I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 146: What the Princess Wants

Chapter 146: What the Princess Wants

There were a few moments of Irene witnessing Leif’s embarrassment that the thought ’typical male’ flitted across her mind and she realized she was being unfair.

More important was defending her friend in front of a stranger who had already rubbed her the wrong way for a variety of reasons. He walked into the dining hall of what was to be their home and decided to start talking down on them simply because he was the son of a marquess.

"Anyone would think she was beautiful," Irene reasoned. "It is rare to see someone quite so delicate around here. The interest doesn’t go beyond that. Perhaps it is your own curiosity that is clouding your opinion of us."

Despite how certain Arin was that the other apprentice was lying, he was met with a confident green-eyed gaze that caused him to say nothing further on the matter.

Simply opting to continue eating his food, the apprentices from the north did the same.

Unlike usual, the maids that walked by the tables seemed far more generous than what was normal with their refills of the spiced ale. There was even mulled wine for the Royals who seemed to have trouble keeping warm at the very front.

Arin soon spoke up again and, at his voice, Irene was on edge. She hoped that the comments about the Princess would be dropped. If she was blamed for stirring trouble, she would be very irritated yet have no leg to stand on considering how little faith Sir Gunnar had in the boys she surrounded herself with.

"What is one supposed to do around here when it’s this cold outside?" Arin asked. "It isn’t as if you can do anything outdoors."

"We practice outside at sunrise every day," Felix explained after pulling the mug of ale from his lips to respond. "Half of us still have outdoor duties at any given time as well."

"Christ," Arin muttered. "And we’re meant to travel through this for the next couple of weeks."

"Luckily no snow storms on the horizon," Irene told him. "This time of year, it’s so cold that the sky can’t hold clouds to drop snow on us."

"Just wonderful..." Arin responded. "I didn’t realize I was taking Hydrogia for granted. Now I know."

On the tip of Irene’s tongue were questions about the peasants who lived there. She wanted to know if they were alright during the cold months. Since everyone said it was milder, she figured it was probably alright.

The girl then took a long swig out of the mug of watered-down ale in front of her as well.

Everyone from Tenetium expected that after the feast was over, a few words might be shared with them, but there would be nothing other than that. Everyone who wasn’t involved with the travel to Auden estate had practically washed their hands of the Royals anyway. Not their problem, they all thought.

However, as a few sweets and warm drinks were brought out, there was a bit of commotion as Princess Marie called for Sir Gunnar.

"Knight!" she exclaimed. "Sir Gunnar, was it?"

His response time was impressive as he appeared before Her Highness, bowing at his waist as he carried a mug of ale. He had been socializing with a few of the knights already in the corner of the room.

"You called me, Your Highness?" he asked.

"I did," Princess Marie confirmed. "I would like to dance. Is there a place we can dance with one another? Father says that’s how the northerners stay warm in the winter."

The knight’s eyes practically bugged out of his head as they widened, but he quickly wiped the expression off of his face when the Crown Prince became involved in the conversation. Gunnar already thought that the room was quite hot with everyone packed inside. He had even removed his gloves and pushed his tunic sleeves up to his elbows. Many of the others hailing from the north were in much of the same situation.

"If the Princess wants to dance, we ought to dance," Prince Alfred decided.

The knight stood up straight at that.

If he had ever been given an indirect order, it was at that moment. His greyish eyes brushed across the dining hall and he saw that most had already gotten out of their seats or had at least finished the food in front of them. Considering the informal feast they were having, there were no qualms or forms of etiquette being broken.

The knight cleared his throat.

"It seems Her Highness would like to dance," the knight announced. "I know a few of you are adept enough with instruments to give at least a somewhat entertaining show for our guests."

Irene glanced around the table at the other apprentices and she didn’t hide the fact that her eyebrows were raised in disbelief at the turn of events.

"In the meantime, move the tables so that we may have the floor," Gunnar ordered.

Since he didn’t address anyone specifically, the apprentices were fast on their feet. After the maids came through with a strong wooden box that would take the dishes used back into the kitchen for some washing, they would then push the tables until they were along the perimeter of the room rather than covering the middle.

The only table that remained unmoved was the one where the Crown Prince sat, staring at the surroundings unenthused while his younger sister looked on in awe. Her hands were clenched in fists out of excitement, but her maid quickly corrected her and forced her into a more neutral expression and posture so that she wouldn’t seem too much of anything.

Soon there were knights in the room and one apprentice with a three-holed pipe, a lute, and a tambourine that would have to work to fill the space with noise.

Since knights were generally rowdy and they all had been drinking anyway, once the music started and they all started moving around, it was likely that the noise would get a bit covered.

While the music began, everyone was satisfied with holding a drink and watching the show, but the most movement that came from them was tapping their feet or bobbing their heads a bit at the pleasing music the mismatched band began playing for them.

The space seemed smaller with everyone standing and the music carried far louder than Irene expected it to.

The Princess went to the floor at the direction of her maid and she spun in circles happily at her request being met. However, her happiness didn’t last too long because she seemed upset that no one was interested in dancing with her.

Feeling somewhat bad for the girl, Irene moved towards the open floor and she tried to pull Leif along with her but he quickly pulled away and shook his head and hands in objection. He wasn’t going to go near the princess who he was already accused of practically ogling.

Being rejected by Leif, Irene was about to step back in line with the others, but the Princess ran forward holding her skirts, and tapped Irene on the shoulder.

"You must dance with me!" she shouted.