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Adrian Leonberger (3)
The knights looked at the prince, seeing that he had an ambiguous expression: neither smiling nor frowning. His hopeful words sounded good, but the knights’ faces showed that they did not know why he had, out of nowhere, gestured at his statues.
“Now you know?” the Crown Prince asked them in a whimsical manner.
What the hell? The question that appeared on the knights’ faces was the same; they were all in the same boat.
“Ah!” Carls Ulrich then exclaimed.
“Perhaps-”
He was about to say more when-
‘Chin!’
Someone grabbed his shoulder. It was Arwen Kirgayen, who quietly shook her head. A question arose on Carls’s face.
“Sure. I see.”
Instead of giving Carls a definite answer, Arwen instead spoke words of unknown import to the prince as she faced him.
The Crown Prince lowered his hand, and his face puffed out. But this expression lasted only for a while.
“Ha-am,” the prince soon yawned with a tired face.
“It looks like this is more excitement than his Highness is used to,” Adelia ordered the knights to depart as she stepped forward.
“How
”
Gwain frowned and tried to step forward, but as one, the other knights blocked him off with their backs.
“Then, your Highness, we’re going to step back.”
“Please rest in peace.”
The Crown Prince glanced at the knights with half-closed eyes and lay down on the bed. Then he fell asleep as if he had fainted. Adelia glanced at the knights, removing the carving knife and the statuette from the prince’s hands. The knights left the room with soft steps.
‘Shk!’
After the door was closed, Vincent Balahard looked at it with a cold face. Gwain, surrounded by knights, stood there.
“Gwain Gust.”
Hearing that frigid voice, Gwain could not stop his body from stiffening.
“How long do I have to bear your arrogance?”
“I-”
“The smell of alcohol reeks on you. How do you dare stand before his Highness like that?”
“I- I just
”
“What? Is your tongue hardened by the stench?”
Vincent’s kind face that he had shown before the Crown Prince was nowhere to be found. All that remained was the Winter Commander, whose gaze was as cold as ice.
“I’m just
”
In the face of such frosty energy and dignity, Gwain repeated the same words several times.
“I hate you. I hate your face, which always seems to belong to the most unfortunate person in the world. I hate your stubbornness which you couldn’t change after all this time, and the way your blasphemous eyes look at his Highness!” Vincent shouted at Gwain.
“I know you hate me, duke.”
“Yes. No, that’s fortunate. But you don’t know why I truly hate you.”
Vincent’s expression became even colder.
“The reason I really hate you is because of that sloppy attitude.”
Such levels of hatred and contempt were contained within his eyes.
“What is your use? What right do you have to make his Highness be staggered so by his surroundings? You are not serving with loyalty, you are not following your lord with respect. You just crawl around his Highness, heartless, like a phantom. Am I right?”
Gwain merely chewed his lips, faced with words of blame as sharp as a blade.
“Duke of the North.”
Arwen, who had hung back, stepped out.
“That’s enough.”
Vincent kept Gwain in his icy gaze and then turned around.
“When we meet again, I will have no more mercy.”
With those words, Vincent strode across the hall and left. Gwain, staring blankly at the other side of the hall, hung his head.
“I didn’t know. I really didn’t know how
 It’s just that-”
“Do not be mistaken.”
With a sigh, Gwain raised his head.
“I don’t want to hear any excuses,” Arwen, looking at him, said with an expressionless face. “I don’t think the Duke of the North is wrong.”
Gwain was a knight who had been under her command at least once, yet she looked at him indifferently, as if seeing a stranger.
“You need to be aware of your position.”
She did not once shout at him.
“If you can’t show the loyalty and respect that his Highness deserves, it wouldn’t be bad for you to change your affiliation. If you want, please tell his Majesty and let him reinstate the position originally given to you.”
Arwen didn’t even shoot cold glances Gwain’s way.
“Maybe that’s better for you and your comrades.”
She merely recommended it in a modest manner.
“Go back and tell your comrades—everything you’ve heard and seen. Consider it. How will you all behave in the future—make your position clear. Then come to me afterward.”
Facing words that sounded even sharper than Vincent’s, Gwain distorted his face into a grin. But in the end, he could say nothing and bowed his head. Gwain stood there for a long time, silently meditating, then suddenly turned around and left.
“But why did you interrupt me before?” Carls suddenly asked, remembering to as he stared at Gwain’s back.
“Weren’t you about to ask about his Highness’s hand?” Arwen asked, embarrassed.
“That’s right. I was about to ask if his Highness’s efforts to make carvings was part of his training to regain the sense he had lost in his hands.”
“So, I stopped you.”
Arwen grew silent for a while, then spoke again.
“He has lived fiercely for the past seven years, bearing a load not suitable for one of his age.”
Her gaze turned towards the door.
“I hope his Highness will no longer carry any burdens, but that is merely my desire and expectation.”
It was as if Arwen was looking through the door at the prince.
“But sooner or later, his Highness will have to bear a lot again.”
Her eyes deepened.
“No matter when that time comes, I just want him to stay away from reality’s fierceness for now. I want him to be calm.”
Arwen’s gaze was as hard as her nickname: Knight of Steel.
“I am prepared to do anything for this.”
**
A month had already passed since the crown prince started making statuettes. Surprisingly, the prince’s sculpting skills did not improve at all during that time. The crudeness of his work had changed little between the figure of Anne he had made a month ago and the unknown piece he had recently finished. At least, it seemed so to Adelia’s eyes.
However, the prince’s thoughts seemed different on the matter.
“Oh! This one turned out pretty well!”
The prince burst into admiration as he observed the statuette in his hand. It was an incomprehensible sentiment for Adelia, so she chose to keep her mouth closed. But her master did not leave her alone.
“Adelia. Look at this.”
She heard his excited voice. When she turned her head, she saw the Crown Prince looking at her while holding a warped figurine in his hand. His eyes were burdensome for her to meet, for they were filled with anticipation as if he was waiting for a compliment. Adelia couldn’t help but lower her eyes. But unfortunately, the overwhelmed prince couldn’t even notice the uncomfortable look that appeared on her face, and he started talking with excitement.
“Isn’t it the best I’ve ever made?”
She laughed awkwardly, and still couldn’t answer. Fortunately, the Crown Prince’s interest did not last long.
“It will be done soon.”
The prince again began to focus on his work, which was on the verge of completion. Adelia found it questionable that the chunk of wood before her nose, with its unclear form, truly was a work of perfection. She studied her master. Seeing the prince work away at his sculpture while humming made her feel so good, quickly improving her mood. Without knowing about it, a soft smile played upon Adelia’s lips.
‘Shk Shk’
The sound of wood being carved without a break was somehow peaceful. After being drowsy for a while, Adelia gave a natural yawn.
“All done!”
She was yawning with her mouth wide open.
“Oh! I made this one well.”
The Crown Prince offered his work for her admiration, his face filled with satisfaction. Looking at him, Adelia could not laugh or cry. It was her greatest happiness to see the Crown Prince laugh and chatter with excitement, but she believed he would soon ask her for comments, and her head already hurt. If Adelia was honest, this behavior didn’t suit her temper, as she had long ago grown used to the prince being grim. It was never clear to her what she should say in such a dilemma.
From the first, the other knights had disappeared like ghosts whenever the prince completed a statuette so that they could avoid such an uncomfortable situation. Then, when production of a new figurine started, they appeared as if they had never been gone, coming to check up on the prince. It was the same today. Normally, there wasn’t a single knight entering the room when the prince was on the threshold of completing his piece. Adelia waited anxiously for other knights to come.
“Adelia. How about this?”
But they did not come; the moment she had been dreading came first.
“Highness?
“How does it feel to you?”
“What- What kind of feeling are you talking about?”
“Don’t you feel like it’s
“I hear your Highness, and it seems like that
”
Adelia almost started to cry once more as she was faced with the prince’s repeated questions.
“What is that? This again?” It was the lord of Winter Castle who came to Adelia’s rescue.
“Oh! Vincent! Welcome back. Look at this. It’s the masterpiece of my life.”
“A masterpiece? What is that?”
“Uh
 a mercenary with dual swords who’s got some money troubles. Don’t you see it that way?”
“I don’t know if he’s holding two swords. I don’t know if it’s a person in the first place.”
Hearing Vincent’s words, the prince clucked his tongue.
“Is that so?”
He looked at Vincent as if he was a simpleton who knew nothing of art, which made the duke frown.
“No, you know what I think? It looks like goblin meat chewed on by orcs, let alone like a person.”
“Hah, it’s okay. That’s why I don’t discuss art with swordsmen.”
“If anyone sees that, they’ll think you can’t hold a knife.”
“I’m not a knife person. I can’t use knives.”
“
”
Vincent looked at the Crown Prince as if he was being absurd. It was clear that Vincent very much wanted to say something, but was awaiting the right time.
“Why? What?”
Of course, the prince didn’t care.
“All right, say it.”
“I don’t know if I will.”
“I’m not going to show you my art from now on, Vincent. I don’t know if I should show it anyway.”
“Either way is good.”
It was a childish conversation that one would never believe was taking place between the Crown Prince and Duke of a country, but it was nothing new to Adelia. It wasn’t as if the two of them had started arguing like this yesterday. Adelia laughed as she remembered the two of them bickering and arguing over who had the most kills to claim a banner.
As Adelia watched two men arguing, not acting like their ages and positions, the door opened.
“Well?”
Arwen Kirgayen entered and stiffened when she noticed the room’s bustling atmosphere.
“You’re good at it, Arwen!”
“If you are an impartial knight, you will be able to express your honest opinion in front of his Highness. We need your opinion.”
When the prince and the duke saw her, they fell in love.
“Arwen, tell me what you see here,” the prince asked.
“Do you know what this is?” urged Vincent.
Their questions popped out at the same time, and Arwen glanced at the statuette presented to her by the Crown Prince.
“Isn’t it a guy with two swords?”
Arwen crossed her arms.
“Look! Arwen knows art at a glance!” the Crown Prince beamed with an elated face.
“Oh my god! It’s ridiculous! How can you find out what it is if it looks like chewed goblin meat!” Vincent cried desperately. Arwen didn’t raise a single eyebrow, despite the two men’s excited reactions.
“Duke of the North, his Majesty is looking for you.”
She merely spoke her message as if he had heard nothing.
“His Majesty?”
Vincent, still full of disappointment, looked at Arwen.
“Since he said he’d be waiting, it’s better to go quickly.”
Duke Balahard looked back at the Crown Prince.
“I’ll
 go at once.”
The prince waved at Vincent with a happy face. Arwen watched as Vincent frowned at her while walking from the room, then she suddenly remembered something.
“The mercenaries and some knights from Brandenburg County arrived at the southern fortress and joined up with Bernardo Eli.”
“Why tell me that?
“I just thought you’d be curious.”
“I’m not curious.”
“Is that so?”
“Uh-huh.”
Arwen Kirgayen stared at the prince, and he also faced her—with a casual look. But it lasted only a while. The Crown Prince spoke, now looking unpleased.
“Remind me not to eat or drink a lot. Drinking like a dog
 that’s a bad habit. I speak more often, then. When I talk more, I make mistakes.”
“Okay. I’ll tell your Highness right away.”
Arwen, her face consistently blunt, bowed her head and tried to leave the room, but the prince suddenly stopped her.
“Let’s head out together.”
He began standing up from the bed. Adelia, guarding his side, immediately reached out her hand and helped the Crown Prince to rise. Arwen also supported him on one flank.
“Arwen, can you take some of those things?”
The prince glanced at the statues he had carved over the past month.
“What do you mean?” she asked as she strode to the figurines, coming to a stand before them.
“There- Everything.”
“Are you telling me to take all of them?”
“Uh-huh, all.”
Arwen asked for the reason with a glance.
“You’ll find out soon,” the Crown prince stated by way of explanation.
Arwen nodded once and gathered up the statuettes. Meanwhile, Adelia was helping the prince to prepare.
“The night breeze is cold.”
“But this fur is heavy.”
“You still have to wear it.”
Adelia, disregarding the prince’s murmurings, took the thickest fur cloak and draped it over his skinny shoulders.
“Are you done now?”
She laughed at his words which sounded as if he was seeking permission from her.
“Then let’s go out.”
The prince staggered when he headed toward the door, and fearing that the prince would fall, Adelia hurriedly grabbed one of his shoulders.
“Your Highness?”
As the door opened, Carls Ulrich, who had been standing with his back to it, opened his eyes round. Then, after seeing Arwen’s arms were filled to the brim with wooden statues, Carls hurried to share her burden.
“Go.”
The Crown Prince headed straight for the palace grounds.
“Pull out some of those logs, and pile them up here.”
Adelia, without a question, stacked the timbers as the prince asked for.
“Now, ignite.”
Carls got busy. He went to fetch a burning log from the palace knights’ meal fire and came to shove it in between the logs that Adelia had stacked. After waiting for a while, the embers spread to the other logs.
‘Trap Tkap’
The crackling sound of dry wood burning soon came as the pile caught on fire.
“It’s taking hold right away.”
The prince spoke words that sounded like sighs as he looked at the flames, then reached his hand out to Arwen.
“Give it.”
“Your Highness?”
Arwen, puzzled, handed a statue to the Crown Prince. The prince stared at it blankly for a while. Then, after some time, he carefully reached out his hand.
‘Tuk!’
He threw the figurine he had made through carving and cutting onto the flames. Those who saw his sudden action stretched their eyes wide.
“Your Highness?”
“Give me another one.”
The prince didn’t even care about their reactions. He simply took statues, looked at them blankly, and repeatedly threw them onto the fire. He made sure to take some time to silently watch the statuettes, and it took him quite a long time to shove all of them into flames, what with his movements being so careful. The prince’s face looked very strange once he had offered all his carvings to the fire. It was as if he was having a funeral for a family member. At best, they are just statues; everyone thought this.
Prince Adrian stood staring at the fire for a long time, softly whispering.
“Silent are the snowy peaks and the blood-drenched walls”
“Only our horns of war are heard, for a new day dawns into which we advance”
It was a true soul’s song that was sung in ages past before bloody piles of orc carcasses.
“The birds who’ve flown back along the road the wind passed by return”
“The fortress once exposed to cold and snow now wakes and stretches”
It was the song of sung of spring finally arriving after the harsh winter. And at that moment-
‘Hwarruk!’
A yellowish-blue flame then arose. It was the same color as the flame of his true spirit that the prince had ignited in the past before wielding his Aura Blade.
“I- Your Highness?”
Those looking at the prince were startled, but he wasn’t looking at them. He just continually stared at the blue flames.
“Goodbye.”
Then he greeted someone, and gone was his dullness, for his smile was bright.