Sir Gareth liked the people of Ariel and genuinely wanted to help and protect them. Even so, he always kept in mind the possibility that they might change.

Especially now, Ariel had formed connections with Prince Robert and the Gareth ducal family. Rising higher in status seemed to be Ariel’s only path forward, making change inevitable.

That said, they can’t remain poor forever.

Even for Gareth, climbing at a near-running pace to the summit was grueling. Jason, observing Gareth’s complexion and breathing, adjusted their speed accordingly. When they took a break, Jason remarked,

“As expected of a knight, your stamina is quite impressive. Most people struggle with the thin air as they ascend higher.”

Sir Gareth, unable to speak, waved his hand to dismiss the compliment. Determined to maintain his dignity, he tried not to show how exhausted he was, though he was nearing his limit. He reflected bitterly on how he had spent his life building unnecessary muscle.

This is hard.”

As they ascended, Jason slowed their pace further to help their bodies acclimate. Finally, they reached the summit.

Standing atop the peak, Sir Gareth took a deep breath as he looked down below.

“This is beautiful.”

“It is, isn’t it? From a distance, it’s even more impressive. Now all that remains is to descend. It’s easier physically, but Saturn’s patrols will increase, so we must be cautious and silent.”

Gareth nodded. He couldn’t afford to be a burden to the group. The subordinates accompanying him, already weary, followed quietly behind.

The group descended carefully, erasing traces of their passage. By the time dusk fell, they decided to rest halfway down, in a thicket of bushes. Lying down beneath the foliage, Gareth looked up at the sky and remarked,

“This is a good spot you’ve found. Or was this your intended destination all along?”

“This was our goal. The thicket is excellent for concealment and shielding against the wind. That’s why it’s part of the regular patrol routes. The area is also rich in wildlife, making it a prime hunting ground, so both Saturnians and Ariel folk visit often.”

“Doesn’t that mean the chance of being discovered is higher?”

“It does. But there’s no better place to spend the night without lighting a fire. Even though summer is near, the mountains are cold. You won’t freeze without a fire, but sleeping will be tough.”

As they lay beneath the bushes, gazing at the night sky, the other teams kept watch in shifts.

Gareth thought of Sir Enceladus, whom he was to meet. The first time they had met, when Enceladus served as Saturn’s envoy, Gareth had found him insufferable. Yet recalling Enceladus’s circumstances made Gareth regret wasting such talent and lament the loss of his honor and reputation.

Watching Titan’s dismantling for Uranus’s sake would be satisfying, but Gareth wasn’t sure it was truly the best outcome.

If a sword, instead of being wielded, must turn on itself…

Despite the cold and his turbulent thoughts, Gareth couldn’t sleep. The indecision gnawed at him.

As dawn broke faintly through the mist, Jason spoke quietly,

“This is the coldest part of the day. It’s better to get moving now.”

Gareth agreed. Stretching his stiff body, he suppressed the groans that escaped his lips and resumed walking. The unusual exertion brought on muscle pain in parts of his body he hadn’t used in a long time. His shoulders and head throbbed, adding to his discomfort.

Even chewing on the tough jerky felt like a struggle. Nevertheless, their disciplined progress through the mountains allowed them to avoid Saturn’s patrols entirely.

Eventually, Saturn’s encampment came into view in the distance.

“It’s closer than I expected,” Gareth noted.

“They don’t use Titania as a base. To them, it’s just a barrier. That’s why their encampments are right at the base. As you saw on the way, the Saturnian side of the mountain is steeper. Meanwhile, Ariel has gentler slopes but most of its territory is mountainous. To them, the Titania mountain range is merely an obstacle.”

Gareth, still aware of his stiff muscles, stretched cautiously. The sight of the enemy camp reminded him to stay on alert and prepare his body.

At the same time, Sir Enceladus surveyed the camp from an observation tower—an abandoned fortress once belonging to the Enceladus family. Unlike Ariel, the Enceladus family had not relied on Titania for protection. Instead, they saw it as a wall to lean on while expanding their territory forward.

This strategy had elevated Titan’s reputation but also aroused the king’s suspicion.

Looking toward Titania, Enceladus mused,

“Even if they cross those mountains, how do they plan to subdue the rest? This was an unreasonable plan from the start. Methone knew that. He’s a cunning man. He knew the correct answer and inserted it.”

Dione chimed in,

“As Methone said, the strategy involves taking Oberon first, flooding it with troops, and then swiftly conquering Umbriel and Ariel before pushing downward step by step.”

“Even if they can transport a great number of soldiers, they can’t bring in enough to surpass Uranus’s forces. No matter how much support the Saturnian territories provide, it won’t be enough. The king is wary of the territories, and the territories are equally wary of him. They’ll do everything to hide their soldiers.”

Enceladus scoffed.

“It looks plausible but is doomed to fail. There’s no doubt Methone is clever, but why waste that cleverness serving a foolish king’s greed?”

“That’s his faith in the king, I suppose.”

“As Marquis Ariel said, there’s something deeply unsettling about a priest leading a war, especially when the battlefield is the Titania mountain range.”

“In Ariel, there’s a myth that the mountain range is Titania’s body. That’s why the Ariel family has always carefully tended to and protected it—it’s their founding tradition.”

“That’s why it’s no wonder people call you irreverent. How is Methone doing? Eating well and living comfortably, I assume?”

Sir Dione spoke with a hint of amazement.

“Yes, he seems quite composed. Perhaps it’s due to being a priest, but he’s not easily shaken.”

“It’s not because he’s a priest; it’s because he’s shameless. Do you think those soldiers will listen to us?”

“No, but they’ll follow orders. That’s what they’ve been trained to do.”

“The capital, huh…”

The sun was rising. Exhausted soldiers began emerging from their tents at the camp. Someone climbed the watchtower where the two were standing. Turning around, Sir Dione asked,

“What is it?”

“You have a visitor, Sir Dione. They said you’d recognize them if I mentioned they’re a handsome fellow… Shall I chase them away?”

Dione waved dismissively, visibly irritated.

“Chase them away.”

Then, with a tone of annoyance, Dione added,

“Seems like someone’s playing another prank. Damn it.”

Sir Enceladus spoke up.

“If you’re in a foul mood, how about venting it on him? A duel might lighten your spirits.”

Dione grinned and said,

“Shall I? Indeed, moving your body is the best remedy for overthinking.”

Energized, Dione began descending the watchtower. Before reaching the ground, he grabbed one of his subordinates and ordered them to lead him to the visitor.

Sir Gareth stood with his arms crossed, attempting to strike a dashing pose. His subordinates, well accustomed to this behavior, stood at least ten paces away, watching their commander with resigned expressions.

Dione frowned. Both the people standing nearby and those turning their backs seemed oddly familiar. As he drew closer, he resisted the urge to shout.

Approaching Gareth, Dione whispered,

“What business brings you here? Are you surrendering as a prisoner? Or perhaps you’ve come to sell Uranos’s secrets? If that’s the case, you’re most welcome.”

Raising his hands in mock surrender, Gareth replied,

“Prisoner or hostage, either works. But first, how about bringing me something to eat? A single piece of jerky for breakfast is a bit much, don’t you think?”

Dione walked backward, turning to meet Sir Enceladus, who was on his way over. Deciding not to leave them unsupervised, Dione hastily herded them toward Enceladus.

In Dione’s mind, there was no need to antagonize Gareth if they had already decided to turn their blades elsewhere.

‘If Gareth made it to Saturn unarmed, he must have heard something.’

***

Inside the commander’s tent, Gareth scanned the surroundings once before resuming his ravenous eating of the stew. Sir Enceladus, visibly displeased, remarked,

“Did the Gareth Ducal House teach you nothing about table manners?”

Laughing cheerfully, Gareth replied,

“I learned them well at the ducal house, but I abandoned them in the military camp. If I eat too neatly, my subordinates will marvel and exclaim that it’s truly the duke’s table manners.”

Dione chimed in,

“So, you don’t seem like a duke’s son ordinarily, but only your eating habits give it away?”

Despite Dione’s sarcasm, Gareth remained unfazed.

“Of course. Who would believe the duke’s son sleeps on the ground?”

Intrigued, Enceladus asked,

“Did the duke really make you start from the bottom? How long?”

“There wasn’t a set period. Until I learned something or until my father summoned me to the capital. The old man’s a bit of an idealist, you know. His pride in the Gareth name made him insist I experience the roots of the family firsthand. He even kicked me into the territory when I wanted to attend the academy.”

Enceladus remarked,

“To think you obeyed… I’m seeing you in a new light, Sir Gareth.”

“I tease the old man often, but I respect him. How could I not? He’s never once brought shame to the Gareth name. I can’t hope to achieve that, but I’d consider it a success to be even a fraction like him.”

Enceladus asked,

“Why this sudden talk about your father? Are you pondering whether to throw everything he’s achieved to the ground or spill blood on it instead?”

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not pondering anything of the sort.”

Gareth smirked mischievously.

“Ah! Did Methone, that priest, finally manage to inspire you? Through the power of faith, perhaps?”

“No. Impressive that Uranos already knows Methone came this way.”

“I know much more. For instance, your family’s downfall is imminent, and all of Saturn’s nobility is aware of it. Many are already scrambling to claim the spoils. Leading the charge, sleeves rolled up, is the so-called king. What do you think of that?”

Enceladus shook his head.

“What else do you know? Is my father still alive?”

“That depends on how quickly you head to the capital. Would you like me to tell you how to save your old man? No, better yet, I’ll save him for you.”

Enceladus’s eyes widened. The Marquis of Enceladus had been imprisoned alongside the Titan Knights—but separately. Keeping the former commander with his knights was deemed too dangerous.

“As I suspected, our true enemy was within. Gareth, our savior, has arrived…”