"You should go and rest," Reuben waved his hand towards Richard.
Richard nodded his head in agreement, then looked at Ezekiel giving him a nod of thanks before he walked towards the room that was given to him in the mansion while he was staying here.
He then dismissed the rest of the knights.
These people started talking about what they had just witnessed.
Richard's fighting prowess and the skill he showed them, everything was so mind blowing they had completely forgotten about the fact that they didn't like him because he came here, and received such an important position just because they chanced upon Julian and saved him.
Their prejudice against him was suddenly flushed down the drain with what he had shown them at this moment.
He is not someone they should look down on at all.
And it was also at this moment they realized that they actually thought that the judgment of their crown prince was wrong all this time. That the one they truly looked down on as they looked down on Richard was none other than Julian Lawrence Blakewell, the crown prince of Antlia Kingdom.
Thinking about this and how the other two treated Richard when they picked him up, sent shivers down their spine.
Did they really just look down on their crown prince?
How can they be so arrogant?
"What was that all about, sir?" Ezekiel asked when the rest of the knights were gone.
"What do you think of him sir Ezekiel?" Reuben asked first.
"He is a good one. Capable and fluid. He is a strong one despite his age. And..."
Though he did not want to admit what he was about to say, he has no choice but to admit it.
"... I admit with his skills, he is the best candidate in protecting lady Florence."
Reuben obviously knew what he was thinking but did not point it out and simply nodded his head.
"But it seems he has a flaw," he instead commented, as he started walking back to the mansion.
"The way he barely speaks? Sometimes not even answering any question that was being asked?" Ezekiel inquired.
Reuben's brows twitched, "Well, there is that."
And surely that problem will continue to be their problem in the future.
"But…" Reuben turned serious again.
"…there is something more with him that we need to be careful of."
Despite Julian not saying anything, it seems that he treats this group highly.
Luna's ability was enough to make him think highly of her but for him to think highly of the whole group means that the group has something that gains his approval.
But to think that he has something like following the task being given to him despite having the chance that he will have more injuries. That on itself will be a problem if it is indeed a part of his personality already.
Reuben can't carelessly task him with things without taking into consideration his current condition.
To think that such a thing lies behind that strength.
'It seems that they were people who were treated as weapons based on the interaction I had with them,' Julian actually told them while trying to defend the group.
Antlia Kingdom promotes demolishing slavery in their kingdom and even the land as much as possible. Which means it includes the fact that others are to use people as weapons.
"Sir?" Ezekiel wondered when Reuben simply sighed after his last comment.
"Nothing."
Not that he was obligated to watch over him but seeing his character and his skills, Reuben felt like he wanted to nurture this person more. Especially with what he heard from his son.
Richard can help his daughter in her rest while he can also help his son.
Though Reuben might ask for too much from Richard but if it meant that his family will become stronger and be better then he won't have second thoughts in nurturing Richard. If not for his physical strength then for his character that seemed to have been affected greatly by his past.
"Since you have already since his strength, I suppose you no longer have anything more to say about this decision," he asked Ezekiel instead.
"Nothing more, sir."
But Reuben could tell that he still didn't want to accept it as much as possible.
He no longer commented about it and just waved his hand for him to leave.
He stood by the window in his office and looked outside while in deep thoughts.
The last skill Richard showed, implies that their group is not just strong but there are more things to see in them. Keeping them in the kingdom is the best decision. If a war erupts then they will have more leverage with them around.
Their knowledge seemed different from what they, the nobles and people of this kingdom, already have. Manipulating water in the body of a living being is something that never passed their minds, if they are to be honest. It was too brutal to be learned or taught by the people.
Who would have thought that there is someone who was already capable of doing so?
He turned to his table and pulled out a parchment.
Meanwhile, Richard slept for three hours before he naturally woke up for what he needed to do for the night. And that is to watch over Florence in her sleep.
Admittedly, he was feeling tired and using his skill despite not taking too much mana from him, his current state might be too difficult for him at this moment.
He is sure that the others would reprimand him for what happened a while ago.
Though it was something done subconsciously because of how they grew up. He was slowly trying to strip it off his system. Despite trying for two years it was still difficult when he conditioned himself that he is working under someone.
He shook his head. After waking up he remembered the words and look of Reuben and felt that he must have felt exasperated towards him a while ago.
'I have to keep myself in check,' he sighed before stepping out of the room.
"Richard!!!"
He turned and extended his hand stopping the person who was rushing towards him, ready to throw himself to him.
Kyle ended up hitting his hand with his face, unable to stop before hitting his hand. He was just so happy to know that Richard was staying in their house and would be there for a longer period of time, he will have more chances to learn what Richard allowed him to take a glimpse back in the Dark Forest.
He had been trying but he can tell he was barely having any improvements.
"…"
Richard just looked at him after pulling his hand back.
Kyle smiled widely, "You are staying here longer?"
"One year."
"Can you teach me? Please. Please. Please."
"That depends on what the duke tasks me to do. My punishment seems to work under him."
Kyle frowned hearing the word punishment.
Even Spencer who appeared in their training yesterday and today spoke about being there for punishment.
He did hear that they were punished for hurting the second prince. Kyle felt that it was unfair for the nobles to actually give them punishment. He knew even Gabriel felt that way as well.
Despite that he chose to just smile, "When I saw Spencer during our training I was in complete shock. Then when he told me that you were here, I was even more excited to return. I mean I usually stay in the dormitory for knight trainees but if you are here then I am more than willing to come back despite the troublesome traveling time."
"It seems that you have forgotten about your family. Coming home for a stranger? Should I remind you who your father is?"
Kyle's eyes went wide before rushing behind Richard. Richard glanced at him before stepping aside.
He pouted but before he could speak, his father beat him to it.
"Wait till your mother hears about this."
Kyle was agape, "DAD!!!"
"Oh now you know who your father is?"
He looked at Richard, "You are still pale."
"…"
"After your duty tonight, you have nothing more to do tomorrow. Rest after that. And make sure to wake Florence just as the sun rises. Her sleeping too much is not good for her as well."
"I understand, sir."
"My sister is sleeping too much?!?!" Kyle reacted.
He had not heard what Richard was doing here, just that his punishment location was at their place.
And hearing that his sister, who can barely sleep, was sleeping too much, how can he not be shocked?
"I'll explain it to you later. Dinner is ready."
He looked back at Richard, "Allow him to escort you to dinner as well."
Reuben gestured for a servant to escort Richard.
During his first two days, Richard was having his meals with the rest of the knights.
For the first time, he was completely ignored or even had the feeling of isolation. Not that he was affected.
But this time, he was furrowing his brows when some knights came to eat with him at one table.
"How did you do that?"
"…"
"How did you move like that?"
"…"
"Are you really just an adventurer?"
"…"
Soon all questions were left unanswered and they all gave up in getting answers from him. They approached him with the idea that he won't answer them based on his past reactions.
They just tried in case he answers but well they showed him an ugly side, how can they expect that he would respond to them so willingly?
But on this day, their respect for him has risen a lot.
The capabilities he showed gained him their respect at such a short span of time.