0&1 Ch 5.3

Grey fiddled with his ear. For a threat to work, it had to instill fear. He knew that, but Edward still felt a little creepy sometimes.

That must be how he survived in the royal palace, even with the Queen who regarded him as a thorn in her side.

Grey had no reason to worry about Edward.

The way Edward was being unusually kind to Joffrey must have been calculated.

“Don’t try to understand the royal family.”

But why was Prince Joffrey acting like that? Did he believe that Grey and Edward would be fooled by him? Was he really that foolish?

Grey shook his head. Distracting thoughts kept popping into his mind.

Listen to your father’s words.

Grey didn’t need to understand royalty. His duty was to act as a friend to the two princes and weigh them against each other. Which one would be more beneficial to the Kingdom?

That was the duty of Grey, the heir to the Prime Minister.

The second time I saw Sir Baumkuchen, he looked different from before. I wondered what had changed, and then I realized he wasn’t wearing any medals.

He’d even arrived before the lesson started.

“Your Highness, Joffrey.” Sir Baumkuchen bowed.

“You look well, Sir.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“How will today’s lesson go? More physical training?”
“You’re teasing me, Your Highness. You’re not the person I heard about.”
“Really? What did they say?”

“That you have a tender heart and respect your parents.” Sir Baumkuchen replied coolly.

Was he saying I was a child hiding in the Queen’s skirt?

The stablemaster brought out a horse. It was not Sweetie.

“Where is Sweetie?”
“Her Majesty… I’m sorry.”

The stablemaster lowered his head. I pulled myself together.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for telling me.”

All Joffrey could do with the Queen’s name was put the horse in the stable.

If the Queen wanted to take the horse out of the stable and punish it, there was nothing he could do.

I patted the brown horse the stablemaster had brought and fed it sugar, just like I had with Sweetie. “I’m sorry you had such a bad owner,” I said.

Baumkuchen looked at me with interest. What, did he think I couldn’t handle horses at all?

“It’s not my horse, but I know how to get on it if there’s a step. I can also give it a warning signal. Running is too much, but let’s just say I was too eager yesterday.”
“Is that what I should tell the Queen?”
“No. I’ll do the talking. You just stand there looking apologetic.”

A mysterious smile spread across Sir Baumkuchen’s face.

“Are you really concerned about a presumptuous person like me? A lowly servant who doesn’t even know his place? You are too kind.”
“It’s not something I can’t understand… I do feel sorry for you.”
“You’re sorry for me? For someone who dared to refuse the honor of teaching the prince?”

“Are you deaf? The horse that carried me yesterday died. I know you’re called a hero, but don’t expect better treatment from the Queen than what you’ve already received.” His brazen attitude was infuriating, but for some reason, Sir Baumkuchen seemed even more amused.

“Of course, a knight is supposed to serve his lord like a horse, isn’t he?”
“That doesn’t mean you want to die like a horse, does it? If you don’t value your life, just say so. I don’t enjoy defending you.“

“If Your Highness saves my life, how could I ever repay that debt?” Baumkuchen suddenly turned serious.

”… I was exaggerating about your life. Would the Queen treat a national hero so carelessly?“
”No. As you said, I am a hero, and you are saving a precious life. I am a man who cannot live with a debt.”
“So?”
“Is there nothing you want from me?”

Sir Baumkuchen smiled. It was a confident smile that was nothing like Alex’s.

“I just want you to show up to your lessons.”
“Well, that’s my job.”

So, he did know it was his job.

“How about teaching one more child?”
“A child? Who are you talking about? If it’s to accompany the prince in his riding lessons…”
“No. To become a knight.”

Sir Baumkuchen frowned but did not refuse immediately.

“Who?”
“I’ll introduce you. If you show up again tomorrow.”
“I said I would come.”

How did a guy with that attitude even become a knight? I guess this country didn’t demand much from them. Manners clearly weren’t part of the requirements.

At that moment, the Queen entered the training yard, followed by a retinue. Sir Baumkuchen and I both fell silent.

The Queen kissed my forehead and looked at Sir Baumkuchen. Baumkuchen placed his fist on his chest in a sign of respect.

“Don’t mind me. Just conduct the lesson as usual. Think of me as a gentle breeze.” She smiled.

For a breeze, she was awfully overpowering, but we went along with it.

Her soft hand slipped from my cheek. That hand had killed Sweetie.

I mounted the new horse.

The lesson proceeded without incident. I rode around the training ground, and the queen watched and applauded.

The attendants behind the queen began to cheer, and by the time I had circled the training ground twice, my face felt like it was going to burst.

“Magnificent, Your Highness.”
“How can you be so graceful?”

The Queen’s maids praised me with voices as sweet as pearls.

The Queen listened to the flattery, which was enough to make one’s ears burn, with a pleased expression. She did not leave the training ground.

The attendant holding her parasol was soaked with sweat.

The Queen’s maids also looked as though their legs were aching. They were wearing high heels and dresses.

The Queen herself, dressed just as uncomfortably, didn’t budge. She simply watched me.

I practiced riding and galloping lightly. As the horse picked up speed, an irrational fear returned.

I took a breath and loosened my shoulders.

The Queen waited for me in the same spot until I had ridden several laps and dismounted with a big smile.

“That’ll be all for today’s lesson.”
“Thank you again, Sir.”

I handed the reins to a servant and approached the Queen.

She took a handkerchief from an attendant. Under the shadow of her parasol, she extended her arm toward me.

I closed my eyes and felt her gentle touch as she wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“Prince, do you have nothing to say to your mother?”

What should I say to the Queen?

“Thank you for introducing me to a good teacher.”

Sir Baumkuchen glanced at me and the Queen burst into laughter.

“Prince, would you like to have dinner with me?”
“Yes. I’ll get cleaned up first. Please wait a moment.”
“All right. I’ll wait. You are so kind, my prince.”

The queen continued to laugh. The atmosphere was pleasant. Perhaps I could bring up the orphanage today.

“Kind prince.”

As soon as the Queen disappeared, Sir Baumkuchen became annoying.

“Sir. Aren’t you leaving?”
“I am. You seem to be good at sports.”
“No need to flatter me.”
“I’m serious. When is the hunt?”
“Three months from now.”
“Alright. Let’s try to get praised by His Majesty.”

Sir Baumkuchen was enthusiastic. Why all of a sudden? He was a peculiar person in many ways.

“There’s no need to go that far. He won’t praise me anyway.”
“Don’t you want to be recognized by His Majesty?”
“I do.”

That’s what Joffrey would have said. If the King praised him, the Queen would be happy. But I wasn’t the type to waste my energy on something that wouldn’t work.

“You’re giving up already? You have to work hard.”
“That’s funny coming from you.”

I had a lot to say, but that was all I said. Sir Baumkuchen chuckled and left, saying he would see me tomorrow.

When I returned to the palace, the atmosphere was hectic. Servants were rushing about.

“What’s going on?” I grabbed a servant and asked, but he bowed his head to the floor.

Dot was away from the palace on my errand, so another servant was in charge. He reported what had happened.

“Alex is missing?”
“Yes, Your Highness. He wasn’t in his room during snack time, and we searched the area but couldn’t find him.”
“No one saw him leave?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Could he have run away?

I was being too hasty. If he had been the obedient type, he would have stayed put from the moment he was summoned.