Chapter 22 (2/2)
The Sith Empire relinquished control of all the territories of the Garnet Kingdom that it had conquered during the war, and the Hansel and Tranbel Kingdoms had also retreated from the territories they had conquered. The war had ended, but the relation between the alliance of three kingdoms and the empire only continued to deteriorate.
All merchants not officially sanctioned were highly restricted in their trades, and even common peasants could not interact as they pleased. As if to prove this, the current border post that Luke and Kurotan were at was guarded by hundreds of soldiers and devoid of any travelers.
“It seems it won’t be easy to cross the border.”
Luke smiled bitterly. It was completely different from crossing the border between Hansel Kingdom and Tranbel Kingdom.
When they had crossed over from Hansel to Tranbel Kingdom, the border was guarded by a few dozen soldiers, but the border between Tranbel Kingdom and Sith Empire painted a very different picture.
Luke briefly remembered what had happened when they had crossed the border post of the Tranbel Kingdom.
“Why would a prestigious n.o.ble of Hansel Kingdom, such as yourself, wish to cross over to Sith Empire? Please, young master, reconsider.”
At Luke’s mention that he was going to Sith Empire to start a new life, the officer at the Tranbel Kingdom’s outpost had nearly begged him to stay. From the officer’s point of view, it would have been a waste to let such an obviously talented young man with a bright future cross over from a Kingdom in the alliance over to the empire.
“Please, if it is a bright future you wish for, consider our Tranbel Kingdom. I will write you a recommendation.”
However, for Luke who had to find Isabelle after a year, it was an offer that could not be accepted. Luke refused politely but surely, and the officer had no choice but to heave a sigh and open the door of the border post.
“It may be possible that the border post of the Sith Empire will not let you pa.s.s, so I will let you go for now.”
“Thanks.”
So, Luke had safely pa.s.sed the Tranbel Kingdom’s border post and had now arrived in front of the Sith Empire’s border post. He made a worried expression.
“I wonder if my letter has arrived. I hope my parents and siblings are not worried.”
Luke had stopped by a trading city before he had reached the border post and sent off a letter. The letter was addressed to the Esteban Earldom in Hansel Kingdom.
The soldiers at the border post of the Sith Empire remained on guard and stiffly in position without any movement. It was a completely different picture from the soldiers guarding the border post of Tranbel Kingdom, who roamed around the post rather freely.
‘I have heard that the people of Sith Empire look up to those with strength and wors.h.i.+p them. From the look of those soldiers, it seems to be true.’
After waiting a while, an officer in uniform approached Luke and Kurotan.
“So you are the people wis.h.i.+ng to enter our Sith Empire?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Follow me.”
The officer waved at the soldiers who had been standing there like statues, and the soldiers moved to open the door.
Kurururung.
Luke swallowed down his nervousness as he stepped through the door. If he was unlucky, he may never again be able to return to his home, Hansel Kingdom.
The officer led Luke and Kurotan to the main office of the border post. A middle aged man with sharp eyes sat behind the mahogany desk, reading papers.
“I have brought them here.”
“Good. You are dismissed.”
The officer saluted and left the room, and the middle aged man looked at Luke. In his hands were the papers that Luke had prepared as a self-introduction.
“It is nice to meet you. I am the person in charge of the forty eighth border post of the Sith Empire, Baronet Lemington.”
“It is an honor to meet you.”
The baronet glanced Luke up and down before turning his gaze back to the papers.
“So you are the forth son of the famous House of Esteban, of the Hansel Kingdom. It seems you’ve served as an officer of the army for five years… Is this true?”
“All of it is true without mistake.”
Lemington narrowed his eyes.
“Then you have already shown talent and achievement impressive for your young age. Then why do you wish to find a future in our Sith Empire, and not your native Hansel Kingdom?”
“If I were to put it simply, the waters of the Hansel Kingdom are too small.”
Lemington’s eyes widened at Luke’s bold words.
“You wish to swim in ‘larger waters’?”
“If I were to be more exact, it is because I look up to the culture of Sith Empire of acknowledging the strong and wors.h.i.+pping martial prowess.”
Lemington began to smile.
“Hm, it seems that you are wise for your age. However.”
Lemington suddenly turned serious.
“As you already know, the Sith Empire is not on very kindly terms with your native kingdom. Thirty years ago, we were waging war. What do you plan to do if another war breaks out between your Hansel Kingdom and the Sith Empire?”
Luke answered without hesitation.
“A knight’s fealty goes to his lord, not a country. If I swear fealty to a lord from the Sith Empire, then I am a knight of the Sith Empire from then on.”
”Hm, truly a text book answer. Then what about in the case that you are not able to find a lord?”
“Then I suppose I will return to my native kingdom to become a knight of Hansel Kingdom.”
Lemington smiled bitterly at Luke’s bold att.i.tude and words.
‘He is an honest if bra.s.s b.a.s.t.a.r.d. In my eyes at least, he does not seem to be a spy.’
The process of letting anyone through the border post was entirely decided upon by the baronet. According to his experience, the young knight standing in front of him was a talent that must absolutely be cultivated by the Sith Empire.
Lemington’s expression softened as he looked at Luke, and he turned to look at Kurotan.
“Is this your apprentice knight?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I wish to know about the circ.u.mstance under which you ended up taking him in.”
Luke answered honestly. Of course, not the whole truth.
“I took him in while I was serving as an officer on the eastern lines, at Fort Potellan. He was from a common background, and swore fealty to me for life in exchange for teaching him swordsmans.h.i.+p.”
“A va.s.sal at your age? Impressive. Also, a fort on the eastern lines… It is to my knowledge that there are no specific forces to the east of Hansel Kingdom that would require any forts?”
“It was a fort built to annihilate the orcs that had gone into hiding into the eastern mountain ranges.”
“Hm, you must have suffered a lot. Our Sith Empire is currently having problems with orcs as well.”
A knight with five years of experience fighting orcs was not common even in the Sith Empire. Lemington’s eyes turned more and more kindly as Luke continued to tell him stories of his service at Fort Potellan.
“I sincerely hope that you find a lord to swear your fealty to in our Sith Empire.”
“I have high expectations as well, sir. I feel as though there must surely be a lord worth serving in the wide lands of Sith Empire.
“Haha, truly, you are a character.”
Lemington nodded and placed his signature on the paperwork.
“I give you and your apprentice knight to enter the empire. However.”
Lemington looked at Luke seriously.
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