I Returned As the Governor of the Country That Abandoned Me

23 – The knight the servant is looking at

[There is a gathering of knight servants nearby. I will visit Her Highness for a while, you stay there.]

These are the words that His Excellency left me behind. I walked slowly and headed for the place His Excellency told me about.

It is a sparring ground prepared on one side of the imperial palace. I heard from an article that it was a place to relieve the tension of the servants before the swearing-in ceremony.

When I entered the arena, I could see hundreds of people wielding swords, training themselves, or exchanging conversations.

Those who, like me, dream of becoming knights. Although they were the ones who grabbed the sword earlier than me, they wished they had practiced harder than me, but it seemed like they were never less.

As I enter the arena, people who glanced at me start to mumble. From seeing my face to the family crest on my collar.

Leave behind those who gave me countless eyes, I started training in a place prepared in the corner. Because I had no one to exchange swords with, and no one to talk to.

How many times did he swing his sword like that? It was then that some groups started coming towards me.

“Are you the first seed?”

“This is the coat of arms of the Robertaine family, right?”

Those who approached me started talking to me. Before long, the eyes of the people around me poured into me. Oh, he told me what to do at a time like this.

“Hello. My name is Ariel, the girl, the servant of the knights of the House of Robertaine.”

“Ah.. You were a commoner.”

When I introduced myself to them as I had learned from Your Excellency, voices mixed with pity began to emerge from their lips. Commons. Something unknown emanating from that word is what keeps them away from me.

“Kuhm. So? Who is the knight who made you his servant? Judging by the pattern on his clothes, he looks like a knight from the Robertaine family.”

After confirming my identity, they started asking about the family I belonged to. This is a kind of exploration game. A kind of ordering that checks if the knight you serve is superior to the knights of the other party.

“This is Knight Aran von Robertein.”

“… “

I confidently answered their question. The name of the one who accepted me as a servant. I proudly shouted out with pride, but it didn’t seem like it to them.

After hearing His Excellency’s name, they didn’t continue to ask me questions like before, but started to keep their mouths shut and be silent.

“Who…?”

Soon after one person opened his mouth, the people around him also began to hum.

“Didn’t I say that Ian von Robertein was a knight?”

“Isn’t it? He has never received a seed.”

At the same time, they started denying the person I spoke about. I couldn’t understand those who made a nonsensical expression.

“The name of the person who accepted the girl as a servant is Knight Aran von Robertein.”

So, I told them once again. The name of the person who received me is Aran von Roberteyn.

“The Ten Swords of the Empire..?”

“I don’t know about that, but I do know that you are the commander of the knights of the imperial family and the governor of the kingdom of Hailan.”

“Wow, Mr. Is that right?”

Did you finally start to believe my words? After confirming that my words were true, they started to mumble again.

“The knight who accepted you is Aran?”

It was then that a man’s low voice was heard in the midst of the crowd of people. His voice was so low that it could have been drowned out by this murmur, but his words were not drowned out and passed through my ears.

When I turned my head and looked in the direction where the voice came from, a man exuding tremendous energy was looking at me.

‘A strong person..’

Maybe… More than your Excellency. It was the first time I had received such energy since the first time I met His Excellency.

“You’re not lying, are you? Looking at the pattern on the clothes, it seems like the Robertaine family is right.”

He approached me in an instant and started to look at me while turning his head here and there. His gaze was extremely unpleasant, but I was overwhelmed by his spirit and couldn’t do anything.

However, it seemed that this was not just my problem. Because all the other seeds around me also froze.

‘When in front of me…’

Obviously, I remember that the distance between me and him was quite different. However, in the blink of an eye, he had narrowed the distance to this point.

And then, an unidentified man pulled out his sword and swung it at me. Instinctively, I too drew out my sword and swung it, but my sword just cut through the air.

“Hmm. The way you wield the sword is similar to that guy, though.”

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At some point, he moved behind me and continued talking while clicking his tongue.

“That guy. Didn’t you just bring me to see your face? Your face looks smooth.”

After hearing his words, I could only stand still without any refutation. The spirit he exudes is also spirited, but maybe I was thinking that way too.

I don’t know the skills of my peers. Ever since I became a squire, the only person I’ve wrestled swords with, Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, is the only Imperial Army stationed in the kingdom.

‘Maybe this person is right.’

There is no way a strong person like that would not recognize my talent. If I really have talent, there is no way that person will not recognize my talent that His Excellency recognized.

That’s why I started to have such doubts. So, that person might be right.

“It’s been a while, senior.”

Soon, a man’s voice came from behind me. When I turned his head to look up, His Excellency was standing behind my back.

It was at that time that a warm hand was placed on top of my head, which had shrunk a lot.

“Go back.”

I had been thinking about this man just in case, but the moment this man’s hand was placed on my head, those things disappeared for a long time as if it had never happened.

Extremely warm and big hands. I liked this hand resting on my head.

.

.

.

‘Aragorn von Yousteni.’

Definitely, why is the strongest man in this empire with Ariel? I have such curiosity, but I shouldn’t try to understand that man. That man’s actions all stem from his own curiosity.

So I too was sold to the empire by that man’s hands. At the time, the man who asked the queen to sell me to the empire was this man. Of course, it wasn’t long before he lost interest in it, so he threw it away as he pleased.

“Kid. Hey, is this your seed?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Huh..! That snarky guy was called the Ten Swords of the Empire, and now he’s even brought in a seed!”

Aragorn speaks with a chuckle. I quietly stood in front of Ariel and put a barrier between him and her.

The Ten Swords of the Empire. It is a sentence that refers to the 10 members of the Empire who can manifest the world of images, and shamefully I am also called that way.

This man standing in front of me is, of course, the strongest among the ten. He is the only man who has been given the title of One Sword (一劍).

“That guy was also raised by me. How about it, don’t stay with him, come to me. I will raise you.”

Soon, his gaze began to turn to Ariel behind me.

This man must have noticed too. The talent of a girl named Ariel. Seeing Ariel even holding a sword in his hand, he’s already convinced.

“Even, I’m serving His Highness, the 2nd Prince?”

There are many political implications in Aragorn’s words, but unfortunately, Ariel does not know the political situation of the empire.

“The girl is a knight squire of the Robertaine family..”

It was at that time that Ariel, who had been silent all by herself, opened her mouth. Even in this situation where countless people’s eyes were focused, Ariel opened his mouth without hesitation.

At those words, the expressions of the other servants around them began to be colored with astonishment. Ariel had rejected the offer of the best knight in the empire. It’s understandable to make such a face.

“Oh.. This is your last chance, maybe, to change your life.”

“Your Excellency has already changed the girl’s life.”

Despite Aragorn’s pressure, Ariel did not hesitate to open his mouth and follow his words. Just, he follows his convictions.

Seeing her like that, I nodded my head in satisfaction. Belief is complete only when it is not shaken under any circumstances. Even in the sweet temptation, in the pressure that seems to suffocate, even in the moment of life and death.

Most people who don’t have faith would have quickly accepted his proposal. However, Ariel was already a girl with convictions, and her convictions never wavered.

When you return to the mansion later, let’s praise her for her unwavering faith. The servant’s loyalty has been confirmed once again.

“Is that why you declined my offer?”

“Yes. Honestly, His Excellency doesn’t seem to have any talent for teaching, but,”

“… “

“She tends to hand over most of her authority to others because she doesn’t know it well,”

“… “

“Nevertheless, I am your sword.”

“… “

I wanted to say a word to Ariel, who looks at me and speaks, but I couldn’t bear it. Because her two purple eyes looking at me were shining brightly, as if asking for praise.

I see. After I came to the Empire, I found out what she thought of me.