Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Knight's Decision
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"I can't choose."
"Uh..."
This was unexpected.
I quickly smoothed out my crumpling expression and hurriedly asked Lady Rachel,
"Do neither of them appeal to you? If there's anything off, I'll do my best to fix it."
"No, that's not it. They're both well-made clothes, but..."
Lady Rachel trailed off, hesitating before furrowing her brow slightly and continuing.
"I'm worried it might create a bad impression."
"What kind of bad impression do you mean?"
"His Majesty the Emperor permitted women to join the knight order, but public perception isn't favorable yet."
"Yes."
"If they wear skirts, they'll be dismissed as just women, not knights. If they wear trousers, they'll be mocked for not even knowing how to wear formal attire."
"Yes."
"That's why it's so hard to choose. No matter what I pick, I can already picture us being pointed at..."
"I see..."
Even if there's strong resistance, His Majesty decreed it himself. Is it really okay to worry like this?
The knights—and the empire's highest authority—say it's fine. Do they really need to care about what others think?
His Majesty seems healthy enough to live long, so they could just act boldly. Why are they so scared...?
"Well... does that really matter?"
I couldn't comprehend it at all, so I tilted my head slightly and asked again.
"Pardon?"
Lady Rachel's lips parted slightly, her face showing clear surprise.
"Think about it, Lady Rachel. Those people will belittle and criticize you no matter what you do. When you wore the same uniforms as the male knights, did you hear nothing?"
"...We heard plenty. A lot."
I chuckled and shrugged.
"So what's the difference? You're already getting criticized without doing anything, Lady Rachel. Skirt or trousers—what does it matter? If you're going to be criticized anyway, isn't it less unfair if it's because of your own choice?"
At my shameless suggestion to just own it, Lady Rachel narrowed her eyes and replied in a reluctant tone.
"...That doesn't seem as easy as it sounds."
"Well... you're right about that."
I nodded in agreement with Lady Rachel.
It's easy to say, but if everyone could shrug off hatred so easily, the phrase "courage to be hated" wouldn't exist.
"Hm..."
I let out a faint groan, deep in thought.
I need to say something to bolster her courage...
I racked my brains, searching for any topic worth bringing up.
"Tch..."
As I smacked my lips, wondering if I should just beg her to pick anything, my eyes caught the rose pattern on the vase atop the table.
Roses...
"...Roses have thorns."
"Yes...? That's true."
I tossed out the thought that had just popped into my head.
Lady Rachel blinked in confusion, as if wondering what I was getting at, but nodded anyway.
"Foxgloves and monkshood have deadly poison that can kill people, yet they're often used decoratively because they look so beautiful."
"I... didn't know that."
"People also think flashy, beautiful mushrooms are the poisonous ones... but in reality, more deadly ones are plain and unassuming. That prejudice leads to people dropping their guard and dying."
Misinterpreting due to prejudice has been common since ancient times.
Like treating a white tiger as a spirit beast just because of its color.
Or cute cats becoming symbols of witches due to their prickly nature and odd movements, earning fear and contempt.
Or seemingly docile hippos actually being vicious enough to tear people apart.
"What matters isn't appearances. It's your actions, Lady Rachel—like the thorns on a beautiful rose—that are important. Act with confidence, and eventually, they'll see you properly."
Even a cute puppy becomes scary after biting a few times, and a rude cat suddenly seems adorable if it acts sweet in front of you. That's how people perceive things. Knights are no different.
"If you're His Majesty's knight, prove his choice was right. Why cower before lowly fools instead of His Majesty?"
Of course, things might not go as planned and it could fail—but with the Emperor as backup, failure would be the Imperial Knights' fault, not yours.
"...Could you give me a little time to think?"
Lady Rachel, who had listened quietly, looked troubled with a darkened expression as she stared at the floor.
Seeing her so visibly conflicted, I smiled and said,
"Just let me know by tomorrow morning. Take your time."
"Thank you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ She was already the quiet type, but lost in thought, she became eerily silent, like she wasn't even alive. And she pondered all the way until morning.
"I'll go with the skirt."
She came early in the morning with her answer.
Good thing there's plenty of time left to prepare.
"May I ask why?"
I asked Lady Rachel with a gentle smile.
"We are His Majesty's most beautiful and sharpest swords. On the day women were accepted into the knight order, one thing His Majesty said became our motto."
"A fine motto."
"Yes. But I wasn't fond of it. 'Beautiful swords' sounded no different from decorative ones."
Pausing briefly, Lady Rachel gave a wry smile before continuing.
"Until now, it was just a phrase we memorized because His Majesty said it. Mottos are like that, aren't they? You reflexively shout what the higher-ups say."
"That's often the case."
"But after hearing you, Young Lord, it feels like His Majesty didn't say it lightly."
Lady Rachel clenched her fist, gazing at me with resolute eyes.
"The skirt is more beautiful, so I think it best fits the image His Majesty intended for the Imperial Knights—the Emperor's sword that hides its sharpness behind beauty."
"Oh..."
I let out a genuine sigh of admiration at her words.
A sword that conceals its edge with beauty.
It suited a spy more than a knight, but it wasn't bad.
Something she could say even in a diplomatic envoy or before His Majesty.
"That's a splendid reason."
"Were you aware of this too, Young Lord?"
"Hm..."
Not at all—I just made it because it was pretty and hoped she'd wear it, then added a reason on top.
"I'll leave that to your imagination, Lady Rachel."
Admitting the truth would be embarrassing, so I gave an awkward smile and brushed it off.
Then I quickly turned to Emily and said,
"Emily, help Lady Rachel change."
"Yes."
Emily picked up the clothes from the desk, and the two headed to the dressing room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "It really does feel different wearing it as you said, Young Lord. Much more beautiful."
Lady Rachel emerged from the dressing room with Emily, clad in the pure white uniform, black silk stockings, and low-heeled shoes.
The sleek fit unique to tailored suits.
The crisp cleanliness of white.
And the striking combination of the gold accents on the coat with the black stockings—it was truly pleasing to the eye.
Unlike Emily, whose ample chest disrupted the lines, Lady Rachel's slender build created smooth, elegant curves without any burden.
"It suits you perfectly. Better than I imagined."
"Thank you."
Lady Rachel smiled at my praise and bowed her head slightly.
She approached me slowly, testing her arms and legs with swings and bends, then widened her eyes in surprise as she looked down at her outfit.
"This is more comfortable to move in than it looks."
"I put a lot of thought into it."
I couldn't eliminate all discomfort since it was formal wear, but I added a small side slit to the knee-length skirt and ensured enough room without making it baggy, focusing heavily on wearability.
No matter how pretty the clothes, if the wearer looks uncomfortable, it feels off somehow.
"...You're a real monster with those hands."
"Haha, you're too kind."
A smile crept onto my face at Lady Rachel's intent gaze and compliment.
Even I thought the seams had come together nicely this time, and hearing her say the same made me feel great.
"Any discomfort with the outfit?"
"No. The stockings feel a bit awkward being so openly displayed, but otherwise, it's fine."
"What did you do before? You must have worn stockings with formal wear."
"Many dislike us showing stockings, so we hid them completely with boots and pants."
I frowned and asked,
"What did His Majesty say about it?"
"His Majesty said it's fine to show them, of course."
"Hard to understand."
"You and His Majesty are the unusual ones."
I openly showed my displeasure, pursing my lips.
Why hide such a treasure?
Senile old fools.
Can't fathom why they hate a beautiful world like this.
"Sigh..."
I let out a small sigh and glanced at the box by the desk.
"Emily, got all the luggage packed?"
"Yes, just as you said—everything's in the box."
"Good. Ask Charles to load it, and let's head out."
"Yes."
Emily nodded and trotted out of the room.
"Whew..."
Preparations complete. Now it was time to meet the envoy from the kingdom.