Chapter 116
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Arendtert twisted his face into a vicious scowl. His carriage had been stuck at the entrance of the Lekan Forest for two hours. The wheels were spinning uselessly because they were buried in mud.
“Push harder. Harder!”
Arendtert stuck only his head out of the carriage and barked orders. His Holy Knights silently pushed the carriage despite the prince who only flapped his mouth.
The reason they obeyed Arendtert’s unreasonable commands without complaint was purely because of money. The Empress provided generous support to the Second Prince’s Order of Holy Knights. So among the palace knights, those who were financially struggling entered the Second Prince’s service.
But no matter the money, doing nothing but hard labor like this would naturally breed resentment. More so if their superior did not treat them with the slightest human decency.
“You buffoons! Are you planning to spend the whole night here?!”
Arendtert spat out the window. Fortunately, the spit landed on the ground rather than on a person.
If he had spat on a Holy Knight, he would have been abandoned here together with the carriage. But Arendtert, who never even imagined such a possibility, snorted and sat back on the carriage sofa.
Just as Arendtert placed his backside on the sofa, the carriage finally began to move. As it rolled forward again, he puckered his lips and sneered.
“You idiots only understand when I push you like this.”
“……”
Grizelle silently rolled her eyes at Arendtert’s nonsense. The knights, who had removed their helmets and were drenched in sweat, looked at him with nothing but contempt. Yet Arendtert continued hurling insults at them without the slightest awareness.
If they entered the Lekan Forest like this and encountered monsters, if a life-or-death crisis came upon them…
Would the Holy Knights truly save them?
‘Is it really okay for me to go with him?’
Grizelle looked out the window with a troubled expression. Unlike Sylaria, she had been dragged here by force.
The Empress had repeatedly ordered Grizelle to stay glued to Arendtert throughout the entire competition. She was forced into the carriage with the instruction that she had to purify him, even if it cost her her body.
At some point they had entered the forest, and the scenery outside had shifted to green. The carriage rattled more violently as it rolled along the rough forest path.
“Uurp!”
When the carriage, speeding quickly, hit a rock and lifted into the air, Arendtert gagged.
He clamped a hand over his mouth and pounded on the carriage ceiling. As soon as the coachman halted the carriage in response to the prince’s signal, Arendtert rushed outside. He clung to a tree and vomited.
“This is insane, really…”
Grizelle looked at the retching Arendtert with disdain. She sighed and stepped out of the carriage. Thankfully, unlike their superior, the Holy Knights had chivalry, so they escorted her as she dismounted.
“My stomach hurts…”
By the time Grizelle stepped out, Arendtert had already emptied his stomach. He rubbed his chest and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. It was ridiculous to see him pretending to be clean after vomiting so much.
“Let’s make the base camp here. I’m too tired to go any farther.”
“Your Highness, the marshland is too close here. We should go a bit deeper inside before setting up the tents…”
“Do as you’re told!”
Arendtert snapped at Lionel. When he exploded in anger, the knights who had been taking a break all turned to look at him. Their faces all showed the same tired expression, as if saying, he’s yelling again.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lionel lowered his head with a resigned look. He turned and returned to the knights. They murmured at the order he relayed, but soon began unpacking.
Lionel borrowed Arendtert’s bow and shot one of his arrows into the sky. The arrow, marked with a blue ribbon, burst into bright blue flame midair.
Even after the official signal announcing the Second Prince’s participation, Arendtert remained leisurely. While his subordinates pitched the tents, he sat atop a pile of luggage.
“The competition has already been going on for three days. Will this be alright?”
Grizelle cautiously asked, troubled by Arendtert’s lax attitude. He glanced sideways at her and finally spoke.
“What wouldn’t be alright.”
“Considering the time it takes to return, we have to leave for the imperial palace by tomorrow afternoon. Can we catch enough in a single day…”
“There is nothing to worry about. Everything is going according to plan.”
As Arendtert answered her confidently and smiled, Grizelle could only look at him with puzzled eyes.
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