Chapter 70
#070. Oath and Loyalty, and a Strange Story
The vast banquet hall of Vikander Castle.
A low, captivating voice echoed through the banquet hall, packed with vassals and Knights returning from beast subjugation.
"The beginning of the Yeniv Street rezoning."
The Grand Duke raised his clear wine glass, the golden Fruit Wine inside shimmering.
The Grand Duke paused mid-toast. At the same time, the vassals and Knights all suppressed their laughter.
Everyone present knew that this grand banquet was to celebrate the start of the Yeniv Street rezoning, a project first initiated in Vikander by the esteemed lady.
However.
The lady beside him, holding her glass and gazing intently at the Grand Duke, was quite obvious.
With silver hair elegantly pinned up with a jeweled pin and mysterious green eyes, she possessed a noble air that unconsciously drew the Knights to her side.
A silent pressure to continue his words mounted. The Grand Duke shrugged.
"...and for the Knights who have safely returned."
"Cheers!"
The banquet hall resounded with a thunderous echo and the clinking of glasses.
It was the first time they had seen the always strong and ruthless Grand Duke so readily yielding to another's wishes.
Rumors had been circulating since entering the bustling Soneer Street that His Highness had found a good partner.
Kuhaha—Soon, hearty laughter erupted from all corners, as if they could no longer contain themselves.
"Good heavens. To receive a banquet to celebrate the Grand Duke's return from beast subjugation before I die."
"I know, right? As if beast subjugation is anything special."
"They say it's all thanks to the lady? Bethany even brought out plenty of Fruit Wine. I still feel like I'm dreaming on the border."
The newly returned Knights rubbed their eyes in disbelief. It was only natural for them to marvel at the reality that remained unchanged no matter how much they rubbed their eyes.
Howard, listening to their stories, quietly nodded. Holding a banquet to celebrate beast subjugation and being able to drink Bethany's Fruit Wine in abundance were indeed all thanks to the lady.
"I heard Bethany always sets off fireworks during the festival? That's amazing!"
Strictly speaking, the reason Bethany went to the street festival was due to the lady. She had praised Bethany's hard work in setting off fireworks every festival, leaving her no choice but to go to Soneer Street to set off fireworks again today.
Of course, the fact that Dian had whispered behind the scenes, and that the Grand Duke was behind Dian, was a secret known only to Bethany.
Howard smiled faintly and looked towards the platform where the lady and the Grand Duke were seated far away. When he met Dian's eyes, they nodded meaningfully to each other.
"By the way, why isn't everyone drinking?"
One of the Knights who had just returned today asked, puzzled.
His comrades, who would normally empty three or four oak barrels in an instant, and even Lord Interfield Howard, who was rumored to never get drunk, were only wetting their lips with their glasses.
"...Today is a very important day."
Howard said briefly. The Knight, looking at Howard, widened his eyes, looking completely bewildered. He clicked his tongue as if he couldn't understand.
"No, even so, everyone is in formal attire and carrying their ceremonial swords. It's like the day we swore our oaths of Knighthood to His Highness."
At those words, faint memories flickered across the stern faces of the Knights.
The day they swore their oaths of Knighthood to the Grand Duke, who had restored shining glory to the harsh and barren northern Vikander, was a precious memory that none of the Knights present could forget.
Perhaps today would be just as important.
"Swear allegiance to my lady?"
Even the slightly surprised Grand Duke had firmly given his permission. Howard and the Knights looked at Olivia on the platform with determined faces.
Just a little longer.
Soon, it would be time to swear their oaths of Knighthood to the lady.
* * *
Olivia was inwardly flustered when she took her first sip.
The atmosphere of this banquet was completely different from the previous one.
Although there were more Knights, the banquet was considerably calmer today, unlike the last one, which had been quite lively.
Could it be due to the influence of the Knights who had returned from beast subjugation? It was highly likely that they, whom she was meeting for the first time since coming to Vikander, would not like her.
Edwin, noticing her nervous expression, chuckled softly beside her.
"Why are you so nervous, Olivia? Anthony put a lot of effort into the turkey today. Have a bite. Hmm?"
Of all things, turkey. On top of her nervousness, thoughts of the 'unknown Knight' piled up.
Come to think of it, she couldn't jump to the conclusion that he was solely a Knight of Vikander. The Imperial Palace royal guard, including Jade, was also in that camp.
To calm her trembling, Olivia clasped her hands together as a habit. Edwin, watching her slightly trembling hands, muttered with an ambiguous expression.
"You won't be able to eat properly if it's not now."
"Pardon?"
Olivia asked back. It was when Edwin smiled gently without giving a specific answer.
"Greetings to the Grand Duke."
A husky voice approached. A Knight with brown hair, whom she was seeing for the first time, looked at Olivia and Edwin with courtesy. The presence of his stylishly grown mustache was unfamiliar. Edwin smirked at the Knight.
"Long time no see, Lord Drowin. You still have that mustache."
"Hahaha. Isn't a magnificent mustache my symbol?"
The Knight, who laughed heartily, glanced at Olivia for a moment. Olivia blinked at the goodwill in his gaze.
"Your Highness. May I greet the lady for a moment?"
It felt strangely unfamiliar to see him asking Edwin for permission so naturally. Come to think of it, she had never seen anyone ask Edwin for permission regarding her in the Grand Duke's Residence in the capital or in this Territory of Vikander.
While Olivia was looking at the Knight for a moment, Edwin's handsome brow furrowed slightly. An immense sense of pressure, as if something invisible was pressing down on their shoulders, enveloped the banquet hall in an instant.
The banquet hall fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it. The Knights and vassals all watched the Grand Duke, careful even to suppress the sound of their swallowing. The Grand Duke, who had overwhelmed every corner of the banquet hall with just his crimson gaze, spoke in a low voice.
"...'As always,' as Olivia wishes."
At those words, Howard glared at Brock with fierce eyes.
The lady had only just begun to express her own desires. Accordingly, the most important thing in this Vikander was the lady's own will.
He had emphasized that it was a command first established by the Grand Duke, but it seemed that this loyal fool had forgotten.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Drowin."
Olivia said, sensing the strange atmosphere. The Knight, who had been frozen for a moment, lowered his body and paid his respects.
"...It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, my lady. I am Brock Drowin, a Knight of Vikander who has sworn allegiance to the Grand Duke. I am the vice-commander of the 4 Knights Order, who recently went on a beast subjugation mission to the border of the Grand Duchy."
It was a very friendly first greeting.
Olivia, who had been smiling brightly with delight, paused for a moment.
4 Knights Order. She didn't know that the Vikander Knights were divided into several groups.
Sensing Olivia's confusion, Edwin provided further explanation.
"For convenience, the organization of the Vikander Knights is divided into four groups. Lord Interfield is the vice-commander of the 1 Knights Order, Lord Calter is the vice-commander of the 2 Knights Order, Lord Szelin is the vice-commander of the 3 Knights Order, and Lord Drowin here is the vice-commander of the 4 Knights Order."
Edwin's eyes, looking at Brock, held a sly playfulness. Then, he moved closer to Olivia. Olivia, startled, widened her eyes, and a howl like a wolf's erupted from one corner of the banquet hall.
"Wow, seriously. Grand Duke. It's too much to change like that!"
Olivia felt her face turning red. Regardless, Edwin whispered as if telling an interesting story.
"We don't usually assign ranks to the Knights within Vikander, but Lord Drowin really likes assigning positions."
Ah. Only then did Olivia nod. Brock nodded with a proud expression and added.
"Of course, the commander of all the Knights Orders is the Grand Duke."
"That's right. I'm that kind of person."
Edwin winked at Olivia. Olivia couldn't help but burst into laughter at his proud face and the way he shrugged his shoulders.
Olivia's appearance, smiling brightly with her eyes curved beautifully, was very lovely. The Grand Duke also smiled brightly as he faced her.
The newly returned Knights smiled contentedly at the sight that made even the onlookers feel good. However, the Knights who had been seeing the lady in the main castle knew that this was their chance.
"Um, my lady. If it's alright with you, I would also like to greet you."
"Me too! It would be an honor to greet you, my lady!"
The seasoned Knights, who had experienced countless battles, did not miss the timing and rushed towards the platform with courtesy.
Olivia's face shone even brighter at the greetings from the numerous Knights.
.
.
.
The enjoyable banquet continued.
"...It seems my lady is too popular."
Let me correct that.
The enjoyable banquet continued, except for the grumbling Edwin.
"I even separated Bethany on purpose to play with the lady today. If I had known it would be like this, it would have been better to just have Bethany alone."
The Grand Duke's lament continued. It was as he said. Knights lined up in front of the platform to greet Olivia.
Howard, who had been guarding his side next to Edwin, asked back, puzzled.
"Wasn't this what you wanted?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
"When did I?"
The Grand Duke raised his eyebrows as if he was wronged. Just a moment ago, he had a face that seemed too beautiful and kind to have captivated the banquet hall in an instant. But Howard wasn't fooled.
"Don't you remember? At the Grand Duke's Residence in the capital, you said you wanted to be the lady's destination, and you sent Winster under the guise of tending to her."
Edwin sighed softly at the voice that recited the facts without inflection.
That's right. He did that back then.
After the last day of the victory banquet, when the lady fell ill, he did send Winster to Olivia.
He only hoped that she would become more attached to the Grand Duke's Residence and never leave his side.
He never imagined that this would reduce the time he had alone with Olivia.
...Should he just tell her to give up everything and live comfortably?
Edwin looked at Olivia with deeply sunken eyes before laughing in vain.
It was a desire he could never fulfill. To tell Olivia, who was smiling so brightly as she did what she wanted, to stay still.
He tried to win Olivia over, but instead, he was helplessly won over.
Just one of those smiling faces was enough to make him grin like a fool.
Howard, who had been watching the Grand Duke's sweetly relaxed face, pulled himself together. Then, he looked at the dwindling line of Knights. The time for the oath was fast approaching.
Five, four, three, two, and then one. Just as the last Knight turned around with respect, and Dian was about to raise his voice loudly...
"Um...!"
Pop- pop- pop-.
"Wow."
With a sound louder than Dian's voice, brilliant fireworks exploded above the high ceiling. Everyone in the banquet hall, including Olivia, stared at the ceiling with wide eyes.
"Bethany?"
Olivia muttered involuntarily as she saw the heavy doors of the banquet hall open. Bethany was, as expected, at the open doorway, and there was one more person she hadn't expected.
"Greetings to His Highness the Grand Duke and the lady. I apologize for my tardiness to the banquet, and would be grateful if you would forgive my disloyalty."
"Lord Calter!"
Olivia exclaimed happily. The one who entered with a playful voice was Winster Calter.
Winster, who made a splendid entrance, was wearing formal attire and even a ceremonial sword. With a tense expression, Winster walked up to the platform.
"I have a lot to report..."
In principle, the report should come first. But Edwin raised his eyebrows and smiled. With a smile that said he would let it slide, Winster drew his ceremonial sword and said,
A quiet atmosphere, a ceremonial sword, and fancy attire. Olivia, feeling a sense of déjà vu, stood up from her seat without realizing it. And she went to the front of the platform.
"Before that,"
Dian and Howard, who had been robbed of their turn in vain, glared. They thought they would be the second Knights to swear allegiance after His Highness the Grand Duke, but Winster, who had suddenly appeared, had stolen their turn.
Regardless of their glares, Winster knelt on one knee in front of Olivia and held out the hilt of his sword as if offering it. Olivia pressed her lips tightly together.
Winster's voice echoed loudly in the high-ceilinged banquet hall.
"Knight Winster Calter. As a Knight who has sworn allegiance to Vikander, I would like to be granted the honor of becoming the lady's sword."
It was as if she was dreaming. The scene of Edwin receiving her oath flashed over Winster's face, who was looking at her with a tense expression.
And.
"I asked for loyalty. Not devoted assistance."
Her conversation with Sobel came to mind. Sobel, who couldn't answer when she asked if the people of the Territory of Vikander would swear allegiance to her.
She thought it was natural. She would love everyone in Vikander, but she thought it would take much longer to win their hearts.
It was as if all of this would disappear like a fantasy. Olivia, suddenly frightened, reflexively looked at Edwin.
Fear, joy, disbelief, suspicion, and tension were mixed on her green eyes. Edwin offered his support by raising the corners of his lips and nodding.
As he watched Olivia's face brighten at that one nod, Edwin suppressed his boiling possessiveness.
A fiercely hot jealousy burned like a fire, but Edwin was alright with everything with just one of those smiles.
