Kishiar and Nathan Zuckerman returned at the exact moment Kiole had finished crying. Considering their extraordinary hearing and ability to sense presence, it was, of course, no coincidence.
‘Even calling only Nathan Zuckerman earlier to inspect the secret vault was probably part of the plan.’
Yuder recalled the moment when Kiole had impulsively shouted for them to come and examine the vault. Kishiar had calmly agreed, catching Kiole off guard, and had beckoned to Nathan with a flick of the hand—casting Yuder a brief glance in the process.
No words were exchanged, but Yuder understood. The look meant, “You can stay with him.” Kiole had clearly suffered intense shock, and Yuder had wanted to speak to him privately. Kishiar’s signal was as if he had read his mind.
“Did you look through everything?” Yuder asked.
“Mhm. Very intriguing,” Kishiar replied with a smile.
Kiole seemed to think Kishiar was just being polite with the word everything, but Kishiar was someone who could truly examine everything in that short span of time and retain it all. So if he said he had, it meant he had really taken in every bit of information stored in the secret vault.
‘If the Duke of Diarca finds out, he’ll cry blood.’
“Um... Excuse me, Commander!”
Then Kiole took a deep breath and stepped forward, bowing his head.
“Earlier... I behaved arrogantly and let my emotions get the better of me. I apologize!”
There was no way Kishiar would fail to notice how much Kiole’s demeanor had changed. His gaze briefly shifted past Kiole to Yuder, then softened into the kind of smile befitting a true commander.
“No need to apologize. Anyone would have struggled to keep their head straight in such a situation. In fact, I should thank you. You were bold enough to let us examine the secret vault, and I had quite an enjoyable time because of it.”
“I-If you think of it that way... I’m glad—truly glad!”
“So. Have you gathered your thoughts now?”
Flinging out an important question without warning was Kishiar’s specialty. Kiole flinched but quickly straightened with a look of firm resolve.
“...Yes.”
“I’m curious. I wonder if your answer has changed now that you’ve heard Madam Bishu’s story.”
It was finally time to answer again.
Kiole glanced toward the pergola where the secret vault lay. Then, without hesitation, he looked away and knelt—just like before. But unlike the mess he’d been earlier, now he radiated the gravity of someone who had made a weighty decision.
“My answer is the same as before. I will follow the path I believe is right for everyone, in accordance with House Diarca’s creed and the knight’s code.”
He would turn away from lies.
He would strive to reveal the truth.
He would help the weak and the wronged.
He would follow in the footsteps of those who had genuinely worked to set the nation upright.
And if that meant being cast to the ground again, if it meant his body was torn apart, he would endure it.
He would no longer regret the pain that would come from this choice.
The reason he wanted to do all of this was simply—
“I don’t want to live in shame anymore. There’s still so much I don’t know... but I’ll do everything I can to learn.”
His voice trembled as he spoke, and then he bowed deeply.
“Commander... You may think I’m unworthy, but I truly want to become a real knight.”
It had been his only dream since childhood. He’d thought he had achieved it when he joined the Imperial Guard, but that hadn’t been the real fulfillment of his dream. He had realized that far too late.
“...”
“I don’t want anything else. Not a ducal title, not anything. Please, believe me.”
He’d said all he wanted to say. It was the most polite and sincere expression he could give, after wringing every last word out of his heart.
Now, all he could do was wait for the reply. The short moment he remained prostrated, waiting for Kishiar’s response, felt like an eternity.
As a drop of sweat slid from his brow like a tear and hit the ground, Kishiar finally opened his mouth.
“...Very well. I believe you.”
Kiole’s head snapped up. Kishiar wore a faint smile.
“Y-you really believe me?!”
“Yes. Unless you doubt my sincerity?”
“No! Of course not!”
Kiole shouted quickly, afraid Kishiar might change his mind.
“Hmph. I said I’d believe you if you gave the same answer—and you did. Why should there be a problem?”
It was frightening how much that sounded like something Yuder Aile would say. Then again, perhaps Yuder had just read Kishiar’s heart that well.
Still looking at the stunned Kiole, Kishiar spoke again.
“But just because I believe you doesn’t mean this is the end. On the contrary, it’s only the beginning. You understand that, don’t you?”
“...Yes.”
“Good. Sir Kiole. I respect your decision to cast everything aside and live as a knight.”
He usually called him Sir Diarca. Even those close to the family used Sir Kiole only on occasion.
But now Kishiar was deliberately choosing to call him by his name alone—separating Kiole from the Diarca name and acknowledging him as a person. It wasn’t the first time, but something about it stirred a hot emotion in Kiole’s chest again. He lowered his eyes and thought:
He really... believed what I said.
The Duke of Peleta did.
He truly understood what being a knight meant to Kiole.
He had every reason to hate, resent, or mock him as a royal—yet he was showing him more respect than anyone.
How could that be?
Is that why even someone like Yuder Aile follows him so sincerely?
Kiole recalled how he had once said something stupid to Yuder—telling him to join House Diarca. At the time, he couldn’t understand Yuder’s certainty, but now he finally did.
Kiole opened his eyes again.
The beautiful garden, and the open door to the secret vault, were the first things he saw.
...Right.
Nothing in the world had changed. The pain that had come with the truth was still there. But he knew he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life.
Swallowing the pain that would likely stay with him until death, Kiole made one very formal request.
“Commander. There’s something you said earlier... that I could ask anything. Would it be alright if I made that request now?”
“Already? Very well.”
Kishiar tilted his head, surprised, but agreed easily.
“I-it might be a very dangerous request... Will that be alright?”
“As I said earlier—if it’s something I can do, I don’t mind. Unless it’s beyond human ability?”
“No! It’s nothing like that!”
Even as he denied it, Kiole hesitated for a long while. Then, as if he’d made up his mind, he opened his mouth.
And once again, he said something none of the others expected.
“...I want to destroy that secret vault. Right now. Please help me.”
***
Imperial Capital, Cavalry Headquarters.
Yuder walked through the dim hallway, then turned around.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and follow me.”
“J-just a second. I... I’m not sure I’m really allowed to be here...”
The one hesitating behind him was none other than Kiole. Yuder opened the door to a vacant room and said kindly:
“This is where you’ll be staying now. Get used to it.”
“O-okay...”
Kiole didn’t seem to take that comment as kindly as it was meant, but at least he didn’t complain. Seeing him walk in quietly really made it hit home—how much he had changed.
“Remember your room number. I already showed you where mine is, so if anything comes up, just come find me. I’m off now.”
“W-wait!”
Kiole grabbed Yuder’s sleeve. Yuder looked at him silently, and Kiole quickly let go, as if burned, then lowered his head, biting his lip.
“...Thanks.”
“What?”
“Today... thank you! For keeping me safe, and, uh... for what you said earlier too!”
