Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 520

Arendt, who had been killing time in boredom, was visited by Arcus.“Arendt, do you have a moment?”

“No, I don’t.”

Arendt answered without even looking up from the book he was reading. Thanks to that, Arcus froze on the spot before he could say another word.

Lumiel and Laius, who could have helped him, were both absent. As a result, Arcus was left to bear the brunt of Arendt’s temper alone.

“I told you that I don’t. Why are you standing there like that?”

As he turned the page, Arendt spoke again. Arcus squared his shoulders and continued speaking.

“Father…”

“I don’t have a father.”

Arcus changed his words at the blunt reply.

“…Count Eckhart.”

Still, the fact that he answered meant he was willing to listen to some extent… That was fortunate. Arcus chose his words carefully, trying not to offend Arendt as much as possible.

“He’d like to meet you briefly. If it’s okay with you.”

At the sound of the book being roughly closed, Arcus flinched. Arendt’s bright yellow eyes turned straight to Arcus.

“Why would he want to see me?”

“…”

Arcus felt a little relieved that the other person was showing even a little interest in the topic. It meant that at least he was willing to engage in conversation.

“He doesn’t mean anything else. He’s just curious about your health, so don’t misunderstand. If you permit it, I’ll invite him to the palace…”

“I’m not allowing it.”

Arendt responded bluntly. This left Arcus speechless again. Meeting his gaze, Arendt held up his bandaged finger.

“First, I don’t want to talk to that person. Second, why should I? Third, even if I don’t misunderstand, other people will.”

“…”

They were all difficult points to argue against. Even if he had another intention, Arendt wasn’t one to fall for it.

Arcus pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze. Watching him silently, Arendt spoke again.

“Well, if you all can handle the fallout, what happens after that isn’t my problem.”

“What?”

Arcus raised his head at the unexpected words. Arendt stared blankly at him and said.

“I have no intention of talking. But he just wants to check on me, right?”

“What do you…”

“The victory banquet will be held soon.”

Arendt interrupted Arcus and added:

“Just come and take a look. I have no right to stop him.”

“You…”

Arcus gaped in surprise. He meant that he wouldn’t engage in conversation, but would at least allow the Count to observe from a distance.

For the Count, coming to the palace and attending the banquet at the call of his son would be an act that required swallowing a great deal of pride.

“…I will ask my father if he would like to attend.”

“That’s fine by me.”

Arendt glanced at him, whose expression brightened in an instant, and then opened his book again.

“I made it clear: I have no intention of talking.”

“I’ll relay that to Father.”

But Arcus seemed delighted by that alone. Perhaps he hadn’t even considered the issue of his father’s pride, simply fixated on the fact that Arendt had allowed him to approach.

“Take care of yourself.”

Arcus hurriedly said his goodbyes and left the room.

The door shut, and Arendt, now alone, let out a deep sigh and looked back down at his book.

But that didn’t mean that the sentences caught his eye again.

‘Father.’

Suddenly, the image of him being dragged out of the theater came to mind. A pounding headache gripped him, and he pressed his temples.

‘It’s none of my business.’

It seemed like it was time to part ways with the ghosts of the past that occasionally popped up and tormented him.

The palace, which was busy with the restoration work, became even more bustling as preparations were made for the victory celebration.

“The renovation work isn’t finished here yet!”

“There’s nothing we can do. For now, let’s cover it with cloth and tapestry!”

“The broken part should be covered with statues. His Highness has instructed that the statues be covered or removed as much as possible.”

“Don’t tell me… he means to completely reject Lord Luce?”

“I don’t know about that, but I heard him say he’s afraid that Sir Arendt will walk in with a knife in his mouth again and start spitting venom.”

“Ah.”

By now, no one was unaware of Arendt’s temperament. Even those who had momentarily expressed antipathy quickly shut their mouths.

“It’s really strange… they used to attack each other so much in the conference room, yet they’re so close.”

“You mean Sir Arendt and the High Priest?”

“Even now, the High Priest is constantly caring for Sir Arendt. Sir Arendt risked his life to save the priests and the High Priest, so it’s understandable.”

The older servant spoke as he moved his hands busily. Then the younger servant spoke subtly.

“In the end, it turns out that Sir Arendt was a truly wonderful person. Regardless of his own wishes, he prioritized saving lives.”

“Of course. …But his personality is a bit peculiar.”

“Yes, he has a bad temper, no, he’s very grumpy.”

No matter how they looked at it, his personality was unique.

“But he doesn’t mistreat people like us… Most of the people who suffer are high-ranking officials.”

Everyone nodded at someone’s words.

It was a well-known fact that the three youngest servants followed him around. Arendt didn’t bother to shoo them away.

“How is his recovery going?”

Someone asked curiously.

“Seton is chatting excitedly, and it seems he’s regained some of his energy. I think he’ll be attending the banquet the day after tomorrow. I heard he even took a short walk in the garden with the High Priest yesterday.”

“Well, the weather really was nice yesterday, for the first time in a while.”

“There were even rumors going around that His Highness had deliberately waited so that Sir Arendt could attend.”

The topic of Arendt was a constant throughout the palace. Not everyone was sympathetic, but no one was allowed to speak carelessly about him.

Because the real powers in the palace, the Crown Prince, Captain Laius, and even the High Priest were behind him.

“I would like to meet that dragon.”

“Don’t you know him? The handsome gentleman dressed in all black who often hangs around the palace. He’s the Dragon.”

“Really?”

The servants’ eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly, the older servant, caught in the middle of the crowd, took a hasty step back.

“I didn’t know much about it because I just returned. The person wearing the eyepatch is a dragon.”

“The future of the Empire is truly secure. To think we have the dragon on our side.”

Someone spoke as if touched, but the older attendant immediately shook his head.

“I heard he’s only cooperating with Sir Arendt. I heard he previously insisted he has nothing to do with the Empire.”

“Really…?”

“What on earth did Sir Arendt do?”

A voice of pure bewilderment slipped out. The attendant pursed his lips.

“He seems easygoing, but he is sensitive to everything.”

“He doesn’t act rudely towards those below him, but acts unbelievably arrogant towards someone he doesn’t like… he really is an unfathomable person.”

“By the way…”

One of the servants spoke in a very quiet voice.

“Did you hear? Count Eckhart is attending the banquet.”

“…”

In an instant, the servants’ hands all stopped. The oldest servant muttered nervously.

“This… might make for a great spectacle.”

For Arendt, who had been half-confined, it was like a release day.

“What truly disgusting people.”

Arendt grumbled as he put on his uniform for the first time in a long while. Any attempt to venture outside would be met with a barrage of glares, and so, aside from the occasional walk with Lumiel, he hadn’t been able to even venture out.

‘I need to stretch my body after a long time.’

There was no need to stay long at the banquet, so he planned to just make an apperance and return to the dormitory.

‘Captain Laius will draw everyone’s attention anyway.’

Of course, the commotion with the High Priest would draw some attention, but if he could secretly put the blame on Laius and run away, there wouldn’t be any problems.

Count Eckhart was said to be coming, but Arendt figured he could just briefly show his face and then ignore whatever backlash came afterward.

Arendt did not realize how complacent that thought was.

Just as he was to put his arm through his coat sleeve…

He heard someone knocking cautiously on the door.

“Come in.”

“Sir Arendt, may I trouble you for a moment?”

The person who peeked out was Seton. Instead of answering, Arendt gave him a halfhearted nod. It meant ‘do as you like’.

“Then excuse us for a moment!”

And then, the door flew open.

“…What?”

Arendt was caught completely off guard.

A group of servants had poured into the room behind Seton. Enoch was carefully holding his ornate robes, while Rosie, along with the other servants , stood stiff-backed, holding jewelry boxes filled with glittering accessories.

Rosie spoke brightly.

“Captain Laius and His Highness have a message! They’ve ordered us to assist in dressing up today’s star, Sir Arendt!”

Arendt, who had been staring blankly, asked as if doubting his own ears.

“…What? What star? Today’s star?”

“Excuse us for a moment!”

But before Arendt could even come to his senses, a swarm of young servants approached. Enoch unfolded a splendid robe before his eyes, one that was incomparably more magnificent than the uniform of an apprentice knight.

“This was specially ordered by Captain Laius from the royal atelier! He said it was to honor your achievements in the battle!”

“What?”

“And these jewels were personally selected by His Highness, and we will choose the ones that suit Sir Arendt best!”

This time, Seton spoke confidently.

“Sir Arendt, please sit over here! I’ll fix your hair!”

“No, hey, wait a minute!”

It was a rare occasion where Arendt waved his hand in embarrassment, but the young servants only laughed and clung to him even more.

However, the other people were too young for him to act as rudely as usual.

In the blink of an eye, his clothes were changed and his hair, which had been tied up, was untied.

Arendt, who was being combed by the girls led by Rosie, finally realized.

This was Laius’ revenge for treating him like a male peacock several times.

It was definitely a scheme by Cantares and Laius when they sent the children to prevent him from escaping.

“Hah…”

Arendt pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a deep sigh. Regardless, the children, excited and chattering, began to diligently dress Arendt up.

Completely surrounded by children, Arendt could do nothing but surrender.