episode_0008

The streets were crowded with many people.

Normally, there would have been no escort, but since it was an official external event, the Duke’s family sent a flashy carriage and escorts.

I stuck my head out and looked at the view outside the window.

All roads within the castle were paved with stone roads, and the streets were lined with various shops and street stalls.

The cloth with Winfred’s emblem hanging at the end of the carriage fluttered.

Many people walking down the street looked in awe at Winfred’s procession.

I looked out the window and was lost in thought.

As it was the duke’s carriage, the ride comfort was not bad.

So time passed.

“Arrived, master.”

We soon arrived at our destination, the cathedral, and the driver opened the door.

As I slowly got off the carriage, a driver with a businesslike expression was waiting for me.

“I will guide you.”

Step by step, I followed the knight and walked toward the center of the cathedral.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the central hall where the investiture ceremony was held.

and.

“Damn.”

A series of unnecessary, solemn, and breathtakingly boring pre-ceremony events passed by.

Holy fire procession, blessing ceremony, Bible reading, prayer, meditation…

Not even a single lie, I almost fell asleep before it even started.

Only after going through all the old-fashioned procedures did the official investiture ceremony begin.

“Nobility, from now on.”

The investiture ceremony is not just a ceremony but a competition.

Since it is a ceremony that is held only once every five years, nobles who want a capable and loyal knight are bound to rush in with a fire in their eyes.

The number of competent knights is set, and the number of knights an individual can ordain is also set.

And, all those opportunities are granted differently depending on the level of social status.

The reality is that those of high status get priority, while those of low status have to wait for their turn by sucking their fingers in the back.

‘Of course I have a free pass.’

Duke Winfred, one of the three major guardian families of the empire and a founding contributor.

Unless I am from the royal family or the same duchy, there is no way I will be left behind by anyone in this position due to my status.

In other words, it is as if I have secured the ‘priority’ to be ordained a knight before anyone else.

but.

‘I do not need.’

The only knight I want is Diana.

I don’t need anyone else.

preference? This is also not necessary.

Anyway, Diana will not be appointed by anyone but me.

No, exactly, you won’t be able to be ordained by anyone.

This will be the trigger and Diana will dig a tunnel for a long time and go through a period of stagnation.

After wasting so many years, Diana, who later met a fate and whose talents blossomed, eventually took over the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights.

‘It must be somewhere around here.’

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the nobles attending the investiture ceremony.

‘Oh, there it is.’

A man sitting next to me with a dissatisfied face.

I checked the family emblem on the uniform he was wearing.

A black eagle soaring through the darkness.

It is certainly. The Viscount Torte family runs one of the largest caravans in the empire.

The plan is simple.

That’s right.

“Hey.”

The man sitting next to me turned his head at my call.

He looked at the small symbol of Winfred embedded in my chest, and asked back in surprise.

“Yes, yes?! Are you saying that?!”

Viscount Torte is a family I also know well.

This is the first case where a title was purchased with wealth, and it is famous for being a wealthy family that is blinded by the desire for fame and shows off their wealth every time a banquet is held.

Anyway, I’m a self-author.

I asked the guy with a friendly smile.

“What is the order of appointment?”

“… Do you mean turn number?”

“Okay.”

The guy’s face darkened at a rapid rate.

Of course, the writer’s turn is behind him, and he must be feeling ashamed about it.

Now is the time.

I’ll say it again, the only thing you can trust in this damn world is money.

I told him my business in a soft voice.

“Sequence, do you want to live with me?”

The guy opened his mouth and blinked his eyes stupidly.

It was the reaction of someone who had never dared to imagine buying and selling turns.

I waited slowly for an answer.

After a while.

The guy glanced at me and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Uh, how much is it… ?”

****

The knights belonging to the cathedral are mostly made up of commoners.

As it operates in the name of God, it is for the very perfunctory reason of showing God’s mercy to those who do not have opportunities.

However, even among commoners, the hierarchy is divided in detail.

Therefore, commoners who join the Knights Templar usually come from wealthy, influential, or so-called wealthy families.

Knighthood is one of the few opportunities for a commoner to rise in social status.

Nevertheless, Diana is a genius.

He is a commoner and an orphan, and the only asset he has is a strong body.

In other words, even in the Order of Knights she joined through pull-ups, her rank is at the bottom of the bottom.

“Stand up!”

At the woman’s cry, Diana barely stood up with a shaky body.

His entire body was covered in bruises as if it were moldy, and his face was also covered in dirt.

These are traces of numerous bullying and acts of abuse.

“What is that expression on your face?”

“… ”

“Why? Are you feeling unfair?”

It was unfair.

Because he was born out of nowhere, because he was an orphan, and because he dared to dream of becoming a knight despite being a woman.

The cold reality of having to miss the investiture ceremony, which occurs only once every five years, was truly unfair to the point of death.

There is no knightly order that will forever accept chaff that has not been ordained.

That’s why I poured everything just for this investiture ceremony.

Because I no longer have the time or funds to wait for the next investiture ceremony.

If she misses this opportunity, she will definitely be kicked out of the Knights.

A knight is noble, but the words of someone who does not become a knight are miserable.

Diana will also become a mercenary and live a life of aimlessly wandering and wielding a sword.

“Not answering?”

Diana raised her head and glared at the woman with bloodshot eyes.

I want to become a knight, and I have devoted half my life to training just for that purpose.

But it’s all over.

After a lot of patience, the opportunity finally came, but the woman in front of me was completely destroyed as if it was nothing special.

At best, for the trivial reason of correcting the broken hierarchy.

Diana’s reason melted away in her seething anger.

“… Bastard.”

“Do you know that now?”

She shrugged as if she had heard all the strange things said.

Soon, the women who were watching the situation from behind burst into laughter.

“I’m going to cry like that.”

“Don’t even talk. No matter how many days I roll, I won’t see a single tear, right?”

“Ha, a toxic bitch.”

Diana swallowed her anger without saying a word.

I was choking, as if a hot fireball had been stuck in my throat.

“Tsk, that’s not fun.”

The woman clicked her tongue.

This is because Diana’s reaction was not very pleasant.

She said something indifferent, as if she was being kind to him.

“Hey, go.”

“… ”

“Go to the investiture ceremony. Oh, is it all over already?”

She let out a mocking sneer and left the scene along with the women who were watching.

Diana turned her head and checked the clock on the wall.

While we were playing around with jokes like this, the time was nearing the end of the investiture ceremony.

“… ”

I looked at my reflection in the marble.

A face covered in dirt and clothes disheveled.

He looked more like a vagabond than a knight.

Even if I were to go to the investiture ceremony now, it is clear that the excitement would have already subsided.

Even if there were still numbers left, there would be no noble anywhere who would choose such a knight with such bad looks.

Even when I think about it, my appearance is ridiculous and pathetic.

In a deep sense of helplessness, my vision became blurred.

“… Ha.”

… Are you saying I have to give up like this?

Perhaps someone might look at me and think of the talents of a knight?

but… Indeed, who would ordain a female knight who is not only a genius, but also looks like this?

A lot of lingering thoughts were hanging out in my head, one after another.

Diana just closed her eyes.

“… ”

When I opened my eyes, I found myself running past the training hall and into the central hall.

In her flashing white mind, she could faintly hear the voices of her fellow knights whispering to her.

“Heo Eok… omg… ”

I was desperate.

I wanted to become an honorable knight and be loyal to the one who chose me.

I wanted to forget my past self and be born anew.

“Ugh… !”

An animal-like moan came out from my clenched teeth.

My heart was pounding like it was going to burst, but I couldn’t stop it.

There was impatience in her steps.

Diana, who had been running for a while, stopped in front of the door leading to the central hall.

There was cool silence on the other side of the door.

As if all schedules were completed and entering the final phase.

Diana immediately shook her head.

Then, swallowing deeply, he carefully stretched out his hand toward the door.

Suddenly.

The door to the central hall opened.

My eyes burned from the pouring light.

Her sparkling silver hair became a mess in the swirling wind.

“… ”

The seats where the nobles who would be ordained as knights should be sitting were empty, and the knights who were supposed to be waiting for the nobles to be chosen were also empty.

Ah, it’s over.

That was the moment I was thinking that.

“Oh, there you are.”

A deep voice struck my ears.

Diana turned her head in the direction the voice came from.

There, a bishop with a familiar face and a man were arguing.

“Prince, I told you that the investiture ceremony was over!”

“What is the end? Can’t you see the article over there? Oh, isn’t that person even a knight? That’s strange. I think the article is correct?”

“No, the article is correct, but it clearly said that the investiture ceremony has already ended… !”

“Wow, how much money has Winfred donated to the cathedral so far?”

“Go, Confucius… !”

Diana’s thoughts couldn’t keep up with the flow of conversation.

Only the two words, investiture and knight, heard occasionally, and the man’s sharp eyes looking at me were engraved in my mind.

and.

“Ha… Just this once, Confucius.”

“It should have happened a long time ago.”

“Then please stand up and select the article.”

The man called Confucius stood up.

The sunlight pouring down from the ceiling was turned away, and everything was covered in shadows.

“Um.”

His bright blue pupils turned towards Diana.

It felt like my chest was clogged.

“I will appoint the female knight standing over there.”

His finger pointed towards Diana.

At that moment, transparent tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.