A King is Born on the Road

The Knights of Tejas had been based in the mountainous region for some time, searching near the forbidden land.

Hayer asked Iris to think about where the monsters were, but she couldn’t see monsters crossing the boundary anymore.

Iris looked up at the gigantic ‘walking monster’ that had died leaning against a tree and was becoming a part of nature.

Hayer, the Knights, and even the Kawats guessed that the huge walking monster was probably the leader of the other monsters. Iris agreed with that to some extent.

After staying there for more than a month and no monsters appeared, Hayer decided that it would be enough without the entire Tejas Knights stationed there.

Taking into consideration the skills and friendships of all the Knights, he divided them into those who would remain in the garrison and those who would follow him. And it was time to set out to cut down the sacred tree in the desert.

A telegram came flying from the capital. It was a letter from Iris’s mother, Celios Lepos.

Hayer sighed deeply after reading the letter.

As he turned around, he ran into Iris, who knew that it was related to her and appeared like a ghost, making him flinch and step back.

“…I’m a person who is very sensitive.”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Her Highness Celios sent you a letter. If you don’t show up, my brother’s going to set up a substitute for the wedding.”

At the word substitute, Iris sounded nonsensical as she said.

“Do you think that’s going to work?”

“As you may know, there is no sage in the land of Luwan to confirm the paternity. Few people have met the real Iris Lepos.”

“……”

Hayer unintentionally brought his hand to Iris’s hair, which was like a jewel made along the night sky, and stopped. In that state, he continued to speak.

“Even if you find an illegitimate child of the Lepos family, it won’t be easy to prove that she’s Iris Lepos. Do you have the nameplate?”

“Yes.”

“For now, I think we should go to the capital before the substitute strikes.”

Hayer took the nameplate she carried.

It was a delicate and beautiful nameplate carved from hawthorn, just like the royal family’s coat of arms. This was the pride of the royal family, and it was also something Hayer stole.

Hayer said.

“It’s enough for now, but you can’t be sure. When Sid is dirty, he is very dirty.”

That was what Iris agreed with.

Hayer continued speaking to Iris, who nodded.

“Be careful not to lose it.”

“I will.”

“Then…”

Hayer returned the nameplate, and stepped back with his hands behind his back.

“Then, let’s head straight to the capital.”

“Are you going with me too?”

“If you don’t go to your brother’s wedding, you’ll be kicked out of the Asheri family.”

Iris smiled bitterly at his words.

Hayer read her expression as concern, and leaned down toward Iris, still with his hands behind his back.

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you run away the day before the wedding.”

“For what reason…?”

“Didn’t I tell you? My brother knows that I fell in love with you at first sight. You’re running away with me in an escape of love.”

Hating the mischievousness on Hayer’s face when he said that, Iris pressed his face with both hands and pushed him away.

In response to Iris’s actions, Hayer leaned back and pretended to be pushed.

He said it like a joke, but it wasn’t really wrong. This could be an escape of love.

Iris asked with a deep sigh.

“In the end… I couldn’t cure you. Are you still all right?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“…You’re not all right?”

When Iris guessed and asked back anxiously, Hayer shook his head quickly.

“It’s not like that, but I personally like that you’re running away from Sid like this.”

“What? You like it?”

“Isn’t that right? No one in his life has ever broken what Sid Lepos wants. You’re almost the first. You’re making me very happy.”

Iris burst into laughter at Hayer’s sincere words and nodded.

“I’m glad it seems to have an advantage.”

“In addition, it’s not to the point of recovery, but the wound isn’t getting bigger here, right? It definitely works.”

Hayer added an optimistic note.

“Even if running away is not feasible, there’s another way.”

“What way?”

“I request for a duel.”

Hayer’s tone and expression did not change at all, so she thought a positive story would continue this time. But it wasn’t at all.

Iris’s face immediately stiffened, but Hayer continued as if he were talking about something trivial.

“If I challenged him to a duel, Sid would never come forward. Instead, someone from the Royal Knights will be appointed as a fill-in.”

The largest and strongest knights in Luwan were by far the Royal Knights, led by King Eswa’s younger brother.

There were a huge number of people, but the captain and vice-captain’s skills were amazing.

The Royal Knights moved only under the orders of the King, and his direct descendant.

Of course, Iris was confident that Hayer was strong, and that he would win no matter who he fought with in the Royal Knights. However, the duel was accompanied by weapons, so it was impossible to know what situation would happen at any moment.

Iris didn’t want to think that far, so she turned with a rather firm tone.

“I’ll pack my things. Let’s get going.”

From the words she spat out, and was not good at putting on airs, it was clear that she didn’t want to hear the word ‘duel.’ So Hayer no longer brought up the topic of dueling.

* * *

Iris had quite a knack for packing, moving from the convent to the mountains here. And she didn’t even have that much baggage in the first place.

Meanwhile, Don, a member of the Knights of Tejas, eventually decided to stay in the Kawat village for Freya.

Don and Freya visited Iris before she left the garrison after getting ready to leave.

Don told her.

“If it wasn’t for the princess, I would have been abandoned by Freya. Thank you.”

“You would have reconciled in a minute. Since the relationship between you two is so tight.”

The corners of Don’s mouth reached his ears at Iris’s answer.

Next to him, Freya sighed shyly at the expression of his joy that couldn’t be hidden. Then she handed Iris the honey-filled bread.

“Eat on your way.”

“Thank you.”

Iris hugged the bag, feeling warm.

When she was about to return to the Knights of Tejas after saying her last goodbye, Freya ran to Iris, as if she had something left to say.

Over the past month or more, Iris has talked a lot with Freya. The most memorable thing when she left this place was Freya. Maybe that’s why she ran to talk.

“Iris.”

“Yes.”

Iris answered, and Freya said.

“I’ll go one day too, the capital.”

“……”

“It’s not because I don’t like it here, but because I want to learn more. I’m going to test my skills.”

Iris replied with a smile at her words.

“I see. I also want to test my skills someday, after hearing Freya’s words.”

Iris continued.

“Both of us will have a lot to say when we meet again.”

“There will be a lot. When we meet then…”

It was a life-threatening matter for a pagan to enter the land of Luwan. It might be difficult to meet again alive.

Still, Iris said with a smile.

“Should we, like the Knights of Tejas, replace greetings with jokes?”

Freya grinned at her words.

“It’s a strange tradition no matter how much I think about it.”

“I think so too.”

“Well, let’s do it our way, saying hello.”

“Yes.”

Iris’s eyes crinkled as she smiled, waving her hand.

“See you again.”

She thought it was different from when the Knights of Tejas said their last goodbyes.

Because they really will meet again.

Thinking so, Iris waved at Freya, who was waving back at her.

afterword

fucking loved the duel part