ATPL 29

While he was officially supposed to join the Dragon Knights as a special member, Sir Abelard, who was accompanying Lord Resaloniki, had been sulking ever since leaving the Imperial Palace.

When Anais glanced up at his puffy face, Abelard shot her a glare.

“What?”

“Anais didn’t say anything.”

“Your eyes were saying it all.”

“My goodness, how shameless.”

Anais responded, pretending to wrap her arms around herself.

“Don’t say such romantic things to Anais, you philanderer!”

“What nonsense! I said your eyes look dirty!”

“Lord Resaloniki! Sir Abelard is trying to seduce Anais!”

“Hey! Who do you think you are, riding around on a mule?”

Elliot Resaloniki, who was riding ahead, heard the commotion behind him and couldn’t help but wonder.

Should I abandon them both…?

If Elliot had been even slightly more irresponsible, he might have done so. But as the Captain of the Dragon Knights, he couldn’t just leave them. After all, one of them was the Imperial heir, and the other, a victim of possession.

As the thought crossed his mind, Elliot began to waver.

Even if he couldn’t abandon both, perhaps he could leave one behind?

Of course, Elliot was a knight who honored his promises and prided himself on being the most righteous person on the continent.

However, ever since encountering those two, no, ever since meeting Anais Fleur…

“Just take off that wretched mask!”

“Wretched? You’re no better than a beggar, having been kicked out of your own home!”

“Eek! Just you wait, when I get back, I’ll burn Belfast to the ground!”

Anais stuck her tongue out with a cheeky “bleeh,” but accidentally bit it because of the mule’s awkward gait, making her wince.

Abelard began giggling, swaying in his saddle.

Elliot sighed and halted his horse.

“Enough, both of you. One more word and Sir Abelard will be sent back to the capital. As for Lady Fleur…”

Anais looked at him quizzically, scrunching her chin like a walnut. What? Why?

Elliot hesitated, wondering if what he was about to say would make him seem less than human.

“I’ll cancel your debt guarantee,” he said finally.

“Oh my!”

Anais gasped, placing both hands on her cheeks as though she’d never heard anything so outrageous.

Beside her, Abelard clicked his tongue.

“Debt? What kind of grand family are you from that you need a debt guarantee from the Captain of the Black Dragon Knights?”

Of course, by now, Abelard had figured it out. Anais wasn’t Sir Florence—she was Lady Fleur.

After all, this was a journey requiring the Crown Prince’s presence. A person of uncertain status couldn’t accompany them.

Eventually, the story of why the 33rd possession victim had to travel with the Captain of the Black Dragon Knights came to light.

The Empress had been sympathetic, and Abelard had been dumbfounded.

Additionally, the Empress, feeling sorry for Anais, had ordered her favorite cookies to be baked for her, and Anais’s mule was loaded with a bundle of them.

‘Ah, Anais’s family is quite well-known in Belfast, too? Though it might seem insignificant to someone of the Crown Prince’s status!’

Rather than mention this, Anais remained quiet. Abelard, too, soon fell silent.

They couldn’t let rumors spread that the Crown Prince had been kicked out of the Dragon Knights just three days after his special admission.

The three were traveling to Reims via gate. Though the Empress had belatedly worried about sending a couple of attendants, Elliot Resaloniki had kept his word.

They departed with just the three of them, with Crown Prince Abelard serving as Elliot’s apprentice.

However, since Anais could no longer ride on Elliot’s horse, she had to settle for a mule.

Originally, the Empress, sympathizing with Anais, had tried to provide her with a horse. But all the palace horses were large, sturdy warhorses, some of the finest in breeding. They were too big and too intelligent for Anais to ride.

If Anais, who struggled to control them, tried to mount one, the horses would immediately reject her and refuse to listen.

So, Anais ended up riding a mule, typically used for carrying soil and fertilizer in the Imperial Gardens. It was a pretty mule, but it lacked the endurance of a proper warhorse.

Naturally, their journey became a rather pastoral and chaotic one.

The former was because the horses were moving at a leisurely pace, allowing them to enjoy the Empire’s stunning late spring scenery. The latter was due to the constant bickering between Anais and Abelard.

Anyway, for this journey, the Imperial Crown Prince was Elliot’s apprentice, as was Anais, in a similar position.

So Elliot had implored them both:

‘Please treat each other as equals. Especially you, Sir Abelard. Though this journey might seem trivial, it is a mission under the Dragon Lord’s orders to prevent rifts in the world. So remember, Lady Fleur is just as important as you.’

At first, Anais had been cautious with her words—after all, her counterpart was the Imperial Crown Prince.

But Abelard’s tone was confrontational, and besides, Elliot had made it clear that there was no hierarchy between the two.

So, Anais gradually stopped letting Abelard’s comments slide.

“I’ve never seen such a princess complex in my life.”

“Ah, if only you weren’t the Crown Prince.”

“If I weren’t the Crown Prince, what? You’d hit me?”

“No? I was going to say ‘prince complex,’ but then I remembered you actually are the Crown Prince.”

Abelard snorted triumphantly, but one should always listen to the full context of someone’s words. Anais shrugged.

“So you’re saying you were born with the condition?”

“What did you say?”

“You two. It seems you’ve forgotten what I just said.”

At Elliot’s words, both of them fell silent. Yet they both pouted at each other, their behaviors completely in sync.

Elliot rubbed his aching forehead.

“Anyway, it seems we don’t have far to go until Reims. We should arrive before lunch today.”

Anais noted, looking at the map.

Reims was a fair distance from the capital. Though on the way to the Northern Neuze Grand Duchy, it wasn’t prosperous enough to have its own gate.

Thus, the three had taken a gate from the capital to the largest nearby city and were traveling from there.

Abelard, with a touch of sarcasm, remarked.

“If it weren’t for that mule, we’d have arrived long ago and would be napping in the lord’s castle by now.”

“If you’re that disappointed, why don’t you go ahead? Though you still won’t be able to nap in the lord’s castle.”

Anais replied primly. Abelard furrowed his brows.

“Why?”

“As I’ve been saying, ‘Sir Abelard’.

Finally, Abelard clicked his tongue in realization.

Right. He was an apprentice.

“Then shall we stay at an inn?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Elliot interjected.

“We will not to stay in Reims.”

“What?”

“Why?”

Both Anais and Abelard raised their voices together in surprise. Elliot glanced at them with a subtle expression before continuing.

“We’ll postpone Reims and head directly to the Grand Duchy today.”

“Is that really necessary?” Anais asked.

“Really. Is the Duke of Neuze’s matter so urgent?”

“That’s not it, is it? We need to find Sir Abelard’s first love.”

After a brief hesitation, Elliot replied.

“I think it would be better to meet the Duke of Neuze first, rather than deal with matters that can’t be resolved immediately.”

This was unlike the usually calm and wise Elliot. Abelard held his reins and smirked.

“This is why you bookworms… Lord Resaloniki, you’ve never courted a woman, have you?”

“Why is the conversation going this way…”

“Marriage isn’t something that happens overnight. First, I need to find out who my first love is and if she’s even there. That takes time.”

“…”

“But she might not even be in Reims right now, so it’ll definitely take a while. It’s better to visit the Duke of Neuze while we wait for news to spread.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

Anais nodded thoughtfully. Elliot furrowed his brow.

“I don’t think it would be too difficult to find a blonde girl with green eyes in Reims. Though blondes are common in the north, green eyes aren’t that typical among them…”

Abelard’s face crumpled as he spoke.

Because there, right before them, was a blonde girl with green eyes staring directly at him.

“I’m asking just in case, but when were you in Reims?”

“Ha! Since you ask, I shall answer! Anais was in Reims every summer!”

Anais shot back as if waiting for this moment. The Crown Prince’s face twisted even more.

“You seem to be from a well-off family. Surely, the House of Fleur wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave a noble daughter alone in the forest…”

“Shall I reveal some facts about House Fleur’s upbringing that might contradict Sir Abelard’s common sense?”

“Don’t. Just don’t.”

Abelard waved his hand in disgust. Anais snickered.

“Unfortunately, Anais has no memory of meeting a foolish boy who fell off his horse and was left alone in the forest.”

“How old were you ten years ago?” Abelard asked.

“Ten years old.”

“Alright, you pass.”

Abelard snapped his fingers in relief. That’s when Elliot cleared his throat.

Only then did both realize they had strayed from the topic.

Abelard scratched the back of his neck, looking apologetic.

“Anyway, the real game starts after we find that first love. We’ll need to interact gradually, let feelings develop, and then marriage proposals can happen.”

“How considerate of you.”

“Only you don’t know that I’m the biggest playboy in the Empire.”

Abelard grinned. Anais sneered and drove her mule without responding.

“Anyway, even if we find that lady, I can’t just show up like a bandit and say, ‘You’re my first love and I’m the Crown Prince of the Empire. Let’s get married!’ and drag her to the temple, Lord Resaloniki.”

“…”