Chapter 5
THE carriage shook, rattling as it bounced down a road that looked more like a dirt path to Yuki. How long had it been since the castle disappeared into the distance? The sun had drawn an arc through the sky and was slowly descending on the other side.
Yuki asked Ain many questions as they rode in the carriage together. The more she heard from him, the more she learned she was in a completely different world from Earth and was currently in an outrageous position. The castle she slept in was Adolunde’s castle and the main castle in the royal capital.
Orga, the man Yuki dubbed as the Rotten Older Brother, was the first prince and the successor to Adolunde’s throne. Supposedly, Adolunde was already under his authority. And Luca, Orga’s younger brother, was the fourth prince of Adolunde. Ain told Yuki she had become the Master of Luca, the Fourth Prince of Adolunde.
Their whole Knight System is ridiculous.
The Order of Knights existed throughout all the countries of Aridol and was self-governed. From how Ain explained it to Yuki, the Order granted what was like a license to be a Knight, and the Order bestowed a rank on its Knights. In order to be knighted, the Knight hopeful must first take the test in their home country, which will grant them knighthood in the Order upon passing marks. A Knight could choose only one master to serve at a time. The Knights who didn’t choose a master often served as soldiers; the cost being they wouldn’t receive a Favor.
What’s with this whole Favor thing anyway?
Knights with a Master receive Favor from their contractual bond. The Favor takes form as developing the ability to heal and strengthening the Knight’s abilities. When Yuki heard Ain’s explanation, she shouted, “What is that! Magic?”
The proof of the contract bond between Knight and Master are the Contract Rings, which magically appear on their fingers.
…It’s all too surreal. I suddenly find myself in a strange place, and then when I think someone without any hidden agendas has taken me in, I’m forced to make a weird contract with them. Then I find out the person I made a contract with is actually a prince of high rank, and he lets me stay in his castle, before warning me his psychotic brother wants him dead. No matter what anyone says, I don’t feel blessed or grateful for any of that.
Yuki’s head was spinning with the last words Ain said before leaving the carriage, “Well, I think it is best if you don’t let it get to you. Knowing that man, he probably made the contract with you out of spite toward Prince Orga. I mean, Prince Orga called you one of Rvydom’s Lost Children. You are his new toy. I am sure he just didn’t want you to be snatched away by his brother.”
“What does he mean by…toy?”
All the soldiers were traveling by horse. Yuki didn’t know how to ride a horse, so she rode with her luggage by horse-drawn carriage at the back of the troops accompanied by the supply carts. Yuki had seen the supply train following behind her carriage; she thought it was small compared to the number of soldiers traveling with them. She dismissed it as something beyond her knowledge or care.
Yuki was left alone in the carriage after Ain left to sit beside the coachman. She removed the archery case hanging from her shoulder and squeezed it in her lap, sighing.
“I don’t get it.”
She couldn’t even begin to imagine what the deal was with those strange brothers on bad terms, the state of the world she found herself in, or what was awaiting her on the battlefield she was headed for.
“What’s going to happen to me?”
She flopped onto the luggage and shut her eyes. She must have been exhausted from everything, because her mind quickly faded into oblivion.
✦ ✦ ✦
THE journey from Adolunde Castle to Fol normally took a little less than a week. Ain held his hand to his head.
“Aaah, good grief, why do powerful people like their sick games! I can’t comprehend it!”
The coachman forced a smile.
“We’re headed to a bloody battlefield, but we were only allowed to bring the bare minimum in supplies. We were ordered not to procure our supplies from the local area, but to wait for more supply carts to be dispatched from the capital. Doesn’t that mean we’ll die in vain if Prince Orga’s sick whims keep him from sending us supplies? Uggh, no matter how I calculate our supplies, there won’t be enough,” Ain complained, holding his head as he looked at his notes.
Ain was a civil officer assigned to serve Luca. One other person was assigned as Luca’s military officer. The three of them had been together since childhood. The time they had spent together was very long. However—
“I still haven’t a clue what he’s thinking…”
In the first place, where did he find the violet-eyed girl—Yuki? And why did he bring her this far?
“He’s left me completely in charge of caring for her too.”
Fortunately, Yuki was a smart girl who listened to him without kicking up a fuss, but she was far too ignorant of the world. Even if she was feigning ignorance, Ain had a hard time doubting her when she didn’t even know what he considered common sense. But it would be a different story if she was a Witch.
“Ugh, great, now I’m starting to doubt myself.” Ain wanted to criticize and blame the prince who was the source of the worries frying Ain’s overworked mind.
“Now, now,” the coachman soothed.
A messenger ran to their carriage cutting Ain’s complaints short. “Prince Luca has ordered a short break and rest for the horses and men.” The messenger turned to Ain, “Oh, and Prince Luca has summoned you, Ain.”
Please don’t let him tell me anything more annoying than he already has, Ain prayed.
✦ ✦ ✦
BY the time Ain arrived where Luca was, he found him absently staring at the ring on his middle finger.
“Prince Luca, you summoned me?” Ain asked.
“About Fol… I received word that Maruk’s army has already taken control of the castle and is asserting its presence over the area. One of their generals has taken residence in the castle,” Luca answered with a sour look.
Ain was shocked by the news—he just obtained the information himself.
Where did he learn the news from so fast again?
“Yes, I heard the same information,” Ain nodded solemnly, keeping up the pretense of being calm.
“I’m sure my Brother has heard as well. Brother most likely knew Fol would fall into Maruk’s hands. He wanted to send me here because it fell. No matter how we fight back, we won’t win without massive casualties. If anything, this will end in failure and a disgrace. And if I take one wrong step, it will lead to my death. How to handle this one?” Luca pondered, staring emptily at the sky.
“Um,” Ain interjected, “What do you plan on doing with the girl? I suppose you brought her to spite Prince Orga?”
Luca didn’t answer.
“Whatever the circumstance may be, I don’t think it was wise to go as far as forming a contractual bond with her. You don’t know who she really is. She might be…” Ain shut his mouth and fell silent. Should he tell his master that his actions may have been very foolish?
“She might be a Witch. Right?” Luca smirked sadistically. Ain held his tongue.
How does he always know what I’m going to say?
“Because what you’re thinking shows on your face. At this rate, you’ll never become a tactician.”
Shocked, Ain looked up at a chuckling Luca.
“She’s not a Witch. Annie told me she didn’t have a Seal anywhere on her body.”
Annie was the head of servants who had tended to Luca and Ain since they were children.
“Is that so? That’s good then,” Ain sighed with relief.
A Seal would appear on a Witch’s body depending on the extent of their ability. Witches were born with the Seal, so you could safely assume someone without a Seal was a normal human.
“Might have been just as good if she had been a witch,” Luca muttered.
What would be good about that? Ain couldn’t understand it at all.
“Good grief. Please tell me, even if indirectly, if you have a plan. You should think more seriously about your position.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Where’s Yuki?”
“She seemed exhausted. She is asleep.”
Ain was beyond exasperated when he found her sleeping on top of her luggage without an ounce of nervousness.
Luca chuckled quietly, “Bring her to me when we arrive at the town.”
“As you command,” Ain said.
“Ready the troops to move out,” Luca said.