Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The streets were bustling with a multitude of people.
On ordinary days, I would have gone without an escort, but since this was an official public event, the Duke had sent a splendid carriage and an escort.
I leaned my head out the window to gaze at the scenery outside.
All the roads in the city were paved with stone, and the streets were lined with various shops and stalls; the flag bearing the Winfred crest that hung at the end of the carriage fluttered in the wind — many of the people strolling through the streets cast awestruck glances at Winfred's procession.
I gazed out the window, lost in thought.
As expected of a ducal carriage, the ride was not bad at all.
And so, time passed.
"We have arrived, my lord."
Before I knew it, we had arrived at the Cathedral, our destination, and the coachman opened the door. I slowly got out of the carriage, and a stoic-faced knight was waiting for me.
"Allow me to guide you."
Step by step, I followed the knight towards the center of the cathedral. It didn't take long to reach the central hall where the Knighting ceremony was taking place.
And then.
"Damn it."
A series of needlessly grandiose and suffocatingly boring pre-ceremony events followed - the procession of the holy fire, the blessing ceremony, the reading of the scriptures, prayer, meditation… I almost fell asleep before it even started, without adding a single lie.
And only after going through all these tedious procedures did the real Knighting ceremony begin.
"Nobles, come forward."
The Knighting ceremony was not a simple ceremony, but a competition; held only once every five years, the noble families, eager to secure capable yet loyal knights, eyed each other with intensity.
The number of capable knights was limited, and the number of knights that an individual could invest was also limited.
And these opportunities were distributed differentially based on social rank; those of higher status gained precedence, while those of lower status had to wait patiently at the back, often twiddling their thumbs in anticipation.
‘Of course, I have a free pass.’
The Winfred ducal house — one of the Three Guardian Families and the founders of the Empire.
As a member of the Winfred family, unless there was imperial blood or another ducal house here, there was no chance of me being outranked by anyone here.
In other words, I had secured what could only be described as 'priority' in being able to invest knights before anyone else.
However...
"I don't need it."
The only knight I desired is Diana, and no one else.
Priority? I don't need that either.
After all, she was not going to be Knighted by anyone but me anyway.
No, to be precise, she won't be able to be Knighted by anyone.
This would become the trigger that sends Diana into a period of stagnation, as she toils away in the dungeons for years.
After wasting so many years, Diana, who will eventually meet a fateful connection and blossom her talent, will eventually take the position of the captain of the imperial knights.
‘It should be somewhere around here,’ I thought to myself, scanning the nobles attending the Knighting ceremony with a sidelong glance.
‘Ah, there he is,’ I noted, observing a man sitting beside me with a discontented expression. I confirmed the crest emblazoned on his robe — a black eagle soaring through the darkness.
That's right. It was the unmistakable emblem of the Torthe, a prestigious viscount house that managed one of the Empire's most renowned mercenary groups.
The plan was simple; it was precisely this.
"Hey," I called out, and the man next to me turned his head.
He glanced at the Winfred emblem subtly displayed on my chest and, startled, stammered, "Y-yes? You mean…. me?"
The Torthe Viscount family was a family that I knew all too well; they were the first to buy a title with money, and they were famous for being a nouveau riche family who flaunts their wealth whenever a gathering is held.
But they were still only viscounts.
I gave the man a friendly smile and asked, "What is your order in Knighting?"
"...My order, you say?"
{T/N :- In case you didn’t understand, order here simply means the number/position in a sequence or an arrangement. If you can think of a better word, do tell me in the comments. It will update my vocabulary too.}
His complexion rapidly darkened. Naturally, a mercenary family like Torthe would be towards the end of the line, and he was surely feeling ashamed about it.
Now was the opportune moment.
Once again, I reaffirmed that in this damn world, the only thing one could trust in was money. In a gentle voice, I laid out my proposition to him, "Would you like to sell your turn to me?"
The man gaped, blinking stupidly; the very concept of buying and selling one's turn in the Knighting arrangement was something he had never even imagined.
I waited patiently for his response.
After a while.
The man glanced at me and opened his mouth cautiously.
"H, how much...?”
* * * * *
The knights order of the Cathedral were typically of common birth. Operating under the banner of the Deity, they extended mercy to those lacking opportunities, which was formal yet pitifully obligatory.
However, even among the commoners, there was a clear hierarchy within the order.
Hence, those commoners admitted into the knights order were often from well-off households, possessing some form of influence or wealth.
Being a knight was one of the few avenues for social mobility available to the common folk.
Yet, Diana was an outcast — a commoner, an orphan, with nothing but a sturdy physique to her name.
Thus, even within the ranks of the knights, she occupied the lowest rung of the ladder.
"Stand up!"
At the woman's command, Diana shakily rose from her seat; her body was bruised as if covered in mold, and her face was smeared with dirt as if it were a badge of honor — a testament to the countless humiliations and abuses she endured.
"What's with that look on your face?"
"............"
"What, feeling wronged?"
Yes, she was wronged.
Wronged for her common birth, because she was an orphan; wronged because she dared to dream of becoming a knight despite her circumstances.
The cruel reality of missing this once-in-five-years Knighting ceremony was utterly, mortifyingly unfair.
There was no knight order that would continue accepting a rejected failure like her.
That was why she had poured everything into this one chance. She had no funds or opportunity to wait for the next ceremony.
If she missed this, she would undoubtedly be cast out of the order.
Knights may be noble, but the fate of those who cannot become knights was abject.
Diana too would be forced to wander aimlessly, swinging her sword without purpose.
"You're not going to answer?"
Diana looked up, her eyes bloodshot, and glared at the woman.
All she had ever wanted was to become a knight, and she had spent half her life training for that one purpose.
But now, it was all over.
The opportunity that had finally come after years of grueling perseverance had been shattered by the woman in front of her, who seemed to think nothing of it.
All because of this woman's petty desire to uphold some outdated and unjust hierarchy.
Diana's reason was consumed by a raging fury, "...You bastard."
"Just realized that, huh?"
The woman shrugged, as if she had heard it all before. Behind her, the other women sniggered.
"Looks like she's about to cry."
"Nah, even if we torment her for days, not a single tear will fall. She's tough as nails."
"Hah, a cold-blooded one."
She swallowed her anger in silence. It felt like a burning ball lodged in her throat.
"Tsk, how boring."
The woman clicked her tongue, disappointed by Diana's lack of a more entertaining reaction.
She then condescendingly tossed out a "favor".
"Hey, go ahead."
"..........."
"Go to the knighting ceremony. Oh, it's probably already over, isn't it?"
She let out a mocking laugh and left with the other women.
Diana turned to look at the clock on the wall.
While she had been played for a fool, time had slipped away, and the knighting ceremony was nearing its end.
"......," she stared at her reflection in the marble. A face covered in dirt and disheveled attire. She resembled more of a ragamuffin than a knight.
Even if she were to attend the ceremony now, the fervor that once burned would have surely dwindled. And even if there were spots remaining, no noble would select a knight like her, no matter their order in the Knighting arrangement.
Even to herself, Diana's plight seemed ludicrous and pitiful. Overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness, her surroundings blurred before her eyes.
"...Hah."
...Is this really the point where she should give up? Perhaps someone would look at her and recall the essence of knighthood? But... would anyone, in their right mind, choose to invest in a novice knight like her, especially given her humble origins?
Countless regrets tangled in her mind, weaving a chaotic tapestry of despair and she closed her eyes, surrendering to defeat.
"..................."
But when she re-opened them, she found herself already sprinting through the training yard towards the central hall; through the haze in her mind, she could faintly hear the whispers of her fellow knights, urging her on.
"Huff... Hahh..."
She was desperate; she yearned.
She yearned to become an honorable knight, to pledge allegiance and loyalty to the one who had chosen her.
She wanted to leave her past behind and be reborn anew.
"Arrgh...!"
An animal-like groan erupted from between her clenched teeth; her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would burst, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.
Her steps grew increasingly hurried.
After running for some time, Diana finally came to an abrupt halt in front of the door leading to the central hall.
On the other side of the door, a chilling silence pervaded - as if the ceremony had come to an end, and the final stage had begun.
She lowered her head in resignation. Then, swallowing her trepidation, she cautiously reached out toward the door.
CREAK!
The door to the central hall swung open, bathing her in a cascade of light. Her silvery hair danced in the swirling wind, tousled and disheveled.
".............."
The seats where the nobles should have been sitting to choose the knights were empty, and the knights who should have awaited the nobles' choices were nowhere to be seen.
Ah, it's over.
She thought, in that fleeting moment when—
"Ah, there she is."
—a dignified voice pierced her ears.
She turned her head in the direction of the voice. There stood a familiar-looking bishop and a man, engaged in conversation.
"Young master, I've already told you the ceremony is over!"
"What do you mean it's over? Can't you see the knight over there? Or is she not a knight at all? Odd. She seems like one to me."
"Well, she is a knight, but I clearly stated that the ceremony had ended..."
"Hmm, I wonder how much the Winfred family has donated to this cathedral over the years."
"Y-young Master...!"
Diana's thoughts couldn't keep up with the flow of the conversation. All that registered were the words "ceremony" and "knight", and the sharp gaze the man directed at her.
And then...
"Alright, this is the last time, young master."
"Should have done it sooner."
"Then please rise and choose your knight."
The man called "young master" stood up from his seat, his entire being cast in shadow by the light from above.
"Hmm."
His piercing blue eyes fixed on Diana.
It felt as though a tickling sensation teased her chest.
"I will invest this young lady standing here as a knight."
His finger pointed toward Diana.
In that moment, transparent tears streamed down her cheeks.
Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The streets were bustling with a multitude of people.
On ordinary days, I would have gone without an escort, but since this was an official public event, the Duke had sent a splendid carriage and an escort.
I leaned my head out the window to gaze at the scenery outside.
All the roads in the city were paved with stone, and the streets were lined with various shops and stalls; the flag bearing the Winfred crest that hung at the end of the carriage fluttered in the wind — many of the people strolling through the streets cast awestruck glances at Winfred's procession.
I gazed out the window, lost in thought.
As expected of a ducal carriage, the ride was not bad at all.
And so, time passed.
"We have arrived, my lord."
Before I knew it, we had arrived at the Cathedral, our destination, and the coachman opened the door. I slowly got out of the carriage, and a stoic-faced knight was waiting for me.
"Allow me to guide you."
Step by step, I followed the knight towards the center of the cathedral. It didn't take long to reach the central hall where the Knighting ceremony was taking place.
And then.
"Damn it."
A series of needlessly grandiose and suffocatingly boring pre-ceremony events followed - the procession of the holy fire, the blessing ceremony, the reading of the scriptures, prayer, meditation… I almost fell asleep before it even started, without adding a single lie.
And only after going through all these tedious procedures did the real Knighting ceremony begin.
"Nobles, come forward."
The Knighting ceremony was not a simple ceremony, but a competition; held only once every five years, the noble families, eager to secure capable yet loyal knights, eyed each other with intensity.
The number of capable knights was limited, and the number of knights that an individual could invest was also limited.
And these opportunities were distributed differentially based on social rank; those of higher status gained precedence, while those of lower status had to wait patiently at the back, often twiddling their thumbs in anticipation.
‘Of course, I have a free pass.’
The Winfred ducal house — one of the Three Guardian Families and the founders of the Empire.
As a member of the Winfred family, unless there was imperial blood or another ducal house here, there was no chance of me being outranked by anyone here.
In other words, I had secured what could only be described as 'priority' in being able to invest knights before anyone else.
However...
"I don't need it."
The only knight I desired is Diana, and no one else.
Priority? I don't need that either.
After all, she was not going to be Knighted by anyone but me anyway.
No, to be precise, she won't be able to be Knighted by anyone.
This would become the trigger that sends Diana into a period of stagnation, as she toils away in the dungeons for years.
After wasting so many years, Diana, who will eventually meet a fateful connection and blossom her talent, will eventually take the position of the captain of the imperial knights.
‘It should be somewhere around here,’ I thought to myself, scanning the nobles attending the Knighting ceremony with a sidelong glance.
‘Ah, there he is,’ I noted, observing a man sitting beside me with a discontented expression. I confirmed the crest emblazoned on his robe — a black eagle soaring through the darkness.
That's right. It was the unmistakable emblem of the Torthe, a prestigious viscount house that managed one of the Empire's most renowned mercenary groups.
The plan was simple; it was precisely this.
"Hey," I called out, and the man next to me turned his head.
He glanced at the Winfred emblem subtly displayed on my chest and, startled, stammered, "Y-yes? You mean…. me?"
The Torthe Viscount family was a family that I knew all too well; they were the first to buy a title with money, and they were famous for being a nouveau riche family who flaunts their wealth whenever a gathering is held.
But they were still only viscounts.
I gave the man a friendly smile and asked, "What is your order in Knighting?"
"...My order, you say?"
{T/N :- In case you didn’t understand, order here simply means the number/position in a sequence or an arrangement. If you can think of a better word, do tell me in the comments. It will update my vocabulary too.}
His complexion rapidly darkened. Naturally, a mercenary family like Torthe would be towards the end of the line, and he was surely feeling ashamed about it.
Now was the opportune moment.
Once again, I reaffirmed that in this damn world, the only thing one could trust in was money. In a gentle voice, I laid out my proposition to him, "Would you like to sell your turn to me?"
The man gaped, blinking stupidly; the very concept of buying and selling one's turn in the Knighting arrangement was something he had never even imagined.
I waited patiently for his response.
After a while.
The man glanced at me and opened his mouth cautiously.
"H, how much...?”
* * * * *
The knights order of the Cathedral were typically of common birth. Operating under the banner of the Deity, they extended mercy to those lacking opportunities, which was formal yet pitifully obligatory.
However, even among the commoners, there was a clear hierarchy within the order.
Hence, those commoners admitted into the knights order were often from well-off households, possessing some form of influence or wealth.
Being a knight was one of the few avenues for social mobility available to the common folk.
Yet, Diana was an outcast — a commoner, an orphan, with nothing but a sturdy physique to her name.
Thus, even within the ranks of the knights, she occupied the lowest rung of the ladder.
"Stand up!"
At the woman's command, Diana shakily rose from her seat; her body was bruised as if covered in mold, and her face was smeared with dirt as if it were a badge of honor — a testament to the countless humiliations and abuses she endured.
"What's with that look on your face?"
"............"
"What, feeling wronged?"
Yes, she was wronged.
Wronged for her common birth, because she was an orphan; wronged because she dared to dream of becoming a knight despite her circumstances.
The cruel reality of missing this once-in-five-years Knighting ceremony was utterly, mortifyingly unfair.
There was no knight order that would continue accepting a rejected failure like her.
That was why she had poured everything into this one chance. She had no funds or opportunity to wait for the next ceremony.
If she missed this, she would undoubtedly be cast out of the order.
Knights may be noble, but the fate of those who cannot become knights was abject.
Diana too would be forced to wander aimlessly, swinging her sword without purpose.
"You're not going to answer?"
Diana looked up, her eyes bloodshot, and glared at the woman.
All she had ever wanted was to become a knight, and she had spent half her life training for that one purpose.
But now, it was all over.
The opportunity that had finally come after years of grueling perseverance had been shattered by the woman in front of her, who seemed to think nothing of it.
All because of this woman's petty desire to uphold some outdated and unjust hierarchy.
Diana's reason was consumed by a raging fury, "...You bastard."
"Just realized that, huh?"
The woman shrugged, as if she had heard it all before. Behind her, the other women sniggered.
"Looks like she's about to cry."
"Nah, even if we torment her for days, not a single tear will fall. She's tough as nails."
"Hah, a cold-blooded one."
She swallowed her anger in silence. It felt like a burning ball lodged in her throat.
"Tsk, how boring."
The woman clicked her tongue, disappointed by Diana's lack of a more entertaining reaction.
She then condescendingly tossed out a "favor".
"Hey, go ahead."
"..........."
"Go to the knighting ceremony. Oh, it's probably already over, isn't it?"
She let out a mocking laugh and left with the other women.
Diana turned to look at the clock on the wall.
While she had been played for a fool, time had slipped away, and the knighting ceremony was nearing its end.
"......," she stared at her reflection in the marble. A face covered in dirt and disheveled attire. She resembled more of a ragamuffin than a knight.
Even if she were to attend the ceremony now, the fervor that once burned would have surely dwindled. And even if there were spots remaining, no noble would select a knight like her, no matter their order in the Knighting arrangement.
Even to herself, Diana's plight seemed ludicrous and pitiful. Overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness, her surroundings blurred before her eyes.
"...Hah."
...Is this really the point where she should give up? Perhaps someone would look at her and recall the essence of knighthood? But... would anyone, in their right mind, choose to invest in a novice knight like her, especially given her humble origins?
Countless regrets tangled in her mind, weaving a chaotic tapestry of despair and she closed her eyes, surrendering to defeat.
"..................."
But when she re-opened them, she found herself already sprinting through the training yard towards the central hall; through the haze in her mind, she could faintly hear the whispers of her fellow knights, urging her on.
"Huff... Hahh..."
She was desperate; she yearned.
She yearned to become an honorable knight, to pledge allegiance and loyalty to the one who had chosen her.
She wanted to leave her past behind and be reborn anew.
"Arrgh...!"
An animal-like groan erupted from between her clenched teeth; her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would burst, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.
Her steps grew increasingly hurried.
After running for some time, Diana finally came to an abrupt halt in front of the door leading to the central hall.
On the other side of the door, a chilling silence pervaded - as if the ceremony had come to an end, and the final stage had begun.
She lowered her head in resignation. Then, swallowing her trepidation, she cautiously reached out toward the door.
CREAK!
The door to the central hall swung open, bathing her in a cascade of light. Her silvery hair danced in the swirling wind, tousled and disheveled.
".............."
The seats where the nobles should have been sitting to choose the knights were empty, and the knights who should have awaited the nobles' choices were nowhere to be seen.
Ah, it's over.
She thought, in that fleeting moment when—
"Ah, there she is."
—a dignified voice pierced her ears.
She turned her head in the direction of the voice. There stood a familiar-looking bishop and a man, engaged in conversation.
"Young master, I've already told you the ceremony is over!"
"What do you mean it's over? Can't you see the knight over there? Or is she not a knight at all? Odd. She seems like one to me."
"Well, she is a knight, but I clearly stated that the ceremony had ended..."
"Hmm, I wonder how much the Winfred family has donated to this cathedral over the years."
"Y-young Master...!"
Diana's thoughts couldn't keep up with the flow of the conversation. All that registered were the words "ceremony" and "knight", and the sharp gaze the man directed at her.
And then...
"Alright, this is the last time, young master."
"Should have done it sooner."
"Then please rise and choose your knight."
The man called "young master" stood up from his seat, his entire being cast in shadow by the light from above.
"Hmm."
His piercing blue eyes fixed on Diana.
It felt as though a tickling sensation teased her chest.
"I will invest this young lady standing here as a knight."
His finger pointed toward Diana.
In that moment, transparent tears streamed down her cheeks.
