Translator: Nox
(27) The Golden Lion's Treasure and Contaminated Water (11)
A knight's oath was a pledge made in the name and honor of a knight. If the oath was broken, it would spread like wildfire, becoming a disgrace that everyone would point fingers at. Therefore, knights did not lightly make a knight's oath, even to their own monarchs.
Hexton was now offering that knight's oath to Roxana, with whom he had barely exchanged a proper conversation.
"Sir Renardo. Please don't do this."
Roxana pleaded, but Hexton did not raise his head.
"If the Princess does not grant permission, I will wait here for a month, even a year."
Roxana, seeing Hexton's stubbornness, was reminded of Robert, her former bodyguard. Feeling a lump in her throat, Roxana covered her mouth with both hands and said,
"Robert, who was my bodyguard, used to grumble about regretting making a knight's oath every time I caused trouble."
Hexton chuckled, his head still bowed.
"I would be honored if I could have such a relationship with the Princess."
She couldn't hold on any longer.
She wanted to die, felt guilty for being the only survivor, and felt sorry and apologetic even for breathing.
Yet, she desperately longed for the kindness that reminded her of the good old days, missed it so much, and was a cowardly and selfish woman who wanted to be warm even though her family had been thrown into a cold well.
She could no longer refuse Hexton's request.
And so, Roxana slowly raised her right hand.
As soon as Roxana's permission was given, Hexton knelt on one knee without hesitation. He took the tips of her fingers and briefly kissed the back of her hand.
He raised his gaze and met Roxana's eyes. Gazing at Roxana with loyal and slightly playful reddish-brown eyes, Hexton said,
"Hexton Renardo and the Golden Lion Knights swear to protect and defend Princess Roxana Franche, and to wield our swords without hesitation to clear the path ahead of her."
The knight's oath should have ended there, but Hexton added, "Furthermore."
"The Renardo family will be the best of friends to Princess Franche."
Roxana paused her breathing for a moment and then took a deep breath. It felt as if something was filling her chest, making it swell.
"Thank you,"
The end of Roxana's voice trembled slightly.
"I will cherish Sir Renardo's oath with gratitude."
+++
Roxana tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Hexton's oath had given her an emotion that was difficult to name. A very small flame had risen in her heart, which had been filled only with longing, sadness, pain, and despair.
It was small enough to be invisible, but it clearly possessed warmth. Roxana didn't know what that warmth was, but she embraced it, curled up, and accepted the warmth she felt for the first time in a long time.
Roxana tossed and turned until faint light came in through the curtains, and then she got out of bed when she realized it was noisy outside. She drew back the curtains and looked out, but all she could see from the bedroom was the garden of Lily Palace.
Roxana habitually reached for the bell to call a maid, but stopped. She felt as if she had briefly returned to the past because of Hexton, and forgot her current situation.
A slave without a country or family.
Even if she stayed in the palace of a VIP, that fact would not change. No matter how much she was under the Grand Duke's orders, the maid who came running at the call of a slave would not be in a good mood.
Roxana left the bedroom on her own and ran into maids who had started their day early.
The maids who were wiping windows and sweeping the hallway widened their eyes when they saw Roxana and then lowered their heads. Among them was a maid who had come to help her bathe a while ago, made a dissatisfied expression, and then left.
"What's wrong, Princess? If you need anything, you can ring the bell..."
Roxana was strangely surprised that the maid's tone had changed and replied,
"It's noisy outside, so I was trying to find out what was going on."
"Ah, His Highness the Grand Duke is going out to subjugate monsters with the Red Spider Knights today. It must have been a bit noisy because of the preparations. It will be quiet soon."
Monsters were strong, fast, and possessed evil powers. Even if several knights who could take down a bear alone attacked, they often died without being able to properly deal with even a small monster.
Since paladins blessed by the god Weden fought against monsters with holy power, it was common practice to request a paladin from the Empire for monster subjugation.
Of course, it wasn't as if ordinary knights were helpless against monsters, and they knew that this monster was small and alone. But it was strange that the employees were not at all worried when the Monarch himself went out to face the monsters.
'He is trusted.'
Floyd was different from the royalty Roxana had met so far. He did not follow the palace etiquette, rushed to the scene when problems arose, and his tone was rough and he revealed his emotions as they were.
Nevertheless, he was trusted by everyone.
"Um..."
The maid cautiously asked, perhaps misunderstanding why Roxana had stopped and was lost in thought.
"Would you like to see His Highness off on his expedition?"
Roxana shook her head, as the farewell of a slave would not give strength to the knights.
"No, it's okay. But I want to see him leave..."
"Then you can see him if you go up to this Lily Palace tower. The tower has windows in various directions, so you can even see the main gate."
Roxana was guided by the maid and went up to the Lily Palace tower. The tower was also well decorated, as it was usually used for enjoying the scenery and drinking tea.
The maid quickly left Roxana alone. Roxana, left alone, stood by the window and stared at the main gate of the Grand Duke's palace in the distance.
Dozens of knights wearing red uniforms, befitting the name Red Spider Knights, were standing in formation. A man with dull silver hair and a small frame was riding a horse and pacing in front of the knights.
Roxana recognized him as the man who grumbled as if he was displeased every time he saw her.
Soon, Floyd appeared. His figure on the horse with red fur was dignified, noble, and full of power. On the verge of battle, he was more dignified than ever and exuded intense majesty.
'Ah, so that's why...'
I have no choice but to respect him. I have no choice but to pledge allegiance.
If it's such a Monarch, I have no choice but to trust and follow him.
Roxana stared at him as if possessed.
He stood in front of the knights and drew his sword. The blade of the sword received the light of dawn and shone crimson. The knights, the vassals who came out to see him off, and the employees stared blankly at the light that was so seductive and brilliant that it seemed to captivate and drive people crazy. Roxana was the same.
Then, his voice rang out. It was a loud and cheerful voice that reached Lily Palace.
"Let's finish it in one go!"
Roxana almost burst into laughter at the tone, which was completely different from the dignified attitude he had shown so far.
She belatedly realized that she had forgotten everything and was immersed in him. She hurriedly swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out.
Roxana came down from the tower only after Floyd and the knights had left and were completely out of sight.
+++
'The Grand Duke must be using that fire when fighting monsters.'
Roxana looked down at her palm. Looking at her hand, which looked thin and weak and had no calluses, she suddenly remembered a voice.
-"Princess, your hands are too big. It's best not to show your hands to others as much as possible. After all, men like women with small figures."
That voice sounded worried and pitiful.
-"His Highness the Crown Prince also finds your height a bit burdensome, as you are not womanly enough. Ah, of course, it's not that His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't love you... It's just that, you know, there are parts that you love but are a little disappointing?"
Lucas always spoke regretfully about Roxana's height, and Elise was always worried about that part. In a world where women who were small enough to fit in your arms and had small hands and feet were considered the best, Roxana was as tall as a man and had large hands and feet.
She considered it her fault and accepted it as her friend's sincere advice, so Roxana always wore low-heeled shoes and walked with a stooped posture. She wore gloves to avoid being caught with her ugly and large hands, and when dealing with others, she tried to clench her fists so that the size of her hands would not be revealed.
'There was a time like that.'
Now she realized that it was all in vain.
No matter how hard she tried to make her body look smaller, Lucas chose Elise, who was born small and lovely, and as a result, Roxana's family died.
Roxana wondered whether Lucas's choice of Elise came first, or whether he had decided to betray the Franche Royal Family first, but she soon erased that thought.
Whatever came first, the reality does not change.
"Lady Roxana."
Petria's call broke her out of her reverie.
"You have a visitor."
This was her second visitor, including Hexton who came yesterday. When Roxana was puzzled, Petria added.
"It's Viscountess Persi Renardo, Sir Renardo's wife, and her children. They are waiting in the drawing room now, but they asked me to tell you that they will come again next time if you are still not feeling well."
Among Hexton's oaths was the statement that "The Renardo family will be the best of friends to Princess Franche," but Roxana did not expect his family to actually come to see her.
Roxana was still not feeling well, but she could not turn away those who had come all the way to see her.
"Please tell them that I will get ready and go soon."
