Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: 73. Blossoming in Turbulent Times (4)
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A brilliant halo of light enveloped Adelia.
Her face, wrapped in that glow, looked utterly reverent and noble.
As if, in the distant ancient past at the ruins of the giants' temple, the founder of House Bayern had just completed the first verse of the Poem of Creation.
But it wasn't entirely the same.
If Agnes Bayern's war poem was a song of hope dedicated to all suffering humanity, Adelia Bayern's war poem was a song of devotion and worship offered solely to her lord.
I watched Adelia quietly.
A message I hadn't heard in a while whispered to me.
The benefits I'd gain from this perfected war poem.
Like sensing each other's presence no matter the distance,
sharing emotions or will under certain conditions,
or chanting a single war poem in divided verses when specific requirements are met.
It didn't really sink in.
None of that mattered anyway.
The only thing important to me right now was the sight of the beloved woman standing before me.
The woman who'd been forced down the path of knighthood against her will because of me.
Even now, one of the kingdom's top knights, she found greater happiness in handling my aftermath than wielding her sword in battle.
I couldn't tear my eyes away.
Adelia's dignified figure was so dazzling.
I drank in the sight of her standing there, a single sword at her hip, eyes closed amid the radiant light, etching it into my memory again and again.
Emotion swelled within me. My nose stung for no reason.
Back when we first met, I'd never imagined we'd end up like this. She was just a pitiful girl back then, flinching and hunching her shoulders at the slightest sound from that wastrel's abuse.
Now, in this moment, I could feel our souls bound together strongly.
As if we'd always been one. As if we'd never been two.
A profound sense of fulfillment, unlike anything I'd ever felt, uplifted my soul.
The light faded.
The fullness filling my chest remained undiminished.
Just then, Adelia opened her eyes.
Even after the light had fully dissipated, a faint golden halo lingered around her eyes before finally vanishing.
In its place, bewilderment at the sudden changes surged up.
"Your Highness..."
Adelia called to me.
I nodded quietly.
At that simple gesture, the confusion and doubt in her eyes melted away in an instant.
She smiled brightly.
Then, in a clear voice, she reaffirmed that day's vow.
"I shall live my life solely as Your Highness's sword."
The vow became a new war poem.
What an ironic fate.
For the woman who'd never wanted to become a knight, her war poem to be a song about a knight's oath, of all things.
But I wasn't surprised anymore.
Her ancestor, Agnes Bayern, was the knight of knights, the king of knights—a great hero.
What was so shocking about her descendant weaving a knight's pledge into a war poem?
Though considering Adelia's nature, it was a bit unexpected.
But none of that mattered.
No matter what poem she'd woven—even if it was some ominous dirge worthy of calamity—she was simply my dear Adelia to me.
Then, now, and always.
With that unwavering trust, I met her gaze with eyes full of my own faith in her.
In that moment,
"It sings of the sovereign's grace for devotion that offers even sword and soul." "I make thee a knight: brave, faithful, and loyal."
⟨ Verse of the Poem of Domination ⟩
A verse I had no idea where to even use.
But the moment I heard it, its usage came naturally to mind.
I smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Adelia."
Adelia, clueless but mirroring me, smiled back.
We stood there smiling at each other for a while before I gave a small nod.
"Your Highness?"
Adelia, staring blankly, caught on a beat late and knelt.
But she hadn't quite grasped what I intended, her face full of questions.
Watching her, I drew Eoseureum.
Standing before her, I raised the sword high, then tilted it to tap both her shoulders with the flat.
"I make thee a knight: brave, faithful, and loyal."
Staring straight into her stunned face, I recited the verse from the Poem of Domination.
Adelia's eyes widened round.
"Y-Your Highness."
Tears quickly welled up in her kind eyes.
I smiled softly and helped her to her feet.
"From now on, you are my sword."
"I shall become an exemplary knight worthy of Your Highness's name."
I shook my head.
No more, no less. Just as she was now was enough.
"Y-Your Highness..."
Adelia looked up at me with trembling voice, lips pressed tight.
Her face strained to hold back the surging emotions.
Back then, she'd have burst into tears by now.
Watching her hold back the tears glistening in her eyes, a flood of feelings stirred in my chest.
Resentment, pride, admiration.
Was this how a father felt gazing at his grown daughter?
This must have been exactly how Siolin felt about Arwen.
But though the emotions were similar, there was a crucial difference between Siolin and me.
I'd already raised countless knights and watched them leave my side.
Parting pangs meant nothing to me.
Or so I'd thought.
Today, though, my nose stung more than ever.
Whether it was because this was the first such emotion in my human body, or because Adelia was a particularly sore spot for me, I couldn't say.
One thing was certain: she was no longer a sore spot.
I rubbed my nose for no reason.
As I soothed my emotions that way, a sudden unease crept in.
The surroundings were strangely quiet. Countless piercing gazes prickled my skin.
I turned my head.
Every soldier on the fortress walls above and below was staring at Adelia. Even the mercenaries beyond the wide-open gates were watching this way.
Vincent was there, Ilai too, and Kals as well.
Vincent mouthing what are you doing now? with a somewhat pitiful look.
Ilai grumbling to himself, lips jutting out miles in complaint.
Kals, who at a glance seemed normal but on closer look was sending eyes full of inexplicable resentment.
The Yorden and Ranger lads giggling and whispering nonstop about something amusing.
I watched them quietly before turning back to Adelia.
Though her face was flushed red with embarrassment, she didn't hunch her shoulders under all those gazes.
On the contrary, she stood ramrod straight, composed and dignified.
How proud and endearing that sight was.
If only not for the bloodstains soaking her sleeves and chest.
Remembering belatedly that she'd just returned from that awkward mission, I ordered her to rest.
Instead of refusing, Adelia said she'd tidy her attire and return, then headed into the fortress first.
Awkward gait, hyper-aware of all the stares.
Chuckling at the sight, I gave a small nod to Vincent and a few others.
Follow me.
Vincent and Kals, now quick to read my intent from a glance, fell in behind me.
But I'd signaled three, yet only two sets of footsteps followed.
I glanced back.
Vincent and Kals right behind me, and over their shoulders, far off, Ilai staring blankly this way like an oblivious fool.
"Why aren't you coming?"
Frowning as I spoke, Ilai looked around before pointing at himself.
"Yeah, you, Ilai."
Only then did he hustle over and take position behind me.
"You could've just told me to follow sooner."
I sighed at his grumbling and resumed walking.
**
"What was that light earlier?"
The moment we reached the fortress meeting room, Vincent questioned me.
I gave a rough explanation of Adelia's new war poem.
They each shared their reactions.
"Lady Adelia weaving a knight's oath into a poem."
Pure admiration came from Vincent,
"A knight's oath, huh..."
Envy tinged Ilai's voice,
"For the first time, I'm jealous of a Mana Heart instead of a Ring."
Kals sounded unusually dejected.
I chuckled along, enjoying their varied responses.
Then, reining in my laughter, I called to Kals.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Kneel."
Kals's eyes widened as he looked at me, then dropped to his knees with a thud.
The subtle resentment he'd shown moments ago vanished, replaced by eager anticipation.
Seeing his face nearly made me burst out laughing.
But instead, I drew Eoseureum and tapped both his shoulders.
"I make thee a knight: brave, faithful, and loyal."
I recited the verse from the Poem of Domination in solemn tones.
Just as I'd done for Adelia moments before.
"I shall devote my all!"
Even his straightforward reply was identical.
But the result was far from the same.
Whoosh!
A soft glow emanated from my body, enveloping Kals.
The three rings within him resonated with the mana in my heart.
Startled by the sudden event, Kals snapped his head up to look at me.
"You are my shield."
Instead of explaining, I said simply and turned away.
Ilai had knelt before me unnoticed, eyes gleaming with subtle expectation.
I walked right past him.
Vincent met my gaze and smirked.
"A duke's knees are pricey."
Despite his words, he knelt without hesitation.
I recited the Poem of Domination and knighted Vincent.
"You are my fortress."
Vincent examined the light around him curiously before rising slowly.
Ilai was still kneeling, staring at me.
His clueless expression was so comical I considered teasing him more, but I decided to end the joke there.
"Bernard Ilai."
"Yes! Your Highness!"
I tapped his shoulders as he bellowed unnecessarily and proclaimed him my knight through the Poem of Domination.
Ilai snapped his head up, eyes fixed eagerly on my lips.
"You are my..."
Watching him, I said gravely,
"You are my..."
But I trailed off before finishing.
"You are my..."
As Ilai silently mouthed along, urging me on, I spoke again.
"You are my..."
His gaze and expression were so burdensome I racked my brain desperately.
Finally, after a long pause, I continued.
"...knight."
Ilai's facial muscles twitched.
A strange expression, not quite a smile or a frown—he stared straight up at me.
After a while, he asked,
"That's it?"
I didn't answer.
"Everyone else gets sword, shield, fortress—why am I just 'knight'?"
No, I couldn't answer.
"This is really too mu—"
Before Ilai could vent his frustration, a brilliant flash engulfed him.
"When Arwen returns, she'll be knighted too."
I glanced at Ilai amid the light, then turned to Vincent and Kals.
They asked what the light was and why bother with separate knighting now.
I replied in a somewhat smug tone.
This wasn't just any knighting.
It held far greater meaning.
Yes. In a word, this was.