And for good reason.
'Because I haven't killed the guy who's been talking about Lordbell for a whole month and kept him alive!'
He knew that Kari was called a Lordbell fanatic - or 'Lordchin' for short - within the Knights.
Aiden also knew better than anyone how much Kari admired Lordbell.
That's why when he received the order to escort the Crown Prince to the Lordbell Qualification Exam, he even congratulated him.
But that was a mistake.
He still can't forget Kari's face as he said 'thank you' with tears in his eyes.
Aiden still regrets that time.
'I should have changed partners no matter what.'
Or he should have injured himself to get out of this mission.
If he had, he wouldn't have been 'attacked by Lordbell' by Kari for a whole month.
That damn Lordbell. He's heard about it so much that he feels like he can close his eyes and memorize the family tree.
'…Well.'
It's not that he doesn't understand Kari's admiration for Lordbell.
There are many others in the Knights who admire the Lordbell Knights besides Kari.
'Of course, Kari is particularly over the top.'
For those who dream of becoming knights, the Lordbell Knights were a celestial realm they wanted to be a part of at least once.
As Aiden headed to the room where the Crown Prince was waiting, he recalled the Lordbell Estate, which he had visited once by chance a year ago.
'Well, I was similar to that guy back then.'
His rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes were filled with anticipation.
A year ago, Aiden looked like that.
And the Lordbell he visited was...
'Amazing.'
The buildings, the gardens, the servants, everything was on a different level.
He was worried that he might be disappointed because he was used to the Imperial Palace, but that worry was completely unnecessary.
But the best thing was the Lordbell Knights.
Aiden slowly reminisced about that time.
He only watched from afar, but everything was wonderful.
The silver-violet armor engraved with the Lordbell crest, the sword that shone sharply under the sun, the perfect posture and spirit as if they were transplanted.
They were knights like him, but they seemed like different beings.
A year ago, Aiden stared at them and muttered blankly.
"It's really, an amazing place..."
Then, the sniper who approached him replied.
"That's right. This is my second visit, but I can't help but be impressed. It's not called Lordbell above Arphedel for nothing."
Aiden looked at him in surprise at his words.
'Lordbell above Arphedel.'
Arphedel is the name of the Empire, but it essentially means the Imperial Family.
It was a statement that subtly implied that the Lordbell Duchy was more impressive than the Imperial Family.
It was a saying that any citizen of the Empire would have heard at least once.
And that was...
'It's also a saying that was created when His Highness the Crown Prince was born.'
The Crown Prince, Bethel Denave Arphedel, was particularly weak from birth.
Even minor illnesses for others were life-threatening for him.
Almost every night, the doctor rushed to the Crown Prince's room.
Was it because the doctor was competent, or was it because the Crown Prince had a tenacious lifeline?
After countless crises, the Crown Prince entered his teens.
But that was all.
The Crown Prince, who had been weak since childhood, grew up as a boy with a weak personality and nothing particularly outstanding.
'No.'
Correction.
There was one thing that was most outstanding in the Empire.
His innate beauty.
Even though he had an immature appearance, the Crown Prince was so beautiful that it was difficult to imagine his future.
But... well.
'You can't rule the Empire with beauty, can you?'
It was a thought so blasphemous that he couldn't even say it to himself, but that's what Aiden thought.
Of course, beauty isn't completely meaningless.
There are those who have started wars between countries because of beauty, and those who have become empresses from humble backgrounds.
'It would be helpful in diplomacy.'
Beauty would create a strong sense of favor from the first impression.
Of course, the catch is that the Emperor of the great empire of Arphedel would never have to make an effort to gain someone's favor.
The qualities needed for an Emperor who will lead the Empire in the future are not beauty, but decisiveness, drive and leadership, inclusiveness, and the dignity of a ruler that encompasses all of those things.
So that no one dares to look down on the Emperor.
Arphedel is the Emperor, and the Emperor is Arphedel.
But the Crown Prince...
'He's not that kind of person.'
Rather, it would be fortunate if he didn't collapse in front of foreign dignitaries...
'Wouldn't it be better for His Highness the Second Prince to ascend to the throne?'
The First Prince and Crown Prince, Bethel Denave Arphedel, has a half-brother who is three years younger.
Unlike his older brother, the Crown Prince, he was healthy and even intelligent.
It's not that he particularly supports anyone, but if he were to choose the lord he would have to serve for the rest of his life, wouldn't the Second Prince be a little more meaningful?
'The knights of Lordbell wouldn't have to worry or 고민 about this.'
Aiden, feeling unreasonably bad at the inevitable envy and jealousy, deliberately changed the subject.
"May I take a walk for a while?"
As if understanding Aiden's desire to escape, he nodded.
"Don't go too far. Return within 30 minutes."
"Yes."
Aiden's purpose in visiting the estate today was to escort the Empress, the mother of the Second Prince, but since the appropriate number of people had already been met, there was no need for Aiden to stay.
'I should take a good look while I'm here.'
Lordbell was like a foreign country to him, who worked at the Imperial Palace, so he decided to take in the sights as much as possible while he was there.
However, even if he was given free time, there could be unnecessary rumors if an Imperial Knight wandered around arbitrarily, so he only went to places where there were few people.
Then he happened to witness it.
"I told you not to come out today because we have important guests!"
A loud voice full of annoyance.
"Come quickly! Ugh, I'm so tired of it, really."
A maid was dragging something away with an angry expression.
It was hidden by the bushes, so he couldn't see what it was right away, but soon Aiden's eyes caught sight of 'it'.
'A kid?'
A child was being dragged away weakly by a maid.
Aiden didn't understand this situation very well.
Judging from what he heard, it seemed like the child had come out on its own and was being caught and dragged away...
He racked his brain.
'Is it the maid's child?'
If so, it would make sense.
It's the day the Imperial Family is visiting, so they need to be especially careful. You never know what kind of unexpected situations might arise.
In addition, the child's shabby appearance could potentially blemish the perfect scenery of Lordbell.
The maid's attitude was aggressive, but it wasn't an incomprehensible situation.
However... there was something strange about it.
'Why is she using honorifics?'
If it was the maid's child, there was no need for the maid to use honorifics.
But even while she was angry, the maid made sure to use honorifics.
That meant the child was of a higher status than the maid.
'What is that kid's identity?'
As Aiden was engulfed in questions, he raised his head again.
"......"
"Ah......"
Through the long, black hair, his eyes met a pair of red eyes.
Those eyes seemed to be saying, "Please help me"...
"......"
In the time he hesitated, the child had already been dragged away beyond the building.
'Should I have followed?'
As he returned to his post, Aiden couldn't shake off the lingering feeling.
Whatever the child's identity was, he felt like he had ignored the child's request for help.
He didn't know the circumstances, but he could have at least said something to be a little kinder.
A faint sense of regret washed over him.
On the way back to the Imperial Palace after finishing his mission, Aiden cautiously told his sniper what he had seen.
Then, his sniper's expression turned strange.
He sighed and said,
"There's no need to regret it. If you had intervened, it would have only made things worse."
"Made things worse... I'm just asking them to treat the child gently, how is that a problem?"
"As you said, it's not a problematic thing to say. The problem is the identity of the child you saw."
"...... Isn't it the maid's child?"
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