Chapter 3:
The Break-In at the Ruins
I’D HEARD THAT GENE DELON—the grandfather of the commander of the knights, Philip Delon—was still teaching at the Delon spearmanship dojo. He hadn’t always run a dojo, though. When the current king’s grandfather was on the throne, he exercised his talents as one of the Knights of Parnacorta.
As we made our way to the dojo, Sir Osvalt told me more about Gene.
“Forty years ago, Gene was the knights’ commander. He was a great champion. Across the continent, his name became synonymous with spearmanship.”
“He must have been quite remarkable.”
“He was. In fact, he showed my father the ropes when he was younger. Even now, as master of the dojo, he still advises the Knights of Parnacorta. That in itself gives him a fair amount of influence.”
Gene Delon’s name was renowned beyond the country’s borders. Surely, he was an extraordinary person.
“You trained under him as well, didn’t you, Sir Osvalt?”
“Hmm? Ha ha, yeah, I did. To my young eyes, he was a strict mentor—though he’d look like a timid mouse in comparison to Lady Hilda. He had me run around with buckets of well water in my hands and swing my spear a thousand times… He certainly beat the softness out of this pampered prince.”
Sir Osvalt smiled wistfully.
I felt like I was starting to see where he got his inner strength. Despite his royal status, he was open-minded and thoughtful.
“Those sound like painful memories. Why does thinking about them bring a smile to your face?”
“Good question. I wonder why. Still, you look happy when you reflect on your training with Lady Hilda. Maybe we think the same way.”
“What?”
Did I really look happy when I spoke about the training Mother Hilda put me through? This observation left me scratching my head.
“Perhaps it’s because we treasure the strength and outlook those experiences gave us. You once said that Lady Hilda’s training was her way of showing her motherly love. That makes it precious to you, right?”
“Yes, you’re right. The strength my mother gave me is a real gift.”
Strength wasn’t everything, but without it, I wouldn’t have been alive today. Mother had given me something precious. It was only natural that my joy would show on my face.
Sir Osvalt’s argument was simple, but it made sense.
“Plus, I hated sitting at a desk as a kid. Moving around suited me far better.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Yeah. My father and Leonardo used to tell me off all the time.”
Sir Osvalt sounded nostalgic as he shared these childhood memories. It was amusing to imagine him as a hyperactive little boy.
“Don’t get me wrong, though, Philia. I wasn’t a slacker.”
“I know,” I said, laughing. “It sounds like Leonardo had his hands full with you, though.”
“I guess so. Leonardo’s always been there for me. I chose him for my personal guard because I know I can trust him—and I sent him to look after you for that same reason.”
Sir Osvalt and Leonardo had known each other for a long time. Leonardo was always calm and attentive. It was easy to see why Sir Osvalt had so much faith in him.
“Did you select Lena and Himari because you trusted them, too?”
“That was certainly part of the reason. But mostly it was because they were the two guards I had who were closest to your age.”
“Ah, that explains it.”
Lena, with her cheerful nature, and Himari, who stealthily kept an eye on me, were both indispensable. I hadn’t known that Sir Osvalt had put so much thought into my well-being before I even arrived in the country. I was happy to hear it.
“You ended up with a pretty oddball group, though. I bet that came as a shock.”
“Oh, no, not at all. I’m so grateful for how well they’ve treated me.”
“Leonardo told me that Himari gave you a shock when she first materialized.”
“Er…well, it’s more that I was annoyed at myself for not noticing her earlier.”
When I first came to Parnacorta, I was surprised that Lena and Leonardo insisted on accompanying me on my official duties. That was nothing compared to my amazement when I learned that Himari had been lurking in the shadows the entire time without even rousing my suspicions.
“A ninja must protect their master using stealth.” Himari recalled those early days with a sharp glint in her eyes. “It was never my intention to startle you, Lady Philia.”
Her ninja techniques, which had come up in conversation earlier that day, were truly incredible. Just a few moments ago, she’d taken Lena’s place in the carriage without my notice. She’d made herself effectively invisible. The way she melded into her surroundings, even more silent than a predator in the wilds preparing to pounce, was nothing short of remarkable.
“I can’t deny that I was startled, but I was pleased to find out that you’d been protecting me all that time. I’m truly fortunate, Himari.”
“Lady Philia, such words are the highest honor I could wish for. You have touched my heart.”
“No need to exaggerate, Himari.”
“I’m not. A master’s praise is a retainer’s most valuable treasure.”
Holding her hand to her chest, Himari bowed her head. Her degree of appreciation almost made me feel self-conscious.
Over time, I’d come to realize that when I arrived in Parnacorta, my old anxieties began to dissipate. I had Sir Osvalt and my dear attendants to thank for that.
“Oh! We’re about to arrive. It’s been so long,” said Sir Osvalt, prompting me to look out of the window.
We were in the depths of a forest. The sun had set, so it was too dark for me to see much, but it sounded like we’d arrived at our destination.
The carriage drew to a halt. We’d reached the Delon dojo of spearmanship.
“This must be the Delon spearmanship dojo.”
“This building…looks rather charming.”
We stood in front of the dojo. An old structure, it was built in an architectural style uncommon in either Parnacorta or Girtonia. Where did this style come from? I, for one, had no idea.
“A pleasure to see you again, Prince Osvalt.”
While I was gazing at the dojo, a small, elderly man emerged. His long white hair was tied at the back, and something about his black eyes reminded me of Philip. He looked quite old, but his back was straight and his demeanor firm.
Despite never having met him before, I knew exactly who he was.
“Instructor Gene. It really has been far too long. Thank you for allowing us to stay with you tonight.”
The old man bowed graciously and took Sir Osvalt’s hand. “Allow me to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your marriage, Your Highness. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give you my best wishes in person until today.”
“No worries. Philip gave me your letter. That was more than enough,” Sir Osvalt replied. “This is my wife, Philia. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to introduce her to you.”
“My name is Philia Parnacorta. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
Although Sir Osvalt had already introduced me as his wife, I still felt a bit awkward using his last name when introducing myself. Every time I did so, it reminded me that I was married now, and that made me tense up.
“Oh! I’ve heard so much about you, Archsaint Philia. You’re even more beautiful than they say you are.”
“What? Oh, I’m really not… Th-thank you, though.” Gene’s comment, delivered with a smile, momentarily left me at a loss for words. What was the right way to respond at times like these?
Sir Osvalt laughed. “You’ve made Philia blush. I know you’re only speaking the truth, but spare her the embarrassment.”
“S-Sir Osvalt!”
“My apologies, esteemed saint.” Gene offered another elegant bow. “This place is far from refined, so at times I forget to mind my manners. The words slipped out of my mouth.”
We were in one of the most remote areas of Parnacorta. If Gene set up shop in the capital, he would have had pupils lining up to learn his craft. Which begged the question—why here? There had to be an explanation.
“You must be exhausted after your long journey. It’s nothing special, but please, do follow me.”
With Gene leading the way, we stepped inside the dojo.
He offered us tea, which was served by one of his pupils. “Please take a sip. It’s a medicinal herbal tea, just the thing a tired body needs.”
It was slightly on the strong side, but the aroma reminded me of the tea Mother Hilda made. She was fanatical about health and made tea out of medicinal herbs.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah. Thanks,” said Sir Osvalt. “…Yes, that’s the one-of-a-kind bitter taste I remember.”
“You’ll have to forgive me. Everything here—food, shelter, and clothing—is dedicated to the military arts. That is the essence of the Delon style, so, guests or not, I refuse to serve any drinks that might harm your health in any way.”
Gene was meticulous about adhering to the strict rules he set for himself. In that way, too, he reminded me of my mother.
“Nevertheless, Your Highness, I’m surprised. I never expected you to come here on your honeymoon. What could possibly have brought you to my dojo?”
The conversation shifted to our honeymoon. Visiting a dojo on a honeymoon probably did seem like an odd choice. I was sorry that our plans raised so many questions.
“When I told Philia that I used to train here as a boy, she insisted that we visit. I was surprised, too.”
“My goodness. You came all the way here just to see this old place?”
“Yeah. I’d love it if you could tell her some stories from back in the day.”
With a kind look in his eyes, Sir Osvalt asked Gene to share some anecdotes from his time as a young prince.
I was desperate to learn more about him. That was why I’d asked to visit. I couldn’t wait to find out what stories Gene had in store for me.