Raising the Princess to Overcome Death

Chapter 237

236. Childhood Friend - Fate

"I aimed to become a knight in the House of Count Simon. I pretended to be a wandering swordsman of native origin and took the entrance test. Fortunately, the test…"

Clatter.

“Dessert is served.”

Brian stopped mid-sentence as the woman from earlier brought out dessert. Rev pointed to the stack of steaming pancakes and asked,

“Did I order dessert? I don’t remember doing that.”

“It’s part of the course menu.”

Pancakes as part of a course menu? It didn’t quite fit.

However, since there was still room in his stomach, Rev nodded. The pancakes, made by mixing bread crumbs with milk and lightly frying them, were savory even without syrup.

But just as Rev was rolling the flat pancakes into a bite, he overheard voices from the kitchen.“Did you get paid?”

“Of course, I did. Didn’t I tell you? I said making cakes out of leftover breadcrumbs was a good idea.”

“What are you, a housewife? And what restaurant in the world serves pancakes as dessert after a full-course meal? If the customers get too full, they’ll be upset. Don’t make dessert on your own again.”

...I think I’m going to be sick.

But having overheard the conversation, Rev felt obligated to finish the food, so he forced the pancakes down. Brian resumed his story.

“The test wasn’t difficult. During a territorial skirmish with the House of Agnac, a few knights were killed, so they were looking to fill the vacancies. My plan was to be knighted and then get close to the count.”

“Hic… But it didn’t go well, did it?”

Rev washed down the mouthful of pancake with the last of his aperitif. Brian nodded.

“No… It was the day I was supposed to meet Gruenbaum Simon, the count. But unfortunately, there was someone there who knew me. A friend I’d met at the cathedral.”

---

"Hey?! Isn’t that you, Brian? Haha! It is! Long time no see, my friend. So, you didn’t make it either, huh?”

“Uh… Oh, yes, long time no see.”

“Hm? Do you two know each other?”

At Count Gruenbaum Simon's question, the young knight responded with a broad grin.

“Yes. We trained together as crusaders at the cathedral. I failed in the first round, but this friend stayed on... Congratulations, my lord. You’ve gained a skilled knight.”

“...”

Count Simon stared intently at Brian. Brian tried to remain calm, but there was no escaping the sharp gaze of the grand noble.

“You claimed to be a native, yet you’ve played a trick.”

A few days later, Brian was brought to his knees, battered and bruised. Realizing the plan had gone awry, he tried to escape but was caught.

Count Gruenbaum Simon tore up a letter he had received through the church’s communication system and spoke.

“You don’t resemble Baron Agnac, so you’re not ‘that one.’ Who are you? What’s someone recommended by Baron Agnac to the cathedral doing here?”

“...”

“Well, if you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. I’ll find out by interrogating the villagers of Agnac. Umberto, go and bring them here.”

“...Yes, Father.”

The square-jawed young man reluctantly replied. He glanced at Brian with pity before turning away, while Count Gruenbaum Simon clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Brian was certain he was as good as dead. But for some reason, his identity was never fully exposed.

Though Brian never knew, it was Umberto Simon who had concealed the truth. In his younger days, Umberto had been a kind youth who often visited Lady Agnes, who was held captive at the count’s estate, to keep her company.

Now, of course, he had become a cold-hearted nobleman, not unlike his father...

In any case, with Brian’s true identity unconfirmed, Count Gruenbaum Simon didn’t kill him.

In fact, the count had intended to kill him. However, Umberto had intervened, asking if it was really necessary to kill him, and had persuaded his father otherwise.

The count did, however, sever the tendons in Brian’s index fingers and thumbs, making sure he could never hold a sword again, and offered his son a piece of advice.

“Fine. I spared him as you asked. But watch and learn. See what comes of your cheap compassion.”

The count thought Brian would make an excellent lesson. After all, what harm could a knight who couldn’t wield a sword possibly do? But being a noble, he underestimated just how devastating it was for a knight to lose the ability to hold a sword, and Brian went into hiding.

Now, twenty years later, the undying desire for revenge was sharpening itself into a blade, ready to strike.

---

After finishing his story, Brian turned to the swordmaster, pleading.

“The House of Count Simon is conspiring with the Cross Church to do something sinister. The officials managing the Agnac estate have been replaced en masse with inquisitors from the Cross Church. On the surface, it appears to be under Count Simon's control, but right now… this is illegal. What’s more, the rightful owner of the Agnac estate is Baroness Agnes Agatha… Please, help me. If things continue like this, the Barony of Agnac will be erased for good.”

Rev silently organized his thoughts as he looked at the anxious Brian in front of him. The finger tapping on the table belonged to Rev.

It seemed that the Cross Church, which had spread its influence across the continent but held no real land, was trying to secure its own territory.

But this was clearly illegal.

It was more than illegal; it was an act that threatened the very foundation of the Frederick royal family, which ruled the Holy Kingdom of Jerome.

Rev had a good idea of who was behind this.

‘...Cardinal Michael is of royal blood. He was once the top heir but was never chosen.’

The prince, unjustly pushed aside, was now using the Cross Church's divine authority to challenge the royal authority of the Frederick dynasty.

In that case, this was actually a great opportunity for Rev! ─ He was momentarily elated but then felt a tightening sensation throughout his body. He couldn’t tell if it was fear or the weight of the world pressing down on him.

As he watched Brian, who sat with his hands clasped, waiting for the swordmaster’s decision, Rev suddenly realized how this man had ended up in such a state. He felt the cold threads of an oppressive force tightening around him.

The Lord God had killed Enen.

That naive child had been lured into being torn apart by Oantahu, and we were forced to witness it.

That was the beginning.

I came here to save Enen, but Lord God, you’ve made Sir Brian expose the Cross Church's misdeeds to me. You’ve trampled on this man’s life so cruelly just for that.

Rev realized that he, too, was nothing more than a toy, a puppet in the hands of the Lord God. Everything he had experienced so far had been part of the Lord God’s plan, and even Minseo’s and his own struggles were orchestrated by the Lord God.

Just like how water inevitably flows along a riverbed.

Rev burst out of the restaurant.

“H-Huh?” Brian exclaimed in surprise, pointing his limp fingers as Rev dodged them, shouting, “I’ll help you! See you tomorrow.” He tossed a handful of coins from his pocket to the waitress, who had shown interest in him, as payment for the meal. He couldn’t help but wonder if even her attraction to him was part of the Lord God’s scheme, making him feel nauseous.

He ran toward the setting sun.

Shoving aside pedestrians as he burst onto the wide plains, Rev finally vomited up the pancakes he had forced down.

“Haha… Hahahahaha!”

Rev, doubled over and retching, started to laugh. His situation was so absurd that he couldn’t help but laugh.

Was Saint Azura this despairing too?

If an omnipotent god governs everything in this world, if every event is part of the god's plan, then what do humans live for? What is left for humans?

Rev questioned, his thoughts spiraling into doubt and despair.

Was even my affection for Lena...

[Achievement: First Meeting with Lena - Lena has a high affection for Leo.]

..manufactured?

Rev collapsed to the ground.

As he sat there, his face buried in his hands, the vast plains, the indifferent wind, the green shrubs, and the insects surrounded him. It was the night of the Moon. The blue moon rising in the north contended with the setting red sun in the west, their colors blending in the sky.

Rev removed his hands from his face and gazed at the sky, now painted in a mixture of colors. He took a deep breath. After a long while, he chose to accept his fate rather than fight against it.

Challenging a god is impossible. Even the mighty sky changes its colors by the will of the god who governs the moon and the sun.

Yes. Perhaps I should be thankful. Thankful that I was made to love Lena and hopeful that there was meaning in the past cycles.

Rev realized what Prince Lean of Yeriel had once understood.

For Minseo, it’s a game, but for us, it’s life. For Minseo, it’s an {event}, but for us, it’s fate.

Rev rose to his feet.

He caught his breath under the now-blue sky and let out a long whistle. The sharp whistle turned into the rhythmic sound of galloping hooves.

[Achievement: Mount - Leo can summon a mount.]

A horse came running across the plains.

It wasn’t a monstrous warhorse, but an ordinary brown horse of average size.

Though not a legendary steed, it was a fast and sturdy horse. Rev couldn’t help but smile as he gazed into the horse’s eyes.

“Bante. It’s been a while.”

Whinny.

The brown horse, Bante, known for its many desires, rolled its eyes. Sensing Rev's troubled mind, it licked his cheek.

Noticing the well-crafted saddle on Bante's back, Rev patted the horse and mounted it in one swift motion. The swaying gait of the horse lifted his spirits, and he turned Bante in the direction he needed to go.

The blue Moon lit the path ahead for Rev and Bante.

*

“Commander! Something terrible has happened. The black warhorse in the stables is missing…”

“Don’t worry about it. Get everyone ready. We’re leaving immediately.”

As soon as Rev returned to the count’s mansion, he ordered his disciples to prepare for departure. Now that he knew the full story, there was no more reason to stay, and he had a plan for dealing with Count Simon and Cardinal Michael.

The Cross Church was slowly attempting to engulf the Holy Kingdom of Jerome. There was no need for a foreigner like Rev to intervene directly.

Although Rev and his disciples bore the mark of holiness, Rev set his sights on Lutetia.

“Are you leaving already?”

He informed the steward who had rushed out in the middle of the night that it was time to depart, and they left Count Simon’s estate. Rev then sought out Brian, who was nervously lingering around the inn.

“I’m going to seek out this country’s king. I’ll support you, but you must be the one to testify against the Cross Church’s illegal actions.”

There was no reason to refuse. Tears welled up in Brian’s eyes as he gratefully agreed and joined Rev. The horse Rev had ridden earlier became Brian’s mount.

As they journeyed toward Lutetia, they stopped by a small village near the Barony of Agnac. This was where Brian’s home was located.

The house was modest, reflecting the difficulty of maintaining it with his damaged hands.

Nevertheless, Brian had married a good woman, and they had found respectable matches for their two daughters. It was only after fulfilling his role as a father that Brian had sought out Count Simon for revenge.

Rev promised Brian’s wife that he would help her husband achieve his revenge. He then broke down the gold ingot he had taken from Count Simon and handed it to her.

Though she initially refused, once she learned that the gold had been taken from Count Simon, she accepted it. She said she would divide it among their daughters, who hadn’t been given much of a dowry.

After sharing a simple but hearty breakfast, the twelve men and one woman set off to the east.

By the time they arrived in Lutetia, it was autumn, with half of the leaves already fallen. Rev sensed that Leo Dexter and Lena Einar were very close.

The two were in that city.

However, Rev didn’t enter Lutetia. Instead, he waited until the weekend and then led his disciples and Brian to a small mountain south of the city.

Prince Cleo de Frederick of this kingdom was known to hunt on that mountain every weekend. Rev intended to request an audience with the king through the prince…

But as the holy-marked individuals approached, the crusaders and royal guards escorting Cleo de Frederick drew their swords. Just as tensions were rising, Brian suddenly rushed forward and shouted.

“L-Lord Lloyd!”

“…Who are you?”

“It’s me! Don’t you remember? I’m Brian. I was an apprentice knight in the House of Agnac before I left to become a crusader at the cathedral…”

The royal guard with a large scar running across his right cheek and lips lowered his sword.

His blue eyes marked him as Lloyd.

He had abandoned the name ‘Agnac’ and had become a royal guard serving the Frederick royal family, sharpening his blade for revenge as the last heir of the House of Agnac.

“Shh!”

Lloyd covered Brian’s mouth, chastising him for his recklessness. But then, Prince Cleo de Frederick asked in a low voice,

“Sir Lloyd? What is going on here?”;