Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 24

A month had passed since the first battle of the Second Princess Valiere, known as “Caroline’s Rebellion”.

Faust von Polydoro, along with his people, had safely returned to the Polydoro territory and was passing his days there.

Eventually, he welcomed Martina, the heir of the Bösel family who resided in the royal capital, as a knight apprentice.

Now, he was in the midst of knight training.

At the stable, it was decided that Martina would take care of his beloved horse, Flügel, from now on.

“I love taking care of Flügel myself, though.”

“This is my beloved horse, Flügel.”

“He’s a very big horse. As expected of the strongest knight in the Anhalt Kingdom.”

“When I was 15, Flügel was then 3 years old. Even back then, he supported me well despite my large frame.”

My treasure.

I had given away everything like hair ornaments and rings to my people, so it’s the only thing left that was given by my deceased mother.

No, I hate to treat my beloved horse Flügel as an object, but there’s no other way to describe it.

What should I call him, this being that I should address with affection?

During the Virendorf campaign, if Flügel hadn’t been excellent, I would have lost to the Reckenber Knight Commander.

My muscular 2m frame, even when fully armed, didn’t hinder him, and he could leap with ease.

Truly, my beloved horse.

That’s the most fitting way to call him.

Flügel rubbed his nose against my face, and I rubbed my cheek against him, both of us enjoying the sensation.

“…He’s a smart horse.”

“Yes, truly smart. Horses are intelligent creatures.”

Martina murmured while watching the scene.

When Flügel is praised, it makes me as happy as if it were about me.

Ah, but Flügel is already 10 years old.

Honestly, Flügel can still be active.

Flügel is special.

But still…

“I will be glad to take care of him from now on. But, this horse, Flügel, he’s quite old, isn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

Martina murmured as if she had seen through my heart.

I must find a mate for Flügel soon.

Preferably, I want to continue his lineage here in the Polydoro territory.

My beloved horse that has kept my life hanging by a thread.

But, my finances are tight for buying a new mare—no, I could use the reward money from Caroline’s rebellion.

No, I’ve decided to use that for reducing the taxes for my people.

It’s troubling.

“I would suggest it’s time to prepare a new horse…”

Martina hesitated.

Well, this clever child would understand my reply.

“Indeed, our finances are stretched thin in the Polydoro territory, especially since Flügel enjoys his meals quite heartily.”

Well, Flügel is working, so it’s only natural he eats that much.

The purchase cost of a horse is one thing, but the maintenance is another.

And he eats a lot.

While it’s heartwarming to see Flügel eat so much, it’s financially painful.

The Engel’s coefficient in this fantasy medieval era is high.

In conclusion, maintaining two or three horses would strain our territory’s finances…

“We need to find a solution.”

It’s something I’ve been considering for a while.

A source of worry.

It doesn’t seem like something that could be easily solved even by asking the Second Princess Valiere.

Buying a new horse is the quickest solution, I understand that.

But I truly wish to continue Flügel’s lineage.

What to do?

Just as Martina and I were pondering this side by side…

“Lord Faust, a messenger has arrived.”

“Again? A letter, I suppose?”

The captain of the retainers, Helga, came to report the arrival of a messenger.

A letter of explanation from Duchess Astarte.

After departing from the royal capital and making his way back to his own lands, Faust was greeted with a candid letter from Duchess Astarte, detailing her thoughts.

Clearly, she must have decided that honesty, rather than a clever fabrication, would cast her in a more favorable light in my eyes.

My thoughts on that?

Let’s be honest, that person is a true fool.

No, I think she understands my personality well, and if I were a man of ordinary sensibilities in this world, maybe I would have been swayed by that.

It’s not easy to simply call her a simpleton.

Should she have anticipated my rampage and subsequent groveling for mercy, then she is no tactician but a lunatic.

So, I commend her for being honest.

The rampage and prostration were my doing, and it would be wrong to resent her for that.

Yet, I find her actions unforgivable.

“The letter from Duchess Astarte should be opened and read. But send it back.”

“Is that alright?”

“It’s fine.”

I could overlook her targeting my chastity.

But what I cannot forgive is that she played with the life of the child, Martina, like a jester.

I cannot forgive her for manipulating a young child’s thoughts and making Martina plead to have me behead her.

That is the only thing I cannot forgive.

I look at Martina beside me, observing her young body.

But Martina said—

“About Duchess Astarte, regarding the fact she led me to think in a certain way…”

“What about it? I have no intention of forgiving her.”

“I’m not exactly holding a grudge or anything.”

What?

I stare at Martina in disbelief.

“No, Martina. You were toyed with. Aren’t you angry?”

“Lord Faust, are you angry with Duchess Astarte for manipulating your actions?”

“No, I’m not angry about that.”

Even though I was led, my actions were naive.

As I thought earlier, it would be wrong to resent Astarte for the rampage and prostration.

But—you have the right to be angry.

“Then, it’s the same for me. I’m not angry either.”

“Martina. You are a young child. Your life was treated like a pawn for Duchess Astarte’s convenience. You should be angry.”

“Lord Faust, even if I had been beheaded by you at that moment, I would have had no regrets.”

Martina murmurs with her usual composed face.

“Besides, according to what I heard from you, Lord Faust, she was planning to spare my life from the beginning and even consider elevating me as a retainer. The only person who thought to save my life at that moment was Duchess Astarte.”

“That is… well, true.”

Even if Martina’s execution had been unrelated to me, my knightly education and the moral sense of a modern Japanese would have likely led me to abandon her completely.

Feeling awkward, I inadvertently look away from Martina.

I am by no means a hero.

Even with motives, the only person who intended to save Martina’s life from the beginning was Duchess Astarte.

That is indeed a fact.

“To hate that would be ungrateful. That should be considered separately from my feelings, and as for my feelings, I don’t particularly hate her.”

“…”

Martina is truly wise.

It might even be said she is enlightened.

Duchess Astarte was right to regret and genuinely wish to spare such a talented child.

Is this creature really a 9-year-old?

If she had continued as the heir of the Bösel territory, she would have been an excellent lord.

I sympathize with Martina’s situation.

Surrounded by fools, her fate was twisted.

Though my knightly education may be modest, I will do my best to raise her properly.

A rebel of the territory, a traitor’s daughter.

I vow to make her a knight who will not be defeated by such defamation.

Well, that’s that.

“Hmm.”

Since that time, Duchess Astarte has been sending weekly gifts that are easily converted into cash.

Along with money and gifts, she sends letters of explanation and apology.

Hearing this from Martina, whom I regard as the primary victim and the source of my anger, prompts me to rethink.

Should I forgive her?

“Lord Faust, first of all, is there any benefit for you in having bad relations with Duchess Astarte? After all, she is a lord of a ducal house rumored to soon have over 100,000 subjects and even owns a silver mine.”

“Uh, when you put it that way, I’m at a disadvantage.”

In the first place, the scale of our territories and the power imbalance are too great.

It’s abnormal for Duchess Astarte, who casually claims me as her war buddy, despite only having a mere 300 subjects in my territory.

And for such a person to repeatedly send letters of apology is also abnormal.

Indeed, I am cognizant of Duchess Astarte’s unusual fixation on me.

She desires me as a lover and targets my chastity, but with my sensibilities from a previous life, I’m not particularly bothered by that.

The problem is the possibility that my child might not inherit the Polydoro territory, so being a lover is troublesome from a positional standpoint.

I ask Martina.

“…Does my heart seem narrow to you?”

“No, I think it’s okay to be angry since you were used. But is your heart really that small? Even though the other party has sent money and apology letters repeatedly?”

“Hmm.”

Duchess Astarte honestly admitted her fault.

She has sent money and apology letters many times.

Should I forgive her now?

It’s a dilemma.

By the way…

“The ducal territory is also famous as a horse breeding region, isn’t it?”

“In fact, the ducal territory has everything. Shall we request breeding for Flügel’s offspring?”

Martina quickly responds.

Perhaps that should be the resolution.

I’ll convey in a letter to Duchess Astarte that I’ve decided to forgive her, and in exchange, request breeding for Flügel.

Then, once the foal is born and raised in the Astarte territory until it’s 3 years old, it will be transferred to me for free.

This should be good enough.

Duchess Astarte was an important comrade during the Virendorf campaign.

That’s why I once genuinely hated her, but denying that past is also unpleasant.

I sigh.

“Helga, change of plans. Tell the messenger to receive the letter, and I’ll write a reply this time, so ask them to wait a bit at the mansion. And prepare a modest reception that won’t shame our territory.”

“Understood. That is acknowledged, but… there is another matter.”

“Another matter?”

Isn’t it the messenger from Duchess Astarte’s letter?

There shouldn’t be any other business…

“A summons has come from the royal capital. It’s a royal matter.”

“Refuse it.”

I’ll kill them, idiots.

I’ve fully completed my duties for this year, both as the protector of the territory and as the advisor to the Second Princess.

Why must I be summoned to the royal capital within a month? I am tired. There’s Martina’s knight training to think about, as well as the governance of the Polydoro territory. Why must I face such trials?

“Perhaps no messenger arrived. Maybe they were attacked by bandits along the way. Should we arrange for such a story?”

Helga casts a tense gaze at me, gauging my reaction. To kill the messenger? I want to. I really do. But, this time, the messenger must return with my response to Duchess Astarte. Moreover…

“If we were of a ducal class, it might be possible to say no messenger arrived.”

Even though I am a lord knight, I am but a minor lord knight with merely 300 subjects. My political standing is as good as trash. Damn it all. There seems to be no way out. I cannot kill them.

“Did you hear the reason?”

“It seems to be an important matter, so even the messenger hasn’t been informed. Just that you should visit the capital. This time, they suggest bringing more troops than for the Second Princess’s first battle.”

“That’s definitely not going to be anything good.”

It’s all just worrying factors. I want to refuse. I really want to refuse. Why does it have to be me? I clearly have the right to refuse. I’ll have the messenger carry a letter of refusal…

“Lord Faust, you certainly have the right to refuse, but in this case, it would be disrespectful not to refuse in person. It’s undoubtedly a royal command.”

“…”

Martina, by my side, completely negates my thoughts. Damn it, I understand. So I have no choice but to head to the capital, and this time with more troops than before. How many soldiers should I bring… maybe about 30?

“Helga, I’m truly sorry. I’m really sorry, but prepare yourself for a tough situation again.”

“Our retainers and subjects will simply follow Lord Faust. I will immediately begin the summoning.”

Helga has a young daughter. Currently, she’s being raised together with a cousin, whose parents are also gone.

During Helga’s previous military service… her beloved daughter had forgotten her face. Helga was on her knees, crying. Somehow, she has managed to be remembered again. Will this happen again this time? Honestly, it’s tough. Especially on my heart.

“Lord Faust, I will accompany you this time.”

“Martina, you can stay in the territory and take it easy.”

“Following my lord is also part of knight training.”

It’s troubling to involve a 9-year-old child in such a harsh situation. And yet, neglecting Martina’s knight training during this time would also weigh heavily on me. It seems I have no choice but to take her along.

“Damn the royal family.”

I grumble, quietly resigning myself to something.