Ugh!

Pier groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. He felt quite dizzy after waking up which made him flinch in his position.

'Huh?' Pier turned to look around his surroundings once he had fully opened his eyes and adjusted to the faint lights that were coming out from the place he was in.

"Where... am I?" He said and rubbed his eyes. He was still feeling a little bit tired but he decided it was best to wake up.

"Annoying bear really got me worked up." He then rolled his eyes and got up from laying down on the soft material.

"Young master!'

"AAH!"

Pier screamed in surprise after a voice suddenly called out to him.

"A-Ah, I-I didn't mean to scare the young master..." Pier had his hands on his chest as he calmed his heart that was beating so fast due to the surprise.

"And you are?" He asked once he calmed down. He turned to look at the person that was beside him.

The man who looked like he was as tall as Pier himself pouted like a child when Pier asked who he was.

"Why are you pouting like that, it doesn't suit a full-grown man like you." The man's face was further distorted. His short brown hair and freckled face scrunched up in dislike with Pier's words.

He was the same height as Pier but he had a bigger and wider body frame. He was a knight after all, compared to Pier who did not even bother touching a sword nor did exercises.

However, the young man could not even get mad at the young master who asked who he is. After all, Pier did save his life.

"I am the knight you saved back in the Sokran Forest, young master" Pier tilted his head like a small lost puppy in confusion.

"Knight...? Ah! The one who was about to kill himself by fighting that huge bear all alone!" He grinned as memories came flooding back to his mind.

"You know, you should never consider killing yourself because the world has so much to offer-"

"I thank the young master of the Belmiunde Household for saving me!" The knight said as he stood up from his previously sitting position and fully bowed.

"Ah-huh?" Pier was further confused by the knight's words.

"Why are you thanking me, shouldn't you be mad at me because I interrupted your date with that huge bear?" He asked as he fixed his unruly hair from laying down too much.

"N-No, young master! You must have been mistaken! I was not about to commit such things. I-" The knight tried to explain but he was suddenly flustered and embarrassed with how Pier was casually talking to him.

"I... It was me who was supposed to protect the young master but instead, the young master protected me." Pier had a small 'o' shape in his mouth after he heard the knight explain.

"Oh, were you following me?" The knight nodded his head.

"Yes, young master. His highness had asked me to watch over you in case something terrible would happen while the young master was deep in the forest... but I failed." The knight said as his shoulders dropped a little bit.

Pier who noticed this went in the knight's direction and patted his shoulder when he reached him.

"It's alright, really. Just think about it as a favor and you can protect me next time." Pier said as he started to walk outside the tent-like place they were in.

Gideon, who heard Pier's explanation clenched his fist.

"T-Then, young master!"

"Hmm?"

"Then let me be your-"

"No."

"H-Huh?" Gideon faltered after hearing Pier's immediate response.

"I do not like taking in more servants."

"What - young master, I do not wish to be a servant butler of yours. Though I would like to be, I have already made my mind to serve you as a knight!" Gideon hurriedly said, afraid that Pier might start to misunderstand him more.

"Huh?" It was Pier's turn to falter after hearing Gideon's words.

"A knight? For me?" He questioned his hearing.

"Yes, young master!"

"No."

"W-Why?" Gideon stopped after he heard Pier's response. He was baffled by Pier's fast responses that even had tones of finality in it.

"I do not like having people talk about me after having a knight beside my side." He said and continued to walk towards the entrance of the tent-like place they were in.

"But I have already sworn upon my name and title that I will serve as the young master's knight!" Pier stopped completely in his tracks. Silence engulfed them for a few seconds.

"Why"

"Pardon?"

"Why did you swear upon your name and title that you'd become my knight?" Pier asked. It was already suspicious enough for him that a knight had suddenly swore upon his name and title just to be his knight.

Who would want to be acquainted with the young master anyway and Pier himself did not like having too many people around him?

"Because I wanted to protect the young master after he had saved my life!" Gideon protested as he felt like was being judged by Pier's tone of voice.

"I do not have any ill-intention of doing any harm. I want to return the favor and protect the young master instead!"

"You know you don't have to swear upon your name and title that you would become my knight, Mr. Knight" Pier retaliated and Gideon held back a sigh.

"Back when the young master fainted... people were questioning the young master's capabilities and I wanted to assure and protect the young master's dignity so I swore upon my name and title that the young master had slain the beast by himself!" Gideon said in a frustrated voice.

When Pier heard his statement. His eyes went wide and he froze in place.

"What did you say?" He asked. He felt like a huge storm was about to come with the things that happened while he was unconscious.

"People were doubting the young master's capability of slaying the beast by himself and to prove them wrong, I swore upon my name and title that I am willing to die if I were to be proven wrong," Gideon said and Pier was completely frozen in his place after hearing the words.

"Mr. Knight..."

"Gideon, knight Gideon of House Woodlock, young master. Please call me by my name."

"It's not the time to talk about names, Gideon. First of all, you should have just let them doubt my capabilities!" Pier was slightly mad. He was not mad with the knight but was instead mad that he had become unconscious after fighting the beast.

He wouldn't have to face the problem he has right now if he did stay awake.

'Fuck, that simply means I now have to prove to everyone that I can use magic or else this knight here will die.' Pier rubbed his temples.

"I can't let them do that, young master! I cannot allow others to look down on the young master who saved my life!" He exclaimed and he was like a small child that was raging for unknown reasons.

Pier sighed as he facepalmed himself.

'What a hassle.' His headache was starting to slightly subside but it was now all coming back in one swift motion.

"Hah... well, there's no use about crying over spilled milk. You'll die if I don't show them my magic abilities." Pier said as he motioned Gideon to come.

"Though I would like to have my magic hidden." He grumbled and Gideon bowed his head in shame.

'Did I place another burden on the young master's shoulder?' He contemplated. He hated the thought of the person who saved his life.

"Follow me, my knight. I shall prove your claims." Pier said as he opened the entrance of the tent.

"I am y-your knight?" He asked.

'Did I hear it correctly?' He thought and he became giddy.

"Yes, you have sworn allegiance to be my knight. It would be bad for both your image and mine to reject it." Pier said dryly. Gideon grinned widely as he heard Pier's confirmation.

"Yes, young master! I will serve you with all my strength and abilities!"

Pier rolled his eyes at how enthusiastic the knight was.

"How old are you, Gideon?" Pier asked as he peaked outside. It was still pretty dark outside and he assumed it was early in the morning now.

"I am nineteen years of age now, young master!" Gideon expressed happily.

"You're very young for a knight"

"People do say that, young master." He said and Pier was slightly irked with Gideon's smile.

"Why are you smiling so much, Gideon?" He cannot help but ask.

"I am simply happy because the young master allowed me to become his knight!" Pier gave him a side-eye glance and Gideon only smiled at Pier's actions.

"Alright. Tell me, who are those individuals that have made you swear upon your name and title?" Pier asked and Gideon actually placed his hands under his chin as if he was thinking about it.

"Well there were some knights... possible the knight captain... then a few priests... Oh and the lady too!" Pier turned his head back to look at Gideon.

"Lady?"

"Yes, the lady who was said to be loved by his highness!" Gideon's face scrunched up at the thought of the lady who started the questions about Pier's capabilities.

"You mean, Lady Elena?" Gideon nodded his head.

"Yes, young master. The lady had started to say that the young master could never slay the beast by himself and accused you of having an accomplice in killing the beast!" He grumbled and he indeed look like a little kid for Pier.

"Why is the lady here?" He asked and Gideon shrugged his shoulders.

"I have heard from a few knights that the Lady was here to accompany his highness on his trip to the Yuko Boundary." Pier's eyes slightly widened at the statement.

'Don't tell me...?' He snorted at the thought he had.

'Surely it couldn't be because she's making sure I do not get acquainted with Asher, right?' Pier chuckled after the series of thoughts he had.

He was trying to avoid it but he could not help to think that Elena was a petty noble herself. She would always try to get herself to meddle with Pier whenever he had the time with the Crown Prince even before he had taken over Pier's body.

He wanted to stray far from both Asher and her but she constantly keeps on getting herself between them.

'I should make this an opportunity to completely get rid of Pier's previous relationship with them.' He nodded his head as he made his mind up.

"She's just as persistent as that prince, don't you think?" He asked.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

Then the two got out of the extremely spacious tent they were residing in when Pier woke up. Gideon called out to Pier once more.

"Young Master..."

"Yes"

"I am your knight, Gideon, right?"

"Yes."

---

"Woah, this is better than the last time," Pier exclaimed as the now lifeless body of another magic beast fell to the ground. The sun was close to rising up once more and they were deep in the forest to find other magic beasts.

He was feeling better than the last time he fought with the magic beast yesterday. As if his body had adjusted to fighting more.

"Y-Young Master, that's extremely dangerous!" Gideon said as he wiped the sweat off his face.

They were hunting magical beasts just to give Elena a present.

This time, it was another magic beast that was in its early years that's why along with Pier and Gideon's efforts, they were able to take one down without having too much effort.

"You're not a bad knight, Gideon." Pier complimented and Gideon displayed an extremely bright smile. He was very happy to hear Pier compliment his skills as a knight.

"The pleasure is mine, young master! I will work hard so I can receive the young master's compliments more!" Pier flinched at the sudden burst of energy from the knight but he decided to not mind it.

"This should be enough present for them, I suppose?" Pier asked and Gideon nodded his head.

"I assure you, young master. It is enough for them to believe that the young master is skilled enough!" Gideon said as he puffed his chest out in pride. Pier rolled his eyes and sighed at the display of his now 'knight'.

It was uncomfortable for him having a knight follow him wherever he goes but he steadily got acquainted with Gideon because he had a pleasant personality.

He was like a bundle of joy and Pier was the grumpy young master Gideon was serving.

"You can carry that, right?" Gideon nodded his head.

"If the young master wishes, I can carry another one!" He said and Pier stopped the urge to smack Gideon's face because he found it annoying to see a smiling knight all the time.

"I'll help you."

"No, young master! It's alright for me to do this much for you!" Pier did not even retaliate with Gideon's words because he found it tiring to help with the carrying of the smaller version of the magic beast he fought yesterday.

---

The sun had risen up in the sky and everyone was preparing to depart for their journey towards the Yuko Boundary.

Kyaah!

But a scream had interrupted their work. Asher and the knights immediately went to go and see what had caused the Lady to scream from the top of her lungs. However, when they got to the place with the voice's destination, they also froze in their tracks and stared at the person checking his nails.

It was Pier. He was standing a few feet away from Elena.

And in front of her was a magic beast. A smaller version of the one he had slain yesterday.

Pier turned to look at all the knights, clerks, and priests gathered in the spot where he had laid the corpse of the magic beast.

"If this isn't enough proof that I can slay a magic beast then I am welcoming duels from any of you who have said so yesterday"

He stated as he raised both of his hands and even without a second passing, wind and flame magic manifested in each of his palms.