The royal palace was packed with people eager to see those who had returned after conquering the three northern kingdoms.

“Long live Your Majesty!”

Cheers rang out from the outer walls to the plaza. The King of Ashin, now the ruler of the north beyond Ashin, raised his hand to the crowd with the gentle smile of a virtuous man.

When the war first broke out, no one believed Ashin could unite the three northern kingdoms.

Four years ago, the neighboring nation of Bardor invaded. In the blink of an eye, its army reached the gates of Ashin’s royal palace, and the kingdom stood on the brink of collapse.

At that moment of life and death, the man who saved Ashin was Maverick Pride—the king’s sword and shadow.

He beheaded the Bardor army’s commander-in-chief immediately upon setting out. Thus, he earned the title of the Strongest Knight.

Some questioned whether “Strongest” might be excessive. But after he swept through and captured the Bardor capital, no one called it an exaggeration anymore.

“The Strongest Knight, Maverick Pride!”

Thanks to his achievements, his popularity now seemed to reach the heavens. Born as the eldest son of the venerable Pride ducal family, he had noble blood, good looks, and luck—a remarkable man among remarkable men.

Despite seeming to have everything, Maverick had one serious problem.

“Maverick, you should smile. Don’t look so bored with everything.”

The King of Ashin ventriloquized a reprimand to his retainer with the sullen face. Despite his lord’s scolding, Maverick merely sighed long and tiredly.

“I look bored because I am bored, Your Majesty.”

The man who excelled at everything from birth was lacking in character.

Since he achieved success without difficulty, he rarely felt a sense of accomplishment. Having never known effort or failure, he couldn’t empathize with others’ emotions and remained indifferent.

“Wow, Maverick Pride!”

“Sir Maverick!”

Even when people shouted his name, he felt neither pride nor excitement. He couldn’t understand the other knights who marched with chests puffed out and proud expressions.

“Who do you think all these people have gathered to cheer for?”

I’m not a clown who needs to smile for the spectators. If that’s what you want, you might as well order me to perform tricks.

Maverick retorted inwardly. Just a few years ago, he would have said it aloud.

At least his time in the war and group living had taught him not to voice such thoughts. Though his expression revealed everything anyway.

“I suppose they’ve gathered to see Your Majesty, who has become the ruler of the north, not me.”

Instead of mentioning clowns, Maverick responded sullenly with a lifeless expression.

“Can’t you hear the cheers praising who the Strongest Knight is?”

“I can clearly hear ‘Long live the king.’ Long live Your Majesty.”

“Tsk. When you speak like a loyal subject but with such an indifferent face, it makes my blood boil.”

The King of Ashin clicked his tongue and glared at Maverick, who stubbornly maintained his bored expression.

“At least tonight, relax and enjoy yourself. It’s a banquet for you all who wielded swords and spears for me.”

Maverick raised one corner of his lips as he watched the knights and soldiers bouncing with excitement.

“With Your Majesty’s encouragement, these fools will drink without restraint tonight. Then who will guard the palace and protect Your Majesty?”

The King of Ashin raised both hands as if to ask why he would worry about such things.

“The palace guard will be handled by our reliable Royal Guard Vice Commander who has been protecting the palace all this time. Didn’t you entrust the security to your subordinate because you trust him too?”

Maverick snorted as he recalled the Royal Guard Vice  Commander’s face.

“Among men with heads made of stone, I appointed the one whose stone head works slightly better as vice commander.”

His skills aren’t sufficient to guard Your Majesty. His assessment of the vice commander who had protected the palace without incident for four years was harsh.

“If an assassin appears targeting Your Majesty, that man won’t be able to protect you.”

“As I recall, the vice commander wasn’t that weak.”

“If I were the assassin, I would definitely succeed.”

Ashin’s king was exasperated by Maverick’s brazen response.

“If you truly aimed for my neck, who could stop you?”

When asked if anyone existed who could stop him, Maverick was characteristically confident.

“No one.”

The King of Ashin felt sorry for the vice commander who would likely never hear a word of appreciation from Maverick in his lifetime.

“All sorts of unnecessary people enter the palace during banquets. Therefore, I will focus on security so Your Majesty can enjoy yourself without worry.”

“In other words, you won’t join me at the banquet I’ve been greatly looking forward to?”

The king glanced sharply at him when Maverick declared he wouldn’t participate. Maverick nodded, and the king hissed.

“Rick.”

Despite his stern voice, the king called him by the nickname he’d used since childhood.

“If you don’t drink with me, what fun will I have?”

Gone was the wise ruler, replaced by a somewhat immature young man.

“Please endure the lack of fun for tonight.”

“Rick.”

“If I follow Your Majesty’s orders and drink by your side, what would happen? The Queen will grow horns on her head for not yielding her husband whom she hasn’t seen in so long.”

‘You know an heir is urgent. You should give me time to produce one!’

He could almost hear his sister’s reproachful voice.

“So today, spend time with your wife whom you haven’t seen in four years, rather than with me whom you’ve seen throughout.”

“You haven’t seen the Queen in four years either.”

The King of Ashin persistently tried to persuade Maverick, suggesting they could all catch up together.

“Sibling affection can be confirmed later. Today, focus on building marital affection first.”

The king side-eyed his friend who continued to reject his invitation. Maverick, trying to ignore the glaring gaze, suddenly turned his head.

“I have an uneasy feeling.”

Maverick spoke quietly so only the king could hear. His tone became casual, as if speaking to a friend rather than his lord, but the king accepted it naturally.

“An uneasy feeling?”

“A feeling that those idiots might be up to something.”

Though it appeared everyone in the Kingdom of Ashin welcomed the king’s return, that wasn’t entirely true.

Since the king’s ascension as a boy, there had been elders in Ashin who viewed him with disdain.

How to pull down the king? How to usurp royal authority and fill their own bellies?

It was obvious that a popular conquering king would be a thorn in the side of these old men who were constantly watching for opportunities.

“Even if the elders dislike me, would they act on such a joyous day? They themselves would face criticism if they did.”

The king tried to reassure him that his concerns were excessive.

“There’s no harm in being prepared, so please quietly accept protection when I guard you, Your Majesty.”

Though his words were based on affection and loyalty, the king thought his expression and tone were quite something.

The king’s weak, so better listen while I’m asking nicely.

That thought was clearly readable in Maverick’s expression.

“How much would the ladies curse me inwardly if I made you work even on a day like this?”

“If anyone dares curse Your Majesty, I will behead them and present their heads to you.”

The king shuddered and waved his hand dismissively. The truly frightening thing was that Maverick might actually do it.

“Enough. I’ve seen enough severed heads over these four years.”

The king grumbled that he wanted to see only peaceful and beautiful things for a while.

Maverick was a man who had beheaded a commander on his first campaign. Whenever the war faced difficult situations, everyone expected him to do something.

Each time he created breakthroughs like piercing a shield with a spear, half praised him while the other half looked at him with jealousy, thinking he was different.

The King of Ashin, who had seen Maverick as a friend since childhood, viewed him with slightly different emotions. Even if he was good at fighting, he was still human. How much pressure must Maverick feel under the expectation that he must always win?

With his personality that hated complaining, he wouldn’t say anything, but he must be very tired inside. The King of Ashin felt sorry for Maverick.

“I’m telling you to relax for your own good, and you reject me so coldly? I give up!”

The King of Ashin snorted as if offended. In the end, Maverick was right.

On the night of the banquet, Maverick felt eyes watching him.

See? I knew this would happen.

Maintaining his indifferent expression, Maverick slipped away from the king’s side. The gaze followed him, not the king.

It seemed these people were after his head, not the king’s.

One, two. Three? You think three is enough to take my head?

Maverick moved toward the maze garden alone, finding it ridiculous. The bait worked perfectly. Three assassins disguised as servants jumped out.

“Three indeed.”

He had become accustomed to slaughtering and seeing blood during the war, his fighting spirit honed sharp. When the war ended, that edge had dulled, but seeing blood again quickly heated his mind.

In his excitement, he forgot he should keep them alive for questioning about who was behind this. As he was trying to calm himself to spare one who was on the verge of death—