A Knight Who Protects His Enemies

“Hoo.”

After four days of meetings, I took a breather by the riverside.

It’s not just Vivian and Count Korod who are exhausted.

The Order of the Eight Knights, Vivian’s guards, and I, we’re all worn out.

Every day is a battle of wits and snowball fights… Walking on eggshells would be an understatement.

According to Vivian, she’s putting all her effort into preventing any fights from breaking out.

Political battles aren’t my thing, so I couldn’t really help.

It was hard to endure this weariness without taking breaks every now and then.

That’s why I’m spending time by the river today.

“…I wish these guys would just leave already.”

“They won’t leave until they achieve their goals.”

Someone responded to my muttering.

It was Count Korod.

Behind him were Rhyard and Barriet, while the others were nowhere to be seen.

The knights who had stepped outside the castle had swords hanging at their waists.

Feeling a bit awkward from the gossip, I didn’t bother to correct anything.

No need to mask my true feelings with pretenses.

Count Korod spoke up.

“Besides, I could say the same. Allen, aren’t you leaving?”

“Leaving? Where to?”

“Where else? Back to your hometown.”

Count Korod seemed to have let his dignified air slip a little.

His shoulders were relaxed, and his expression was at ease.

He didn’t react nervously to my backhand comments.

The vibe was totally different from what I heard from Vivian.

He seemed to want to relax here just like I did.

By the way, why is everyone talking about home so much lately?

I felt like I was the only one struggling to adapt to the sudden change.

“I haven’t heard that you guys were friendly toward the Allen family.”

“It’s not friendliness, really. Just a statement of being human. You’ve grown up all alone in the battlefield since you were torn from your family at 14, and it’s not like you’re from some commoner family, you’re the heir of the noble Allen family from the East Kingdom.”

“…”

“It’s unfortunate you didn’t get to learn etiquette hanging around commoners during your formative years. Well, I guess that’s all thanks to Vivian Rondore. She’s the one who threw you into the Punishment Unit, right?”

I remained silent.

I came here to escape these people, yet they had the audacity to follow me around and irritate me.

Picking my nose absentmindedly, I waited for them to leave.

Meanwhile, Count Korod, also staring at the flowing river, quietly asked.

“…Do you need help? Kyle Allen.”

“Huh?”

“I can help you go back home.”

He slowly turned to look at me.

Rhyard, who was standing behind him, raised an eyebrow at me.

It was so natural, like they had done this many times before.

“Getting someone out of the city is no big deal. Now that peace is coming between the East Kingdom and Delum, doesn’t it make sense to have a little favor owed? You’ll be the future head of the Allen family and a knight worth your weight… Seems like a win-win to me.”

An explosive mix of thoughts flooded my mind at his suggestion, but the conclusion also formed rapidly.

“…No thanks.”

It felt like a sticky offer.

Plus, I was already tired from contemplating this very issue.

I had resolved not to leave, especially since I needed to deal with my father, and Count Korod couldn’t shake that resolve.

Knowing Vivian couldn’t bear the situation, leaving was not an option.

How could I possibly leave when I knew she would be in danger?

Besides, I’d rather face her directly and talk about parting ways than sneak off in hiding.

Helping her strengthen her position and remove the balance of power might dull the hatred toward our family a bit.

When the time comes, maybe we could shake hands or hug and cheer each other on.

Vivian, who continues to deny the feelings we shared, would surely manage that much.

…Or maybe not. I don’t know. I won’t think about it.

Anyway, at some point, we have to go our separate ways… And I wanted to walk that path as regret-free as possible.

Count Korod, clearly taken aback by my rejection, let out a hollow laugh and stood there, frozen for a moment.

Exchanging glances with his knights, he eventually muttered as if cursing.

“…You’re dumber than I thought. What exactly are you hoping to gain by staying here?”

“Why would I grab the hand of someone who’s been mocking me until just a few days ago?”

“…That was all part of the game. No bad feelings here.”

“No thanks, I don’t need your help. I don’t want to owe anyone.”

“…Think again, Kyle Allen. You might regret this choice—”

“-I said no.”

“…”

Korod stared at me blankly at my answer.

After exchanging looks with his knights again, he wordlessly left me behind.

I watched their departing figures.

Then I took another breath as I gazed at the flowing river.

****

“What an idiot.”

Count Korod muttered in the room assigned to him.

As Rhyard and Barriet followed in and shut the door, Count Korod angrily tossed his sword to the floor.

Throwing himself into a creaky chair, Korod continued.

“Can’t believe they still can’t realize the mother bear is gone. Still… Still…!”

Rhyard, seeming to sympathize with his master, looked puzzled.

“Hilden surely gave them notice. Do they feel no sense of crisis?”

Barriet chipped in.

“…Or perhaps they’re just that confident in their abilities. If they’ve been slaying dragons since they were 15, that would make sense.”

Count Korod groaned and continued rapidly.

“In the end, it’s always those Allen brats. Strong but stupid, making it hard to get rid of them. They’ve crafted their family crest quite well. There aren’t any bears like that.”

“Definitely smells like Jade Allen’s influence. He must’ve been separated from his father since he was 14.”

“And then there’s the habits of lowly folk that’ve seeped into their bones, disgusting even.”

Kyle Allen was complicating many plans due to his unreasonable nature.

For years now, things have gone awry because of these two brats, Kyle Allen and Vivian Rondore.

Completely clueless about each other, these sniveling kids have grown up together, licking each other’s wounds.

Count Korod instinctively felt that if he didn’t act soon, he’d miss his chance entirely.

This was a turning point.

Vivian Rondore had been rising to power by using Kyle Allen as a shield and accumulating resources by surrounding herself with numerous talented commoners, forgetting her shame.

It was easy to criticize her methods, but observing the improvement in Roktana was unsettling.

New recruits were being added to the troops, and the economy was reviving.

Amidst this positive change, Vivian’s position was solidifying.

It couldn’t go on like this.

Count Korod and his accomplices had already shaken hands.

The accomplice had promised that if they helped him rise to the position of Duke Rondore, Korod would receive a portion of Roktana territory.

That territory included fertile lands, beautiful landscapes, and major trade routes, so defeating Vivian Rondore became a necessity.

If the plan unfolded successfully, Rondore would never dare to oppose the Korod family again.

This moment’s changes would ripple into the distant future.

His accomplice likely understood this future as well, but even if it transformed, the accomplice would still covet the position of Duke Rondore over his current state.

Nevertheless, once changes occurred, there would be no reason for Duke Rondore to be called a grand duke anymore, and they wouldn’t hear that they are the actual rulers of this area.

Above all, this plan was irresistibly enticing to Count Korod, who craved power.

It was a plan that had been in the works for years.

However, the likes of Kyle Allen repeatedly threw a wrench into it.

Even now, it was the same.

If only Kyle wasn’t around, the remaining plans could flow smoothly and naturally.

He was like the only thorn stuck in my side.

No matter how much I tried to ignore him, his presence was impossible to overlook.

“No matter how hard I try to shake him off…”

Back in the days of Lady Allen, Vivian wouldn’t let Kyle go, and now with Jade Allen, Kyle refuses to leave.

“…Sigh.”

After that sigh, Count Korod clicked his tongue.

Rhyard spoke up.

“Scholar Krellyn said they still show hatred toward each other, didn’t he?”

“He did.”

“…Could it not be a lie? Looking at Kyle Allen’s actions.”

“No, Brinden said the same, so it has to be true.”

“Then why do the two… No, especially Kyle Allen…”

“…That’s exactly why I can’t wrap my head around the Allen brats.”

“…”

In the end, everyone gave up on understanding and sealed their lips.

And amidst that silence, a thought bloomed that everyone shared together.

Silently, glances exchanged back and forth in the room.

“…So?”

Rhyard asked.

“What are you asking for?”

Count Korod leaned back against the chair, speaking tiredly.

“…I definitely gave them a chance. These brats blocking adults’ plans can go no further.”

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