"Nice to meet you, Sir Graham."
"Please drop the title. I am no longer a knight."
Yuri gave a faint smile.
He already knew that Graham had once lost his knighthood. But he hadn't expected to meet him here, in the Allied Army.
"Are you busy? What's next on your agenda?"
"I'm planning to return to Balshad."
"Then why not have a cup of tea?"
Laurent and Jared looked at Yuri with curious eyes.
It was well known through his usual words and actions that he wasn't fond of the Empire. And yet now he was suddenly inviting them—it was suspicious.
The two imperial knights exchanged glances, then accepted Yuri's offer.
"Very well."
The sudden appearance of imperial knights drew the attention of the unit.
Yuri led them to his tent.
"Take a seat."
Yuri's tent was simple. A folding cot for sleeping, a table spread with a map, and a few chairs—nothing more.
As Graham sat down, his gaze fell on the map.
"Impressive."
"What is?"
"The markings on the map. You've recorded everything in detail."
Yuri shrugged and cleared the map, placing teacups on the table instead.
"Not many knights care about terrain."
As Graham had said, wars on the continent were usually decided through brute force.
But the mercenaries Yuri had encountered in his previous life had been different. They always observed their surroundings closely.
Having gone through countless battles, Yuri had come to realize—painfully so—that the outcome of a war often depended not on the sword, but on two feet.
"Just in case."
With those words, Yuri poured tea into their cups.
"Sir Graham."
"I…"
"How did a knight like you end up serving in plain clothes?"
Graham stayed silent. The one who answered was Leifio, standing beside him.
"Because of a foolish superior."
"Sir Leifio."
"It was nothing but jealousy from someone unworthy. A fake knight clinging to power."
It wasn't the kind of thing to say in front of a foreign prince. That showed just how angry Leifio was.
"Sir Graham will reclaim his status soon enough."
"I'm sure he will."
Yuri agreed. Leifio leaned forward with interest.
"Does the Third Prince know Sir Graham personally?"
"Of course."
Graham was a knight whose name was known across the entire continent.
The kingdom of knights may have been Briol, but when people were asked to name a true knight, it was Graham of the Empire who came to mind.
He was like a walking textbook of chivalry.
"As expected of Briol. The land of knights knows how to recognize a real one."
"I personally respect Sir Graham. It's an honor to meet him like this."
"As I thought…"
Graham, who had been sitting quietly, cleared his throat.
"You're overpraising me."
"I mean it."
Laurent, who followed Yuri, gazed at Graham with shining eyes, while Jared, frowning slightly, began trying to read Yuri's true intention.
Yuri gave a small chuckle.
This time, there were no ulterior motives.
He had invited Graham simply because he wanted to treat him well. He praised him because he truly respected him.
Yuri set down his teacup and looked up.
Graham was savoring the tea with his eyes lowered. He remained calm and composed throughout.
Yes, he had been the same back then.
The final day of Briol surfaced vividly in Yuri's mind.
When everything had collapsed, and Yuri had fled to escape the black army of the Empire, resisting to the very end—he was eventually captured by a single knight.
Graham.
He had apologized to Yuri with a gloomy face, saying that one day, they would pay for what they had done.
But Yuri had only one thought.
I want to live.
So that day, he begged for his life.
'Please, let me live.'
A descendant of Briol, who swore never to abandon his honor even if it meant death, had begged for his life from a knight of the Empire that had trampled his nation.
'I want to live.'
Even if those who had gone before spat on him, he had no excuse.
But Graham neither despised nor pitied Yuri. His expression didn't change. He simply closed his eyes, as if chewing over something deeply.
What was he thinking back then?
After a brief silence, Graham had stepped back wordlessly and opened a path.
That's how Yuri escaped.
Such a thing had happened.
A man who had sinned, who couldn't even die with honor, had survived in disgrace.
Just before turning the corner, Yuri had looked back at Graham.
He stood there, unmoving.
That heavy figure was seared into his eyes.
Surely, Graham must have paid the price for letting him go that day.
"Graham."
"Yes."
The same Graham from that day now sat before Yuri in a completely different place, in a completely different relationship.
A strange fate.
Yuri spoke impulsively.
"Would you come to Briol?"
Graham raised his eyes, and Laurent and Jared flinched, looking at Yuri.
Even Leifio, who had passionately defended Graham, stared wide-eyed.
Yuri smiled and added a word.
"I'll treat you well."
Graham also smiled faintly.
"My apologies."
He said no more, nor did he ask Yuri's intention. It was a simple refusal.
Yuri nodded.
"Suit yourself."
And drank his tea. The warmth spread through his chest.
He didn't feel bad.
At the very least, he had served him a cup of tea.
***
The Briol forces arrived at Balshad.
Massive stone walls rose before them. It was an uncanny sight for the open plains.
"Amazing."
Yuri murmured in admiration. The stones forming the wall were so massive, they seemed to have been carved out of the land by giants.
He turned to his side and asked,
"Magic, perhaps?"
Cory, who had his hood pulled up, flinched at the sudden question.
"I-I'm not sure…"
Then someone else answered instead.
"Who knows? Maybe giants once lived in the grassland kingdom."
Before they realized it, Ernando was standing nearby. Cory clutched his chest in relief at his appearance.
Yuri gave a small laugh, patted Cory on the shoulder, and continued the conversation with Ernando.
"If that were true, the buildings would be big too. But it's just the stones that are large."
"That's true. Maybe they were just absurdly strong?"
If they had built it with small bricks, one could accept it was done with massive labor. But each stone was as large as a house—it was hard to guess how it had been done.
Yuri looked up at the wall and nodded.
"Must be magic."
"Blaming magic whenever something defies logic isn't a good habit, you know."
"But usually it's right."
"That's true. Well, probably magic."
The theory that the kingdom of the plains was once an ancient magical civilization was a mainstream hypothesis most scholars agreed on.
Seeing it in person, Yuri could no longer doubt it.
How could such a thing have been accomplished by human hands?
"The lord of Balshad must be waiting."
Like Gid, Balshad maintained the form of an independent city-state.
The difference was that, to become the lord of Balshad, there was one essential qualification.
"Have you met him before?"
"Yes, I've seen the Archmage Duke before."
One had to be a mage skilled enough to activate the magical defense formation installed in Balshad.
Fortunately, the blood of the Antret family, protectors of Balshad for generations, ran thick enough.
"What kind of person is he?"
"Be careful. He's not an ordinary person."
"Yeah?"
"If you let your guard down, you'll get devoured. Especially someone like you, Prince Yuri…"
It wasn't often that Ernando assessed someone like this.
Just then, the gates of Balshad opened, and a messenger from the lord emerged.
"I greet the Third Prince of Briol. It is an honor to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
"The Duke of Balshad is awaiting your arrival."
"I'll go now."
"Yes. If you have a representative, I'll guide them while you meet the Duke."
Yuri called Raymond to hold the troops and entered Balshad. The knights offered to accompany him, but Yuri brought only Laurent and Jared.
Beyond the massive gates unfolded a scene he hadn't expected.
Though the city was said to be large, Yuri had imagined a desolate scene like Gid—after all, it was still a solitary city in the plains.
But inside the walls, it was bright and lively.
"Some call Balshad a hidden paradise. The remnants of the old kingdom remain, and the land is fertile."
"Unexpected."
"Still, becoming a resident of Balshad is no easy feat. It's very strictly controlled."
The lord's castle began to come into view.
Like the walls, it was built by stacking massive grey stones. It looked more antique than crude.
A group of people stood at the entrance.
"The Duke himself has come to greet you."
"How generous."
The Archmage Duke appeared.
Yuri narrowed his eyes and studied the figure. It was someone entirely different from what he had expected.
Ernando explained in a light, amused tone.
"The title of Duke of Balshad was recently inherited. That person is this generation's Archmage Duke."
A stunningly beautiful woman with rich red hair flowing down looked up at Yuri with a smile. A butterfly tattoo was visible on her chest above her deep-cut dress.
When she opened her mouth, her lips—red like flower petals—moved cheerfully.
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I'm the Duchess of Balshad, Mariloz Antret."
Yuri dismounted and faced her. She was tall for a woman, making their eye level nearly the same.
Yuri didn't avert his gaze as he spoke.
"I'm Yuri Briol, Third Prince of Briol, commander of the Briol forces."
"You're even more handsome than the rumors said."
Mariloz reached out her hand. She wore see-through gloves.
Yuri took her hand and shook it.
Mariloz looked him in the eye and curved her eyes in a graceful smile.
She had a beauty that drew the gaze again and again.
But Yuri felt no disturbance. His heart didn't tremble, nor was he nervous about her appearance.
"Thanks for the compliment."
As Yuri calmly responded, an odd glint appeared in Mariloz's eyes.
She didn't let go of his hand and continued the conversation.
"Your Highness, if you don't mind me asking—how old are you this year?"
"Eighteen."
"I see. I'm twenty-two. Just a four-year difference—not even worth checking for compatibility. That means we'll get along great, don't you think?"
"Not sure…"
A soft laugh escaped from Ernando behind them.
Yuri looked at Mariloz and smiled coolly.
She seemed like the type who knew her beauty and used it—but that wouldn't work on him anyway.
Because he didn't believe in love…
The image of platinum hair and deep green eyes flickered in his mind, but he quickly shook it off.
"What does age matter? If two people align in thought, they can be friends even if one's seventy. If they don't, even people the same age won't grow close."
"Ah, so that's how Your Highness thinks."
Mariloz laughed lowly. She still didn't release his hand and pulled him along.
"Let's continue the conversation inside. I'll invite you to the castle."
The castle's interior was richly decorated.
The stone walls were engraved with intricate art, and in every corner stood statues gilded with gold leaf.
"This way."
Past the corridor, a grand hall awaited with a prepared banquet. A red cloth covered the long table, and all kinds of dishes were laid out atop it.
But it seemed Briol wasn't the only one invited.
"These guests are from Bursen."
More than ten nations had been summoned to the Allied Army. Aside from the Empire, Briol and the Holy Kingdom were the strongest forces.
Bursen, a country bordering the western coast, was of medium-high stature in scale.
Men with dark-tanned skin nodded toward Yuri. Their attitudes weren't particularly friendly.
Yuri didn't mind and took his seat.
"Now, let's talk about the future."
Yuri quietly asked Ernando, who stood beside him.
"What's that woman up to?"
"I don't think there's any particular scheme."
"Then?"
"Let's just say she enjoys socializing. She's quite picky about appearances, too."
"Then why didn't you say anything to her?"
"We don't get along."
"Well, she does judge by looks."
"Excuse me?"
Once Yuri sat down, Ernando and the knights followed and took their seats as well.
Thus began an awkward meal between three factions.
Mariloz stood and personally poured drinks at each table.
"This is my favorite wine. It's rare, so just one glass each."
The Bursen group couldn't take their eyes off her.
Each time her white ankle peeked out from under her dress, their gazes dropped.
Yuri nudged Jared beside him.
"Jared."
"Yes?"
"Don't be like that."