The aura of Samuel, who had been standing quietly at my words, turned somewhat menacing in an instant.
Samuel was also the one who had denounced Arin Tosen, so it seemed he was recalling the scene he witnessed then, his anger perhaps boiling over.
Karin, too, sensing Samuel's aura, revealed his wariness.
I, who had been staring at Karin with a look of contempt, let out a sigh as if to make a point.
"I merely wish to entrust my safety to someone of outstanding skill. Is this matter so grave that I must overlook such insubordination from you?"
"Th-This is not insubordination...!"
"You all already attempted to ambush my knight in secret and ended up suffering humiliation instead. It seems that alone wasn't enough to gauge your level."
Karin's face had now turned so crimson it was impossible to discern its original color. Whether it was due to shame or anger, I could not tell.
After looking at him with pitying eyes, I swiftly turned my body.
"The training grounds haven't changed location, have they? I shall visit them immediately."
I directed a cold sneer toward Karin, who stood rigidly.
"Shall I take a look at this 'Roam pride' you all speak of?"
* * *
There were many knights in the training grounds.
It was not difficult to point out a few reasonably decent ones among them and have them fight Pallides.
It was only natural, as knights who viewed an outsider knight with hostility were glaring from all corners of the training grounds.
And Pallides splendidly met my expectations.
"Pathetic beyond words."
My cold voice echoed through the silent training grounds. Someone looked at me with resentful eyes, but upon meeting my gaze, immediately lowered their head.
I could see someone's clenched fist trembling faintly. Seeing that felt more satisfying than I had anticipated.
'Because the name Roam does not consist solely of the Roam family members.'
All the retainers beneath it were tightly bound under the name Roam. Therefore, merely exposing the family's corruption was insufficient to claim I had brought down Roam.
Hence, what I had schemed was precisely this, right now. Publicly trampling the knights.
To utterly, thoroughly crush them so they could feel no pride whatsoever in the name Roam.
This was completely different from leading them to realize their shortcomings and strive harder. This was just... closer to a process of trampling to humiliate the opponent.
"Tsk, truly a wretched and shameful affair."
A knight, pushed over by Pallides's heavy sword, gasped for breath. He wasn't seriously injured, but having been beaten here and there, his appearance was quite a sight.
Looking down at the sprawled knight, I poured forth unsparing ridicule.
"Was it said to be an order of knights personally selected by the minor duke? Don't you dare go around boasting that you represent Roam."
The training grounds were silent, with only sand and dust scattering occasionally in the blowing wind.
The other knights watching the spar wore expressions of disbelief.
'But what can be done?'
They were, from the start, individuals who, despite the advantage of numbers at night, had failed to succeed in their ambushes.
I don't know what excuses they used for moral victories each time their ambushes failed, but compared to Pallides, they were lacking in skill.
There was no way they could defeat Pallides in a one-on-one spar in broad daylight like this.
"I would have been in trouble had I not secured a guard in advance. I almost bestowed an undeserved title upon such pathetic individuals."
I spoke in a voice rather loud for a mutter.
Frankly, their skills weren't objectively bad.
But I wanted them to despair, to feel ashamed, to leave or turn their backs on Roam of their own accord.
Though extreme, today's clash would have been enough to shatter the pride of noble knights.
Moreover, Pallides's provocation was quite exceptional, so the already fallen pride of the knights was practically rolling in the mud.
"I told you, didn't I? They're all soft."
At Pallides's words, which seemed to have been waiting for this moment, several knights made indignant expressions.
'I did order her to get on the nerves of the surrounding knights, but I didn't know she'd be this good at it.'
Perhaps Pallides was enjoying herself right now. Or maybe she had accumulated a lot of stress and was relieving it in this way?
I was inwardly reflecting on whether I had overworked her when the fluttering sound of a bird's wings came from above.
[It seems Zigore has returned.]
Tristan, who had been hiding by clinging to the folds of my clothes, whispered quietly.
Glancing briefly at the sky, I turned my body swiftly.
"What a waste of time. Let's go."
The sound of someone's grievous sigh reached my ears.
It was no different from the sound of a crack forming in the name Roam.
To me, it was a most pleasant sound, like a jewel rolling.
* * *
Zigore was originally in charge of communication with Samuel, but because Samuel came to see me on his own accord, he lost his assigned task.
So the new task I entrusted him with was precisely the surveillance of my sister, the Phrygian.
[That woman met the man from the portrait the Captain showed!]
"Yes, she must be in a hurry."
My sister, the Phrygian, is in a situation where the fire is at her feet. Father is meeting with Heinri daily to negotiate terms.
Anxious that a carriage to take her to the imperial family might arrive at any moment, she must have rushed to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.
Thus, she would have no leisure to attend to her retainers.
The fact that my sister, the Phrygian, was distracted elsewhere alone made it easier to stir up the internal atmosphere of this house.
"Good, Zigore. You watched well."
[Then can I stay by the Captain's side now?]
"Yes. Zigore, you keep watch around the window. Tristan, it's about time for you to go back to Lilia."
Tristan, who until just a moment ago had been flying about so fast as to be nearly invisible, upon hearing my words, moved sluggishly with a drastically slowed flight speed.
"Minte, keep an eye outside the room."
Minte, stretching her front and back legs one after another to loosen her stiff body, went out the door, wagging her tail.
Having set up Dullahans as perimeter guards, I fiddled with the ring. Soon, the ring glittered, and an excited voice came through.
—Lady Anelli!
Samuel, who was leaning against the door, seemed to recognize the owner of the voice, glancing up briefly.
As he was not wearing his helmet now, his crumpled expression was fully visible.
"He is a mage. Didn't you say you were contacting the Crown Prince?"
—This voice is... that paladin fellow?
How could they recognize each other so well just by hearing their voices?
'It seems they've become quite close without my knowledge.'
Thinking nonchalantly, I spoke to Xenon first.
"His Highness Heinri?"
—He'll be here soon. But more importantly, Lady Anelli, wasn't the paladin supposed to wait at the inn?
Xenon poured out his words so quickly I couldn't catch a moment to answer.
Samuel, who had been listening with arms crossed while leaning, clicked his tongue and spoke.
"I don't know how you practice magic with a mind so bad you can't even remember a person's name."
Saying this, Samuel had undoubtedly completely forgotten that he himself called Xenon 'mage.'
At Samuel's calm sarcasm, Xenon retorted in an irritated voice.
—Why are you with Lady Anelli?
"As her guard."
For a moment, silence continued from the ring. Then soon, Xenon's excited, stammering voice burst forth.
—...No, right now! That bastard! Wait a moment! Lady Anelli! You're keeping me confined in this bleak imperial palace! And who are you with right now?
Xenon rambled on with words unclear whether directed at Samuel or me.
Samuel, who had been quietly listening to this, spoke bluntly with a sarcastic tone.
"Naturally, I am here because I am more helpful."
Helpful or not, who is the one who barged in wearing a helmet uninvited and planted himself here!
Holding my throbbing head, I first warned Samuel in a low voice.
"Sir Samuel. Don't provoke."
"It's not provocation; it's the truth."
At Samuel's firm words, Xenon let out a hollow laugh.
—Is he looking down on mages right now...!
"Xenon, you calm down a bit too."
How can they fight so well even when not beside each other? Do they study fighting methods together?
Marveling at the astonishing ability of the two, a new voice came from the ring.
—What is it? Why is it so noisy?
Hearing his voice interjecting curiously, a sense of fondness arose spontaneously. Heinri would be able to mediate Xenon on his own.
"Your Highness Heinri."
—Ah, Anelli. Hearing your voice like this feels quite novel.
"Indeed."
Perhaps because I had regained my composure, my expression also relaxed considerably.
—But before we begin my story, there's something I wish to ask.
I answered with a slight smile.
"Please speak."
—Why is the communication magical artifact a ring?
"......"
My smile vanished before even a minute had passed.
After briefly waiting for my answer, Heinri opened his mouth again.
—Don't tell me you also use a ring artifact? Did the two of you share a ring?
His voice was gentle and peaceful. Listening only to the voice, one couldn't sense anything amiss.
—No, it's not that I'm interrogating you. As I said, I have stepped back, wishing for your happiness. But can't I be curious?
But why? I had a feeling Heinri's expression probably wasn't... all that gentle.
Swallowing dryly, I quietly looked down at the ring, while Samuel, who had been standing by the door, stealthily approached the sofa where I was sitting.
"The communication device was a ring?"
—Why do I hear Sir Samuel's voice from over there?
As soon as Samuel asked, Heinri muttered with displeasure.
Xenon, who had been quiet for a moment, interjected as if he had been waiting and poured out words to Heinri.
—Your Highness, listen to this. Can you believe that paladin fellow, with no sense of propriety, went alone to Lady Anelli's side and is acting as her guard!
—That is quite different from our initial plan?
—That's exactly what I'm saying!
The two on the other side of the ring seemed to quickly join forces.
But immediately after, this time, Samuel, who was standing beside the arm of the sofa looking down at me quietly, spoke in a cold voice.
"I am curious why this communication device is a ring. Didn't you say that mage fellow procured it?"
Samuel's gaze, looking at the glittering ring on my finger, darkened.
Xenon, who couldn't possibly know Samuel's expression, answered in a rather bold tone.
—It was the best communication device, so I chose it!
—For jewelry, there are necklaces, bracelets, earrings. There's no reason it must be a ring.
The alliance between Xenon and Heinri was quickly broken.
And I, in the mire of this endless, futile conversation, posed a question no one would answer.
"...We can get to the main point today, right?"
You know, somehow I feel it's going to be difficult...