CH 21

The Royal Knights of Heineken consisted of two orders: the first order led by Juniper Hendrick, the eldest son of the House of Hendrick, and the second order led by William Hogarth. The first division, responsible for protecting the emperor and his immediate family, used the training grounds to the east of the castle, while the second order, responsible for guarding the gates and walls, used the training grounds to the west of the outer castle.

Since the Lindbergh siblings relied on the outer castle for their training, they became familiar with the second order naturally. Particularly when Princess Leia received permission from the Crown Prince to train with the second division, and the Prince appeared more often on the training grounds to do his routine and became closer to them as a result.

At first, the knights were not fond of the Omega prince, who seemed to emit a pleasant scent.

But they quickly became accustomed to his easygoing personality and friendly way of speaking.

His behavior, such as stopping to wipe sweat with his shirt before he could make it halfway round the training ground or wiping an apple that fell on the ground on his shirt and eating it straight away, was nothing.

When the knights gathered in groups of three or five to rest, he would shoot a look asking to join in next to them and if they even spoke a word, he would be happy and ask questions.

“He is very careless.”

The captain said that this was the royal palace, so the prince could act like that, but Belfry thought that he should be even more careful because this was the royal palace.

Even though the knights were recruited based on their abilities alone, there was still a high percentage of Alphas.

Especially for the children of those low-ranking nobles, joining the Knight Order was considered their first gateway to political appointment.

They were young, full of energy, and had no mate.

Belfry decided that he needed to give the prince a warning.

“So, you’re saying that he is very careless, but could you tell me exactly what he is reckless about?”

“Have you heard anything about the education the Lindbergh royal family receives, Young Lord Hendrick?”

Belfry shrugged at the sudden question from the vice-captain.

There were many subjects in their education.

Continental Common Language, History, Politics, Economics, and Magic Usage. Identification and purification of magic stones, as well as formula input.

However, none of these subjects seemed to have been taught to the Lindbergh siblings.

While Leia Lindbergh’s intelligence was innate and the result of her studies, it was unclear where Carl Lindbergh’s knowledge came from.

“Just the other day, one of the knights suddenly collapsed from breathing difficulties. We’re running out of emergency magic stones, and it was quite a distance to get to the main castle…”

The vice-captain whispered to Belfry as if he were about to reveal a big secret.

Wipe your nosebleed or wash it off.

As Belfry stepped back, the vice-captain, looking somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head, but was quickly interrupted by the captain.

“Prince Carl Lindbergh came just in time and asked him to lie down properly, then demanded that we bring him a paper bag and asked him if his chest or head hurt. Anyway, he was as good as a doctor that he regained consciousness quickly.”

The two seemed restless and eager to say something.

“I’ve never heard him learn emergency treatment.”

To the surprised Belfry, the captain and the vice-captain shook their heads as if to say that was not all.

“In addition, during training, when a beehive was disturbed and chaos ensued, he calmly walked through the soldiers and removed the stingers and calmed the knights down by using clean water and cold ice for treatment.”

On that day, the vice-captain whispered that there were about three or four young knights who were smitten with the prince to the point of lovesickness.

They also shared about how he helped other knights who fell ill with fever, or tied an elastic knot on a sprained leg to ease the pain.

Before long, the knights surrounded Belfry and began telling anecdotes about the ‘moving story maker1, Carl Lindbergh.’

Apparently, the Crown Prince, who still wielded a sword, was no longer interesting to them.

Belfry tried hard to keep a straight face, unable to believe what he was hearing.

Who on earth was this ‘Carl Lindbergh’ that they spoke of?

“For a man who can’t even wield a sword, he knows a thing or two about good physical exercise.”

At this point, Belfry was sure that the prince’s mere existence was part of Lindbergh’s conspiracy.

At nineteen years old, how did Carl Lindbergh learn to administer emergency treatment after spending half his time torturing or dressing up?

Belfry felt a growing sense of alienation from the prince, especially after seeing his impeccable eloquence.

The knights gathered like a flock of clouds and began to chatter.

The captain thought today’s training was ruined but didn’t stop it.

“His Highness the Crown Prince may not be like that, but when the prince talks to us here, he sounds just like our elder brother.”

“Last time, he asked me to recommend a good pub in the capital.”

“What? Did he ask you too? He asked me as well.”

The two knights engaged in a subtle war of words. At that moment, another knight slapped his thigh.

“Oh, what was it again? You have to get recommendations from multiple people to call it a ‘good resto.‘”

“Good resto?”

Belfry tilted his head in confusion at the unfamiliar term, and a knight excitedly explained.

“He said that ‘good resto’ is the short term for a delicious place to eat.”

Belfry couldn’t understand why anyone would go out to eat when they had the best chefs in the country.

“Is it because the food in the castle is not tasty?”

When Belfry asked, the knight shook his head.

“That’s not it. Sometimes he craves the stimulating, hearty portions.”

Since when did the prince eat a lot of food?

He couldn’t remember ever seeing him eat, but Belfry guessed the prince had a small appetite, judging by the fact that his wrists were thin enough that it can be held in one hand by the Crown Prince.

Belfry muttered that it made no sense, but the knights chattered excitedly.

“Apparently, the food in the palace is too bland.”

“…bland.”

The head chef responsible for the knights’ meals would jump up and down if he heard that.

He believed that every ingredient had a mysterious power, and every time he cooked, he claimed it was magic.

“Ah, he also asked about that. About how much the initial costs are to settle in the capital and what the labor costs are.”

It was information that made Belfry’s ears perk up.

The Prince, born and raised in Lindbergh Kingdom and would spend his life in Heineken Palace, was inordinately curious about life outside the castle.

Belfry urged the knight to tell him more details.

And unfortunately for Carl Lindbergh, the Crown Prince, who overheard the conversation, was completely focused on this side.

“I told him that the best land to settle on was outside the capital, rather than in the city. When he asked if it was possible to pay in installments, I introduced him to my uncle, and he was very pleased.”

The vice-captain, Allen, smiled proudly.

The way the prince’s face lit up with excitement was so beautiful that it tugged at his heartstrings.

“Oh, you mean there? The place by the river? I’m from there too, and it’s such a nice place to live.”

“Isn’t the land on Count Hoegaarden’s territory more fertile than there?”

“The Prince said he likes the peaceful countryside and the smell of people, so I recommend the territory of Viscount Thomas in the west…”

“Prince Carl Lindbergh is trying to start a business?”

Blood drained from the faces of the chattering knights and the listening Belfry.

It was because the Crown Prince with piercing eyes intervened.

Representing the knights who briefly became mute, the vice-captain awkwardly laughed and replied.

“That seems to be the case. Making bread or something. Hahaha.”

That damn bread!

The Crown Prince, unable to hide his anger, clenched his fist and left the drill hall.

“Please refrain from talking about anything concerning the prince.”

Belfry warned the captain as he chased after the Crown Prince.

Even though he instigated it himself.

Although it was unfair, the startled knights faced the Crown Prince’s back and made a military salute.

Unaware of what the knights had been talking about, Carl Lindbergh was arguing with Leia.

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Why are you being so stubborn, sister?”

Leia’s maid, Janis, and Marco, stood behind their respective masters, at a loss for words, while Elizabeth anxiously paced back and forth, whimpering.

“Why bother learning how to ride a horse and go through all the trouble? It would be better for me to just go.”

“I was the last one to confirm the location of the Royal seal. And it’s more dangerous for you to go, sister.”

The reason for their argument was simple.

Leia suddenly opposed Carl’s plan to go to Lindbergh.

Despite the fact that it would be better for Leia to go rather than him, Carl insisted on going, causing Leia to reach her breaking point.1

It makes a lot of impressive stories when someone does a lot of good behavior (deeds).