Treat Me as an Apprentice Knight
Leonid Balheim sat in his seat, eyes fixed warily on the company commander. It had been like this ever since he'd entered the company commander's office. The commander had him sit down and then just kept staring silently out the window. He let out deep sighs now and then. How long had it gone on like that? Finally, the company commander trudged over and took his seat.
"Sir Balheim."
"Yes, Company Commander."
"You've heard the news, I take it."
"Yes, sir."
"Then you can guess why I called you here…?"
"…Yes."
Arselia Rosenhardt. The empire's precious flower was coming to the Silver Eagle Corps. And these two men in the room were about to become her direct superiors.
"It couldn't be helped."
"I understand."
"Among our legion's company commanders, I'm the most junior."
"……."
"And among our company's platoon leaders, you're the most junior."
Leonid squeezed his eyes shut. The company commander pressed on regardless.
"Her Highness will be assigned as deputy platoon leader of 3rd Platoon. She's finished at the Imperial Academy, so normally she'd start as an Apprentice Knight squad leader… but given her imperial status, she'll get a private quarters assignment right away as deputy platoon leader."
Private quarters. Leonid's gaze drifted to the window. A standalone house came into view—a bit out of place amid the military barracks. It was the house workers had started building two months ago in anticipation of the princess's arrival. It was a touch large for one person, but considering her status, it seemed almost humbly modest. If it had been a prince, he could've just stayed in one of the spare single officers' quarters. But since it was a princess—a woman—they couldn't do that, so they'd built a new house. And they couldn't make it a single room either, so after some back-and-forth adjustments, it had ended up this size.
"Oh, right. If Her Highness is coming in as deputy platoon leader, what happens to the current one?"
"Personnel's taking him. He'll probably get slotted wherever a spot opens up. Throw a farewell party for him with the platoon."
"Understood."
He gave a dutiful reply, but from Leonid's perspective, it felt daunting. He'd gotten along well enough with the current deputy, so losing a familiar comrade stung.
"And one important thing."
"Yes, sir?"
"Her Highness will be in 3rd Platoon, but not really in 3rd Platoon… it'll be an ambiguous position."
"You mean……."
Leonid trailed off, glancing around the room. There were only two of them, but these words could border on lèse-majesté if overheard, so he was extra cautious.
"Are you planning to keep her as a special interest officer?"
The company commander jumped as if struck by lightning, waving his hands frantically at Leonid's words.
"What nonsense is that!? When did I ever say anything like that?!"
"Oh, not that? Good…."
"Of course not!"
The company commander clutched his chest, steadying his breathing. Then he began explaining to Leonid step by step.
"Think about why Her Highness is coming to our unit this time. You're nobility; you should know."
"Because she's one of the heirs to the throne."
"Exactly! So she'll be attached to 3rd Platoon but also get experience in various duties—she'll be dispatched outside the platoon often for that."
"Ahh… I see."
So in the end, it still meant losing a platoon member? He couldn't exactly control a princess off on external assignments. Leonid's chest still felt tight and stuffy.
"No need to worry too much. It might even be an opportunity."
"Pardon?"
"Get in her good graces, and good things could come your way, right?"
Ambition gleamed in the company commander's eyes. Leonid averted his gaze from the blatant emotion.
"Check in on her regularly—make sure she's comfortable, see if she needs anything. Make a good impression."
"I… I'm not all that used to dealing with ladies…."
"No, just butter her up a bit and snag some crumbs! Do well, and you could get transferred to the capital, or even get a commendation! I'm not telling you to seduce her!"
The company commander thumped his chest. What to do with this stiff-necked guy? If he hadn't already reported her assignment to the higher-ups, he'd swap him out right now!
"Your Highness, you'll need to ride from here on."
"Mm… yeah, got it."
I rubbed my bleary eyes at Elina's voice. As I stretched, she stared at me with a baffled look.
"How do you sleep so soundly in a rattling carriage like this?"
"I've always conked out the moment my head hits something."
It had been that way since my past life. Thanks to it, I slept like a rock even in the army. During field camps, I'd use a flat stone as a pillow.
Anyway, stepping down from the carriage, I spotted a rocky mountain range cloaked in dense greenery far off in the distance. The Irons pine Mountains. The empire's largest mining hub for ores—that was the Silver Eagle Corps' main job, protecting and managing it. And the 1st Battalion I was heading to oversaw mana stone mining, so it had a fair number of mages stationed there.
"Your Highness, please take this one."
As I admired the terrain, an imperial knight handed me the reins. The horse seemed well-trained—docile and obedient, without a hint of wildness. Perfect.
Once Elina was mounted too, the imperial knights formed up around us in escort formation. We ascended the mountain path. It was the kind of trail too rough for a carriage, just as the horse necessitated.
How far had we gone? Up ahead, a crowd of knights had turned out in front of the base to greet us.
"Salute to Her Highness!"
"For House Rosenhardt!"
Damn, listen to that thunderous roar. Was this the thrill of ceremony? In my past life, I'd been on the saluting end, so I hadn't cared much for it. But they say position makes the man. I loved it.
I returned the salute and dismounted. The elderly commander at the front stepped forward. Matching him to the documents I'd seen… this was the Silver Eagle Corps' legion commander.
The legion commander approached with a kindly smile.
"Your Highness, you must be tired from the journey."
"I'm pleased by such a warm welcome."
"The honor is mine. Shall we go inside?"
I nodded at the legion commander's words and glanced back. Elina was dismounting and heading my way. She was staying at the base with me. As my exclusive lady's maid, she couldn't be separated from me even in this situation. I felt a bit guilty about that. She'd spent three years at the Imperial Academy, and no sooner had we returned to the capital than it was off to the army in less than a week. She wasn't showing it, but she had to be upset. I'd have to treat her better.
"Salute to Her Highness!"
"For House Rosenhardt!"
"Yeah. Safe travels back."
"Yes, ma'am!"
We sent the escorting imperial knights on their way. Suddenly, the reality of enlisting hit me. It felt like standing in front of Nonsan Training Center. But better than my past life—no one had seen me off then. Those barely parental types probably didn't even know when I shipped out. I'd taken the express bus to Nonsan all alone, feeling pretty lonely.
"Um… Your Highness?"
"Yes?"
"Is something bothering you…?"
Had memories of my past life twisted my expression? The legion commander asked with a nervous look.
"No, nothing. Let's head in."
"Y-yes. This way."
At the legion commander's gesture, a middle-aged man stepped up beside him. Another face from the documents—the 1st Battalion commander. We moved into the base under his guidance.
All the way, countless eyes followed us. Knights and soldiers alike, stealing glances. Was it because I was imperial? A woman? Various emotions flickered in those gazes.
Weaving through the stares, we soon reached the battalion commander's office. Inside, two tense men shot to their feet.
"Salute to Her Highness!"
"For House Rosenhardt!"
At this point, I didn't even need the documents to guess who they were. The company and platoon commanders I'd be under.
"Nice to meet you."
"The honor is ours!"
"Come on, everyone sit."
I sat the legion commander—who was yielding me the head seat—down, then took the lowest seat at the far end. Standard for the position I was about to receive.
"Well then, Your Highness. You probably know it all already, but let me explain our unit again."
"Before that, one thing."
"Pardon? What is it?"
"From this moment on, treat me not as a princess, but as an Apprentice Knight."
Silence fell over the battalion commander's office. The platoon and company commanders eyed the battalion commander; he eyed the legion commander. The legion commander met my gaze straight on. Or rather, correction—with slightly wavering eyes that screamed it's here.
"V-very well… Er, ahem! Y-yes, understood."
The legion commander let out a deep sigh after speaking. His ashen face and trembling fingertips were hilarious. With the superior breaking the ice, the battalion commander and below seemed a bit more at ease.