Cantares kept his promise a few days later, bringing up Arendt at a meeting of nobles.

Arendt learned the news through Richt.

It was a time when he was swinging his sword in the training hall without realizing how much time had passed, and then putting a snack he had brought from the kitchen into his mouth.

“…”

“…You look like you’re not very interested.”

“What should I do? Ah, as expected of this body. His Highness the Crown Prince knows my true feelings, but these so-called seniors still treat people like bugs.”

The expressions of Arthur, who was sitting a little way away from him, and Richt, both rotted at the same time. Arendt ignored their reactions and put another piece of bread in his mouth.

Arthur couldn’t stand it anymore and scowled.

“You sure do eat well. Your name came up at the imperial meeting? Are you really saying that right now?”

“Arg.”

Arthur threw down the piece of bread he was holding.

Arendt captured it masterfully.

“So what happened? Aren’t you here to tell me the results of the meeting?”

“… Haa, you were given permission to go out freely only during daylight hours. I heard that was the order from the captain.”

It seemed that Richt had come all the way to the training ground where Arthur and Arendt were practicing to inform them of that fact.

Arendt nodded, chewing the bread in his mouth.

‘It seems like he’s the type of person who keeps his word.’

It was just as he had imagined from the novel.

He was decisive, flexible, and willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals, and once he made up his mind, he showed incredible drive.

Although he had talked about how he was not fit to be a hero, if Cantares had wanted to, he could have come to the forefront and been hailed as a hero.

But he did not forget his duty as the Crown Prince, so instead of stepping forward, he gave Laius his full support.

“What? Why are you rolling your eyes again?”

“I roll my eyes as I please. Why?”

Arendt sat up in response to Arthur’s anxious remark.

Richt furrowed his eyebrows as he picked up his sword and the outer garment he had thrown away.

“Is today’s training over here?”

“Yes. Oh, and don’t look for me tomorrow morning, I won’t be here.”

“What? Where are you going?”

Arthur sat up with a start.

Arendt straightened his clothes and replied.

“The East Safe. I have something to talk to the manager about.”

Arendt turned around and waved his hand at the two men. Then, without any hesitation, he left the training ground.

Arthur and Richt both looked blankly at the place where he had disappeared and sighed simultaneously.

“What makes that kid so confident…?”

“Shouldn’t it be said that he’s shameless?”

Arthur nodded weakly in agreement with Richt’s point.

In recognition of the contributions Arendt von Eckhart has made, I would like to lift some of the restrictions placed on him.

Cantares’ order was relayed to the entire palace within a single day.

Thanks to this, Arendt was able to leave the palace in the late morning, feeling like he was taking a leisurely stroll. It was the first time since he became this damned character.

Thanks to that, he felt really good.

As he was leaving the city gates after receiving permission to go out, he was constantly followed by looks of suspicion, reluctance, and even a hint of contempt, but he paid no attention to them at all.

However, that good feeling cooled down as soon as he saw a person in front of the gate.

It was a man wearing casual clothes and a simple cloak.

The figure looked strangely familiar, as he stood leisurely as if waiting for someone, watching the clouds pass by.

Arendt stopped dead in his tracks.

Then the man raised his head as if he noticed his presence. Their eyes met and the man smiled brightly.

“Are you going out early?”

“…”

“It seems like your hate for me is too obvious.”

“As expected, you have a good eye for people.”

Arendt sighed deeply and walked towards the man, Cantares.

“Do you have nothing to do?”

“No way. I’m so busy that I don’t even have time to eat or die. Lately, thanks to you, I’ve had more work to do.”

Arendt’s eyes grew a little more irritated at Cantares’s response.

“But why are you in a place like this?”

“I thought you would definitely go out today. That’s why I waited here.”

Arendt gave an even more disgusted expression to Cantares’ smiling face.

It was a very easy task. All he had to do was imitate the faces of the seniors and soldiers he met on the way.

Fortunately, it seems that the other person was fully aware of the intention behind his expression.

Cantares stepped back awkwardly.

“Don’t be so upset. I also forced myself to take some time off. It’s something that needs to be done at least once, even if you think about the future.”

“…”

Only then did Arendt’s expression soften slightly.

Cantares didn’t miss that opportunity.

“Anyway, I’d like you to let me come with you. Of course, I’ll keep your whereabouts a secret.”

“Do as you wish. Even if I refuse from the beginning, you’ll just follow me.”

Arendt shrugged and strode past him.

Cantares burst out laughing at his ridiculous rudeness, but he quickly caught up with him.

“But is it okay to just leave the palace like this?”

“So what? Who can say anything if I take a walk in my front yard? And anyway, once I go outside the palace, no one will recognize me.”

Cantares seemed completely comfortable walking down the street without an escort, even alongside someone he had recently considered a traitor.

The two of them walked leisurely along the street. Arendt, too, was wearing a shirt and pants that had been lying around somewhere instead of his uniform, so they were able to blend in with the crowd without much difficulty.

Arendt looked around the street, momentarily forgetting who the person next to him was. Carriages and people were coming and going on the cleanly paved road, and streetlights were lined up on both sides of the road.

Shops that were wide open were busy welcoming customers. Some places that looked like restaurants or inns were directly soliciting customers.

Police officers in their uniforms were patrolling the streets with brisk steps, while on the other side, children were seen running around happily.

These were things he had not noticed because he had been so busy. He felt anew that this was not a well-decorated stage, but a world where people lived.

“It’s peaceful. This is what makes the mornings so nice.”

Suddenly, Cantares’ voice was heard.

“No matter what kind of trouble is going on in the palace, it’s just peaceful. I feel it every time I go out and it makes me feel at ease.”

“Your Highness, you have very unique tastes.”

“If you don’t say even one word of complaint, will thorns grow in your mouth?”

Cantares glanced at Arendt and immediately shook his head. He already knew that there was nothing to be gained by fighting any longer.

“Do you have any urgent business?”

“Even if I do, I have a lump that came with me on its own, so can I even go?”

“You speak so nicely. Then, come hang out with me for a while. I know a nice place to chat.”

That conversation must have been the very reason Cantares followed Arendt.

Arendt curled the corners of his lips slightly.

“It seems like you really do keep your promises. I didn’t know you would be so proactive.”

“Be prepared. I intend to use you very well.”

Having said that, Cantares walked a little faster. It seemed as if he would personally lead the way to the destination. Arendt also kept his mouth shut and followed him leisurely.

Cantares led him away from the busy streets and into a deserted alley.

It was not too far past noon, and the two walked down the alley under the clear blue sky at a pace that was neither hurried nor slow.

After walking for some time, Cantares finally stopped walking. Arendt also stopped next to him naturally.

Cantares said proudly, “This is my hideout, and you are the first guest I have ever invited.”

Arendt blinked.

The place they arrived at was a restaurant located in an old building. A few tables were placed in the yard, and the morning sunlight was fully reflected in them.

A faded sign dangled at the entrance.

Perhaps it was because it was still too early to eat, or perhaps it was because it was a place that people didn’t usually visit, but there wasn’t a single customer in sight.

Cantares led Arendt towards the outdoor table, and then, quite naturally, sat down first.

“Sit down.”

“It’s not like an ambush will suddenly pop up or anything, right?”

As he said that, Arendt obediently came out to sit across from Cantares as he had told him to.

“Why would I do something like that? After all the trouble I’ve put in to please you, and if that’s the case, it’s easier to handle it inside the palace.”

“That may be true.”

While the two were talking nonsense, a person suddenly popped his head out from inside the building.

The old man looked surprised for a moment, then smiled warmly.

“Oh my, we have a guest who is not easily seen. Welcome, Khan.”

“How have you been, Lawrence? It’s been a while.”

Cantares waved his hand naturally.

“He is a skilled cook. He worked exclusively for me in the palace, but when he reached the age to retire, I gave him his own restaurant.”

“I was thinking of receiving my retirement pay and living quietly, but I can’t help it since His Highness Khan still needs this old man’s help.”

Lawrence smiled with a good-natured face.

He was an old man who looked more like a bartender than a chef. His graying hair was neatly styled, and his neat attire and the pure white apron on his waist accentuated that image even more.

Lawrence’s gaze turned to Arendt.

Arendt nodded his head in greeting.

“This is my first meeting with you, young man. Mr. Khan, have you made any friends since then?”

“I think it would be more correct to think of him as a bad comrade rather than a friend. Bring me something to drink. I came out separately because I wanted to talk to him briefly.”

“All right.”

Lawrence bowed briefly and went back into the restaurant.

Arendt spoke first.

“Okay, Khan, I guess that’s how you’re called outside. I think it’d be good to get down to business.”

“Well, this is going to be a long story, so I hope it won’t take up too much of your time.”

Cantares nodded slightly.

“Where should I start? What are you curious about?”

“What are those guys? How much do you know about them?”

“You really get to the heart of the matter.”

Cantares, leaning back in his chair, let out a hollow laugh.

“As you know, not much has been found. However, it is certain that they are enemies of the Imperial Family. Now, investigations have begun in various directions… we recently found a pattern similar to that used by them in an old document stored in the Imperial Palace.”

It seemed like he wasn’t just playing around.

The conversation was interrupted for a moment when Lawrence, who had appeared, placed a drink in front of them both.

Lawrence stepped back again, and Cantares, moistening his throat with orange juice, continued speaking.

“Anyway, I was searching through the library when I found a bundle of worn-out parchment. It wasn’t even open properly, so it was quite difficult to decipher.”

Arendt stared blankly at the glass in front of him, then took a sip, just as Cantares had done earlier.

Cantares’ voice lowered slightly.

“On that worn-out parchment was the pattern you found a while ago, and underneath it was a short phrase: The Sword of the Broken Heart.”

“…”

Arendt just drank the juice silently.

Cantares’ voice continued.

“I think that’s their name. This information hasn’t been made public yet. It’s something only I and those involved in the project know. You should keep quiet for the time being.”

“Why?”

“There’s no way this will end easily.”

Cantares was so decisive.

Arendt kept his mouth shut.

A bundle of parchment that had been hidden in a corner of the palace, and no one knew of its existence. Information about the rebels only came from there.

They meant only one thing.

“The Sword of the Broken Heart… this isn’t the first time I’ve heard that name. On the day I became the Crown Prince, my father gave me a very old book. He told me that I must memorize its contents and pass it on to the one who would lead the royal family after me. However, he told me not to reveal it to anyone.”

Knock, knock.

Cantares tapped the table with his fingertips.

“That’s where the name came from. Those who never surrendered to the hero Khan. Those who stirred up the entire continent even after he became the emperor. Those who were traitors to the god Luce and followed the evil god. Servants of the demons.”

Then, Cantares paused for a moment.

His gaze, full of uncontrollable anxiety, subtly avoided Arendt.

After a brief pause, Cantares burst into a cold laugh.

“Ancient ghosts have crawled out of their graves, in these peaceful times.”