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Chapter : 25
Priorities
“Men who have never swung a sword in battle sure do love running their mouths.”
Leone leaned against the wall of the Knights’ headquarters conference room and thought to himself.
With only a slight lift of his chin, he could see the knights keeping a careful distance from him while chattering away.
He didn’t need to listen to know what it was about—something along the lines of: Should a disgraced knight even be allowed inside the headquarters?
“Useless fools.”
The words slipped out as he watched people who should be wielding swords instead exercise their mouths.
“Come on, go easy on them. They’re still trainee knights.”
A man had stepped in front of him.
“Edgar.”
At the familiar face, Leone’s tense eyes relaxed a little. The man smiled when he caught Leone’s gaze.
“It’s been a while, Sir Leone.”
Edgar Levi—knight of the Third Order and formerly one of Leone’s subordinates—placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.
“Yeah. Long time. Come to think of it, I didn’t see you at the Heinstein manor incident either.”
“No, I had other business and couldn’t join the investigation. Shame, really. I’ve heard the Heinstein winter villa is beautiful and wanted to see it for myself.”
Edgar slackened his shoulders with an exaggerated sigh.
“But don’t you think there are too many trainees? Lots of unfamiliar faces.”
Leone didn’t answer and instead glanced around. Scattered among the groups of knights were several fresh-faced youngsters who looked straight out of the academy.
“Well, it’s the first time demon tribes have invaded this close to the capital. Orders came down from above—fill the ranks. Officially, they’re calling it a chance to build battlefield experience.”
“Orders came from above?”
“Yes. Above.”
As Leone raised a brow, Edgar pointed upward—meaning the Imperial family.
“Still, sounds like some of the newcomers are pretty capable. Rumor says even someone famous from outside the Empire joined.”
“They recruited from outside the Empire?”
“Yes. Lady Agnes pulled quite a few strings. She’s been running all over—playing the bridge between the Crown and the Knights. Took a toll on her.”
“Probably flapping her mouth everywhere.”
A smirk curled on Leone’s lips.
“Haha. Well, if this war goes well, they say Lady Agnes might be appointed vice-commander—”
“What?”
Leone’s eyes snapped sharply toward Edgar. Edgar winced, realizing too late what he just revealed.
“They’re putting another Lannistan in command?”
Edgar flinched under Leone’s cutting tone. His mouth clamped shut, but it was too late—Leone was already laughing without humor.
“Commander Lannistan, Vice-Commander Lannistan—what a joke of a Knight Order…”
He didn’t bother finishing the sentence.
They threw him out, and now they were stuffing the leadership with their own family.
“Why shouldn’t they? The previous officers lacked ability, so capable ones take their place. Logical, isn’t it?”
A jeering voice cut in.
Leone turned and saw Carde Moor—once Leone’s oldest friend, now vice-commander of the Fourth Order and his complete enemy.
At Carde’s appearance, the noisy room fell into silence.
“Greetings to the vice-commander of the Fourth Order!”
The trainee knights snapped into a loud salute.
“Enough. Enough. I’ve been vice-commander for ages—no need to overdo the greeting.”
Carde waved them off, pretending annoyance, but Leone saw the smug smile behind it.
“Well, this is quite the feeling. Right, Leone?”
Carde extended a hand through the bowing trainees—as if greeting an old friend happy to meet again.
“…Glad to see you’re doing well.”
“But of course.”
Leone didn’t even glance at the offered hand.
This man had been the first to agree with expelling Leone for acting independently.
And he’d put the most effort into ousting the former vice-commander of the Fourth—who’d acted alone to protect villagers, just as Leone once did.
“I never imagined things between us would end up like this.”
Carde Moor—the current vice-commander of the Fourth, once a friend, now something far uglier.
“You’ll stay for the entire meeting, I hope? Well—since you’re not officially part of the Order anymore, you can’t speak up much. But you might learn something from the sidelines.”
Despite Leone’s silence, Carde continued speaking, far too pleased with himself.
“No. I’ll leave after the commanders show up.”
Leone’s reply was curt. He had no intention of watching the smirking faces who’d cast him out for an entire meeting.
His only reason for coming was to see who else would be heading into battle.
“What? My friend—have you forgotten even basic protocol since leaving the Order?”
Carde lifted a brow, petty mockery dripping from his voice. Leone only smirked at the silent room.
‘Didn’t expect everyone to pretend not to notice him insulting me to my face.’
“Is merely showing my face such a grave breach of etiquette?”
A soft voice slid in between the two men.
Leone turned to see Aria Heinstein, dressed simply in a knight’s uniform, smiling gently.
“I’m not feeling well, so I planned to offer my greetings and leave. I didn’t realize that violated knightly etiquette.”
She pressed a hand to her cheek, looking delicate and pitiable.
Carde faltered instantly.
“O-oh. My mistake. I must be confused.”
Of course—no knight dared offend a noble lady, let alone one who possessed healing magic and volunteered to join the war.
They could toss out Leone—but they wouldn’t risk upsetting the Duke’s daughter.
Former knight Leone versus noble newcomer Aria Heinstein.
It was suddenly very clear whom the Order valued more.
Everything proceeded faster than Leone expected.
“Thanks to you, we saved time.”
He was able to thank Aria at the door as they both left mid-meeting.
Exactly as predicted, when Leone stood to leave after the commanders arrived, officers barked about protocol—until Aria rose too.
The room went silent instantly. None of them wanted the Duke’s family angered—or the healer deciding not to support the war.
“No, it was my idea to leave early,” Aria replied with a polite but dry smile. Weariness lurked beneath it.
“Well then, I’ll be going. See you next time.”
Before Leone could add a word, she bowed and hurried off.
He watched her departing back.
And in her steps he saw Lowell’s worried face—drooping brows, violet eyes fixed only on her, lips sighing lightly…
“….”
Leone shook himself and left quickly.
“Sir Leone!”
And perhaps that was why—
“…Lowell?”
Leone froze in place when he reached the avenue in front of headquarters and found Lowell there. His head had been full of only one person.
“Stay right there!”
Lowell waved and sprinted toward him. Leone didn’t even blink.
“Why—”
“I thought I might meet Lady Aria if I came here!”
Lowell blurted it out before Leone could even ask. Immediately, he began searching around, clearly looking for the Heinstein carriage.
“Ah.”
“Did you see the carriage from House Heinstein?”
Wide-eyed, he kept scanning left and right—leaving no doubt why he had come.
“If you mean Lady Heinstein—she just left. If you hurry and catch a carriage, you’ll meet her.”
Leone turned away as he answered, ears warming.
He’d seen just how worried Lowell was about her—yet he’d let his thoughts wander in absurd directions, even for a moment…
His ears burned hotter.
“I’ll go catch—”
“Sir Leone.”
Lowell cut him off—by cupping Leone’s cheek with both hands.
“Something happened, didn’t it?”
“…What.”
“There was trouble at the Order, right?”
Lowell emphasized each word, muttering afterward about how they kicked him out but call him back when they need him, then asked if someone had bothered him.
“I…”
The hands on his face were warm. Lowell’s violet eyes—lit softly by afternoon sun—felt warmer still.
Something in that light seeped into Leone’s chest.
Maybe that brief, foolish thought resurfaced because of it.
Maybe… to this kid… I’m a priority.
It wasn’t affection, wasn’t fondness—just a simple order of importance.
Something Leone had never been for anyone.
Lowell’s hands slipped away, perhaps thinking the silence awkward.
Leone—without meaning to—caught one of them.
“…?”
Lowell blinked, clueless and innocent.
“How dare they call back someone they expelled—!”
“Watch your mouth, Sir Moor. There are ears everywhere.”
Voices intruded—the meeting had ended, and knights began pouring out.
Lowell turned slightly, staring past Leone at the crowd.
So they’re the ones who hurt him, he thought.
But before he could glare, Leone lifted a hand and covered Lowell’s eyes.
“Let’s go home.”
He bent down to meet Lowell’s gaze—his eyes unexpectedly gentle.
“…Ah. Yes.”
And later, in the carriage, Lowell thought Leone seemed strangely at ease.
Staring out the window, smiling faintly now and then—he felt different.
