Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Rise with the Steps of a Knight
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Blanc was called the Knight of Moonlight Grass by the people, but he didn't actually hold a knight's title.
His official titles were solely the Cardmus Barony and the legitimate heir of Norinton—nothing more.
In other words, he had no right to be called a 'knight' of Moonlight Grass.
For Blanc, as for all young noblemen, a knight's title was of utmost importance.
The best outcome was to inherit the family and claim a noble rank like baron or count, but only one person could achieve that glory.
Unless the heir took pity on his siblings and granted them positions, the only title available was that of knight.
A knight's title proved one's skill as a swordsman capable of wielding a blade proficiently, but it also determined one's patron.
The knight's standing depended entirely on who bestowed the title—whether a obscure local noble or an unknown knight meant little recognition, while a high-ranking noble elevated one above ordinary nobles.
Take Sir Edwin of Swiftness, for example: he received his knighthood from the previous head of the Tolome family, giving him greater prestige than even a penniless baron like Blanc, despite not being noble himself.
With the Tolome family backing him, Blanc couldn't treat Edwin lightly, no matter his own noble status.
In short, it meant leveraging the influence of the appointing noble and family, so young nobles desperate for knighthood were always eager to catch the eye of highborn lords or renowned knights.
In that sense, Blanc had no such worries—unlike the others.
The head of the Tolome family already had his eye on him, after all.
And since the Tolomes were renowned for their swordsmanship, receiving a knighthood from Bartolomeo would make it one of the highest in the Felix Kingdom.
Though concentrating his support base on the Tolomes was concerning, the title itself was nothing to refuse.
"Blanc Cardmus, kneel on your left knee!"
Bartolomeo decided to hold Blanc's knighting ceremony before his coming-of-age rite.
Unlike other young nobles, Blanc already held a barony, so kneeling and bowing to another noble after full adulthood wouldn't suit him.
Not yet of age, Blanc—as plain Blanc Cardmus, not Baron Cardmus—knelt before Bartolomeo.
Watching from the dais, Bartolomeo and Edwin wore proud smiles.
"Blanc Cardmus! Today, you shall transcend a mere swordsman and be appointed a knight sworn to protect the kingdom. Are you prepared?"
"Yes!"
Becoming a knight meant ascending to the status of a quasi-noble, bearing responsibility beyond mere swordplay.
Every knight of the Tolome family watched that moment—even Yonas, with his displeased expression.
Descending from the dais under their gazes, Bartolomeo stood before Blanc.
He set his sword on the ground.
"...?"
Then, like Blanc, he knelt on one knee, matching his eye level.
The knights began murmuring at the sight.
In a proper knighting, the noble should tap the candidate's shoulders with his sword—yet Bartolomeo had laid his blade aside and knelt on his left knee just like Blanc.
"A proxy ceremony..."
One knight murmured softly.
Proxy knighting occurred when the lord couldn't attend due to war or distance, sending a representative.
The proxy had to conduct the rite as an equal to the candidate, just as Bartolomeo was doing.
But the problem was that the man kneeling before Blanc was Bartolomeo himself.
Who could appoint Felix Kingdom's meritorious Count Tolome as proxy?
As the knights buzzed, Bartolomeo silently met Blanc's eyes.
Watching his silence, they quieted, recalling why they were there.
"Blanc Cardmus, do you swear to always infuse your blade with justice?"
"Yes."
Thud!
The stomp of the knights' feet echoed through the manor.
"Blanc Cardmus, do you swear to always harbor courage in your heart?"
"Yes."
Thud!
"Blanc Cardmus, do you swear to always pursue conscience with your gaze?"
"Yes."
Thud!
Blanc answered Bartolomeo's questions without hesitation.
Each time he spoke, all assembled knights stomped in unison—a mark of respect for their lord conducting the rite and welcome for the new knight.
"I command the Blanc Cardmus who has answered the three oaths."
Having received Blanc's vows, Bartolomeo took a wooden rod from Edwin and tapped Blanc's left and right shoulders in turn.
"Rise with the steps of a knight, Blanc Cardmus—sixth knight appointed by Aselheit."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet Bartolomeo's solemn, resonant tone carried everywhere.
The knights, ready to applaud the end of Blanc's knighting—expecting Tolome affiliation—froze as one at his final words.
From the moment Bartolomeo knelt, the atmosphere had turned unusual; now, unexpectedly invoking Aselheit's name left them stunned.
But a few who had witnessed Blanc's duel with Aselheit nodded and gave the new knight of Aselheit fervent applause.
Knight of Aselheit.
Just as the Tolome heirs were expected to become lions, so too were Aselheit's knights.
In his long life, Aselheit had personally knighted only five.
All five became legends who shook eras, without exception.
And now, Blanc Cardmus—the sixth.
The black-haired boy rose slowly with the steps of a knight.
From this day, people would expect legend from him.
A lavish office with a red carpet.
Golden candelabras and ornate decorations adorned the space.
At the back loomed a massive bookshelf, so tall one had to crane one's neck, filled floor-to-ceiling with tomes.
One might think it belonged to a renowned scholar.
"Forgive me, Your Highness."
But the middle-aged man bowing, blood trickling from nose and mouth after a harsh blow, disproved that.
"Nasgoer, I seek no apology."
The mid-20s youth wiped bloodied hands with a handkerchief.
His fiery crimson hair contrasted his icy gaze as he looked down at Nasgoer.
"Baron Cardmus, legitimate heir of Norinton, and Aselheit's sixth knight..."
No sooner had he finished than Nasgoer dropped to his knees.
"Kill me, Lord Aleyde! I have bungled the task!"
Gazing at Nasgoer kowtowing forehead to floor, Aleyde set aside the bloody cloth and picked up a wine goblet of matching hue.
"At this point, one must say fate guides him. Even you couldn't help it, Nasgoer."
Nasgoer had tracked Blanc's trail all the way to Free City Baywood.
But the then-ten-year-old Blanc had vanished completely with his attendants.
Learning the truth later, Nasgoer could only laugh hollowly.
Who would imagine a boy of ten, with no base in Baywood, using smugglers' secret gold routes?
By the time Nasgoer caught his trace, Blanc had already entered Baltimore—beyond his reach.
Though uneasy about the lingering threat, Nasgoer consoled himself that an orphaned boy with nothing could do little.
Yet that boy surpassed all expectations.
"Rise, Nasgoer."
"Yes!"
Snap to attention, Nasgoer stood briskly.
Before him, Aleyde gazed out the window, swirling his wine.
"That boy struggles to survive, just like me."
"...Your Highness."
Briefly wistful, as if reminiscing, Aleyde's eyes flashed sharply.
"Blanc Cardmus enjoys the Tolomes' full backing and a planned marriage to the Neuendorf family. No one could miss Count Bartolomeo Tolome's intent now."
"How shall we prepare?"
Staring at his goblet, Aleyde licked dry lips decisively.
"Contact the Ranketa, Camora, and Vishus families. Tell them Tolome and Neuendorf eye Norinton."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nasgoer nodded, blood still staining his face.
"Especially Ranketa, bordering Norinton directly. Order them to halt all internal and external activities, bolster arms. Prepare them for border war. Permit some direct aid."
Silently absorbing orders, Nasgoer looked up.
"Shall I ready assassins instead? He's just a boy, even as Aselheit's knight."
Gazing out the window, Aleyde replied.
"No. That won't do. The boy Blanc Cardmus has caught the current. Forcing it might backfire on us."
Aleyde drained his goblet and set it down.
"This is Gartaria; Blanc Cardmus is in Felix. Our options are limited—wait for the right moment."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Now go. Rectify your mistake."
Bowing, Nasgoer backed out of Aleyde's office.
As he left, Aleyde refilled his goblet, eyeing approaching storm clouds, and drank deeply.
Gazing silently out the window.
In his pupils reflected white lightning from the distant thunderheads.