Since it was still early, the Knights' building was quiet when Ren entered. A few knights who had come in before work to train were already there. Ren paused for a moment to watch them before stepping onto the training grounds. One knight turned at the sound of someone approaching, then widened his eyes and saluted.
"Commander! You're here!"
"Huh? Oh, Commander!"
Once one of them acknowledged him, the other knights turned and greeted him as well.
"Training?"
Ren grinned and lightly patted the knights on their forearms. Though they observed proper etiquette, they welcomed him with easy familiarity.
Ren Cassius had originally been a commoner, and no matter how great his achievements or how outstanding his skill, he would never have been qualified to serve as Commander of the Imperial Knights. Not if he hadn't been the bearer of the Mark of Annihilation. Ren was the first bearer of the Mark of Annihilation to appear in several hundred years, and he was currently the greatest swordsman on the continent, expected to manifest his aura within a few years.
That was why there had been plenty of opposition when he was appointed Commander of the Imperial Knights, though no one had a legitimate reason to object. They had no grounds to oppose him, but naturally, the proud nobles had no intention of serving under him.
From his very first day in office, Ren Cassius had subdued the knights who boycotted him by refusing to participate in training—all through his own skill.
Not only was there no one who could defeat him, Ren was also a swordsman who wielded a massive greatsword. The sight of him handling that huge, heavy blade as easily as a branch had a way of setting something alight in the hearts of men. He was as sharp as a blade and possessed a true soldier's spirit when it came to his duties, yet he wasn't authoritarian. In private, he approached people with warmth and an easygoing familiarity. That alone was more than enough to earn the knights' admiration.
"Commander, switching to a longsword like you told me has made the blade a little easier to handle, but after extending my swing fully, I can't bring it back quickly enough."
"You mean what you were just doing? Your elbow flares out when you retract the sword. After turning your wrist, pull it in quickly, starting with your elbow and drawing it toward your body. That's it."
Ren immediately corrected the knight's stance on the spot. He had started learning swordsmanship with someone's patronage, so unlike others, he hadn't been able to train with a good instructor or quality equipment. He had reached his current level by studying and practicing on his own. As a result, his understanding of the body and of the sword was bound to be exceptionally deep. Even without having received a proper education, that was precisely what had allowed him to become such a good teacher.
Many knights within the order thought of him as their master. There were also many young knights who had become knights because they wanted to be like him.
In just a few years, he had completely won over the Imperial Knights.
After watching the knights train for about an hour, Ren checked the time and entered the commander's study. He had only been gone for two days, but a mountain of paperwork had already piled up on his desk.
"...Hmm."
With his lips pressed tightly together, Ren let out a sigh-like breath, rolled his neck once from side to side, and sat down to review the documents. Adjustments to the Knights' patrol schedule, a review of new applicants, requests for support from the eastern territories, and more. Because his time had unexpectedly grown short, his hands moved quickly.
And yet, every so often, they faltered and stopped. Just as when he slept, Ren generally didn't let his mind wander while working. He focused on what was in front of him. Once it was finished, he moved on to the next thing. That was all.
But today, other thoughts kept intruding.
Her tired face. Her smile, soft and relaxed. The Grand Duke of Edelhardt calling her by her nickname as though it were the most natural thing in the world, with Archel standing beside him. Thoughts like those.
For now, all he could do was wait for the information guild to finish its investigation, but whenever it concerned Archel, very little seemed to go the way he wanted.
Ren lifted his eyes from the documents and stared blankly into the air for a moment before lowering them again. There was nothing he could do right now. He had to wait until next week. Even as he repeated that to himself, irritation stirred within him. One of the things Ren hated most was waiting. Being unable to move and having to wait. Having nothing he could do. Whenever that happened, his fingertips began to itch faintly. He wanted to grip the hilt of his sword.
With a bang—
"Huh? Commander?"
The person who entered as naturally as if no one were inside widened his eyes when he saw Ren. It was Sir Hesen, the deputy commander.
"You're here early! What about Your Majesty's escort?"
"I'm leaving now."
When he saw Hesen, Ren gathered the remaining papers and rose from his seat, taking only a few documents with him.
"You handle the rest."
"What? No, Commander, the approvals—"
As Ren picked up the cloak draped over his chair and started walking, Sir Hesen hurried after him. Ren merely waved a hand and held out the papers he was carrying.
"Here. I've taken care of everything necessary."
Hesen accepted the documents and skimmed through them, his eyes widening again as he looked at Ren. When had he finished all this?
"I'm going."
"Yes, Commander."
As he walked down the Knights' hallway, Ren ran his hand over the pommel of the sword fastened at his waist out of habit. After leaving the Knights' building and entering the main palace where Archel was, he checked the buttons of his dress uniform and the pin on his cloak for no particular reason. Everything was as neat as usual.
When he arrived in front of Archel's room, he heard the attendants moving around inside. Then he heard footsteps gradually approaching the door. Ren took up a position beside it.
Click—
The door opened, and Archel stepped out. She wore the same perfectly composed face of the Empress she always did. Verosa and the attendants streamed out behind her. When Ren quietly fell into position on her right, Archel gave him a slight nod.
"You're here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Verosa recited the day's schedule and all the pertinent matters of business, while Ren quietly followed behind. The same interval as yesterday, the same distance.
Ren watched her work from right beside her again today.
Archel receiving reports from the nobles. Archel rejecting an approval document with one eyebrow raised ever so slightly. Archel's lovely voice, clear and rolling like the sound of pebbles. Even the hand that brushed back her falling hair was beautiful, as was her forehead...
Ren stared at her absently, following the flow of his thoughts, until he suddenly came to his senses and straightened his posture. He withdrew his gaze. He was escorting her now. He was on duty.
It was around lunchtime when Verosa handed her a letter from beside her.
"Your Majesty, another letter has arrived from House Edelhardt. It's about coordinating your luncheon schedule—"
"Later."
Archel accepted it out of habit, but the moment she saw the crest, she handed it straight back. Her displeased voice and furrowed brow made her irritation obvious. Watching her, Ren felt his mood improve, though at the same time, he couldn't help wondering why.
"Your Majesty, you need to set at least a rough schedule—"
"I said I'd look at it later."
Archel's voice dropped a full note. Verosa fell silent.
Ren checked the emblem on the letter from the corner of his eye. The lily crest symbolizing House Edelhardt had been stamped in blue sealing wax. He saw Archel's hand tense and stiffen for the briefest moment as she took the letter. The others probably hadn't noticed.
She had been reacting that way since yesterday. Whenever Kael Edelhardt's name came up, whenever a letter from his family arrived, something in Archel responded ever so slightly. She was hiding it, but there were things she couldn't conceal from his eyes.
Ren wanted to know what lay behind the things Archel hadn't said.
The day's schedule continued. During lunch, Ren saw Archel close her eyes for a moment. Was she tired, or merely gathering her thoughts?
But Archel soon opened her eyes again and continued the conversation with a smile.
Watching the daily life he had never known was, in its own way, difficult. Working nonstop all day, then returning to the study in the evening. Once Verosa and the attendants withdrew, a quiet silence settled over the study, leaving only Ren and Archel inside.
Archel opened a document, then paused.
"Did you sleep well last night, Ren?"
Ren briefly wondered if it was a personal question, then answered with an, "Ah."
"...Yes, Your Majesty. There was nothing for you to worry about."
"...Good."
That was all. Archel lowered her gaze to the documents again. Ren watched her for a moment.
It was her way of asking. Whether he was overexerting himself because of the mission she had entrusted to him the night before.
Ren watched her back as she worked, then turned his gaze toward the window. Outside, the day was coming to an end.
Once next week arrived, the information guild would have its results. Who Sophia was, and how she was connected to House Edelhardt. He could report everything to Archel then.
Until then.
All he had to do was stand watch here. The quiet sound of Archel's pen reviewing the documents filled the room.