Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Rise in Status (3)
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“For that reason, we shall proceed with Azel Zestringer’s knighting right here. Sir Zail and Sir Boer, you two will serve as witnesses.”
“…….”
“…….”
Zail and Boer, who had been waiting in a tense atmosphere, both stared at Azel with equally dumbfounded expressions.
Azel grinned as Arieta knelt on one knee before him.
Arieta drew a pure white sword and tapped both of Azel’s shoulders with it before speaking.
“In the name of Dragon Princess Arieta Bail Lurein, I declare that from this moment forward, Azel Zestringer is a knight.”
“…Isn’t this a bit too abbreviated?”
“Do you want to go through the long, tedious ceremony? I’ve memorized it all, so I can do it if you wish.”
“I’m impressed by Your Highness’s progressive spirit in rejecting such pomp and circumstance.”
As soon as Azel changed his tune, Arieta snorted.
Then she said,
“I bestow upon you the knight’s emblem.”
She held out her hand, and a pure white light rose from her palm. A three-dimensional white eagle emblem drawn in light floated lightly toward Azel.
“Huh?”
Azel’s eyes widened.
Arieta said,
“Hold out your hand and receive it.”
“What is this?”
“You don’t know what a knight’s emblem is?”
“Hmm. First I’ve heard of it.”
Azel tilted his head but still extended his hand. The emblem of light then seeped into the back of his hand.
‘A magic seal on the spirit veins?’
Puzzled, Azel channeled mana force into it. A faint white eagle emblem appeared on the back of his hand.
Arieta said,
“That is your certificate of status, proving you are a knight. It ensures no one can impersonate one.”
“Wow.”
Azel was impressed. To think they’d created something like this to prevent identity fraud while he’d been asleep.
Arieta chuckled.
“Normally, we’d summon a herald here to design your coat of arms, but since you haven’t sworn loyalty to me, we’ll skip that too. Make your own whenever you get the chance.”
“Got it. That’ll cost a pretty penny.”
A knight needed his own coat of arms, and it had to be unique. Heralds who designed them for knights or families were expensive because they had vast knowledge of existing arms and the skill to create unmistakable ones.
Arieta mounted her horse and said,
“Then let’s get going.”
With that, the group departed the Western Border Fortress.
Arieta unfolded a map and said to Zail,
“Sir Zail, I hear you’ve stayed in the capital before.”
“Yes. For about two years, though…”
“Then can you decide our route to the capital?”
“Understood.”
As soon as Zail replied, Boer interjected with a displeased look.
“Your Highness, may I say something?”
“Speak.”
“As a member of your guard, I’ve accompanied you this far. I acknowledge Sir Zail’s knowledge of the local area, but once we near the capital, I believe I would be better suited.”
Boer clearly wasn’t thrilled about Zail deciding the route. But since Arieta’s fairness was well-known, he tried to persuade rather than seize control.
Arieta nodded.
“That makes sense. What do you think, Sir Zail?”
“I agree with Sir Boer. I’ve been in the capital, but I’m not fully versed in the surrounding terrain. I’ll consult with Sir Boer and decide the path.”
Zail accepted Boer’s input without resistance.
Arieta said,
“I leave it to you.”
They had packed most of what they needed for the journey, so they decided to pass by the village adjacent to the Western Border Fortress. Enora objected.
“But if we skip it, we won’t reach the next village until evening, and Your Highness won’t get a proper lunch.”
“If it’s about meals, don’t worry. I don’t fuss over food when I’m on campaign.”
“But Your Highness…”
“Enora, this isn’t the palace. And I have no intention of wasting time on such things. Do your best within the limits of the situation. I won’t demand what isn’t available.”
When Arieta spoke firmly, Enora had no choice but to relent. It was unimaginable for a maid exclusively serving the Dragon Princess at the palace. Yet Enora, with her flexible mindset, didn’t even show dissatisfaction.
Azel took an interest in her. As they rode slowly up a slope, he pulled his horse alongside hers and spoke.
“Lady Enora, you ride well.”
“I struggled at first. It’s been so long since I rode…”
She said that on the way from her hometown to the capital, she’d ridden a horse instead of a carriage. But after starting at the palace, she naturally had no opportunities.
Azel asked,
“Do you also know archery by any chance?”
“How did you know?”
Enora’s eyes went wide. Azel grinned.
“I figured if you learned riding at your age, archery might be part of it.”
He wasn’t sure about this era, but in his time, even non-martial noble daughters often learned self-defense arts as accomplishments. Riding and archery were the most common.
Azel asked,
“How’s your marksmanship?”
“I can’t draw a heavy bow. Not enough strength…”
Everyone looked at her in surprise as she answered shyly. But Azel just smiled, unsurprised.
“Impressive. What about swordsmanship?”
“I didn’t learn that.”
“Why not?”
“They said a daughter who’d eventually marry didn’t need it. Our family’s swordsmanship emphasizes strength, which would make me too bulky…”
“Ah, I see. What about Spirit Order?”
“That’s similar. They said we couldn’t pass secrets to a daughter who’d marry out.”
“I see.”
During the Dragon Emperor War, they’d taught Spirit Order to sons and daughters alike to build forces. But before the war, that was unthinkable, so it made sense that transmission later favored males.
Arieta said to Enora,
“I had no idea you had such skills.”
“A maid doesn’t need them.”
“Does the head maid know?”
“Yes. I mentioned it during the interview.”
“Hmm.”
Arieta now understood why Enora, breaking convention, had become her exclusive maid. With previous maids unable to cope, even irrelevant factors were considered in evaluations.
Intrigued, Arieta asked,
“I heard you have an older sister.”
“Yes.”
“Any other siblings?”
“An older brother and younger brother.”
“I see. Are they all in your hometown?”
“My brother’s in the capital for studies.”
Enora answered tensely. Arieta had never inquired about her background before.
That was because Arieta assumed Enora would be replaced soon. But given her demeanor and skills so far, she seemed capable of staying long-term, sparking natural curiosity.
“What’s the Byre Barony like?”
“Oh, our territory is countryside. Nothing compared to the capital… but it has vast fields and beautiful flowers.”
Enora spoke of her home with wistful eyes. From her description, the Byre Barony sounded like a harsh rural fief. Sending the heir to the capital for education must have strained their finances…
As Enora nostalgically recounted her home, she suddenly looked at Azel as if remembering something.
“Uncle Azel…”
“Sir Azel.”
Azel cut her off. Now that he was knighted, he’d rather not be called uncle.
Enora pouted.
“You just became a knight.”
“A knight’s a knight. Call me uncle, and I’ll call you little miss.”
“Hmm. Shall I?”
“…No, on second thought, I’m the one losing out, so let’s drop it.”
Hating the uncle label, Azel conceded defeat readily.
Enora smiled like a victor and asked,
“Why’d you think I knew archery?”
“You ride horses. Somehow, those two connect for me.”
Azel gave a wry smile. It was an act for his ‘fuzzy memory’ persona, but it worked on Enora.
“Ah…”
“Don’t mind it. Things are coming back bit by bit now.”
“Nothing about your hometown?”
Arieta asked. Azel pondered for a moment.
“Well, hometown…”
Azel didn’t know his birthplace. He’d lost his parents young, with no memories, and wandered growing up.
Still, ‘hometown’ evoked one scene. The Karzark Marquisate, granted when the emperor made him a marquis.
Probably because it was where he spent two peaceful yet agonizing years after the war, mimicking a dragon’s slumber. That land symbolized the peace he’d fought for.
Azel said wistfully,
“There were wyverns.”
“Wyverns?”
“Yes. One would head east to hunt at dawn and return to the western mountains at dusk. Watching it fly west each day made me feel the day was done… That’s the memory.”
Three dragons lived near the Karzark Marquisate.
After countless Dragon Slaying Rituals and completing his Dragon Sword, Azel had a mutual respect with them. Humans and dragons couldn’t converse, but as lord, he and they shared that respect.
Their presence kept the marquisate peaceful. While rebuilding war-torn lands, they faced few monster threats or inexplicable dragon rampages.
‘Are they still there?’
Azel suddenly missed that sight. In this era, which nation held the Karzark Marquisate? Did it still bear that name?
He didn’t know yet. He knew so little of this time.
Arieta said,
“That might be a clue to your origins.”
Regions where dragons appeared frequently before humans were rare. That alone could pinpoint it…
“I hope so.”
Azel meant it sincerely.