Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 209

“How about that, Martina? I solved it splendidly, didn’t I?”

“No, you did solve it. You definitely did. But now there’s no chance Lady Sabine will ever awaken to goodness in her lifetime. Lord Faust, you’re terrible. You really lack any semblance of compassion.”

Grinning, he said, “Don’t praise me.”

With a sharp look, Martina retorted in a sulking tone, “I’m not praising you.”

Even so, there was probably nothing else to be done.

“Was there another way? If so, we could turn back and try again.”

“No, there wasn’t. Let’s just continue straight on this path.”

Well, it’s Lady Sabine, after all.

Even if she were to awaken to goodness now, it wouldn’t change the reckless life she’s led. It’s probably happier for her to remain asleep.

As long as Valiere von Anhalt is alive and in control, she won’t commit any fatally evil acts.

This is probably a good outcome.

Martina commented nonchalantly, with a hint of pity.

“That woman will be happy as a subordinate of Lady Valiere for her entire life. Like a bird perching on the shoulder of a statue of Lady Valiere, with sapphire eyes, a ruby-decorated sword at her waist, and skin like gold leaf—unable to move an inch. She’s like a mad swallow that has forgotten it’s a migratory bird. She might as well stay that way until she dies.”

He stated a harsh truth.

With that, my actions toward Sabine were justified.

She had returned to sanity.

Well, a sanity known as madness.

“Having regained her sanity, Sabine was seen through by the Pope, who said that there’s nothing to be done about the situation. I can’t think of any way out.”

“I can think of a few methods…”

Perhaps she plans to use a replaced clergyman as a starting point for some scheme?

Even if the Pope has seen through her, the fact remains that she has stolen a seat at the Inquisition.

Martina twirled her index finger and pondered the situation, as if lecturing.

“Leave it to me. Even if we were to act, it wouldn’t succeed, and only a demagogue like Sabine can easily twist people, laying bare their desires and true natures. It’s a feat only that man-eating lunatic can accomplish. We have no choice but to leave everything to her. More importantly, report the situation to Lady Anastasia. The Pope is a formidable opponent, and we may need to reconsider attending the Inquisition.”

“It’s hard to say ‘reconsider’—she’s unlikely to back down. She’s not one to choose retreat.”

Lady Anastasia will certainly not back down.

She has confidence in her abilities, and she’s not the type to withdraw because her own life is at risk.

She does take precautions, but only because if she dies, the fate of the Anhalt Kingdom would be uncertain.

She’s somewhat of a battle maniac, proud and aware of her heritage as a descendant of a berserker clan.

In this situation, she definitely won’t back down.

“So it will be. Still, please urge her to rethink. Convey that even Lord Faust should consider retreating as it’s a critical situation. Also, please take care of any doubts he may have about you.”

“I’m not being doubted for my loyalty, but rather, Lady Anastasia is concerned about being betrayed, right?”

“That’s right.”

It’s a trivial matter.

That’s all I think.

“I’ll make sure to discuss it thoroughly. I don’t understand what’s worrying him, but I assure you, betraying Lady Anastasia is out of the question for me.”

More than returning Sabine to sanity.

This was far easier to handle.

※

Again and again, the same tiresome complaints.

Duchess Astarte was growing increasingly annoyed.

“I’m definitely in Lord Faust’s bad graces! That lengthy excuse was fatal. I’m definitely disliked!!”

“Persistent! Lord Faust isn’t concerned at all! He doesn’t care in the slightest! Understand this: to him, everything is trivially unimportant. Do you think he sees himself as the paragon of chivalry or something?!”

Stop fussing over such trifles like a man!

I was about to say this, but I somewhat understood Anastasia’s feelings.

Indeed, that lengthy excuse was problematic.

Even we, his descendants, don’t believe every word of it.

It concerns the founder Anhalt who, for his own gain, secretly allied with pagan assassins to facilitate the murder of the emperor.

It’s a suspiciously incredible tale.

Lord Faust showed interest only to the extent of, “Well, such things happen. It’s trivial though. Isn’t the story too long?”

But Anastasia sees it differently.

“She despised me. Utterly despised me. Those eyes could only mean that.”

Lord Faust, with his cold, scornful gaze, seemed to have scorned his own master.

The most formidable knight of Anhalt’s wrath seemed to have despised his master.

Our Anhalt ancestors’ history is not one of pride but a clear disgrace.

Turning their backs on the pagans, allying with enemies, betraying the faith they were supposed to protect as knights, even killing their own master, abandoning everything for their own fiefdom.

Such acts are an egregious departure from chivalric ideals.

No escape from enemies, no devotion to God, no loyalty to the master.

Is this the figure of a noble knight?

No.

“I must have been disparaged as a master. Lord Faust must think, ‘Was my master always like this?’ At this rate, he might speak to the Pope or the Emperor and decide to abandon Anhalt.”

Regardless of how tainted the past is, it’s the ancestors’ fault, not Anastasia’s.

And indeed, while the excuses were lengthy, there were certainly reasons worth betraying.

Each manorial lord has their own stance and their own justice.

Lord Faust, as a lord of the borderlands himself, would understand and probably wouldn’t mind, but…

“This Anastasia’s love will likely never be realized.”

The problem was that Anastasia herself was terribly concerned.

Storming and lashing out at me, she became significantly despondent.

Such a hopeless case.

It’s problematic when her performance drops because of such things.

With a loud clap of both hands to draw attention, I hoped she would regain her senses, but it was unlikely.

“So, if I prove that Lord Faust hasn’t abandoned you, would that suffice?”

It’s an easy task.

Lord Faust would certainly smile and say that he would never do such a thing.

Just a little conversation with him should suffice.

Perhaps I should whisper in Lord Faust’s ear a little, ask him for this favor.

I might even ask him for a few other things.

He might even let me pat his back.

That fearsome Herma von Bösel, the commander of the Polidoro territorial troops, isn’t in the imperial city right now.

Wait, perhaps this is an opportunity?

“Can you do it?”

Anastasia, holding her head and groaning, looked as if she could devour a human at any moment.

Her gaze, visible between strands of long hair, seemed like it could pierce the skull with long nails and slurp brains with a long tongue.

Truly, what a terrifying face, my kinswoman.

Not that I was intimidated, but of course, I nodded, suggesting that I could handle it.

If I tried, I could even bed Lord Faust in my own room.

With the cunning of Duchess Astarte, it should be possible.

Well, now is not the time to think of such wicked things, so I’ll give up on that.

“Rather, there’s no need for me to go. Lord Faust will probably come here himself. His attendants are far more attentive to such matters.”

Lord Faust isn’t one to pay much attention to such details.

That’s what’s endearing about him, but now I also have Martina, who recognizes my talents, by my side.

She’ll likely sense the situation and promptly advise him to prove that he doesn’t distrust Anastasia.

That’s my prediction.

“Just sit quietly in your room and wait for Lord Faust. Stop pulling at your hair with both hands. It’ll ruin the texture.”

Just a bit of womanly advice.

Now, I wonder if Martina could take a hint and hurry up to send Lord Faust over, as I sighed softly.