Eighth Legion

"You are still thinking about the offer of the emperor kid?" Emile asks Constance, both are mounted on horseback and travelling somewhere the mountainous forests near Edeva together with the young lord's personal retinues of loyal knights.

"Of course, I'll be damned if ever I chose the wrong option out of all the choices. I'm sure grandfather would only say that he would trust my judgement and it would be up to me to decide again." Constance immediately retorted, he is tired and weary after the sleepless nights he had after his meeting with the emperor, he has dark bags under his sleepy eyes.

"Hah... soon young boy, you would be part of the imperial family, the greatest and most honorable family they say, and would also be drag in their mess and problems... oh boy that is something to look forward to."

Emile is laughing loudly together with the other Arignon knights who knows what transpired during the meeting, these loyal band of men are like brothers in arms to both Constance and Emile and have come with them here in the frigid north.

"My Lord, I hear that Princess Tessia is a beauty sir. The fairest of all the princesses and ladies in the Capital." Sir Roderick Blaise, a tall dark man with a scar on his neck and one of the loyal knight retainers of the young lord, said loudly while also laughing and swinging his heavy hammer at the air.

"But I think our young master would not like those type of girls... those who are sheltered type of ladies who are only good in elegant way of life and socializing and without any real-life skills." Sir John Mellek, the tall bald man with only his right eye remaining, is also laughing but not as loud as Emile and Roderick.

"But I heard that the princess is not a typical one, she loves swords and fighting than dress and socializing, she had trained in sword and bow from what I heard in the rumors." The oldest knight in the group, Sir Marcus Izka said calmly, he didn't laugh about the possibility of their young lord marrying an imperial princess as this is a serious matter for the future of the Margravate.

"In short, the princess is a tomboy... what a great twist of fate. The imperial family is really a bizarre family." Emile said casually.

All of them didn't care what they have just said for they are only five men present in the trip in the middle of the forest in frigid temperature. Each of them has two horses, one is for them to ride on while the other is for the things and equipment that they have brought.

They are now travelling towards the temporary camp of the eighth legion, not far from Edeva, who are stationed right now in the north to continue the Northern campaign.

"But really, the emperor seems plotting something my lord, even the reason for us to come here to the eighth legion temporary camp here in the North is weird." Marcus is feeling uncomfortable travelling in a small number of men in the middle of Nors territory.

"It is not the emperor or anyone's idea of why we are traveling in such small number, it is mine." Breaking his silence, Constance speaks up to his knight retinues. "It would be more discrete and easier to move around in this number to escort the princess back to the capital. I also want to travel in peace and travelling with a lot of men would just a beacon to everyone to notice us."

"But still my lord. Why did the princess even go to the eighth legion camp, she should have stayed with the emperor in Edeva, instead we are now the one suffering of fetching her in the middle of these cold wasteland." It is John who speaks to Constance, he is shivering to the coldness of the winter forest where they are right now.

"Yes, my lord, I agree with what John had said. It is really unsafe for us to travel here alone; it would be better if those arrogant imperial knights are the ones who would go to the princess." Roderick agrees with John, annoyed by the fact that they would be delayed again to go to the capital and to the Margravate of Arignon. "I miss my daughters already; it has been almost a year since the last time I had met her and my wife."

The sadness in the face of the knights can be clearly seen after Roderick said something personal that affects everyone. It is already a long time since they had seen their loved ones and families. It can be clearly seen in their faces, their longing.

Even Constance wants to go home and also to meet his grandfather and Emile even if he has no family or anyone to return home to didn't stop from being sad and affected by the atmosphere.

Only the sounds of nature and the hoof steps of the horses can be heard. The sun might be clearly visible in the skies, but the shades of the tall trees prevent most of the light from reaching the ground.

"This trip young master... is it possible that this is another plot of the emperor? Maybe making you closer to the princess so that you would less likely reject the offer." Marcus, the calmest and the oldest of the group, thinks that this is really another ploy of the emperor to make the future Margrave of Arignon a close ally to the crown.

"I also have thought about that... no matter if I accept the offer or not, I will not let them drag the Arignon into the mess, especially the fight for the one to succeed the throne is intensifying, grandfather and my ancestors before, have always successfully steer the Margravate away from the troubles in the capital and I would also do that."

Constance added, "Anyways, we are near to the camp I can already see the banners and tents at that hill. Let's go. Hi-yah."

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