Okoborehime to Entaku no Kishi Volume 3 prologue

Volume 3: Melancholy of a General

「 Prologue 」

Feel to let me know if there’s anything I need to edit. DO NOT REPOST MY TRANSLATIONS!! Enjoy!

The Knight’s Order’s rookie member, Astrid Gale, was currently heading towards Sommevesle's first princess Lecticia's detached imperial villa. On most days the villa had a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, however lately due to the busy work, it has gotten a bit lively.

Of course Astrid knew the reason for the recent clamor. Soon, the mistress of the villa, Leti, will be moving to a corner of the Royal Palace.

"Eh? Astrid you are not entering from the window, how rare. Are you ill? Or is it cause Onee-sama got angry many times that you finally changed your ways? So you are listening to her after all ahaahahha~"

Seeing Astrid at the villa entrance, Leti's younger brother, the third prince Leonhardt, who was originally heading for the Royal Palace, stopped in his tracks. Astrid lowered his head and took out the letter he brought.

"Someone asked me to give this to Sensei"

"Ah, is that so, thanks for the hard work—— So when you are not looking for Onee-sama but is looking for me you use the main entrance, is that how it is."

Both Astrid and Leonhardt are the same age of 16, however Leonhardt, who became a famous historian at the tender age of 14, was the knight academy's professor. Thus the two still maintain a student-teacher relationship till this day.

"Are you going to go greet Onee-sama? Though I want to say that, it seems Onee-sama is busy preparing for her trip to Illustra. This is ordered as her first mission of diplomacy after being named the Crown Princess, even though it's just to attend a wedding ceremony where one only needs to smile. That kind of simple task ahahhahah.

"Duke-senpai is also going right? I heard from him yesterday. Even though they are heading for Illstra they aren't going directly but passing through Northruth…always thought this was strange."

As Leti's first Knight of the Round, Duke Barchet, was also the senpai in charge of instructing Astrid.

Yesterday while idly chatting with Astrid, Duke casually said that it's been a while since he been to the Northruth dukedom. To not directly cross the border to Illustra, but to purposefully choose to detour through another country, this confused Astrid.

'Sensei' told him the answer to his question.

"Just because it's a direct path doesn't mean it'll be faster, Astrid. The path through Northruth is better developed and faster for horses~"

"Oh—— When I went I just cross through the mountain paths."

"Before getting ask by your senpai knight behind me 'when, where, and why' it's better in my opinion to add 'during a family vacation' at the end~"

Leonhardt had vaguely guessed what Astrid's profession was before becoming a knight.

Towards Leonhardt's warning of hiding his dangerous past profession, Astrid replied with a vigorous 'Yes!', and with his head lowered directed his attention at his senpai.

Duke who was furrowing his brow, decided it was better to pretend to have not heard the dangerous statement from earlier.

"Is it an order from the Royal Chivalric Order?"
"No, just was asked deliver something from a fellow knight."

"yes yes—— Astrid brought me a letter from a former student of mine. Even though they've graduate, they worry and ask about my health. It's proof that I was a great professor nee~."

"……setting aside whether you were a good professor or not, as a member of the Order, I need to look into letters that's suspected to contain leaked information."

As the professor for the Knight's academy, Leonhardt has always gotten inside information on the Royal Chivalric Order from his former students that are now currently serving in the Order, such was how the rumor went.

Yet the suspected mastermind behind it all has a nonchalant look and gave a suspicious smile.

"How lively, what are you all….Astrid? Do you need something?"

The one who appeared in the corridor with a maid was Leti. She immediately noticed the presence of a rare visitor, Astrid, and greeted him.

"Was looking for sensei for something! It's taken care of now!"

Despite Leti's indifferent 'is that so' reply, Astrid still had a sparkling look in his eyes.

Duke and Leonhardt with great interest watched the scene played before them.

"…..perfect timing, Astrid just happens to want to speak with you~"

Leti, who had already turned to leave, suddenly stopped and once again turned to Astrid.

"Certainly!"

With that said, the two men that were left watched the retreating back of Astrid as he joyfully followed Leti. They found the situation to be more and more interesting.

◈ ◈ ◈

Asking the others to withdraw, Leti stopped before her bedroom doors. No matter what, she had no intentions of spending time in a room alone with a guy that had a criminal record.

"Before you said that your dream was 'to become a Knight' right? Have you already fulfilled your dream?"

Astrid was part of the Royal Chivalric Order. A profession from no matter whose standpoint would be considered 'a knight'.

"No, not yet. Because I just became a part of the Royal Chivalric Order, that's all. My dream is for the sake of the King, the country, and the people to give my all and become a 'Knight' that exist for the sake of protecting."

That, for a knight was like a textbook answer. Not for the sake of fame or power, or tied down by bloodline obligations and duty, but to become a 'true knight', was Astrid's ideal.

Leti, towards Astrid's frank reply about his dream, didn't react in contempt, but rather gave him an understanding smile.

"…..Truly an answer that you don't hear much these days. Even though before you said that you've already decided on a master, but were you called on by them?"

"It's difficult. Because that person isn't looking for 'power' in their knights. I think the current me is definitely not needed by them."

"Is that so. Then let me give you some advice."

What Leti wanted to say to Astrid was pertaining to the future. Something that she had started to consider recently, a different path for Astrid.

"Your ideal image of a 'Knight' and the formal title of a knight, are things that are difficult to coexist. Because your master will definitely give you some personal orders that will go against your ideals. When that happens you will be conflicted."

It is difficult to achieve your ideals. However, there is a path where you can realize that ideal.

"Go and become the Commander of the Knight's Order then. Making 'becoming the leader of the Knight's Order' as your goal is the same as pushing for your image of a 'True Knight’ because then you can constantly show everyone what it's like to be a 'True Knight'. This in itself is your dream."

"Commander of the Knight's Order…?"

"Naturally, you should prioritize your own feelings, however in reality there is a chance your dream may never be realized. Such a possibility exist. Adequately and seriously consider it for a moment. If you want to go on another path, but is stopped by things like 'family background', I can also put in a good word or two for you oooh~"

Towards Leti's words, Astrid should have replied with 'I'll think about it' or 'indeed so' and the like, but instead what came from his mouth was a question.

"If I may ask, were Your Highness's dreams never realized?"

Astrid from time to time would always manage to hit the mark in the most subtle ways.

For a moment, Leti was shocked, but neither got angry or lied her way out. Instead she calmly gave him her 'answer'.

"….yes, they weren't able to be realized. However if I can become Queen, then even if my dreams aren't realized it's fine. That's what I believe."

There was the possibility of not being able to realize one's dream, this was speaking from Leti's own experiences.

This time Astrid replied with a 'is that so' and finally ended the conversation.

Departing from Leti's detached Villa, Astrid pondered about the future in one hand while he headed forward.

Although there was some things that he particularly minded, but because he couldn't comprehend even when he thought about it, he could only mumble to himself while groaning.

"Oi, Astrid. You still a dog without a collar?" (TN: Wording for this line is rather tricky cause of the nuance. I think Freidhelm is asking if Astrid is still masterless since he tried to recruit him before. Literal translation is something like: you still maintaining the state of a dog without a collar.)

Even though he was discovered, he had originally plan to disregard the voice that called out to him, however Astrid raised his head. He thought this was a good opportunity to listen to other's opinions.

"Prince Friedhelm what was you childhood dream?"

"What are you going on about, I'm not sure I understand…"

Coincidentally passing by was Leti's older brother from a different mother, first Prince Friedhelm.

"My childhood dream huh? For me, it's given that I should become King."

"If it's given, then can it really be considered a 'dream'? I never would consider family obligations as dreams."

"……..You are sharp in the most particular ways"

For Friedhelm, becoming King was something akin to becoming an adult. It was something that was always expected of him and not really a dream. To Astrid, it was like similar to becoming an assassin in his case.

"It can't be helped, I'll tell you my real dream then. It's most likely the same as Duke's. Because regardless of who it's the same, it's the childhood dream of every boy in this country."

"That….what is it?"

Friedhelm, knowing that Astrid wasn't born in country, purposefully answered in a way Astrid wouldn't understand.

"Then-- Duke-senpai's dream…..is to become Her Highness the Princess's Knight?"

"That's the wrong answer, but it's also correct."

Astrid had asked Friedhelm about his childhood dream in order to rid himself of the doubts he had within, however he ended up more confused.

Thinking about it has become challenging, Astrid sighed.

Halfway through I kinda gave up on Royal Chivalric Order and just used Knight’s Order because it was so much easier to spell. For the most part I tried keep with original translators spelling.

Volume 3 mainly follows the wedding arc from the manga

Chapter end