Chapter 64

Intermission 2: At Sea
"Snow..."

On the ship, Cyril Eregian frowned as he watched the faint flakes drifting in the sky.

"It’s early."

"Indeed. Normally, the first snow wouldn’t come for another week or two," replied one of his fellow knights, exchanging words with him. Cyril sighed, his breath visible in the cold air.

"... I wonder if Lady Marylia is safe."

"Hard to say... If winter is coming early here, it’s likely the same on that island. That would mean her preparations for winter are a week or two behind."

Cyril's unease was shared by his fellow knights. All of their concerns pointed to one person—Marylia, the exiled savior of their nation.

"Surviving the winter... it’ll be harsh, won’t it?"

"Undoubtedly. We don’t know much about that uninhabited island, but even through a telescope, I can sometimes spot shadows of dragons or wyverns flying overhead... Just surviving there must already be unimaginably difficult."

One knight held a telescope, gazing in the direction of the island where Marylia resided. Of course, he couldn’t see much—only the silhouette of the island and the faint shapes of creatures flying above it.

"If there are dragons or wyverns, there must be smaller monsters they prey on, and plants for those monsters to eat... But still..."

"I wish we could be closer to help her, but getting any nearer... It’s not just us we’re risking. If Lady Marylia's reputation is sullied by association with us, it would be catastrophic."

The knights all shared a strong desire to know more about Marylia’s circumstances, but they couldn’t act on it. Above all, it was for her honor and protection.

"If anyone suspects us of being in contact with Lady Marylia, they may question her innocence and link her to us. Her reputation must remain untarnished."

"Exactly. It must appear as though we and Lady Marylia have no connection. That’s the only way."

The knights were bound by their loyalty. They could not approach Marylia, nor could they set foot on the island. Marylia had accepted her banishment and had told them, "Wait for me." Betraying that wish was unthinkable to the knights.

They could only wait. It was her will, and fulfilling it was their duty.

"Damn it... I should go to that island, even if it’s just me..."

"Stop it, Cyril! Don’t act rashly!"

Despite this understanding, Cyril’s impatience got the better of him. He moved to dive into the sea, only to be held back by his comrades for the third time this month.

"If we don’t trust Lady Marylia, who will?"

"I know... I know that. But this early winter... I can’t help worrying how she’s holding up!"

Cyril clenched his teeth, his thoughts consumed by Marylia, alone on the desolate island. The biting cold, the looming hunger—he could scarcely imagine how they might be affecting her without feeling as though he might lose his mind.

"Focus. Our duty is... this, isn’t it?"

One of the knights pointed to the opposite direction, away from the sea.

"There, the royal flag."

In the distance, a ship came into view—a grand merchant vessel bearing the emblem of the royal family. It was likely one of the royal household’s trusted trading ships.

"Right... Let’s do this."

Cyril refocused, his eyes fixed on the approaching vessel.

"All for Lady Marylia’s sake—or rather, for our own cause!"

The knights, Cyril included, tightened their grip on the scimitars in their hands—blades quite different from their usual knightly swords.

"Hard to starboard! We’ve got the wind on our side! Don’t let them escape—take them down!"

With this rallying cry, the knights sprang into action.

Indeed! These knights, in this very sea, had taken to piracy!

The truth was that the kingdom of Fractalia had only worsened in recent years. Since the peace treaty with Baltoria, the kingdom's governance had faltered, and under the guise of "building a government that doesn’t rely on military strength," much of the nation's armed forces had been disbanded—including these knights.

"The era of knights is over."

Those who had once existed to protect the kingdom found themselves in a precarious position.

The nation issued a proclamation to its knights: "Return your swords and relinquish your duties, and we will provide retirement funds for you and your family. We will also assist in finding new employment." The message was clear—knights were no longer needed.

This pressure came not only from the state but also from their own noble families and the looming uncertainty of their futures.

Most knights were second or third sons of lower nobility, born into families with no land or prospects to inherit. For them, knighthood was both a calling and a means of survival.

The ultimatum from the kingdom—abandon their swords and positions—sparked anger and anguish.

They had served the nation loyally. Many had fought to the death in the war against Baltoria. They had lost comrades. Yet the kingdom now declared, "You are no longer necessary."

Furthermore, the king’s statement, "We must build a nation that does not rely on military strength. Resolving matters through force is a mistake," only added fuel to the fire.

To the knights, this was tantamount to being told that their sacrifices were in vain.

And, the betrayal extended even to Marylia.

The kingdom she had saved through her efforts now banished her to a desolate island, dismissing her actions as mistakes. The recent pressure on the knights seemed aimed not only at presenting an image of a peaceful nation to the world but also at dismantling any unified loyalty to Marylia.

What drove the king to such measures was unclear. Perhaps he viewed Marylia's enduring popularity among the people as a threat, or perhaps the situation necessitated her erasure.

Regardless, many still revered Marylia. The knights, above all, refused to stand by as she was scorned and disregarded.

Despite this betrayal, Cyril and the other knights continued to be pressured by their families and the state.

Finally, Cyril decided to return his sword to the kingdom.

However, he returned it broken in two—a blatant act of rebellion.

Breaking a sword bestowed by the king and returning it was a grave act of disrespect, akin to declaring treason. Yet, it had become impossible for Cyril to continue serving a kingdom so altered, let alone continue loving it.

Instead, what sustained Cyril and the others was their unwavering love for Marylia and the kindness she had once shown them. If she were here, she would surely navigate this storm with grace. They clung to the hope that her return would restore order and harmony to their broken land. This hope became their guiding light, a slender ray piercing the stormy skies.

“For Lady Marylia’s return!”

Moved by this conviction, Cyril and dozens of knights followed his lead, breaking their swords, severing ties with their families, and taking to the seas as pirates.

Those who chose to remain knights—or returned their swords without breaking them—still harbored the same loyalty and pride. They quietly worked within the capital, attempting to stabilize the kingdom while searching for ways to save Marylia.

The knights knew the kingdom could not crumble before her return.

Those remaining near the king sought to rebuild the nation from within, while Cyril and his comrades plundered ships—be they merchant vessels of the kingdom or even those from Baltoria.

The presence of pirates inevitably forced the kingdom to act. Some of their former comrades, who had refused to surrender their swords, were reassigned as knights and ordered to patrol the seas and combat piracy. Yet, those knights, sharing the same ideals, had no intention of truly suppressing their former brothers. After all, pirates and knights alike fought for Marylia.

Everything was for her.

With this shared resolve, the knights continued their raids. Today, they sank another ship bearing the royal crest. They plundered some cargo, leaving other goods to drift at sea, hoping by some miracle it might reach Marylia’s isolated island. Realistically, the chances were slim, but the effort continued.

"Hey! Come look at this! The cargo this time is something strange!"

Cyril responded to the call and joined the others. Opening one of the wooden crates, they found an unusual substance—white, crystalline fragments. It wasn’t salt. The crystals were finer and sharper.

“This shipment was imported from Baltoria, but…what is it?”

The crystalline material puzzled the knights.

… Could it be poison? If so, what was its intended purpose?

They exchanged uncertain glances, their curiosity piqued by the mysterious cargo.