Chapter 12: Blossoming Love (Part 2)

“Man, what with all those men back there, Captain? “

I strike up the first conversation to break the silence. The Captain then looked at me and answered.

“Them? They are the Elsigardia’s Ministers.” I could see a rare disgusted look on Captain Rizzou’s face as he told me.

“And the one that reprimanded me for whatever I did, wrong or right?”

“He is Lord Chancellor of Elsigardia, one of the three Grand Wizurais, personal advisors to the King himself. And lest you want to know, he is the one in charge of Elsigardia’s affairs and public relations.”

“Ohh… No wonder he acted so vainly and pretentious. He is an ass-licker of the highest ranking, it seems.”

Captain Rizzou smiled at me.

“Don’t mind him and the other Ministers that much, Claude. We Elites do serve them from time to time, but nonetheless, take no heed of their petty insults.”

“Why? I hate when people insult me and my background. And I know you would too.” Captain Rizzou could see from my eyes that I still am yet satisfied with how these old men were treating us back then.

“Just because that’s what they are good at. Remember, they are political people and we are just soldiers of nations that personally served the royals and nobilities. Most of them are not nobles and royalties, so you don’t have to worry about what they thought of you. It’s none of our concern. Besides, we have Ser Godfrey too.”

“And who’s Ser Godfrey, Captain?”

“Ohhh, did I not tell you yet?”Captain Rizzou looked at me with a surprised face on him. What? Did he forget that he had forgotten to tell me anything worthwhile other than playing a tour guide?

I shook my head.

“There’s a lot of things you haven’t tell me yet.”

“Then my sincere apologies, Claude. Ser Godfrey is our Lord General of Elsigardia. He is the current Lord that lead us, the Elites. And he is also the Lord General of Elsigardia’s army.”

“You mean that he is our biggest-boss? The biggest boss of all the army, knights or any others we can think of?”

“Hahaha. Yes, you can say that!”

“Wow. I’m amazed. He sure doesn’t look like one.”

“Is he really? Hahaha!! Perhaps, Claude. Perhaps.”

“Well, though he looked regal and exudes the charm and charisma that only Princess Sierra can rival, he looks friendly and disarming. That’s what I feel about him anyway.”

“Friendly and disarming? Never I thought I could hear those two words about him. Well, in that case, perhaps I can let you on another trivia that will surely amaze you. Care to know?”

“Yes, please!”I answered enthusiastically.

“Ser Godfrey is from the Noble House of Godfrey, one of the oldest and most powerful Noble House in Elsigardia. He is also their current house ruler and the Godfreys’ are second in line to the throne.”

“What?!! “

I nearly stumped myself on the cobblestone pathway because of how surprised I was. And I was lucky not to fall down and hit myself face first.

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“What did you mean by that, Captain?”

“Well, just say that he would be the next King if the house of Elmsdor does not have a prince.”

“Then it means, he is the next king after the current king? Not the Princess?”

“Yes, Claude. But then again, he declined to be the next King. He said he is not fit to sit on the throne. He is more of a frontline person than the behind the scene. After all, he is known as the Warmaster.”

“Warmaster?”

“Yeah. He had lead Elsigardia to many victories during our wars and battle throughout the years. He never loses, even once. There are many stories about his valour and bravery that I would have the pleasure to tell you another time. I am lucky to be with him a few times and I was never disappointed with what I saw. In fact, I admire him, as much all the Elites do.”

“He is like a living and walking legend, ehh?”

Captain Rizzou nodded.

“And you know what, he regards you highly. I met him a few times and every time I meet him, he will surely ask about you. And today was the first time he met you.”

“And, what does he think of me?”

“Like I said, he regarded you highly. Not often you would see him defend someone of our ranks and statuses and raise the ire of the Lord Chancellors and his Ministers in return.”

“Wow… what else can I say, Captain? I-I…”

“You don’t have to say anything, Claude. You know, unknowingly to you perhaps, many people, including Ser Godfrey, the Princess and even I highly regard you and maybe put you into a heavier burden than you would like to imagine.”

“Uh-huh. You can say that again.”

Captain Rizzou laughed at my nonchalant-ness.

“You know another thing, Claude? Not every day someone could save a princess and be defended in the Council by the big-boss of the army. Perhaps with that came the scrutiny and contempt mixed with jealousy from those folks back then.”

“Are you not jealous, Captain? “

I tried to poke fun at Captain Rizzou.

“Me? Hahahaha, if I was 20 years younger then perhaps, Claude. Besides, I’m happy where I am now. I got the fortune to see the new batch, year after year making their name in one way or another. You are the latest one that I have brought to the fore. Jealousy, no. Proud, yes. And I’m proud of you Claude. You handle yourself quite well back there.”

“Thank you, Captain Rizzou. I will not disappoint you. Nor Ser Godfrey and Princess Sierra.”

“Great. That’s what I would like to hear. You sure know how to talk smoothly.”

“You know something, Captain? I’m here not just because of the Princess and her request, but also of many other things I need to do for my Brotherhood of the Sun. I have a heavy burden on my shoulder, but seeing you and Ser Godfrey to some extent had made me realize that my burden and worries are way too little to be compared to both of you.”

“Why do you say that Claude?”

“You see, all my worries and my burden revolves around me most of the time. Like how well I do, eat or sleep. Or even making a name for myself. There are some that I will do for others, but mostly, I will do it for myself.”

“And…?”

Captain Rizzou looked quizzed.

“And looking at you, at Ser Godfrey and even the Princess make me think that all of you have duties beyond yourself. You are always there for me. And you are always there for new Elites, bringing them to the fore and helping them as they make themselves into an Elites. Ser Godfrey thinks about the Elsigardia first and foremost and fights in the frontline. And princess, despite her age, I think, who is not much older than me, handles the whole country’s affair or parts of it. Their burden and responsibilities are way beyond mine.”

I stood up straight and hit my own chest a little. A soft thud that showed the Captain I’m resolute to give my best now.

“And so, Captain Rizzou, that at the very least, I too must give my best. You and the rest who had high regards on me do not put me in more burden nor responsibilities on my shoulder. I feel it is about time already that I start to think beyond myself.”

“Very well said, Claude. You sure know how to say the right thing and make people happy!”

Captain Rizzou complimented me.

“Well, that’s the very least what a hero should do, right? To make people happy.”

“Hahahaha…. Yeah. That’s what a hero should do. “

I proudly exclaimed to myself as I turned my back on Captain Rizzou and taking a little while to admire the beauty of the Goddess Athenea’s statue that was in front of me. As I paced myself nearer to the statues, I continued on my words.

“But you know, being a hero is a such a hard work. But looking at those around me, especially the Princess, with such a heavy burden on her seemingly frail shoulder, do make me feel like I want to work harder too.“

I paused for a little while. I still could not let go of what the other old men, who called themselves the Ministers, said to me back then. A fact that I more than willing to share with Captain Rizzou.

“But between me and you, Captain Rizzou, if no one is around, if anyone were to insult my family and my background, I’ll sure to knock some sense into him or her, Lord Minister or whatever. Insulting one’s worth should be left to taunt an enemy, not to be used against one who has the best interest of the country. Perhaps they looked at me like an enemy, but as for myself, I looked at them as poor folks who lost their sense of purpose.”

“And that’s why I have such high regards on you, Claude. I am not wrong in personally recommending you.”

“Yeah… you are n-n-not…Huh??”

That’s not Captain Rizzou’s voice. Feeling surprised, I turned my back towards the voice.