Chapter 53: The Knight's Tale

                                    

                                          
Facing Barrett's question, EeDeChi didn't answer where her hometown was, but instead snorted, "Common sense? Common sense is made to be broken! Who says women are inferior to men? Have you heard of Joan of Arc? I have high hopes for Princess Renner! She's kind-hearted, strong-willed, probably ten times better than that chubby boy named Zanac."
Barrett shook her head, "I haven't heard of Joan of Arc. Besides, what good does it do to support someone? Whether by law or tradition, the second prince will definitely inherit the throne."
Glancing around to ensure no one else was in the courtyard, he continued in a low voice, "But you never know. Princess Renner holds a high place among commoners and some newly rich. I've heard she's implemented many progressive reforms that greatly benefit the people, strengthening the country. Moreover, she has considerable influence among the nobility and military.
"I go to the Adventurer's Guild's tavern in the capital city, and when the royal family is mentioned, nine out of ten people praise Princess Renner's beauty and wisdom. Some foolhardy ones even, when drunk, blabber about assassinating the second prince Zanac to let Princess Renner take over the country. They think they'd be heroes and could marry her."
EeDeChi chuckled, "Marry Princess Renner? These people sure dare to dream big, without considering their own worth. But I think Climb, that lad, isn't bad. Both he and the princess with their blonde hair, they'd make a good match."
These two were discussing marriage affairs of princes and princesses so brazenly in the kingdom's palace—it's probably the epitome of the adventurer's wild and unrestrained spirit.
Barrett agreed, "I heard rumors long ago that the kingdom's princess has a thing for her personal guard, sticking to her like glue. Now that I've actually met them, it seems there's truth to it.
"When Princess Renner looks at Climb, her eyes are so tender, they could drip water. And Climb, when he looks into her eyes, there's a light! It's a deeper affection beyond loyalty and admiration!"
Barrett sighed again, wiping a steel sword in her hand, "It's a shame they can never be together."
"Why!?" EeDeChi asked urgently.
"Isn't it obvious? One is the kingdom's princess, the other an orphaned guard, worlds apart in status. Climb has nothing but his sword skills and a few medals. So they restrain their feelings, knowing each other's hearts, silently watching from afar in crowds.
"Someday the princess will marry, maybe to some noble, or for alliance, even to a prince from another country. Who knows, the young emperor of Baharuth might even propose.
"Like the old story goes, a knight risks life and limb to rescue the princess from a dragon's claws, only for her to marry a noble prince in the end.
"The knight watches as the splendid golden wedding carriage slowly rolls away to another country, breaks his sword, sheds his armor, silently returns to his humble beginnings, marries a decent girl, and lives out his days.
EeDeChi clenched her fist, expressionless, "If that Baharuth Empire emperor brat dares marry Renner, I'll smash his head!"
"Remind me before you smash his head, I need to quit the adventurer team in advance."
"Tsk, coward."
Barrett tilted her head in thought, "I've heard other adventurers tell different versions of this story. They say an adventurer rescued a princess who sneaked out of the palace, and they fell in love, sparks flying, and ended up getting it on in a tent.
"Turns out the princess got pregnant, and the king had to marry her off to the adventurer, rewarding him with a fortune in gold and silver, making him a marquis, and giving him a large tract of land..."
Barrett wrapped the cleaned steel sword in a coarse cloth and stowed it in the spatial ring. He still remembered that night sitting around the campfire vividly, with a bald adventurer wearing a lecherous grin, relishing telling this tale.
EeDeChi muttered something about "feudal society," "dark medieval times," "favoring sons over daughters," and "backward ignorance."
Barrett half-understood but had long grown accustomed to the captain's inexplicable soliloquies and didn't bother to respond, starting to organize the next piece of equipment in his spatial ring.
...
"We're back!"
A pleasant voice of a young girl echoed from behind the door. A cleric girl with chestnut-colored long hair pushed open the courtyard gate, peering inside. Through the crack she opened, two small figures with golden hair and dresses squeezed through eagerly like mischievous cats.
These two adorable girls in pink skirts looked nearly identical, as if molded from the same mold. They looked up with their little faces and ran towards Barrett and EeDeChi.
"Uncle!"
"Captain!"
"You've learned to call me Captain too?" EeDeChi exclaimed in surprise. She scooped up a little girl who ran to her side, ruffling her soft golden hair and pinching her cheek, "You're looking much better now."
Stella swung open the gate, carrying two bulging bags. Her face lit up with a radiant smile, unusually happy. "Today, I took them to the Gaia Cathedral in the capital. We unexpectedly met an adamantite-level adventurer from the 'Blue Roses' team, Captain Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra. She's a Divine Magic caster capable of using 5th Tier spells! She's incredibly kind too, not only not rejecting us as Baharuth natives but also helping Kuuderika and Ureirika heal from their emotional wounds."
Behind Stella, Sean carried various bundles of cloth, garments, spices, and other items into the courtyard. He stretched his back with a sigh of relief, "Uncle, we got everything you needed."
"Great, thank you both," Barrett replied. He sent Sean and Stella out shopping, and they returned with plenty of spices and ingredients, ready to make the savory meat soup unique to Re-Estize. With their stable high wages of 3 gold coins per person per day, their standard of living naturally improved.
EeDeChi gently placed the little girl from her arms onto the ground. Truth be told, she couldn't quite tell if she was holding Kuuderika or Ureirika; they looked so alike. But Stella can tell them apart somehow, though it's unclear how she manages to do it.
The twin girls bounced over to Stella, holding her hand and shaking it excitedly, "We want candy!"
"Alright, I'll get the candy for you right away." The cleric girl's face softened with a tender smile. Together with Sean, they carried the bags into the house beside the courtyard, and the twin girls followed them inside.