Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World

To the people of Anhalt, the figure of Faust von Polydoro appeared monstrous.

Tall men exist, of course.

Generally, the view that men should do housework and childcare is prevalent, but some muscular men have deliberately chosen professions like blacksmithing due to their beliefs.

And it’s not like no women within Anhalt prefer such men.

These preferences weren’t considered particularly odd.

Indeed, Queen Liesenlotte of the Kingdom of Anhalt chose Robert, a tall, muscular man, as her consort.

At that time, nobles and citizens wondered why they chose such a man who could not be called beautiful.

However, this was acknowledged as a matter of personal taste and was not considered a perverse preference.

Neither the height nor the muscular physique was the issue.

But having both traits and surpassing the usual standards with such an appearance was something no one had seen before.

A man over 2 meters tall, weighing more than 130 kg, has a muscular physique that is evident even through his chainmail, possessing a body like special steel.

This man, a lord knight, rode an immense horse.

Even the great warhorses, known as Great Horses, typically stand no taller than 1.5 meters at most.

But Polydoro’s steed, Flügel, stood well over 2 meters tall.

On this horse rode Lord Polydoro, himself over 2 meters tall.

And though his face was not unattractive, noble even, his gaze carried the sharpness of a military rank and that of a lord knight.

Let’s return to the beginning.

Most citizens of Anhalt perceived Faust von Polydoro’s appearance as monstrous.

Their cultural values, which preferred the beauty of youthful men, deemed him incompatible and far from handsome.

Thus, in the Virendorf campaign, he single-handedly defeated the enemy general, Claudia von Reckenber, and many other knights.

His courage was considered the foremost heroism, making Lord Polydoro rightfully hailed as a hero of national salvation.

However, his reception during the victory parade of the Virendorf campaign was met with hesitation.

This hesitation was a form of reluctance and even invited disdain.

This disdain led to gossip among women in taverns.

Is such a manly knight being called a hero?

A woman at a nearby table stood up, struck the face of the woman who gossiped and stomped on her fallen body, delivering a kick to her solar plexus.

“Did you just insult Lord Polydoro?”

The woman was a regular Duchess army soldier returning from the Virendorf campaign.

The Anhalt Kingdom Army, the Duchess’s army of 500, the First Princess’s personal guard of 30, and Polydoro’s militia of 20, totaling 550.

In contrast, Virendorf’s regular soldiers numbered over 1000.

It was a field battle against an army twice their size.

Of the Duchess’s army of 500, fighting in the mire up to their waists, the number had dwindled to 300.

In such times, the figure of Lord Polydoro, embodying martial prowess and unmatched in battle, was the greatest salvation.

This soldier was one of those whose life had been saved on the battlefield.

“Let me repeat it. Did you, a mere commoner, insult our hero, Lord Polydoro? Do you want to die here?”

“Guards, guards—!!”

The tavern owner’s scream brought the guards running, narrowly preventing a murder.

Such incidents occurred several times.

However, these soldiers were neither locked up nor scolded by their superiors.

Instead, they were praised for their quick action, only reprimanded for not finishing the job due to the absence of swords because it happened in a tavern.

In contrast, the gossiped women were punished, locked up for a while, and fined.

The presence of Anastasia, the First Princess, and Duchess Astarte, who had fought through hellish battlefields together, meant that insulting Lord Polydoro was considered an act deserving of death on the spot.

The punishment for the gossiping women was considered too lenient.

Yet, this did not improve Lord Polydoro’s reputation.

Gradually, speaking of Lord Polydoro became taboo.

While open gossip ceased, he was neither praised nor celebrated.

However, many heroic poems were sung about him.

Oh, women of Anhalt, listen to my tale

The Virendorf campaign and the story of a knightly duel

A man, Lord Knight and owner of Polydoro, wise and brave

Advisor to the Second Princess Valiere

Faust von Polydoro

His lifted sword’s weight made even women groan, a force unstoppable. Riding his steed through the battlefield like a fierce flame

In a situation of confusion among allies, he quickly threw himself into enemy ranks, turning it into a death trap.

He is a man of fervor.

Cutting down foot soldiers with his sword, leading a mere 20 of his people against 50 of Virendorf’s knights

Defeating nine knights, repelling lightning-fast arrows, to confront the Knight Commander of Reckenber

Claudia von Reckenber

The mightiest heroic knight of Virendorf

Facing each other, both declared their names, clashing countless times…

Lord Polydoro’s heroic poems were sung by minstrels throughout Anhalt and celebrated as the kingdom’s most muscular knightly man for a time due to the excellence of the subject matter.

However, the reception among the citizens of Anhalt was not very good.

While the duel with the Knight Commander of Reckenber was indeed sung about, the heroic poems of Anastasia, the First Princess, and Duchess Astarte were more popular.

For strategy, it was Anastasia; for tactics, Astarte.

Everyone praised them.

Yet, the name Faust von Polydoro was seldom mentioned in matters of valor.

To conclude.

Faust von Polydoro became somewhat of a taboo figure.

Not that his name was forgotten.

No, it was not forgotten.

Everyone remembered, and anyone with a reasonable mind kept their mouths shut.

Yet, Faust von Polydoro continued to excel.

Recently, his achievements as advisor to the Second Princess Valiere were notable.

In her first battle, he defeated more than half of 100 enemy soldiers and executed the traitorous Caroline, who tried to flee to Virendorf.

Simultaneously, to spare the life of Caroline’s daughter, Martina, he prostrated himself before Queen Liesenlotte, the nobles, and the high-ranking clergy in a full assembly.

The commoners, who had been silent till then, began to chatter as if the silence had been a lie.

In cheap taverns, they exchanged their views openly.

“The knight has some cute aspects, hasn’t he? Despite being a knight with a face that could outdo women, he’s still a man.”

“First off, even if it was to plead for mercy, is it fitting for a noble to prostrate themselves on the ground? The one being spared is the daughter of an irredeemable traitor.”

“That’s exactly what’s cute about it. He can behead his enemies on the battlefield, but he couldn’t bring himself to do the same to a child.”

Loud and lively discussions filled the air.

The commoners brought up the bizarre tales of the monstrous man Faust von Polydoro as a topic of debate in taverns whenever they recalled it.

Even with doubts about Polydoro’s actions, the discourse was about whether his valor was justified, without any disdain.

The nobles felt the same.

“I can understand Lord Polydoro’s feelings. It’s about beheading an intelligent child with a future ahead of her, who’s 8 or 9 years old. Nobody would want that. Isn’t that why we have executioners?”

“Still, it was a royal command. Moreover, the girl, Martina, wished for it. She has no future. Considering that, wouldn’t beheading her be honorable for both parties? Especially prostrating oneself like that.”

“Lord Polydoro has taken Martina as a squire, taking responsibility for her future! If you call his desperate gesture ugly, even if you’re a friend, I won’t forgive you!”

Loud and lively discussions ensued, and aside from matters of noble honor, the conversations among the nobles weren’t much different.

Regardless, the commoners and nobles of the Kingdom of Anhalt began talking about Faust von Polydoro.

The atmosphere of silence, like an unspoken agreement, had been dispelled.

Naturally, the heroic poems sung by the minstrels came to mind again.

As time passed, Faust von Polydoro set off for Virendorf amidst the shock of the Caroline incident, not even two months later.

As the advisor to the Second Princess and the deputy envoy for the peace negotiations with Virendorf.

Sharp-minded merchants, nobles of all ranks, and anyone with a sane mind understood.

Ah, in practice, Lord Polydoro was the chief envoy.

With the tension rising across the country, I would like to know if this meant the start of a second Virendorf campaign after all previous peace negotiations had failed.

Everyone prayed.

“Please, Lord Polydoro, make the negotiations a success.”

There was a sense of desperation, a belief that they couldn’t win again, especially among the local lords with territories near the Virendorf border.

Some local lords and their vassals prayed daily in churches, not to God, but to Lord Polydoro, for his success.

The victory was considered a fluke.

Nobody said it out loud, out of respect for Anastasia, the First Princess, and Duchess Astarte, but that’s what the local lords believed.

Then, good news arrived.

Lord Polydoro had successfully negotiated peace.

Everyone was relieved but puzzled by the terms of the agreement.

Queen Katarina of Virendorf was pregnant with his child?

So, it was a lover’s contract, and Lord Polydoro had sold himself to Virendorf?

The more astute were the first to panic.

Both the clergy and the nobles were the same.

How should the Kingdom of Anhalt respond to this?

This wasn’t someone else’s problem, especially for the local lords.

Feudal obligations are built on reciprocal relationships.

While nobody could answer if there were another way, leaving the practical peace negotiations to a minor knight with a mere 300 vassals was an unreasonable expectation.

Everyone frowned.

What now?

It wasn’t just about feeling sympathy or righteous indignation for Lord Polydoro.

If the rules aren’t followed, even if Lord Polydoro agrees, others won’t be satisfied.

Therefore, Lord Polydoro must be given a reward commensurate with his valor, along with the kingdom’s warm praise.

Land.

Something of immense value.

Bloodline.

Giving him a daughter of a petty noble for his achievements was no longer permissible.

He needed someone of appropriate noble blood.

Money.

Not to say it’s worthless, but is that all?

Polydoro was compensated with money for both the Virendorf campaign and the Caroline incident.

After being worked to the bone, can everything be settled with money?

That was the sentiment shared by many.

They were at an impasse.

The choices were land, bloodline, or perhaps both, that Queen Liesenlotte of Anhalt had to consider.

The foolish still scorned Faust von Polydoro as an ugly figure exploited by the royal family.

The wise focused on how the royal family would reward Faust von Polydoro’s achievements.

Meanwhile, the man in question, Lord Polydoro, was returning to the Kingdom of Anhalt.

“We should be back in about a week. A duel didn’t mark the return trip.”

“Did you intend to have a duel on the way back?”

“If the other party wished for it.”

Faust simply nodded in response to Valiere’s words.

If desired, he was ready to take on another hundred men.

“Surely, even Virendorf wouldn’t challenge the father of the next generation’s Queen to a duel…no, maybe they would. In that country, could that also be considered honorable?”

“It’s possible. I was surprised they didn’t come at me.”

“No, they probably refrained from it on the way back, showing some consideration. Virendorf must have that much decency.”

They were seen off by the Virendorf knights guarding the border, having completed their mission.

Valiere sighed, relieved that her duties were over, but reminded herself that the journey wasn’t finished yet.

“Mother is going to be angry about the stolen rose.”

“I’m counting on you to apologize to me.”

“Faust, you know. Well, I’ll apologize, but…”

Valiere and Faust were yet to realize.

Queen Liesenlotte had already been forced into a situation where the stolen rose was the least of her worries.

“It seems like all I do is apologize.”

Valiere hadn’t realized yet.

That she was one of the potential rewards to be given to Faust.