DZN Ch 8
by mimi“What now? Why?”ba1143b4242176de
Ruan spoke rather harshly, annoyed by the appearance of someone he didn’t particularly want to see right now. Alfred, quickly approaching, delivered his message:eb1e9ae9130c5056
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“The Captain is looking for you.”b281f95f6f0ac963
“….Now?”b830cf1a147eb8f0
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“Yes.”bc06c92429ce6f57
“Why?”3a86afc38be5c7ec
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“I don’t know, but he said he has something urgent to discuss.”3bcab6e4fb065be4
Being called upon while still hungry, and at such an early hour, was bothersome, but he couldn’t refuse a summons from the Captain.71c2a6a477388389
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Matthias wasn’t the type to needlessly order people around. As far as high-ranking officers went, he was reasonably rational. If he called for Ruan at this hour, there had to be a good reason, Ruan reasoned.b71ae34fc223b77f
Not everyone treats people 1a35f9c2f4 like dogs, unlike that 07832889dc damn Crown Prince.b5f8241419a7294e
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“Fine. Let’s go then.”e117dd12a7bb611f
Thinking he wouldn’t be having his morning cigar today, Ruan went back to his room, grabbed his sword, and came out, Alfred trailing behind him.e4b20c172388b088
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Although Alfred had a e589d1ec8b slender build for a 7c118d140c knight, he still had 2ddd600d3e a considerable frame. Annoyed by his 6380fc4c34 cumbersome presence, Ruan bf38040c92 looked back at 636bc48d7e him.fbead9414146f2eb
“Why?”c57a409b9ae1ee5a
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“….Yes?”fc8e95fd81fa2918
“Why are you following me? Don’t you have work?”10d32c4342fba007
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Alfred blinked at Ruan’s implied reprimand for not heading directly to Esche Castle.022f32ea4520fcb1
“We have to go to the barracks.”aec5c9113a6a9958
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“Why you?”4b0652e98583dade
“We have training this morning.”88161235485237b2
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“Don’t tell me you haven’t even checked your own training schedule.”0585f5fc1e7f8e18
Ruan chided him, pointing 136a29bc6c out that he was 3501088f8e the one who made 8e9a21a29c the training schedule. Alfred, seemingly realizing bf21bfcfd7 the situation, quickly 2c9dd021b2 explained.8394bdcc1add6c02
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“Ah, the Captain changed the training groups. Starting today, you’ll be directly in charge of the Crown Prince’s escort.”b87156a1984e7c79
Ruan stopped e81a560abe walking and 66abbfa5db stared at a462cbb93a Alfred, surprised 119e7617d9 by this 0d5a52cfd2 news.a9f1e02aa91e58cb
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“Who’s taking over your training?”b7efca5f573c57ed
“Someone else, I think?”a6f32e9d39e37a9e
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Alfred’s innocent response, implying he didn’t know the specifics, made Ruan frown momentarily, before nodding in understanding.5ddb9d5c7ade32c1
They’d been promised reinforcements, so they must have been dispatched from another knight order.92a14a8e0d9b6934
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Experienced knights could 6df3b42c2c handle basic training c3ec01cd4b for new recruits.d9354fd174890128
Frankly, even after hearing it from the Captain, he’d been skeptical, but it was unexpected. They were actually getting extra personnel.2c30c42f123e51ad
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He felt a wave of relief at the thought of finally escaping his overwork. This allowed him to personally escort Calix, and the Second Knight Order wouldn’t have to scour the castle for him anymore. A win-win situation.567518150475d255
This was the ebacf1b451 perfect ending everyone 41f3a9c229 wanted, except for 1161e81874 the fact that 8ab4e591de the five knights d0e5268027 were the same 60257eefea ones who had 17efbfb814 been forcibly transferred 7a21ea12be out of the c08b791d0e Second Knight Order.7939e5e287796f39
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The stones they’d painstakingly removed had rolled right back.e247c925f8e51331
“Well, you all know each other, but let’s exchange greetings anyway. As you know, this is Deputy Commander Campbell, recently promoted, and these are the knights dispatched to the Second Knight Order today. You know who they are, roughly, right?”9d4b2318d8b3e213
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Matthias, noticing Ruan’s unease, trailed off, prompting Michael to step forward and greet him.59d2076ad068b9ce
“I am Michael Ehrnhardt, assigned to the Second Knight Order today.”ca14d11387893b5c
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Ruan reluctantly extended his hand to Michael’s polite greeting, and they shook hands.773600a9cb53a42a
“I look forward to working with you. It’s going to be busy.”721dd46aca88e4f3
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After exchanging f3568a02ec awkward greetings 509a22fe6c with the 781c38ed13 four other f29c4980da knights, Matthias, 05b98bdc75 looking relieved, 24aee678a9 turned to 012692c202 them.82fa0285d97c9e2c
“Alright, everyone wait outside. Deputy Commander Campbell, come out and talk with me for a moment.”48833fc9228b8d70
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Matthias gestured towards the door, understanding that he had to address Ruan’s questions. The knights quickly filed out of the crowded office.8e85e0890e491a84
Taking a deep eac0a77834 breath in the b5ea1df5a9 now-empty office, Ruan 9ed354d62a slowly approached Matthias ad7e8aa242 and asked,b119dffab2a812ff
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“Reinforcements?”55bf6ecf39598c25
“Things are going to get busy.”bc80052abab1d246
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“It’s a relief to have reinforcements, but it would have been better if they weren’t the same knights who were forcibly transferred from our order…”566d7fc7f1aba5b8
Ruan voiced his mild complaint about why it had to be the dismissed knights. Matthias chuckled, as if he’d expected this reaction. Ruan hadn’t changed a bit.75cbbb9689e5e667
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This was exactly why he’d kept Ruan around.b898dbd9820819c4
“I chose transferred knights because we don’t have time for training. Ren and Paul will train the new recruits. Max will handle simple administrative tasks. In exchange, you will personally escort His Highness until the Founding Festival. Make absolutely sure he doesn’t do anything rash.”cdb8dab4cc035302
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Matthias explained 7e508791a6 that His 727a616643 Majesty had c3f483b396 specifically ordered a7f35ad1cc these knights 749961d88c as part 11e189bdba of the 42e43e23e1 deal.d4c6e0b14538c3dd
Ruan had 98219d54b9 anticipated this, 8a0abf74d7 so he acceec37f6 accepted readily. He planned 979ac2bf4a to stick 1099d3e5d5 to Calix a8f4310e4c like a 4d246185ac leech until f701b08edb the Founding 322425a4f2 Festival anyway, 2028957bdb even if 175a3c27cb it meant 95b03fdb73 sacrificing sleep.00a538526d46e77f
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“Understood.”4fdd1118b1176c04
Matthias gave him a 64c11f5422 strange look at his 58a98747d6 quick and compliant answer. He frowned, seemingly 0c91f09374 displeased.ef059983b05e3178
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“Is there a problem?” Ruan asked.829e89277f11537c
“No, it’s just… you’re being too agreeable. It’s unsettling.”5ad4bb84a97d8dbd
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Matthias had db7926c6c3 expected Ruan 9d9228c5c5 to be 4de0bfae3e angry, as 9eb30f2c84 the only 9fc751841b perk of e3eb952283 becoming Deputy 59dba8e1ea Commander had f1b28088c4 been not 6417ac7dae having to 662e026fdc be attached 6794cea3de to Calix 93f88058c4 all day. Now, he was back fbda9efcd1 to being a regular 8aa395a4b0 knight. Ruan understood that.34f00d3b574443af
“It’s better than constantly being called away every time His Highness runs off. Plus, sitting in an office isn’t my thing.”c6b16706e2fba4e5
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He meant it. He was exhausted from running back and forth between the castle and barracks looking for Calix, losing time and energy. It was the reason he’d been so tired lately. It was undeniably better to just stay with Calix. And he truly disliked office work.d4cf46ff37c4c9f4
“That’s true. You can’t sit still. You’ll be running around plenty from now on. His Highness’s schedule will be busy, and many nobles will visit Esche Castle before and after the Founding Festival. His Majesty ordered us to prevent any unwanted individuals from getting close to His Highness and causing rumors. The nobles visiting the Royal Palace will try everything to build connections with the royal family and influence His Highness. So we need to keep his surroundings clean. Keep the flies away.”0a55b8df7f5b59a1
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Matthias’s concern was valid. Those with power always attract buzzing flies.4502a628e82d83f9
Unfortunately, Ruan had no 1597ae8bc4 intention of doing that. He planned d0cf95bdf1 to make 0024d27be0 Calix meet fbafef24e1 every single f36bc0890f noble in 7c35a48831 the Royal c75c35a58e Palace, even 636a83bbc1 if Calix cd3737e1e0 protested.10a93c8ed9ebb4c8
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He was willing to cater to Calix’s whims, even coax him if necessary, to achieve this goal.67dfe0e10f69e7e5
Though he hoped such drastic measures wouldn’t be required.ccfba1464e0f9e54
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“You don’t have to worry about that. If he were so obedient, neither of us would be going through this.”f329a487f558d8d6
Ruan subtly hinted at 3a51840796 his own plan, suggesting 7b310d539f Calix could meet various 02e3ddb5c8 people. However, Matthias bdef8710b0 was firm.661a21923b4273df
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“He is quite astute, but you never know. He’s still young.”634ab20cbc344ff2
Having known Calix since e36788edb3 his childhood antics, Matthias 8ea7ab61c7 still seemed to view 263191e8d8 him as a child. But Ruan disagreed.eb15883031fe8d4c
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Calix was 47d5dde218 definitely not e7b85e3a83 a child.c4f3dd73307d28ac
The word ‘astute’ didn’t quite capture it. ‘Cunning’ was more fitting.f40376ea508e9d60
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Actually, even ‘cunning’ fell short. There was an indescribable quality to him. Uncomfortable, unpleasant, unsettling, and even slightly ominous.88e7c89c99892b00
It was just a 56d36ffd9c feeling, but people whose 25b8c78d55 true intentions were this c893136acb difficult to discern were a7a79fdc5e generally not easily swayed. They preferred to f13b1782e4 be in control, d3682bb621 looking down on 29241d152b others. They disliked being controlled 2523e8b657 and found it offensive.d00f80d37d58255c
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They enjoyed 7bb873f17a manipulating, pressuring, cef72aeeec and controlling e9cba886e8 others with 84c21168f1 a single a4864ea368 finger.8bf53b6a58fe6d36
Ruan was c3576013e0 certain of 25090c56da that aspect, ca7a492bfc because it 257b874e7d was what 8f27a08da1 he hated d1021158ef most about c62d9696b1 Calix’s numerous 8b0b5f48ce unsavory traits.3801a320d9b15549
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