Chapter 13 - Once in a Lifetime
◆ I caught a glimpse of the kingdom's authority.
--- The day of the ceremony to celebrate the second coming of age arrived ---
I donned the formal attire prepared for me. The ceremonial outfit clung perfectly to my body. At sixteen, my figure was still in the process of developing. In other words, this suit would only be of use for this one occasion. I bitterly smiled at the thought of spending such a large sum for something that would only be worn once—as expected of a high-ranking marquis family's young heir.
Normally, I wore the somewhat oversized clothing provided by the Magic Academy, anticipating my physical growth. As I looked at myself in the full-length mirror in my dorm room, a saying from my previous life came to mind.
"...Fine feathers make fine birds, huh. Even a rustic man from the frontier, when properly dressed, can become someone worthy of attention."
。
Yesterday, I had my hair trimmed short at a facility attached to the dormitory. My face, though plain, now carried a sharp and somewhat refined look. The formal attire, crafted from luxurious fabric, completed the ensemble. If I were to hang a sword at my waist, I might even pass for a knight in ceremonial uniform. Of course, there were no insignias on the collar, nor even a single ribbon on the chest pocket. Because of that, the outfit bore a striking resemblance to the simplest uniform of a reserve staff officer in the national army. That guy… he planned this, didn’t he?
I put on my well-worn but carefully polished shoes and left my dorm room. Once I wore this formal attire, my posture naturally straightened. I recalled the lessons on etiquette taught at the Magic Academy, reminding myself to act accordingly with the formality of the clothing.
As I walked through the dormitory, I felt the curious gazes of my classmates saying, "Who is that?" and the subtle, warmer stares from their fiancées. The carriage area in front of the dorm was bustling. Many were boarding carriages prepared by their families, as gentlemen and ladies made their way to the venue in accordance with their ranks.
The location for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was usually the grand auditorium of the Magic Academy. However, this year, since a member of the royal family was also coming of age, the ceremony was to be held in the grand hall of the royal castle as a special exception. It was something of a tradition. As for me, I neither had the opportunity nor the financial means to arrange for a carriage. Thus, I made my way to the venue on foot.
The distance between the Magic Academy and the royal castle wasn’t very far. With the physical training I had undergone in the knight department’s practical exercises, I could reach it in less than fifteen minutes. The route from the dormitory to the castle passed through the noble district, but now that I thought about it, I had never ventured into the noble district before. Unable to suppress my curiosity, I found myself gazing at the grand estates of the high-ranking nobles that lined the streets.
Compared to the manor of my knightly family in the frontier, these magnificent and beautiful buildings felt like palaces. A sudden sense of nostalgia for my hometown washed over me. My hometown, near the monster-infested forest at the border. Our home was constantly on edge, always under the threat of monsters and magic beasts. I remembered that our home had always been in a state of readiness, and it struck me just how constant the threat to our lives had been. In the royal capital, there was no such sense of danger.
And because of that, I, a mere country dweller, couldn’t help but feel that a sort of wall existed between people. In the frontier, we lived on the edge of danger, constantly aware of the threat to our lives. That being the case, I understood that people in such places bonded more strongly, spoke their thoughts openly, remained vigilant of their surroundings, and carried a stronger sense of protecting one another.
A faint, self-deprecating smile crossed my face. When I thought about whether I had made any true friendships at the Magic Academy, I realized that I had never really formed any with people my age. At best, I’d say any relationships I had were formed out of some ulterior motive. On the other hand, the instructors had treated me well. The important thing I had to remember was that my place was in the frontier, not in the royal capital. Therefore, I didn’t feel much dissatisfaction with my current situation.
Though it was still morning and the sunlight wasn’t too strong, I arrived at the royal palace without breaking a sweat. The royal palace of our kingdom, a massive white stone castle, was the center of politics. It was, of course, the residence of His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and the royal family. It was a place of both dignity and authority, and a place where someone like me—just the third son of a knightly family—had no reason to set foot in.
--- I offered my gratitude to God for the rare opportunity to gain entry.
Upon entering the castle, I presented proof that I was a student of the Magic Academy. The guards were greatly surprised. They probably hadn’t expected me to walk into the castle on foot, and given that I wasn’t even accompanied by a servant, it was only natural for them to harbor doubts.
The guards asked me to present my identification. The Proof of Enrolment from the Magic Academy was impossible to duplicate, and if forged, it would result in execution. The guards, knowing this, recognized me as an attendee of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and treated me accordingly.
Given my position, I had no reason to reproach them. I was deeply moved by their dedication to their duties. Therefore, in respect for them, I offered a salute of a trainee knight. Showing sincere respect for their loyalty and high standards was a natural act for someone from the frontier like myself.
The guards were once again quite astonished. It seemed that it was rare for someone of my status to offer such a proper salute to lower-ranking guards. As I continued walking, I took in the beautiful surroundings within the castle walls, but my thoughts also drifted. I had been taught from a young age that nobles exist because of the people, and a country exists because of its people. To me, the actions of the guards seemed nothing less than perplexing.
Why had they had to shrink themselves so much to survive? Why had there been a need to be so humble? Despite differences in birth, anyone born and raised in this country, and who had sworn loyalty to the king and offered their allegiance, should have been equally worthy of respect. They had been loyal to their duties, playing a role in protecting the nobility within the castle from danger. There should have been no reason to look down on them.
Respect, in my view, should be based on an individual’s heart and pride, not on titles or wealth. That’s what I had been taught. Thus, even though I was of lower rank, I had been raised with the education to become a man of high pride and dignity. For a man from a knightly family in the borderlands, that way of thinking had become second nature. Because of that, I was constantly exposed to a sense of discomfort here in the royal capital.
The royal palace’s grand hall was as magnificent as I had heard. It was so vast that even with all the Magic Academy students celebrating their coming-of-age, it might still have felt empty. Only when the students’ families were present did it reach a density similar to the knight department's training hall at the academy.
I, not requiring an escort, stood by the wall and observed the grand hall carefully. Portraits depicting the great deeds of past kings adorned the walls. These were works of art so magnificent that even the art department at the Magic Academy would scarcely have such masterpieces on display.
There were records of countless battles. The many military campaigns taught to us by the professors in our history classes. In the midst of those campaigns, during moments of victory, or even in the midst of fierce retreat battles, it was the royal men who led from the front. These were the battles that would later serve as a crucible for those who would become kings and lead the kingdom. The scenes of those pivotal moments were vividly depicted in a series of paintings, crafted with the utmost skill by the artists.
--- I couldn’t help but be in awe.
In the distant borderlands surrounding the kingdom, the noble blood of the royal family was shed, and the honor of the aristocracy was born... only to fade away. The strong wills of the warriors throughout history, who wished for a peaceful kingdom, stirred deep emotions in me as I felt the desperate thoughts of the past kings and the royal family, who fought so fiercely for the kingdom’s survival.
Then, I too had to carry on that resolve. In the borderlands, I have to guide the still unstable land to peace and tranquility. That was the pride I held, having been born a man of a knightly family.
I tightly pressed my lips together, my gaze fixed intently on the painting that depicted the current king's campaign as crown prince.
And then, at that moment...
--- A cool, light voice reached my ears.
Comments
Post a Comment