DZN Ch 5

Seeing his chance, Ruan blatantly requested a transfer. Matthias, as if expecting this, looked up at him.

“I called you in about that. You submitted another transfer request?”

Having heard that Ruan had submitted his tenth transfer request since officially joining the Royal Guard five years ago, Matthias stared at him with an expression that said, “You still haven’t given up?”

At this point, Ruan should have realized he wouldn’t be leaving the Second Knights Division before he died, but he was truly a persistent man.

“He causes chaos like this because he knows I’ll come. I’m thinking if there’s a situation where I’ll never come, he might give up. And I’ve been through enough. I want to pass the bomb to my successor and go to the Seventeenth Knights Division.”

Ruan was essentially asking Matthias to abandon him, just like Matthias had done to him with Calix. Matthias responded firmly,

“I’ve told you countless times, haven’t I? Your personnel transfer isn’t within my authority. Even the Commander can’t touch it. His Majesty has explicitly ordered that you remain assigned to His Highness the Crown Prince, no matter what. No one dares to transfer you under these circumstances. His Highness has also declared that he’ll take you to his grave, so give up. You’d better prepare yourself for the fact that you’ll be sharing a tomb with His Highness.”

Matthias declared that Ruan’s opinions and intentions were completely irrelevant. Ruan closed his mouth.

He had a lot to say, but knowing Matthias was also suffering, he suppressed his emotions.

Seeing his still-displeased expression, Matthias tried to soothe him.

“I understand your hardship better than anyone. His Highness isn’t easy to handle.”

He knew what it had been like when Calix had been demoted to the trainee division. He didn’t need to see it to understand the horrors.

Ruan remained silent at Matthias’s empathetic words. Matthias leaned forward and spoke softly.

“I know it’s mentally more challenging than physically, but bear with it a little longer. His Majesty is keeping a close eye on you, so if you serve His Highness well, there will be good news soon.”

“…Good news?”

“If you endure a little longer, you could even become Captain.”

For a commoner to join the Royal Guard was extremely rare, a story occasionally told like a fable. Promotion within the ranks was practically a legend, and even then, the limit was Lieutenant.

Reaching that position in a strictly hierarchical society was a miracle in itself. The possibility of promotion beyond Lieutenant to Captain meant the potential for a noble title.

It would be a victory beyond self-made success, a triumph of the human spirit. Despite Matthias’s encouraging words, Ruan was even more appalled.

It meant more work.

Especially paperwork.

“…Can I submit my resignation right now?”

Ruan seriously considered trading his promotion for his life expectancy. Matthias asked in surprise,

“Why?”

“I don’t think I’ll live to see thirty at this rate.”

Even as a Lieutenant, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in a bed or had a proper meal. If he became Captain, he was certain he’d die. Matthias, unable to deny it, gave a wry smile.

Ruan enjoyed physical activity but loathed paperwork and administrative tasks. Adding those on top of managing Calix would be unbearable for him.

Knowing Ruan’s personality, he might snap, quit, and run away.

That’s why Matthias was desperately trying to appease him.

Ruan was an indispensable asset to the Second Knights Division.

Regardless of his own wishes.

“Ruan, the Royal Guard isn’t easy, no matter where you go. I know you’ve wanted to join the Seventeenth Knights Division since you joined, but they’re responsible for escorting nobles visiting the Royal Palace. Dealing with demanding nobles can be even more troublesome. Catering to their whims is no easy task, especially for someone as impertinent as you.”

“No matter how demanding the nobles are, could they be worse than His Highness…?”

Matthias stared at Ruan, thinking, How can he be so disrespectful?, even though no one else was present to hear.

Since his trainee days, Ruan had been the most skilled but his poor attitude had troubled the instructors. Even as a Lieutenant, he was still disobedient.

He was exceptionally skilled, and the only person who wouldn’t be intimidated by the Crown Prince in a one-on-one situation, so most things were overlooked. However, sometimes he went too far. Matthias gave him a warning look, which Ruan seemed to notice and quickly changed the subject.

“I was being disrespectful. I’ll be careful.”

He omitted the phrase, “from now on,” but readily backed down. Matthias’s gaze softened slightly.

“I understand you’re tired from all the work, but please bear with it a little longer. We’ll be getting reinforcements in preparation for the Founding Day Festival.”

“…The Founding Day Festival?”

“Yes.”

“Ah…”

Now that he thought about it, the Founding Day Festival was two months away. It was an annual event, but he’d vaguely heard that a grand celebration was held every ten years, and this year seemed to be the tenth.

“This year, all the nobles in the kingdom will be invited. Most of them will be coming to the Royal Palace, so even the Capital Defense Force will be mobilized. We’ll be getting reinforcements soon.”

Ruan, hearing this for the first time, asked seriously,

“…Most of the nobles?”

“Yes, probably. It will be on an unprecedented scale, so we’ll need to pay extra attention to security. Many will likely want to greet His Highness personally, so there will be many changes to the schedule. The more reason you should stay close to His Highness, as he’s unpredictable.”

Normally, Ruan would have shuddered at the horrifying prospect and seriously inquired about resigning again. But today was different.

As if in answer to his resolve to endure just this year, good news had arrived. Ruan suppressed his emotions and responded calmly, as usual.

“Understood. So, when will the personnel transfers begin?”

“Soon. I’ve requested personnel from other divisions, so we should hear back within a few days. I asked for knights with at least three years of experience, so they can be deployed immediately without further training.”

Ruan immediately understood that this meant he should stick to Calix’s side and never leave him.

That wasn’t bad.

As Matthias had said, all the nobles would want to greet Calix, so escorting him directly would make it easier to encounter them.

“Understood.”

“Good. Then go home early and rest today. You look terrible.”

“…Understood. Then I’ll be going.”

Ruan politely bowed to Matthias, left his office, and walked away, massaging his stiff neck.

As everyone pointed out, he wasn’t in good shape. Fatigue had accumulated considerably.

With a demanding schedule ahead, he needed to go home early and get a good night’s sleep.

The opportunity he had been waiting six years for was finally within reach.

✨⋆⁺₊✧

“Early leave, my foot…”

Despite his firm resolution to return to the barracks early and sleep to his heart’s content, he couldn’t leave the office until the moon was high in the sky.

Leaving the office long after the bell had tolled more than ten times, Ruan looked at the high-hanging moon and exhaled deeply.

The daytime sun was warm, but the night air without the sun was still chilly.

He looked up at the sky for a moment, enjoying the cool, clear night air, and slowly walked towards the barracks, which felt more like home than his actual house. He collapsed onto his bed.

Too exhausted to do anything but shed his coat, Ruan lay on the bed and, just before closing his eyes, took out the ring hanging from his necklace and kissed it.

His father, who used to kiss his forehead every night, was gone, but kissing the ring he left behind had become a bedtime ritual.

Like a charm that invoked pleasant dreams and deep sleep.

“Goodnight.”

He murmured alone in the still-empty barracks, pulled up the thin blanket, and closed his eyes.

But strangely, sleep wouldn’t come. He thought he’d fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but his mind was too clear.

He wanted to sleep, and he needed to sleep, but his consciousness stubbornly refused to settle.

Despite pretending to be fine, his mind had been in constant turmoil. That was probably why his work had taken a little longer, as he couldn’t concentrate.

A thought kept intruding on his mind.

That thought, that anticipation, kept him awake and alert.

“…Damn it.”

He had a mountain of work tomorrow, and Calix would probably run off again. He needed to get some sleep to chase after him, but no matter how hard he closed his eyes, his mind was too clear.

After tossing and turning several times with the feeling that sleep was impossible, Ruan finally sat up and put his discarded uniform back on.

Tonight was not a night for sleep.