Published: August 1, 2025
…Oh God.
God, can you hear my voice?
Before this lost lamb, please offer words of guidance.
Dilz is said to be less devout compared to other countries, but I have prayed every day in the chapel within the royal palace... Sometimes I dozed off or sang hymns carelessly from memory, but still, I tried to maintain a sincere heart.
God, please help me. I don’t know what to do.
Someone… anyone, please help me.
“Ruifeng brother is missing!?”
I screamed. Immediately, I hurriedly covered my mouth.
In the summer royal palace, the Crown Prince’s office had ventilation windows wide open everywhere. I was worried that someone might overhear and cause a big fuss, but surprisingly, Lionel didn’t get angry.
Instead, unusually, he seemed in a good mood. His gaze was fixed on the papers on his desk, but a smile played on his lips.
“Ah. It’s been three days; he hasn’t even shown his face at the knights’ fortress.”
“…Could it be that he ran away because he didn’t want to go to Flaria?”
I asked timidly, hoping that was the case.
Three days ago—that night. Ruifeng brother gently comforted my sobbing self and said, ‘I’ll handle it somehow.’
He and the young princess of Flaria had apparently been engaged for a long time. I had just learned this a short while ago from my eldest brother, Lionel. And apparently, he was to be married off within these few days.
I’m naive and insensitive, but I’m far from being carefree enough to sincerely bless this. First of all, those two must hardly have met, and Princess Claudette of Flaria is much younger than I am.
It’s an unmistakable arranged marriage. For the sake of the country and money, Ruifeng brother sold himself—or rather, was sold—to this Crown Prince, Lionel.
—How disgraceful!
I glared at my brother. Until a few days ago, I thought he was a person I could respect, strict as he might be. But now…
Lionel seemed unaware of my gaze, chuckling softly.
“Well, I suppose so. He was rude to the Flaria princess at the embassy and then vanished. It’s best to leave him be. I know where he’s hiding anyway.”
“At the knights’ fortress?”
I asked with certainty, but Lionel shook his head.
“It’s impossible for Ruifeng to hide there.”
“Why? Ruifeng brother is the knights commander. He spends more than half the week there and has served for five years, so he must have trusted comrades there… probably more than even his real brothers in this palace.”
My best attempt at sarcasm was met with a silent smile.
I no longer hid my hostility toward my brother. Naturally, he noticed, but didn’t care at all. I felt so frustrated tears threatened to fall again. As I gritted my teeth, there was a knock at the door.
With permission granted, two men entered. Both tall and dressed in knights’ uniforms. Lionel calmly invited the two knights, who bowed in knights’ fashion.
“Welcome to the Dilz Royal Palace, King’s Office. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Vice Commander Steiner, Secretary Rockwell.”
The two knights bowed even deeper when addressed.
“Long time no see. May King Lionel be in good spirits.”
“Five years ago, we received your personal discipline, and you engraved the essence of chivalry into us. We shall never forget this grace for life.”
Lionel nodded with satisfaction.
“Ha, quite impressive words. I feared you might slack off after I retired from the knights’ duties.”
“Not at all. The new Commander Ruifeng’s leadership is so strict that everyone fears him and tenses up. The fortress is always tense as if at war and gloomy as a funeral.”
Steiner shrugged and continued.
“Indeed, it’s the worst. That commander’s ruthlessness spares no one. Even newcomers who are unwell must meet the usual quotas. Failure results in added workload and even collective punishment."
“That’s no longer training or guidance—it’s just boasting of his strength. We admire but learn nothing.”
“Everyone’s on edge. It’s like a prison. We knights all hate that ‘Iron-faced Commander.’”