Life Restart

If I've learned anything from serving the royal family for all these years, it is that one, the third prince is a wastrel that noone cares about, and two, the first prince is never to be trusted.

The amount of times I saw that sly smirk he has when he sees something entertaining to him, is irritating.

It's not like I hate royalty, it's just I don't like how the first prince is as a person himself, he sees this whole world as a charade he can enjoy. It almost feels like everyone except himself is ridiculous in his eyes, this isn't the arrogance of nobles, but the god complex that only crazy people have.

I squint my eyes at Prince Edward when he says his response

"Think about it captain, we both have a common nuisance, wouldn't the enemy of your enemy be your best ally?" The first prince eyes bend to joyful crescents, as if eyeing a snack he wants

"Who says I am not your enemy too? You are just as untrustworthy as your idiot brother when it comes to comrades. I would hate to be woken up with a knife behind my back."

"Oh! So cold! My captain are you sure you should be talking to royalty with that attitude? I might bring you in for another punishment with father again?"

"I'm not your captain first of all, and secondly I don't care about concealing my wariness when I am in danger of losing my life, be it royalty or even just a commoner"

I have lived my whole life this way, noone to rely on but myself.

Growing up as an orphan left this impression that I am the only trustworthy person for everything, watching my own back and keeping secrets.

"Oh well, Oh right there is another thing i came to tell you about" The prince changes the topic smoothly

"What would that be?"

"My little sister has been bugging me to invite you to enjoy tea with her again" The first prince shoulders slumped as he exclaimed

"Elena did?" My brows uncreased and my facial expression lightened

"She could've talked to me after the punishment?"

"You know how Elena is captain, she tries to keep up her cool facade in front of everybody because of her shyness, so she could only wait til you were alone to talk to you, or just of course have a lackey like me invite you in her stead" The first prince had a self mocking smile when calling himself a lackey

"Hmmn, Tell her I'll talk to her when I get back from my vacation"

I then started walking for today's practice with a little better mood than before.

If I were asked a person who I was closest to in this world, it would have to be the princess. But I guess you wouldn't call it friendship, more like performing my duty as a vassal to the royal family. I never truly thought of her as my friend, since our conversations were one-sided with me accepting her opinion because royalty can't be wrong.

"....." Vacation she says

The prince had a complicated expression, thinking of thoughts such as who knew the captain was this easy going, and I thought the captain was emotionless and couldn't make joke.

****

In the afternoon I set out into the carriage that was heading for the Korkus Forest with expectation on a 2 week long vacation.

As I arrived and saw the forest that I was 'banished' to, I just saw normal tall trees and bushes surrounding my vision with some low level slimes, and goblins lurking.

This place is nothing special after all, no wonder this Forest is only used for training new recruits, an experienced veteran like me would find this place extremely calming.

"Gwargh!"

I hear a squeal coming out of the forest that seems to be from a animal. I feel the footsteps rushing closer and closer, the ground tremors intensify little by little,

I put my hands on the little weapon I brought along.

I look towards that direction and spot a medium ranked monster boar running towards my direction as if something is chasing it away.

I unsheathe a dagger from my t.h.i.g.h and sidestep out of the boar charge and lodge the blade into the thick flesh of the beast.

Feeling the stab through it's body, the beast flails in an attempt to get me off but what good would that do towards the captain of the 3rd division. I just pressure the dagger the harder it flails, resulting in more blood spurting out.

A few seconds of struggle later the boar lands on the ground motionless.

I stare down at the threat that came out of nowhere, thinking 'why was this boar fleeing as if it's life is in danger, it should be one of the strongest beasts in this forest'

I look towards the direction where the boar was running from

'Should I go through the hassle of finding out the source or not?'

I thought to myself.

Some higher level monster probably scared that boar off and the knights will probably arrive to take care of it once they notice it's arrival.

"Let's think this through, I could spend 2 weeks just laying down and setting camp near a river, or I could chase down the trouble...."

On one hand it's just a boring normal camping trip, which I do'n't mind, but the enemy will probably keep rampaging and sending these annoying small fries to me over the course of these 2 weeks.

It's probably best to subdue the problem, I mean the king will have probably been grateful enough to give the third prince another slap the next time he's annoying if I eliminate this enemy. That would be more satisfying than just doing this little trip.

Thinking I've made my choice I set my destination towards the direction the boar came from in hopes of encountering the problem.

As I was leaving, I sneaked glances towards behind me feeling something was off. I use my enhanced senses to hear what is around me as I was running and hear the extra footsteps coming from the woods behind me.

'Hmm seems like I'm being tailed, but judging from the foot work he's doing it's most likely an amateur'