Chapter 100: Her Salvation

"Kid? Why did you stop?"

Mikael's query jolted Deon out of his daze and the young royal lightly shook his head as he walked on,

"It's nothing, Sir."

Or so he replied, but Mikael could tell that the boy was conflicted about something— perhaps that 'something' had to do with the old man they just saw.

'Based on the captain guy's story, I'm pretty sure he's the swordmaster who saved the kid from 7 years ago.' Mikael recalled their awkward conversation in the secret basement and inferred the old man's identity, 'As I thought, the kid wants to transfer to swordsmanship department...'

In the short time that they'd been stuck together, Mikael naturally came to know that Deon Hensworth, the third prince of the royal family descended from the blessed Spear Master, is a huge closet sword otaku.   

Stacked in his basement were dozens of wooden swords and torn practice dummies. And while the swords were in a sorry state from constant use, the prince's spear remained in a pristine condition inside its glass casing.

As they stayed in the secret basement to hatch the dragon egg and purify the dragon heart, Mikael watched Deon fiddle with the swords and imitate attacks he saw from dame Nora. However, even in Mikael's untrained eyes, he knew that Deon had no talent in swordsmanship— maybe even less than he had of spearmanship, but this might just be because he had no one to teach him the sword in the first place.

One night, out of curiosity, Mikael asked Deon, "Why don't you just tell your father that you like swords more than spears?"   

But the young prince's answer was quite unexpected. He said that a Heinken Royalty learning anything but spearmanship is considered blasphemous as countless generations believed that doing so is akin to throwing dirt on the blessing that goddess Kariyah bestowed upon the first king.

Hence, all members of the royal family are required to learn spearmanship. Most especially, the kings. Being an excellent spearman was considered the most basic requirement for a king candidate.   

"Hmm… so if you're not a spearman, you can't become the king? What the heck!" the absurdity of their custom made Mikael compare them with people in his past life, "Isn't this like that? when a family of doctors forces their children to enroll in medical courses so they can succeed the family hospital?"

At that time, Mikael gave up on persuading the boy since he liked the idea of becoming a king's guardian spirit—like Goddess Kariyah was to King Heinken I.

But now…

'We really should talk about this later,' Mikael thought as they approached Nora.

"DAMEE!!! ARE YOU OKAY?! HOW IS YOUR NECK WOUND?" Deon ran to his newly appointed knight along with Sir Finn.

"Thank goodness it's still intact!" Deon heard a relieved Finn whisper.

The young prince chuckled at the Almagi's unchanging behavior. Despite their difference in status, Deon thought of his two new subordinates as friends-- Although, apparently, such was not the case for the dame.

Nora knelt on one leg as soon as the prince stood before her.

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"My liege, I offer you this victory." She held up her golden brooch above her head and subserviently bowed, "I swear upon my life that I will always protect my master."

"I will be the shield to protect you from arrows and the sword to spill your enemies' blood… Even at the cost of my life."

Nora recalled the death threats that her new liege was under and thought to annihilate anyone who comes for him. As silently as possible. So that her master remains kind, pure, and innocent. The dame decided that this will be her atonement for her past sins.

"Thus, I proclaim my loyalty to your highness, Prince Deon Hensworth." Nora raised her head and reverently gazed at her liege.

Her master's life shall be her salvation.

Though initially taken aback at the sudden knight's oath, the young prince softly sighed as his lips curved into a weak smile. His turbulent emotions warred for dominance. He was extremely happy that he now had three people to call his own; Sir Mikael, Sir Finn, and Dame Nora, but in one corner of his heart, the young prince wondered,

'Is this really okay?'

As young and naïve as he was, Deon was fully aware that Finn and Nora were only with him because of Mikael. For one, Finn liked him for Mikael's brilliance while Nora liked him for Mikael's Apostle of Justice title.

'If I don't have Sir Mikael, do I not have any worth?' Deon depressingly thought.

It was in moments like these that the young prince's inferiority complex rears its ugly head. Deon remembered the time when his partner asked whether his eldest brother knew that people could change.

Sure, a lot has changed in the past two months that Deon had been contracted with Mikael. He was now stronger and more courageous than he had ever been. But his essence was still there—his inferiority complex was too deeply rooted that a mere two months could not possibly cure it.

'I have to find it… my worth.' The young prince steeled his heart in resolution, 'not something I was born with, nor something that was given to me. My worth should be something I decide and attain for myself.'

He then remembered the scene he saw minutes prior. His idol and savior--the captain of Crimson Knights' retirement and his mentorship in the royal academy's swordsmanship department.

' I want to go.' This thought ate away Deon's hesitation. It didn't matter to him if this decision removed him from the competition for the throne. In the first place, he never had any intention to engage in a bloody fight with his talented brothers. If anything, he would gladly support his eldest brother's ascension for he had the qualities of a wise ruler. Deon believed that the Heinken kingdom would flourish under the reign of King Avery Hensworth.

'Also, the throne is too burdensome that kings have basically no freedom.'

It was one of Deon's greatest wishes to travel the world with his friends. To see incredible sights while helping people along the way—just like his idol did.

'That's why… I must transfer to the swordsmanship department!'

--Chapter end--

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