As the duel seemed about to commence, the crowd’s attention began to focus on us. The other matches had wrapped up, so even Richard, who was on the platform, naturally turned his gaze our way.
“Are there still people who haven’t finished yet?”
“Who’s that guy? Never seen him before.”
“Probably some drifter from the countryside trying to catch the prince’s eye. Too bad he’s up against Yuge.”
Judging by the murmurs, Yuge seemed to have quite the reputation. While he cautiously drew his weapon, I glanced over at Richard, who was watching intently.
Even if they claim it’s to select knights, staging such an event near the palace is undeniably a show of force. It’s not just about intimidation; it’s also a display of how many aspire to become his knights.
The shadow of the Lionheart King looms large, so Richard I is often seen as a mere war-crazed fighter. However, modern perspectives are beginning to shift. The more you examine his actions, the more you see a man of intellect, who, despite appearing emotional, often made calculated moves.
For someone like me, who sought to make contact with Richard I, this was a golden opportunity.
I tore my gaze away from Richard and picked up a stick lying on the ground. If I’d known, I would’ve brought proper equipment, but this was all I could find. Fighting barehanded wasn’t ideal, so this would have to do.
Yuge looked puzzled, so I asked, “What? Is there a problem?”
“This is a formal duel. You need a weapon.”
“That’s why I picked one up.”
“You… You’re not walking away from this unscathed.”
Answering his question only seemed to rile him up. His temper was quite short. But his mental state wasn’t my concern, so I ignored him and swung the stick.
Whoosh—Thwack!
Yuge, caught off guard by the unexpected speed, flinched back like a fish out of water. If he were in full armor, he could’ve taken the hit, but with his current gear, it was too much. I aimed for his body and shoulders, avoiding his head to prevent serious injury.
Yuge’s skills were below those of the average crusader knight. Hearing people pity him for facing me gave me a rough idea of the crowd’s abilities. Most hadn’t even been formally knighted, so comparing them to seasoned knights from Jerusalem was unfair.
Richard, watching the match, must’ve been frustrated, wanting to shout for me to finish it. Once I realized the future Lionheart King was watching, I relentlessly battered Yuge with the stick.
Whoosh! Thud! Crack! Thwack!
Despite his lack of armor, the sight of a sword-wielding opponent being beaten by a stick drew gasps from the onlookers. After a few more hits, Yuge dropped his sword and begged for mercy.
“Alright. As promised, you head to Jerusalem. I’ll take care of things here as a knight.”
“But, I…”
“Don’t want to go? Then don’t.”
I waved him off dismissively and turned to the spectators. “So, is this it, or do I need to entertain a few more?”
It wasn’t a taunt; I was genuinely concerned. Fortunately, my sincerity seemed to resonate. The knights watching grimaced but none stepped forward to challenge me.
It seems history has always shown that a stick is the best way to calm people down. Richard, apparently impressed by my performance, approached with his entourage.
“Impressive skills. How have I never seen someone of your caliber before?”
“I haven’t been here long. It’s my first time meeting you, Your Highness.”
“Haha, I like you more and more. What’s your name, newcomer?”
“Edward Marshall.”
”…Marshall?”
The air grew tense, and Richard’s attendants eyed me with suspicion.
“Your Highness! Step back! He could be an assassin sent by the king!”
“He might be a spy sent to gather information!”
“We should capture him and interrogate him immediately!”
“Enough.”
With a simple gesture, Richard silenced the chatter. This brief display showed just how firmly he held his subordinates in check.
“If he were here to assassinate me, he wouldn’t approach so openly. And a spy wouldn’t reveal his name. I heard Marshall’s son recently returned. Is that you?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why are you here? There’s no reason for Marshall’s son to seek knighthood from me. Everyone knows your father is the king’s trusted ally.”
“Is it written in law that one must serve the same lord as their father?”
Richard blinked, then chuckled, shaking his head. “No such law exists. Come with me. I’d like to talk further.”
Without looking back, Richard turned and left the arena. What a straightforward man.
I tossed the stick aside and followed him. The spectators watched us in silence, their eyes darting between Richard and me.
Inside the room, Richard dismissed his attendants and casually sat down.
“Your skills are remarkable. I heard you came from Jerusalem. Is that true?”
“Yes, I was with the Knights Templar.”
“Like your father. I’d be thrilled to have someone of your valor under my command, but there’s something I don’t understand.”
While I did serve valiantly, there’s no need to mention my desertion. He’ll find out when the time is right, and that’s in my best interest.
“What don’t you understand?”
“As you said, there’s no law binding you to your father’s lord. But society has its customs. Aligning with someone who might oppose your father’s lord is unconventional unless you’re estranged from him.”
“Your Highness and the king have a different relationship. It’s an internal conflict, not a foreign one. Even those with the king will eventually serve you.”
“So you’re betting on the future and siding with me. Aren’t you worried about opposing your father?”
“I believe that by proving myself to you, it will be easier for my father to be forgiven later.”
Historically, Richard never turned against William Marshall. He was a leader who cut off the chaff but valued true talent. William, hailed as England’s greatest knight, would be a tempting prize for Richard.
“That’s a fresh perspective. So you’re saying you’ll earn merit, and in return, I should spare your father?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps your father is telling the king the opposite: to spare you if things go awry. That’s quite the strategy.”
“My father isn’t that cunning.”
“True. That’s why many see him as the ideal knight. You seem to be of a different ilk.”
Richard’s gray eyes twinkled with amusement as he studied me.
“Your skills are evident from your background and earlier performance. I understand why you want to join me. So, let me ask something personal. You’ve been to Jerusalem, so you’ve seen its king and the leader of Islam?”
“Yes, I’m familiar with King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and Saladin of Islam.”
“Do you think I could be compared to such rulers?”
Even before his crusade, he was interested in Jerusalem. I didn’t expect him to be aware of Saladin, let alone Baldwin IV, the greatest king in Jerusalem’s history.
“King Baldwin IV was undoubtedly the greatest Christian king. If not for his leprosy, Jerusalem wouldn’t have fallen so easily to Islam. Of course, if Saladin hadn’t been their leader, Jerusalem wouldn’t have been in danger.”
Leprosy, a disease that slowly decays the body. In this era, it’s feared and despised. Yet Baldwin IV, despite his affliction, was loved by all for his exceptional ability and noble character.
Even Saladin, one of the greatest rulers in Islamic history, acknowledged his abilities and mourned the loss of a capable leader to illness.
Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, was a hero among heroes, uniting the fractured regions of Egypt and Syria and successfully reclaiming Jerusalem. His tolerance was so renowned that even some of his adversaries were captivated by him.
To see Richard, not yet a king, place himself on the same level as such figures revealed a glimpse of his confidence. Knowing how history would eventually record Richard the Lionheart, I could nod in agreement with certainty.
“Your Majesty seems destined to be a different kind of ruler than those two. Perhaps it’s your years of experience in the Crusades, but your judgment of people is rarely wrong. In this era, there are few who will shine as brightly as you—no more than three, at most.”
It’s a well-documented fact that Richard was susceptible to flattery. But it wasn’t just any flattery; it had to be cleverly crafted and convincing. The very notion of “susceptible to flattery” practically hovered above Richard’s head, proving the historical accounts true.
I had expected something related to his bravery to stand out, so this was a bit surprising. Perhaps it wasn’t just a trait but a potential weakness.
“Hmm… Can you really tell that at first glance?”
“Those destined to be rulers have a certain… aura about them. Both King Baldwin IV and Saladin had it. And so do you, Your Majesty.”
I had never seen Baldwin or Saladin, not even the horses they rode, but that hardly mattered. What mattered was the ability to dress up what the listener wanted to hear with convincing embellishments.
Richard tried to hide it, but he couldn’t suppress the slight upward curve of his lips.
Even if it’s just a single line, the status window’s performance is impressive. Now that I’ve successfully caught his attention, it’s time to expand my influence until everyone in the kingdom knows my name. And when that moment comes, I’ll play my best card.