Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 164

“Those who defy Lady Valiere shall not even be granted the right to surrender!”

The head of the pleading bandit was severed.

The one who decapitated her was the third daughter of a noble family, dressed in clerical garb, who had joined the ranks of the mercenary group.

In this engagement, she alone had slain several women, and the bandit she just killed had been deliberately captured alive to be presented before Lady Valiere.

And then, right in front of her, she decapitated him.

“Lady Valiere! Did you witness this!?”

She knelt, spreading her blood-soaked hands wide, looking up at Lady Valiere, desperate for praise.

Indeed, she was a hungry ghost for glory, but this time was different.

Her knightly valor was already assured.

She simply…

“I witnessed it. I will remember your name well. You understand, of course, that there is an appointment ceremony for you later, so clean off the blood and prepare yourself.”

“Yes!!”

Like a loyal dog, she simply wanted to be praised by Lady Valiere.

It was a mere act of fetching a thrown stick, pure and simple, with no other meaning.

Sabine understood this mindset well, both logically and emotionally.

As someone who prided herself on being Lady Valiere’s loyal dog, she understood it deeply.

“Why do you have to kill in front of me? If you want a reward, just bringing the head would suffice.”

With a smile that seemed pleasant on the surface, Lady Valiere grumbled in a voice just loud enough for me, standing beside her, to hear.

“She simply wanted to be praised directly by you, Lady Valiere, and couldn’t help herself. Even considering the risk of being attacked by the desperate bandit she captured, she couldn’t resist your charm.”

I knew she understood even without me saying it.

With that, Lady Valiere held her stomach slightly, not mockingly or joyfully, but with a sad expression.

Ah, yes. That expression.

I’ve never seen Sabine insult the utmost sincerity of others, no matter how ridiculous it might seem to others; only Lady Valiere would not insult it.

“Do not let this happen again. I dislike it when my subordinates take unnecessary risks. Issue a strict order from the brigade commander to adhere absolutely.”

“Understood. What about her? To ensure she doesn’t get ridiculed by others, we must consider her dignity.”

“I will tell her directly at the appointment ceremony.”

Lady Valiere would, no doubt, speak kindly.

She would stand the girl up after tapping her shoulder with a sword, hold her hand, and gently explain.

Now that she has become an official subordinate in this brigade, any wasteful act that risks her life is absolutely unacceptable.

In a voice sweet as flowers yet resolute.

During the appointment ceremony, held in the presence of all the brigade, filled with envious and jealous gazes, Lady Valiere would speak directly to her, concerned about her future to prevent any recklessness.

“Another mind is going to melt.”

If treated that way, that third daughter would be overly satisfied with her need for approval, from herself and others alike.

I wonder if Lady Valiere has a penchant for breaking people’s minds?

“It’s not intentional, is it? Perhaps it’s thanks to the education.”

Praise loudly so everyone can hear, admonish by explaining the reasons to ensure the person understands.

And in both cases, always call the person by name, showing that this royalty recognizes and cares about you individually.

These three points are the essentials in the people management techniques passed down in the Anhalt Electorate family.

As the head of the Wesperman family educated in these methods, I had heard of them.

Lady Valiere, in terms of abilities, is honestly no different from an ordinary noble.

But that doesn’t mean she lacks the ability to fulfill the education she received as prescribed.

She might be ordinary, but not foolish.

“Indeed, Lady Valiere’s charm, at least in terms of human relations, is unmatched even among other Anhalt royals. But,”

It’s not a charm that works on everyone.

It works absurdly well on just the world’s misfits.

Born of the Anhalt royal family, with a fairy-like appearance and a dignified, fragrant voice—she operates under the belief that if someone shows their utmost sincerity, she must respond, no matter what.

Because she moves with genuine sincerity, even those of lesser education, indeed especially them,

The charm of Lady Valiere reaches pitiful beings like Sabine all too effectively.

“Well.”

For now, the march is going as planned.

Creating an army for Lady Valiere.

Setting up the power structure for the Second Princess faction when Lady Valiere governs the Polydoro territory.

But, there are still elements of uncertainty.

“Lady Valiere, please rest until the time of the appointment ceremony. I will see to a small matter.”

“A small matter?”

“I’m going to see Lady Amelia von Berlichingen.”

Let’s sort it out.

There are three elements of uncertainty.

Regarding the Cologne Sect.

About the brigade’s expansion.

Regarding Lady Amelia von Berlichingen.

These three things did not proceed as expected.

Leaving Lady Valiere, I walked a little to where Lady Amelia was.

Sorting my thoughts as I walked.

“Regarding the Cologne Sect.”

I muttered softly.

The sect started with thirty people at departure, and I was already wary then.

The number has increased—now it’s about forty.

It’s not a matter of recruiting nuns through proselytizing within the brigade.

Simply, during the march, the brigade sometimes stops at Cologne Sect churches.

During these stops, the number of attendees gradually increases.

All armed with muskets and maces, seeming capable of brutally defeating any ordinary soldier.

“What are they thinking? What are they planning to do?”

Even Sabine cannot fathom why the number of armed nuns is increasing.

Clearly, the Cologne Sect has some purpose in joining the march, but I have no right to reprimand them.

Given that I’ve previously relied heavily on the sect to fulfill a hundred guards with riflemen, there’s nothing I can do.

As a devotee of the Cologne Sect, my role was to cooperate wholeheartedly.

Unless a significant issue arises, I can only continue to observe.

I decided to put the Cologne Sect issue on hold for now.

“Next.”

Regarding the brigade’s expansion.

Firstly, Lady Amelia von Berlichingen has brought about 100 elite soldiers with her.

This, at least, is acceptable.

These are her private troops, a controlled force under her command.

Essentially, she serves as a guest general for Lady Valiere, and since she has no intention of disrupting the brigade’s goals, her presence poses no issues.

The problem lies with the others.

Since leaving Lady Berlichingen’s territory, a continuous stream of mercenary groups and black knights have been offering to join our journey.

There are several reasons for this.

As per the rumors I had previously spread and the secret promises I made to the mercenary groups, Lady Valiere had bestowed a title upon a mercenary captain for her achievements against the bandits.

This turned the rumors into reality; Lady Valiere faithfully kept her promises, and the mercenary captain rose to become a true knight.

About 100 of her subordinates transitioned from uncertain mercenaries to official soldiers, now receiving wages from the state.

Indeed, it was a generous treatment, viewed with envy and jealousy.

It’s understandable that others would be eager to secure a similar position.

I understand, but—

“I underestimated the greed of the lower ranks.”

This was a miscalculation on my part.

The mercenaries participating in this journey bragged in city taverns, “Now our captain is a knight!” and “I’ve been an official soldier since the other day!”

I anticipated this.

Since it boosted Lady Valiere’s reputation, I approved of it.

I was naive.

I thought the number of recruits joining the brigade mid-journey would be modest, like catching a strand of hair from a fairy of fortune.

None hesitated, as if it would be rude to intrude suddenly; there were no well-mannered souls among them.

Every mercenary group and black knight we encountered along the way desperately followed us, pleading to join the journey.

If they were useless, I could have simply rejected them with a single word, but upon interviewing them, they turned out to be experienced mercenaries, brandishing proofs like commendations from various lords for participating in battles.

Black knights, too, if tested in mock battles, showed skills just a step below superhuman, plentiful among them.

It seemed a waste to let such talent remain hidden in the wilderness, and ultimately, I accepted them.

Rejecting them and having them rampage out of spite would cause us harm.

Besides, generally speaking, the more troops, the better.

Thus, the brigade swelled from 1000 to 1500 members.

With the numbers swelling to this extent—

“How far can we maintain discipline within the brigade? Is there a risk they might run amok and loot?”

I was already beyond my capabilities.

Honestly, I had to rely on the strange charisma Lady Valiere possesses.

There’s nothing to do but throw it entirely on Lady Valiere’s charm.

Having reached this point, even I feel guilty, as if I’m doing something terrible to Lady Valiere.

But Lady Valiere will manage it.

She will handle it.

With that in mind, I could consider the second pressing issue resolved.

Even if the number doubles to about 3000, Lady Valiere can handle it, right?

After all, it’s Lady Valiere.

“Lady Valiere will handle it.”

The second issue is resolved.

Now, to the third issue.

Lady Amelia von Berlichingen herself.

Frankly, I had somewhat anticipated her joining Lady Valiere’s journey.

The most likely scenario involved a bit of fuss before paying a small fee.

The least likely was her becoming furiously enraged, leading me to retaliate and kill her.

Lady Berlichingen, skilled in negotiation backed by violence, is profoundly calm and deliberate in her dealings.

Her show of anger at Lady Valiere was just a pose.

That was my assessment, and it wasn’t wrong.

The issue is—

“She seems to be having too much fun.”

If Lady Berlichingen is joining this journey, it’s because she has calculated there to be a profit in it.

She’s here to make money using someone else’s reputation, and nothing else matters.

That was what I had expected.

But, indeed, people aren’t that simple.

“Does Lady Valiere’s charm reach even a knight-thief?”

There wasn’t a single lie in her words when she said she liked Lady Valiere.

She really liked her, which is why she decided to join this journey.

She wants money, but that’s not the only reason.

I can see that much with my observational skills.

If she truly likes Lady Valiere, that’s fine.

If she can strongly support the brigade’s legitimate looting (Fehde), I have no complaints.

The problem is—

“What will she do to Lady Valiere if something displeases her during the journey?”

If it were just about money, I could trust her.

But if that notorious knight-thief has come along swayed by complex emotions, then nothing is trustworthy.

Should the brigade’s control falter, she might act to Lady Valiere’s detriment.

She is a guest general and an aide on the journey, not someone who has handed over military authority of her elite troops to us.

This is troubling.

Like the second issue, this one, too, is beyond my ability to manage, swayed by Lady Valiere’s charm.

If Lady Berlichingen shows any suspicious behavior, all I can do is keep a knife sharpened, ready to kill her if necessary.

“For now, I’ll go see her.”

All I can do is ask some questions and decipher her true intentions.

I can tell whether the answers are true or false just by looking at someone’s facial expressions when I ask them.

That’s if the expressions reveal true intent or lies.

But…

When even the person themselves might not know if they’re being honest or deceitful, I cannot read such expressions.

I clicked my tongue at my own lack of capability and walked toward Lady Berlichingen’s carriage.