TTPB 53

Chapter 53

No Complaints, Just Follow

Fortunately, the weather on the day of departure was good. The knights mounted their horses in unison, with Gawain leading the front. He would ride tirelessly all the way to Norman Harbor. Rose made a final check of the supplies she had prepared for the three-day journey.

“Good.”

As she exited the castle gates, Ellar and Ian came to see her off. With Rose joining the expedition, supervision of the capital’s construction naturally shifted to Ellar.

“Ellar, please take good care of the remaining construction.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Leave it all to me. I’ll make sure the aqueducts across the country are completed.”

Ellar answered confidently. Having trusted Rose with many tasks before, he could handle the finishing touches reliably. Thanks to him, Rose could organize the reinforcements without worry.

“Thank you. Knowing you’re here eases my mind.”
“Don’t worry about this place and arrive safely.”

Ellar, however, seemed more concerned about Rose. After all, he, too, could not know the fate of his own family. Diane, isolated with Thanasis, was his own sister.

‘She should be nervous too, but she seems even calmer than me.’

“I’ll send my regards when I meet Prince Benoit.”

Ellar smiled faintly.

“Red Perilla leaves. Keep them in your mouth if you get cold.”

Ian handed her a leather pouch filled with herbs. The red Perilla leaves, which generate body warmth, were an essential item for expeditions to cold regions. Rose packed them into her bag, and then Herya brought the saddled horse. Taking the reins, Rose mounted. Ian stepped closer and looked up at her.

“Don’t worry too much. Everyone will be safe.”

His gentle smile calmed some of her unease.

“Yes. I’ll send a telegram as soon as the situation improves.”
“May the blessing of the fairies be with you.”

Ian and Ellar bowed in a formal gesture, praying for her safety. Soon, the horn sounded, signaling the departure. As Rose slowly urged her horse forward, Herya’s horse followed. She stole a glance at him, who had been unusually silent these past few days.

‘Hmph, all talk when he leaves by himself.’

After storming out the gate, Herya had quietly sneaked into her bedroom late that night. Rose had been pretending to sleep, so they hadn’t needed to have that awkward conversation right away. Once he confirmed she was asleep, Herya resumed his usual protective watch.

But the next day was another matter. He glared at Rose as if dissatisfied, but didn’t speak. When she tried to start a conversation, he only gave short, necessary answers. It was frustrating.

Once, he had treated her like an old friend, but now he acted more distant than a mere sentry. At first, she thought it was because of the dangerous journey ahead, but seeing him follow her like this, that didn’t seem to be the reason.

‘He’s truly unpredictable.’

She knew his personality was free-spirited, but his reckless behavior left her unsure how to interact with him. Lost in such thoughts, Rose pushed forward with the march, riding half a day non-stop. Darkness fell over the mountains, and the knights began setting up camp one by one.

“Ow, my legs.”

Her rubbed thighs ached painfully. Her body cried out after riding for so long. As she dismounted, Herya silently caught her.

“Thank you.”

No reply came, but Rose had no energy to care.

‘I might die. This is harder than I expected.’

This was nothing like riding for leisure. Keeping pace with full-grown knights was exhausting. She barely managed to stay at the rear of the cavalry.

Rose waited, utterly drained, for dinner to be prepared. Her eyes wandered to the front, scanning the Remigis knights. It was instinct to look for familiar faces amidst unfamiliar royal knights. The support unit was placed at the rear of the main body—a position closest to the supplies and fully guarded. But that also meant it was farthest from the front.

‘Not a single familiar face.’

The integration of the royal knights and the Remigis knights meant there were few familiar faces among them. Many royal knights came from noble families, creating subtle tensions between the groups. Even the visible groups kept their distance from the Dunstan Island knights. In such a tense environment, with Herya offering no conversation, Rose felt lonely.

“Princess, aren’t you worried?”

“Huh?”

Startled, Rose asked blankly. Herya sighed softly and plopped down beside her.

“You. Aren’t you scared?”
“What’s there to be scared of?”

She answered nonchalantly. Tossing a piece of kindling into the fire, its warmth enveloped her.

“You know how to wield a sword, you can fight… but you have no other way to protect yourself. It’s reckless.”
“With all these knights, what’s there to worry about? They’ll risk their lives for me. I’m the Princess of Karon, after all.”

He chuckled at that.

“In war, life can be lost in an instant. Do you think the knights can protect you all day long? With the small forces we have, what makes you think you can just waltz in?”

Rose stared at his dull eyes flickering with the firelight. Suddenly, she realized the meaning behind his gaze.

“Right. I don’t know much. But knowing how to fight isn’t the only way to participate in a war.”

She tapped her temple with her index finger.

“Wars are fought in positions requiring strategy, and I’m specialized in that. Plus, I’m trained in medicine as a bonus.”

Herya gave her a skeptical look at her boastful tone. Rose curled her lips in a small smirk.

“I’m not as weak as you think.”
“…Worry? I’m just saying my workload has increased.”

He huddled closer to the fire, muttering. With his large frame and effort to stay warm, he looked like a newborn kitten. His puffed cheeks suggested he was still annoyed, but Rose didn’t mind.

‘He has such a misleading way of speaking.’

His flushed side profile looked unusually youthful today.

“If the Princess dies, I’ll be the only one with trouble.”
“I know. That’s why take good care not to die.”
“If it comes to that, I’ll just abandon you and run.”

Although such words were hardly those of a protector, Rose laughed. She now understood the rough habits of this bad-tempered “cat.”

“Thanks for your honest answer.”
“There’s no one who lies as much as I do.”
“What are you saying? You’re so transparent, like a child.”
“Guess that’s because I still am a kid.”

Herya muttered in response, back to his usual self. Rose, exhausted from riding, couldn’t help but smile. Herya frowned at her giggling.

“Don’t laugh. Hardship lies ahead.”
“Hardship is easier if we face it together.”
“Words are easy.”

Just then—clang!—the sound of breaking dishes made the knights murmur.

“That brat! Did you do that on purpose?”
“I told you it slipped! Will you drop it or not?”

A dark-skinned knight had grabbed another by the collar. Broken ceramic from what seemed to be stew lay scattered on the ground.

“You can’t! Fighting within the unit? Are you out of your mind?”

Thanks to other knights, a fistfight was prevented.

“Tch, what a filthy bunch. Their actions are vulgar.”
“What did you say? I’ll smash that pale face of yours if you speak again!”

The feared incident had occurred. Even with royal orders, the merger of foreign and royal knights caused friction. With mutual distrust and dislike of outsiders’ appearances, they snarled at one another rather than showing camaraderie. Rose groaned at the sight.

It was clear the road ahead would be difficult. She stood up and strode toward them.

“Princess, Your Highness.”
“In a war where we must focus, what are allies doing fighting each other?”

At her appearance, both sides paused. Rose looked at the broken pieces on the ground. The overturned dishes seemed to symbolize their situation.

“I understand the confusion, but now our full effort must be on supporting the isolated forces in the Northern Continent. Don’t waste energy on petty quarrels.”

She raised her gaze to the noble knight.

“Think of Second Prince. While you argue here, he battles monsters and awaits us.”

Then she addressed the dark-faced knight.

“Marquis Lafayette treated the Karons respectfully. Respect his wishes.”

The two knights nodded. With a short sigh, Rose ordered them to return to order and dispersed them. Returning to the campfire, Herya clapped and greeted her.

“Wow, Princess. Those two men didn’t say a word.”
“Not impressive. Like you said, the path ahead looks rough.”

Frowning, she touched her forehead. Herya continued.

“Well, because it’s the Princess, you could mediate there.”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen. If Sir Gawain had stepped in, the noble knight surely wouldn’t accept it. No matter the superior, he dislikes the black outsiders.”
“….”
“And if another Karon knight had intervened, the Dunstan knight would have gone mad.”
“Another Karon knight? I’m okay?”
“Of course.”

Rose tilted her head, puzzled.

“Why am I okay?”
“Why? You’re the leader of their unit, so no complaints—just follow.”

At his blunt words, Rose’s face flushed bright red.

“I—I didn’t think of it that way.”
“Of course not, Princess.”

She stammered and changed the topic.

“Anyway, you saw just now, right? I’m necessary in this war too. Just being able to fight isn’t enough.”
“Fighting well would be good too.”

Then he stood, nodding toward her.

“Follow me. Dinner won’t be ready for a while.”

Rose stared in confusion as he entered the dark forest path.

“Where are we going?”
“I’ll show you in the meantime.”
“Show me what?”

Herya drew a dagger and lightly pressed it to the spot where the carotid artery runs.

“How to target vital points.”