Chapter 24

Another day passed, and just like that, the time came for Caron and Leo to depart for the capital. As a result, the morning at Azureocean Castle was particularly busy.

"Have you checked the tailcoats the young masters will be wearing?" one of the household servants asked.

"Yes, we have," came the reply.

"And the formal attire for the audience with His Majesty?"

"Yes, I have checked them thoroughly!"

The grandsons of the duke visiting the capital would be no small affair. Apart from their attire, many other things had to be prepared. Visiting the imperial palace required ample gifts, so several of the household servants would be accompanying them to the capital. They were needed to transport the clothes and gifts. And among them was a new addition.

"Young Master! Thank you so much for changing your mind. I will do my utmost to serve you well!" Urhan, the new servant of Azureocean Castle, declared fervently.

Urhan was quite capable when it came to physical tasks, so Caron responded nonchalantly, "Do you know why I'm taking you to the capital?"

"I'm not sure, Young Master!" Urhan answered.

"I'm planning to throw you into the dungeon at the capital," Caron said flatly.

"...Y-Young Master!" Urhan stuttered in shock.

"Eh, your reaction is boring. Never mind, go help the others. You need to earn your keep, don't you?" Caron said.

Urhan, relieved to be dismissed, rushed over to assist the other servants.

"You really are evil, Caron," Leo remarked, shaking his head as he watched Caron pestering Urhan.

Caron merely shot him a sideways glance and asked, "But aren't you grateful?"

"For what?" Leo replied.

"Thanks to Urhan, I'm bothering you less," Caron pointed out.

Leo fell silent, realizing the truth in Caron's words.

He truly is a devil,

he thought. He couldn't help but feel a bit grateful to Urhan. Perhaps he would sneak Urhan some jerky when Caron wasn't looking.

As the two boys bantered while waiting, a man clad in armor approached them.

"Are you not nervous at all?" the man asked. It was Hans, the leader of the second squad, who had been assigned to escort the two grandsons on their journey to the capital.

Hans had a small bruise on his cheek from a duel with Caron the day before. Caron couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed it. He replied, "What's there to be nervous about? Just looking at your face melts away any tension."

Hans sighed in exasperation and said, "How many times do I have to tell you that I let you win? You can be really frustrating, you know?"

"Maybe you should put on some makeup. You don't want to show up in front of those Imps with a bruised face, do you?" Caron teased.

"Well, seeing how talkative you are, I'm certain you're not feeling nervous at all. That's good to see," Hans replied with a grin, studying the two young masters before him.

This mission was the first one Hans had taken on since his injury, and it was a crucial one at that. He was tasked with protecting the young masters during their journey to the capital. The journey to the capital was to be taken by train, so there likely wouldn't be any major problems there. The main part of their mission would be to detect and eliminate any threats once they arrived in the capital. Unfortunately, the Leston family had too many enemies to count.

Hans decided to set aside his playful tone and spoke to Caron and Leo in a more serious manner. "Before we leave, I need you both to promise me something. If we find ourselves in a dangerous situation, your lives take priority above all else. Our job is to protect you. Do you understand?"

Caron and Leo had trained with the knights, but they were still direct descendants of the Leston family. No one would dare threaten the Leston family, but they had been taught to always prepare for the worst. Hans wanted to make sure they understood their role in this mission. They were the ones to be protected, not the protectors.

The gravity of Hans' words didn't escape Caron.

"I get it, Hans. Even if the entire second squad is wiped out, I'll run without looking back," Caron replied.

"Thank you for saying that, Young Master Caron. You must remember and keep your word," Hans said.

"So even if you're begging me to save you with tears in your eyes, I should still run, right?" Caron teased.

"...Exactly," Hans answered with a hint of resignation in his voice.

"Got it. I understand completely," Caron said in his casual tone, as if to brush off the heaviness of the conversation. In truth, he didn't expect anything out of the ordinary to happen.

In the past, they would have traveled by carriage, exposing themselves to various dangers along the way. But now, they were taking the train. The tracks that the trains ran on were legally the property of the imperial family, which meant any attack on the train or the tracks would be considered an act of treason.

Caron pulled a piece of jerky from his right pocket and popped it into his mouth. He asked impatiently, "When are we actually leaving? If I had known we would be waiting this long, I would've gone to the training grounds for one more round of dueling."

"Here comes Master Fayle. It looks like he's come to see you off," Hans said.

Sure enough, Fayle was approaching from a distance. Caron had somewhat expected Halo to come personally to see him off, but it seemed the head of the family had other priorities.

With a broad smile, Caron greeted Fayle. "You're here, Father?"

"Yes. Did you pack everything?" Fayle asked with an affectionate tone.

In response, Caron lightly shook the scabbard of his sword, Guillotine. He remarked, "The only thing I needed to pack myself was my sword."

"The rest should have all been taken care of. Heinrich checked everything three times," Fayle replied, smiling as he gently ruffled Caron's hair. No matter what anyone said, Caron was still his beloved son.

"I've already spoken to your grandfather in the capital," he added.

"What did he say?" Caron asked.

"He scolded me, saying I should've told him a month ago. Haha... He's very fond of you, you know. He's probably busy right now preparing gifts for his grandson," Fayle answered.

Caron hadn't seen his maternal grandfather since before he came to Azureocean Castle. Recalling his grandfather's face, he smiled softly. Just like his parents, his grandfather was someone who showered him with unconditional love. The thought of getting to see him after so long lifted Caron's spirits.

"Just come back safely," Fayle said.

"Don't worry, nothing much will happen," Caron replied.

"And try not to get into too much trouble," Fayle reminded him.

"Hmm... That might be difficult... But I'll do my best," Caron said. He had originally planned to cause chaos in the capital, but hearing Fayle's earnest request made him soften his resolve.

Maybe just three incidents,

Caron thought.

This trip would mark the first time he officially stepped into the world of nobility. Three incidents seemed like just the right number to leave a strong impression on them.

"I'll contact you when I get to the capital!" Caron added with a bright smile.

Shortly after, Heinrich approached them, having completed the final checks. He said, "All the baggage has been loaded onboard. You may depart whenever you're ready."

It was finally time to head to the capital.

***

The train bound for the capital was made up of four cars in total. Caron, Leo, and Hans were seated in the first car, while the second car was occupied by the second squad of the Oceanwolf Knight Order. The remaining cars were for the servants and baggage that would accompany Caron and Leo in the capital.

Whoosh.

A low hum filled the cabin as the train's mana engine started. Over that steady noise, however, the sound of Leo's snoring echoed through the car. Caron glanced at his sleeping cousin and clicked his tongue lightly.

"Young Master Caron, you can sleep too if you'd like," Hans suggested.

"I'm fine. You should get some rest yourself," Caron replied.

"Are you planning to report me to the captain for neglecting my duty?" Hans asked with a smirk.

"Wow, Hans. You've gotten pretty sharp. You're like a completely different person from my first impression of you," Caron teased.

"Now you've got me curious as to what your first impression of me was," Hans said.

"If I told you, it would probably hurt your feelings," Caron replied.

Playful banter like this was one way the Oceanwolf Knights managed to relieve their nervousness. It was important to maintain a certain level of alertness, but being too tense could be just as dangerous as being too relaxed.

"When we get to the capital, you're going to be quite busy. There are several mandatory banquets you'll need to attend," Hans reminded him.

"People might start thinking you're my secretary," Caron quipped.

"If not me, who else would take care of you young masters? With such a packed schedule, you might not get enough sleep. It's a good idea to sleep while you can," Hans advised him.

"No matter how you look at it, this schedule is way too harsh for a growing boy," Caron complained.

"But as the grandson of a great hero, it's a duty you must fulfill," Hans replied.

Caron had already been briefed about the banquets they were required to attend in the capital. The most prominent of them was the imperial banquet that the emperor himself would host in honor of Caron and Leo. The event would be attended by the capital's most influential nobles, along with the key power players of the empire. It would be Caron and Leo's official debut in high society.

Ugh, I really don't want to go,

Caron thought

.

He recalled the imperial banquet he had attended in his previous life. Back then, it had been a thoroughly dull experience. The only person who had bothered to talk to him was Halo. Everyone else had ignored him because he was born a slave.

But things would be different this time. Now, he wasn't a knight who had once been a slave, but rather a member of the illustrious Ducal Family of Leston.

"Dueling would be more productive than wasting time at a banquet," Caron grumbled, making his disdain for such events evident.

"Are you not interested in meeting any young noble ladies? Thirteen is usually the age when one starts getting curious about the opposite sex," said Hans.

"Not really," Caron replied flatly.

The memory of the cold, disdainful stares he had received from noble ladies in his past still lingered. It wasn't a fond memory. He would rather spend that time practicing his swordsmanship or reading in the academy library.

"Hmm. Weren't you the one who mentioned wanting to become a troublemaker?" Hans asked with a teasing tone, reminding Caron of a drunken conversation they had shared.

Caron nodded and asked, "What does that have to do with attending banquets?"

"A proper troublemaker usually has a complicated history with women," Hans said.

Caron actually found that quite logical. He replied, "That's actually good advice, Hans. Now that I think about it, even Grandfather was quite the charmer in his teenage years."

"...I'll refrain from commenting on that," said Hans.

"I'll consider it, but no promises," Caron answered.

As they bantered with the sound of Leo's snoring as background noise, the conductor's voice echoed through the train car.

"We are about to enter the Thebe Autonomous Territory."

It had been three hours since they left the Leston Duchy, and the train was now entering Thebe.

"I've been here once before," Hans said as the conversation naturally shifted to their new surroundings.

Through the window, vast fields stretched out as far as the eye could see. Unlike the mountainous terrain of the Belrus Barony, this land was rich and fertile, seemingly on the brink of the harvest season with summer approaching.

"Thebe is much more prosperous than Belrus. The territory is vast, and more focused on commerce and industry than agriculture," Hans explained.

"It's also where the most money flows in the empire," Caron noted.

"That's right. In this place, money is power. They even commission the Oceanwolf Knight Order for major tasks from time to time," Hans added.

The Oceanwolf Knight Order didn't just take on jobs for money. There had to be a valid reason, like a threat to the empire such as a dark mage or a dangerous beast.

Other nobles were always wary of Thebe because they feared their serfs would flee to the wealthier territory. Many leaders were even cruel enough to tighten their grip on their people out of that fear. But despite those tensions, Thebe thrived, and there was a reason for that.

"The Thebe Autonomous Territory also pays the highest taxes to the imperial family. Their immense financial power allows them to influence central politics as well," Hans explained.

"And they're friendly toward us," Caron added.

"Indeed. Duke Halo is quite popular with the common folk," Hans remarked.

"Maybe after the official schedule, you and I could sneak off to—"

Before Caron could finish his sentence, a sudden vibration came from Guillotine, which had been resting by the train window. The sword hummed with an intense energy that instantly put him on alert.

Why did it react all of a sudden?

Caron thought.

From his first mission, he had a rough idea of what Guillotine was capable of. If his sword reacted, it meant trouble was imminent. It was a forewarning of some disaster.

"Why did you stop in the middle of your sentence?" Hans asked, noticing Caron's sudden silence.

"Hans, tell the squad to stay alert," Caron instructed. He then barked, "Leo! Wake up!"

Caron slapped Leo sharply across the face. Leo jolted awake and looked around, asking sleepily, "What's going on? Are we there already?"

"Just wipe the drool off your mouth and pay attention," Caron replied.

He decided to quickly assess the situation. They were on a moving train, and Heinrich had meticulously checked everything before they boarded. Detection magic had been used several times by the mages to scan for any threats.

It's not a betrayal,

Caron thought, ruling out the possibility.

The knights and servants accompanying them were bound to the family, and their own loved ones were staying behind at Azureocean Castle. No one would be foolish enough to jeopardize their family's safety by betraying the Leston family. The fleeting suspicion that perhaps his uncles' followers could be involved also crossed his mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly.

...No, that would be going too far,

Caron reasoned. Despite any tension, they wouldn't go so far as to sabotage a train.

With an internal threat ruled out, he focused on the most likely scenario.

Then, an external threat?

he mused.

It was highly likely that the threat came from outside the train. After Caron thought through the situation, he turned to Hans and urgently said, "Get the conductor to stop the train immediately. And contact the Thebe—"

Before Caron could finish his instructions, a deafening explosion rocked the train.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Boom!

Everything was thrown into chaos.