"Not for any other reason, but the knight known as Sallin Orid standing here today is in fact a man of another name."
At Sallin's words, the audience seats began to murmur.
"Dirita Drasllat. That is my name. I apologize for deceiving everyone here under a different identity."
Dirita Drasllat. The true ruler of Esteta who could not ascend to the throne. Or the prepared rebel, the prince of the divided kingdom—known by various epithets, his name was one that no person of Esteta could be ignorant of.
The younger brother of Grata Drasllat, who succeeded Ricas IX as the king of Esteta, Dirita—the royal brother and former second prince—had, from his days as the second prince, demonstrated unyielding patience in difficult situations and instilled deep trust in those around him through his unwavering honesty.
So much so that rumors spread throughout the kingdom that the next to ascend the throne would not be his elder brother Grata, but Dirita himself, reflecting the high regard the people held for him.
Yet, despite possessing all the virtues required to claim the throne, he made it known to all his acquaintances that he was the second prince and resolved to live as a loyal subject to his brother, Grata Drasllat.
Neither temptations to make him king nor accusations of being the one who divided the kingdom could breach the fortress-like walls of Dirita's resolute heart.
And now, this very man had revealed his identity of his own accord in the jousting arena of Ves-Dinas, beginning a brief oration directed at the audience seated around him.
"I stand before you today with a request for the knights gathered here, which is why I have come forward. Now that my identity is revealed, I beseech you to understand that, by royal decree, one of the royal family may not use honorifics toward those outside the bloodline."
With piercing eyes, Dirita met the gaze of each seated knight one by one as he continued his words. His gaze lingered particularly longer on Dranza, who sat among the audience, than on the others.
"However, before making my entreaty, I shall speak briefly on the essence of chivalry, which you all hold in such high esteem."
Dirita slowly raised one hand to calm the restless crowd and proceeded with his address.
"Chivalry is not merely valor upon the battlefield. Chivalry demands purity refined without impurity in the depths of your hearts—unwavering honesty, impartial justice, and boundless mercy toward others! A true knight does not rule through strength alone, but protects the vulnerable in need and realizes righteousness upon this continent."
Dirita paused for a moment, bowing his head to steady his voice before resuming.
"Our swords are instruments to vanquish injustice, and our shields exist for the innocent. Our power must be wielded for the peace of all."
"..."
Toward the now silent seats, Dirita raised his voice even louder.
"Yet! Have you ever raised that knightly power—the shield meant to safeguard the weak! I ask if you are merely awaiting some distant moment. Are you not simply cradling the egg of chivalry somewhere in your hearts, waiting for it to hatch!"
Clenching his fist tightly, Dirita furrowed his brow, infusing his voice with even greater force as he proclaimed.
"I, too, was such a knight. Honing my sword and shield, I merely bided my time, letting the days slip away. Thus, I seek to establish a new order of knights in this kingdom. Let it begin right here in Ves-Dinas! A fellowship of true knights who seek out the weak and hasten to where they are needed! Those who would become beacons illuminating our kingdom with radiant chivalry, safeguarding our steadfast convictions—come to me!"
Inspired by Dirita's oration, cheers erupted from the knights, accompanied by thunderous applause from the audience seats.
"Ah, and one more matter."
Dirita extended his right index finger, raising it high above his head to quiet the subsiding applause.
"To the knight Leben, who claimed the glory of victory from me this day, I shall bestow a title and the position of Knight Banneret in the newly formed order! Leben, approach hither!"
Lowering his raised arm, Dirita's fingertip pointed toward Leben at the edge of the arena, who had removed his holed shoulder armor and was bandaging his wound.
"Huh? Do you mean me?"
With a dazed expression, Leben wondered if Dirita's finger might be pointing at another knight sharing his name. As he walked toward Dirita, he kept glancing back several times, his face etched with bewilderment.
"Leben! All here have witnessed the courage and spirit you displayed."
Leben, still wide-eyed and striving to comprehend the situation deep in his mind, knelt before Dirita, bowing his head in a gesture of humility and loyalty.
"Your prowess yields to none among the knights assembled here, and to some, you have become the very exemplar of a true knight."
As Dirita continued his composed yet authoritative address, a solemn hush fell over the arena. Then, turning to the surroundings, he proclaimed loudly once more.
"Therefore, to you, Leben! I grant the rank of viscount and, in accordance with royal tradition, a new family name for your house: henceforth, you shall be known as Leben Orid!"
Leben lifted his head in astonishment, gazing at Dirita.
"It was a name I held dear, but now I can no longer use Orid..."
Dirita smiled, murmuring a jesting complaint to Leben in a low voice.
"I offer my deepest gratitude to Your Royal Highness Dirita Drasllat. I shall never forget this honor bestowed upon me and shall fulfill my duties as your loyal knight."
Dirita stepped forward, raising Leben—who had bowed his head in oath of fealty—to his feet.
"This is but the beginning, so you must lead the new order well, Sir Orid, Knight Banneret."
"Yes! I shall repay the trust Your Highness has placed in me with my very life. I will stand at the forefront of the newly formed order, dedicating myself to the kingdom and fighting for Your Highness's honor."
"I trust in your vow!"
The arena filled with cheers and applause.
Thus, Leben gained a new domain, a family name, and the position of Knight Banneret in the order. Above all, the fact that he was no longer a wandering knight but one with a lord to serve faithfully filled him with immense joy.
Everyone gathered in the arena offered congratulations and respect to Leben, and soon Reave and Kein rushed toward him.
Nia, from the audience seats, also leaped down into the arena, mounting Leska—who awaited below—and rode toward Leben.
The knight Leben, who had found a new master. Now known to all as Sir Orid, elevated to the status of a high knight, he was surrounded by celebrations.
In this way, the jousting tournament—the flower of the Grand Tournament—bloomed with Leben's victory and the birth of a new knightly order, adorning the end of autumn in splendor.
< Hadin Kavil >
Cleaving through the clouds floating in the vast sky, the enormous airship soaring above resembled a colossal monster leisurely traversing the boundless skies.
The wide windows of the airship were designed to allow admiration of the infinite blue sky and clouds, and the forms of those clouds visible outside shifted endlessly with the passage of time.
The sails of varying sizes—called the airship's wings, meant to capture and sometimes part the winds—graced the vessel's flight across the sky with elegance.
From the heights of the airship, the ground below appeared as a mosaic of fields either harvested or awaiting late reaping, intertwined with forests dyed in autumn hues.
Ves-Dinas, along with small villages, woods, and mountain ranges, connected like a single masterpiece, resembling a grand painting. Within this picturesque landscape, the flowing rivers gleamed like silver threads under the sunlight.
Inside the airship. Upon opening the thick iron-plated door and stepping within, one was immediately struck by the opulent and luxurious interior decor. Finely carved wooden panels and an intricately patterned ceiling bore the touch of masterful woodworking.
An elaborate carpet covered the floor, and mana stone lamps gilded with gold illuminated it, enhancing the lavish atmosphere.
The spacious cabin featured soft velvet sofas and plush chairs, providing a comfortable space for passengers to rest. Thick curtains draped the windows, allowing one to block the shining sun outside or, when drawn open, to enjoy the miniaturized scenery of the land below.
The innermost private chamber was equally resplendent. A wide, plush bed was covered in fine fabrics, and beside the window stood a small desk with pens and ink bottles, offering space for reading or writing letters. Further in lay a bathroom with floors and walls entirely of marble. Within, golden faucets and a slender vase adorned with beautiful flowers decorated the space, making it no exaggeration to call it a small palace adrift in the sky.
In such a chamber, where time itself seemed to flow leisurely, allowing one to savor elegance and comfort in every moment, sat Hadin Kavil.
"Ugh... Damn it... Curse it! Curse it! After spending all that money! How is Dirita still alive!"
Pacing restlessly back and forth in the vast chamber alone, Hadin shouted.
The Tallman who should have appeared was nowhere to be seen, and the royal brother Dirita, who should have vanished, had shown himself perfectly intact before Hadin's eyes that very morning.
Sensing something amiss, Hadin had swiftly fled the arena and boarded the airship to escape.
"It's strange... He was definitely said to have come here alone, without escorts... No... Even if royal guards were protecting him, a Tallman should have surely completed the task."
Having glimpsed the shrinking form of Ves-Dinas through the airship's window as it ascended high into the sky, the gripping anxiety and inexplicable unease that had tightened his body had somewhat subsided.
Thus, Hadin now sought to organize and comprehend the situation.
"Ratak... His smile when greeting me felt ominous... Could he have secretly assigned someone—someone capable of shielding the royal brother from the Tallman?"
Filling a goblet carved from transparent crystal with bubbling white wine and gulping it down, Hadin continued to sort his thoughts.