Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 6

In the Kingdom of Anhalt, my residence is in the royal capital.

Whenever I leave my domain, I always bring along 20 of my subjects as soldiers. I used to reside in a cheap lodging in a poor district.

Our land is not rich.

There’s no notable specialty product.

The memory of visiting Queen Liesenlotte for the succession greetings two years ago and waiting three months for our turn is something I’d rather not recall.

Bearing the lodging cost for myself and 20 others, managing the stays finances was a struggle.

But now, things are different.

As the Advisor to the Second Princess, a splendid lower mansion that can easily accommodate 20 subjects was prepared by the royal family.

Becoming the Advisor had its perks.

Currently, I use this lower mansion as my residence in the royal capital.

“…Well, it’s about time.”

I waited in the mansion for a guest.

The guest I am waiting for is the Ingritt Trading Company, the official merchant of our Polydoro domain.

Though called an official merchant, Ingritt is the only one willing to visit our remote domain with less than 300 subjects.

The Ingritt Trading Company has been an associate since my mother’s generation.

I entrust all intermediations to the company.

Items inherited from generations past.

Sharpening of a greatsword enchanted with magic, somewhat unsuitable for a noble of a remote domain like me.

Items newly acquired during my time include the maintenance of chainmail that envelops my two-meter tall frame.

And personally, the most important item.

“Lord Faust, the Ingritt Trading Company has arrived,”

a subject I had appointed as a retainer announced, knocking on the door and raising her voice.

“Let them in.”

“Excuse me, Lord Advisor Polydoro of the Second Princess.”

Ingritt, the proprietress of the Ingritt Trading Company, greeted me with a teasing tone.

Since I became the Second Princess’s Advisor, she has preferred to call me by this title.

“Ingritt, spare me. Even as the Advisor to the Second Princess, it’s a minor role with neither faction nor influence.”

“And yet, you’re living in such a grand lower mansion. What are you even saying?”

Ingritt, in a good mood, looked around the guest room. Indeed, the mansion was magnificent. My Polydoro domain’s residence pales in comparison—actually, this lower mansion is indeed more splendid.

“With this opportunity, I wish to further expand our company’s scale.”

“…Neither the Second Princess nor I have such connections. Give it up.”

Ingritt is a merchant through and through, always keen on profit opportunities. However, the allowance for Valiere, the Second Princess, and merely a spare to Anastasia, the First Princess, is modest. We could unlikely afford to buy anything unnecessary from Ingritt, especially when the royal family appoints merchants. There’s no room for her to step in. Ingritt must understand this as well.

“What? I believe you are someone who can become more involved with the larger aspects of this country, Lord Polydoro.”

“…”

Ingritt’s eyes gleamed with eagerness. What does she see in me, I wonder? It’s beyond my comprehension. The Ingritt Trading Company is not insignificant. While not as prominent as those appointed by the royal family, it has connections to many craftsmen and blacksmiths and a significant distribution network within the Kingdom of Anhalt. Why would she be so interested in a rural noble knight like me?

Well, that’s fine. Being favored by her does me no harm. Only Ingritt stands to lose. More importantly, there’s a matter regarding the most important item that I personally need to discuss.

“Ingritt, there’s something I need to talk about. Could you come closer?”

“Sure.”

Ingritt came closer, and I whispered so softly to ensure not even the attendant outside the door could hear.

“About this chastity belt, can’t something be done to make it more tolerable? It’s painful when I have an erection.”

“…Are we going over that topic again?”

Ingritt’s cheeks tinted with a slight blush as she matched the softness of my voice.

“Haven’t I mentioned before? It was custom-made to fit Lord Polydoro’s—um, size. There’s simply no altering it.”

“I recall sneaking off to that rare male blacksmith at the age of 15. That was a mentally agonizing experience.”

Chastity belt.

Needless to say, it’s an adult accessory.

Be it in my previous life on Earth or in this absurd world, the fact remains the same.

It’s something sold to manage a man’s chastity.

However, my purpose is different.

I do it not merely to prevent arousal but, more precisely, to conceal it.

In the remote reaches of my domain, I managed to disguise it under loose trousers.

However, upon leaving my territory, such subterfuge proves impractical for court dress or battle attire.

“Getting aroused is painful. Very painful.”

“Why do you get aroused so often in the first place?”

“…”

What should I say? Despite my hesitation, I find myself responding.

“Whenever my emotions are heightened, I find myself becoming aroused in all manner of situations. Tell no one.”

This is a form of shame as well, yet in this world, being someone who becomes aroused at the mere sight of a woman’s naked body is deemed abnormal. It’s better than making a statement that could be construed as lewdness.

“…Well, perhaps it’s fitting for someone with the epithet ‘The Knight of Wrath’.”

Ingritt, blushing, spoke evasively. She must not know what to say. But this chastity belt is painful…

“Ingritt, make sure you don’t let it slip that I bought this chastity belt for myself. I am well aware that my preferences for women are unconventional. Yet, I don’t want to be misunderstood as a noble who, fearing assault from women, wears a chastity belt he bought for himself.”

“We would never dare divulge our customers’ information, especially regarding the purchases of nobility. Rest assured. The making of that chastity belt was also done in secrecy.”

Well, that’s true. Let’s decide to trust Ingritt on this.

“Anyway, it’s painful when I erect.”

“…Shall we change the chastity belt to a larger size that’s not fitted?”

“That won’t do either. It would be noticeable under formal attire.”

If I were already married, that might be acceptable. Managing a husband’s chastity is not so unusual in this world. However, as I’ve said before, it would be problematic for a bachelor like me to be known for wearing a chastity belt. It would bring the wrong kind of attention, being mistaken for a deluded noble who wears a belt he bought for himself.

Had I been a fair-faced, handsome youth favored by the Kingdom of Anhalt, perhaps wearing it to preserve my own chastity would have gone unnoticed.

In any case, nobility is all about face. I cannot afford to be embarrassed.

“Then, it seems you have no choice but to continue using the chastity belt in its current fitted size.”

“Is that the only option…”

I hung my head in resignation. In this world, it’s not uncommon to come across a woman’s nudity in daily life. Of course, most people wear clothes, but being naked is not considered embarrassing here. Even nobility, when naked, would at least wear a veil.

Recalling yesterday’s visit to the palace, where Queen Liesenlotte appeared in nothing but a silk veil, it felt like something out of an absurd world—well, this is indeed such a world. Her appearance, as if straight out of an erotic novel’s illustration, bore no malice. She was merely flaunting her physical beauty. My manhood, however, suffered greatly.

Moreover, I found myself unreasonably angry, to the point of self-reflection later.

The conclusion is clear. There is no salvation for me.

“Lord Advisor Polydoro of the Second Princess, perhaps the best solution would be to marry, making it unremarkable for you to wear a chastity belt.”

“If it were that easy, I would have already taken a bride.”

I am not desirable. My body is rugged and muscular, far from the ideal. Moreover, as a minor noble from the frontier, even if there are second or third daughters of noble families in the capital who cannot inherit their family’s home, convincing them to move to a remote domain and possibly spend their life there, away from military duty, is difficult. There are easier ways to live.

Once, as the Second Princess’s Advisor, I even begged Princess Valiere to arrange a marriage with some noble family.

She looked incredibly displeased and flatly told me there was no arrangement she could make for me. Useless.

“Wouldn’t being Duchess Astarte’s lover suffice?”

Ingritt suddenly blurted out something outrageous.

“What are you talking about?”

“Duchess Astarte has publicly called you her comrade-in-arms since the invasion by Virendorf and has been courting you, as sung by the minstrels.”

“That’s just Astarte’s jest. Even if she were serious, she’d marry someone suitable for a Ducal family, perhaps from among the clergy, nobles, or peers. The difference in our ranks is too great. I don’t want to be a lover.”

I don’t dislike Duchess Astarte. In fact, I find her quite attractive. Her breasts are large, after all. But I dislike the idea of being a lover, especially to a woman who has a husband.

Even if Astarte’s youngest were to inherit the Polydoro domain, the thought of a child not of my blood taking over everything that is the Polydoro domain is unbearable. It would be a disservice to my ancestors and my mother.

“Lord Polydoro, you seem to be under a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding would that be?”

Ingritt hesitated as if debating whether to speak further, but ultimately, she said nothing more.

※

As she stepped out of the lower mansion and into her carriage, Ingritt found herself muttering under her breath.

“Lord Polydoro is misunderstanding. Duchess Astarte would have no desire to take a husband if she could have him as a lover instead.”

According to the information I’ve gathered, that is indeed the case. Duchess Astarte truly loves Lord Polydoro. I haven’t disclosed this to Lord Polydoro because the information might not be entirely accurate and because…

“If it became known that I leaked this, who knows what might happen? Even if it could benefit Duchess Astarte, I’d rather not speak of it.”

Duchess Astarte, known as the Demon of Astarte, possesses a temper as untamed as it is fierce. In the enemy nation of Virendorf, she’s dubbed the Astarte of Massacre. In repelling the invasion of 1000 Virendorf troops with her demonic ferocity, Duchess Astarte allowed for the delayed royal army to prepare their counter-invasion against the northern enemy nation. During this time, Duchess Astarte, with a bandit-like ferocity, plundered Virendorf’s villages. Women were massacred, their corpses crucified, while the soldiers took pleasure in stabbing men with knives and raping them until death. The surviving boys were all taken as slaves back to the Kingdom of Anhalt. It’s said that not a single blade of grass was left in the villages Duchess Astarte plundered.

I would not want to catch the eye of such a fierce woman, for good or ill. She’s only gentle with those she truly considers allies. Perhaps only Anastasia, the First Princess, and Lord Polydoro would qualify. I shuddered slightly at the thought. It felt as if the watchful eyes of the First Princess’s advisor reached even into Lord Polydoro’s lower mansion. No, they probably did. Duchess Astarte’s reach is long. In contrast, that lower mansion seemed like a prison the royal family set up to capture Lord Polydoro.

“…Anastasia, the First Princess.”

She, too, has taken an interest in Lord Polydoro. A slip of the tongue from a higher-ranking clergy noble—if that’s no lie.

“Becoming the First Princess’s lover’s merchant would be a significant business opportunity, wouldn’t it?”

Ingritt pondered the reasons behind Lord Polydoro’s inability to marry. 

In a world where women outnumber men and come from a warrior family, Lord Polydoro’s desirability is not low. Why, then, can he not even spark a single rumor of romance? It’s because Duchess Astarte and Anastasia, the First Princess, along with the First Princess’s faction, are interfering with the Second Princess’s advisor.

While the lower-ranking clergy nobles might see it one way, my assessment is different. Without divulging all these thoughts to Lord Polydoro and praying that Duchess Astarte’s attention does not turn towards me, Ingritt left the lower mansion.