, who was about to get punished?

“Your Highness. You’ve arrived.”

Noticing me frozen in place, Bin turned and properly greeted the Crown Prince.

But the Crown Prince didn’t return his usual affectionate gaze or warm words.

He merely stared coldly, then spoke with a mocking edge.

“You two seem to have gotten quite close.”

“Oh, no—not really. I just had something I needed to say to the Vice Commander privately…”

“Privately? And what might that be?”

“…May I speak to you up close?”

I didn’t want Nix to overhear my request to reduce his punishment—it would hurt his pride.

The Crown Prince frowned in displeasure, but soon nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Well… actually…”

Just as I had with Bin, I whispered the details of the situation to the Crown Prince.

When I finished and lifted my head, I noticed Bin’s expression had darkened noticeably.

Before I could question it, the Crown Prince—wearing the exact same expression—spoke.

“The Vice Commander abused his authority excessively. From what I see, a great deal of personal emotion was involved. Am I wrong, Vice Commander?”

“…You are not.”

“Then you, too, must be punished. I order you to confinement for one week. I will personally carry out the duties you were assigned.”

…Unbelievable.

You accuse him of abusing power over personal feelings—when you’re doing the same thing out of jealousy!

Seriously, is there not a single character in this novel who can separate personal and professional matters?

…Well, they probably take after my sister.

“Therefore, for the next week, I will personally oversee the training of the rookie knights. That concludes matters for today. Dismissed.”

The Crown Prince training me personally?!

Just like Bin, he’d obviously harass me endlessly out of personal feelings.

I’d end up just like Nix!

I’m dead. Completely dead.

“What are you doing, Sir Header? I said dismissed.”

Seeing me frozen in place, the Crown Prince urged me.

With so many recruits here, yet singling me out—it was obvious he wanted me gone first.

“Yes—yes, sir! Then I’ll take my leave! Thank you for your hard work! Haha…!”

Fine, I get it! I’ll disappear like you want—so please stay behind with Bin and work things out, and stop hating an innocent person!

I tried my best to flatter him with that unspoken message, but the Crown Prince didn’t even look at me.

Bin, however, continued to stare after me with an unreadable expression.

“Just because she was rude to you—why did you develop personal feelings over it?”

After all the recruits had left, the Crown Prince asked in the familiar tone he’d used long ago, discarding formal titles.

He made no effort to hide the possessiveness that hadn’t changed at all.

“A knight exists only to serve the Empire. We have no obligation to disclose our personal emotions.”

Bin, as though that past had never existed, responded coldly and formally.

“You really are…”

Bang!

The Crown Prince slammed Bin against the wall, grinding his teeth.

For seven years, every time he thought of Irlin, his insides burned—but he’d been too busy trying to change her heart to show his anger.

Now that he’d finally found her and stood face to face with her, restraint was impossible.

Having watched him for so long, the Crown Prince knew all too well how deeply, how sweetly he loved.

That knowledge made it painfully real—he had truly lost her.

His heart felt like it was burning to ash.

And that anguish drove him to reveal a violent side, even toward Bin, whom he had cherished so desperately.

But then—

“…This is cruel.”

His fury melted away, and a butterfly scented with honey descended upon the ashes.

It was inevitable.

Even in his rage, he couldn’t bear the thought of his precious flower being scorched.

So instead of fire, he became a sweet breeze, whispering his love.

“Why do you look at me so coldly, like I’m an object? Look at me as me—as someone who loves you… like before.”

“……”

“Love me.”

“I cannot.”

Bin rejected that love, scattering it like dandelion seeds in the wind.

And the place where those seeds finally took root—

“Is where my desires and instincts lead. And Your Highness is not there.”

The only one there—

Was Irlin Header.

Standing by her side.