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Ryu's POV
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It was about 3 hours before dawn when I made it back to the Palace.

The city had been much further than I thought it was, since it took me about 2 hours to reach it, and another hour to find the postal service.

I had also tried to cancel the spirit magic before I entered, but I couldn't find a way to, so I had to wait in the shadows for the glow around me to fade, which took about 5 minutes.

It lasted a lot longer than Healer's, though she did say that she wasn't very good at it.

Surprisingly, it didn't take much mana from me, especially since I was expecting to be about half drained, but it took barely a tenth of my available mana.

Of course, that didn't account for my actual stamina, since running for 4 hours to and from the city was extremely draining, and my legs feel like they could fall off at any moment.

But as I slow down when reaching the gate of the Palace, I feel a slight sense of relief wash over me.

Hopping over the same fence which I had done prior, I waste no time looking around for the guards and instead dash straight towards the tree I had fallen down.

Luckily, climbing up trees and falling down them were different matters, and I found it easy to reach the balcony of my room.

Except...

It was closed.

When I jumped from the balcony, I hadn't closed it. I know that for certain, which means someone went inside my room, and saw that I wasn't there.

It likely wasn't a servant, since they wouldn't have entered considering the time.

It was likely someone from our squad.

Vice-Captain, maybe?

He had chased me after he thought I was an eavesdropper. Well, I suppose I was but...

Does he think I chased after the supposed eavesdropper?

Does he know I was the eavesdropper?

Well, I'm not going to find anything out by sitting on the tree.

Standing on the branch, I balance myself precariously before leaping to the balcony, landing firmly on my feet.

I wait a moment to make sure no one heard my and reach for the door handle.

Hearing a click as I pull down, I heave a slight sigh of relief and enter before...

"So?" (Etsu)

"... Haah." (Ryu)

The sigh of reielf turned into a sigh of regret as Vice-Captain sits on a chair by the sofa.

"What were you doing?" (Etsu)

"... Taking a breather?" (Ryu)

"For 5 hours?" (Etsu)

"I take long breaths." (Ryu)

"... So? Did you find them?" (Etsu)

"'Them'?" (Ryu)

"The eavesdropper." (Etsu)

"Ah, no." (Ryu)

"No? What were you doing?" (Etsu)

"... Taking a breather." (Ryu)

Our gazes lock together for a few seconds, before Vice-Captain yields.

"... Ah, forget it. Get some rest. Don't forget that we have a banquet tomorrow." (Etsu)

"You have a banquet. I'm not a proper member of the squad." (Ryu)

"... We can't exactly let you go now, can we?" (Etsu)

He replies to me with a smirk on his face.

"I see." (Ryu)

After seeing the smirk he had, something clicked.

They hadn't expected Knight to bring me back, but of course they were prepared for it; that's how Knight is.

So how do they tie me down, prevent me from running?

Have me join a squad that had been accepted by the King.

Even if I were to run away, it'd be humiliating the King, which would lead me to have several Knight squads searching for me throughout the Kingdom.

It's even more effective, now that they know Akari exists - if I run away, but stay in the Kingdom, it means Akari is still here, but if I run out of the Kingdom, it means she isn't.

"Yeah, you really are a noble." (Ryu)

"By blood." (Etsu)

"And mind." (Ryu)

"Same thing. It's simply one way to survive in nobility." (Etsu)

"... Yeah. I know." (Ryu)

Neither of us speak for a few seconds, knowing that all our intentions had reached each other.

"Then, I will be going. And, get some rest." (Etsu)

With that, he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

I could hear his footsteps moving further from the door. I felt slightly at ease, knowing he wasn't going to spy on me.

That relief didn't last long, however, and I could feel my anger start to boil over.

I only manage to calm it by gripping my fists tightly, drawing a small amount of blood from my palm.

Taking deep breaths, I lie on the bed that was provided to me with the room and sink into it.

It was unlike anything I had slept on before.

Instead of hard, rocky ground, it was a soft, springy mattress.

Instead of a hard book for a head rest, it was a pillow that I literally sank into.

The small fabric I had used to cover myself during the nights with had been replaced with a large, thick duvet: perfect for winter.

It truly made me realise the difference between the nobles and the commoners, maybe even those beneath the commoners.

But I couldn't even hold my train of thought as the comfort that encompassed my body dragged me further and further into the depths of sleep.

It didn't take long for me to be taken completely.

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Etsu's POV
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He's quick-witted, that's for sure.

With a single sentence, he managed to fugue out some of the plan we had made for if Airi came back with him.

Though, I doubt he will run away, so we can't count on that to find his sister.

The only thing that worries me is whether he will be able to keep himself composed tomorrow.

Even if it is called a banquet, it's more like a hunting ground for the nobles to fulfill their own sadistic desires.

They seem to love to see someone crumble under their words, see them struggle for breath as anxiety takes hold of them.

Honestly, I can't even believe that I have the same high-class blood as them.

I find them disgusting, to gain pleasure from someone's own misfortune.

I'd rather be on a battlefield than be under their wrath.

If I could compare them to animals, they would be snakes.

Creatures with a strong bite and even stronger venom.

What they say may affect you in the moment, but the repercussions hurt much later, and for much longer.

But, of course, if you can stay composed, they will just simply give up, since they are cowardly and don't have a spine themselves.

It's why I left the noble life behind to become a knight, they never say what they mean, while I can convey all of my intentions by using my sword.

It's a better life in my opinion, I don't have to hide anything.

Much better than the people who live a fake version of themselves in front of others to protect themselves.

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Author Notes
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Hahaha! Another chapter done!

This past week, this book has been gaining a lot more attention than I thought it would, especially since I don't think my writing is all that good, but apparently some people like it, and that makes me happy, so I'll continue.

Also, did you know that venomous and poisonous are different things? If something is venomous, then it is injected into you, like through a snake bite, but if something is poisonous, it is injested, whether it be through food or drink.

I didn't know that, and only found out after searching it up for maybe 10 minutes because if that one line about the comparison between nobles and snakes.

But anyway, thanks for reading the chapter, and please, keep commenting and reading!