Chapter 107
Huuoooi, huuoooi.
Oh my. Duchess Shumayer? Are you waving your hand saying you’re too tired to deal with this right now?
Good heavens.
No matter how exhausted you are, how can you just dump your daughter onto me like this?
Well then.
I let out a long sigh, squared my shoulders, and decided to take control of the situation.
“Lady Daphne Shumayer!”
“Yes!”
“I will now test your ability.”
At my words, Daphne opened her eyes wide and looked up at me with anticipation. I pointed toward Ariel standing a short distance away.
“Bring that knight’s sword over here to me. Can you do that?”
“I can do it!”
“But if the blade touches the ground, it counts as failure. If you succeed, I may consider appointing you as a knight.”
“Understood!”
For a child who wants to become a knight, this level of respect and formality should be appropriate, shouldn’t it?
Even an ordinary adult would have trouble lifting and carrying a knight’s sword.
No matter how diligently Daphne trained in swordsmanship or how often she sparred with her older brothers.
Yet Daphne marched toward Ariel with disciplined, precise steps like she was performing a drill.
Everyone’s eyes fixed on her. One might think this was absurdly childish considering monsters were currently invading the capital…
But no—life continues even in moments like this, just as that old saying about planting an apple tree even if the world is ending.
Alright, brave Daphne. I hope your confidence pays off.
No, wait. Actually, no. If she succeeds, it’ll become too big of a deal. Daphne, fail. You must fail.
No! If she fails, she’ll be devastated.
Argh, even I couldn’t make sense of what I wanted anymore.
But somehow, before I knew it, I found myself rooting for her, my mouth going dry and my throat tightening from nervousness.
At that moment, Ariel stepped forward and stood before Daphne—then turned slightly sideways.
He was helping her by giving her an easier angle to pull the sword out.
What’s this, Ariel? Did she touch your heart?
I glanced at the other knights—many of them looked quietly expectant.
Meanwhile, the nobles watched Daphne as if she were some troublesome child.
Among them, Beatrice’s gaze was the most ridiculous, filled with the kind of scorn that said, “That brat? Really?”
Daphne looked up at the massive rock-like figure that was Ariel.
From the back, I could practically feel her awe and reverence.
Once she steeled her heart, Daphne grabbed the sword hilt with both hands and pulled.
S—
r—
r—…
Hup!
The moment the sword tip came out of the sheath, the blade almost dropped straight to the floor.
Adult knights’ swords were usually around 1 meter long, but Ariel was tall, so his was at least 130 centimeters.
In other words, the sword was bigger than Daphne herself.
“Ah!”
A sigh rippled through the bunker.
The sword looked like it would crash loudly onto the ground, but instead it stopped horizontally just above it.
Daphne’s arms were trembling violently. Her face turned crimson like a furious bull.
Didn’t the Dyson Guild’s blacksmith say the sword weighed around two kilograms?
Did I ask something too dangerous?
I worried that my request might injure her, unconsciously biting my lower lip.
“Hhh—ya!”
Daphne stepped one foot back, let out a sharp breath, and lifted the sword.
As her arms rose, her blouse sleeves slipped down, revealing the muscles on her inner forearm—tight and clearly defined even in the dim light.
I clenched my fists without realizing it, giving strength alongside her.
Gritting her teeth, Daphne straightened her bent knees and succeeded in raising the sword upright.
But—
Wobble!
She nearly toppled backward.
W-w-wait!
But she quickly stepped back and barely regained her balance.
“Wow!”
A few exclamations escaped from the servants.
The Shumayer household staff clapped quietly, careful not to distract the young lady.
Incredible, Daphne…
Now she had to turn around while holding a sword longer than she was tall.
But what if she fell and hurt herself?
My vision spun.
No, no. She can do it.
Even if she fails, Ariel is right there guarding her with eagle eyes—no negative thoughts!
Whether she sensed my worries or not, Daphne confidently stepped one foot back and executed a crisp military-style “about face.”
She swayed a bit, but she did it.
Now all she had to do was walk straight toward me.
Then—
Boom!
The bunker shook.
Pebbles fell from the ceiling.
People immediately shielded their heads with both hands and crouched.
But I couldn’t do that. I lifted an arm to block falling dust and searched for Daphne.
She looked like she was losing her balance!
My body moved forward instinctively.
Cough, cough.
Dust filled the air. I covered my mouth and squinted in her direction.
“Daphne!”
I tried to rush toward her, but then the dust settled—and I froze.
Daphne was on her knees, but the sword was held perfectly upright.
That child…
I hurried over and took the sword from her. As expected, it was heavy even for me.
And she had lifted this at six years old.
“Please return it, Your Grace. I can do it.”
“That is an order.”
“…!”
She immediately shut her mouth. It was her future master speaking, after all.
“A knight must first and foremost know how to protect their own life.
If you cannot protect yourself, you cannot protect your master.”
Finally grasping the lesson, Daphne looked up at me.
“Do you understand, Lady Daphne? Your mother likely wanted to say the same.”
Daphne turned her head toward her mother, Cloris Shumayer.
“And there is an order to all things. A knight must follow rules and proper procedure, right?”
“I will remember that.”
“Are you ready to receive my first command?”
“Yes!”
Taming the stubbornness of a child who would soon turn seven—said to be worse than puberty—was a relief. I continued.
“Daphne, my first command is to discuss things with your family.”
“Huh?”
“Whether you become my knight or go to the academy—first consult your household elders.”
Just then—
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Cloris rose and came toward us, looking calmer.
“Think nothing of it. You must be proud of such a brave and bold daughter.”
“You flatter me. Whomever Daphne chooses to receive her knighthood from is her decision, but as you advised, we will discuss with the head of house before giving an answer. Understand, Daphne?”
“Yes!”
Daphne responded politely, very different from her earlier tantrum.
“But if Daphne’s will remains firm… may we impose on you then?”
“…!”
Daphne’s head snapped up, eyes wide as she looked at me.
Ugh, Duchess, what are you doing? Aren’t you planning to marry her to the Crown Prince?
Still, Daphne deserved the praise.
I met her gaze and smiled brightly.
“We would be honored. To have such a gallant and courageous knight.”
Because Daphne would one day stand beside the Crown Prince in the fight against the demon Theodore, protecting the Empire more fiercely than anyone.
They were academy classmates, after all.
Today’s events would end as a harmless incident, and Daphne would not come to Schlesien Castle.
But this certainly strengthened the ties between Theodore—between Schlesien Palace—and the Shumayer family.
“Ariel.”
“Yes!”
Ariel respectfully retrieved his sword with both hands.
I then extended my hand to Daphne.
“I look forward to the imperial knight, Daphne Shumayer.”
Realizing the meaning of the gesture, Daphne took my hand.
Her palm was hot from exertion, and I held it firmly.
Her eyes grew moist as she looked up at me. Her face flushed.
Was she touched?
I smiled and playfully said,
“Now that we’ve seen Daphne’s courage, I’d like to give her a reward. Is that alright?”
Daphne’s eyes widened in excitement.
“Who here knows shadow puppets?”
“Me!”
Theodore bounced forward, and the children looked around in confusion.
“Sinclair!”
The Empress couldn’t take it anymore and yelled.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to reward brave Daphne.”
“Do you think this is the right time?”
“And what time is this, exactly?”
“Monsters are invading the capital! The palace is collapsing!”
“Yes, that’s true. But enemies can attack at any time. And brave knights like Daphne fight to protect the Empire. That’s why we’re safe.”
“Are you talking back to me, Duchess?!”
Everyone in the bunker stiffened.
The Empress, highest in rank here, was clearly displeased.
Understandably so.
Her father, Marquis Michael Owen, had just met his end.
Even though they said the Empire was safe under Orlesion’s protection, the Mage Tower had fallen.
Even the Emperor’s authority could crumble.
“Your Majesty Empress Kenis. Forgive me, but I must speak.”
“What?”
“I lost my father today. But the late Marquis Michael Owen—he always led the charge when conquering the Demon Realm.”
“…!”
How dare a demon-blood pretend to be his daughter?
Kenis bit her lip in rage.
“But even so, when he returned from the battlefield, Father would always say to me—
‘Child, you must laugh. You must play. Otherwise, the knights’ sacrifices are in vain.’”
Sinclair’s words were a lie.
Her cold, success-obsessed father had never once visited his children’s rooms after returning from war.
To think that the man who wouldn’t even drop by for his actual children went all the way to the distant annex to lovingly whisper to this girl?
Ridiculous.
Kenis’s lips twisted grotesquely.
