13
13
'Ugh... I feel like my stomach's about to burst.'
After barely finishing the unexpected breakfast, I carefully called out to Jeanne.
"Um... Vice-commander...?"
".........Yes."
Jeanne answered with a blunt face.
However.
"........."
Her hands were lingering over the empty basket as if filled with regret.
'If I eat any more than this, I might literally burst and die...!'
The moment an ominous premonition struck me, I immediately hurled a question at her.
"I'm just asking just in case, but there aren't any belongings of the former commander, Michael, in here, right?"
Ggugit—!
"......Yes. That bast—... No, the former commander's belongings are not here."
Wait, wasn't she just about to curse and call him 'that bastard'?
'And why is she crumpling the basket so terrifyingly...?'
What kind of relationship did she have with Michael for her to act like this?
Could they be ex-lovers?
Or did she have an unrequited crush on him?
Curiosity briefly bloomed, but—
'Hmm... Let's not ask...'
I decided not to ask for no good reason.
Because that would be better for my own well-being in many ways.
Anyway.
Meaning there isn't a single item of that guy's in this room.
"That's a relief. I thought as much."
No matter how crazy of a bastard Michael was, he wouldn't have decorated the room this crazily.
If so, who was it?
'No matter how I look at it, it seems like Jeanne...'
I decided to test the waters lightly.
"Hmm... I really like the commander's office. It seems like it'll be great to work here from now on."
"......!"
Chwaak—!
Ah.
So that was something that could be folded and unfolded.
Well, anyway.
It seems clear that the person who redesigned the commander's office was indeed Jeanne.
Because the subtle killing intent emanating from her just a moment ago had completely vanished.
Did they say praise makes even whales dance?
'As expected, nothing Master said was wrong.'
Though I didn't praise her outright—
Since I said I liked the room, she seems to have taken it well.
Then, suddenly.
"Then I shall reply to the Imperial Interior Ministry that this is unnecessary."
"Pardon...?"
Jeanne snatched away a document on the desk before I could even check it.
However, in that brief instant.
I saw the title of the document.
[Silver Knights Commander's Office Remodeling Schedule]
'Ah... No...!'
I screamed inwardly.
Empel had cared about me much more than I thought.
To the extent of instructing the Interior Ministry to reconstruct the commander's office in less than a day.
However, that precious document—
Hwareureuk...
Turned into ashes in an instant and vanished.
"Haha... The vice-commander seems to use magic well too. Impressive."
To burn it instantly without even casting.
From the moment I first saw her composed posture, I did think she would have skills fitting for a vice-commander.
Who knew she could manipulate both aura and mana at the same time, which is notoriously difficult.
And so skillfully at that.
'Well, as for swordsmanship, she doesn't seem to be at the level of a Sword Master, but...'
Still, at this level—
Overall, she doesn't seem behind Michael at all.
'No, rather, she might be ahead...'
It seems she couldn't reach the commander position likely because of Isabel.
'Since she has a surname, she must be a noble, but...'
Edelflead.
It's a name I've never heard of.
Of course, as a commoner, I haven't memorized all noble names so I can't be sure, but—
'The fact that I don't remember it means...'
No matter how high her status, she shouldn't be above the rank of Marquis.
Then, it must have been difficult for her to push past not only the Empress but also the eldest son of the Cromwell Ducal Family.
And yet.
A new guy suddenly appeared and took the commander position, so it would be understandable if she didn't like it...
'It's a relief that she doesn't seem to view me unfavorably.'
Rather, it feels like she likes it.
Ssilluk-
"........."
Hmm. No matter how I look at her, she seems weak to compliments.
Whether she liked being told she uses magic well—
She seemed to be trying to maintain an expressionless face in her own way, but the corners of her mouth kept twitching subtly.
"Excuse me, Vice-commander? Just asking to confirm, what were the contents of the document you just burned?"
"......Ah."
'Ah' my foot.
She also seems to have a slightly clueless side.
Realizing belatedly what she had done, Jeanne immediately apologized to me.
"I am sorry. I arbitrarily disposed of a document the commander had not even reviewed."
"No, it's fine. So please just briefly explain the contents to me."
"......!"
Jeanne blinked her vermilion eyes wide.
As if she was deeply moved.
'No, Michael. Did this bastard... actually mistreat the vice-commander or something?'
Starting from getting angry as soon as she heard his name to being moved over something trivial.
Rather than a good relationship, it seems definitely to be an ill-fated one.
'She does have a slightly eccentric side... but I don't think he would have mistreated her just because of that...'
Eccentric.
No, when it comes to being crazy, isn't that woman far superior?
'...Is it because of the dream...?'
The pink hair naturally tried to come to mind again.
'Haa... Let me not entertain unnecessary thoughts...'
Anyway.
Jeanne briefly explained the document to me.
The contents were as follows.
In accordance with the name Silver Knights, the commander's office would also be fitted with silver instead of the existing gold.
'......It was basically just to sell off what was inside to secure finances.'
Still, considering the commander's pride in its own way, it seemed like they meant to decorate it with silver if not gold, but...
Twinkle twinkle☆
Colorfully like this.
It appeared that Jeanne took it upon herself to clear out everything made of gold and redecorated everything new before the documents arrived from the Interior Ministry.
'Hmm...'
I fell into thought for a moment.
Whether to accept the Interior Ministry's proposal and decorate the commander's office in silver.
Or leave this crazy room as it is.
'Hmm... Since I won't be working inside here all day anyway...'
Well, shouldn't it be fine?
Because from now on, I plan to travel around performing the Emperor's commands, not just staying in the Imperial Palace.
If so, even to get along with the vice-commander in the future, I have no choice but to leave it alone.
"Well... You burned it well. It doesn't seem necessary to remodel the commander's office."
"......!"
Judging by her reaction, I seem to have answered well.
Therefore.
I naturally thought that, unlike the former commander, I would be able to get along well with the vice-commander.
However...
Jjwaaaak—!
I couldn't help but also think she was a bit scary.
Because the poor basket held in Jeanne's hand ultimately met its demise.
'Ooh... Our vice-commander has great strength too...'
It was a moment when Kay's words advising me to handle it well came to mind once again.
###
Following the meal, even the matter of the commander's office interior.
Now that all had been resolved—
I decided to begin my main duties now.
Since it was the first day, shouldn't I see the faces of not only the vice-commander Jeanne, but also the other knights?
I hoped they would be people like Jeanne.
However.
"Aha. So none of them came to work?"
No such thing happened.
Except for Jeanne, the Imperial Knights—
No, all of the knights who had now become the Silver Knights had reportedly not shown up for work.
"Yes. The reason for that is..."
"Ah, it's alright. I think I know without needing to hear it."
"........."
Jeanne still had an expressionless face, but it wasn't very difficult to notice that she was not in a good mood.
Ggugigigik...
Because the torn basket in her hand was trying to be ruined even further.
Well, how could she not be?
Because those who called themselves Imperial Knights had absent themselves without leave without any prior notice.
"Vice-commander. What is the total headcount of the knight order?"
"Including the commander and myself, it is a total of twelve."
Twelve.
Then that means ten people didn't show up.
Tuk tuk.
Tapping the commander's office desk with my index finger, I called Jeanne.
"Vice-commander. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"My thoughts...?"
"Yes, is there anyone among the knights who didn't show up today who is absolutely necessary?"
"By that... don't tell me..."
As expected, the vice-commander was brilliant.
Because she immediately grasped the meaning of my question.
"......Commander, will it be alright?"
Jeanne had realized it.
That I was thinking of firing all the bastards who didn't show up for work.
Of course, as it is a knight order operated by the Imperial Family, the commander cannot casually dismiss members at will.
Unless it's a special case.
'But right now is that special case.'
Is it not?
Where is it that this knight order must protect and guard?
None other than the Imperial Family.
Right here in the Imperial Palace.
And yet, to be absent without leave solely because they dislike the new commander.
'I thought Michael was out of his mind, but I guess his subordinates are the same.'
To boldly violate their own duties.
'If they don't like me, they should submit a resignation and quit.'
They probably wouldn't want that.
Because the benefits enjoyed as an Imperial Knight are extraordinary.
Furthermore, honor follows alongside it.
Because they are members of a knight order with only twelve people in the empire.
But that ends today as well.
Because I have become the commander.
"What wouldn't be alright about it?"
Yeah, what wouldn't be alright about it?
Because there's no law stating there can't be only two members.
'At least having one proper member is something.'
In the first place, if I hadn't been affiliated with the Imperial Family, wouldn't there have been zero members?
A vice-commander who can use aura and mana, despite having a somewhat eccentric side contrary to her appearance.
This much is enough.
No, highly excellent.
"For the time being, just the vice-commander and I. Let's run the knight order the two of us. Well... if it really feels insufficient, we can just recruit slowly later, can't we?"
"......Did you say... the two of us...?"
Ah.
Does she think two is far too few after all?
"Two... Two... Just the two of us... Just the two of us..."
Jeanne rested her chin on her hand and began muttering to herself.
So I called out to her carefully again.
"Excuse me, Vice-commander...?"
"Ah, yes. Two is plenty. Anyway, since they are that bast—... No, the former commander's people, even if we force them to come to work, there's almost no chance they'll do their duty properly."
"......I, I see. Good."
Fortunately, Jeanne showed no reluctance.
It seems she had a bad relationship not only with 'that bastard', but also with the members.
'No matter how I look at it, I don't get the reason. I don't think Jeanne would have mistreated the members...'
On the outside, she looked blunt and cold, but that was just her expression and tone.
Isn't she the person who even personally prepared breakfast for me, who took office today?
'They must definitely be bastards like Michael...'
Otherwise, there's no reason for her to emanate killing intent every time they are mentioned.
'...She seems to be trying to control it so as not to emit it, though.'
Well, anyway.
That bastard has disappeared, and his subordinates are destined to disappear as well.
"I look forward to working with you, Jean."
I offered a handshake to Jeanne as a gesture of getting along well from now on.
However.
"........."
Very embarrassingly, she did not accept my handshake and just stood there blankly.
"Uh... Um... Excuse me..."
As my hand hovered awkwardly in the air for too long, I tried to carefully call Jeanne again.
At that moment.
"Jean...?"
Jeanne opened her mouth first.
"Ah."
Only then did I understand why she had frozen up.
'As a knight, she probably wouldn't like being treated as a woman, but...'
Still, the fact that she is a woman doesn't change, does it?
Therefore.
It's understandable that she would be flustered when a strange man didn't just call her by her name, but carelessly shortened it.
I naturally called her that with the intention of being friendly, though.
From her perspective, it would naturally be rude.
'Oops... A habit from my adventurer days slipped out...'
Adventurers often called each other informally to get close quickly, if only to execute missions smoothly.
'That's why I also made a mistake with Sion during the expedition and got into a lot of trouble.'
And yet, I made a mistake again.
"Oh dear, I am sorry. Vice-comman—..."
I hurriedly tried to apologize to Jeanne.
However, she immediately shook her head.
"No. It's go—... No, it is fine."
"Uh... Um... Are you really sure it's fine?"
"Yes, please call me Jean. I look forward to working with you, Commander."
Saying so, she took my hand and shook it.
I don't know if it was my imagination, but—
In that brief instant.
"........."
It seemed like her face was softly smiling.
Well, anyway.
Since we've properly greeted each other now.
Now I should do what I have to do as commander.
I stood up from my seat.
"Now then, shall we go do our first task?"
"By our first task, you mean...?"
What else could it be?
Naturally, there's only one thing.
"Dismissal notices."
Kicking out those bastards who are boldly sleeping soundly in the luxurious lodgings of the Imperial Palace despite being absent.
So I opened the door with confidence, intending to leave the commander's office.
Right then.
I ran into an unexpected person.
"Huh... Her Highness the Imperial Princess...?"
".........!"
Sion was standing in front of the door.
"What brings you here?"
"That's... naturally..."
".........?"
I tilted my head slightly toward Sion, who had stopped talking and closed her mouth.
At this.
"........."
She stared at me quietly with her blue eyes for a moment without saying anything, and then—
Peok—!
Without warning, she kicked my shin hard.
"Ack!?"
Screaming at the unexpected pain—
"Excuse me, Your Highness... What is this first thing in the morning..."
I attempted to argue with her, but—
Hwik—!
Sion immediately turned around and walked away with rapid steps.
"Uh... Um...?"
I was so flabbergasted that words failed me.
'From so early in the morning...'
Did she seriously come all the way here just to hit me?
Before I could even think properly about an answer to that question—
Hwareureuk—!
Hearing something burning behind me, I hurriedly turned my head back.
'No, why are you acting like that...?'
I froze up again, completely dumbfounded.
Because the poor basket held in Jeanne's hand, already utterly ruined, finally turned into ashes and vanished.
Just a moment ago—
Saaa...
"........."
Her face, which felt slightly soft just moments ago, had turned ice-cold in an instant.
Though I felt like asking why she was doing that—
"......Let us go, Commander. I will guide you to the knight order's quarters."
Not asking this time either—
Felt like it would be better for my well-being.
"Ah... Yes, please do, Jean."
I nodded without complaint.
And yet, once again—
Ssilluk-
".........Jean."
For some reason, Jeanne seemed to be in a good mood again.
"???"
I couldn't help but be confused.
Naturally, it surfaced in my head once more.
—Handle it well on your own.
The advice Kay had given me.