The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 116 - Aftermath (3)

“It’s been a while, have you been well?”

Thump!

Facing Yelchin who greeted him with great warmth as soon as they met, Viktor smiled. It was the first time they had met since parting at Radovitz Castle.

“We’ve both been busy since the battle ended, so we couldn’t meet right away.”

“Haha, that’s true. That’s understandable for me, but you’ve been incredibly busy, haven’t you? Sir Viktor, who finally achieved victory in the holy war?”

Yelchin joked while wiggling his thick eyebrows. Even after being so severely injured, his personality hadn’t gone anywhere – seeing him after so long, he was still somewhat impulsive but somehow exuded an air of seasoned experience.

“Please stop. If you come at me like that too, I’ll become very sad.”

“Sad about what? Soon you’ll be someone who receives tremendous rewards and an appropriate title to match. If not now, when else could I tease you?”

“Ha, really.”

The two exchanged friendly words and naturally formed a group as they began heading toward Roshtov. Along the way, they caught up on accumulated stories, which was a bonus.

“…Really? Then Viscount Odor is returning to his territory?”

“Mm, I suppose that’s what will happen once his resignation is approved? Probably it’ll be difficult for a while due to the expedition’s aftermath and all…”

Viktor recalled the viscount who had seemed calm yet would flare up fiercely when provoked.

‘That viscount returning his lord’s position…’

He must have been thoroughly sick of being tormented by the barbarians.

“Then will you and Sir Rusimov all be leaving too?”

“Haha, don’t be too regretful. A knight must silently follow behind his lord no matter what thorny path he may walk!”

At Yelchin’s words, Viktor scratched his chin.

According to chivalry, it was one of the virtues a knight should naturally possess, but if it had been easy, would there have been a need to emphasize it as a virtue to uphold like a teaching?

‘He really hasn’t changed.’

While many people shout about the importance of loyalty, few actually practice it themselves. Despite his impatient nature, Yelchin was a model of an excellent knight.

Not like Sir Kobarov who could be found rolling around anywhere, but a model of a truly excellent knight who seemed like he’d appear in tales of chivalry.

‘The viscount is also a lucky person. I hope things work out well for him.’

And calling it resignation was just talk – from Viktor’s perspective, it was no different from escape. After all, he had heard that the viscount’s territory was an excellent place incomparable to the barren eastern region in every aspect. Having rolled around so roughly here, it wouldn’t be strange at all for him to decide to return to his territory to rest in comfort and luxury.

“Still, you should receive proper honors before leaving. Not only did you operate as a guerrilla unit, but you also achieved great merit in this battle.”

“That’s natural. I’m not shameless enough to boast about my small achievements in front of you, so I was just keeping quiet! Actually, I have too many things I’m curious about regarding you!”

At Yelchin’s words as he brightened up, Viktor began responding appropriately.

How he had struggled against enemy sorcery yet managed to break through it, what meaning there was in converting barbarians and leading them around, and so on… Since these were things he had already explained painfully to other nobles and Vino several times, Viktor could easily answer his questions.

And while talking like this, before they knew it, the group had arrived at the castle gate. As Viktor maintained silence for a moment while looking at the opening main gate, Yelchin nodded with a meaningful expression beside him.

“Don’t worry, Sir. I have no interest whatsoever in the power struggles here. The viscount is also planning to leave the east, so there’s nothing to fear.”

“…?”

When Viktor glanced at him, Yelchin smiled slightly.

“There will be plenty who would try to diminish your brilliant achievements out of jealousy. Remember that I too can be of help to you if need be.”

It was a very manly smile.

---

Only Viktor’s vanguard and the Church forces led by Vino were able to enter the castle.

The steppe warriors belonging to the so-called Conversion Unit and the witch Alisa were still deemed too dangerous to bring into the castle – this was Viktor’s measure.

Not only had he made them endure that cold, shaded place for a long time, but even after achieving glorious victory, he still couldn’t treat them properly, which made him feel very sorry. However, the warriors were more understanding than expected.

‘It’s obvious that the principality bastards would react that way. Even if it were the opposite, wouldn’t it be the same? Even if mercenaries came crawling in saying “Please accept us since we’ve decided to follow steppe traditions and customs,” most tribes would be wary and more.’

‘…I’m sorry. Once matters are concluded, there will surely come a time when you too can enjoy the rights of victory. Please bear with it just a little longer.’

Viktor recalled his conversation with Tumen as he slowly moved his steps. The banquet grandly prepared to welcome them was proceeding magnificently, and the gloomy, dark atmosphere when he first arrived at this castle had completely reversed.

That said, it wasn’t as if there was no darkness at all.

A group of nobles rushing toward him in a fluster, and mercenaries who couldn’t fit well into the banquet and only touched their wine cups with dark faces.

‘The war is over, but still, the war isn’t over yet.’

Cleaning up the ruined battlefield, burning corpses, and seizing supplies didn’t mean the cleanup was completely finished. The long cleanup mixed with expectation and despair was just beginning.

“Come, this way. Everyone is waiting for you.”

Closing his eyes at the gaze of the noble who kept glancing at him while guiding him, Viktor steeled his resolve.

---

Torches that had rarely been used to save supplies now brightly lit the great hall. On the long table lay appetizing roasted duck dishes and calf roasts glistening with multiple coats of oil, along with the finest borscht and bone marrow dishes, and white, soft bread sprinkled with salt piled up like mountains.

To a degree that made one wonder how they had endured until now, people were thoroughly drunk. It was natural that everyone’s faces shone with relief and joy.

They had finished off the Grand Chief, the enemy’s leader, in the very cavalry battle the barbarians were so proud of, and with just a single battle at that.

The barbarian tribes without a Grand Chief would no longer be able to mount any systematic resistance. History proved this.

The steppe tribes would repeat endless strife until a new Grand Chief was elected. The principality just had to sit by and suck honey, so what could be more delightful than this?

The nobles stamped their feet, clapped their hands, and sang along to the sound of instruments played by musicians acquired from who knows where at the center of the platform.

It wasn’t the refined, antique style of the old empire that was in fashion, but the traditional principality style. Watching a noble excitedly humming harmony while beating a drum, Viktor suddenly recalled the shocking first banquet he had witnessed as a child.

Now that winter had fully set in, fierce winds swept through the great hall whenever they blew, causing the flames hanging everywhere to flicker, and within the reddened hall, the noble folk swayed together without maintaining their dignity.

Viktor crossed the great hall filled with drum sounds, flute sounds, and shouting, approaching the highest seat. A space clearly different from the noisy surrounding atmosphere. On a chair covered with wolf fur, the Count was waiting for him with his chin propped up.

“Your Excellency.”

Viktor bowed his head politely, then knelt on one knee and prostrated before him. He could feel the texture of soft fur laid on the floor, apparently seized from barbarians, but he had no time to enjoy it.

His instincts clearly detected it.

‘This Count is different from before.’

The appearance the Count occasionally showed. That was the cold noble’s appearance when facing political enemies.

The Count smiled brightly across his face and personally poured wine to hand to Viktor.

“Sir, you’ve truly worked hard! If not for you, how could we have defeated those terrifying barbarians? First, take this cup.”

“It’s an honor.”

Viktor received the cup with both hands and drank it down in one gulp.

“Hahaha, how bold. Now that I can enjoy this with you, how could this not be a joyful day!”

The Count burst into hearty laughter and filled the wine cup to the brim once more. The young knight silently drank the wine again. And the Count also silently poured a third cup this time. Viktor calmly set down the cup.

“Your Excellency, the banquet will continue for some time, and I don’t wish to spoil that atmosphere.”

Then he looked up at him with a calm face. The Count was just looking at Viktor with a smile on his lips, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

“I simply want to receive the rightful rights I deserve.”

“…Rights.”

Drinking three full cups of wine at once at a victory banquet. It was a ceremony only between an invested lord and knight. And Viktor was not officially the Count’s knight. The Count didn’t lose his smile. He tapped near his temples with his finger and spoke again.

“Didn’t I clearly promise? That I could do anything, whether an investiture ceremony or whatever. Do you dislike becoming my knight?”

“I don’t dislike it. I simply want to say that we’ve passed that stage now.”

Viktor stood up. The Count’s intentions were still unclear. He was trying to test him, but he couldn’t tell if he intended to cast him out or simply reconfirm the hierarchical relationship. If so, he would simply confront it.

“Promise, I still believe in it. My faith will not change in the future either. And my faith isn’t based on an unstable contract but naturally developed while spending time with Your Excellency until now.”

“…Then why didn’t you drink?”

“What do you fear? I will continue to be Your Excellency’s sword. It’s just that it will no longer be in the form of lord and knight. The bond of connection already formed between you and me is thick. If you wish to make that bond even thicker, please confirm my rights.”

“…”

The Count looked at him with unreadable eyes.

“Certainly, I will keep what I promised you. However, don’t you think there are matters that need to be resolved first?”

Then he slowly tilted his wine cup. Strong liquor flowed down his beard, but he paid no heed and only tilted his cup further.

“…Phew, fine. Let me speak frankly. You said you trust me, but I cannot completely trust you. No, to be precise, I’ve become unable to trust you. Do you know what those crowds outside are saying about you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to know either.”

At Viktor’s concise answer, the Count struck the armrest violently.

“They say I will pull you down out of jealousy for the achievements you’ve made. And that I will steal everything! So before that happens, they must pull down that unjust lord! Good heavens, it’s truly laughable. There are actually no obligations between you and me!”

The Count shouted while still smiling.

“The Church is the same. To ignore me so thoroughly like this! But that can be overlooked. Their arrogance isn’t something new. But how can you! Not give me any hint at all? Isn’t my suspicion justified even so? How can I not think you have other intentions?!”

“What other intentions could I have?”

In contrast, while Viktor wasn’t smiling, he was incredibly calm. He wasn’t agitated or disappointed, just continued speaking matter-of-factly.

“Could I overturn the Church’s decision? Or could I change Your Excellency’s wounded heart? Or could I raise my flag in reverse over such a trivial matter?”

“…”

When the Count fell silent at Viktor’s words, he concluded cleanly.

“Your Excellency will ascend to the position of Grand Prince. As long as I remain a noble of this country, what good would come from falling out of favor? If I may dare to speak frankly, couldn’t I have guessed why Your Excellency wanted to take in this country knight who had nothing and send him to this land?”

“…!”

“Merit for saving Your Excellency at Permikoff? That could have been finished by just granting a title. I’m not that arrogant. I have been, and will continue to be loyal only to Your Excellency.”

With those words, Viktor drank down the wine cup he had set aside.

A long silence flowed between the two men.

---

Mikhail and Krupin’s eyes seemed fixed on one spot, unmoving. The noisy, dirty center of the chaotic banquet. The noble seated at the head table and the knight sitting before him were exchanging wine cups, but it didn’t look like a pleasant atmosphere at all.

“Sir…shouldn’t we go over there after all?”

At Krupin’s words as he was wrapped in bandages, Mikhail only replied concisely.

“No. The words of a knight who has lost trust wouldn’t reach his ears anyway.”

“…Your Excellency is really too much. How can he treat a knight who has been with him for decades so coldly, like flipping his palm?”

“…That’s the law for a presumptuous knight’s words. Like your stupid friends.”

“…”

The two men soon looked at each other and let out hollow laughs. After Mikhail caused trouble, he had instantly lost favor with the Count and various nobles, but this wasn’t limited to him alone. Krupin, another knight belonging to the vanguard, had also completely fallen out of the Count’s favor. And the patience of the young knight Krupin wasn’t that long.

“…My family would roll along fine without someone like me anyway.”

“Think carefully, Sir. This isn’t something you can decide so carelessly.”

“I haven’t even finished speaking yet, but seeing that you guessed, Sir Mikhail must have been thinking about it inwardly too.”

“…”

“Of course, considering Sir Mikhail’s influence, I don’t know how His Excellency will react, but judging from the attitude shown so far, if you remain here quietly, you won’t see good results.”

At Krupin’s words, Mikhail sighed.

“A knight who has received investiture can’t act as he pleases. I cannot easily abandon the grace received from His Excellency.”

“Sir Viktor will handle that somehow.”

“What?”

At Krupin’s reckless words, Mikhail looked at him in surprise. He wondered if he had drunk too much, but unfortunately, Krupin’s eyes were sparkling brightly.

“Sir, are you in your right mind?”

“Completely sound. Sir, may I dare give you one piece of advice?”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Becoming seasoned, accumulating experience is certainly admirable, but sometimes one needs to return to a knight’s original intention.”

“…You’re spouting nonsense at length. I thought you weren’t particularly eloquent.”

“That beast slave is quite skilled at running his mouth. I learned a lot thanks to him.”

Looking at Krupin answering with a shameless face, Mikhail felt suddenly deflated. Then he burst into laughter.

“…Hahaha, I never imagined the day would come when such words would come from your mouth. I couldn’t even imagine it.”

“So, what do you think?”

At Krupin’s words, Mikhail drank down his remaining wine in one gulp and his eyes lit up.

“Actually, didn’t I already commit once? I suddenly think there’s nothing I can’t do twice.”

“Ah, that’s right. Then…”

The two men exchanged glances and nodded.

“Knights are beings who originally strike as they please. Let’s give it a refreshing strike once.”

“Sir, I truly respect you.”

Wind blew and the flames hanging on the torches wavered here and there. The banquet was gradually reaching its climax.