Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 358 (Part 1):

“Greetings, Knight Commander.”

The stern-faced Imperial Knight Commander scanned the new recruits. His gaze lingered particularly long on one of them.

Asuka.

Naturally, he knew Asuka’s true identity.

“How’s life in the knight order?”

He suddenly posed the question. Within the Order, strict adherence to rank was paramount. Even a member of the royal family was naturally beneath the Knight Commander.

“It’s manageable enough,” Asuka replied.

He thought of the Knight Commander roughly as a dean of sorts. At Greta Academy, regardless of one’s social status, the dean or instructors outranked the students.

His casual tone might have been deemed presumptuous, causing the other three new recruits to look at him in alarm. But Asuka remained unfazed.

The Knight Commander didn’t get angry. He rested his chin on his hand and spoke in a calm tone.

“It seems the new recruit is adjusting well.”

Whether he was doing well or merely avoiding trouble was ambiguous, but as long as he didn’t cause any incidents, it was fine.

The other recruits reluctantly nodded in agreement.

“There’s a special task you all need to do.”

At the Knight Commander’s words, everyone’s eyes widened.

“Due to a change in personnel assignments, you’ll be responsible for guarding His Highness the Crown Prince during the day for the time being.”

The Crown Prince? While the other three were surprised, Asuka was the most shocked. Wasn’t the Crown Prince his cousin?

Of course, he had never met him before.

The current Emperor had only two sons and one daughter, all born from the Empress. The daughter was younger than Asuka, but the Crown Prince was much older, and the second prince was around Asuka’s age.

‘Father was willing to attach all sorts of strange people to me under the pretense of helping me make friends, but he never let me meet my cousins.’

It felt as if Asuka wasn’t worthy of facing them. Just like how he wasn’t officially recognized as the son of Grand Duke Farnese.

And now they want him to escort the Crown Prince out of the blue. It was suspicious.

It was not typical for new recruits to be given an assignment that puts them close to a figure of power. Even for new recruits, such tasks were usually reserved for those who had been thoroughly vetted.

This sudden decision, coming right after Asuka’s admission to the Knight Order, must have been influenced by Grand Duke Farnese.

Perhaps, having graduated top of Greta Academy, Asuka was now deemed worthy of meeting the Crown Prince.

Asuka thought cynically.

Perhaps his father, who always found Asuka lacking, decided that—given how exceptional Asuka’s swordsmanship was—he was now acceptable enough.

He didn’t like that idea.

The Knight Commander continued.

“Don’t get too excited about the chance to impress His Highness. Just focus on your duties.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Then, be off.”

Instructions and warnings. With that, the meeting with the Knight Commander ended. The nervous recruits left the meeting room and turned to Asuka.

“Hey, we haven’t asked until now, but what family are you from? Why were we assigned to guard His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“If you were from a renowned sword family, your name would’ve been known. But no one’s heard of Asuka.”

“You’re from Greta Academy, right? There were rumors you were a commoner, but that doesn’t make sense. Although, your attitude isn’t particularly noble.”

Ralph, Neil, and Gannon’s suspicious gazes followed. Asuka remained silent. Grand Duke Farnese hadn’t demanded his silence, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say, “Actually, I’m royalty and the hidden son of Grand Duke Farnese.”

Doing so would only complicate things further.

“It’s a secret.”

Asuka spat out the words and quickly walked away, avoiding the issue. He could feel the other three following behind him. He gritted his teeth.

‘What’s with this situation? The Crown Prince, all of a sudden.’

Still, could this be an opportunity?

‘Maybe I’ll take the Crown Prince hostage to escape the palace.’

Asuka indulged in a wild fantasy. Even if he told Grand Duke Farnese, “I’ve done what you asked for two weeks, so I’m leaving now,” there was no guarantee his father would simply let him go.

Yet no matter how he pictured it, Asuka could not envision an escape from the palace going smoothly.

Grabbing the Crown Prince as a hostage might not even be possible, and if he tried, it would be the end of him.

In such a case, he couldn’t guarantee Sian’s safety.

Even for someone as reckless as Asuka, such actions weren’t easy.

‘I have things to do.’

He had decided to join Helmut. Though he hadn’t heard the detailed plan, he’d find out once they reached Baden. Being held back like this was problematic.

‘The Crown Prince…’

He probably knew about Asuka, but Asuka had no idea how he’d react.

At any rate, Asuka was definitely not the type the nobles liked.

He hoped they would find him so unpleasant that they’d be eager to send him away.

Then, even Grand Duke Farnese wouldn’t have a choice. Asuka roughly scratched his head.

Of course, none of his worries mattered to Sian, who was happily absorbed in the imperial library.

Whether it was Helmut or Asuka, Sian was too busy enjoying the present to pay them any mind.

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