Last knight

The revelation of war

Following Foli's instructions before his departure, Ares paid a visit to Viscount Anthony Juli, the tax official of Thebes.

The tax official's grim demeanor left no doubt that he was the type of man who could squeeze the last drop of juice from a lemon. However, he still gave Ares a high-level reception.

The dishes served at the table, including fish and bear paw, were said to be from a distant eastern land. Ares, who came from humble origins, had no way of verifying this, but he could confirm one thing: it was the most delicious meal he had ever eaten in his life.

During the meal, Ares worried that his less-than-refined table manners might offend the etiquette-conscious Viscount Anthony, who came from a noble family. But the continuous praise from everyone at the table, including the viscount himself, quickly put his concerns to rest. He even forgot Moran's advice not to laugh too openly. When Ares was about to leave, Viscount Anthony gifted him a knife. Its plain scabbard and worn handle wrapping made Ares accept it without hesitation. The viscount then took him to meet the city's bishop.

Ares drank so much that by the time he returned to his residence that night, the only thing he remembered was that the bishop's surname was also Juli. As for his first name or what he looked like, Ares had no recollection. But it didn't matter, because his personal guard, Kroinets, heard the commotion in the room and came in to inform him, "Sir, Bishop Xize Juli has invited you to dinner tonight." At some point, Kroinets had stopped calling him "Hey, little coach" or "Hey, boss" and instead addressed him respectfully as "Sir" and "You."

Ares seemed to have grown accustomed to such formalities. He took the hot towel Kroinets handed him and wiped his face. Perhaps the only thing that hadn't changed was his icy tone. "Who else is invited?"

"Sir, from what I know, the tax official and his wife will also be there."

"Understood. Order a bouquet of roses to be sent to Moran's clinic." Ares tossed the towel back to Kroinets and began shaving the faint stubble on his face.

"Sir, about the knife you brought back yesterday, I had it appraised this morning. It can cut through iron like butter. According to the jeweler's preliminary estimate, it's worth at least a thousand gold coins."

Ares paused, frowning. A thousand gold coins was equivalent to five years of his salary. But he quickly said, "Put it away," and continued shaving.

Back in the capital, Baron Hydra received another secret report about Ares, which mentioned his upcoming engagement to Moran next month. The baron smiled. This was good. A hero who couldn't be defeated on the battlefield could often be brought down at the dinner table. Let him sink into indulgence. The baron dipped his pen in ink and wrote on a piece of parchment: Let it be. Do not interfere. He then rolled up the parchment, tied it to a pigeon's leg, and released it.

After returning from the military ministry, Foli rushed to Overmus and said, "Quick, prepare the militia's armor. Arm them as much as possible. We're going to cross the sea and fight soon!"

Overmus had just blown the assembly horn at the training ground when the sound of galloping horses echoed from the road. A group of ten knights soon appeared in sight. The leader hurled his banner, its diamond-shaped tail firmly embedding itself in the ground. The other nine knights threw their spears, which landed almost simultaneously, forming a circle around the banner. Overmus didn't dare delay. He quickly ordered the militia to bring ten horses. The lead knight handed Foli a document and said, "One hundred and fifty men, two hundred horses, two hundred bows, and three hundred quivers of arrows. Report to the camp outside Peloponnesus in seven days. If your men aren't there by noon, it will be considered treason! Punishable by execution of the entire family and the city!"

Overmus had already pulled up the double-headed eagle banner and taken the documents meant for Thebes. He mounted his horse and, with his nine subordinates, galloped north.

The empire and the neighboring Vanskia Duchy had been enemies for generations. Whenever one side amassed enough strength, war became inevitable. For the empire, there were too many knights without fiefs, and land prices had skyrocketed due to population growth. The arable land was insufficient to feed the growing population, and the northern lands were perpetually covered in ice and snow, unsuitable for farming. To expand southward, the empire had to conquer Vanskia.

When Foli and Overmus departed, they left a letter with the old steward to deliver to Ares.

By the time Ares received the letter, the city lord of Thebes had already led his troops toward the capital. The military ministry had also issued an order placing Thebes, a key northern city, under martial law, with the highest-ranking city defense officer in charge of all affairs. Ares unfolded the letter, which contained only nine words: Wait for our return. Silence is golden.

Originally, Ares should have lived happily with Moran, enjoying a life of luxury until Foli returned. But two weeks later, while dining at a restaurant, Ares ordered two dishes he often ate at the tax official and bishop's gatherings and found that the bill came to over seventy gold coins. He fell silent.

Moran, noticing his unease, said, "Let's not investigate this further."

Ares shook his head. Moran angrily retorted, "It must be Overmus or Foli filling your head with nonsense about knightly honor..."

Ares silently handed Moran the letter Foli had left him. Moran, of course, understood the meaning of those nine words and quickly said, "See? Even those two hypocrites are telling you to stay silent."

"You've never asked about my past, so I never told you," Ares suddenly said, changing the subject. "Honor means nothing to me. It's worth less than a bowl of cold porridge. But this matter—I have to intervene. If I don't, I'll never forgive myself. Because that boy is just like I was back then."

Ares sat down with Moran on the grass, gently stroking her long hair, and began to tell a story.

This translation aims to preserve the intricate character dynamics, the blend of personal struggle and political intrigue, and the moral dilemmas faced by Ares. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!