How the Prince Makes Friends Chapter 150

Even among the children of noble families, people were ranked according to their families’ status. And even setting that aside, groups with a heavily skewed gender ratio tended to have stricter hierarchies. If that group was also one built around physical force, then the situation practically spoke for itself.

Evan, who had spent his days hunting monsters in the forest, had never experienced life in an organization like this. Nor was he at an age where he would be likely to read the room and meekly fall in line. He was at the height of his adolescent bravado, after all.

Above all, after beating every last one of the others, wasn’t it already impossible to entertain such expectations?

On top of that, the examination was conducted without revealing the candidates’ family backgrounds to ensure fairness. In other words, the applicants still didn’t know Evan was a commoner.

Once they found out that the boy who had beaten them all was nothing more than a commoner—and a mere fifteen-year-old at that—there was no way the others would take it lying down.

Walter quietly rubbed his face, dreading the bleak future Evan would face within the organization. He had even let it show that he was acquainted with Evan before the examination. Perhaps people would accuse Evan of passing only because he had Walter’s support.

This really won’t do.

He had to reject him.

Evan might feel hurt for the time being, but if Walter explained that he had rejected him because he wanted Evan to join his household instead, the boy would understand. Everyone would certainly question the decision given how outstanding his results were, but coming up with a plausible excuse wouldn’t be difficult.

But who could have expected the King and Queen to come personally to congratulate the candidates? And who could have expected them to speak to Evan before the results were even announced?

The Queen approached the boy, her red eyes curving gracefully as she extended her delicate hand.

‘You have quite impressive skills. What is your name?’

‘E-Evan, Your Majesty!’

Having never been exposed to noble etiquette, Evan stared blankly at the hand held out to him before barely managing to utter his own name.

Queen Helia watched Evan standing stiffly with nerves, making no attempt to bow in greeting. She gently lowered her hand and asked,

‘Are you a commoner?’

‘Y-Yes… I am. W-Why do you ask?’

‘I see. Evan… No, I suppose I should call you Sir Evan now.’

The Queen said this, her eyes narrowing into a smile.

Walter instinctively stepped in front of Evan, an ominous feeling crawling up his spine. But once he had done so, he hesitated, unsure what excuse to give, before finally opening his mouth.

‘Your Majesty, those who are to receive their knighthood are waiting for the honor of your congratulations. This child is not yet ready, so I humbly ask that you withdraw your attention from him.’

‘This child? Deputy Captain, what an amusing joke. Just look at how tall and handsome he is.’

‘He is still a mere fifteen-year-old boy. It is true that his skills are exceptional for his age, but considering his tendency to show off his abilities and other such traits, I have judged him unsuited to life within the organization.’

‘What do you mean by that? Are you saying he has failed?’

‘Yes.’

Walter answered coldly and nodded. Behind him, Evan flinched in surprise and tugged at his clothes.

‘W-What do you mean, Deputy Captain?! I-I beat everyone!’

‘Evan, be quiet. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this in front of such distinguished people?’

‘……!’

The boy’s face was filled with a sense of betrayal at those callous words, but Walter stood firm.

‘Your Majesty, this child is young and may become conceited. I ask that you withdraw your congratulations.’

‘Judging by the looks of it, you seem to know this boy personally?’

‘…….’

‘Sir Ernest, why are you being so harsh on him? Ah, are you worried that this boy might be branded with a stigma because of your personal connection?’

‘…That is not… the case.’

‘Then surely… you aren’t rejecting him on purpose simply because he is a commoner?’

The Queen narrowed her eyes at Walter as if reprimanding him, then spoke again in a gentle, measured voice.

‘Should someone with talent be treated with contempt simply because they are young or a commoner? Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?’

‘…You speak rightly. …Sir Ernest, I also found his sparring match quite impressive. But if the Deputy Captain is acting this way, there must surely be a valid reason. It is a shame to waste such talent, but whatever the outcome, I will respect your judgment.’

At those words, Evan grabbed Walter’s clothes again and looked at him with desperate eyes.

‘D-Deputy Captain! I can do well! P-Please give me a chance!’

‘Evan, be quiet.’

‘Please! I won’t do anything to tarnish your reputation, Deputy Captain!’

‘I told you to be quiet!’

‘……!’

Walter found himself shouting in a fit of irritation as his unease grew for no apparent reason. But when he saw the hurt expression on the boy’s face, guilt soon washed over him.

In the end, that day, Evan was officially inducted into the Royal Knights.

Walter’s unease did not fade, but since things had turned out this way, he resolved to look after the boy properly.

Perhaps Evan had been disappointed because Walter had opposed his appointment so vehemently that day. From then on, Evan never approached him personally again. No, if anything, it felt as though he was deliberately putting distance between them.

The youngest knight in history—and the first commoner to become one—immediately became the subject of gossip. Evan was probably also the knight who received the most sparring challenges in the shortest amount of time.

Walter knew that Evan was constantly being bullied within the Knights Order, but since Evan deliberately kept his distance, he couldn’t bring himself to intervene. Above all, given Evan’s nature of returning every slight tenfold, Walter worried that stepping in might only result in the boy receiving even harsher punishment.

Still, he thought that if Evan ever asked for help, he would gladly give it.

But contrary to his intentions, his relationship with Evan grew increasingly awkward. After Evan volunteered to become the Second Prince’s escort knight, they never even had a proper conversation again.

Walter had thought their connection had been severed for good, but…

‘Captain, you know how muuuuch I respect you, right~?’

‘Hehehe… It’s been five years since you last called me that…’

‘Waaah, Captain! I called him a wildcat, a wildcat, and now he’s actually turned into one…’

Remembering Evan drunkenly rambling not long ago, Walter couldn’t help but chuckle. He had been startled when Evan suddenly showed up at dawn training the following day and bowed his head to the ground, though…

Clang!

The loud clash of metal snapped him out of his thoughts.

‘He’s even better at fighting than I expected.’

Watching Evan, who had become a full-fledged knight without Walter’s help, left him with a bittersweet feeling.

He had been worried when Evan volunteered to become the Second Prince’s escort knight, but it was a relief to see that he seemed to be doing well. He also appeared to be on very good terms with the Second Prince.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how his younger sister is doing.’

Evan hadn’t mentioned his sister even once since joining the Knights Order, so Walter had completely forgotten about her.

Just then, Evan’s center of gravity shifted dramatically during the sparring match.

‘……!’

Fortunately, he rolled across the ground to quickly put some distance between himself and his opponent, then hurriedly regained his stance. However, his heavy breathing made it clear that he was thoroughly exhausted.

‘The match will be decided soon.’

Walter thought the prince might be a little disappointed if he saw his knight lose. After all, Evan was probably the strongest person around the prince.

However, when Walter lowered his head to reassure the prince, he soon had to revise that thought. The prince was watching the match without the slightest sign of agitation.

‘And here I thought the Deputy Captain was just being fussy over nothing…’

Those two different-colored eyes were following the knights’ movements with such relentless focus that it was almost chilling.

Walter had never known the Second Prince could wear such a cold expression. He had always seemed somewhat timid. Of course, lately Walter had also seen him looking rather bright-eyed and spirited, but…

‘Could it be that he’s been watching today’s sparring matches like this the entire time…?’

The young prince, whom Walter had assumed would be anxiously fretting over his knight’s disadvantage, was watching the match more coolly than anyone else. No, he seemed to be doing more than simply watching. It was as though he were analyzing every single movement.

The exchange was so fierce that only trained knights could follow it, yet the young prince moved his eyes ever so slightly, as if he could see every last detail.

Compared to the apprentice knights watching from a little farther away, who were struggling to keep up and floundering as they lost sight of the fighters’ movements, the prince’s dynamic visual acuity seemed even more impressive.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, with a faint sound of wind, something swiftly passed between the two knights whose swords were locked together.

‘An ambush?!’

The two knights hurriedly retreated from each other and went on guard. Neither the fighters nor the watching knights had sensed anyone preparing to attack, so they immediately tried to identify what had flown past them.

But the object that had thrown everyone into a state of alarm was none other than…

‘A pocket watch…?’

The knights stared at one another in bewilderment. Who on earth would bring a pocket watch into the training grounds…?

Just then, something small came pattering toward the center of the training grounds.

‘……?’

Everyone turned their heads to follow it, but the little figure paid no attention to their gazes and simply picked up the pocket watch lying on the ground.

Watching this, Evan asked in disbelief,

‘…Is that yours?’

Nod.

Nihil gave a slight nod and brushed the dirt off the pocket watch. They needed to get going soon, or their little one would be late for his morning lessons.

‘…Next time, just ask like a normal person.’

Nihil gave a casual nod, then approached the Captain and stretched out both arms. He had to get their little one back.

The Captain misunderstood his intentions and naturally reached out, but Nihil smacked his hand away and snatched Rianus from his embrace.

‘You little punk! How dare you treat the Captain so rudely… Hey! Hey, where are you going?!’

Evan hurriedly chased after Nihil, who was already dashing away with Rianus in his arms. But then his legs gave out, and he slammed his knee against the ground with a curse.

‘Damn wildcat! Wait for me…! Urgh, damn it. I said wait, you bastard!’

Patter, patter, patter—

‘Hey! Give the prince back!’

Evan’s voice rang throughout the training grounds.

Walter watched the back of Evan’s head with a touch of pity, then shook his head. Suddenly realizing something, he murmured,

‘…Was that little one what he meant by wildcat…?’

‘Something white and fluffy appeared!!’

Then the white and fluffy thing was…

Walter’s gaze naturally shifted toward the little boy. And at that very moment, something white and fluffy briefly peeked out from beneath his robe before disappearing again.

‘…….’

Perhaps his eyesight was growing blurry with age.

 

***

 

Walter quietly rubbed his face as he watched the training grounds, which had been filled with a murderous atmosphere since morning.

‘Why haven’t you been attending swordsmanship lessons?’

‘I simply didn’t want to go, so I didn’t.’

‘That is disrespectful to your master.’

‘Brother, I haven’t learned anything.’

‘…….’

‘…….’

A cold silence settled over them once more. Walter sighed inwardly at the tension between the princes, but he couldn’t let it show, so he pressed his lips together.

‘Have you forgotten that the quarterly assessment is approaching?’

‘I know. But… does it mean anything to me?’

‘Are you saying you intend to give up swordsmanship?’

‘How does that mean I’m giving up swordsmanship? I would much rather train with my friend here.’

‘…….’

At those words, Lawrence’s gaze shifted toward Nihil. Nihil simply stood there, staring back at him blankly. Of course, since he was wearing a face veil, their eyes didn’t actually meet.

Just then, a little seaweed suddenly appeared before them.

‘Do you have something to say to my friend?’

‘…You still coddle him so much. Do you enjoy associating with such lowborn trash?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘…….’

‘Much more than I enjoy spending time with you, Brother.’

‘…….’

Rianus did not back down. If his friend was lowborn, then he would gladly become lowborn himself. If someone as noble as this could be called lowborn, then he would gladly accept the label.

Lawrence pressed his lips together and glared at Rianus and Nihil. Then, as though he had nothing more to say, he abruptly turned and walked away.