Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 67

“An investigation into the king consort’s assassination? I’m not involved at all!”

This is me, Faust von Polydoro, serving as an advisor to the second princess, residing in the lower manor granted by the royal family.

In the reception room of this manor, I responded to the envoy.

“No, you can’t really say it has nothing to do with you.”

Martina, sitting next to the long sofa, still a child of nine but with wisdom surpassing many adults, muttered under her breath.

Why, indeed.

I was planning to leave this lower manor tomorrow and return to my domain, the Polydoro territory.

Why disrupt my fervent wish?

This year’s military service was fulfilled.

It was supposed to be Valiere-sama’s first battle against bandits, but the scale grew, and it turned into a confrontation against the elite forces of regional lords.

Next, I even completed peace negotiations.

I made a promise to share the bed in two years with Katarina, the queen of the same age with a plump physique.

Well, that’s not a problem; I don’t mind it.

Lastly, I established a geas for the sake of countering the nomadic nation that might come from the east someday.

If the nomads do not attack within seven years, I shall die, but well, that’s fine.

There was no other method that my foolish intellect could conceive.

Whatever path it may lead to, I’m resigned that I have done everything that needed to be done.

And so.

“I did my best. I really did. Shouldn’t I be allowed to return to my lands and rest without divine punishment? Even God rested on the seventh day of creation, didn’t He?”

“You speak of grand matters. But inflating small issues diminishes your stature, Lord Faust.”

“I do recall having handled matters of quite some scale.”

Ignoring the envoy before me, I continued talking to Martina.

The envoy had said this:

By royal command, you are to investigate the assassination of the king consort immediately.

All necessary authority for the investigation will be granted.

Why must I undertake such a task?

That’s what I wondered.

Martina, with her well-shaped eyebrows furrowed, murmured.

“Lord Faust, I believe you haven’t forgotten. Due to my plea for mercy, you once defied a royal command. There is still a favor owed to Queen Liesenlotte.”

“I remember.”

I do remember that.

But why then am I to investigate the assassination of Lord Consort Robert?

I was planning to leave this lower manor tomorrow and return to my domain, the Polydoro territory.

Why disrupt my fervent wish?

More importantly, I have never even met Lord Consort Robert.

Surely, this must be a misunderstanding.

“And you remember, surely, that you quietly stole Lord Consort Robert’s roses?”

“I remember. But I have yet to apologize. That was my mistake.”

I intended to apologize to Queen Liesenlotte along with Valiere-sama as soon as I returned.

My plea and the geas muddled it up till now.

I inadvertently held my head.

I forgot to apologize, and was about to return to my lands.

Oh, could it be that Her Majesty the Queen is furious?

I asked Martina.

“Is the Queen angry?”

“No, Lord Faust, you accomplished a great role in the peace negotiations. Given that it was necessary, I do not believe she is angry…”

Martina put her small hand to her mouth, tilting her head.

I was terrified by my blunder.

Unable to endure our ignoring her any longer, the envoy spoke up.

“Queen Liesenlotte is not angry about this matter. However, she mentioned that perhaps this too is a matter of fate.”

I answered.

“Your words are appreciated, but even if it is a royal command, I am unable to accept it. I see no leads to a solution.”

I deeply respect Queen Liesenlotte from the bottom of my heart.

If that Queen, using all her wiles, could not find the perpetrator, then how could I possibly resolve a case that went cold five years after the death?

I am not Auguste Dupin, nor Sherlock Holmes.

Though a superhuman, I am but a straightforward knight-lord who bears the banner of “warrior” alone.

“She does not seek a resolution.”

“What do you mean?”

Responding with puzzlement to the envoy’s words, I answered:

“Her Majesty the Queen is not seeking a resolution to the case. What she desires is peace of mind. If it cannot be resolved with your assistance within a month, she’s prepared to abandon the effort.”

“So, she wants some kind of closure before closing the investigation of the consort’s assassination?”

The envoy silently nodded in response to my question.

This is troubling.

Considering the feelings of Her Majesty, I can’t help but feel sorry for her.

I’ve heard it from Valiere-sama.

Queen Liesenlotte truly loved Consort Robert from the bottom of her heart.

Despite always maintaining her composure as a dignified and calm monarch, she desperately sought the culprit, almost to the point of madness.

Yet, she found nothing.

It’s possible that Her Majesty was devastated by the outcome, despite wielding all the elector’s powers.

I recalled a conversation in the rose garden, where Her Majesty talked about the first time she met Consort Robert.

In that rose garden, when I praised its beauty, she smiled as if the compliment was for her husband.

I cannot help it.

I’m utterly sympathetic.

What feelings must Her Majesty have to request this now?

With such a sad heart, she must be thinking to put an end to it without any hope for a solution.

She must have requested this using the favor she owed, consuming it for this cause.

This is truly unfortunate.

I deeply sympathize with Her Majesty.

It naturally brings to mind my late mother, Marianne.

The loss felt when someone you deeply love is gone is terrifying.

It makes one feel as if they should not be allowed to live.

Thus, the words came to me naturally.

“I will take on this matter. If it can provide even a little comfort to Her Majesty’s heart.”

“Ah, truly worthy of Lord Polydoro!”

The envoy replied with joy and breathed a sigh of relief.

Glancing sideways.

Martina still seemed to be deep in thought.

What could she be pondering?

Perhaps, as a public figure, the Queen is thinking of some strategy.

As a lord knight and a ruler of a small nation of barely 300 subjects, I must be wary.

But this time, the request seems more personal.

Queen Liesenlotte is seeking comfort for her heart.

Then, there is no reason to suspect any ulterior motives.

As a knight, I will fulfill my duty passionately and loyally, following the royal command to investigate the assassination of the consort.

Probably, nothing will be found.

I will likely report to Her Majesty that no results were achieved.

I can imagine Her Majesty quietly murmuring “I see,” with a saddened tone.

But if it clears any remaining regrets in Queen Liesenlotte’s heart, then it is worth it.

If it brings her the peace of mind that has eluded her for five years, then it is well worth it.

That’s what I believe.

“Helga!”

I called out loudly, instructing the chief retainer Helga to open the door and enter the reception room.

“Did you call for me, Lord Faust?”

“I will remain in the capital for about a month. You and the others should return to the domain ahead of me.”

“Leave you behind, my lord?”

Helga directed a critical gaze at the envoy.

I continued to speak to stop her.

“Leave me. My decision to stay is of my own volition, not due to any coercion by royal command. Understand this. Take Martina with you as well.”

“Lord Faust, as a squire, I must always be by your side! First of all, who will take care of you?!”

Martina halted her previous train of thought and raised a voice of protest.

Such care is not needed, really.

In this world, somewhat restrictive for a man, I handle most aspects of daily life myself.

“I regret that I’ve barely taught you what it means to be a knight. Nevertheless, I’ll be returning to my domain in a month. Until then, continue practicing the swordsmanship I’ve taught you. Don’t worry, Helga will spar with you.”

Though left unsaid, my beloved horse Flügel is also not here.

Previously, due to a breeding agreement I made with Duchess Astarte, Flügel has departed for the lands of Duchess Astarte.

I remember the slightly discontent look on Flügel’s face, but your destination is a harem.

To still be a virgin, I am indeed envious.

“This is a decision made on the honor of Faust von Polydoro. Helga, take Martina and return to the territory with everyone tomorrow. I will catch a commercial carriage from the Ingritt Company and return to the territory in a little over a month.”

“Understood.”

Helga answered reluctantly.

Martina continued to look somewhat unconvinced.

Originally, since this stemmed from Martina’s plea for a pardon, there were no words she could oppose.

She quietly nodded in agreement.

“That’s fine.”

I too nodded silently.

Hmm, I somehow feel quite refreshed.

Well, that’s a good conclusion.

“Having said that, I must inquire about the mood of Queen Liesenlotte. Martina, and you, the messenger. Even if the queen is not concerned, we must make a proper apology. Is there anything else?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Something besides apologizing with Lady Valiere. She’s not here right now, right?”

Lady Valiere is currently not in the capital.

She is making her rounds.

She’s traveling throughout the Anhalt Kingdom with a part of the royal guard, visiting regional lords.

The petition to the queen the other day, and the unification of military authority against the hypothetical Mongol Empire was agreed upon by most of the lords and regional leaders.

But there were those who were not present and had no representatives.

Of course, not all will discuss handing over military authority with Lady Valiere.

For those regional knights of small territories who were not present, there might be discussions from their patrons.

And regional lords within the influence of a marquis might hear from those lords.

But I am here.

Someone like me, Faust von Polydoro, a stubborn lord knight with no ties to any nobility.

The minimal military service is done through a reciprocal contract, but beyond that, there is mutual non-interference.

In my case, it’s not by choice, but because of the infamous reputation of my mother, Marianne, as a madwoman.

Anyway.

Lady Valiere has set out to persuade such lord knights to entrust military authority.

She might forget the promise that we made together to apologize to the queen.

I had forgotten about it too.

Well, birds of a feather, or should I say, political fools alike.

Lady Valiere and I might have something in common.

Thinking such thoughts, I brought the conversation back on track.

“In any case, we must bring a gift along with the apology.”

“Is that so?”

Martina nodded in understanding.

Then she spoke.

“Her Majesty would surely be bored with expensive gifts. How about something you’ve crafted in your territory?”

“You know there’s nothing special produced in my territory, right? The only thing I have on hand that I made is soap.”

Soap.

I recall knowledge from before I fell into this other world; soap is neither rare nor particularly special in the West.

It’s been manufactured everywhere as a cottage industry since the 8th century, and it’s one of those cliché cheats in novels about otherworldly reincarnations.

Of course, it has been made in my territory even before I was born.

Seeds like rape or fruits like olives are pressed for oil, which is then processed to make soap.

Soap-making is one of the household chores for men in this otherworld.

It’s completely established as a home industry.

“Lord Faust’s soap is special, isn’t it? I liked it. The soaps made by the men of Bösel were quite careless and uninspired.”

“That rough thing, special? Hardly.”

Distillation, which is used to make fragrances, has been practiced since around 3000 BC, and of course, we have a distiller in my territory.

It’s used to incorporate chamomile oil into the soap.

What I did was just that.

The soap itself looks just like a brick block, a plain lump.

It’s a bit of luxury and as a lord, while mixing and distributing the soap during the gatherings and gossip sessions with the men of the territory, it’s surprisingly well-received.

“But I can’t present such a thing before the Queen. A crude knight presenting a crude product will only be laughed at.”

“The queen would appreciate it, Lord Faust. Especially since it’s handmade by you.”

Martina speaks as if she knows.

But really, it’s just a block of plain soap.

A thoughtful man might carve the soap into sculptures or beautifully shape it using molds.

But for something that’s just for internal use, I never felt like doing that.

My own handiwork, but is that really good enough?

Well, let’s ask.

“Messenger, just to be sure. Would such an item truly please the Queen? Wouldn’t I be ridiculed behind my back?”

“No one would dare mock Lord Faust in such a manner. The late King Consort Robert, too, made soaps from essential oils extracted from the rose garden. It may well bring a gentle smile to her face as she remembers him.”

Then it’s settled.

Though it’s embarrassing to be compared to someone like Lord Robert, who was better educated in a ducal family and undoubtedly better at soap-making.

“Then, I will package the unused soap and send it as a gift.”

“Please do that.”

Martina nodded.

And then she added softly.

“Lord Faust, please take care of yourself.”

“What should I be cautious of?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

Such an odd thing for a nine-year-old to say.

I wonder if that crude soap is really acceptable.

While pondering again, I instructed Helga to escort the messenger out of the mansion.