The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 30: Nightly Dialogue

Chapter 30: Nightly Dialogue

As the moon rose high and the castle fell silent, a light still glowed in the private chambers of the border count.

Lois Braveheart sat deeply in a heavy wooden chair, poring over an ancient document.

His face bore a mix of fatigue and contemplation.

“You’re still awake.”

Erina entered the room.

In her hands were two teacups, a fragrant aroma wafting from them.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Lois looked up from the document and smiled.

His wife’s kindness, honed over years together, softened his stern expression.

“Drink this. I added herbs to help you sleep.”

Erina offered him a teacup and sat across from him.

Her red hair gleamed in the firelight of the hearth.

“Thank you.”

He took the cup and sipped.

The warm liquid eased his throat, loosening his body’s tension.

“You’re thinking about Leia.”

Erina glanced at the document in his hands.

It was a record from the era of his father, the legendary hero and former border count.

“Yes.”

Lois smiled with pride.

“That girl truly takes after Father. The same fiery hair, the same indomitable spirit. According to Simon’s report, Leia’s swordsmanship in the dragon battle was like Father in his prime.”

“She’s a true Braveheart.”

Erina’s eyes shone with pride.

“I felt she was special from the moment she was born. She had a radiance different from the other children.”

The two shared a moment of quiet pride.

Outside, clouds veiled the moon, darkening the room further.

“The dragon’s words trouble me.”

Lois broke the silence.

“‘Ancient covenant’ and ‘stone tablet’… I can’t help but think they’re tied to Father’s legend.”

“The era when dragons and humans walked together?”

Erina’s voice carried unease.

Since marrying into the Braveheart family, she had studied its ancient lore.

The dragon-related tales particularly intrigued her, given her lineage as a mage.

“And Leia using the Dragonbane Flash…”

Lois spoke with a swell of pride.

“That technique is a legend only our family can wield. Even Father said he used it only once in his lifetime. For Leia to master it so young…”

“She has extraordinary talent. Our daughter isn’t just a noble’s child—she’s a true hero.”

Erina took her husband’s hand.

“That’s why the trials she faces will be great.”

Lois’s face grew pensive.

“After the ‘Battle of the Red Dragon,’ Father always seemed to carry a secret. He gained honor and glory, but also a heavy burden.”

“And now, that burden may pass to Leia.”

They fell silent again.

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

“That Granblue lad… Lord Alexander returns tomorrow, I hear.”

Lois changed the subject.

“Yes. Leia will be lonely.”

A faint smile touched Erina’s eyes.

“Her feelings are obvious to us, but… does Lord Alexander notice? Despite his engagement to Eleanor Frostheart…”

“It’s a political engagement, but a publicly acknowledged one.”

Lois spoke gravely.

“The alliance between the Granblue and Frostheart families is vital to the kingdom’s stability. Lord Alexander and Lady Eleanor’s engagement isn’t just about them.”

“But matters of the heart can’t be settled by politics.”

Erina sighed.

“How much Leia cares for him… yet she’ll never voice it. That pains me.”

“She carries the proud blood of the Bravehearts. She prioritizes the kingdom and its people over her own feelings.”

Lois’s voice held deep pride, tinged with a father’s sorrow.

“Did you see his face when he arrived?”

Erina said.

“The relief when he saw Leia… it felt like more than just friendship.”

“Lord Alexander may not even realize his own feelings.”

Lois stood and walked to the window.

“Men can be blind to the truth before them. I was like that in my youth.”

Erina smiled and joined him.

“Yes, it took you quite a while to notice my feelings.”

“Those three have been friends since childhood. It’s a complicated bond.”

“But I want Leia to be happy.”

Lois’s voice softened, a rare gentleness for the stern border count.

“She’s a strong girl. And wise. She’ll find her path.”

Erina smiled warmly.

“And as Lyla says, Leia and Alexander might be bound by the ‘red thread of fate.’”

“Lyla said that, did she?”

Lois flushed slightly, chuckling.

“That girl has her mother’s intuition.”

“Yes, but first, we must resolve this dragon matter.”

Erina’s expression turned serious.

“I hope Galen finds something in the archive.”

“I’ll help with the search tomorrow. There must be clues about the stone tablet.”

Lois gazed at the night sky.

“Leia is our pride. We must understand the mystery she’s unraveling.”

“We have to protect her.”

“We’ll all protect her. That’s the Braveheart bond.”

Erina placed a hand on her husband’s arm.

“Leia is truly special. Because of her, this house remains strong.”

“Indeed.”

Lois nodded deeply.

“Father must be proud of her from the heavens.”

Facing new trials ahead, they believed in their family’s strength.

“Come, it’s late. Let’s rest.”

Erina took Lois’s hand, and they slowly left the chamber.

In the corridor, the steady footsteps of knights echoed, signaling the peaceful night at Braveheart Castle.

—

From the barracks window, the moon shone beautifully tonight.

It was a special night with Lord Alexander staying at the castle.

I raised my tankard, scanning the faces of the young knights gathered.

“Commander Simon, are Lady Leia and Lord Alexander really childhood friends?”

Edgar, a young apprentice knight, asked.

He’d only joined our Dragonblood Knights last month.

“Yes, they’ve been friends since childhood.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Memories flooded back vividly.

“I remember the day Lady Leia first held a sword. Her eighth birthday. A gift from the former commander.”

“So young?”

“Yes. Most start with a wooden sword, but Lady Leia insisted on a real one. Even the late Border Count hesitated.”

Recalling that day still warmed my heart.

“The moment she grasped the sword, her eyes changed. I watched from the sidelines, and it’s unforgettable. Using enhancement magic, she wielded that heavy blade with skill, as if born a warrior. The sword seemed part of her.”

“Such talent.”

Harold, a veteran knight, interjected.

“Talent doesn’t cover it. She was destined to wield a sword.”

I drained my tankard and refilled it.

“By ten, she was defeating older children. I sparred with her often, but her progress stunned me.”

“I remember too,” said Darius, the deputy commander, another veteran.

“By twelve, she matched grown knights. By fifteen…”

Darius glanced at me meaningfully.

“Yes, at fifteen, she bested me.”

I admitted it without shame.

“Commander Simon?”

The young knights gasped.

“Fair and square. No mercy, no holding back.”

I’m called invincible among the Dragonblood Knights.

For a fifteen-year-old girl to defeat me was astounding.

“With such strength, why doesn’t Lady Leia compete in the capital’s sword tournaments?”

A young knight asked.

“That’s the Border Count’s will,” Harold answered.

“The Braveheart family avoids drawing undue attention, especially before the capital’s nobles.”

“And,” I added, “if someone like Lady Leia entered, victory would be certain. But a young woman outshining the capital’s knights would stir envy and resentment.”

“Yet her swordsmanship is truly beautiful,” Darius said, eyes narrowing.

“Like a dance. Not brute force, but flowing movements, each strike precise.”

“Indeed,” I nodded.

“Her sword carries ‘heart.’ Not mere skill. A steadfast will to protect her people resides in it.”

“That shone in the dragon battle,” Harold said gravely.

“She stayed calm, made sharp decisions. That’s a true warrior.”

“Yes, that was…”

I faltered, the memory too vivid.

“That battle with the fire dragon is etched in all our minds. Lady Leia stood at the forefront, never fleeing or using us as shields.”

“The Dragonbane Flash was breathtaking,” Darius said with reverence.

“I never thought I’d witness a legendary technique.”

“It’s her grandfather’s legacy,” I said quietly.

“Fifty years ago, in the Battle of the Red Dragon, the former Border Count struck that legendary blow. Lady Leia inherited it.”

“Remarkable,” the young knights said in unison.

“Lady Leia isn’t just beautiful,” I said, gazing at the moon through the window.

“She’s brave, wise, and above all, strong. Like a great flower—noble, beautiful, enduring any storm.”

“And she embodies a knight’s oath,” Harold added.

“Protecting the weak, prioritizing people’s safety over her own honor. That’s true nobility.”

“And she’s kind,” Darius said softly.

“She visits the sick, teaches orphans swordsmanship, dances with all at the harvest festival. The people adore her.”

“She’s truly our hero,” Edgar said, eyes shining.

“Yes,” I said proudly.

“A true hero of the Braveheart bloodline.”

As the wine flowed and laughter grew, a young apprentice knight asked hesitantly, “But does Lady Leia ever get angry? She’s so kind…”

The veteran knights exchanged glances.

“Lady Leia’s anger…” I set down my tankard, straightening.

“It’s something no one wants to see.”

“What?” the young knights exclaimed.

“Lady Leia never angers for herself,” I said, my gaze serious.

“No matter the insult or slight to her honor, she won’t draw her sword. But…”

“But when she’s angry for her comrades or subordinates, it’s like the wrath of the gods,” Harold said solemnly.

“For example?” the young knights leaned in.

“Let me tell you about the ‘Black Eagle Incident’ three years ago,” I said, lowering my voice.

“It’s a tale of shame for our Dragonblood Knights, but also one of pride…”

“The Black Eagle Incident, three years ago…”

I continued, my voice hushed, as the young knights leaned forward, listening intently.

“It was early spring. Tensions at the border were high, and the Border Count decided to bolster our defenses. So, we temporarily hired the ‘Black Eagle Mercenaries.’”

“I’ve heard of them,” Edgar said.

“A renowned group from the north.”

“Their skill was undeniable,” Harold said, his face grim.

“But their leader, Lancelot, was a cruel man. He and his lieutenants, the ‘Three Dragon Brothers,’ were skilled but arrogant and brutal. Like beasts.”

“One night,” I continued, my voice heavy, “in a tavern in the castle town, they provoked a young knight. Brian, then still an apprentice.”

The knights exchanged glances. Brian’s now a fine knight, but three years ago, he was green.

“They mocked the Dragonblood crest he wore, calling us ‘weaker than a little girl’s knights.’”

“Such insolence!” the young knights cried, outraged at the slight to our pride.

“Brian tried to stay calm. But they didn’t stop. They began insulting Lady Leia.”

I suppressed my anger, recalling their words.

“‘A red-haired girl barking orders at dogs.’ ‘She’s just a decoration. A woman’s sword is nothing. Knows nothing of real battle. Should I teach her with my blade below? Those fiery types are weak in bed.’ ‘If we tame that girl, make her ours, we could claim her husband’s title, rule this land, and improve your lot.’ Unforgivable words.”

“That’s…” the young knights gasped.

“Brian couldn’t take it and stood. Lancelot himself rose, drawing his sword. Brian fought back, but the Three Dragon Brothers joined, making it four against one, a cowardly fight.”

My voice trembled.

“They surrounded Brian, stabbed his shoulder and thigh, and when he fell, they stomped him. As they moved to crush his left eye with a sword tip, other patrons intervened.”

“Barbaric!” the young knights’ faces twisted with anger.

“Brian was gravely injured. The patrons saved him and carried him to the castle. His state then…”

I faltered, struggling for words.

“Covered in blood, his left eye barely spared, wounds everywhere.”

“When Lady Leia heard, her demeanor changed,” I continued in a low voice.

“I was there. The look on her face when she saw Brian lying in the infirmary—I’ll never forget it.”

“What was it like?” a young knight asked.

“I felt flames of anger radiating from her entire being,” Darius interjected.

“I saw it too. Her usually gentle eyes burned red as blood. She said nothing, touched Brian’s forehead, and when she turned…”

“That look made me feel fear,” I confessed honestly.

“She left the infirmary, grabbed her sword without armor, and leapt onto a horse.”

“We scrambled to follow. I offered to accompany her, but she snapped, ‘Stand down! This is my matter!’”

“Her voice had a coldness unthinkable for Lady Leia,” Harold said, his voice trembling.

“I dared suggest, ‘At least take guards,’ but she didn’t look back, saying, ‘Don’t interfere.’”

“In the end, five of us followed her in secret, defying her orders,” I said, looking up.

“When we reached the tavern, it had already begun.”

“What happened?” the young knights asked, breathless.

“The tavern held over twenty Black Eagle Mercenaries, led by Lancelot, celebrating their ‘victory’ over Brian,” Darius said, his voice darkening.

“Lady Leia entered quietly and asked, ‘Are you the ones who attacked a Braveheart knight?’”

“Lancelot, drunk, laughed, ‘That dog? He needed more training.’”

I vividly recalled the scene.

“In that instant, Lady Leia’s figure blurred, reappearing before Lancelot. No one could track her movement.”

“And then…” Harold continued.

“She said, ‘This is training,’ and with one slash, Lancelot’s head flew.”

“No way…” the young knights’ faces paled.

“Yes. She felled the mercenary leader in a moment. Blood sprayed, and the room froze.”

“But that was only the beginning,” Darius added.

“The Three Dragon Brothers roared in rage and lunged at her. Lady Leia then…”

“She was like a red reaper,” I said, my voice shaking.

“Her blood-stained sword tore through them. It wasn’t swordsmanship—it was a dance of slaughter.”

“The first had his chest pierced, the second lost both arms, the third…”

“The third?” a young knight pressed.

“The third had his abdomen slashed, then his throat stabbed.”

The barracks fell silent.

“To display such swordsmanship in mere seconds—Lady Leia was a legend,” Harold said solemnly.

“But her anger didn’t subside,” I continued.

“The remaining mercenaries, gripped by fear, tried to flee.”

“But Lady Leia said, ‘Where are you going?’ and cut them down one by one. ‘Cowards have no right to escape.’”

“It’s said she was like an incarnation of flame,” Edgar said, his voice hoarse.

“Yes, her red hair flowing in the wind, blood dripping from her sword to the floor. Beautiful yet terrifying,” Darius said, closing his eyes in recollection.

“When we cautiously entered, nearly twenty mercenary corpses lay around her. One young mercenary, trembling, begged for his life.”

“Lady Leia approached, sword tip at his throat,” I said, my voice low.

“She said, ‘Spread what you saw here across the world. This is the fate of those who harm Braveheart knights,’ and let him go.”

“That’s the truth of the Black Eagle Incident,” Harold concluded.

“That young mercenary fled north, spreading the tale. Since then, no one dares oppose the Bravehearts.”

“Lady Leia returned to the castle and went straight to Brian’s infirmary,” Darius said softly.

“Still holding her bloodied sword, she visited daily until his recovery, saying, ‘I can’t forgive those who hurt my knights.’”

“This is Lady Leia’s true nature,” I said quietly.

“She never angers for herself, but for her comrades, her people, her rage is like hellfire, merciless.”

“Terrifying… yet noble,” Edgar said with reverence.

“Her sword carries ‘heart,’” Harold said.

“A fierce will to protect her people. That’s why her anger burns like flame.”

“But,” Darius added, “that flame burns only for justice, never for selfish gain.”

“The next day, when the Border Count questioned her, Lady Leia simply said, ‘I delivered just judgment.’”

I traced the memory.

“The Border Count nodded silently and reminded us of the Dragonblood Oath.”

“The Dragonblood Oath—our vow to protect the weak, judge the wicked, and above all, safeguard the people’s peace,” we all recited solemnly.

“That’s why we are her sword and shield,” I declared quietly but firmly.

“We fight, risking our lives, to uphold her ideals. That’s the Dragonblood Knights’ oath.”

“The Dragonblood Oath!” the knights echoed in unison.

The moon began tilting west, the night growing late.

“Come, it’s late. Tomorrow, Lord Alexander departs. We must ensure flawless security.”

I stood, and the young knights followed.

Before leaving the barracks, I paused alone at the window, gazing at the castle.

Lights still glowed in Lord Alexander’s guest room and Lady Leia’s chamber.

“Our proud princess,” I whispered to myself.

“Your anger, your mercy—we’ll protect it all.”

I quietly closed the barracks door.

Tomorrow, another day begins.

A peaceful day, guarded by Lady Leia and our Dragonblood Knights.