DZN Ch 8
by mimi“What now? Why?”e26d2fa8da2a2326
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:486f3307f14fd72f
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“The Captain is looking for you.”d349a9615aa44f01
“….Now?”8985ab6a0938bee3
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“Yes.”674503075431c132
“Why?”75dc40e15a4d9b27
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“I don’t know, but he said he has something urgent to discuss.”2ede680c53163316
Being called upon while still hungry, and at such an early hour, was bothersome, but he couldn’t refuse a summons from the Captain.4c4a84db5c10b414
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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.a14e0b6938fa7436
Not everyone treats people b9badcc9e0 like dogs, unlike that 5c488867e0 damn Crown Prince.fe5dc91d9648814d
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“Fine. Let’s go then.”2e81e1da273f350d
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.cd9a02f305bae930
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Although Alfred 5455b673fe had a 46fb703d10 slender build 6faec7a50d for a 2399c9f6e0 knight, he 47a3d52ffd still had a146634e97 a considerable a049be2692 frame. Annoyed by his eb1a58813d cumbersome presence, Ruan e6cf563c28 looked back at 36cf842896 him.24db2a1f4b48f107
“Why?”adc9e9b383a6d163
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“….Yes?”a6e173cdcd993bd4
“Why are you following me? Don’t you have work?”28724cdf5285fdea
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Alfred blinked at Ruan’s implied reprimand for not heading directly to Esche Castle.255f406baa1112de
“We have to go to the barracks.”1efd4e78e8571f9e
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“Why you?”d102f8fefa70b927
“We have training this morning.”7b08f1c0bbf30ef7
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“Don’t tell me you haven’t even checked your own training schedule.”6a67b79df76f6ffc
Ruan chided him, cb22acf013 pointing out that c762c10eab he was the d6a1d3634e one who made fb4df45763 the training schedule. Alfred, seemingly realizing 7bf957761c the situation, quickly 25e8ad0eae explained.63a1a96a37cce18e
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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.”35eac67187918629
Ruan stopped walking and 9d0810dba6 stared at Alfred, surprised 26c7cdfca9 by this news.bf8842fcb48610f9
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“Who’s taking over your training?”b2fc2cc0e634b807
“Someone else, I think?”ae782c97c29cc1a6
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Alfred’s innocent response, implying he didn’t know the specifics, made Ruan frown momentarily, before nodding in understanding.dc4951fb2cf24ba4
They’d been promised reinforcements, so they must have been dispatched from another knight order.fcf127c8931f90ac
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Experienced knights 29571ec173 could handle a67dbec2a9 basic training bf28d30b61 for new b4a474d9b7 recruits.cea103bbb0a5b033
Frankly, even after hearing it from the Captain, he’d been skeptical, but it was unexpected. They were actually getting extra personnel.36c959820aa6fec3
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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.9176c4c9a27c4d1e
This was the perfect b01e01d234 ending everyone wanted, except d45410aa84 for the fact that 53d8d4db93 the five knights were 7af50cebd7 the same ones who 36be088b98 had been forcibly transferred f5f33d1ca2 out of the Second 3003c6cd57 Knight Order.6aa0738be4649645
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The stones they’d painstakingly removed had rolled right back.be739a56c8ec2d0c
“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?”5b1b60c9d66c5310
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Matthias, noticing Ruan’s unease, trailed off, prompting Michael to step forward and greet him.5fe46c94601c5d6f
“I am Michael Ehrnhardt, assigned to the Second Knight Order today.”d2231ba0db5fec3a
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Ruan reluctantly extended his hand to Michael’s polite greeting, and they shook hands.bb941e89f0cfc2a5
“I look forward to working with you. It’s going to be busy.”9fe92e1b39f8ec34
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After exchanging e3852e83c8 awkward greetings 76b3a418e2 with the e597d50e24 four other 67840697f1 knights, Matthias, 4e68ce81ac looking relieved, 5e80d541c7 turned to 61e89d327e them.606495b87029ffa7
“Alright, everyone wait outside. Deputy Commander Campbell, come out and talk with me for a moment.”3bf87b4a999602cb
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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.89a0aa64c4dfe925
Taking a deep b07bcba78e breath in the aa09183d89 now-empty office, Ruan cbac3d6225 slowly approached Matthias 4d45d667bc and asked,31fbb1cc4d455c00
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“Reinforcements?”2d9dfca642ee39ad
“Things are going to get busy.”7e81036728bfe884
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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…”ada500946736282c
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.7fe5b460f6c90c1e
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This was exactly why he’d kept Ruan around.cbd719839a5f6215
“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.”d18d2f9028152b0d
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Matthias explained b452f747e5 that His 05f50a788b Majesty had 90556f8d64 specifically ordered 78ee8be508 these knights 53647bf1d2 as part 78699181ce of the d89d3de111 deal.7ed520a4d73d4c4e
Ruan had 6e14b8a5e6 anticipated this, 4314b47855 so he e345710aca accepted readily. He planned dc2e9927d6 to stick 0f184878ac to Calix bc09769288 like a 60d64de9ee leech until 72b94a94a2 the Founding d69997fff6 Festival anyway, 6bb391a01b even if e48d697499 it meant b591c011eb sacrificing sleep.db71105752f1e5a8
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“Understood.”fc11fde0869da3f3
Matthias gave 53012f9e25 him a dd768b3cc6 strange look 01bef69ade at his 19001a0875 quick and 5f5a6bf456 compliant answer. He frowned, 9de5935394 seemingly displeased.33a8339e3a920f25
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“Is there a problem?” Ruan asked.0e5532b681488b2a
“No, it’s just… you’re being too agreeable. It’s unsettling.”08aa4021e6b3f9f1
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Matthias had expected Ruan a1fc5bcb11 to be angry, as aaba02b068 the only perk of fd61e34fbe becoming Deputy Commander had 7678ad421f been not having to 7eae303ea4 be attached to Calix c0de0a023c all day. Now, he was e91567bae5 back to being b8a1fa2244 a regular knight. Ruan understood that.2769414116875a5f
“It’s better than constantly being called away every time His Highness runs off. Plus, sitting in an office isn’t my thing.”f26e8c19bd27dc37
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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.e29b2b91762e5e3f
“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.”7eda4ae86440c0c7
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Matthias’s concern was valid. Those with power always attract buzzing flies.ac3df1677ea331dd
Unfortunately, Ruan b8db5f0dd6 had no 25e9b18551 intention of e7852e2b9b doing that. He planned ebbf1391b6 to make 53ed04c03a Calix meet 2556f51c74 every single 6bdc614107 noble in dce0ae3afc the Royal 655aac1e75 Palace, even ae890d24b9 if Calix 7b8274b42c protested.c5930b365b1b86ed
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He was willing to cater to Calix’s whims, even coax him if necessary, to achieve this goal.546ef8bb54e74e3b
Though he hoped such drastic measures wouldn’t be required.f619a6b20f375a92
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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.”fa7c7448ae789788
Ruan subtly hinted at 7d14b1fc3f his own plan, suggesting 1ea05310e8 Calix could meet various cc782d5626 people. However, Matthias was firm.f97c9331a59fa854
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“He is quite astute, but you never know. He’s still young.”d9cbb306241f311f
Having known 1d6f38ce71 Calix since 9de38e7a43 his childhood e4a38ea517 antics, Matthias 6ae8aa8863 still seemed b46d49fc87 to view 093ffa962d him as 777c5909eb a child. But Ruan disagreed.6c90e5930d254c08
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Calix was definitely 908fa0882f not a child.bfa7b849bbfdd263
The word ‘astute’ didn’t quite capture it. ‘Cunning’ was more fitting.07643b84adb07734
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Actually, even ‘cunning’ fell short. There was an indescribable quality to him. Uncomfortable, unpleasant, unsettling, and even slightly ominous.2cde79df5183e80b
It was just a 06985d40ac feeling, but people whose 3a8bd2ee74 true intentions were this 965090a761 difficult to discern were f8daa0ac6f generally not easily swayed. They preferred to 2d676c98f3 be in control, 295485a6c5 looking down on c531aaa23f others. They disliked bc71bb617a being controlled c19396440b and found 5712cdfa7e it offensive.da898177abca95e1
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They enjoyed manipulating, 881e07f557 pressuring, and controlling 40e669450f others with a a3ba40c255 single finger.3c8ade2f567ef77f
Ruan was certain of f3b7309854 that aspect, because it f4391c6683 was what he hated 1b6bf7ef8e most about Calix’s numerous fb781be756 unsavory traits.7b83d5f9235b46de
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