The hoofbeats were urgent.
The towering Tulip Castle was already in sight. Marcus had lost track of how many times he had visited the grandest castle on Coral Island. Since following Liszt, coming and going from Tulip Castle had become commonplace.
He rode onto the main road leading to the castle.
Before long, a patrolling squad of knights came forward to meet him. Their captain was clearly an acquaintance and called out from afar, "Captain Marcus."
"Captain Huller."
After Marcus explained that he had come to deliver a message, the knight squad immediately escorted him toward the castle gates.
He had come here many times, and each time he could feel that the looks the knights cast his way had changed. When he had first gone to Flower Town, most of the looks had been mocking and disdainful. Everyone had believed he had lost his qualifications to compete among the nobility. Later, when he came with Dousen, some people began to show surprise.
After Zyra was born, he finally began receiving looks of envy. The knights knew what a sprite meant.
Then, after the Battle of Iron Hoof Island, Liszt had become famous in a single battle, and the knights' envy toward Marcus grew even stronger. After the Pioneer Order, that envy had deepened into jealousy.
"After today, what kind of looks will you use to watch me?" Marcus tried hard to remain calm, but his heart felt so buoyant that he wanted to sing aloud—of course, he had never sung before. He had always been stern and rigid by nature; no matter how tumultuous his inner thoughts were, he was unwilling to show them.
The one who received him at the castle was the newly appointed assistant steward.
"Captain Marcus, may I ask what brings you here today?"
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