Chapter 18: The Frozen Mine

Watching the knights as they ate, Rohan asked Martin.

"Do you have the list of knights?"

"Yes, I do."

Martin pulled out a sheet of paper from inside his coat.

"Hmm."

Rohan unfolded the paper and nodded.

'As expected.'

As he thought, all of them were knights from commoner backgrounds.

In particular, Hans was a veteran knight who had served in the Imperial Capital for ten years, but had yet to be assigned to any palace.

"I don't need much, so bring more meat to the knights."

Rohan gestured toward the prepared rabbit meat.

"Are you sure about that?"

"This one bowl is enough for me."

Lifting his empty bowl to show it, Martin nodded as if he understood and approached the knights.

"His Highness says all the leftover meat from the hunt is yours, so don't be stingy with it."

"What? Is that true?"

One knight, nose buried in his bowl, suddenly looked up and asked.

The other knights nearby turned their gazes as well, whispering among themselves.

"All that meat is ours?"

"His Highness has finished eating."

"Huh."

"Tomorrow at dawn, we'll be eating in Kizan Village, so finish everything off."

After delivering the message, Martin returned to Rohan.

"I've told them."

"Well done. It's a relief we won't be camping tomorrow."

If they passed through Kizan Village in the Blazer Territory, they'd reach another village by evening.

After leaving Blazer Territory, the Werald Road connecting the west and south would stretch out straight ahead, making the journey much easier from then on.

The budget allocated for this expedition was ample, so there would be no problem with eating and sleeping together.

"It's been a long time since I've traveled so far from the Imperial Capital."

Watching the knights enjoy their meal, Rohan smiled softly.

The shrill cries of crickets echoed through the forest, and the night birds sang, making the woods seem utterly peaceful.

---

Six days passed.

"Just tonight and we'll be at the Gerald Territory."

At Hans' words, Rohan smiled and nodded.

The campsite glowed with the campfire.

There, they sat in a circle, welcoming the warm flames.

"You've all worked hard to come this far."

"Not at all. Thanks to Your Highness, we've come here quite comfortably."

Hans waved his hand as he spoke.

To reach the secluded Gerald Territory, they had to make additional camp stops along the way.

Every time they camped, Rohan displayed amazing cooking skills, and because of that, the knights' attitudes had changed drastically from before.

"You assigned us good lodgings and made sure we had every meal without worry... We're the ones who should be grateful."

The other knights, listening, all nodded in agreement.

They were people who, even after passing the tough knight exam, had never been welcomed anywhere.

Yet this prince before them had given them his all.

The proof was in their eyes.

Unlike at the start of their journey, their gazes toward Rohan were now warm and loyal.

Their hidden prejudice against nobles and royalty had been overturned because of Rohan.

'He's different!'

They realized it.

Over the past few days, watching Rohan up close, they saw he was truly unlike the other royals.

"As you all know, I myself was originally a commoner."

At Rohan's words, everyone fell silent and listened intently.

"I often miss the days when it was just me and my beloved mother, living happily together. Chopping wood, boiling soup, roasting potatoes. In winter, rolling in the snow, and in summer, battling the swarms of insects that would come without warning."

"..."

"Even after I became a prince, it was hard to adjust at first. The Imperial Capital was so different from the world I knew. And the responsibility of being a 'prince' felt so vague and distant."

The faces of the knights grew more serious.

A boyish prince of only fourteen was speaking about responsibility.

As commoners themselves, they knew just how much they'd been looked down on in the capital.

How much more difficult must it have been for Rohan, who had suddenly gone from a common child to a prince?

The knights' faces grew complicated.

"I know I've made a lot of mistakes until now."

Rohan smiled faintly.

"But things will be different now. To fulfill my responsibility, I chose this trip to Gerald as my first step... and you are the ones who've come to help me take that important first step. How could I not be grateful?"

"Your Highness..."

"Ahem..."

The knights furrowed their brows, unable to continue speaking.

'How can someone so young be so thoughtful!'

'Prince Rohan truly is different from those born and raised in the Imperial Capital.'

'Someone like him... I'd be proud to serve.'

Their hearts trembled with emotion.

There was a vast social gap between them and Rohan, but as fellow commoners, the knights could empathize with him and, at the same time, were captivated by him.

"Well then, tomorrow we'll finally arrive at Gerald Territory. Since it's the last night, Martin and I will take the watch tonight."

"What?"

"Your Highness?"

"It's fine. This is our job!"

The knights all jumped to their feet at Rohan's words.

Rohan smiled gently at the sight.

"I just can't sleep. How about you, Martin? You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not."

Even if they'd spared no expense and rested along the way, the fatigue of those who had come by carriage and those who had come on horseback was completely different.

"If you all look worn out when we make our first impression tomorrow, it'll be embarrassing for me."

Looking at the gaunt faces of the knights, Rohan stood up.

Then, with a serious look, he crossed his arms and spoke.

"This is an order. All of you, go to sleep."

"Heh heh."

"Shall we, then?"

Smiles appeared at the corners of the knights' lips.

After all, the sight of a young prince sternly declaring "This is an order" was incredibly endearing to them.

"Your Highness, if you get tired, or if anything happens, please wake us right away, all right?"

Hans, the dispatch leader who had grown much closer during the journey, whispered to Rohan.

"I will."

When Rohan nodded, Hans clapped his hands and shouted.

"All knights, sleep! Wake up early, wash up, and enter Gerald Territory looking dignified and splendid!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Understood!"

After a brief bustle, the knights each wrapped themselves in their blankets and tried to sleep.

Snore, kuuu!

Krrrr!

Loud snores echoed through the dusky forest.

Crackle, crackle.

The campfire's light flickered in the dark woods.

Martin sat quietly, watching the flames, while Rohan idly scratched the dirt with a branch, lost in thought.

At that moment.

"Your Highness."

Martin's voice broke the silence.

"May I ask why you're moving like this all of a sudden?"

Tap.

The branch Rohan was using to scratch the ground stopped.

He had expected this question eventually.

Ever since returning to the past and doing things differently, he had anticipated that Martin would find it odd.

"You know, Martin."

Rohan put down the branch and looked at Martin.

"If you could go back to the past, when would you want to return?"

"...."

Martin's face grew puzzled.

Instead of answering, Rohan had thrown him an unexpected question.

"I'm not sure what you mean, but... if I could return, I'd like to go back to when I was ten."

"Ten? Why is that?"

Given his age was in his mid-twenties, that would be about fifteen years ago.

"That's when my mother died."

"...I see."

It was a heavy story.

"How did she pass away?"

In his previous life, Rohan had never talked about Martin's family, so he was curious.

Martin spoke in his usual blunt tone.

"There was a fire at home. My half-brother started it."

"What?"

Rohan's eyebrows shot up.

"But no one took responsibility for my mother's death."

"Why? You said your half-brother started it?"

"A prank."

Martin's eyes looked at something beyond the campfire.

"They said it was just an eleven-year-old's prank, so it wasn't intentional."

"Hah..."

"I couldn't object to anything back then. My mother wasn't the legal wife, and I was an illegitimate son, so no one would listen to me."

It was truly a wretched story.

"I decided to become a knight from then on."

Martin's fists clenched tight.

"I see, so that's what happened."

Rohan let out a soft sigh.

"It's the same for me."

"...?"

"Even if I was just a foolish prince who lived as a commoner, a prince is still a prince, right?"

Rohan stared into the burning flames as he spoke.

"Until now, I've denied and avoided this sudden reality. But I thought that if I stayed like this, I'd end up with deep regrets later. Even as a prince, I had no power at all."

"...!"

"If you have something you want to protect, you need strength, don't you? So I decided to gain power."

"Your Highness."

Martin's pupils trembled.

He saw his younger self overlapping with the prince before him.

"Those who wield power and rule the capital. Those who, holding authority, neglect the people. The Imperial Capital has grown rotten to the core."

And after Emperor Beltar passed away, those people would reveal the blades they'd been hiding.

Rohan knew this better than anyone, so he couldn't just stand by.

"...Your Highness."

Martin could hardly believe it.

This young prince, his master who once seemed so childish, harbored such deep intentions!

"I, Martin Ronessis, apologize for not realizing Your Highness's profound intentions."

Martin gazed at Rohan's youthful profile and made up his mind.

He would follow his lord's will to the very end.

No matter what, he would do his utmost to see Rohan's cause fulfilled.

And so.

The last night before their journey to Gerald Territory came to an end.

---

The next day.

Inside the carriage adorned with the royal crest, Rohan gazed out the window.

'We've arrived.'

The Gerald Lord's Castle that met Rohan's eyes was exceedingly plain.

Ivy crept along the castle walls, and streaks of black from the coal mines were drawn across the castle by the rain.

"It's certainly different from other lords' castles."

Martin, also peering out the window, commented.

"I heard the Lord of Gerald has no interest in appearance or decorations. Maybe the state of this castle reflects the owner's character."

In an empire where nobles generally loved ostentation and decoration, such a noble was rare.

"What carriage is that?"

"Isn't that the royal crest?"

The locals grew curious at the unfamiliar carriages and procession of knights.

Before they knew it, the carriage came to a stop.

As Rohan stepped out, he saw the people before him.

Dressed simply, they looked remarkably alike at a glance.

They were members of the Gerald Baron family.

The man standing in the center walked up to Rohan.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

A simple, unadorned greeting.

Rohan smiled softly and replied.

"Baron Gerald. Pleased to meet you."

And, it's been a long time.