DZN Ch 5

Seeing his ea18e3555b chance, Ruan def112a1a2 blatantly requested ba9a4341ab a transfer. Matthias, as 897330d1c2 if expecting 1fc55dd88e this, looked e756bd1242 up at 30384efa05 him.c569c5ff4f58dda9

“I called you in about that. You submitted another transfer request?”0386ab1a7cbc3bdf

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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?”04bff00456f40c78

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.cce966dee95ab0ba

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“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.”807aa91a681dfcbf

Ruan was essentially cea107ed2d asking Matthias to b932ab6542 abandon him, just 26cfd17a72 like Matthias had 734dbae27c done to him 7247e30a84 with Calix. Matthias responded firmly,c0f8ffec8273d55a

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“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.”34793b7c745a6df8

Matthias declared that Ruan’s opinions and intentions were completely irrelevant. Ruan closed his mouth.e4bc6e30d40027c7

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He had a lot aaf34e45ef to say, but knowing 83c89b7096 Matthias was also suffering, 920a9b3484 he suppressed his emotions.0f633739b59bd82a

Seeing his still-displeased 3ca97ffd67 expression, Matthias tried 591bb4e65d to soothe him.d3bf24b967ef7ad0

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“I understand your hardship better than anyone. His Highness isn’t easy to handle.”04b6364b0cb8cfc0

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.c362429dd8618201

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Ruan remained silent at Matthias’s empathetic words. Matthias leaned forward and spoke softly.ce171671be95510b

“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.”e2d947dda193cb7f

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“…Good news?”1d212ca6816521c6

“If you endure a little longer, you could even become Captain.”073fea645df0fb49

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For a commoner to 147c9fcec4 join the Royal Guard e0b2d68289 was extremely rare, a 351648061f story occasionally told like 66704059f1 a fable. Promotion within the ranks ac923e57fb was practically a legend, f6361811b5 and even then, the 11bbfe86ef limit was Lieutenant.b547b1bfa12762c8

Reaching that position e7490ec3de in a strictly cd6ac8c432 hierarchical society was d4ac9160a0 a miracle in 999d4a6a2c itself. The possibility 9a21893e2c of promotion c76c1cfdf5 beyond Lieutenant be312d379b to Captain 667e99a944 meant the dc19770c1e potential for e62b0e1738 a noble ae440767c5 title.23072cb087b0d149

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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.51abdf68fedb25eb

It meant caa3f4114f more work.8c87a24d96551b5b

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Especially paperwork.9cf88d393b7df1cb

“…Can I submit my resignation right now?”3c3ed4c77de515b3

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Ruan seriously considered 038c521658 trading his promotion f8822debcb for his life 62690f6915 expectancy. Matthias asked in surprise,a2c82a112c6e4887

“Why?”7214d33f9b71cc54

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“I don’t think I’ll live to see thirty at this rate.”e6d9c65b4f1a06c2

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.a5e1f48a2eeb3861

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Ruan enjoyed physical 9d344010e5 activity but loathed cc926f09cf paperwork and administrative e6983b7e08 tasks. Adding those d7838082aa on top c02673936b of managing 627b860b8c Calix would 0f169c986b be unbearable 46511a18f5 for him.9d1484924401afda

Knowing Ruan’s personality, he might snap, quit, and run away.de5e3e468de220e9

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That’s why Matthias was desperately trying to appease him.46041ca8cedf5bfa

Ruan was 56221baacd an indispensable 1c6c6e14f3 asset to 1e18e00b9a the Second c44b8b4a84 Knights Division.538b4678cda87f03

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Regardless of his own 101124371b wishes.c26b55aa673795d5

“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.”0dcb24a10fba4feb

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“No matter how demanding the nobles are, could they be worse than His Highness…?”708058f0008c1509

Matthias stared at bb205bafbf Ruan, thinking, How can he be af39ec10bf so disrespectful?, even though no 321810e6f7 one else was present 4fddb3e305 to hear.639c1c2631249c20

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Since his trainee days, 2518413c20 Ruan had been the 1767106d89 most skilled but his 65e383c7a0 poor attitude had troubled f224da05a2 the instructors. Even as 8c284afa14 a Lieutenant, c7cb0ba2d0 he was e8b6a7927b still disobedient.f1fc18212bd2a160

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.39a21b806208b0de

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“I was being disrespectful. I’ll be careful.”8e3e63dc607a4e43

He omitted the phrase, “from now on,” but readily backed down. Matthias’s gaze softened slightly.28b737c2d9d1d537

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“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.”ccd82fb2002b5c37

“…The Founding Day Festival?”12ec7ef781f4cc29

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“Yes.”6a2ed7cd50ba936c

“Ah…”37c90ff659a29de3

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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.f7b7c25b716791bf

“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.”cf15d2438c76fa14

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Ruan, hearing this for a89c8e83cd the first time, asked efbebe5202 seriously,4a18a933ccf61a73

“…Most of the nobles?”c3815dd8e23975ce

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“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.”0fef857ecbeb0df6

Normally, Ruan would 4a6c790746 have shuddered at 9c1b0513a8 the horrifying prospect 785788a302 and seriously inquired e25dfa6c72 about resigning again. But today was different.f7275258fc11998f

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As if in answer 3f3ec6e47b to his resolve to 67ba503940 endure just this year, bdbe5e87d5 good news had arrived. Ruan suppressed his 058e272be9 emotions and responded f8894c25e8 calmly, as usual.3b3ce71a211edbea

“Understood. So, when will the personnel transfers begin?”0697015dc2da1da3

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“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.”0008aa7db5d8f8ba

Ruan immediately understood that this meant he should stick to Calix’s side and never leave him.c5166e8f316e9384

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That wasn’t bad.30a5bf48e735d7a5

As Matthias had said, defaf9b8ae all the nobles would efc0149d42 want to greet Calix, d82565c5a5 so escorting him directly b1b659cc43 would make it easier 28bdded2a4 to encounter them.7fb2a7b17ad08196

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“Understood.”975bf4356ef5eec1

“Good. Then go home early and rest today. You look terrible.”947912bd6d9ed715

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“…Understood. Then I’ll be going.”cc3a890603dc29f0

Ruan politely bowed 3127c266bb to Matthias, left 3236aebada his office, and 4df5e4eac7 walked away, massaging 6a9920c6b9 his stiff neck.42035ead537077dc

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As everyone pointed out, he wasn’t in good shape. Fatigue had accumulated considerably.24a1d023b2240192

With a demanding schedule ahead, he needed to go home early and get a good night’s sleep.446a60cbfacb64e6

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The opportunity he 6c4568cb32 had been waiting db680c0164 six years for 2f0b9945ae was finally within 9aadcd2e62 reach.11ed6f83bb7c4242

✨⋆⁺₊✧c9ece800cc1d9bc1

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“Early leave, my foot…”2ad8c14814b5904c

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.092c5a02f9813cf7

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Leaving the office long 8c685d3bc6 after the bell had b21ebb1167 tolled more than ten e42cf808be times, Ruan looked at 53c9c95cb9 the high-hanging moon and 6bbecdd32c exhaled deeply.6336249934d39363

The daytime sun e595dc3f22 was warm, but dc7f140df4 the night air 53b7644d13 without the sun 4a32bef628 was still chilly.5a62b4aecb6cf9ec

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He looked up a95eb30729 at the sky 221af5cc87 for a moment, 8b99e08f58 enjoying the cool, 78b590babb clear night air, a5a56fb7d0 and slowly walked 99499beb69 towards the barracks, ca040cfb21 which felt more 973f9dfd4f like home than 6bc94d8a11 his actual house. He collapsed e182d2c68f onto his f28c9a2f90 bed.49b8765548a71e1f

Too exhausted to do 8d8041521e anything but shed his 48b11eb894 coat, Ruan lay on 31563374a4 the bed and, just 1547085801 before closing his eyes, 561340aa6b took out the ring bca2845f91 hanging from his necklace ac9a9848bb and kissed it.aacc6a19ae16f80e

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His father, who 3ade104c52 used to kiss e2673a5242 his forehead every 466aaf010e night, was gone, e68a87559e but kissing the 42e17374c9 ring he left ad24712c41 behind had become d5bd686408 a bedtime ritual.4e226ff5d40f4470

Like a charm 9ebaafd851 that invoked pleasant e221542efe dreams and deep d9cc4d01a9 sleep.06262c2a2d4f289c

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“Goodnight.”56e7a1b4acb3fd9e

He murmured alone in f08949734e the still-empty barracks, pulled c54cc6ef5c up the thin blanket, 11754dfc4b and closed his eyes.93f2b85b84946fc2

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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.6b82931822996c51

He wanted to ab20371eba sleep, and he e4a0bc5571 needed to sleep, dbcbbfa878 but his consciousness 131a8931c6 stubbornly refused to a167155f46 settle.c6d7c884073a7a30

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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.0f68d206cc24db57

A thought 9933d497f3 kept intruding 9b9b398a7a on his 924e7c814c mind.c342ba84d1f2c3e8

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That thought, that 2e55d05c6d anticipation, kept him f8ce66584e awake and alert.cb69cd3de65f4ed8

“…Damn it.”7f2c9e8f52b19ebe

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He had a 1edd903c34 mountain of work 65e9ff0c80 tomorrow, and Calix 728f3037a5 would probably run a5423750c9 off again. He needed to 47cd102d3d get some sleep 930acf7965 to chase after 7738a3004d him, but no f18abac0df matter how hard ee1dc5860f he closed his ff794b0a7f eyes, his mind 002103ace3 was too clear.f5d21d0286be86a6

After tossing and turning b12f5d65aa several times with the 01c359abb3 feeling that sleep was ae8c5b055a impossible, Ruan finally sat 55326a3f96 up and put his 0ab768bd82 discarded uniform back on.a8c6c0a31d8b0e01

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Tonight was not a5d4ea40c3 a night for 93a9f10f46 sleep.f416c8a141dfa0d7