Previously
Cecilia spots Rosivius and his hostile half-brother Dominic at the banquet, noting the physical differences between them. She intervenes when Willow Gibbels and his group begin bullying the Son of Viscount Bluebear for his lineage, using her knowledge of Noble Law to silence them.
“What?”
Startled by those bizarre words, I glanced back in their direction and saw a boy wearing glasses standing among the boys in front of Dominic.
Seeing him up close stirred a private thrill only I could understand, though it faded almost immediately.
‘Wow, what a bastard. No matter if Rosivius’s mother was only the Marquis’s half-sister, how could he say that right after hearing what I just said…?’
Even so, the boy seemed not to hear his brother’s absurd remark at all; his neat, composed face remained perfectly still.
Behind his spectacles, his dark brown eyes were… looking as though they had been fixed on me for a long time…. Was I just imagining things?
‘Of course…. It’s probably the first time he’s seen Cecilia’s face, so he must be stunned….’
Still, since his gaze wouldn’t leave me, I quickly turned my head away.
‘Thrilled or not, he shouldn’t get carried away by Cecilia’s looks either.’
‘With his own brother parading his lineage around like that, it’s obvious how he’ll fare at the Academy.’
Naturally, the ones at fault were those who ostracized him because of it.
That boy from the Bluebear family looked about two years older than me, and he was clearly having a rough time at the Academy as well.
‘It seems schools, in any world, bring out the absolute worst in children….’
Reflecting on what had happened at the banquet, I waited for my knights in the reception room.
‘Judging by that boy’s reaction, the Imperial Family must never have stepped into matters like that before….’
His look toward me had been so fervent, he seemed ready to swear fealty on the spot.
And then there was the other boy, insulted for his bloodline….
‘They say Rosivius gets bullied at the Academy, but if this is the deciding factor, that means the misery has been piling up long before he even attends….’
Recalling how calm he looked, as if he were thoroughly used to Dominic’s cruel remarks… I felt a wave of sympathy for him.
‘It really is heartbreaking.’
Sipping ginger latte instead of hot chocolate while turning Rosivius’s fate over in my mind….
Knock, knock—
“Yes, come in.”
Since I had dismissed everyone else, the two waiting outside entered immediately.
It was Cain and Eileen, dressed in the white uniform of the order.
“Salutations to the Little Star of the Empire. I am Cain from the Sixth Squad, Third Battalion of the Temple Knights.”
“…Eileen.”
Cain delivered his formal greeting with a trembling voice, whereas Eileen remained entirely unperturbed.
I looked at them with a satisfied smile.
Cain, who had grown as large as Lancel, and Eileen, the tallest woman I had ever seen in this world.
‘These are my first knights…. Just looking at them brings me such peace of mind.’
Seeing them up close made me even more grateful.
“I offer you both my heartfelt congratulations on your appointment. You’ve worked terribly hard.”
“It is all thanks to your grace, Your Highness.”
Cain said it with deep emotion, and Eileen nodded in agreement.
Cain was earnest and passionate, while Eileen was calm…. A perfect balance.
“Sit down first.”
They sat across from me at the table, their expressions questioning.
“Starting tomorrow, you will officially be assigned to the Sixth Squad, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Even though it’s the Third Battalion, rather than the First or Second, are you both truly fine with that?”
I already knew the answer, but it served as a prelude to what I intended to say.
“Ever since you chose me three years ago, I have never once considered serving any master but you.”
“…Yes, me neither.”
“But Cain, wasn’t your dream to become a knight of the Palace Guard?”
“I am an official knight now, and that is more than enough.”
Joining the Temple Knights required the ability to wield holy power, so they were held in higher esteem than the Palace Guard.
The Palace Guard, on the other hand, relied purely on combat prowess.
In the original story, Cain was supposed to join the Palace Guard. But training under Lancel had honed his skills, allowing him to enter the Temple Knights instead.
“Still, you’re only in the Third Battalion.”
“The squad does not matter. I have never once thought of serving any master but you.”
Eileen nodded along.
“Yet both of you swore fealty to the Imperial Family…. You shouldn’t say you serve me alone.”
“Ah… well, that is….”
Flustered, the color drained from Cain’s face. I let out a soft laugh and turned to Eileen.
“And you? Are you content staying in the Sixth Squad?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
She nodded again.
I remembered she hadn’t written anything under her ambitions when she applied.
“What is it you truly want…?”
‘She must have received countless offers today.’
New knights were permitted to leave service after five years, so nobles invariably tried to recruit them right from the start.
‘They probably offered her a fortune….’
I watched her closely, a trace of unease in my chest.
I trusted her, but I wasn’t entirely certain.
‘I know Cain from the story, but Eileen… I only have my own judgment to go on.’
I hated testing people, yet my past life had taught me that human hearts waver all too easily.
‘I can’t afford to lose Cain…. As for Eileen, it’s a delicate matter.’
After a moment of thought, Eileen spoke slowly.
“A poor commoner girl, even with some holy power… doesn’t have many choices.”
What Eileen said was… rather unexpected. It was remarkably rare for her to speak of herself like this.
Her crimson eyes turned toward me, bearing an unusual look akin to resolve.
“Even if I trained hard so I wouldn’t lose to men, female knights are still few and far between. At least among commoners.”
She added that, then hesitated slightly before continuing in her measured voice.
“From the start, the only opportunity given to me was the Sixth Squad…. That was all.”
With that, she closed her mouth and said nothing more.
If it were Cain, he would have thanked me profusely for the equal education and the chance to become a knight….
‘Not mentioning any of that… is so like her.’
I smiled inwardly and posed my final question.
“Then you don’t mind working under my command, no matter the task?”
Cain and Eileen exchanged a swift glance.
‘Are we going to do something strange?’
‘Who knows?’
It was as if a silent conversation passed between them, after which Cain answered with a baffled expression.
“I… suppose so…?”
The confusion lingered plain on his face. Evidently, he couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of “task” it might be.
Even if I was precocious for my age, in their eyes I was still merely a thirteen-year-old girl.
‘They probably think I’m going to tell them to open a meatball shop.’
Chuckling to myself, I pointed to two velvet pouches resting on the table.
“Take one each.”
Cain and Eileen picked them up hesitantly.
“You may open them.”
Inside lay two keys, several dozen gold coins, and a silver badge.
“What is this…?”
Astonishment showed on their faces.
“I have plenty of assignments for you…. No, for both of you as knights.”
“Yes?”
“I owe you, yet for now, this is all I have to show for it. Even as a member of the Imperial Family, I am still an underage child without real authority.”
Their expressions instantly turned grave.
“There is a piece of paper inside the pouch. It has the address for the key.”
“53 Valia Street….”
“17 Steiner Street…?”
“In the Second District?”
Ah, how wonderful those addresses sounded!
They were houses in a pristine neighborhood with prime locations, secured with Grace’s backing.
“They are your houses. You can’t stay in the communal barracks forever, can you?”
“What?!”
Cain gasped, and Eileen’s eyes went unusually wide.
“All I can offer you right now are material things. Consider it a kind of bribe for working with me.”
“A-a bribe?! Even without this—!”
“Yes, there is no need for all this….”
“Even if I take it back later, take what you can get right now.”
They froze, keys clutched tightly in hand.
“They are modest houses, so don’t feel burdened. But they do have three rooms, and you can live with your families if you wish.”
I said that while imagining the day Emily would stay in Cain’s house.
“Will the others receive them as well…?”
“Yes, everyone who is officially appointed to the Sixth Squad as a knight.”
I said it breezily.
With that, I had handed out twenty houses… all for Emily’s sake.
‘I thought about having them live in a single building, but that poses a security risk.’
Then I added solemnly,
“Naturally, this is only for those who will work for me.”
“Of course! Even without this…!”
I smiled with satisfaction at Cain’s exemplary answer.
“In three years, when the entire first cohort joins, the senior knights will be transferred to the First Squad. With the two of you joining now, some of them will be reassigned as well.”
The two looked at me with tense expressions, a hint of sorrow in their eyes at the thought of their mentors.
“This was decided from the very beginning.”
They nodded in silence.
“The Sixth Squad’s role will change once I come of age. It won’t be merely for guarding, but for far greater duties. And the two of you must be a part of it.”
I set my teacup down on the table, and their tension wound even tighter.
“What I want is to ensure a smooth transition of power to the Crown Princess by keeping watch over high society.”
And also, to aid Leoport and Emily.
“And this is…?”
“The gold is an advance, and the badge bears the emblem of the Crown Princess.”
“What?!”
Cain stared in shock, while Eileen quietly examined the silver badge.
“If you ever require assistance from other knights or official authorities, show this badge. They will know you are operating under the Crown Princess’s orders.”
It functioned essentially like an official pass. Not meant for frequent use, but to establish credibility.
The two scrutinized the badge with grave expressions.
“And your first mission… is to keep watch over two dangerous families within the Noble Faction.”