A Game of Chess (One)

"Don't worry.

"The archduchess' council hearing will continue until the sun sets. It won't be too late for you to go in the afternoon. I'll send someone to tell Viscount Leisdon."

In the bedroom on the first floor, Thales glanced at the sunlight outside the window as he took a wet towel out of a basin and wrung it. While he wiped his face, he said those words to Putray, who was sitting beside him.

Putray stared at the second prince's figure, which was a lot broader and taller compared to six years ago. In his silence, Putray ran his hand over the wrinkles on his face and watched as the fire in his tobacco pipe slowly extinguished.

'It's hard to imagine that this is the thin and frail boy six years ago. The boy who could not even ride a horse...

'The boy who gritted his teeth and broke into Heroic Spirit Palace.'