Chapter 96

Episode 96

Without missing a beat, I quickly approached her and bowed.

Not just me, but everyone in the room turned and bowed their heads towards the Lady.

“What brings you here, my Lady?”

“You’re my one and only. Who else would look after you if I didn’t?”

“I apologize for my rudeness in not greeting you properly. Please forgive me.”

“It’s my fault for arriving unannounced. I wanted to see your surprised expression again. It’s been a while.”

Thankfully, everyone gathered here was loyal to me.

The Lady’s words, though brief, carried a heavy weight. Anyone listening might mistake us for lovers.

“You were in the middle of a knighting ceremony, weren’t you? I seem to have interrupted. I’ll just observe, so please continue.”

“The ceremony is over, my Lady. We were discussing the upcoming banquet.”

“Can I join the banquet?”

I glanced at the others. Their eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“Of course, my Lady. Everyone would be delighted to have you join us.”

“Thank you.”

I immediately summoned Balzac and instructed him to prepare a room for the Lady.

Thanks to the previous lord, Baron Roman’s, love for luxury and pleasure, there were many spacious and lavish rooms. We had plenty of suitable spaces for the Lady.

“May I ask how long you plan to stay, my Lady?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Does Duke Kalisto know you’re here?”

“Yes.”

Something bothered me. I instructed Balzac, who had returned, to escort the Lady to her room.

I returned to my seat and continued my speech.

“The Lady has come all this way to bless our new beginning. Let us not forget our gratitude. And the knight order recruitment will begin tomorrow. They might be trainees, but they are still guests of our family. Treat them with respect.”

“As you command, my lord.”

“We’ll be conducting security enhancement operations and monster subjugation operations as soon as the exam is over. Stay vigilant and continue your training.”

Finally, I added a message I wanted to convey to my subordinates, or rather, my vassals.

“I don’t like one-sided loyalty. Just as you have pledged your allegiance to me, House Walker will do its best to protect you. Remember this and keep it close to your hearts.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The knighting ceremony concluded, and everyone returned to their posts. Jericho approached me quietly.

“I’m not sure how to interpret the Lady’s arrival. Do you think the young masters are behind this?”

“I doubt it. It’s not time for an open conflict yet. They wouldn’t dare to fight openly while the Duke is still in charge.”

“Shouldn’t we investigate who escorted her here?”

Sir Paris said. I nodded.

“I was just about to do that. Thank you for the suggestion, Sir Paris.”

“Today’s events have shown that you have the favor of not only Lady Lucia but also Duke Kalisto. He wouldn’t send his beloved daughter so far away without a reason.”

There were several interpretations.

I was already considered a key member of House Kalisto, even unofficially. Sending the Lady to me could be interpreted as a gesture of protection and support.

“And I believe there’s a reason why you invited me here… Could you be frank with me?”

Jericho excused himself, leaving me alone with Sir Paris.

“I’ve admired your character ever since my time as an aide, Sir Paris. You judge people based on their character, not their skills. That’s why you’re respected by so many knights.”

“But I’m not exactly a successful knight. I’m old and still only an intermediate-level knight. I might not even reach the high-ranking level…”

“I admire your humility.”

Sir Paris looked embarrassed when I grinned.

“I invited you here because I want to recruit you to our knight order. Of course, this is a barony, and I can’t guarantee your success, but I promise you fair treatment.”

“Hmm…”

He didn’t seem surprised, so he must have been prepared for this.

“I was a member of the guard. It’s not a path to success. It’s more like a final destination for mid-level knights with little chance of promotion.”

“I disagree. Forgive my bluntness, but I believe you still have the potential to become a high-ranking knight. You just haven’t had the opportunity.”

The guard was responsible for maintaining order in the castle and the town. Naturally, they had few opportunities to gain combat experience. And even when they fought, their opponents were usually civilians.

“The Walker Barony is different. I intend to eliminate all threats, including monsters and those who seek my life. You’ll be serving as the vice-captain of the Walker Knight Order.”

“Is it appropriate for me, a mere intermediate-level knight, to hold the position of vice-captain?”

“Personally, I don’t believe in the six-stage theory. Judging a knight’s skills solely based on the color of their aura is like denying the arduous path they’ve walked.”

Sir Paris’s expression hardened. He had made up his mind.

“I need you not just for your skills. The Walker Knight Order is too young. If you can pass on your experience to the younger knights, our knight order will become even stronger.”

“You make me ashamed of my hesitation. Alright. I’ll join you.”

“Don’t you need to discuss this with your wife?”

“I already did. She was the one who suggested it. She said there must be a reason why I was the only one invited among all the knights in the main castle. She told me to accept your offer without hesitation.”

I chuckled, imagining the scene. Sir Paris’s wife was a kind and caring woman.

“Excellent. Then, I’ll make the necessary arrangements to welcome you to our knight order. I’ll also send a message to Duke Kalisto.”

“Understood. I’ll return to the capital now. I have a lot to take care of.”

I sensed something stirring within Sir Paris’s eyes.

It was only a matter of time before he became a high-ranking knight.

“Alright. I’m sorry you can’t enjoy the banquet with us, but I’ll prepare a separate banquet for you next time. Safe travels.”

After seeing Sir Paris off, I went to see the knights who had arrived from the capital. There were a few things I needed to confirm.

The knights were resting in their tents. There were about ten of them, mostly young, led by a middle-aged knight.

I approached him and spoke.

“I haven’t seen you before. What’s your affiliation?”

“We are knights of Fenrir, a unit under the Duke’s direct command. My name is Leonard, and I’m the senior knight.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir Leonard.”

“Please, speak casually, my lord.”

“I can’t do that. Fenrir deserves the respect of all the people in the territory.”

Little was known about “Fenrir.” They were the Duke’s personal knight order, responsible for various tasks such as escorting, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering.

They were said to be an elite unit, but their exact numbers and strength were unknown.

Based on my life experience, it was always best to be cautious when dealing with the unknown.

“I’m honored that you think so. But this is your land, my lord. There are many eyes watching, so please treat us casually.”

“Sir Leonard, I must correct you. This isn’t my land it’s the Duke’s land.”

Leonard, impressed by my unwavering stance, stared at me with admiration.

“You’re as impressive as the rumors say. There must be a reason why the Lady came here so suddenly.”

“I was just about to ask you about that. Sir Leonard, did anything happen on your way here? Were you attacked by monsters?”

“Not at all. I thought it was strange, but I assumed it was because the previous lord had cleared the area.”

This was strange.

Jericho and I had been attacked by monsters dozens of times on our way here. But they hadn’t encountered any?

It was possible to avoid bandits and thieves. They wouldn’t dare to attack a carriage bearing the Kalisto family crest unless they were suicidal.

But monsters were different.

They weren’t intelligent enough to recognize human social status.

“I see. I’m glad nothing happened. But staying in tents seems uncomfortable. I’ll prepare separate quarters for you. Please rest there.”

“No, thank you. We’re still on duty, so this is more convenient. We appreciate your concern, my lord.”

Leonard was an intriguing individual. I had to get to know him better.

After promising the knights ample support, I went to see the Lady. Balzac, being the thoughtful man he was, had assigned her the room with the best view in the castle.

“Do you like your room?”

“I love it. It’s much better than the main castle.”

“You flatter me. The garden in the main castle is much larger than my entire castle. How can they even compare?”

“Size isn’t everything. What matters is who owns it, right?”

I felt my face flush as I met her gaze. I approached her and bowed.

“I’m inquiring because you haven’t given me any instructions since I completed the fifth mission. I’ve heard that many nobles have been approaching you lately.”

“That’s true. It’s a bit troublesome at times.”

“All the members of the Inspection Unit are awaiting our sixth mission.”

I emphasized that I was separating the Walker family matters from the Inspection Unit.

I believed the Lady preferred a clear distinction between personal and professional matters. It was a common trait among efficient people.

“The sixth mission will be related to the Walker Barony. I’m still considering the details, but I’ll let you know when I’ve decided.”

“Related to my family? What could it be…”

“To be precise, it’s more about the territory than the family. Don’t worry it won’t be disadvantageous for you.”

“Understood, my Lady.”

There were several possibilities if it was related to the territory.

The most likely one was monsters and demonic beasts. I had already reported to the Lady about the dangers of demonic beasts and the existence of the “Dark Soul.”

The surge in monster activity was a major concern not only in the Kalisto Dukedom but also in the neighboring territories.

If she was the mastermind and was connected to demons, she would likely order me to find the “Dark Soul.”

“Have you chosen a dance partner for tonight’s banquet? I have a feeling it’ll be Lady Selendis.”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. It’s a small banquet.”

“Shall we dance together? It’s been a while.”

“As I said before, there are many eyes watching, my Lady. Your presence here alone will be the talk of the town.”

“That’s a shame. Then, I’ll have to dance with Sir Jericho.”

…She was openly threatening me now.

“Alright. Let’s dance together.”

“Thank you.”

The Lady smiled sweetly.