Inside the carriage, the maid lowers the curtains with a look of displeasure. "Miss, that scoundrel is still trailing our convoy!" she compins to Melissa.

  Melissa sets her book aside, frowning. "Tell Knight Gunter to drive him away!"

  A moment ter, Knight Gunter approaches Henwell. "Kid! Get out quickly!"

  Henwell grins sheepishly, "I'm just concerned for the young dy's safety! You saw how dangerous it was at noon. If I hadn't acted in time, that despicable assassin might have harmed the beautiful miss, and I'd regret it for the rest of my life!"

  Knight Gunter scowls, "Stop pying games, kid, and leave! My dy doesn't like pests buzzing around her!"

  Henwell widens his eyes in mock surprise. "Oh, dear knight, you misunderstand me! I'm not some wandering rogue. Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Arius Phoenix, the third son of Baron Phoenix from the southern territories. I'm currently following my father's orders to walk the Path of Honor. So, dear knight, I'm certainly not the pest you cim!"

  As he speaks, Henwell emphasizes the word "father."

  Knight Gunter catches the implication. He gres at Henwell, but the word "pest" no longer come easily to his lips. To say them now would be an insult to the Phoenix family.

  Some things remain unspoken, yet everyone involved understands the underlying truth.

  Knight Gunter says coldly, "Sharp-tongued brat! I might not be able to kill you, but I can certainly give you a beating!"

  Hearing this, Henwell is overjoyed and quickly moves closer. "Please, dear knight, go ahead and give me a beating! I'm sticking with you all no matter what!"

  What a joke! The various crises and dangers along the way have all been life-threatening. If a beating can earn him some protection, Henwell is all for it!

  But Knight Gunter can't actually beat him up. After all, Henwell has already introduced himself. To y a hand on him now would be to seriously offend certain influential people.

  Gunter shoots a fierce gre at the little rascal before turning his horse to catch up with the convoy.

  After hearing about the recent events from Gunter, the maids in the carriage begin to scold and curse. However, Melissa simply smiles and says, "To make it this far, he’s clearly no ordinary person!"

  Then, with a sly grin, Melissa adds, "Knight Gunter, you should have given him a beating before he introduced himself!"

  Gunter chuckles, "Honestly, miss, if circumstances were different and our positions weren't opposed, I'd actually enjoy having a chat with him."

  That evening, they arrive at a small town. As expected, Count Marcus's daughter has reserved the entire inn. Henwell starts making a sleeping bag at the door, ignoring the maids' taunts as he digs into his food.

  Rawkins and Ay, however, ck Henwell's thick skin. They blush furiously under the sharp-tongued maids' teasing.

  "Master, maybe we should just leave," Rawkins whispers. "The two of us can keep watch tonight without any issues."

  Ay, also feeling the discomfort, adds, "Master, this really is quite improper."

  Henwell munches on his jerky, unfazed. "Which is more important, you two fools—your life or your pride?"

  "Pride!" they both reply in unison.

  Henwell doesn't argue, just chuckles. "We've been through so much on this journey, and everyone has seen it. No one questions our intelligence, criticizes our manners, or doubts our courage! Besides, we're not disgracing ourselves. We're talking about one of the top noble families in the duchy. They look down on plenty of people, so we're just another three on that list."

  The two chime in again, "Not us! It's you, Master!"

  Rawkins admits, "Master, it's embarrassing to say, but you've been the one taking care of us all along. We've been more of a burden to you."

  Ay looks downcast, "Master, it's our ck of strength that's been holding you back."

  Henwell isn't bothered by the current humiliation. This "crusade" is almost at its victorious end. Why put on airs when a little humility can smooth things over?

  Count Marcus commands respect even from the duke. Why should a minor figure like Henwell challenge him?

  Plus, Henwell has already caused the noble alliance some trouble along the way. If he acts too arrogantly now, it might not end well for him. They might not be able to touch Arius, but they could certainly take it out on him!

  So, Henwell is thinking ahead. Letting the Marcus family humiliate him a bit isn't a disgrace. It might even give the noble alliance some satisfaction, reducing the chances they'll come after him ter. Besides, a few snide remarks from young maids are hardly unbearable.

  If it weren't for his status, Henwell could easily turn the tables and leave those young dies too embarrassed to show their faces!

  After more than half an hour, Knight Gunter steps out of the inn, casting a disdainful gnce at the snoring Henwell. "The dy said to save a room for you."

  Henwell, who had been snoring loudly, springs to his feet, grabs his belongings, and heads toward the inn. On his way, he nudges his attendants to signal them to follow.

  Clutching his bnket, Henwell sidles up to Knight Gunter. "Dear knight, has the dy gone to sleep? I'd like to personally thank her..."

  Mid-sentence, Henwell nimbly jumps away, dodging Gunter's reaching hand.

  "Knight, please convey my thanks to the dy. When are you all leaving tomorrow? Don’t forget me!"

  Watching Henwell dash off, Gunter can't help but smile. As he mentioned, it’s just a matter of differing positions; he actually doesn't dislike Henwell.

  The next day, as Melissa prepares to set off, Henwell and his two companions are already up, ready for the journey. The maids continue to mock them, with Mildred, Melissa's personal maid, being the most vocal. However, Henwell's thick skin far surpasses anything these young maids can imagine. He even tries to find opportunities to sidle up to Melissa's carriage for a chat.

  Because of this, the knights in the convoy find Henwell quite irritating. Indeed, the entire convoy's guards are all knights. With Marcus's youngest daughter traveling, she is accompanied by eleven knights, showcasing the formidable strength of the Marcus family. It's no wonder they're one of the leaders of the noble alliance, standing up to the duke alongside other nobles.

  A day ter, the convoy smoothly enters Count Marcus's territory. As the most powerful count in the eastern duchy, his nds span over four thousand square kilometers, comparable to two counties from Henwell's previous life. This prosperous region is rich in resources and fertile nds.

  The popution under his rule includes nearly 400,000 freemen. Count Marcus also commands a private army of over ten thousand, with a number of knights among the highest in the duchy.

  It's precisely because of this overwhelming power that Henwell wisely chooses to keep a low profile.