The Conqueror from a Dying Kingdom, page 4
This man looked too big to ride an eagle in the first place. He was so tall and muscular that he might have weighed over eighty kilograms by himself, to say nothing of how heavy he must have been with a full suit of armor and a spear. If someone like him got on an eagle, it wouldn’t be able to fly, or at the very least, it would quickly get tired. Huge, muscular men made good soldiers, but a problem with kingeagles was that they weren’t good at carrying them.
“I’m sure the sky knights who serve the princess are well aware, but you’d be better off practicing with an old bird that’s mellowed out a little,” Rook explained.
Oh, really?
None of our kingeagles were very old, so I’d never had the chance to ride one like Rook had described. Our oldest was a female we kept for breeding, and the rest were sold off while they were still fairly young.
“Yes, the knights around her know that,” Galla replied. “I’m sure it’s Her Majesty the Queen who doesn’t. I bet she wanted her daughter to ride a kingeagle of the highest repute, rather than one born in the royal guard’s birdcages.”
It turned out that Rook’s eagles were held in high regard. I hadn’t realized it until now because Rook had never bragged about it.
“Spare me the flattery. A bird won’t fly well unless it’s handled well, no matter how it was reared.”
“Blame Her Majesty’s motherly love. Still, I can’t say it was a bad idea if you’re the one who raised it.”
Rook let out a long sigh. “Her Majesty will have my head if it throws the princess. I’ve trained it as carefully as I could.”
“You needn’t worry so much. If the princess can’t ride it, I’m sure there’ll be a sky knight happy to have it.”
“I suppose so.”
“Now, are you gonna introduce the kid?” Galla looked at me. His great height meant that he was actually towering over me, which was a little intimidating.
“He’s my son. His name’s Yuri,” Rook said.
Galla crouched to get down to my eye level. Even so, his face was still above mine, and I had to look up a little to meet his eyes.
“Hello there, Yuri.”
“Hello,” I said with a bow.
Galla grinned at me. “A proper hello. Aren’t you a good boy?”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet a friend of my father’s.”
“You’re a smart kid. Gonna be a scholar when you grow up?”
“I’m planning to inherit my father’s business right now, though it’s not certain yet. It remains to be seen whether I’ll be fit for the job or not.”
Galla looked at me dumbfounded, then gave me a couple of pats on the head with one hand. He stood up again. “He’s awfully well-spoken for a kid. How old is he?”
“He’ll be four very soon.”
“Four? I haven’t seen a kid this smart since the princess.”
He must have thought I was weird, but I couldn’t bear pretending to act my apparent age all the time. I could do it for a few days, but several years was too much to ask.
“Don’t exaggerate,” Rook said. “He’s just a regular kid.”
Yeah, you tell him.
“My own son’s four,” Galla replied.
“Oh, is he?”
“Yeah. I said so in my letters.”
“Oh... I think I remember reading that.”
Get it together, dad.
“You think...?” Galla paused for a moment. “Anyway, let’s just say I wish mine were turning out half as well as yours.”
“Oh, come off it. I bet he’s no different from mine.”
“You’d never hear this polite talk from my brat, believe me.”
And here’s what happens when dads get to talking about their kids. Gonna be here a while... Or so I thought.
“Sir Galla.” A young woman appeared from behind a building and hurried over to us.
“Something wrong?” Galla asked her.
“Her Highness Carol honors us with her presence,” she said.
“Her Highness?” Galla echoed.
Her Highness was one of the titles given to royal family members. I guessed from the discussion that the “Highness” headed here was none other than the princess we’d just been talking about—the new owner of the eagle we’d ridden here.
“It’s not great timing... Let me guess—she couldn’t wait to see her eagle?”
“That’s correct,” the young woman replied.
Galla studied me and Rook in turn, like someone appraising a couple of antiques. His gaze was aimed below our faces, so he was making sure we were suitably dressed. As it turned out, we were both wearing fairly nice outfits for our trip to the city.
“All right, bring her here,” he decided.
“Yes, sir.” The woman saluted him before turning around and hurrying off.
No, don’t bring her here. I really don’t wanna meet her.
I looked at Rook, and from his pained expression I could tell he felt the same way.
“Nice seeing you, Galla.” Rook gave him a casual wave and then turned to leave.
“You didn’t get a signature, did you?” Galla noted with a mischievous smile. “Don’t need one to take with you?”
Hand over the goods, collect a signature—the basics of trade. Until he got that signature, the eagle delivery wasn’t finished.
Galla seemed to want Rook to meet the princess. I doubted he meant any harm, so I didn’t foresee any trouble, but I had zero familiarity with royalty. My lack of knowledge made me nervous.
“I’d rather not talk to royalty. My days of dealing with them are over.” Rook looked as though he considered it more of a hassle than something to fear. Presumably, there were a lot of awkward formalities to follow around important people.
“Don’t be like that. They could be regular customers in the future.”
“Uh...”
Before Rook could finish thinking it over, the same woman appeared from behind the building again. That came as a surprise.
The woman was accompanied by a sophisticated-looking girl, and she, in turn, was followed by two more women who looked like maids. The young girl was about the same age as me, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. Her silky hair fluttered in the breeze as she strode toward us. Rather than a dress, she was wearing an exquisitely tailored riding habit, complete with bottoms that appeared to be made of hide. Her choice of outfit spoke of her eagerness to ride the eagle.
Upon hearing the sound of boots scraping against the sandy ground right beside me, I turned to see Rook down on one knee. He was bowing to her in an odd fashion. Galla, on the other hand, simply gave her a standing bow, perhaps because he was better acquainted with her. Since I was Rook’s son, I figured I’d better follow his kneeling bow. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to do it properly—I hadn’t been taught any of the country’s rules of etiquette. I settled for a monkey-see-monkey-do approach and imitated Rook best I could.
I heard the girl’s clear, high-pitched voice above my head. “You may raise your heads.”
I didn’t know the first thing about proper manners. Was she being literal, telling me to simply lift my head up, or did she mean that I could stop kneeling entirely? Rook stood up while I was trying to figure it out, so I did likewise.
“I am Carol Flue Shaltl, and I believe you are Rook Ho.”
“Indeed. I am honored to make your acquaintance,” Rook greeted her respectfully.
The girl turned to look at me, but I merely lowered my head and took a step back to half hide myself behind Rook. Moving back probably made me look like Rook’s apprentice, but I really didn’t want to become the subject of conversation. Not only would it be a pain, but I felt like it would leave a bad impression if the customer learned that Rook had used the same eagle he was meant to deliver to transport his child to the capital for a little shopping trip. Maybe I was overthinking it, but little things like that could lead to someone complaining.
“I hear you showed great skill with a spear at the Knight Academy Combat Tournament. You must have been an excellent knight,” the girl noted.
I’d never heard of that event before.
“You think too highly of me,” Rook replied. “It was Galla here who bested me.”
Knight...Academy...Combat Tournament? I guess a lot happened between him and Galla in the past. At any rate, this girl sure knows a lot. We were born around the same time, so she can’t have spent much more time here than I have. Then again, she’s a princess—she’s probably got a rigorous education. Royals need it since they have to show proper manners in public.
“I also hear you raise fine eagles. Is this one mine? Does it have a name?” she asked.
“It hasn’t been named. I’d be much obliged if you were to choose the name yourself.”
“In that case, I must speak with my mother. Will I be able to ride it today?”
“The bird has flown a great distance from Ho Province to get here, so I believe it would be best if it were to rest its wings today.”
“I see...” The girl’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Her clothes made it obvious that she’d thought she could run over and hop straight onto the eagle. She’d probably been waiting nearby, bursting with excitement, and now she was crushed to learn she couldn’t ride it after all.
Galla opened his big mouth. “Your Highness, perhaps you could take this opportunity to ask the proper way to ride an eagle.”
I could see enough of Rook’s face from behind him to tell he was scowling at Galla. His expression seemed to say, couldn’t you just leave me out of it since she can’t even ride the damn bird?
“Oh. Yes, indeed. How should I ride it?” the girl asked Rook.
“Well... I think it’s best to ride in a way that avoids arguments with the eagle. Please try to get along with the bird while you ride it.” Rook’s advice was painfully vague.
“I see. Then I suppose I shouldn’t smack it?”
Smack it...?
“I would advise approaching it like a friend. I’m sure the bird will respond in kind.”
“Very well,” the girl said while reaching for the eagle’s reins that Rook was holding. “I shall do just that.”
Looks like she can’t wait to take it away with her right now. She’s like a kid who’s just gotten a new hamster and wants to carry it home themselves.
“Will it be kept in the usual birdcages?” she asked Galla.
“Yes, Your Highness! That’s our intention,” Galla answered, then shot a glance at the woman who’d brought the girl to us.
“I can guide you there,” the woman said.
“Very well,” the girl agreed. “Please do.”
“Please take good care of it,” Rook said as he finally released his grip on the reins.
Rook was probably thinking, I guess it’s safe to let her hold the reins with this many people watching her. The poor little girl stood no chance if the eagle were to try to escape, but a bird trained by Rook would never take off without permission. Still, he’d kept his grip on the reins long enough to think it over first.
“Thank you, sir. I shall treasure it.” The girl gave Rook a few polite parting words in an apparent show of respect, then left us with her entourage in tow.
“So that’s Princess Carol. Seems like a good kid,” Rook said, clearly relieved that the encounter was over. From time to time he stroked his chin.
“Yeah, she is,” Galla agreed. “The royal family’s got an heir to be proud of.”
I can’t deny that she was a levelheaded kid. And I don’t think there’s anything stopping women from becoming the monarch in this country, so maybe we’re in for a peaceful future once she’s the queen.
Maybe she wouldn’t be remembered as Carol the Great, but I couldn’t imagine her ever becoming Carol the Fool. I didn’t know how old she was, but I guessed she was about four or five. It was impressive that a girl of her age could inspire such confidence in adults.
“Hmm... Might have been nice to have a girl,” Rook mused.
I couldn’t ignore that. I get how you feel, but...you didn’t have to say it in front of your son.
“Dad, how do you know Galla?” I asked Rook as we made our way out of the royal castle.
“He was in my year at school. Now he’s doing well for himself in the first order of the royal guard.”
I’d guessed as much from the fact that he was keeping an eye on the capital, but this confirmed that he was part of the royal guard. They were a unit that literally protected the royal family and their immediate surroundings. This unit had a first order, and presumably a second order too—no doubt the first order was the stronger of the two.
“What kind of school?” I asked.
“Knight Academy. It’s here in the capital. You’ll go there someday too.”
Will I? First I’ve heard of this. I thought that I was going to carry on doing manual labor until I became manager of the ranch someday. I have to go to school too? I don’t wanna. Just homeschool me or something. Anyway, why’s it called the Knight Academy? “Knight” obviously refers to soldiers, so it sounds like a military establishment. Please tell me I’ve completely misunderstood somehow.
“Did you graduate from there, dad?”
“No...” Rook looked a little bitter, as if he were recalling unpleasant memories.
Did he have a hard time there?
“I didn’t graduate. I quit halfway.”
“Oh, I see...”
Rook was apparently a dropout.
When I thought back on it, I realized that Rook had never talked about his school days, or his youth in general for that matter. He occasionally recounted what had happened after he’d met Suzuya, and everything that came after their marriage, but he almost never told me about his youth.
I realized now that this was odd—most adults loved to recount their young days. Rook was attractive, athletic, and personable. I couldn’t imagine him having a miserable school life or being bullied. And if the talk we’d just had with Galla was anything to go by, he had friends who were just as outgoing. If he’d dropped out despite all that, something bad must have happened—something he’d rather forget.
“If my dad couldn’t do it, then maybe I won’t be any good at this school either,” I said in an attempt to distract Rook from unpleasant memories.
“No, you’ll be just fine, Yuri,” Rook replied while patting my head with his open palm.
I guess it doesn’t take much to make an adult want to pat a kid’s head.
✧✧✧
We left the island—known as Royal Castle Island—and entered a castle town on the opposite side of a road that ran parallel to the river.
The construction of the castle itself had been impressive, and the town was no different. There were rows of buildings made from stone and brick, and tightly packed cobblestone formed the pathway beneath our feet. The city hustled and bustled with activity; it was quite the sight to behold.
Rook seemed at home in the city as he weaved through the roads and heavy foot traffic without a single wrong turn. After I’d followed him for ten minutes or so, we arrived at a bookstore.
The store was made of stone, just like the other buildings around it, but a sign that depicted a quill and inkwell upon an open book hung from its eave.
“They probably sell them here... Let’s take a look.” Rook opened the door to the store and stepped inside.
I entered behind him and found that I’d been wrong about it being a bookstore—it was actually something that resembled a stationery store. The wooden, handmade shelves were packed with various types of quills, parchment, brushes, and several colors of ink. At the rear there were folded easels and canvases that had been mounted onto frames. I could also see sticks of chalk and blackboards of various sizes. It made sense now—stationery stores were more likely to contain notebooks than bookstores. A bookstore was no place to buy a blank book.
“Shopkeep, we’re looking for an empty book with nothing written on the pages,” Rook said to an old woman who looked ready to fall asleep.
“Ah, yes, we do have those,” she replied. “They’re rather valuable, so we don’t put them out on display.”
I see. Now that she mentioned it, I realized that the more valuable items were placed closer to the shopkeeper. This old woman didn’t look like she’d be able to put up much of a fight against an armed robber, but it might have deterred shoplifting at least.
“Oh? Could we see them?” Rook asked.
The old woman bent down, opened some sort of box at her feet, produced a bundle from it, and placed it on the counter. “Here they are.”
The bundle was wrapped in what appeared to be a thin oilcloth, which when stripped away, revealed several beautiful books. She took each of them in turn and arranged them on the counter. These were the kind of items that would normally be kept in a locked glass case where the customers could still see them, but that didn’t seem to be an option in this era.
“Go on, pick one.” Rook lifted me up and let me stand on a nearby stepping stool so that I could see what was on the counter.
There were four books placed alongside each other. The smallest wasn’t an option because it really was pocket-sized. The next biggest was about B6 size—roughly as big as a manga volume—which was still too small.
Next was the fanciest of the bunch. It had a leather-coated cover with rivets, and its corners were reinforced with a metal that might have been brass.
The fourth book was about the same size, except it didn’t have such fancy binding. The cover was similarly coated in leather, but its wooden interior wasn’t as thick, and there were no rivets or anything. The leather on the cover included a strap that could be used to lock the book and prevent anyone from reading it.
“Could I take a look inside them?”
“Of course,” the shopkeeper said. “Go right ahead.”
Now that I had permission, I opened the covers.
Both had blank pages inside, making them essentially the same, but the fancy book had rather thick pieces of parchment for its pages. Each individual page was about as thick as a curtain cloth, which presumably reduced the total number of pages. The lower page count was beneficial if it were meant to be used as an ornamental piece on a shelf, but it was a major drawback for me.
