14
14
Jeanne Edelflead.
Recently, she had been pondering whether to quit the Imperial Knights.
No, in fact, she had already decided to throw in the towel a long time ago.
Because she didn't want to stay in this trashy group for another second.
...It had been wrong from the very start.
"Young Lady Jeanne. I look forward to working with you."
The day they were appointed together as Commander and Vice-Commander.
That was the first greeting Michael gave to Jeanne.
Calling a knight a young lady.
On top of holding her hand as he pleased without her permission, she wondered what on earth he was playing at.
Tak-!
"...I have never given you permission to call me by my first name."
When Jeanne immediately slapped his hand away roughly with a stern expression,
"..."
Michael tilted his head with a face full of incomprehension.
"Hmm... Very well. Then I shall call you Young Lady Edelflead..."
"I am a knight appointed as Vice-Commander alongside the Commander today. Do not address me like that."
Even though she firmly and sternly expressed her intent,
"Hmph... Understood. Sir Edelflead."
He merely nodded while letting out an unpleasant smirk.
'..."Don't tell me he thinks I'm acting like this because I'm shy...'
That awful "don't tell me" turned out to be true.
Afterwards.
Michael not only continued to treat Jeanne as a young lady rather than a knight, but he also kept striking up personal conversations rather than discussing work matters.
But eventually, having grown exhausted of it,
"...Commander, please stop."
One day when Jeanne rejected him with her usual stern face,
"I can't understand you. Aren't we fellow members of the order?"
Michael asked her argumentatively.
"Why do you keep treating me like this?"
Like this?
There shouldn't be anything particularly problematic about her behavior.
Could he be trying to question her rudeness?
Even so, that couldn't be it.
Because that was something she should be saying instead.
"...I don't understand the meaning of your question. More importantly, regarding the task we need to handle this time..."
"Handle it on your own. Besides, I have plans with the order members, so I'll be taking my leave now."
"Pardon? It's still working hours..."
"It's only 30 minutes left, isn't it? Ending early just for one day to have a social gathering with the members should be fine. Speaking of which, consider Ganelon and Garnet of the night shift off duty for today as well."
Kwang-!
Without even intending to listen to Jeanne's answer, Michael just said what he wanted to say and slammed the door out.
Starting from that day.
Her relationship not only with Michael, but also with the rest of the order's knights, rapidly began to deteriorate.
'Though there wasn't a single person I was close with in the first place...'
As if meant for her to hear loud and clear.
"You know the Vice-Commander... Her face is pretty enough, but the problem is she's way too haughty."
"Kikik! Right? Seeing how prickly she acts toward Commander Michael says it all. But a woman like that is probably even wilder at night..."
Everyone began talking behind her back.
It was even worse with the female knights.
"What's her deal? She's just from a mere Baron family, so why is she acting up like this? If the Commander spoke to her, she should be thrilled, shouldn't she?"
"Hmph, she's playing hard to get. Appointed as Vice-Commander through connections, yet she acts like she's hot shit—it really pisses me off."
Completely groundless rumors and even sexual harassment.
Jeanne decided not to bother responding to them.
'...Because I've long grown used to being badmouthed.'
In her childhood.
After she picked up the sword and began learning magic, countless people talked trash about her.
"A young lady from an insignificant family should just focus on marrying well."
"How dare a woman not only pick up a sword, but even try to learn magic?"
Many people sneered.
But it was okay because her family always cheered her on.
Furthermore.
Thanks to her father, Baron Edelflead, she was able to become the disciple of Sir Bedivere.
Was it because he had helped Sir Bedivere back when the knight was an unfortunate commoner that they formed a bond?
Either way, thanks to that, she gained a wonderful master, and her swordsmanship was able to improve by leaps and bounds.
Despite being a swordsman, far from criticizing her for learning magic, her master...
ㅡ Jeanne. I will bring an acquaintance from the Magic Tower soon.
...instead even introduced someone to teach her magic.
Despite being the Emperor's imperial bodyguard knight and a Sword Master, he was neither arrogant nor narrow-minded.
Kay Bedivere always set an example as a knight.
Because of this, Jeanne wanted to become a great knight like her master.
So she diligently practiced swordsmanship and magic every single day without fail, and as a result, she graduated at the top of her class at the Academy.
After that.
'I joined the Imperial Knights because I wanted to work alongside Master at the imperial palace...'
Somewhere along the way, she had ended up turned into a bitch who snagged the Vice-Commander position using the influence of her master, the Emperor's bodyguard.
Even so, she endured it.
After all, isn't there a saying that in a village of one-eyed people, a person with two eyes is considered abnormal?
Rather than swordsmanship, they favored pleasures like alcohol.
Rather than palace security, they focused on flattering royalty and nobles.
Ignoring the slander of those focused on such things was all she needed to do.
However.
The day finally arrived when her patience reached its limit...
"Hey, Sir Edelflead. What on earth do you think you're doing?"
Michael barged in out of nowhere and yelled at her.
"...?"
Jeanne couldn't understand it at all.
Because she had just been thinking how nice it was that he had been bothering her less lately.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"...It's because I don't know what you're talking about..."
When she replied that it was because she didn't know the reason,
"How could you possibly not know?!"
Not only did he raise his voice even higher,
"Sir Edelflead! Young Lady Bathory is feeling sad because of you!!!"
...he spouted bullshit that she truly hadn't anticipated.
"......?"
On this day, Jeanne understood for the first time what it meant for one's soul to leave their body.
Because every single piece of bullshit that followed...
...was just so utterly absurd.
"When the Young Lady kindly greeted you first, what was with that attitude of yours?!"
While patrolling the imperial palace as usual, she had met the young lady Michael was referring to for the first time.
ㅡ Hello. I'm Bathory Sirius. What is your name?
ㅡ ...It is Jeanne Edelflead.
ㅡ Wow! What a pretty name. I look forward to spending time with you!
ㅡ ...Ah, yes.
No matter how much Jeanne chewed over it, she couldn't find anything particularly wrong with how she acted.
But Michael's bullshit was only getting started.
"How could you decline when Young Lady Bathory invited you?!"
ㅡ Let's have tea together to celebrate our first meeting! That's fine, isn't it, Commander Michael?
She was in the middle of patrolling the imperial palace.
As if she could have a tea time.
Besides, he himself had glared with eyes wide open, openly giving her hints not to intrude.
So.
ㅡ ...I am currently on patrol, so that will be difficult. Excuse me then.
She had immediately vanished just as he wanted, yet...
"How could you coldly reject Young Lady Bathory's goodwill?!"
"Because of you, when the Young Lady was leaving the imperial palace, she felt so sad, thinking she was hated!"
"How are you going to take responsibility for this?!"
"No, go to the Sirius Grand Duchy right this instant and apologize to Young Lady Bathory!!!"
Jeanne couldn't understand why he was barking like a mad dog.
But his last words were truly the ultimate spectacle.
"Sir Edelflead! Jealousy is not a good look!"
"...Pardon?"
She almost cursed out, asking what kind of dogshit he was talking about.
At that moment, Jeanne immediately regretted it.
That she should have just spouted dirty curses right then and there.
"Why are you pretending it's not true?! You're jealous of me being together with Young Lady Bathory, aren't you?!"
"..."
Jeanne was so utterly dumbfounded that she was rendered speechless.
However, Michael seemed to take her silence as an affirmative.
"I will never accept your feelings!"
Kwang-!
Just like that.
He said only what he wanted to say and vanished just like that.
"...Crazy bastard."
Jeanne regretted it.
That she should have just killed Michael that day.
Though his swordsmanship realm was higher than hers as a Sword Master,
in actual combat where she could also utilize magic, she certainly would have been able to win.
But even if only for the sake of her master working in the palace,
she couldn't do that, so she barely suppressed her murderous intent.
However.
From that day on, Jeanne's life in the imperial palace...
was so fucking awful that the words "shit" naturally spilled from her mouth.
And it couldn't be helped, because...
"Did you hear the rumor that the Vice-Commander bullied Young Lady Bathory?"
...truly absurd rumors had spread widely throughout the imperial palace.
"Young Lady Bathory is so pitiful!"
"Right? Where else can you find someone as sweet as the Young Lady? Why would she bully her?"
Before Jeanne knew it, she went from...
"Didn't she get the Vice-Commander position thanks to Sir Bedivere in the first place?"
"Tell me about it. And I hate how she acts hot shit just because she can use magic. I wish she'd just fuck off to the Magic Tower."
...a bad bitch who stole the Vice-Commander spot through connections...
"I know, right? She should've treated him well when she had the chance. Why is she suddenly clinging to Commander Michael now?"
"Exactly! Does she think bullying Young Lady Bathory now will make the Commander love her? No, more than that, is she even a knight? She bullied a fragile young lady!"
...to a villainess who bullied a fragile young lady out of ugly jealousy.
###
In the end, Jeanne couldn't take it anymore.
'Let me just quit.'
The day after the victory banquet ended,
she intended to submit her letter of resignation right away.
However, she tore up her resignation letter that very day.
Pishuuuk—!
"Gaaaaah!!!"
Because someone appeared who did what she had wanted to do in her place.
'Ah... What a shame it wasn't his neck...'
But even one arm was something.
Since it was completely incinerated, he would never be able to hold a sword properly again.
'Though it might be possible if he uses an artifact...'
Since what blew away wasn't just his right arm but also his position as Commander,
Jeanne decided not to quit the Imperial Knights...
no, the Silver Knights.
'...I want to get close to him.'
She didn't know how long it had been since she had such a thought.
The thought of wanting to become close to someone.
"C-Commander Michael?! What a crazy bastard...!"
"Is this really allowed? A lunatic like that is our new Commander?"
Although the order members as well as nobles whispered and cursed him,
'Roy... Einschwert...'
Jeanne kept thinking that she wanted to be friends with the new Commander.
Not just because he beat the shit out of Michael,
but also because he was the empire's hero who defeated the Lich King despite his painful past.
And the way he took revenge without being intimidated at all, even when the opponent was the Sirius Grand Duchy.
In many ways, he was likable to her.
So.
Jeanne showed quite a bit of enthusiasm in her own way.
By decorating the Commander's office in advance, preparing meals, and so on.
As a result,
"I look forward to working with you, Jean."
she was able to become close to him right away.
'Jean...'
She had never imagined anyone other than her family calling her by a nickname.
Besides, ever since she became a knight, she had even told her parents not to call her by her nickname.
So it was only natural that she should feel offended, yet...
For some reason, she didn't dislike it.
And the way he immediately tried to apologize was different from 'that bastard', so she didn't dislike it either.
Because no matter how good the intention was, it was certain that he hadn't sought the other person's consent.
She also liked how he acknowledged his mistake even if belatedly.
However, there was one thing she disliked.
"Huh... Her Imperial Highness...?"
She didn't like how close he seemed to the Imperial Princess.
'They were together at the banquet hall too...'
It was strange.
Jeanne had no ill feelings nor any particular thoughts about the person named Sion,
but suddenly she felt a sense of dislike toward her.
Was that why?
"..."
Despite seeing royalty, Jeanne failed to bow immediately and ended up glaring with wide eyes.
Of course, she tried to show respect belatedly, but...
Puk-!
"Ack?!"
...she couldn't, because Sion kicked Roy's shin and walked away.
Because of such an Imperial Princess, Jeanne...
Hwareureuk-!
...felt extremely unpleasant for some reason.
Even so.
Her mood quickly improved.
And it couldn't be helped, because...
Right now.
On the 3rd floor of the Silver Knights' dormitory.
"Kyaaaak!!!"
...the bitch who had talked trash about her being a villainess most fervently was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Kwak-!
"L-Let go of this! What do you think you're doing to a woman?!"
Like this, while having her hair grabbed tightly by Roy.
"Sir Garnet. What do you mean by 'woman'? Before you are a woman, you are a knight. Ah, of course, since you will be dismissed as of today, you won't be a knight either."
"What are you talking about?! Even if you became the new Commander, you can't just fire someone as you please without a special reason!"
"Yes, I am obviously aware."
"Then let go of me!!!"
"What do you mean 'then'? Why should I let you go?"
"Because obviously...!"
"Pfft! 'Obviously' my ass. Isn't right now that very special reason?"
Roy let out a chuckle as if he found it utterly ridiculous.
Then he pointed to the man covering his naked body with a blanket in the corner of the bed.
"Not only did you absent yourself without permission, but you also brought an unauthorized person into the dormitory to have a fun time. How enviable... no, as a knight belonging to the imperial palace, haven't you already broken two rules?"
"What do you mean unauthorized absence?! I didn't come to work because I couldn't accept a rogue like you becoming Commander, and Felix over there was previously granted permission by Commander Michael... Kyaaaak!!!"
"Who are you to say whether you accept it or not? His Majesty the Emperor appointed me. A mere knight having the audacity to say she can't accept it... And the permission of the former Commander, who has already packed up and left, holds no validity whatsoever. You are openly committing insubordination. So that makes three."
As Roy said that, pulling her hair even harder,
Kwaaak-!
"Kyaaaak!!!"
Garnet screamed in agony.
However, without so much as batting an eye, Roy turned his head toward Jeanne.
"Excuse me, could you open the window over there?"
"...Yes."
Jeanne immediately opened the window wide.
She thought it was an order for ventilation, since the stench of a man and woman mingling bodies in the room was so foul.
But it wasn't.
"I'd like to ask one thing... How skilled is Sir Garnet here?"
Because Roy's hand was still gripping Garnet's hair, and his gaze was directed out the window.
On top of that, he was asking about Garnet's realm of skill.
There was no way not to know what he was thinking right now.
That was why...
"H-Hey! Are you insane?!"
Garnet confronted Roy with a face turned pale white.
"Hmm... I wasn't asking Sir Garnet, I was asking Jean, though?"
"J-Jean...?!"
Garnet looked at Jeanne with a face of disbelief.
"Vice-Commander! Jean?! What is the meaning of this?!"
"What do you mean 'what is the meaning'? Isn't the Vice-Commander's name Jeanne?"
"Do you think I'm asking because I don't know that?! And in the first place, I was asking— Kyaaaak!!!"
"Shut it. Now please vacate the room. You don't need to worry, as all your belongings in the room will be sent to your residence later without exception."
"H-Hey! Are you seriously for real?! This is the 3rd floor!!!"
"Yes, is there a problem with that? Ah, because you interrupted, I couldn't hear. So Jean, what is her realm of skill?"
"...I do not know in detail as she hardly trains, but on the documents submitted upon joining, she was listed as a Sword Expert for now."
"Oho... As expected of the Imperial Knights. The level is higher than I thought. Then there won't be any problem. At this height, she'll only get a few scratches."
"W-What do you mean there's no problem?! I'm not an Expert, so it won't end with just scratches..."
"My, my... Did you forge your documents to get in as well? Then that makes four violations."
Kwak-
"Well, anyway. You won't die regardless. That is, provided you've done at least the 'minimum' training as a knight even if you aren't an Expert."
More strength went into Roy's hand.
At this,
"W-Wait a second! You're doing this because of that woman, right?! I don't know what you heard, but it's all a misunderstanding and you don't need to listen!"
Garnet, pale with fright, openly gathered her breasts for him to see.
"So instead of that woman, take me here! I'm confident when it comes to night duties! That woman over there just has a somewhat pretty face, but she has zero experience with men, so—"
"Where do you think you're mouthing off, insulting Jean with that dirty mouth of yours? Insulting a superior officer, that makes five. Your dismissal is confirmed."
Hwiik!
"Kyaaaak!!!"
Without paying the slightest attention to Garnet's temptation, Roy threw her straight out the window.
And then,
"Hmm, looks like the cleaning is roughly finished with this."
He nodded while looking out the window with a satisfied expression.
At that moment,
Dugeun-!
"..."
Jeanne felt her heart flutter for a member of the opposite sex for the first time in her life.