Chapter 73
The Frog That Protects the Black Panther
“Hey, boys — can you do me a little favor? I’ll share some of these delicious cookies with you if you do.”
A woman wearing a cloak approached a group of young boys playing in an alley behind the capital’s main square. She smiled kindly and held out a bag of cookies.
“Sure! What kind of favor?”
“Well, a little later, in the square over there…”
As she lowered her head and dropped her voice, a lock of bright golden hair slipped out from beneath her cloak and sparkled in the sunlight.
“What’s the meaning of this, Marquis Thermos? Your fiancée hasn’t appeared at such an important event. Have the two of you quarreled again?”
While noble ladies and even commoner girls fluttered around offering ribbons to knights, Crown Prince Felix — his left arm loaded with “power ribbons” — smirked as he approached Kylian.
“She’s far too precious to show off carelessly. I had to hide her away — there are simply too many who envy and covet her.”
Kylian casually moved his horse a step forward to block Himenah, who stood beside him.
“Hmph. You’ve heard, I suppose — Diego’s been confined to the palace for discipline. I apologize on behalf of my brother for his rudeness that day. He’s been spoiled by His Majesty’s favoritism and often forgets his manners. Please be generous. By the way… your order’s turnout this year seems rather small.”
Felix glanced past Kylian at the line of roughly thirty knights of the Red Moon Order who stood receiving ribbons.
“Yes. His Majesty himself requested it, citing the jealousy and resentment of other lords. So, I’ve decided to be… generous, and understand. I do hope the Imperial Family will remember… my ge-ne-ros-i-ty.”
Kylian’s voice was calm but barbed. Felix’s stomach twisted, yet he forced a polite smile and stepped back.
“Of course. I’ll remember. Well then, good luck…”
Kylian waited until Felix’s horse had turned and disappeared into the crowd before looking back at Himenah.
“Hermes!”
He was startled.
She stood there covered in ribbons — not only her left arm but practically her entire body — ribbons fluttering in the wind like a shrine tree decorated with prayer tags. Her expression was pure bewilderment.
“Ha! Seems the rumor of the handsome knight of Aktikos has spread across the whole continent.”
“Uh, maybe… haha.”
‘She draws too much attention. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her. Just how many rivals do I have to fend off to keep this woman to myself…?’
Kylian looked at her with a strange, jealous fondness before turning to his lieutenant, Wale.
“Are all the tents in our camp set up?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Hermes, go wait in my tent. If you wander around like that, people will think a ribbon monster has appeared.”
“Eh? Ribbon… monster?”
“As for formation — squads 1 and 2 will guard the camp today. The rest will move into Cataraits when the departure signal sounds. It’s the first day, and sunset’s near, so think of it as a light warm-up. Don’t go too deep into the forest! Especially the rookies — veterans, make sure they don’t act alone!”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Everyone hear that? When the drums sound, Red Moon heads northeast into Cataraits! Split into teams, subdue the beasts, and return before sundown! Rookies, obey your seniors — if you get greedy for bounty money and cause trouble, you’ll be expelled immediately! Understood?”
“Yes!!”
As the knights shouted in unison and waited for the signal, Lois approached Himenah, proudly showing off the ribbons on his arm.
“Boss! Look at this! I got three ribbons—”
“Oh, Lorex, you too?”
“Boss, were you selling ribbons here or something?”
“Hey, no! I got all these myself, thank you very much!”
When Lois saw that Himenah had far more ribbons fluttering over her than he did, he pouted jealously.
“Tch. Women have no eye for skill. They see a pretty face and think that means talent…”
Thwack!
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”
“Don’t go discrediting someone’s skills just because they’re good-looking. I’ll have you know I’m decent with a sword myself!”
“Yeah, right… A great swordswoman who’s just lounging around the camp with all her ribbons.”
“Quiet! Don’t get cocky while I’m gone. Listen to your seniors.”
Dooong! Dooong! Dooong!
The heavy drumbeats for departure resounded through the air.
“Oh! Looks like it’s time to go!”
“Lorex, wait a sec!”
“What now?”
Himenah pulled a yellow ribbon from her pouch and tied it around Lois’s belt, her expression suddenly serious.
“Don’t get hurt. If you do… I won’t forgive you, got it?”
“Heh. Sure thing. Thanks. But, uh…”
He leaned closer and whispered, “Is that from you, or from the lady?”
“Quiet! Get going already!”
“Heh. I’ll be back!”
“Alright — move out!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Lois hurried to join his formation, following the sub-officer at the front.
“What, no ‘come back safely’ for me?”
“Oh— Marquis.”
Kylian frowned, clearly pretending to be hurt.
“Uh… come back safely…”
Himenah hesitated, then pulled out the red ribbon she’d prepared for him — but grew embarrassed and quickly hid it behind her back.
“Hand it over.”
“What?”
“Hurry.”
Kylian had already untied all other ribbons from his arm and extended it toward her.
“But… it’s kind of… messy…”
“Oh-ho? Would you like to count a thousand sheep tonight?”
“No! Here, here it is!”
Himenah quickly tied the red ribbon around his left arm.
“Heh. Then I’ll be off.”
With a satisfied smile, Kylian brought the ribbon to his lips and kissed it before turning to follow his knights into Cataraits.
At the forest’s edge — protected by magical barriers — all the knights dismounted. The terrain was too dark and rough, and startled horses could be dangerous when beasts appeared.
Only a narrow, cross-shaped path reinforced by mana stones allowed safe passage through the woods — nowhere else could even a carriage go.
Kylian and Wale handed their horses to the grooms, donned their helmets, and entered the barrier on foot, following the unit.
“Captain, that ribbon… what is it?”
Wale eyed the red ribbon tied to Kylian’s arm curiously.
“Oh, Hermes gave it to me.”
He was, in fact, the one who’d suggested Himenah prepare a ribbon for her “lord.” Even if ribbons were traditionally made by women, the one Kylian most wanted to receive would obviously be hers.
But she must have rushed it, because instead of embroidery, there was a rough drawing in black ink — and her initial “H.”
“What’s that drawing supposed to be?”
“Hmm? Drawing?”
Kylian inspected the end of the ribbon more closely.
It wasn’t embroidery, just an odd doodle — like a strange little creature.
“This is… huh?”
“At first glance, it looks like a frog…” Wale murmured.
Now that he said it, it was a frog.
“Pfft! Hahaha! You’re right — it’s a frog!”
“What does that mean? Why a frog?”
“Heh. There’s a saying — a frog that protects the black panther. A little frog that might jump anywhere, so you want to keep it close… tucked safely in your arms. A very cute frog indeed.”
Kylian smiled in deep satisfaction, tightening the ribbon. Wale, still puzzled, could only tilt his head and follow behind.
“Marie, we’re back! Sorry we’re late — we got caught up looking around. Did you find a hat you liked?”
“No. They were all too expensive, and none really suited me. So I just bought a cloak and some ginger cookies.”
“I see. Then shall we head back now?”
“Yes.”
Marie, Sophia, and Olivia, who had reunited in the capital square after shopping separately, began crossing the plaza toward the carriage stand, their baskets full.
“Hey! There’s a puppet show over there! Let’s go see it!”
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
A group of children rushed past them, shouting.
Watching them, Marie’s face suddenly darkened. She turned to Olivia.
“Miss Olivia… I know it’s a lot to ask, but please speak well of my lady to your master. She’s truly a good person. All those rumors about her are nothing but lies.”
“Yes… Sophia said the same thing earlier. I don’t know how much my words will matter, but I’ll try to hint it when I can…”
Thud!
“Oh my!”
“Ah!”
Just then, six or seven boys came running and slammed right into them.
Sophia and Olivia’s baskets flipped, spilling everything across the ground.
“Wow! Cookies!”
“You little brats! Get out of here!”
“Shoo!”
Even as the women tried to chase them off with their baskets, the boys grabbed cookies from the dirt and stuffed them into their mouths and pockets, creating chaos.
“You scoundrels! Get lost!!”
“Eek! Run!”
A few nearby men finally shouted, and the boys scattered in fear.
“Oh dear heavens… what on earth…”
“Those rotten little brats!”
Cursing, Sophia and Olivia began picking up their scattered belongings.
“Miss Olivia, I picked up the books and papers.”
Marie stacked up five novels and a bundle of documents.
“Oh, thank you.”
“But the cookies and tea… we’ll have to buy again. They’re filthy now.”
“Ugh, those awful kids!”
“I’ll go buy more cookies. I’m faster on my feet. You and Sophia can get the tea and meet me by the carriage stand.”
“Oh, would you? That would be lovely. Here, take this money — from the Madeleine Bakery over there…”
“I know where it is. I’ll be right back.”
Marie took the money and dashed off toward the bakery.
“Come on, let’s hurry to the tea shop.”
“Right. Ugh, what a mess!”
Still fuming, Sophia and Olivia hurried off in the other direction.
