The Commanders’ Nightmare

Was it too much of a stretch to think his voice trembled slightly? Even though I hadn’t committed any crime yet, I couldn’t stop my head from bowing instinctively. I had always felt a pang of sympathy for the superior who must have suffered because of my brother. Facing the Commander of Candilhas in the flesh, I felt too apologetic to even look him in the eye.

“He’s every bit as good as Leo.”

Either failing to read the atmosphere or choosing to ignore it, Spellman laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. He even nudged the Candilhas Commander’s arm, adding, “Aren’t you pleased? The number of talented youngsters is growing.” No matter how I looked at it, my talent wasn’t on par with Leo’s, but I couldn’t dampen the old man’s spirits. I had been lectured many times that bragging about his disciple was one of the few joys he had left in his old age, so I shouldn’t interfere.

The Candilhas Commander, however, seemed unable to process words like ‘talent’ or ‘skill’ anymore. The sheer impact of the phrase “every bit as good as Leo” must have been too much. He clutched his chest and staggered, his sturdy build momentarily failing him.

Ultimately, the heavily demoralized Commander hobbled away. Spellman tutted, remarking that the young man shouldn’t be neglecting his physical health at such an age. He seemed completely oblivious to who was the primary cause of the Commander’s failing health. Realizing that I was likely responsible for at least 60% of the stress-induced gastritis Leo gave his superior, my guilt only intensified.

I should stay as quiet as possible after I’m commissioned. It was embarrassing enough just causing indirect harm like this. If I became a direct headache for him, I wouldn’t even be able to walk past the Candilhas barracks.

Next, we met the Commanders of Kahillum and Vision. I observed Kishiar Tessa, the Commander of Kahillum. Unlike the man we just met, he was tall and lean. With his neat brown hair and glasses, he looked more like a civil official than a Knight Commander. The lines from his cheekbones to his pale cheeks were sharp, and his narrow eyes gave him a keen, piercing impression.

Even if he had a broad, friendly smile, I doubt I could have formed a good impression of him. It was only natural, considering I had personally witnessed him killing several people while assisting the Crown Prince. The only surprise was that his body, which had seemed so massive and intimidating back then, wasn’t actually that large.

“So, where is Leo’s brother going?”

The Commander of Vision leaned forward, peering at me. Perhaps due to his perfectly tailored uniform, he looked as lithe as a model, yet he was very tall and well-built. His dark green hair had a fine texture that ruffled naturally with his movements before falling back into place. Seeing how impeccably his beard was trimmed, he seemed like the type to care deeply about his appearance—though his glossy hair did remind me a bit of seaweed.

“He hasn’t even been commissioned yet, so what’s the point in asking?”

Spellman said this, then cleared his throat.

“Luc—ahem, Lucberon… Where is Serios?”

Spellman called out “Lucberon” a couple more times, as if worried the two Commanders might not understand his hint. It was so blatant that it was almost funnier to pretend not to notice, but the two of them played along. The Vision Commander even went a step further, feigning disappointment.

“You won’t tell us even though you already know? It’s about time Vision had a knight talented enough to be personally taught by Sir Spellman. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I’m a pretty decent superior.”

“You say it’s embarrassing, yet you say everything you want to say anyway,” Spellman rebuked him.

Despite the scolding, the Vision Commander laughed good-naturedly. Come to think of it, wasn’t the Vision Commander a relative of the Second Prince? Recalling the family tree made me realize once again how a handful of families monopolized the Empire’s key positions. Not that I, a beneficiary of that very system, had much room to talk.

It was dizzying to think that in a few years, even those few families would be mostly swept away.

Kishiar Tessa, who had remained silent while Spellman and the Vision Commander chatted, finally spoke up.

“Sir Serios will be back shortly.”

“Is she away?”

“Yes. Her Majesty the Empress summoned her for a moment.”

It had been a long time since the Emperor was able to leave his bed. Now, it was the Empress, not the Emperor, who summoned the Knight Commanders to discuss the security of the palace.

The Emperor, once a charming young man who enjoyed hunting and war, could now barely walk as his old injuries from his youth worsened. Pus in his knees and tremors in his arms were now chronic. They had tried everything from potions to holy water, and even the High Priest—who claimed to have heard the voice of God—had met with him. But any improvement was fleeting, and his condition showed no signs of truly mending.

Even if you hold the continent in your hand, you cannot live forever. It was bittersweet to see the Emperor spending such a pitiful final chapter of his life. Most of the power had already shifted to the Crown Prince and the Empress, and the only one remaining by the side of the Emperor—who couldn’t even sit on the throne without help—was Annette. And even her actions weren’t born out of love or care for him.

Whether the Emperor knew this or not, he was steadily handing over what little he had left to Annette and her son, the Fifth Prince.

The Vision Commander naturally led us to his office. Unlike Leo’s office, which, despite being tidy, smelled of sweat and felt lived-in, this room was decorated like a model house.

Sandwiched awkwardly between the talkative Vision Commander and Spellman, I lowered my gaze while looking at Kishiar Tessa sitting opposite me. Publicly, he maintained a neutral stance, avoiding the Crown Prince’s faction. While I couldn’t know his inner thoughts, he must have moved because his interests aligned.

It was already stressful enough dealing with the Crown Prince; the thought of having another target to watch so closely made my head ache. At least I wasn’t joining Kahillum. While the Vision Commander was also hard to read, joining Kahillum would mean there was a high probability that every single one of my actions would go straight to the Crown Prince’s ears.

The best option would be the Candilhas Commander, whose thoughts were written all over his face. But since he was already drowning in work-related stress because of my second brother, he might actually resign if he had to take me on as well. That would naturally lead to Leo becoming the Commander—which was also an unpleasant thought.

My eyes snapped shut at the vision of Leo telling the other members how “angelic” and “cute” his little brother was. It was a terrifyingly realistic imagination.

Soon, the Commander of Lucberon, who would be my direct superior, arrived.

“I’m late.”

The knight, who bowed politely to Spellman, looked at me and grinned. Larit Serios was the only woman among the four Knight Commanders and the youngest of them all.

Her dark auburn hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that reached her shoulder blades, and her sun-kissed skin complemented her lean muscles perfectly. Her green eyes sparkled with vitality. Her overall impression was one of cheerfulness.

Her personality seemed consistent with her looks; unlike the other two commanders who pretended not to hear Spellman’s hints, Serios treated me like a subordinate from the get-go. She laughed boisterously, suggesting the squad go for a drink even before the official commissioning ceremony. I stayed quiet, playing the part of the modest recruit.

It took quite some time to escape the clutches of the three chatterboxes and the one uncomfortable presence. I walked out feeling utterly drained. The Vision Commander, who had hit it off with Serios, booked a tavern with Spellman. Fortunately, I managed to excuse myself on the grounds that I wasn’t an official knight yet. Kishiar Tessa followed the two silently. I suppose one needs that kind of patience to serve directly at the Crown Prince’s side.

Outside, it was still bright. The sun was high in the sky, yet they were already talking about drinking. It seemed they intended to spend some time indulging after living with all their desires suppressed for so long. The change in my master, whom I once thought was strict and relentless, was fascinating.

The garden was full of flowers that would show their most beautiful forms for just one season before vanishing. But I didn’t have the luxury to pay them any mind. My only wish was to enjoy my brief period of unemployment before starting work as much as possible.

The roses in full bloom were certainly beautiful, but their scent was overwhelmingly strong and not entirely pleasant. I took a short breath and exhaled slowly, quickening my pace. Just then, a slight dissonance caught my attention. A bush rustled, independent of the wind’s direction. My hand habitually went to my waist, but it came up empty as I hadn’t yet been permitted to carry a sword in the palace. Realizing this late, I clenched my empty hand into a fist.

I hadn’t had a sword during every fight. I had only asked Spellman for swordsmanship, but as if he knew my true purpose, he taught me how to survive in extreme situations. In forests and mountain ranges, I had faced monsters with branches, stones, and sometimes my bare fists.

The presence was very small and cautious. I held my breath and prepared for whatever was about to jump out. Tension coiled in my calves. The sound of footsteps on the ground was lighter than a child’s, but it was unlikely a child would be this adept at hiding their presence. Furthermore, the estimated size was very…

I lowered my gaze further. Round eyes were staring up at me. A tail swayed elegantly.

Wait, isn’t this situation a bit familiar?