“Well, that was awkward.”

“Shut up, Owl.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I just can’t argue with her. But that was awkward. I think I we didn’t stop him, he would have killed the drill hair. I like this nickname for this stuck-up female knight. Now that I took a good look at the drill hair, she is obviously shaken. I see fear in her eyes.

“So, what do you think, Orlin?”

“I think that man is dangerous. If he really wanted to kill Sophia, none of us could have saved her. On top of his unknown power over plants, killing intent he exuded was not ordinary.”

“If you fought him, who will win?”

“I’m not hundred percent sure. But there is eighty percent of victory for me. And that is only based on what he showed us.”

“What about you, Owl?”

“I guess about the same. And I’m sure he has more hidden. So, just to be safe I would say fifty-fifty.”

“That much, huh?”

“I told you, your highness. I don’t doubt his strength. And person who holds that much power won’t bother putting on an elaborate act to hurt you. If he wanted to kill you, he would have done that long ago when he went to observe you.”

“That fact is what is making me hesitate, too. Why someone so powerful would come to my camp willingly. And a fact that he spied on me with no one noticing is scaring me even more. Did he said his reason for joining me?”

“Now that I thought about it, no.”

“Did you at least ask?”

“No.”

My wife standing next to princess, facepalms. And the princess is looking at me with dead eyes.

“Okay, you’re starting to hurt me.”

Now the other girls are looking at me pitifully. This is getting painful. So, only one choice left.

“So, did you make your decision, princess?”

She is still looking at me with dead eyes. Changing subject didn’t work damn it. Whatever let’s try again. I look around and look at the drill hair.

“Hey, are you okay?”

She comes out of her daze as I called out to her.

“What’s matter Sophia, are you okay? Did he do something to you?”

She hesitates little before talking.

“He didn’t to anything specifically. But when he turned around to exit the house, he looked at me with corner of his eyes. And as soon as I saw that look, I got reminded something from past. When I was seven years old, I got lost in a forest. While walking around encountered a wild beast. His look reminded me of a look that beast gave me.

Look of a predator. Princess, that man is too dangerous. If I may be bold, I’m against letting that man join your side.”

Well, that tactic backfired. Princess looks at the drill hair for a while.

“Now that it came to this, I will just go with popular opinion. Let’s take a vote. All of us here will vote.”

“Those who are against.”

There are thirty-three people in this house, including knights, me, my wife and princess. Shit, all the knights raised their hands.

“So, according to the vote, I decide to reject his entry.”

“Please princess, reconsider.”

“Enough. That man is too dangerous. Even if he is genuine, I will simply regret about it later. For now, I don’t have enough information to let him enter my camp and depend on him. All my knights dislike him, and I think he traumatized Sophia. So, my decision is final.”

I guess that is it. As a last resort I look to my wife. But she is ignoring me.

“I understand, your highness.”

New problem is: how do I break this news to 47.

“I will relay your decision.”

I exit the house and search for 47. After asking around and circling the village once, I find him outside the village.

“So, she said no, huh?”

“How did you know?”

“Well, it was pretty obvious after what I did. Drill hair is the cause, right?”

“Yes. You couldn’t hold it back?”

“Sorry, if she called me anything besides cretin, I would have been fine. But that word brought something up and something snapped. I hope she like my look.”

“I think you traumatized her.”

“Hehe.”

“It is nothing to laugh about. Everything you did till now is wasted. Anyway, why did you decide to get involved in politics?”

“Well, it seemed interesting to pull the strings.”

“………”

Something is definitely wrong with this dude.

“Whatever’s happened here, I hope you won’t try to enter Tirin’s camp.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. That dude is too shady. But I will give you a warning. There is a darkness inside that prince. If he becomes next archduke, this dukedom will be plunged into chaos. At first, I was thinking about joining his camp since plunging this dukedom into chaos seemed interesting. But I decided against it considering my karma.”

“Anyway, thank you, Alder.”

“Now that you know my name, I think it is only fair that I know yours too.”

“It’s Owl.”

“So, what’s up with you and the guild master?”

………

“Are you sure about this, princess?”

“I’m not.”

“Then why did you reject his entry?”

“Frankly, I was scared. When he released his killing intent, I wasn’t seeing another human, I was seeing wild beast. It would do us good if he was on our side, but I can’t depend on him if I’m scared of him.”

“If that is so, I understand. I will tell Owl. I’m sure he will make sure he won’t enter your brother’s camp.”

“Please, do that. If that man enters my brother’s camp, I don’t think I can win this race.”

Owl suddenly barges in panting.

“Princess, there is something happening at the capital. We need to return at once.”