Ch.276Knight’s Oath

After frying Isabella’s head to a crisp, Leonore removed her helmet, revealing her identity and clearly drawing a line between herself and the witch.

She claimed that Josef, Matthias, and even Ernst had actually been killed by this witch, and she had merely avenged them.

No one could accuse Leonore of being of witch’s blood after seeing Isabella’s charred skull. They might whisper behind her back, but even Elmaine of the Church of Elpinel, who had been most zealous in witch-hunting, was protecting her.

Even the nobles of Leopold’s faction, shocked by Leonore’s true identity, kept their mouths shut.

At that point, it was obvious that bringing up her witch bloodline would only backfire on them.

A perfect timing to reveal her identity.

Even if she returned to the imperial palace now, no one could express any dissatisfaction.

However, Leonore didn’t do that.

Instead, in front of the Extrashafel Cathedral, she swore to abandon the name of Wittelsbach and live as a mere knight.

With this, Isabella’s bloodline was completely erased from the imperial family tree.

“If I returned as royalty, it would only bring more troublesome and unpleasant situations. I could clearly see what the nobles were thinking.”

Leonore, who had come to visit me, sat beside my sickbed and brought a teacup to her lips.

I had been worried about her condition after she had to cut down Ernst herself and fry Isabella… but she looked more relieved than I expected.

Though she couldn’t hide her slightly swollen eyes.

Having shed the uncomfortable black armor after revealing her identity, Leonore had returned wearing something similar to riding clothes. Just like before.

The only differences were her more stable aura, having reached Master level, and the sword at her waist.

Apparently, her previous sword had broken during the battle. Though she spoke of it calmly, she seemed quite regretful, as it must have been a sword she cherished.

After moistening her throat with tea, Leonore continued her story.

—-

The aftermath of Leonore revealing her identity.

The nobles of Leopold’s faction didn’t say anything outright, but they looked at Leonore with great discomfort. Conversely, the ambiguous “bats” who had been close to Isabella but hadn’t participated in the rebellion looked at Leonore as if she were their last lifeline.

Bats. An apt description.

These were nobles who had initially supported Ernst but judged that civil war was too risky, so they remained quiet without participating.

Some of them had bugs implanted in their heads and went berserk after Isabella died, resulting in their disposal, but not all of them were infected.

Since they hadn’t actually participated in the rebellion, they couldn’t be openly touched, but both sides knew well that they had shown close relationships with Isabella.

With Isabella’s true nature exposed and their backing collapsed, it was clear that their future wouldn’t be bright if Leopold returned, as they had committed many crimes.

Yes. To such people, Leonore was like their last lifeline.

Having personally disposed of Isabella, she was free from responsibility for the witch’s crimes, yet she undeniably carried the bloodline of Benes.

Moreover, unlike Isabella, she had proven her deep affection for Ernst remained.

They probably planned to rally around Leonore and withstand Leopold’s faction’s attacks.

They would claim their loyalty was to Ernst, not Isabella, and that they knew nothing about the witch.

Since the treason charges against Ernst had been dropped, such claims would at least free them from the fatal accusation of collaborating with traitors.

Leonore had delivered a heartfelt speech for her brother’s honor restoration.

The accusations that he had started a civil war with the witch to gain the throne had subsided, and instead, sympathy grew that Ernst too was an unfortunate prince who had tried to stop the witch but was sacrificed.

Though not Leonore’s intention, this was the opportunity these people had been hoping for.

It was an extremely awkward situation for Leopold’s faction.

These people weren’t particularly friendly with each other, so if they scattered to save themselves after losing their central figure, they could be hunted down one by one.

But if they united behind Leonore, it would be difficult to eliminate them all at once, both in terms of justification and power.

If handled poorly, it might appear as if Leopold was ruthlessly persecuting Leonore, who had made great contributions to eliminating the witch.

Of course, now that Leonore had thrown away all her rights as royalty and declared she would live as a mere knight, their ambitious survival plan had fallen apart.

They couldn’t rally around someone who had sworn before God to lay down all power and authority.

“How could I stand by and watch those who deserve death try to use me and my brother to protect themselves? Besides, if things went that way, Leopold might eventually try to assassinate me.”

Leonore grinned.

I’m not sure if Leopold would really go that far… but from Leonore’s perspective, it was certainly cause for concern.

It was a wise move. In the end, she got everything she wanted.

Revenge for her family, restoration of her brother’s honor, the downfall of the disgusting Isabella faction, and a life as a knight.

And not just any knight, but the exclusive knight of the “Radiance.”

—-

Yes. The knight’s oath she swore in front of the cathedral.

Leonore declared on the spot that she would become my knight.

There was some commotion… but Lacy, who was officiating the oath ceremony, nodded readily, and others didn’t object either.

At the point when “Rene’s” identity was revealed, everyone had already noticed that I had been protecting Leonore.

In reality, they probably just wanted to push this burdensome ex-princess knight under my jurisdiction.

An exclusive knight. I hadn’t thought about that.

I had planned to keep her close in case she faced persecution for being the witch’s daughter…

But that was just about having her around, not making her my subordinate.

“You said you’d continue to protect me, didn’t you? You said you’d take responsibility for my life… so you have to see it through to the end. Right, Master?”

Leonore smiled playfully.

“Master? That’s a bit… Stop joking around. What’s the real reason?”

“I may have abandoned the name of Wittelsbach and cut ties with Benes, but not everyone will truly accept that. If I stay alone like this, my future doesn’t look very bright… or long.”

Leonore paused to catch her breath and shrugged.

“But if I live under our ‘Knight of Radiance,’ who would dare touch me? Even Leopold wouldn’t risk offending you to target me.”

She wasn’t wrong.

For Leonore, who had lost all her support and was left alone, the safest place in this world was indeed under my protection.

If she was going to live under my protection anyway, she decided to become my official exclusive knight.

“When you think about it, I’m using your position for my safety… so I do feel sorry about that. But I swore to live very long and happier than anyone else, as my brother’s last wish. I can’t just fade away meekly.”

That was too heavy a statement to refuse.

“Besides, I personally like you. If I’m going to serve someone, I should choose someone I like.”

Leonore put down her teacup and smiled.

Just like the charming appearance I had seen before, brilliant and dignified. Like a rose crafted from gold.

“So, I’m in your care now, Lady Haschal?”

Come to think of it, there’s no particular reason to refuse, is there?

I nodded.

I agreed because Leonore’s reasoning was sound, not because I was swayed by her face or being called “lady.”

Absolutely not.

[ …I said I wouldn’t forgive you if you fell into a man’s arms. Perhaps you’re misunderstanding that to mean women are acceptable…? ]

‘…That’s not it at all.’

What kind of misunderstanding is this woman having now?

Liking someone and loving someone aren’t the same thing, you know?

Well, what would an eighteen-year-old maiden know anyway?

—-

Anyway, this is how I gained my first knight.

…Strictly speaking, Nigel was first, but Nigel felt more like he belonged to the Margrave.