Chapter 43
"I really appreciate your offer, but... I still want to stay with the Imperial Guards," Amy said in response to Caron's proposal.
Caron had already expected her to turn him down. He replied, "Well, that's not surprising."
"Are you not going to ask me why?" Amy asked.
"It's obvious. You want to stay there and change the Imperial Guards from within, right?" Caron answered.
"...That's right," Amy said.
"I know people like you. They're stubborn, upright... and foolish," Caron said, smiling bitterly before taking a sip of the sangria the server had just brought over.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't visited the capital in so long that old memories started surfacing, memories he hadn't thought about in a long time. The men who had chosen to stay and fight alongside him until the bitter end in the imperial palace, back when he was Cain Latorre... Unlike him, who had been bound by duty to remain, they had stayed of their own free will, and died.
They had been just like Amy.
As Cain, he had told them they didn't need to stay, and that they should leave and find their own lives beyond the empire. And yet, they'd stubbornly chosen to stay, to fight and die alongside Cain.
"Did we know that bastard emperor was insane? Of course we did," one of the knights had said.
"Who the hell wouldn't know that? We just wanted to die alongside you, Captain," another knight had added.
"I don't care if the bastard emperor goes down in disgrace, but at least you, Captain, should die as an honorable knight! Hahaha!" yet another had said.
Most of the knights who had fought with him had fallen to the sword of the enemy commander, Halo. Caron had never gotten a chance to confirm whether they lived or died. His own life had ended before he could know their fates.
Those fools, Caron thought, chuckling bitterly as he looked at Amy's eyes.
Her eyes reminded him of those men. The same stubbornness, the same foolish resolve. But perhaps that was why he liked her. That same determination, that same eagerness he once saw in their eyes, was there in Amy's. Perhaps, deep down, he had hoped she would reject his offer.
"The debt will be paid off soon enough. My father is working hard, and I'll be officially knighted soon. Then my salary will go up too, so things should get better," Amy continued.
"You're surprisingly optimistic," Caron remarked.
"I'll just have to work harder," Amy said confidently.
"After today's incident, you'll probably face even more isolation. Are you really okay with that?" Caron asked.
Hugo had told Caron that House Kian had significant influence even within the imperial guards. This was largely due to the power of House Diaz, which backed House Kian.
However, Amy nodded with a bright smile and said, "But I got the chance to see Drogol get what was coming for him, right? So that's a win."
"Are you sure it's a win?" Caron asked.
"To be honest, I kind of wanted to throw a punch at him myself back there," Amy confessed.
"You should've jumped in. I was planning on saving a few hits just for you," Caron replied.
"Ah, I should've said it," Amy said.
"No worries. I'll bring him in again sometime. You can join in then. And if you're scared, just prepare a mask. If you beat him up with a mask on, no one will know it's you," Caron suggested.
"Young Master Caron, you're really clever," Amy said, laughing softly as she looked at him.
The boy had no trace of seriousness nor formality in him, and yet she felt an odd sense of comfort around him. She knew that even the recruitment offer earlier was Caron's way of looking out for her.
Surprisingly considerate, Amy thought.
They hadn't even known each other for a day. In fact, their first encounter had nearly escalated into a fight. But here he was, showing concern for her and offering a realistic solution. All this from a thirteen-year-old boy...
"Thank you," Amy said sincerely.
Lately, things had been tough for her. It had been a while since she'd experienced such genuine kindness, free from ulterior motives. For that, she was truly grateful.
When Caron heard Amy's heartfelt thanks, he looked away slightly and said, "If you were really thankful, you should've accepted my offer."
Though she couldn't see Caron's face, it seemed as if he was a bit embarrassed. Amy smiled warmly at his reaction.
He's cute, she thought.
In moments like this, it was clear that Caron was still just a thirteen-year-old boy, shy and awkward around girls.
"I won't forget your kindness! Oh, by the way, how should I pay you back for the meal we had earlier?" Amy asked cheerfully.
"Weren't you still paying off a debt? Come back and pay me after you've cleared that," Caron said.
"Hmm, okay," Amy replied.
"There were thirteen servings of beef, two servings of lamb, and four servings of chicken. You need to get it right," Caron added.
"...Got it," Amy replied.
"And just so you know, this isn't because you turned down my offer. You know that, right?" Caron asked.
"Did I say anything?" Amy replied.
"I don't want you thinking I'm holding a grudge," Caron said.
"Haha, of course not," Amy said as she chuckled quietly.
She thought Caron was truly a peculiar boy, especially for someone from a noble family. But more than that...
He's strong, Amy thought. Even without a duel, she could sense the strength radiating from him. Perhaps that was why she felt a growing curiosity about this strange boy.
"When are we going to have our duel?" she asked.
Caron waved his hand dismissively as if the idea was now annoying, then said, "I've changed my mind. I don't want to do it today."
"What?" Amy exclaimed.
"I'll think about it after I meet with His Majesty," Caron replied.
"...You sound as if you're holding a grudge," Amy said.
"It's not like that," Caron answered as he turned to look at her. "I'm planning to ask my grandfather to arrange an official visit to the Imperial Guards' headquarters. It won't be a duel, exactly... Er... Yes, it'll be more of a friendly sparring session."
"Pardon?" Amy asked.
"After hearing your story, I got curious about the state of the Imperial Guards. We can duel then," Caron said.
He felt a need to see for himself what had become of the Imperial Guards. If it was in worse shape than he imagined...
I'll crush them to pieces, Caron thought.
The thought of crushing them until they lost their consciousness crossed his mind. Caron knew he wasn't strong enough to destroy them entirely just yet, but causing a bit of chaos? That was doable.
Amy nodded obediently and said, "I understood. I'll wait back at the headquarters."
"Don't worry. I'll come find you," Caron said.
"I should probably head straight to the training grounds when I get back," Amy remarked.
"Why's that?" Caron asked.
"Well, if I end up getting beaten up by you... it wouldn't be good for the Imperial Guards' reputation, would it?" Amy answered.
"That's a good attitude," Caron replied.
"But, Young Master Caron," Amy began.
"What now?" Caron asked.
"You know I'm four years older than you, right?" Amy asked.
With a sullen expression, Caron said, "So what?"
"It's not as if I'm a commoner... It's a little disappointing when you keep speaking so informally to me. I'm still older, after all," Amy pointed out.
Caron snorted and replied, "As if that matters. You're just from some countryside Count's family."
"...That's pretty arrogant of you," Amy muttered.
"And I only treat someone as my elder if they're stronger than me. If you want that respect, you'll have to beat me first," Caron said.
Amy smiled softly at his response and said, "I'll do my best."
She now had a new goal.
***
After parting ways with Amy, Caron and his group returned to the boutique district to purchase the supplies they needed. Time passed quickly, and by the time they were done, evening had fallen. It was only then that they made their way back to the mansion.
The first thing Caron did upon returning was to report the day's incident to Sir Zerath.
"So, you're telling me you beat up the son of Count Kian?" Zerath's voice came through the communication crystal orb.
"I didn't just beat him up," Caron corrected.
"Then what would you call it?" Zerath asked.
"I beat him to the brink of death," Caron replied.
"...And this happened while Young Master Hugo was present?" Zerath sighed, already sounding exasperated.
"Ever heard the saying 'a crayfish sides with a crab'?[1] Hehe," Caron chuckled.
Zerath, on the other end of the orb, sounded as if he'd already half given up. He said wearily, "Young Master Hugo has already reported the details of the incident to me. Thanks to this, we now have quite a bit of work to do."
"Oh, really? And what about my grandfather...?" Caron asked.
"He has been informed of the situation as well," Zerath confirmed.
"And he didn't say anything?" Caron asked, a bit surprised.
"No, not yet," Zerath replied.
Caron figured his grandfather could be considering an appropriate punishment. Even though Hugo had pleaded on his behalf, this was still a matter that involved noble families. If the other side raised any objections, things could escalate.
"Young Master Caron," Zerath began in a more serious tone.
"Yes?"
"...You must really behave yourself in the Imperial Palace. This incident can be brushed off as youthful indiscretion, but things won't be so simple inside the palace," Zerath said.
"I know. I'll behave in front of His Majesty," Caron responded brightly.
"You must promise me that," Zerath insisted.
"I swear it on my father's honor!" Caron said dramatically.
"...Why not on your own honor? Why does it have to be Master Fayle's honor?" Zerath asked.
"Because I have none," Caron replied.
"You must be proud," Zerath said sarcastically.
Caron could easily picture the expression on Zerath's face; he was probably thinking about how much he could use a drink right now.
Caron gave a slight smile, then continued, "By the way, Sir Zerath, do you know of Amy Altura? An apprentice from the Imperial Guards?"
"Yes, I know of Amy Altura," Zerath confirmed. "She's like a diamond in the rough. I heard she was involved in today's incident."
"I offered her a position, but she turned me down," Caron said.
"You offered that personally?" Zerath sounded surprised.
"Yes. I thought she'd also be useful to us, but she refused. Her loyalty to theImperial Guards was impressive," Caron said.
"That's true. She's too talented to be wasted on the Imperial Guards," Zerath remarked.
"Exactly. Which is why..." Caron hesitated. "I wanted to ask my grandfather something directly. Could you connect me to him?"
At this point, it wasn't a matter for Sir Zerath to handle anymore. Caron needed to negotiate with Halo himself. Holding the crystal in his hand, he waited for Zerath's response.
"I understand. I will connect you to Duke Halo," Zerath said, surprisingly compliant.
"Thank you," Caron replied.
"Please hold for a moment," Zerath said.
A faint hum came from the communication crystal orb in Caron's hand. After about thirty seconds, a deep and commanding voice echoed from the other side.
"I heard you've been looking for me, Caron," Halo said.
Even through the crystal orb, Halo's voice carried an undeniable weight. Caron exhaled lightly, then responded in a respectful tone, "I should have contacted you as soon as I arrived in the capital. I apologize for the delay, family head."
"You only call me 'family head' when you have business that concerns the family," Halo said bluntly.
Caron let out a small chuckle and said, "You always see right through me."
"...How is the capital?" Halo asked directly, cutting to the point.
"It's much more chaotic than Azureocean Castle," Caron replied with a laugh.
"Are you learning anything from it?" Halo asked.
"Yes. I even made some new friends," Caron said as he thought of people like the Sixth Prince and Amy. They were unusual companions, but entertaining nonetheless.
"That's good to hear. Now, tell me what business you've brought," Halo said.
Halo didn't mention the incident Caron had caused earlier that day, which allowed the latter to dive straight into his request.
"I would like to visit the Imperial Guards' headquarters and spar with their knights," Caron requested.
Because the Imperial Guards were the royal knight order, their headquarters wasn't the kind of place Caron could simply barge into and demand a duel. He needed Halo's help to make that happen.
While the request seemed odd, Halo's voice remained calm as he asked, "What's your reason?"
"It's about competitive spirit," Caron replied. "The Oceanwolf Knight Order and the Imperial Guards have been rivals for generations. Now that I'm in the capital, I want to test their skill firsthand." He'd prepared this explanation in advance.
"Besides, I would like to show Leo the techniques of other knights... I think it would be a valuable experience for both of us," Caron explained.
Halo, who had been quietly listening, asked in a low voice, "Is that your only reason?"
"Yes," Caron answered.
"That won't be difficult. But there's one condition," Halo replied.
"A condition?" Caron asked.
"You are to stay put until after the audience with His Majesty and the banquet tomorrow evening. If you get through the day without any incidents, I will arrange for you to visit the Imperial Guards' headquarters," Halo answered.
Caron frowned slightly and thought, Typical of the family head .
Unlike Zerath, Halo had dangled a carrot but demanded self-control in return. On the other hand, the message was clear. Just behave for one day.
If it's just one day, I can do that, Caron thought. Sometimes, it was necessary to make concessions to get what one wanted.
He had always been ready to wreak havoc in the palace. It was the place where he had met his end in his previous life, and was hardly filled with any fond memories. But he could wait. There would be time for that later. For now, it was about getting what he wanted by taking a step back.
"Alright, I'll do that," Caron said.
"Good. Is that enough?" Halo asked.
"It's more than enough," Caron replied.
"Caron, I don't even know what you're planning, but remember this. The reason why I'm not taking control of you right now is because I believe your actions will ultimately benefit our family," Halo said in a tone that hinted at a weighty warning.
It sounded like a compliment, but Caron understood the underlying meaning. Halo meant that if he ever jeopardized the family, this attitude could change in an instant.
That was why Caron responded with a firm and steady voice, "I understand, family head."
"I have high expectations for you, so don't disappoint me. Do you understand?" Halo replied with his typical bluntness.
"Don't worry, I won't disappoint you," Caron said.
"And when you enter the palace tomorrow, conduct yourself properly," Halo said, giving one final piece of advice before the communication ended.
Caron let out a small sigh as he placed the crystal on his desk. He muttered under his breath, "He's as cunning as ever."
There was no denying that years of experience was hard to ignore. Halo's words had carried the weight of someone who saw through everything, delivering warnings veiled as compliments.
Caron would have to be mindful, but he wasn't too concerned. After all, it was just one day. He lay down on his bed, then slowly closed his eyes.
"The palace... No matter when I think about it, it's still such a filthy place," he muttered.
He pondered the hatred from his previous life and let out a heavy sigh. He felt that tomorrow was going to be a very long day.
1. This is a Korean proverb meaning something like "birds of a feather flock together. ☜