Two people accepting them is better than everyone going out of their way to look down at them.
That was the feeling all five of them are feeling at this moment.
They are about to go their separate ways when Owen and Nicholas called out to them.
"Someday, once you all settle and got used to this place. I hope we can spar with you all. In a spar where we can give our all," Owen waved at them with a grin.
Nicholas has a smile on his lips while nodding at them, he feels the same way.
Her friends watched the three men, Julian, Owen and Nicholas, have their eyes widen when Luna actually flashed a beautiful smile.
"I enjoyed the bout today, no deception or playing, just a bout between two knights. One day I hope we can all have a real spar. Giving our everything without holding back."
"Give me a chance to spar with you as well. I think I'll be staying most of the time in the palace," Aaron grinned and waved his hand.
"I feel the same way," Spencer added.
Julian squinted his eyes, "It seems you are more excited in challenging them than me."
Spencer chuckled, "Maybe because we don't have to worry about anything when its them, your highness."
There was this playful look in his face that showed his youthful appearance, befitting his age.
Julian just raised his eyebrow, it seems it will take time before they can forgive him for not telling them who he really is.
The five wave them goodbye and left, they can't stay here for long since Richard will have to leave for his own punishment.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself when you are with them, your highness," Nicholas commented when there's just the three of them.
Standing by the rails in the edge where one can see the imperial city even more, Julian glanced at him before taking a deep breath.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"That lady named Luna... I think she is the strongest among their group instead of the one named Spencer," Owen commented when Julian dodged the question.
"You are the first person she spar with in this kingdom."
Owen blinked before glancing at Nicholas. Nicholas simply shrugged. Owen ended up laughing.
It seems that seeing their spar, Julian actually had the desire to test her strength himself.
The next day.
Richard was standing by the door before the day breaks.
Archibald told him that someone will pick him up yesterday and all of them actually waited with him until late last night. Luna being the first to rest since she had a rough time in proving themselves to Julian's trusted knights.
But the people who are supposed to pick him up did not even appear.
He only had two hours of sleep before getting up to get ready. He does not know when he will be picked up so getting up very early was his only option. Being late was not part of his vocabulary.
While waiting some people suddenly started banging at their door.
It was early in the morning, people are supposed to still be resting but these people actually made such a ruckus.
Good thing he was already in the living room, it didn't take long before he got to open the door and is now face to face with two men wearing violet colored knight uniform top with white pants, they are also wearing black capes.
The moment he opened the door, the two men with their messy brown hair, showed a look of shock.
And when they opened their mouths, Richard knew they came with a not so good intention.
And it seems that they came here at this time to blame him for being late.
"You were tasked to meet us yesterday, what are you doing here now? Why are you behaving like this when it was the grace of the king that allowed you to work for us when you are nothing but a new face?"
Richard blinked, he was prepared to hear the word "commoner" since that is how people they met always do so. It seems hsi thoughts was too harsh, not everyone would look down on commoners. Just that, they are still bad at this moment for pinning the blame on Richard.
It was said that he will be picked up by the people from where he will serve his punishment.
The five of them were indeed gone for two hours but they can tell that no one came to look for him while they were gone.
And now, these two are telling him that he should have met them yesterday and is making it difficult for them since he was supposed to be there yesterday.
"How can he meet you when he does not even know who he is meeting?"
Richard has no plans on answering them of course but Luna suddenly appeared in front of him glaring daggers at the two knights in front of him.
"And who are you?" one asked.
"That does not matter. The king himself have told him that he will be picked up by some people but he did not say anything about who they will be? Is he supposed to put a placard on his body asking each and every person in the imperial city of who it is that was supposed to pick him up?"
The two knights frowned before looking back at Richard.
"How can you hide behind a woman? You are the one being given a punishment under us-"
"Yes, it is a punishment from the king but we are also employed by the crown prince for a different service. He is not under you but is instead under the crown prince. Are you looking down at the crown prince then?"
The two knight's words were stuck in their throats.
Luna looked at them smugly.
Feeling suddenly embarrassed when they came here to shame Richard for getting here because of luck, they glared at Richard.
Richard's eyes moved seeing that they didn't try to argue with Luna, with a lady.
Luna was about to open her mouth again when Richard covered it with his hand.
"Why are you awake?" he asked her.
Luna pointedly looked behind him.
Turning he found that all the other three were already there as well.
"How can we not wake up when they started banging at the door like you have borrowed some large amount of money from them?" Spencer said when he turned to them.
Richard shrugged before pushing Luna towards them.
"Hey!!" she instantly complained.
But before she could speak more, Aaron pulled her back.
"Come on now. Richard needs to work and we will soon have to as well. So why don't we get prepared?" Aaron nudged her upstairs.
"I am not yet done."
"Yes, yes we know, so go up now and prepare. Remember this is your first day in training the crown prince."
That shut her up.
She was still not having good feeling in actually training the prince.
Preshea followed her upstairs to ensure she won't come down to make troubles again.
Aaron and Spencer looked at Richard, in return he nodded at them.
It is not like he did not expect to be looked down or even bullied but as compared to the time they had one thousand years ago, this much is nothing.
"If you are ready then lets go," when harrumphed.
They wanted to put him in his place but Luna's words stopped them from doing so.
They are knights but there are others higher than them, they can just leave the putting into place matter to those people once they return.
Richard followed them until they are outside the barracks, there awaits a carriage that is of the lowest quality.
He shrugged, not that he expected to be treated in a different way.
He even expected that they would make him walk to where they are going.
This much, he already considers it as them being kind.
"What are you still staring at in there? Get in. Don't bother looking for a better carriage for you are here for punishment and not-"
*CREAK*
*CLACK*
*SHUT*
The knight who was still speaking blinked a few times.
Without a word, Richard walked up to the carriage, opened the door, got in and closed the door. Nothing was even shown on his face.
He turned to the other but all he saw was that same bewilderment he was having.
They expected for him to show annoyance or even speak a bit for being treated this way.
But from start to finish, from back to the barracks to now, he had not spoken a words to them.
So, how can they harass someone who acts as if they were air?
Someone who does not give any reaction no matter what they say or present to him?
In the end, they could only keep quiet and lead the way to their destination on their horse.
Richard's reaction was absolutely normal for him and the other four. This treatment is already way better than what they experienced in the past.