Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 22

In Anastasia’s chamber, after the fate of the Bösel family had been decided and they had parted ways with Faust and others.

 “Are you asking to be killed?”
“Not at all.”

Within the chamber of Anastasia, the first princess, Duchess Astarte was being cornered. While Astarte had the advantage in personal combat abilities, this was not the issue at hand. Facing Anastasia, who was now completely enraged, Astarte felt no hope of victory. The fury of their bloodline, when in berserk mode, made their combat abilities extraordinarily high. Hearing that Anastasia, upon entering berserk mode, had slain three of Virendorf’s elite with a single strike of her halberd at the age of 14, was proof enough. Even if Astarte herself became enraged, her heart was not in it at this moment.

“Why did you make Faust do such a thing? What were you trying to achieve?”
“I intended to intervene at some point!”

Astarte attempted to defend herself, insisting she had intended to intervene at some point. At least, that was her plan.

“I never imagined Faust would lose his temper to that extent!”
“It’s Faust! The Knight of Wrath! How could you not foresee this?”
“I didn’t foresee it!”

She continued her defense emphatically, slamming the desk. This had been Astarte’s strategy. Faust, being a kind man despite his noble status, would never be capable of beheading a child aged 8 or 9. As a bystander, he might have overlooked the death of Martina as a casualty of noble blood. However, once the victim was under his protection, he would not be able to kill them. Instead, he would attempt to save them, pleading for their life. This was what Astarte had predicted. Her prediction was accurate, however…

“I did foresee pleading for mercy, but his level of outrage was beyond my imagination! Who could have predicted him prostrating and begging with such fervor?”
“Firstly, what did you want to achieve? Saving Martina?”

Anastasia shouted, slamming the desk. There was that, of course.

“She was a talent. I certainly wanted to save her. I wanted her under my control, to raise her as a retainer, as a close aide. That was possible with the authority of a Duchess.”
“That makes sense. If you were willing to take full responsibility, Mother would have surely agreed.”
“I know. I could have done that. But then, the devil whispered in my heart!”

Astarte continued her defense, needing to explain herself to Anastasia — despite knowing she would likely not be killed, the atmosphere suggested otherwise.

“The whisper of a devil?”
“Ah, I figured it might curry favor with Faust for me.”
“You’re an idiot.”

Anastasia’s anger subsided. Astarte was not an idiot. In fact, she often shone with cunning. However…

“How could Faust possibly come to like you?”
“First, my realization came when Faust asked for Martina’s name. It seemed it was Caroline’s last wish. That’s what I heard from Faust. I honestly answered with the information I had beforehand, that it was the name of Caroline’s daughter.”

Caroline’s last words were only her daughter’s name?

“And then?”
“Next, when I was transporting Martina in my carriage and was astonished by her wisdom, it dawned on me!”

To Anastasia, the woman in front of her seemed like nothing more than one lost to lust. She continued the conversation, slightly lowering her evaluation of Astarte.

“I was asked by Martina who had killed her mother, and while praising Faust’s magnificence and beauty, the devil’s whisper crossed my mind again. Oh, let’s guide Martina into asking Faust to behead her.”

“It would have been easy for you to guide the thoughts of a child aged 8 or 9. And Faust must realize this by now. He may not have a wide political view, but he is not stupid. In fact, he is wise. So, what next?”
“…”

Astarte groaned, holding her head in her hands. It seems that “Faust must have realized by now” was a critical hit. Faust is not foolish. Once calm, it would be easy for him to realize that Martina’s statement had been guided.

“Is Faust angry?”
“Of course, he’s angry. Your impression on him is the worst now.”

Faust had even received a penalty. But that’s not all. Queen Liesenlotte has gained a favor from Faust. Faust and the Queen herself must understand this. If only that favor could be transferred to me… But that’s impossible.

“For now, I’ll send some highly exchangeable gifts. They’ll probably be sold immediately, but if it can add one dish to the people’s meals, Faust would be happy. Or should I visit the lower mansion to apologize in person? I need to think of a plausible excuse… or maybe it’s better to be honest for a better impression?”

“I don’t care about your follow-up actions. So, how did you come to think that Faust would like you through all this?”

Honestly, whether Astarte’s impression worsens in Faust’s view is irrelevant to Anastasia. It doesn’t matter. What she wants to know is what Astarte was thinking.

“Martina, being willful, asks Faust to behead her. Faust is troubled. He would never do it.”
“Yes, he would definitely be troubled.”

For some reason, Astarte began to speak in succinct phrases.

“The bird has come to nest. Kind Faust cannot overlook this. He pleads for her life.”
“If it’s the compassionate Faust, he would do so.”

Anastasia responded accordingly.

“But the ruthless Queen Liesenlotte, like a demon, refuses to grant mercy.”
“I want to say you’re much worse, but go on.”

Mother must be fuming at Astarte by now. I’ll have to make her apologize later.

“Faust is in distress. As a duchess, I interfere. I save Faust.”
“Yes, he would be grateful for the help.”

Though it seems too naive to not be noticed by Faust.

“I save Martina. Faust is moved. He cries tears of joy.”
“Yes, kind Faust would definitely be overjoyed.”

How long do you plan to keep talking like that?

Anastasia responded patiently, albeit a bit exasperated.

“Later, Faust thanks me. Affection definitely increases. My loins are wet with love juice.”
“Okay, I get that. Whether your loins are wet is none of my concern.”

Though the scenario seems too convenient, it’s not entirely impossible.

“Moved by my kindness, Faust gets an erection. My loins are wet. We unite.”
“You’re a real idiot, aren’t you?”

Truly, a real idiot.

Whether spoken aloud or in her thoughts, the words were the same. She’s a real idiot. Why is it that normally she’s annoyingly smart, but when it comes to Faust, she becomes this libido-driven fool? There was a time when she had to apologize and pay a fine for groping Faust’s butt in front of his people. It wasn’t taken as an insult because Faust was kind.

But this incident…

“You’ve definitely made Faust dislike you now.”
“Why doesn’t it work out? Why did Faust get so angry!? Fine, but why did he go as far as prostrating himself and begging for mercy!!?”
“I don’t know. I thought Faust was a gentle person outside the battlefield too…”

Was there something on the battlefield?

Caroline’s last words to Faust during their duel, pleading desperately for her only daughter, Martina, if she were to survive. Without that, there’s no reason for Faust to have acted so disgracefully… No, that’s still not enough. The reason Faust pleaded so desperately, prostrating himself, was solely for his own honor. The criteria for that are not known to others.

“But Faust at that time…”
“What?”

Astarte, while fidgeting with regret, mutters as if reminiscing.

“He was beautiful, wasn’t he? I ended up whistling without thinking.”

Anastasia, thinking back to Faust’s appearance at that time, agrees silently. Faust, like a child throwing a tantrum, refusing to behead Martina. Declaring in a full assembly that he could not allow Martina’s death. Kneeling before the queen, persistently pleading for an impossible mercy. Desperately, shamelessly prostrating himself.

“It didn’t seem disgraceful. This must be because of love.”

Astarte responds.

“It’s because of love. Faust’s actions will be widely known through the high-ranking bureaucrats, nobles, and their representatives.”

“Will his reputation suffer?”
“If it were just some noble’s doing, it would have been dismissed as disgraceful.”

Astarte stops fidgeting, returning her feet to the long chair, and answers calmly.

“But Faust is different. He’s the strongest knight of the Kingdom of Anhalt, a knight with a brilliant military record.”

“People will react differently. There will be mixed opinions.”

Prostrating and begging. Some may see it as disgraceful. Others may admire his determination to save a young girl. Some might view opposition to royal commands as disloyalty, while others see it as honor, standing for something even against royal decrees. If it were just any knight, it would be deemed disgraceful. But if it’s Faust, known for his valor, it’s different.

Indeed, opinions will vary. It will be a topic of debate, argued about in noble parties and in cheap taverns among commoners. Nobody truly wants to behead a child, even if it’s commanded by the Queen, even if it’s considered an honor for the child.

“Would this be the case in the Kingdom of Anhalt? What about Virendorf?”
“In that barbaric land—there, it would be unanimously praised.”

The mightiest sparing a young girl, the daughter of his duel opponent, opposing a royal command, regardless of how disgraceful the act, overturning it.

“What a troublesome lot.”
“Yeah, troublesome indeed.”

Astarte, seemingly regaining her composure, laughs.

“The peace negotiations with Virendorf are still unresolved. We went too far with the counter-invasion. It’s your fault, ‘Astarte the Massacre’.”
“That’s not true. I was just returning what was done to us, so I did nothing wrong.”

Anastasia complains to Astarte, who remains nonchalant. The peace negotiations with Virendorf and the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty after the Virendorf campaign are still up in the air. The royal army, stationed in the north, cannot be redeployed to the Virendorf border. To confront those powerful barbarians with only 500 ducal troops and the guard?

The first battle was disastrous. The thought of facing an army of 1000 again is chilling.

“…We must succeed in the peace negotiations with Virendorf.”
“Those barbarians, they’ll strictly adhere to contracts. Once peace negotiations are successful, there will be no conflicts during that period.”

“For that to happen…”

Anastasia hesitates a bit, reluctantly continuing.

“In the worst case, we might have to ask Faust to act as the envoy for the peace negotiations.”
“…You’re joking.”

Astarte responds with a face clearly showing her reluctance.

“He’ll definitely be violated. The beasts of Virendorf will surely defile him, Faust.”
“Though Virendorf is barbaric, they have a code of conduct towards the strong. I don’t think they’ll do anything disgraceful…”

Still, there are no guarantees. Therefore, this is a last resort. Really the last resort. Unlike the so-called ‘Astarte the Massacre’, who is present and participated in the counter-invasion of Virendorf, Faust did not. He is the knight who honorably defeated the commander of the Reckenber knight order in a duel, earning the title ‘The Beautiful Beast’ from them.

Sending Faust von Polydoro as an envoy for peace negotiations is the final measure Anastasia seriously contemplates.