Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 33

“What are you doing?”

Ina-Katarina Maria Virendorf, Queen Katarina of Virendorf, spun her words. The knights at the border were acting recklessly on their own accord.

“The other party came for peace negotiations. Do you understand that? No, do you understand and still choose to do this?”

“We do understand, and we act accordingly. The decision to initiate the first duel was indeed made independently.”

The elderly woman, the Minister of Military Affairs, answered calmly.

“According to the reports from the communication device—the crystal ball—the knights at the border accepted a duel after Faust von Polydoro declared, ‘No matter the time, place, or situation, I will not flee from a duel with a Virendorf knight. If I were to flee, the Reckenber Knights of Valhalla would lament having lost to such a man.’ This is the cause of the knights’ rampage.”

“Reckenber, huh?”

Every time I hear that name, I feel like crying. Among the emotions known as joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, I have only known “sorrow”. It becomes uncontrollable.

“Is there no other way?”

“There is none. Once we heard that declaration, we had to spread it throughout Virendorf. The scribe, using the magic crystal ball, disseminated the record everywhere. Even a scribe knight is a knight of Virendorf.”

“Is it a matter of not being underestimated?”

I cannot understand. I earnestly ask the Minister of Military Affairs for clarification.

“Quite the opposite. Having heard that declaration, it would be rude not to stand up. It’s about paying respect to Faust von Polydoro, who has accepted all of Virendorf. It is with this mindset we approach the matter. And it stems from our feelings for the Reckenber Knight Commander.”

“Our feelings for Reckenber?”

“It is a tribute to the Knight Commander of Reckenber. Everyone is still unable to accept her, the hero’s, death.”

Many knights, soldiers, and citizens have not seen Reckenber’s body. Despite being our hero, the funeral was held without the usual parade because it was a defeat. Her death face, surrounded by wildflowers, with her eyes narrow as threads, and a faint smile. Her body, as it lay on the battlefield, armor marked with many blade traces, after the fierce attacks of the Knight of Wrath.

Reckenber, I am saddened. I have already accepted your death. And at the funeral, the words given to me by your only daughter, Nina. Queen Katarina was certainly loved by her mother.

I cannot understand that love. I am a failure. Without you, I am but a failed queen. I am becoming an entity that only grieves for your death. The remaining embers are just living to handle the affairs under the name of the Cold-Blooded Queen Katarina.

“Are you saying that challenging Faust von Polydoro is a tribute to Reckenber?”

“If it’s such an admirable knight we’ve lost to, then it’s acceptable. Everyone seeks that satisfaction. Unless everyone challenges and loses to Faust von Polydoro, they cannot reach satisfaction. Even after two years past her death, the Knight Commander of Reckenber, that hero, still rests in everyone’s hearts.”

“Satisfaction, huh?”

Then, let me be satisfied. Virendorf, its knights, its soldiers, its people, are still unable to fully accept the hero Reckenber’s death. Then let it be recognized. It can be left as it is.

“Then, I will permit all knights of our country, Virendorf, to duel with Faust von Polydoro. I will also retroactively approve the border knights’ rampage.”

“Is that alright?”

“Is that not what Virendorf is?”

I can understand the logic. That’s the kind of country it is. Though I cannot understand the emotions, Virendorf is such a country. Then, let’s acknowledge it.

“Where is Faust von Polydoro now?”

“Following the duel at the border, where he defeated six elite knights selected from the border without rest, he has entered the country. As for his whereabouts, following the guidance of the frontline commander at the Anhalt border… There might be a delay in information, but may I continue?”

“Go ahead. The crystal ball communication has its limits. Not all local lords on the way to the capital have a crystal ball.”

The Minister of Military Affairs nodded. Not that it matters, but how old is this old woman? I remember her being old since I first met Reckenber when I was five. Well, it truly doesn’t matter.

“He has been dueling throughout his journey to the capital, in every small village, town, directly controlled and feudal territories.”

“The outcome? I need not ask, but…”

“He has won them all. Whether it’s the stewards of directly controlled territories, local lords, or feudal lords, regardless of their territory’s size, he has defeated all the knights representing those lands in duels without rest.”

Of course. If not, he would not have been able to defeat Reckenber. Ah, she was indeed a true hero.

“So, have they been satisfied with that?”

“They must have been satisfied by now. Ah, they must finally accept that the Knight Commander Reckenber has indeed died. Soon, this will spread throughout the country, and everyone will have to accept it.”

“I see.”

It’s a bit sad. Even after more than two years since the Virendorf campaign, the knights who were not satisfied have finally accepted Reckenber’s death. That saddens me.

“Now, how many duels has Faust von Polydoro fought?”

“Sixty-eight. Sixty-eight battles, sixty-eight victories. The information may be delayed, so the number is likely still increasing.”

“I see.”

To reach this point. Before reaching the presence of my throne. He seems to be on a pace for a hundred battles, a hundred victories.

“What exactly is a hero? Why do beings like Reckenber and Faust appear in this world?”

“It’s a mystery, almost like magic. It’s something we must say the gods have ordained. However, both individuals you mentioned, Lady Katarina, are talents that appear once in a thousand years.”

“From over a million citizens of Virendorf, just one appears once in a thousand years?”

We’ve lost that. The loss of Reckenber is significant. It’s why the nomadic tribes, the marauders, emphasize information and do not fight an unbeatable opponent. Hence, the northern nomadic tribes, decimated by Reckenber, have ceased their invasions.

But if they learn of Reckenber’s loss, they will eventually resume their raids on our country.

The Empire. The Holy Gusten Empire. The Electoral Principality of Anhalt and the Kingdom of Virendorf, both with electoral rights, received a directive from the empire: Cease all wars immediately and cooperate in exterminating the northern nomadic tribes.

Both countries have ignored this until now. We were not to be ordered around. It’s our country’s affair; we live as we please. That was fine until now. But…

“What do you think about the report from the Holy Gusten Empire?”

“Are you concerned about the far-off, distant matters of the Silk Road, the East?”

“Yes.”

We heard a report from the Holy Gusten Empire. A dynasty in the East had been destroyed. By a nomadic tribe. Or rather, a nomadic state.

Nomadic tribes have often come together to raid, but they have always fought among themselves, lacking the cohesion of a state. Now they are united.

Think about it, Ina-Katarina Maria Virendorf. Is there a possibility that this nomadic state from the East will attack our country? The answer is no. It’s too far. Expansion takes time, and nomadic tribes don’t unify easily. But…

“If the nomadic tribes are united, it’s troublesome. But in reality, they’ve united and destroyed a dynasty.”

“If they unite, they are strong.”

“In the great plains of the East, forever fighting over water sources, facing eternal conflicts, heavy snow, low temperatures, strong winds, and fodder depletion, they should have been content in their hell in this world or the next.”

It’s troublesome. If the nomadic tribes unite, they become a significantly troublesome existence. The report from the Holy Gusten Empire is likely true. Our country has several military commanders, knights from the East, who have come here. In this country, if one has military might, one is recognized as having a military rank. They came all the way from the West because they heard of it. Eventually, they will come seeking revenge.

“The report from the Holy Gusten Empire is not false. We know that.”

“Yet, the Kingdom of Anhalt is probably unaware of this.”

“That country has a rigid class system. Of course, magicians and superhumans are exceptions…”

No military commanders from the East have flowed into the Kingdom of Anhalt. If they knew the internal situation, all the Eastern military commanders would gather here.

So…

“Should we inform the Kingdom of Anhalt about this information, the fact that Eastern military commanders are coming here?”

“Would the Kingdom of Anhalt be so foolish as to not believe the report from the Holy Gusten Empire?”

“No, I don’t think they’re that foolish.”

They probably believe it. But they don’t feel it. Not like our country, where Eastern military commanders have made a name for themselves with their might, posing a threat.

That’s how it is.

“Now, what to do?”

“We are still hesitating even in peace negotiations.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

What should I do?

I voice my doubts aloud. If the nomadic tribes, the nomadic state, eventually push towards the north of Anhalt and Virendorf, we have no choice but to join forces. But an unreliable ally, an ally without strength, is more troublesome than anything else. Especially when they are not one of our own. It might be better for Virendorf to stand alone. After invading Anhalt and strengthening our own land…

“…Ultimately, everything converges on Faust von Polydoro.”

“Is that so?”

“I will just wait.”

I will wait for Faust von Polydoro here at this throne. That’s all. Before me, at this throne, I will fix my gaze on the sphere that is Faust von Polydoro. And capture it. The present state of the Kingdom of Anhalt. That’s all.

“Queen Katarina, aside from that,”

“What is it?”

“It’s about time… you produced an heir.”

That topic again. I have no intention of producing an heir.

“My sister is still alive. She has a husband. Their child can be my successor.”

“…That one is incompetent. Your mother was a splendid queen, but your father, your elder sister, and then your younger sister were all incompetent.”

“Is it because they refused to engage in a duel of succession with me?”

I inquire. The elder sister and father were killed by my own hand. The younger sister, unlike the elder, did not harass me; she was just an utterly ordinary human being. The Minister of Military Affairs shakes her head vigorously.

“Incompetent, indeed. Merely incompetent. Refusing the duel of succession with Queen Katarina and cherishing their own lives is partly to blame… but for the mother of the next Queen of Virendorf, it is far too incompetent.”

“That child might be capable, being of the Virendorf royal blood.”

“If the child is taken and raised under Queen Katarina, perhaps…”

So, they would acknowledge it if I did that. I refuse.

“I absolutely refuse. I want nothing to do with such troubles.”

“Then, at least bear a child. It doesn’t matter if you take a husband or not. Just lose your virginity to some page around here.”

…

I remain silent. It’s troublesome. That’s why, unusually for someone of my status, I have remained single and pure at the age of 22.

Could I ever love a man? Probably not. It’s unlikely. If Reckenber had been a man, I wonder… But that’s a foolish fantasy. Ah. Everything feels so empty. Everyone in my world has disappeared.

Reckenber. Your absence saddens me. I am just sad.

“Ah.”

Emptiness. Even the words of the old woman, the Minister of Military Affairs, fail to reach me. In this empty world, on this empty throne, I wait for that man. Wait? Perhaps, am I expecting something? From the man who defeated my Reckenber. From Faust von Polydoro.

I close my eyes, ignoring the sighs of the old woman, and decide to take a short nap on the throne. For now, I’ve lost everything. Hoping to dream of memories from my childhood with Reckenber.