Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28. A Life for a Life (2)
Looking at Jonas bowing his head to the ground, Noel and Aubert did not hide their eyes of contempt.
However, since this was a matter of choice, they couldn't openly criticize him.
The Kingdom Tournament was approaching right under their noses. The ten knights who did not volunteer were all those preparing for the Kingdom Tournament.
Moreover, unlike Vitelli and Weird, Schumacher and Stefan were those who pursued the sword.
Therefore, friction existed between the two knowingly or unknowingly.
The knights within the family had also noticed that subtle atmosphere long ago.
Although all knights of the Tolome family were loyal to Bartomyu, looking closely, they were also divided into the Schumacher faction and the Stefan faction.
Naturally, Jonas was a knight belonging to the Schumacher faction, and being such a Jonas, there was no reason to throw away the opportunity called the Kingdom Tournament right before his eyes and jump into danger for Stefan, whom could be called his father's political opponent.
However, every choice comes with responsibility.
By choosing to seek opportunity while forsaking his duty as the eldest grandson of the Tolome family, Jonas had now truly become irrevocably at odds with Stefan.
Earning the anger of his sons, Noel and Aubert, was a bonus.
Furthermore, since Bartomyu was watching all of this, it was as clear as fire that the evaluation of Jonas would become even lower.
However, for Jonas, participating in and winning the Kingdom Tournament to become a knight representing the family again was the most urgent priority.
If only that happened, he could revive his prestige which had fallen internally and externally, and bring back the public attention that was focused on Blanc.
If only he could win, he would be able to reverse the disappointment of Bartomyu who was currently disappointed.
This Kingdom Tournament was an opportunity that could be called a crossroads in life for Jonas.
Knowing such a desperate situation, Bartomyu could not reprimand Jonas.
'Then whom should I put forward as the standard-bearer.'
Although there were only 10 knights, counting the soldiers and servants they led, the search party would easily exceed 100 people. If an armed force of about 100, not just one or two, moved while infringing on the territories of other lords, they would naturally incur their anger.
To arrive at the Baum territory by the shortest route, they had to move across at least three territories, so a standard-bearer with sufficient qualifications was needed to seek understanding from the lords of these three families and obtain concessions.
Originally, Stefan Tolome used to take on such a role, but since he was missing now, someone else had to replace him.
The people perfect for such a role would be Bartomyu's sons like Stefan, but excluding Stefan, the three people Schumacher, Vitelli, and Weird were in situations where they could not move suddenly because their assigned duties were heavy and busy.
In Schumacher's case, since he was serving as the vice-commander of the Royal Knights, the King's special permission was needed to take on family matters, not royal matters.
In Vitelli's case, it was a situation where it was hard to spare even a moment to handle a certain matter Bartomyu ordered.
In Weird's case as well, he had left Baltimere to handle the merchant guild's affairs right now.
It would take a week for him to return.
Since all sons were in situations where they could not take the role of standard-bearer, Jonas, the eldest grandson of the family, was the most excellent as the next best plan, but Jonas had already expressed his intention to refuse.
The current situation was too urgent to force Jonas to sit as the standard-bearer and lower the morale of the search party.
'There is no choice but to seat one of Noel or Aubert as the standard-bearer and send Edwin along.'
Realistically, that was the only possible method.
However, if they knew that only an escort knight was sent to mere grandsons who were neither sons nor the eldest grandson, it was obvious that the lords who had to yield the road would think they were ignored.
Moreover, unlike Jonas, Noel and Aubert were knights whose names were not widely known, so the lords who had to give up their territories would not be pleased.
Since honor was very important among nobles, the lords who thought they were ignored would not openly raise a rebellion, but no one knew what disadvantage this matter would bring to Tolome later.
But there was no way. There was also no time.
The moment Bartomyu was about to make a decision in his head, Blanc walked out from among the knights.
"Count, please give me the opportunity to lead them."
Bartomyu's eyes widened because of Blanc who suddenly popped out.
Edwin explained on behalf of the bewildered Bartomyu.
"Baron Blanc. We are grateful for the intention, but now is a place to select a standard-bearer to represent the Tolome family. Baron Blanc is a person of the Cadmus family, not the Tolome family, and since you are not Lord Bartomyu's knight, you cannot hold the flag of Tolome."
"Correct. Baron Blanc. Furthermore, do you not have to prepare for the upcoming Kingdom Tournament? Is it only the tournament? After that, there is the coming-of-age ceremony and next is the wedding with the Neudorf family. Your body is not yours alone. So you must not move carelessly."
Bartomyu and Edwin were right.
Being the standard-bearer of a family ultimately meant that a person who could represent that family had to step forward.
Although Blanc was Bartomyu's grandson, it was ambiguous to say he had the representation to represent Tolome. Moreover, since he held the Baron Cadmus title, his identity was also firm.
Blanc, who listened carefully to Bartomyu's words, nodded.
"Both of your words are correct."
"I am glad you understand. So Baron Blanc should focus more on training from now on and elevate the names of Cadmus and Tolome in the tournament..."
Bartomyu could not continue speaking any further.
Because Blanc pulled the newly made family signet ring off his finger.
"I am no different from having my life saved by the Tolome family. Count, a life is repaid with a life."
Blanc, who put down the Cadmus family's signet ring on the ground, spoke.
"From now on, I am not Baron Cadmus. Until I bring back Lord Stefan Tolome, I will uphold the orders of the Tolome family as Blanc Cadmus."
It was a stance that he would participate even as a mere knight if they did not make him the standard-bearer.
At Blanc's unexpected action, all knights gathered in the reception room held their breath.
The existence called a noble was those who always tried to elevate themselves even a little.
However, Blanc was rather trying to repay the debt to the Tolome family by degrading himself, so it was truly worthy of being called the paragon of a knight valuing honor.
Noel and Aubert, seeing Blanc for the first time, were already deeply fascinated by him.
The cousin they had lived face to face with so far abandoned their father to take his own profit, but the cousin they saw for the first time today gave up profit and sought honor.
While even laying down his roots.
"Blanc Cadmus! Knight among knights!"
"Aselheit's Knight! He will become a legend!"
"He has the qualification! He has the qualification to represent us!"
At the chivalric spirit manifested in a dramatic situation, the knights of the Tolome family could not gather their wits.
The appearance the young boy was enacting right now was the very image of the true knight they had hoped and dreamed of.
What remained for Blanc, who abandoned his identity as Cadmus, was the title of Aselheit's sixth knight.
Legend among legends. If it was a knight of Aselheit, who was no different from the teacher of all knights, he was fully qualified to be a standard-bearer for any family, not just Tolome.
Moreover, since half of the blood flowing in Blanc was Tolome's, if it was Sir Blanc the knight, not Baron Cadmus, he was fully qualified to be Tolome's standard-bearer.
"Blanc Cadmus. Knight of Aselheit!"
Bartomyu felt something boiling up from deep within his chest.
It was something he hadn't felt since becoming the head of the Tolome family. It was the soul of a knight he had forgotten and lived without for a long time.
The knight's soul that awakened watching the spar between Blanc and Aselheit did not die easily and was raising its head again above Bartomyu's heart.
'Nedrian... My Forget-me-not flower.'
The small Forget-me-not flower born holding the moonlight held a dragon. Nedrian had sent a dragon to him.
Bartomyu, overcome with emotion, kicked his seat and stood up, pulling out the family flag planted in the center of the conference room.
"I will hand you the flag of the Tolome family! Knight Blanc Cadmus! Go and save Stefan Tolome and the knights of the Tolome family!"
"I will uphold your command."
Blanc answered while bowing his head kneeling before Bartomyu.
Everyone watched with bated breath as Blanc received the flag of the Tolome family from Bartomyu.
As soon as Blanc received the flag from Bartomyu, he looked at the 10 knights following him.
"We must save Stefan Tolome. Assuming he is alive, we have no time. Therefore."
Blanc, who became Aselheit's sixth knight and the standard-bearer of the Tolome family, ordered the knights.
"I will give you 2 hours from now on. Assemble at the main gate with horses prepared and fully armed."
"Yes!"
The resonant voices of the knights echoed through the Tolome mansion.
***
The 10 members of the investigation team to rescue Stefan hurriedly left the mansion of the Tolome family, taking only their squires and a few agile servants.
They were the advance party. To arrive at the mine where Stefan went missing as quickly as possible, they were moving with minimum personnel.
The rear party to follow them was decided to be undertaken by Edwin, Bartomyu's escort knight.
He would leave for the Baum territory leading about 100 troops after completing sufficient preparations.
The role of Blanc holding the flag was to meet the families of the territories they would pass through and seek apology and understanding.
"Thank you for the help. Baron."
"My father will also be grateful for this fact."
Noel and Aubert drove their horses side by side next to Blanc and offered him words of gratitude.
"Please lower your speech. Brothers. The current me is not a Baron but just one knight."
"But..."
Towards the hesitating Noel, Blanc showed a boyish smile.
"Aren't I just a nominal Baron without territory anyway? Actually, there were few places to attach my heart within the Tolome family, but I would be really happy if brothers looked upon me with favor."
Although he exuded the dignity of a knight until just a moment ago, as he showed the face of a fourteen-year-old boy in no time, Noel and Aubert fell for Blanc not only as a knight but also humanly.
"Right! Let's get along well like brothers born from the same belly from now on!"
"How much you must have suffered from that guy Jonas. We know well. That he is a bastard."
"...Certainly, brother Jonas didn't seem pleased with me."
"We were already guessing upon hearing the fact that Isellin was poisoned. Because it's a method that bastard used often. We have also suffered from it."
"How hard it must have been for that young thing. The last time we saw that child was when she was eight. As soon as we heard that news, we wanted to barge in immediately, but at the time we were on a mission and were too far away."
As the story about Jonas came out, they poured out their resentment. Since Jonas was someone even Blanc, who had only spent about a year close to him, shuddered at, it was obvious as fire what feelings Noel and Aubert, who spent their childhood together, would have.
United tightly by a common enemy and interest, they became close like brothers who had spent ten years together in no time.
'Jonas, there are times when you are helpful too.'
Blanc could not guarantee whether he could save Stefan Tolome, but at least the intended purpose was already achieved.
Because Blanc's main objective was Noel Tolome and Aubert Tolome, who were exchanging words next to him right now.
When Stefan Tolome died and Vitelli absorbed the knighthood, the reason Vitelli could openly set up a confrontation angle against Schumacher was that the Tolome Knights sent him full support.
To be precise, it was Noel and Aubert, who became the main axis of the knighthood, sending full support to Vitelli.
They were two people who would become senior knights of the Tolome Knights and the center of the knighthood in the future.
If he captured their hearts, borrowing the military power of the Tolome family in recovering Norington would become extremely easy.
A life is repaid with a life.
Since Blanc laid down even his roots for Stefan Tolome's life, Noel and Aubert would also have to pay a price equivalent to that.
'If I can save even Stefan Tolome, it would be the icing on the cake.'
Dusky dawn when the moon and sun are up together.
The advance party was just reaching the first territory they had to pass through.