Thanks to Count Agreas’s arrangements, Elliott and his companions were treated to a lavish dinner at Duke Jiemeld’s Residence. The meals served were exquisite, surpassing even the opulence they had experienced since moving to the Royal Castle, with an array of refined dishes laid out before them.
“Wow! This looks so delicious!”
Emily exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement, prompting a warm smile from Lady Marianne.
“Today is a feast to honor all of you, so let’s overlook formalities. Please, enjoy yourselves,” she encouraged.
“Thank you, Lady Marianne! Yay!”
While Emily gleefully celebrated, Elliott wore a stiff smile. The high-end, intricately prepared dishes were something he could never have dreamed of tasting in his days as a commoner. Yet, perhaps due to the tension and the gravity of the situation, the food felt tasteless, as if he were chewing on sand.
Once dinner concluded, Count Agreas, Elliott, and Lloyd moved to the cigar room. Though they did not indulge in tobacco as knights, they sipped on the offered spirits.
As the alcohol began to ease their nerves, Count Agreas placed a small vial on the table. Its delicate decorations resembled a glass bottle containing the perfume of a noble gentleman.
“This is Holy Water. Please carry it with you just in case. It might also be wise to keep yourself purified regularly,” he advised, nodding toward the replica sword Elliott held.
Elliott furrowed his brow in response.
“If I am to believe the talk of it having fulfilled its purpose, then why go to such lengths?”
Count Agreas smiled gracefully, his demeanor calm.
“You were worried earlier, weren’t you? About the Undead Beast that appeared on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. This is merely a precaution. One beast can be easily dealt with.”
His nonchalant tone almost convinced Elliott, yet the unease in his heart remained. He lowered his gaze, falling silent.
“That incident occurred in the northeastern part of the Royal Capital, along the Ureri River, correct? That river flows from the northern mountains, through our Jiemeld territory, and into the Royal Capital. The current is particularly swift in the north. It wouldn’t be surprising if an Undead Beast washed ashore after slipping through our detection.”
As Elliott’s worry deepened, Count Agreas continued, speaking in a reassuring tone.
“Even if the Holy Sword had never existed, the same situation would have arisen. So, there is no need to feel burdened. Besides—”
With that, Count Agreas stood and approached the window. Outside, the Royal Castle was illuminated by the moonlight as the sun set.
“We could easily distance ourselves, claiming it’s to give the new recruits some experience. Soon, I will be appointed as the Commander of the Royal Knights Order.”
“Wait, what do you mean? What about Commander Lionel…?”
Elliott and Lloyd stood wide-eyed, taken aback by this unexpected news.
“Oh, right. I hadn’t informed you yet, as I didn’t want to dampen the celebratory mood.”
Turning back with a smile that suggested he had forgotten, Count Agreas continued, “It seems there was a disagreement with His Majesty regarding the treatment of the Holy Knights. That man is rather stubborn.”
He settled back onto the sofa, crossing his legs comfortably.
“While I may not possess the same valor or achievements as him, I have led the proud Knights of Jiemeld for some time.”
“I am aware of that…” Lloyd replied, both of them adjusting their positions on the sofa to calm their nerves.
Dylan Agreas Jiemeld was the next heir to the Duke Jiemeld Household, having inherited royal blood during the annexation, making him a distant relative of the current royal family. Though he lacked military exploits, he was a descendant of a lineage that had protected a nation in the beast-infested northern regions.
Due to his noble blood, he had not fought on the front lines, but it was undeniable that he had been a figurehead of the Jiemeld Knights Order since the days of the kingdom.
Given his status and position, he would indeed be a suitable candidate to take over as Commander of the Royal Knights Order after Lionel’s departure.
“Moreover, in such a position, I can be of greater assistance to you.”
—It would be more convenient to have someone in a position of power who shares secrets, wouldn’t it?
Elliott lowered his head, steadying his breath. Compared to hiding secrets from the former commander Lionel, revealing them to Agreas felt much easier. With that thought, he felt a slight weight lift from his shoulders.
After leaving Duke Jiemeld’s Residence, Elliott and his companions returned to the Royal Castle, bringing Emily along. The corridors were brightly lit by magical lamps created by the Court Mage, shining as brightly as daylight even in the twilight.
Ahead, a familiar figure, towering as if reaching the ceiling, approached them. It was Goliath, the weapons merchant. He must have been visiting for business.
As they drew closer, Goliath’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise, and he greeted them with a smile and a nod.
“Oh, you two are back already?”
“Yes, that’s right…”
Even in the Royal Castle, where anyone could be listening, they could not speak of hidden villages or swords. Elliott had intended to consult Count Agreas before meeting Goliath, but an awkward silence hung in the air.
As Elliott pondered whether to keep the conversation light, Goliath’s gaze fell upon the sword Elliott was holding.
After a brief silence, Goliath’s expression turned serious.
“…I see. So you have chosen that path.”
The discerning eyes of the weapons merchant, who had seen the real thing before, could not be deceived. Goliath’s voice, devoid of emotion, carried a chilling undertone.
Without exchanging further words, Goliath turned and walked away.
Suddenly, Elliott felt as if he were standing on a precarious ledge, dizzy with uncertainty. With heavy steps, he parted ways with Lloyd and walked down the corridor to escort Emily to her room, when she suddenly clung to his arm.
“Hey, Elliott. Can I come to your room tonight?”
She looked up at him with flushed cheeks, her eyes sparkling with innocence, devoid of any worry.
—Even if the Vessel was given to me by Flora, it was her (Emily) prayers that brought forth the Holy Sword.
For Elliott, that was the only truth left. It had become his sole support. He had witnessed her devotion with his own eyes, and there was no doubt about it.
—And if Emily, the Holy Maiden, were to pray…
As that thought crossed his mind, he tightened his grip on the replica sword he held.