Chapter 3. Were they such a high-ranking person? (1)
Chapter 3. Were they such a high-ranking person? (1)
After spending about two weeks, I was able to learn a few things.
First of all, unexpectedly, the knights of the Blutrosenorden were not completely without basics.
Of course, that doesn't mean they are actually good at fighting. If I had to be precise, it's closer to a failing grade. Especially compared to the three knight orders that make up the regular army under the Duke—the Eichenorden, Silberbergorden, and Stahlklaueorden—it's a level that's impossible to even compare. A 'fight' itself probably wouldn't even be established.
So, it's premature, but still.
Tak!
Occasionally, there were young ladies who could block Erna's attacks to some extent.
"Haa, haa, haa......."
Leana von Ebenburg.
In fact, all I remember is that Leana is the 'third daughter' of the Ebenburg family. I hadn't really paid much attention to how other families lived.
However, being the 'third daughter' also means there are 'at least three daughters.' Naturally, there would be sons as well.
It also meant that the portion Leana occupied within the family was very small.
Perhaps the reason she could endure without collapsing even while bruised here and there was because Leana was also aware of that fact.
"Your Excellency."
As I approached, the girls stopped training. Their expressions were all different. Among them, only Erna wore a satisfied expression.
Inge was still terrified, and most of the other noble young ladies had various complaints written on their faces.
Only Leana knelt before me with an expressionless face.
I looked at Leana, who was catching her breath while kneeling on one knee, then turned my gaze toward Erna and asked.
"How is the training going?"
"I apologize, Your Excellency. I am still in the process of instilling the basics."
Erna's body trembled slightly. Did she think I was going to slap her cheek again?
Even so, I wouldn't do that. I have to manage my image in my own way. Besides, if I keep bullying the captain in front of her subordinates, my image might be ruined too much.
To be honest, I did feel that impulse. Regardless of whether Erna did something wrong or not, the Rosalyn in me seems to quite enjoy slapping those soft cheeks with my hand.
"Hehe, good."
I said that and reached out my hand.
"Y, Your Excellency. Sweat......."
"It's fine, this much."
It's a strange thing. I should have a personality that hates anything 'dirty.'
Not that I've come to like Erna personally, though.
"......."
Aha.
Only after my hand touched Erna's flushed cheek could I vaguely understand.
I like seeing people suffer. Almost instinctively.
It seems I probably like the sight of Erna catching her breath with her cheeks slightly flushed after moving with all her might.
"You are working hard."
I lightly touched Erna's sweat-drenched cheek and brushed back her blonde hair. Erna trembled slightly and then sat down, kneeling on one knee.
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
Is this loyalty, or fear? Then again, the two are synonymous. That's how a noble's 'loyalty' is formed.
You swear loyalty to avoid being eaten by someone above you, and in return, you are guaranteed safety. That safety sometimes manifests as the lord's military power and influence, and sometimes as the salary you receive.
If you think about yourself when you've lost all of that, there would be no existence as pathetic as a knight without a lord.
"Leana."
I turned my body and spoke while looking at Leana, who was also kneeling nearby.
"Judging by the way you swing your sword, it seems you have received basic training."
I asked in an intentionally affected, cutesy voice. Usually, this was the tone I used when I was terrified, but at least the people around me didn't know that.
If I mix it in beforehand like this in my daily life, I won't get caught later for the fact that I'm 'doing it because I'm scared.'
"Y, yes. When I was at home, my oppa-deul......."
"I see. Did your oppa-deul say they would teach you themselves?"
"N, no. I......."
As expected.
In this worldview, it's not easy for a woman to become a knight. There were many 'barriers' in many ways, both in terms of social perception and individual differences in physical strength.
"Then, did you apply to join this knight order?"
"Y, yes."
And she was on the list I finally selected from those candidates.
"Good."
I nodded.
"It just so happens that I needed an instructor."
"An instructor, you say?"
"That is correct. Would you look at the other young ladies?"
When I pointed my fan at Ella, Lila, and Merit, the gazes of the three people who were still somewhat okay turned in that direction.
Ella, Lila, and Merit couldn't even hold their bodies up properly. Although they had barely managed to kneel, they weren't kneeling on one knee like the others to show a knight's courtesy; they were kneeling on both knees and supporting their bodies with both arms. In other words, it was a posture that looked like they were performing a deep bow.
"Unfortunately, there is too big a difference from Erna's skill."
"......."
For some reason, Erna's eyes seemed to sparkle at my praise, but I ignored it for now.
"There should be at least one person to teach from a similar perspective. Erna, make sure to instill all of your techniques into Leana. And Leana, you should pass on what you've learned to the other young ladies with appropriate force. I want my knight order to at least have the appearance of a 'knight order'."
At my words, Leana's face turned pale.
"Inge will help too. Right, Inge?"
"O, of course, Your Excellency!"
Inge shouted, her face turning blue.
That expression is good too.
She seems literally terrified at the words 'appearance of a knight order.' Erna is following my words like a puppy, but Inge might have judged it 'impossible.'
But what can I do? If I tell them to do it, they have to do it.
I didn't want to show the Ancient Empire's artifacts to other knight orders. Even though they are directly under the Duke, the influence of their families cannot be ignored. If they think what I obtained is an overly important item, the knights would probably report it to their main families immediately.
However, this knight order has a small number of people. Control is that much easier.
"I'll give you two weeks."
I said with a sly smile.
"At least by then, make sure they can ride a horse while armed. There's no need to sprint. For now, let's just make it so they don't fall off and break their necks."
"Understood, Your Excellency!"
Erna shouted energetically at my words.
Naturally, the faces of the other young ladies and Inge turned even paler.
Good. Let's see how far they can go.
If possible, I hope they show one of the two clearly: either being incredibly bad, or at least showing some potential.
Five years is a short time. If I have to discard them, it's better to discard them as quickly as possible and recruit new ones.
*
Now, letters discussing Father's death have almost stopped coming.
During the day, I deal with the influential people of the Duke's direct territory who flock in droves. Most of them bring complaints they have or request things like legal arbitration. While commoners do have the right to say such things, usually the officials cut them off appropriately and only bring up the truly important pending issues.
I listen to those complaints boringly as if I were a village head, send away the ones that are clearly not right, and handle the things that I should resolve by listening to the stories around me.
"......Rosalyn-nim......."
And, for some reason, some of the older gentlemen would tear up while looking at me like that.
No, well, they say I lived almost half out of my mind before that. But even so, is there really anything to be that moved by?
More than that, I thought the people around me would more actively aim for power. You know, like making marriage proposals.
Actually, there were such people, but they were all from outside the Duchy. Even if they didn't make proposals outright, they would scan my appearance as if judging it, or ask about this and that in an strangely prying way.
Seeing that even the barons or counts within the Duchy don't bring up such talk......
"It's all thanks to the benevolence of the late Duke Gakha."
Frida answered my question with a smile.
"The Duke Gakha did not rule the Duchy solely with power. They say conversations between nobles are made of transactions, but you can't completely exclude emotions either."
Is that so?
How should I put it, I don't know if it's because I keep projecting the game onto this world, or because my personality, whether in my past life or current life, is one that thinks about those things first, but I keep weighing money or status that goes back and forth rather than such 'relationships of grace and resentment.'
"There are many such nobles, but......."
Frida trailed off at my question.
Inside the rattling carriage.
I stared at Frida, who was sitting across from me, for a while.
"Y, Your Excellency?"
"You may call me Rosalyn. No, rather, haven't you called me that until now, Frida? Using such titles suddenly now would only be uncomfortable."
"I apologize."
"I shall forgive you."
I crossed my arms and spoke while looking at Frida.
"Frida, I want to ask you one thing. Why do you follow me so much? It doesn't seem like I've done anything for you."
It's true.
I only have memories of bullying Frida since I was young. It's fortunate that Frida wasn't a main character and didn't appear in the game; if this were a medieval romance fantasy dating sim, Frida would have been the protagonist and I would have been the target of judgment.
If it were because of Father, she would have abandoned me and run away long ago. Frida never showed any such sign.
"......That is."
But Frida couldn't bring herself to answer.
Perhaps there isn't even a reason.
Maybe it's just her kind personality that can't leave alone an existence that would just end up alone if left unattended.
"......If it's hard to say, you don't have to."
The atmosphere just became uncomfortable for no reason.
I turned my head and thought while looking out the window.