âHey, Wynn!â
Locke, who had finished his work as a knight (errands normally for full-fledged knights), called out to Wynn when he spotted him standing on the red carpet in the hallway with nothing to do.
Wynn turned around and waved upon hearing his voice.
Upon recognizing Locke, relief showed on his face.
âSo you finished your work?â
âAh, huh? Leticia-sama isnât with you?â
âCornelia-samaâs maid came, and just dragged her off. There should be another guide that will come butâ¦â
âThen you should wait a bit. Around here, there are places where lower cla.s.ses arenât allowed to enter.â
âOf course. Itâs my first time in a palace like this, I canât calm down.â
Wynn uneasily looked around him.
When Leticia was with him, he didnât feel as helpless as when he waited alone.
It was inevitable that the palace knights that stood guard here and there gave him looks of rejection.
Wouldnât anybody apprehend a suspicious person?
That thought crossed his mind.
In reality, they knew that Wynn was the Master of the Brave, and were merely observing him, now that the rumored person was before them.
âHowever, itâs just like you to come to the palace in your knight school uniform, when the princess invites you for tea.â
âI just donât have any other clothes. If I had them, I would have also worn them to that banquet. This is the most formal set of clothes I have.â
âIf thatâs the case, then why donât you borrow some?â
âIf I wore it, I wouldnât suit the clothes. Are you wearing the uniform of a full-fledged knight?â
âThatâs right. But since I am an apprentice knight, I donât have the insignia. As an apprentice knight, Iâm in charge of the miscellaneous errands.â
âThatâs so cool⦠Iâm jealousâ¦â
âIs he an idiot?â
Locke was truly amazed at his friend.
âThe things that are truly cool arenât these superficial garments, but the fact that a commoner without any political influence like you was invited to the castle.â
Not even the highest ranked n.o.bles get invited, much less other n.o.bles.
âYou dense fool! Notice it!â
It was Locke who was jealous of Wynn, who was looking at his garments.
Locke smiled wryly at the fact that his friend hadnât grasped the true amazingness of the situation.
âI wasnât minding the stares of the palace knights, butâ¦â
âIf they really thought you were a suspicious person, we would have been apprehended by now. Donât mind it.â
âPalace knights, huhâ¦â
Wynn looked at the palace knights standing close to him.
âI admire them. Though it may be impossible to be an Imperial Knight, I want to be part of the palace knights.â
âWell, it will be fine. Maybe you will become one. Rather than that, you might end up working your way up to the Imperial Guards.â
âIs that so?â
âWith the support of the princess and a dukeâs daughter, you could almost do anything.â
The Crown would want to tie Leticia the Brave to the country.
Rather, it would be convenient if Wynn was close by.
Up until now, it was difficult to get Leticia to leave Wynnâs side.
The problem was, there might have been n.o.bles who didnât find this arrangement amusing.
âSo the rumour that they would start accepting commoner knights is true?â
âI donât think that itâs because theyâre shorthanded. However, it is still hard to be a.s.signed to either the Royal Knight Order, or the Imperial Knights.â
âJust now, didnât you say that if it were me, I could even become an Imperial Knight?â
âWynn is special. Donât you remember that youâre the Master of the Brave?â
âReally? Even then, I would probably be a clerk or somethingâ¦â
âExcuse me. Please excuse me for being late. Locke Marine-sama, Wynn Byrd-sama.â
They heard a female voice carrying a hint of mischief, mostly likely the maid.
âI have been asked by Her Highness the Princess to guide you. This way, please.â
The two exchanged glances, then followed behind the maid.
The palace was a place completely distant to a commoner.
Unlike the people who only temporarily worked there, everybody was of a higher status than the two of them.
Still, Locke was used to interacting with eminent n.o.bles in high society, but to Wynn, who had no experience[1]Â he felt that this environment was suffocating..
In this solemn mood, the two silently followed the maid.
After they had been walking around the enormous palace for a while, they heard the sounds of several people laughing and chatting.
They must have been n.o.bles.
They werenât wearing the clothes of servants.
The youthful n.o.bles wore dazzlingly gorgeous clothes.
The maid stepped to the side of hallway.
Wynn and Locke likewise stepped aside.
Rather than pa.s.sing by them as one would expect, one of the n.o.bles stopped in front of the three of them.
âHey, I havenât seen those faces before. Miss Maid, who are these guys? New servants?â
âNo, they are Princess Cornelia-samaâs guests, Locke Marine-sama and Wynn Byrd-sama.â
âArenât they commoners?â
Upon hearing their names, the young n.o.ble frowned.
âCommoners? Why is Her Highness the Princess inviting commoners?â
Hearing the young n.o.bleâs voice, the other n.o.bles also cut in.
Locke clicked his tongue silently.
âWhat a ha.s.sle it has become.â
âWait a minute. isnât the Marine house a merchant house?â
There was a guy who knew him.
Locked stepped forward, bowing deeply.
âYes. I am the second son of the Marine House, Locke. Thank you for your patronage.â
âOh, your esteemed father even helps here.â
The twenty-something year old n.o.ble, whose body was as fat as a toad and whose head was as barren as a desert, held out his hand, having been a business partner of the Marine house.
âCount Elstead, it is good to see you.â
âYuck, his hands are sweaty⦠Grossâ¦â
Even while thinking negative thoughts, Locke merely displayed an artificial smile, cultivated since he was young, and returned the handshake.
He truly was a merchant to the core.
Even though he was not going to succeed the family business, he was still trained in the craft.
âThis is the son of the Marine family, Locke-dono. His father has helped our House out many times.â
âAlthough I may be inexperienced, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.â
Locke put his hand to his chest, while bowing his head according to etiquette.
In response, the n.o.bles haughtily nodded.
It appeared that Count Elstead, the fat, bald toad, had the highest status of all those young n.o.bles.
His companions were either Viscounts or Barons, or they held status equivalent to a baron, due to not being heirs.
According to Lockeâs vague memory, Count Elstead had a high ranking within the court, but was not affiliated with any of the major factions.
His pride was the resplendent estate in his territory.
Rumour had it that he enjoyed hosting banquets and feasts at his prided estate.
There was gossip about how his vices left him dest.i.tute, so he could only wear the same set of luxurious clothes.
Believing themselves to be the center of the world [2], they scorned those below them, and despised the weak.
Expectedly, one of them turned to Wynn.
âHey, and you? Tell me your name.â
âI am a Knight School student called Wynn Byrd.â
Trying to copy Locke, he bowed his head awkwardly.
âWhat? A commoner, huh.â
Elstead clicked his tongue and frowned.
He was unable to accept the fact that commoners could become knights.
He held a lot of pride in his social cla.s.s.
Locke looked coldly at Elstead.
Raised in a merchant family, he appraised Elstead and his lackey n.o.bles.
Since they mistakenly conflated oneâs status at birth, as a commoner or n.o.ble, with oneâs ability, continued transactions with him were profitable.
Locke only needed to say a word to his father, and these transactions would cease.
Even though they were merely a merchant house, the Marine House had that much power.
As somebody who wasnât going to be the successor of the Marine House, he wanted to avoid dealing with disadvantageous people, for his employment prospects.
âFor a commoner to become a knight cadet⦠what a sad world this has become. You know that this is the palace, right? This isnât a place for commoners, nor knight cadets. Scram.â
âPlease, wait a minute, Count Elstead. These people are the honoured friends of Her Highness the Princess, whom she had invited.â
âThe Princess?â
The n.o.bles all frowned when they heard the maid respond for Wynn.
âWhat is Her Highness thinking? One must invite people of a well-established lineage to the palace. What will she do if something happens?â
âIt is because Her Highness has spent so much time outside. If her tutor wasnât always beside her, I would be worried.â
âHey, you, Wynn or whatever youâre called.â
Acting as their representative, Count Elstead stood in front of Wynn.
âEven though you were invited by the Princess, and could visit the castle despite being a commoner, donât let it get to your head. Couldnât you have found some reason to refuse?â
âHey, hey, wouldnât it be impolite for a commoner to reject the princessâs invitation?â
While maintaining his false smile, Locke mentally threw in a tsukkomi[3].
âBut, since itâs an invitation from Her Highness the Princess, wouldnât it be impolite?â
Wynn replied in the same manner as Lockeâs retort.
However, Elstead still couldnât accept it.
His face reddened.
âJust see what happens if youâre this careless to royalty. You would be punished for lèse majesté[4], you b.a.s.t.a.r.dââ
He pointed at the dagger hanging at Wynnâs waist,
âThe only ones allowed to bring a weapon into the palace are aristocrats and the Imperial Guards! You should at least know this much!â
âNo, this is⦠â
âThat dagger is no problem, since we have examined it, and Her Highness has already given her permission.â
âThatâs not the point! Maids should shut up!â[5]
âWhat would we do, if something happens because we let some unknown guy bring a weapon with him?â
âPerhaps, this maid is alsoâ¦â
âWouldnât it be better to let the Imperial Guards know?â
The n.o.bles forcefully grabbed the maid, who had defended Wynn.
People started to notice the uproar that was occurring.
Some of the Imperial Guards had also noticed the commotion, and were making their way towards them.
It really turned out to be a bother.
Locke mentally clicked his tongue.
âIf it escalates, then Cornelia-sama and Leticia-sama should be called.â
Just as Locke thought to ask somebody to call those two thereâ
âWhat is this commotion?â
There stood Leticia, one of the people Locke was about to summon, and on her face, there was a smile that held a hint of anger.
AN: Over Obon week, there will be no updates. I apologize.
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I should have updated in commemoration of 10 million views, but I overlooked it⦠As we go through Obon, please share your thoughts.
(TN: guesslated the last AN⦠)
Translator Notes
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Iâm considering translating an extra Light Novel, just over the summer(s). I would set up donations, and then use them to buy a LN, which I try to translate over the summer. Or maybe, instead of an LN, I may try to translate a few more chapters of a slow manga (I would need more staff for thatâ¦).For now, Iâm gauging interest.
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I have to enjoy it enough to be able to motivate myself to translate it.
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