Chapter 78 - The Proposal

“So, Your Highness…” Berrict, an impressive middle-aged man with gray hair, laughed as he gazed down at me, “You wanted to meet me?” 

“Yep!” That’s right; this is the place I’d been looking for: Berrict’s office. Berrict was the border control captain, so it was difficult to get a meeting with him, unlike Callian, who was the captain of the guards. It had been a while since I last saw him. For someone like me who was into middle-aged men, Berrict was my ideal type. He was amazing! 

“Ho-ho. Why are you looking for me? You have Callian,” Berrict laughed awkwardly. I looked up at him with a sad expression on my face, “Does that bother you?”

“No, ho-ho, of course not.”

“Really?”

“I heard you’re shy around strangers…”

“Yeah, I am!” laughing, I nodded vigorously and fidgeted, “But you’re no stranger, Berrict. I like you.” Was he going to push me away? Berrict laughed again. I smiled wider as if playing along with him. I was a cutie, right? “Ho-ho, I can see why His Majesty is smitten with you.” 

“That’s because I’m the greatest!” Berrict smiled at me in a kind, grandfatherly way, “But why did you want to meet me?”Ah, we were finally getting to the point. I looked straight into his eyes and smiled, “What I want is…” I gave him a quick account of everything, and he naturally gestured to the person behind me. 

He was looking at Kais, who had been standing motionlessly like a sack of hay this whole time. “Hurry, greet him,” I gave Kais a poke and he bobbed his head. I worried if he might be rejected for his poor etiquette. I had done so much to get this opportunity, but this male lead was not helping.

“Ah, it’s that child.”

“Huh? Do you remember him?”

“It’s hard to forget such talent. There aren’t many youngsters out there who can hold their own for so long against His Majesty.” It seemed that having Kais go against Miltiades was the right choice. It had been a while, but Berrict still remembered Kais. Everything was going according to plan. It would be a piece of cake now.

I quickly hung onto Berrict’s leg, “Berrict, don’t you want a disciple?”

“A disciple?” 

“I brought you a fresh disciple right here. What do you think?” Kais looked at me as if to ask what I was doing. I wanted to make him stronger…by getting him an incredible teacher! 

In the novel, Kais had no teacher and had to learn everything on his own. He went through many crises and battles to become a monster that no one could defeat. To be honest, I didn’t want to make him strong. If he became strong, it would be easier for him to kill my dad. I wanted him to live an easy life. But that was not an option anymore.

“Hm? What do you say?” I gazed up expectantly at Berrict, who rubbed his chin and laughed, “A disciple…”

“Yeah, a disciple!”

“Now that I think about it, I’ve reached the age where I have to think about getting one,” there was warmth in Berrict’s eyes as he looked at Kais. “Yeah, you’re at the perfect age! But you can’t retire!” There was no way any of the Four Knights could leave. 

Berrict laughed again at how resolute I sounded, “Ho-ho, is Your Highness trying to stop me from retiring already?”

“Of course! You’re so handsome and strong. You have to serve my dad for a long time,” I replied. No one had a better personality than Berrict. As if reading my thoughts, Berrict chuckled, “You seem to really like His Majesty.”

“Of course I do!” Out of everyone in this world, I probably loved my dad the most. That’s why I had to sell Kais to Berrict at any cost. “So how do you feel about a fresh, healthy, talented disciple who’s a quick learner?” I tried hard to brag about Kais’s positives. “This is your only chance, you know!” I put on my best telemarketer voice.

Berrict mulled over the decision, but I was confident. If he truly didn’t care at all, he wouldn’t have let this conversation go on this far. He wanted to pass on his skills and knowledge. In the novel, Berrict died on the battlefield with no successor to carry on his legacy. This wasn’t a bad proposal for him either! 

He looked into my eyes and smiled, “But Your Highness, can I ask you one thing?” 

“Yeah, what is it?” His gaze suddenly turned cold, “Why did you come to me for this?”