The mission I accepted seemed straightforward enough: locate and bring back a group of bandits that had been preying on merchant caravans near the eastern road. For a Rank D adventurer, it was a fair but challenging task.
The bandits, however, were laughably easy. Their blades were dull, their formation sloppy. In less than ten minutes, they were bound and unconscious, lined up neatly for the guards to retrieve.
"Pathetic," I muttered, brushing the dust from my cloak. "No wonder they were only hitting unguarded wagons."
I was ready to head back when a faint noise reached my ears—a high-pitched scream carried by the wind. My instincts tensed immediately.
Without hesitation, I dashed toward the sound.
The Carriage
The scene I stumbled upon was far from simple banditry. A luxurious black carriage lay tipped halfway to one side on the dirt road, its finely crafted wood now splintered and cracked. All around it, armored guards were sprawled lifeless on the ground, their weapons broken.
Hovering near the wreck were two massive figures—hulking goblin generals, each nearly twice my height. Their twisted metal armor clinked, and their jagged clubs dripped with fresh blood. Beside the broken carriage, two small figures trembled on their knees.
Girls—around my age.
Wide, tearful eyes looked up at the monsters, their small hands clutched together in fear. One girl had golden hair tied in neat braids, the other a chestnut brown cascade. Both wore silken dresses caked in dirt and blood.
The goblin generals roared, raising their weapons high. The girls screamed.
I moved without thinking.
The Rescue
In an instant, I stood between the girls and the monsters, my short sword already drawn. The first goblin swung down with bone-crushing force. I stepped forward, blade flashing—clang! Sparks erupted as my steel cut clean across the goblin's rusted armor, severing its weapon arm entirely.
It howled, staggering back, green blood spraying across the dirt.
The second general lunged, but I pivoted smoothly, driving my blade into its chest with precise force. I twisted the sword and yanked it free as the beast collapsed, lifeless.
Gasps escaped the lips of the two trembling girls. The fight had lasted… seconds.
I wiped my blade with a cloth and turned, kneeling low to shield them from the gore.
"Are you hurt?" I asked gently.
Both of them shook their heads, though their tears glistened. "N-No…"
It was then, in the fading light of the sun, that I noticed the shattered fragment of a banner lying atop the broken carriage. Embroidered in glimmering gold thread—the insignia of a single crown and sword.
My breath froze.
The royal crest…
I immediately dropped onto one knee, bowing my head low before the girls. My heart hammered in my chest as the realization sank in.
"Forgive me, Your Highness… I did not recognize you at once."
The blonde-haired girl's lips parted in shock. Slowly, she wiped her cheeks and stood with as much dignity as a trembling child could muster. Her voice wavered, but the authority in her bloodline was unmistakable.
"…You… saved us."
Her companion clung to her arm, still shivering.
I lowered my head even further. "It is my honor, Princess."
Though I was only seven, I understood perfectly: the girls I had saved bore the crest of the royal family. And fate had just tied me to them in a way that would change everything.
The forest was quiet again, silence settling after the clash with the goblin generals. The two girls clung to each other, their trembling subsiding now that danger had passed. The golden-haired one—clearly the princess—took a hesitant step toward me.
"You… what is your name?" she asked softly, though the weight of command still lingered beneath her tone.
I adjusted my posture, placing my fist over my chest in a noble bow the way I had been taught since birth.
"My name is Adrian Valcrest, Your Highness. Third son of Duke Reinhardt Valcrest."
Her eyes widened slightly at the sound of my family name. "Valcrest? Then… your father is Duke Reinhardt?"
"Yes, Your Highness," I replied respectfully. "The Duke of the Eastern March."
At that, a bittersweet smile crossed her lips. "I know your father well. He and my royal father fought together during the border wars. My father calls him a most trusted ally."
The brown-haired girl—still gripping the hem of the princess's dress—looked up at me timidly. Her voice was small, but curious. "So… you're a noble too?"
Before I could answer, the princess gently shook her head, brushing dirt from her dress. "Not just a noble, Liana. He is the son of one of the kingdom's strongest houses. And he saved us when even our guards could not."
Her sapphire eyes turned back to me, clearer now though still glistening with tears. "Adrian Valcrest… thank you. I owe you my life."
I lowered my head once again, keeping my tone composed. "It was my duty, Princess. No honor could surpass protecting the royal bloodline."
She studied me quietly for a moment, then smiled faintly—like a child grateful for a friend, rather than a princess demanding loyalty.
"You are no ordinary boy, Adrian… I think I would like to know you better."
Behind her, distant horns sounded—the reinforcement knights finally arriving late to the scene. Within moments, the crest of the royal guard pushed through the trees, rushing to secure the princesses.
As the soldiers knelt and fussed, she looked back at me one more time.
"When we return to the capital… I will tell my father of you. He will want to meet the son of the man he trusts. Be ready, Adrian Valcrest."
The words struck me harder than any goblin's blade. To be recognized by the royal family this soon… it was an opportunity, but also a burden.
I bowed deeply one last time as the knights escorted the princess and her companion away.
"Yes, Your Highness."
As their figures disappeared into the forest, I exhaled slowly, brushing dirt from my hands. Fate had dealt me another unexpected card. My path as an adventurer had already intertwined with that of the crown—and there was no telling where that would lead.
The guild was lively as usual when I stepped through its tall oak doors, quest slip in hand. I laid the tied-up bandits before the officials, delivering them alive as requested. The receptionist blinked in surprise.
"Efficient as always, Adrian. Excellent work!"
I gave a small smile, but concealed what my eyes had seen afterward—the attack on the royal carriage. Reporting it here would only bring chaos and draw attention I absolutely did not want. So, with my payment in hand, I left swiftly.
Returning Home
The sun was sinking low by the time I returned to the Valcrest estate. But as I approached the gates, I froze.
A grand black carriage, far more ornate than anything I'd seen before, stood before the manor gates. The royal crest shimmered on its doors, impossible to mistake.
My heart skipped a beat. The King's carriage… here?
Panic raced through me as I rushed inside, my small boots echoing against the marble floors. I burst through the gilded doors of the grand hall, and the sight before me stopped me dead in my tracks.
There, seated across from my father with a goblet in hand, was King Aldric IV himself. His thick silver hair crowned his regal figure, and his robes shimmered with embroidered gold. He chuckled warmly at something Father had said, the sound filling the hall like a rolling tide.
My father, Duke Reinhardt, looked more relaxed than I'd seen him in months, smiling as if in the presence of an old comrade.
But what truly stole my breath were the two figures standing dutifully at the king's side.
The girls.
The princess, blonde braids now tidied and her silken gown replaced with something fitting her station, watched me intently. At her side, the brown-haired girl stood shyly, gripping at her sleeve.
They both recognized me instantly. Their eyes widened, and faint smiles touched their lips.
I felt my throat tighten. I had hoped to avoid this… at least for now.
"Adrian," my father's voice broke the silence, stern but filled with pride. "Come forward. His Majesty wishes to meet you."
My knees felt heavy, but I stepped forward and bowed properly. "Adrian Valcrest, third son of House Valcrest, greets Your Majesty."
The king's piercing eyes scanned me carefully before softening with a small smile.
"So you are Adrian. The boy who saved my daughter."
The hall went utterly silent. Even Lucas and Cedric, standing off to the side, stiffened with shock.
The princess stepped forward, her voice clear though still childlike.
"Father… this is the boy who stood before the goblin generals and saved us when even our guards could not. He… protected us."
Gasps echoed faintly among the household retainers. My father's golden eyes flicked toward me, sharp but not angry—curious. Proud.
The king rose to his feet. He wasn't a towering man, but his presence filled the chamber like a storm. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm.
"Adrian Valcrest. You showed courage, quick wit, and strength beyond your years. You not only saved my daughter but safeguarded the royal line itself. For this… I owe you a debt no king can easily repay."
I kept my head bowed, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"Your Majesty, I acted not for reward, but because it was right. To protect the kingdom's children… and its people."
The king laughed softly, his voice booming like a jovial thunder.
"Well spoken. Just like your father at your age. Truly, the blood of the Valcrest line runs strong."
He turned, glancing at Reinhardt. "Your son will become quite the man. Perhaps… even the kingdom's greatest shield."
My father chuckled, pride clear in his expression. But I noticed something else, too—a flicker of realization in his eyes. He knew I had downplayed my tale at the guild. He knew this story was much bigger.
The princess's gaze lingered on me, her small smile brimming with warmth and curiosity.
And as the evening shadows cast across the hall, I realized something unavoidable:
From this moment forward, there was no returning to anonymity.
I was no longer simply Adrian the adventurer. I was now Adrian Valcrest, the boy who had saved the heir to the throne.
And for better or worse… the kingdom would remember my name.