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“You don’t have to decide now,” I told her. “You can think about it and tell me later.”

But instead, she opened her mouth again.

“Well, if I become a knight…” she trailed off.

“What? What if you become a knight?”

“… I will.”

Her head was down, and her voice was a sound tinier than a mosquito’s wings.

“What?” I asked her again.

At my words, she raised her head.

“I will be Your Highness’ sword.”

At the end of her speech, a strange burst of wind seemed to break out.

“Ah…”

I knew what it was.

Some Muhun-si poetry begins with the first step across the plain, while others begin with the sound of a charge trumpet.

In some stories, the poetry begins with an oath.

“I will live for Your Highness for the rest of my life, and I will give my all.”

That’s how Adelia’s poetry began.

『Adelia Bavaria offers [Poem of Subordination].』

And sometimes, one’s Muhun-si affects the others.

『A new [Muhun-si] has been created.』

『The poem of [Ordinary Character] and [The Poem of Dominance] were created.』

Just like now.

“Huh.”

I laughed in surprise.

It was ridiculous.

I couldn’t even imagine that the descendants of Agnes Bavaria, one of the greatest swordsmen, would weave a [Poem of Subordination].

However, strong Adelia was and will be, she had the characteristic of [Servility].

If Agnes learns about this, she will pass out.

I stared at Adelia. There seemed to be no change in her appearance.

It usually takes some time for someone to realize his or her poetry.

In particular, Adelia’s oath was accompanied by a prerequisite: “if I become a knight.”

Perhaps, it would be after she becomes a knight that the Muhun-si would be realized.

“Your Highness?”

As I stared at herself silently, she bowed her head with an embarrassed face.

“Thanks,” I told her.

“Well, Your Highness. It wasn’t much.”

“No, thank you very much.”

I got so much because of you.

Having a new Muhun-si from her oath was great, but the real profit is much greater.

It was the fact that her growth would benefit me very much.

[Poetry of Subjugation] is a hymn dedicated to the master, and it would benefit me as much as her.

Of course, we both didn’t know yet how her poem would benefit me.

The effect varies greatly depending on how the owner of the poem interprets it, and what kind of heart she has.

Now, there was nothing to do but wait until her S-class swordsmanship aptitude and A-class mana aptitude are in full bloom.

And…

“Oh, I’m so sleepy,” I blurted out weakly.

First, I had to sleep.

I passed out quickly.

* * *

When I woke up again, Adelia was still standing by my side. I woke up quietly as I watched her doze on the chair next to the bed.

“Well?”

I wasn’t feeling as bad as I thought. I thought I’d suffer from aftereffects for at least a few more days.

Is it because of the [Poem of Subordination]?

I didn’t think that an [Ordinary] poem could alleviate the aftereffects of a [Myth] poem.

“Your Highness?”

Adelia looked at me with half-open eyes, then got up from her seat.

“I will bring water to wash your face with, and a light meal.”

She disappeared without even waiting for my answer.

“Hmm.”

As Adelia disappeared, I stood in front of the mirror.

“Hoh.”

I admired my reflection.

My face has become slimmer due to unintentional fasting for several days, and it looks surprisingly bright. The only fault I could find was my thin lips and eyes that seemed tired.

Still, I look totally different.

“Well, it’s like I’ve been reborn.”

I was laughing at my own joke when Adelia returned.

However, there was someone else with her.

I frowned.

An unwelcome guest.

The queen, the person I avoided the most in the royal palace, was with Adelia.

“Ian, where does it hurt? Why are you standing up already?”

I laughed awkwardly as her simmering show of motherhood engulfed me. It was scary.

It would have been better if she treated me like the king does, but she always looked at me with warm eyes.

Just like I do with the king, I gritted my teeth. Acting like a good son hurt my pride.

“Ugh, my head…” I closed my eyes, hoping it was a decent performance.

“Come, lie down. Lie down, and have a good rest. Your mother will be by your side today.”

She said in a calm, soothing tone, but her words made me uncomfortable.

It was terrible to imagine being with the queen all day.

“Oh no, I would be fine,” I told her.

The queen sighed.

“Why the hell is my son so shy to his own mother?”

Because I’m not your son.

Of course, I couldn’t tell her the truth, so I just sighed.

While we were silent, Adelia stepped closer.

“Your Highness, I will help you cleanse your face.”

Adelia handed me a silver tray. As I splashed my face with cold water, I glanced at the queen’s face.

She looks like she had something to say.

As expected –

“Do you hate your Uncle?”

The queen brought out the business.

“I don’t think your Uncle was really trying to harm you. He’s just clumsy and clunky, so he must have done that unintentionally. So, don’t blame your Uncle too much.”

For a long time, the queen made a speech in support of Uncle.

He was a person who lived with swords and troops for a long time rather than people, and he forgot how to treat his own blood and flesh as he hung out with rough men.

In the end, the point was that the Uncle was a social misfit.

“So, if you have hard feelings, shake it off.”

“I don’t.”

“Why? He struck you so violently, and he always nags at you. It would be lying to say you didn’t hate him.”

“No, I really don’t.”

It wasn’t a lie.

I didn’t blame Uncle at all.

In the first place, I didn’t expect anything from him. He was just a nuisance to me.

Besides, I was in a state where I could have hurt him as well.

And I did, although not physically.

He broke his word and used four rings. It would have hurt his pride terribly.

Also, the truth he long believed in was denied by my sword.

He would have felt like his world has collapsed.

Uncle was certainly a high-ranking knight, but he doesn’t have a soul to match it.

He reached that level through hard work and practice, not by pure soul and talent.

It would be hard for him to bear.

I have no resentment against him.

However, the queen who didn’t really understand what I did to his brother wouldn’t believe me when I say I don’t hate him.

“Be aware that your early release is also the result of your Uncle speaking with your father.”

She told me that Uncle had reported to the king that I was rapidly developing and seemed to be more mature.

“He placed himself in a tough position so the king could allow you to go out and visit that bad social club. He made a guarantee under his name and look at what happened that day.”

This was a story I hadn’t thought of, so I was a little embarrassed.

I didn’t expect that my sleazy Uncle would have persuaded the king from behind the scenes to lift my probation earlier than expected.

It must have been quite unpleasant that his nephew stirred trouble as soon as he was released.

It looks like he has done much for me.

“Although your Uncle is the highest-ranking military officer, the king would not give him an easy pass for what happened between you. There will be considerable difficulties in the future, which is not good for him, you, and even me.”

At first, she was just telling me not to resent Uncle; now she’s telling me to be sorry.

However, as I listened to her stories, it wasn’t contrary to my opinion, so I nodded.

“You seem to understand. Don’t speak anymore.”

After eating, I lay back down in bed and closed my eyes.

I thought if I closed my eyes, the queen would leave, but unfortunately, she seemed to be really planning to stay with me the whole day.

We were silent for a while, then she spoke again.

“As I told you before, we will be making an important decision at the banquet.”

The topic was very harsh for me.

The queen’s voice was soft but also strict at the same time.

Her tone seems to warn me not to respond, as she would not accept any criticism or argument.

“There are young girls whom we have been paying attention to. One of them will be chosen as your partner.”

* * *

The queen did stay with me for the whole day.

Afterward, I still couldn’t rest.

It is because the queen sent another guest after her.

“I hate it. I absolutely hate it.”

I was obviously disgusted and furious, but the elderly scholar that was sent by the queen didn’t budge.

“Your Highness is now seventeen. Even if we start now, it feels like it’s too late.”

“No. Why do I need to study?”

“If we cannot learn, there is no difference between humans and beasts.”

“Did you just say I was a beast?”

“It is that those who have not learned are like that. Your Highness has started his path to learning. To begin is to be halfway done. So, Your Highness has no cause to be embarrassed.”

“I didn’t start. I don’t want to start. And don’t play with words.”

At my words, the old scholar closed the massive book he brought.

Then, he looked at me with deeply wrinkled eyes.

“There are things that we must do even if we hate them. Studying is one of them.”

“It’s not because I don’t like to do it.”

“If so, what is the reason?”

I responded with anxiety.

“Because I have no need to learn.”

“Why is that?”

“I know as much as I need.”

The old scholar started chuckling.

“I devoted myself to learning for 60 years. However, I am still not confident, I know as much as I need. But how does the younger Highness say that?”

Still laughing, the scholar made a suggestion.

“Let’s talk about a few topics. If you can prove the knowledge you are confident in, I won’t come anymore.”

Of course, I accepted his offer.