Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: Isabelle, the Golden Knight - (3)
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***
It was an elegant chamber that, despite being within the academy, felt nothing like an academy building.
A soft pouring sound filled the air.
As a maid carefully poured tea into her cup, Isabelle, seated, kept her gaze fixed forward.
“Isabelle, the Golden Knight… a name I'm not familiar with.”
As Dersen spoke lightly, smiling and touching his teacup, Isabelle cautiously lowered her head.
“I was only recently appointed to the rank of Golden Knight. It is only natural that you would not know of me, Prince Dersen.”
“Yes, so it would seem. It's unlike me not to know the name of a Golden Knight.”
Dersen, accepting this calmly, watched her for a moment before suddenly tapping his teacup.
Tap. Tap.
Isabelle's gaze shifted at the sound, which echoed after a short interval.
“Sir Isabelle. You must be quite displeased about coming to the academy, aren't you?”
Dersen's words were sudden, as if piercing through to her true feelings.
“Not at all.”
Despite his casual condescension and piercing words, Isabelle's response was immediate.
She looked at the prince facing her with an unwavering gaze, without the slightest movement or flicker of emotion.
She displayed a level of self-control that made it hard to believe she was the same person who, just a few hours ago, had been filled with discontent at the thought of coming to the academy.
"Is that so."
Dersen's eyes curved into an arc at Isabelle's reaction.
“I was certain you wouldn't understand. It seems Sir Isabelle is a knight of better character than I thought.”
As Dersen threw out another strange comment with a subtle smile, Isabelle's gaze remained fixed on him.
And in that moment, she realized it without having to ask.
That the prince before her, and the princess by his side, had influenced her assignment to the academy.
“Sir Isabelle. Please don't think too poorly of this situation.”
When Rachel spoke softly, Isabelle shook her head as if it were a matter of course.
“Not in the slightest. How could I possibly think poorly of it?”
Isabelle's ability to deliver such polished words so naturally showed a restraint that no royal could fault.
Despite this, Rachel swept a hand through her blonde hair and smiled.
“Your respectful attitude is commendable, but I hope you will carry out your future duties with the same dedication. I want sincerity in your actions, not just your words.”
“……”
As Rachel delivered her barbed words, a momentary flicker of agitation crossed Isabelle's unwavering eyes before vanishing.
It lasted less than a second.
But to Rachel, who was directly in front of her, even that brief flicker was clearly visible.
Isabelle, feeling Rachel's intense gaze, carefully parted her lips.
“Princess Rachel. I am aware of the Golden Knight's mission.”
The mission of a Golden Knight.
—The shield of the empire.
—The greatest wall protecting the imperial family.
Simply put, their mission was to protect the imperial family, but 'obeying' their words was just as much a part of that mission.
Isabelle was subtly expressing her intent to perform her duties well, without complaint.
“I see. Your words alone are certainly reassuring.”
“Rachel. Don't pressure her so much. You can see the sincerity in Sir Isabelle's attitude.”
As Dersen cut in to placate her, Rachel agreed with a faint smile, her expression softening.
“In any case, Sir Isabelle, I hope you'll look on this favorably. The person you are to protect is well worth the effort.”
“...Yes. I will accept it."
Even though Isabelle agreed without the slightest objection, Dersen added more.
“You probably don't understand why you must protect a commoner. However, Han Cheon-seong, the man you will be guarding, is not someone to be judged by the guise of his commoner status. In my view, he is a man who will one day become a pillar of the empire."
Isabelle felt a faint sense of confusion at such a grand assessment.
—A pillar of the empire.
The prince had evaluated Han Cheon-seong with such conviction.
…The weight of those words was incomparable to that of any ordinary person.
“……Yes.”
Answering reluctantly, Isabelle felt confusion welling up inside her.
In Isabelle's view, 'status' was never something that could be ignored.
—As the second daughter of the House of Marquis Ellinor.
She had striven every day to attain the title of Golden Knight.
She had relentlessly honed her skills since childhood, and from the moment she surpassed most other knights, she had always felt it.
That in this world, status was an absolute necessity.
That one could not simply exclude status when judging a person, even if one wanted to.
During her youth, as she grew while serving in various knightly orders, there had been commoners among their ranks.
She occasionally had the chance to interact with them.
And every time she did, she personally experienced how character and class were inevitably different depending on one's status.
They were all base, busy groveling before her.
Or they harbored ambitions beyond their station, or resorted to petty schemes.
That was her impression of commoners, but she maintained an outward composure nonetheless.
“I will take your words to heart.”
Though she answered calmly, Isabelle did not let her inner turmoil show.
“To be honest, I didn't rate Han Cheon-seong so highly myself at first. I thought of him as a decent individual, quite capable for a commoner. It was simply astonishing that a commoner with a Common grade could grow so much. But after witnessing him awaken a skill and overcome a crisis, my perception was bound to change.”
As Dersen continued, Isabelle listened intently.
“As you've likely seen from his file, his talent and growth are too remarkable to be confined by the framework of a commoner. That's why I'd like you to pay close attention to him, Sir Isabelle."
His words continued to defend the commoner.
It was praise that went beyond mere compliments, feeling like an impossible exaggeration.
Dersen's high praise was so extreme that anyone else hearing it would have found it even harder to believe than Isabelle did.
“...Yes. I will be sure to watch over him.”
Replying respectfully, Isabelle bowed her head, yet she felt a contradiction deep inside.
The prince was concerned enough about a commoner to speak of him so directly. They, who held the highest status and the noblest bloodline, were evaluating a commoner so highly.
There had to be a reason for it.
“Sir Isabelle.”
“Yes, Princess Rachel.”
“But don't feel too pressured. Neither Dersen nor I summoned you to intimidate you. We're just telling you this because we were concerned you might feel the situation is unfair."
As Rachel continued, her smile softer than before, Isabelle gave a stiff nod.
“I am only grateful for Your Highness's consideration.”
The conversation that followed continued in a perfectly amicable atmosphere.
Despite the endless confusion welling within Isabelle, the mood on the surface could only remain cordial.
It was only natural, as Isabelle had harbored admiration and envy for the imperial family since her childhood.
Watching the royals she encountered as she grew up, she never once thought her feelings were misplaced.
Every member of the imperial family exuded a noble dignity, and the elegance revealed in their words and actions made her feel the value of their existence.
Therefore, she couldn't help but believe the words of the two royals, and despite the discrepancy with her own impressions of commoners, she steeled her resolve.
…
“Well then. That is all for today. Let us see each other again soon.”
“I will look forward to our next meeting, Sir Isabelle.”
After showing the utmost courtesy in response to Dersen and Rachel's light farewells, Isabelle was finally able to leave their presence.
And her steps naturally turned toward her destination.
The person she was now sworn to protect.
A commoner who had received such lavish praise from the noble imperial family.
Thump, thump…
Her pace gradually quickened as curiosity took root in her heart.
"...Just what kind of person."
…is this commoner, to receive such an evaluation from the imperial family? She wanted to see for herself…
***
The sky was slowly turning red as the sun began to set.
Silence settled over the infirmary managed by Adelia.
Glacia had already left, and though other visitors had come since, Adelia had turned them all away.
And now.
Cheon-seong found himself by Karite's bedside, carefully watching over her, waiting for her to awaken.
“……”
Thoughts of the Golden Knight had faded from his mind.
At first, he had been troubled by how he should react when the Golden Knight arrived, but after spending time with Glacia, his heart felt calm.
He had naturally realized that rather than worrying about how to treat the Golden Knight, it was the Golden Knight's attitude toward him that mattered.
So for now, he decided to focus on the 'present'.
To focus more on this reality.
"..."
In his line of sight was the peacefully sleeping Karite, and when he turned his head, he could see Leonhardt training his mind through meditation.
Rustle, rustle…
Along with that, only the sound of Adelia mixing medicine echoed through the infirmary. My own heart felt just as clear, steeped in the tranquility.
“Karite. I wish you would wake up soon.”
He spoke with sincerity as he gently caressed Karite's hand.
Swoosh…
Karite had narrowly overcome the crisis; she had survived on the brink of life and death.
Even Adelia couldn't give a precise answer as to how long it would take for her to regain consciousness. While that was disappointing, he was relieved that Karite was at least alive.
He didn't feel impatient.
It was then.
Whoosh!
My head snapped up before I knew it.
“……”
I swallowed unconsciously as I stared at the infirmary entrance.
Knock, knock.
A knock echoed.
—Instructor Adelia, are you in?
At the clear, resonant voice, I felt a sense of certainty.
Even though they were outside the door, their overwhelming presence hammered at my instincts.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong, prepare yourself now.”
"Yes..."
As Adelia spoke calmly and rose to her feet, I felt as if she had just given me the answer.
—The Golden Knight.
That person was just beyond that door.
As Adelia headed for the door, I quickly straightened my appearance.
Dressed in a simple white shirt, I adjusted my collar and unnecessarily wiped my face.
Click.
Through the door that opened soon after, I blinked involuntarily.
‘...A woman?’
I had noticed the voice was on the higher side. But the person Adelia was now facing was someone completely unexpected.
When I heard 'bodyguard,' I pictured someone who would be by my side. Naturally, I assumed it would be a man.
That was only natural. A guard knight would be someone I'd spend every moment with.
Since I'm a man, I naturally expected they would assign me a man.
But the knight who now entered my view was a beautiful woman with short, golden hair, wearing a suit of sophisticated armor unlike any I had ever seen on a knight.
She carried an air of dignity that made it obvious at a glance she was a high-ranking noble.
There was an effortless elegance about her when…
“Please, come in.”
...Through the slight tremor in Adelia's voice, I was able to get a better look at the Golden Knight.
Clank, clank…
The light steps and the crisp clinking of metal strangely struck a chord within me.
And in an instant, she was standing before me.
“I am Isabelle, a Golden Knight. Are you Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
Her voice was serious, not at all light. I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Yes... I am Han Cheon-seong. It is an honor to meet a Golden Knight of such renown.”
As I bowed my head to show respect, I couldn't help but feel bewildered.
The guard knight who would be spending time with me from now on.
How could she possibly be a woman…?