Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 5

From a young age, I was always compared to my relative, Princess Anastasia, the First Princess, by my parents.

My mother, who taught me the principles of rulership, often said I was slow to pick things up.

A tactician teacher told me she had never met a student as capable as me.

Teachers of sword and spear said I could become one of the top ten in the capital. That much was certain.

That’s how I was raised.

“You are the third in line for the throne, a spare’s spare, in case anything happens to the Anhalt Kingdom. And you are to inherit the next ducal family.”

My mother and father always told me to grow up strong and not to be outdone by Princess Anastasia, the First Princess.

Princess Anastasia, the First Princess, is now walking before me, her boots clicking against the ground.

I last looked back at Faust, who was still kneeling and paying his respects to us. I waved goodbye and moved away from Faust, turning around the hallway’s corner to speak.

“Hey, Anastasia.”

“What is it, Astarte?”

“About what happened earlier.”

Recalling the conversation between Anastasia and Faust, I murmured.

“The idea of the First Princess’s Advisor and the Second Princess’s Advisor getting together is laughable, you said.”

“Yes, I did. Is there something wrong with that?”

That was somewhat tolerable, though I was displeased.

“But right after that, you suggest the Second Princess’s Advisor should quit and come under you? What’s that about?”

“It means exactly what I said.”

I’m about to punch you.

Anastasia is strong, but in a one-on-one fight, I would surely win.

Anastasia in strategy, Astarte in tactics.

The minstrels in the streets sing of it, and the older knights agree with this assessment.

Indeed, since the invasion by Virendorf, our roles have been thus divided.

And then there’s Faust von Polydoro, the Knight of Wrath, our field commander.

That was the case back then, not now.

Truly, keeping Faust as the Second Princess’s Advisor is a waste.

“I’m well aware of your fondness for Faust. He bears such a striking resemblance to uncle, after all.”

Anastasia stopped in her tracks.

We are relatives, after all.

Having been together as the First Princess’s Advisor for two years.

Did she think I wouldn’t notice?

Her father, my uncle, was like the sun, kind even to me, a relative.

And he had a fine posterior.

His buttocks, toned from his hobby of farming, were indeed splendid.

The first time I felt sexual arousal was probably then.

“You looked at father with such lewd eyes, I remember. I thought about killing you more than once.”

“It was puberty. Can’t be helped.”

I could not turn away from my instincts.

I was often reprimanded.

Lacking the grace of a noblewoman, of a lady.

Those who often said this called me a free spirit.

The clergy, nobles, and bureaucrats with their positions all frowned and spoke ill of me.

Complaining about manners despite being from a ducal family, they’re all too eager to push their sons onto us, sending countless marriage proposals to our house.

I pay them no mind.

I’ve already decided who I want to sow seeds in my field.

“Let me be blunt, give me Faust. You know it’s difficult for you, position-wise.”

“Hah? Do you want me to kill you?”

Anastasia’s tone shifts, her emotions surfacing more readily when they are alone.

“Think about Faust—about the Polydoro domain. Your position is too burdensome.”

“How so?”

She knows this, yet still, she asks.

“Suppose you manage to make Faust your lover. What then becomes of the Polydoro domain? Do you expect one of your daughters with Faust to inherit it?”

No matter how many children she plans to bear, it’s absurd for an heir with a claim to the throne, however slight, to become the lord of a remote domain with barely 300 subjects.

“Why not make the Polydoro domain a direct territory of the Anhalt kingdom?”

“Foolish.”

Anastasia, intoxicated by her own desires, loses sight of what it means to be a lord knight.

“Do you fail to see the extent of Faust’s care for his people and land? This is the essence of a lord knight; not one would stand to lose even the smallest creature from their domain, much less their belongings. Is this not the epitome of dedication? Stripping them of all that defines their existence, how could they possibly find happiness?”

Anastasia falls silent, then counters.

“…You are no different, being third in line for the throne. Even a daughter of Astarte could stake a claim.”

“True, but the blood of my children will be much thinner than that of yours. I will bear many children—one of whom will be raised to be the lord of the Polydoro domain. A child with far less royal blood, with no hope for the throne. It’s not bad for the youngest child to have a domain to inherit.”

A child of mine and Faust’s. Surely, Faust would cherish even the youngest.

“Faust would be happier with me.”

Anastasia falls silent again. Such persuasion—

“Don’t be ridiculous. He is mine.”

She had never expected it to work. What she really wanted to convey was that.

“If that’s the case, we can compete.”

The small sword she carries is not drawn. They both understand it’s not that kind of contest.

“The one who gets Faust to confess his love first wins. Our fate will be entirely up to Faust.”

“This is pointless. Once I inherit the throne from my mother, I’ll take Faust by force. I won’t yield him to anyone.”

“How many years will that endeavor take? Moreover, is it truly your desire for Faust—to see his sun-like heart dim, as his uncle’s did, becoming but a puppet once his ancestral lands are seized? I’ll say nothing if Faust decides to abandon his domain and choose you. But likely, that won’t happen.”

“…”

Anastasia fell silent and then began biting her nails.

It was a bad habit of hers that probably only I and perhaps Queen Liesenlotte and Valiere, the Second Princess, knew about.

This habit became pronounced when she was at a loss for words among family members.

Even if Faust loved her.

The possibility of Faust becoming hers, with his heart as it is, was very slim.

It seemed she had finally realized this.

—Now, this is the moment.

I decided to offer a helping hand.

“Have you no intention of sharing Faust?”

“What?”

“What, is polygamy not common in society? It is not unusual even among nobility to share a husband.”

I want a child with Faust.

I want to caress that bottom and embrace that man.

I could give up on him being a virgin.

Is that too much to ask?

“…Mine and yours mistress?”

“That’s right, a mistress for both of us.”

The mistress of both First Princess Anastasia and Duchess Astarte.

I smirked at the thought.

“My child will inherit the Polydoro domain. That would satisfy Faust.”

“…”

Anastasia gritted her teeth.

She seemed to be struggling with the idea.

“I want Faust to be mine alone.”

Though her words were clear, hesitation unmistakably clouded her eyes.

I saw the moment a crack appeared in the stubborn Anastasia’s heart.

“It’s impossible.”

I laughed and whispered like a devil.

“To open herself to that man, Faust, to two women.”

Anastasia’s words fell apart, unable to form a coherent thought in the wake of her emotions.

Was she really proposing to that sun-like man to expose himself to two women?

To shame his muscular and rugged body, a man without a single frivolous rumor who dedicates himself to the battlefield for his domain, the virgin Faust.

To Faust, chaste, innocent, tragic, simple, and serious, a virgin, to offer his body like a plucked flower.

“Indeed, as if he were a courtesan, to have him open his legs for us both.”

“…”

Though silent, I understand the turmoil in your heart, Anastasia.

Like me, you haven’t simply discarded your virginity with some random page.

The first pain and pleasure are to be thoroughly enjoyed using Faust’s body, right?

There’s no need to be ashamed.

Even we, the heirs to the throne, do not live by pure hearts alone.

We have sexual desires, too.

“Look, his virginity, I’ll let you have that. But I’ll be sure to enjoy him afterward thoroughly.”

“Faust’s… virginity…”

“Yes, the virginity of the man who is carefully, carefully protecting it for his domain.”

That’s your angle.

What, as if I’m not aware of Faust’s vulnerabilities.

He embodies the quintessence of a lordly knight.

For his ancestors, his people, his land, he would stoop to any low, endure any distaste.

–Thus, he’d be compelled to yield.

“I refuse to sully Faust!!”

“Nonsense!! You, for your part, are eager to besmirch Faust thoroughly!!”

Indecent conversations were freely had in the hallways.

Even I can’t stand the thought of other women soiling Faust’s body.

But if it’s Anastasia, it’s fine.

A relative by marriage and the one who will become queen, Anastasia, is acceptable.

What, this too can be enjoyable.

Imagining Anastasia being embraced by Faust while I lie alone in bed. Naturally, my groin seems to get wet with love juice.

I was taught the ways of the bedroom as the eldest daughter of a duke’s family, but my teacher never taught me this kind of pleasure.

“To see Faust, ever so shy, sway hesitantly could indeed be a sight to behold. Merely contemplating it sends me to the brink of madness!”

“You–are utterly vile!!”

Anastasia’s face turned red with anger, and she raised her voice.

But it’s not dyed in anger.

It’s a shame.

Her face turns red with the shame of having her deepest desires spoken aloud.

Now, Anastasia.

You, too, wish to make Faust sway his hips on the bed, don’t you?

To make a bashful Faust move on his own.

Ah, it really might drive me mad.

“See, just imagining it is wonderful. If you follow my proposal, you can have it right away. What, I’ll talk to Faust. There will be nothing for you to dislike.”

“……”

Anastasia opens and closes her mouth but can’t speak.

She just turns redder.

“……Understood.”

“What? I can’t hear you. Say it louder.”

“I said I understand! Faust will become a lover for both you and me!!”

As expected of the first-ranked royal successor.

Such decisiveness.

A crucial element in the strategy.

I laugh heartily and pat Anastasia on the shoulder.

“However, compelling Faust to submit through sheer force–though not without its thrills–lacks a certain finesse.”

“You are the worst, a piece of shit, woman.”

While listening to Anastasia’s uncharacteristic insults, I ponder, hmm.

For two years, making that straightforward and serious Faust blush with sexual words has been fun.

But that’s all over now.

It’s about time I considered bearing children.

“Well, let’s wait until Faust’s military service–after the Valiere Second Princess’s first battle is over.”

I don’t want to do anything that might burden that man’s heart before his military service.

For now, convincing Anastasia is done.

That’s good enough.

I straighten my back with a tug, stretching out the breasts that are a nuisance on the battlefield, adhered to my chest.