Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 163

In the end, my preparation was likely insufficient.

Currently, my face must be as pale as a ghost, and perhaps my lips are slightly trembling.

I’ve just remembered who Amelia von Berlichingen, who claims to be a robber knight, really is.

She challenged the bishopric’s major cities with a feud and extorted a tremendous ransom—a notorious villain indeed.

From the fact that her right hand, which was blown to smithereens by a cannon, is prosthetic, I should have realized.

In fact, if this had been my sister Anastasia or my cousin, Duchess Astarte, their superior intellect would have allowed them to recall such a background effortlessly before the meeting.

However, I simply failed to realize it.

Embarrassingly, if the person is unknown and from outside the Anhalt Kingdom, I cannot recall who they are merely by hearing their knightly name.

I do not possess the intellect to mimic such proficiency.

That is the limit of an ordinary person like Valiere.

“I am well aware of your name, my lord, without needing to be reminded now.”

I speak a lie that isn’t a lie.

I knew the name of this robber knight, but honestly, only now have I recognized you as that person.

Such a further insult, the truth, cannot be spoken.

So, at least…

“Let there be no misunderstanding, Lord Berlichingen.”

Until now, there was not a single lie in my words.

I repeat, whether it is a demand or a plea, in a plain tone.

Imagine a person who just continues to speak the reality.

The person I imagined was Queen Liesenlotte, my mother, who governs with an impassive face at official events.

This time, I will attempt to emulate her.

“I am not demanding your submission, nor have I said that your bandits on your land have troubled me. I did not intend to ask you to bow your head and pay a nuisance fee.”

I maintain as much calm as possible.

Now is not the time to afford a glance at Sabine, who remained silent.

Of course, she must have anticipated that the robber knight before me would become furious if I demanded money.

Despite this, she said nothing.

She didn’t tell me anything.

Had I asked about what kind of person Amelia von Berlichingen was, she would have answered, but I did not ask, so she remained silent.

No.

It’s also my…

“We are merely having a casual conversation. Rather, I would like to thank you for letting us pass through your territory without even collecting a toll.”

This foolish me is beginning to understand.

At least for this time, Sabine made this decision because it was necessary.

If I knew everything, I would have been too frightened to even make the initial demand.

Thus, not knowing was perhaps better since this demand was “unavoidable.”

Silence falls.

Lord Berlichingen instantly suppresses her emotions and closes her mouth.

Greedy, mean-spirited.

Even such a robber knight did not demand a toll from me.

There was only one reason.

She, having burst into rage, had come to terms with a compromising situation.

She speaks in a cold voice.

“Withdraw your demand immediately and leave my territory at once.”

Even she wants to avoid involving us.

The thought of a brigade of over a thousand armed men passing through her territory and wreaking havoc if displeased was frightening.

For someone with property to protect, it is a natural response.

Then, my demand should be fulfilled.

It must be fulfilled.

“…Everyone is tired, so it won’t be that simple.”

If I must repeat such things on the journey to the imperial capital.

I need to subdue a notorious robber knight like her first.

“You, do not underestimate me—”

“The very opposite.”

Sabine chose her as the first person to demand money from precisely because she knows Lord Berlichingen well.

She is forcing me to do this.

It’s not being done on a whim.

“I—”

Yes, I.

Sabine thought it through, brought me here, and as the ultimate responsible person, Valiere von Anhalt, I executed this demand on Lord Berlichingen.

Therefore, it must be my will.

It’s no one else’s fault; I desired this and am now executing it.

Thus, all responsibility for the plan falls on me.

I cannot afford to falter or fawn now.

“Do you remember what I said first? I know about Lord Berlichingen well. I just told you. I am not underestimating you. On the contrary, I am here precisely because I hold you in the highest regard.”

Such actions could lead to a sacrifice, like Hannah, who died protecting me in her first battle due to my lack of ability.

“Should I clarify, since you seem not to understand?”

“Speak. Tell me with your own mouth.”

Lord Berlichingen, who had burst out initially, was now entirely different.

She clenched her iron prosthetic right hand with her left.

If not for the magical engravings, the prosthetic seemed like it might break from the force.

The thick veins on her arm were visible.

“I intend to repeat demands like this dozens of times on the way to the imperial capital. Despite being the second princess of the Elector of Anhalt and having a background of a thousand swords of violence, that alone is not enough. Inevitably, some stubborn lords will appear. Pretend to have fought a duel for the sake of public face, or engage in negotiations lasting days to agree on the amount of money. I don’t have time to deal with such persistent nonsense during the journey.”

“Continue.”

The robber knight before me, uneducated as she may be, seems both wiser and stronger than myself.

That’s precisely why she was able to plunder tens of thousands of silver coins.

That’s why her infamy as a robber knight resonates throughout the empire.

Thus, weak as I am, I make my demands to the strong her.

“What I truly desire, what I demand from you, is that very infamy. Even Amelia von Berlichingen, Lord herself, paid gold to Princess Valiere. Thus, other lords paying won’t be seen as demeaning, nor shameful. I want an infamy that makes everyone surrender and pay immediately from the start. Even a single copper coin will do, but I must receive money from you.”

I declared all this in one breath.

Never retreating nor fawning during the negotiation.

“Well barked.”

Amelia stood up.

Her left hand didn’t reach for the sword at her side but instead stretched directly towards me.

With a strong grip, she firmly grasped my hand.

“Well barked with that trembling hand!”

—I hadn’t noticed just how much my own hand was shaking.

Even uttering such words in this disgraceful state was regrettable.

“How intriguing, Princess Valiere!”

Neither with disdain nor mockery.

Amelia’s tone was rather filled with joy, and I could even feel respect from her.

“Your subordinates are quite capable, aren’t they? What’s her name?” 

“Sabine.”

Sabine’s knife was poised at Lord Berlichingen’s throat. Ready to strike or kill at any moment. —Sabine, when did she move? Although I seemed to be perturbed, Sabine had been standing by the wall just moments before.

“An assassin? Reminds me of the killers the bishop once sent after me.” 

“She’s Princess Valiere’s royal guard knight.” 

“I see, I see. You have amusing subordinates.”

Amused, the lord nodded. She moved away from me and sat down in her chair. And still with a look of amusement, she declared,

“Now—Princess Valiere. I possess many assets. Many silver coins acquired through past feuds, spent on fine armor and swords. Titles such as Lord Berlichingen that came with purchased lands. A small yet beautiful castle. Many subjects. A prosthetic arm stronger than a living one, crafted by a skilled magician. I’ve acquired everything.”

Lord Berlichingen’s prosthetic hand moved. It seemed to move freely at her will. If it hit me, it would easily crush my skull. But the purpose of the moving hand wasn’t to strike me. It searched for something unreachable.

“The only thing silver coins can’t recover is the life lost for a few pieces given to a girl named Amelia. A person who could only provide a truly impoverished life for Amelia. Perhaps seen as a villain by many. Yet, someone who truly loved me. For my mother, the only person I’ll ever love in my life, I erected a modest grave. Ensured even if my infamous identity as a robber knight was revealed, her grave wouldn’t be desecrated. Yes, that alone is special.”

For a moment, a sad expression crossed her face. As if severing that emotion, she laughed.

“An unnecessary thing to mention to Princess Valiere. Forget I said that.” 

“I’ve forgotten.” 

“Good.”

There were matters others shouldn’t pry into. If told to forget, then forgetting is the courteous thing to do.

“Now—what Princess Valiere said she wanted. It wasn’t any of the possessions I listed. So, I’d like to hear it once more.” 

“For your infamy, I want just one copper coin from your pocket.”

Again, I stated my demand. Like me, Lord Berlichingen didn’t flinch or fawn.

“I refuse that request. Indeed, I understand Princess Valiere isn’t underestimating me. Rather, appreciates me highly. Hence, I cannot part with my infamous reputation as a robber knight.”

As if forgetting her initial outburst, She showed a nurturing expression and continued,

“Princess Valiere. Honestly, I’m beginning to like you terribly. To think a coward like you, with waxen pale skin, a ghastly expression, and trembling hands, would attempt to take property, this infamy, from me.”

I didn’t voice the obvious agreement. If I did, she would surely be terribly disappointed. I just met her gaze.

“Yes, that’s right. I serve no one. But still—yes, that’s right.”

Gazing intently into my eyes. Pondering something, Lord Berlichingen nodded.

“I won’t give my infamy. Not even a single copper. However, I’ve taken a liking to you.”

Her prosthetic hand moved. Responding to her will, the inscribed characters on the prosthetic glowed a pale blue.

“Instead of doing nothing, how about I accompany you to the imperial capital? I’ll assist with the several dozen legitimate plunderings (feuds) you’re about to face. There’s no one else in the world quite like Amelia von Berlichingen for determining how much can be extracted from which lord’s land.”

“Of course, I’ll take a little cut from the stolen silver coins.“

Muttering so, She genuinely, defiantly, smiled.