The sound of regular sword strikes echoed, *kan kan kan*.
After working up a pleasant sweat in the morning, I smiled at Fabian.
"Truly, Fabian. Your sword technique is so precise and straight. It's really easy to spar with you! No wonder you were chosen to give the welcoming speech at the induction ceremony."
"...Thank you. Can I say something too?"
Fabian smiled and looked at me.
Oh my. Is he going to compliment me in return for my praise?
I waited in anticipation...
"Why is your sword so light? The legendary sword you used in the demonstration match with the Chancellor has made everyone think that Fia isn't very strong, but you used a wooden sword in the first round of the induction test, right? When you deflected the examiner's sword, which was relying on brute force, that was your strength, wasn't it? ...I've been observing you for about a week, and your sword is always light, and you don't seem to be holding back. What's going on?"
Wow! I didn't expect such a sharp critique!
As a proper adult, I thought if you praise someone, they praise you back!!
"...Ah, well, the truth is, I'm weak in the morning. I think the problem is that the sword training is in the morning..."
"Fia, this isn't just about being weak in the morning."
...You're right.
"...So, do you become stronger when you're pushed to your limits?"
While thinking that some people are like that, Fabian shook his head slightly, looking troubled.
"Fia... I'm sorry, but your excuses are at the level of a three-year-old."
No, Fabian. Have you ever interacted with a three-year-old?
At least, a three-year-old can't speak as fluently as you! I'm far superior!
Also, to explain, body strengthening isn't something you do for a long time. It's not impossible, but the next day, you end up with terrible muscle pain...
"Ha, Fia."
Well, what should I say next? As I was thinking, Fabian started laughing.
"What a face. Lately, I've been looking forward to seeing your troubled face, so I might have been a bit mean. Sorry. ...Come on, it's time for the cultural class, so we need to move. Today, it's chess, right?"
Fabian is, after all, a gentleman.
Even if he's curious, he doesn't pry deeply and lets things go.
...He's a new recruit, but already a noble knight!
I put the wooden sword back in its place and smiled at Fabian.
"Thanks, Fabian. After changing, let's meet in the recreation room."
āāā
--- It's been a week since I was assigned to the First Knight Regiment.
The role of the First Knight Regiment is to protect the royal family, and the protection targets are the King and the Chancellor, who is the King's younger brother. They are guarded by dozens of knights in three shifts, and there are enough personnel.
Therefore, for the first few months, newly assigned knights are generally taken off the protection roster and undergo special training unique to the First Knight Regiment.
In other words, etiquette, dance, learning the common language of the continent, music, and poetry!
It's a world where all of these are necessary for a knight!
Yes, I was a princess in my previous life. However, after 300 years...
I don't remember things I'm not interested in, or even if I do, 300-year-old knowledge isn't very useful.
...In other words, I need to relearn, *hem hem*.
Well, the royal family's protection is special, requiring various skills.
However, I don't think it's just my imagination that the other newly assigned knights are enthusiastic about the usual training like horseback riding and swordsmanship, but lack motivation during the cultural classes.
By the way, this time, 20 knights, including Fabian and me, were newly assigned, and a notable feature is that 10 of them are women.
Considering the ratio of female knights in the regiment, this is clearly too many, and it feels deliberate.
"...I heard the King can't love women. Does that mean he hates women? Is he trying to cure his dislike of women?"
The idea that you get used to someone if they're close to you. Is that it?
"Or, is the Chancellor surrounded by too many men and wants a change of pace?"
The love the male knights have for the Chancellor is intense and heavy. It's understandable that he might want a change of pace.
While thinking about these things, I quickly changed and headed to the recreation room.
...Stopping in front of the door, I sensed an ominous atmosphere.
Hmm, is he here again today...
Opening the door of the recreation room cautiously, I was immediately greeted.
"You're late, Fia. I've already set up the pieces."
"Ah! Commander Desmond."
My bad feeling was right.
"Come on, sit down. You're white."
The dark blue-haired knight, who was sitting at the back, waved me over.
This seemingly harmless and friendly-looking handsome knight is Commander Desmond of the Second Knight Regiment.
According to his self-introduction, he is 32 years old, single, and lives in the knight dormitory.
He may seem approachable, but he is one of the "Dragon and Tiger of the Kingdom" alongside Commander Cyril of the First Knight Regiment, the two pillars of the knight regiment.
"Um, Commander Desmond, I'm grateful for your repeated chess matches, but is it okay for you to be here?"
I subtly hinted, "Go away," but as expected of a commander. He ignored my thoughts and gestured for me to sit nearby.
"It's fine, it's fine. As a commander, I don't have direct duties. I only need to handle things when they come up. The most important thing is to be reachable. Ah, that's why it's bad if I'm not here. I've already told my subordinates that I'll be in the recreation room for the next hour."
"...I see."
Since it was pointless to argue, I gave up and sat in front of the commander.
Besides, playing chess with the commander is actually fun. He talks about various things during the game.
"Your move. How are you settling in with the knight regiment?"
"Thank you, everyone has been very kind. Still, I'm in training, so I'm looking forward to starting regular duties soon."
While moving the central pawn, I answered earnestly like a new knight.
"Haha, the training in the First Knight Regiment is special. Remember the poetry class?"
"Yes, there was a lecture yesterday. The assignment was to create a poem on the theme of 'Respect for Ladies.' Fabian wrote a wonderful poem. I'm worried he might become a great womanizer in the future."
"Ah, he'll be popular. You're his contemporary. What do you think?"
Commander Desmond glanced at me and asked.
"Haha, he's the heir to a marquis family. It's too much of a mismatch."
"True. Unless you have some special ability."
"Special ability... Like if I close one eye, all men kneel and offer me poems of praise, or something like that?"
"...No such ability exists. Your imagination is wild."
Well, we play and chat leisurely like this, winning and losing repeatedly.
Honestly, I don't understand why Commander Desmond plays chess with me every time. He said he was busy, but a commander should be extremely busy.
Yet, from the first chess class, he sat in the recreation room as if it were natural and greeted me like an old acquaintance.
Since then, he has been my chess partner every time.
Commanders and deputy commanders are far above us, so normally, it's hard to even talk to them.
Being so attended to by the commander of the neighboring regiment might seem a bit favoritism, and I consulted Fabian about whether my colleagues might say something. He looked at me with a bemused expression.
"Considering you've sparred with the Chancellor, what's the big deal now? If any knight envies you, it would be for that. However, the knight regiment is a perfect vertical society. No knight would interfere or resist when a superior like the Chancellor or a commander acts on their own will."
However, every group has exceptions. It wouldn't be surprising if some envious knights did something strange. Yes, Fia's worries might not be unfounded. Be careful, Fabian concluded.
"By the way, starting tomorrow, you'll be accompanying the Sixth Knight Regiment on a monster hunt. Be careful."
Commander Desmond suddenly remembered and said, so I thanked him.
"Thank you. I will be careful."
We played a few more games, chatting about nothing in particular, and the day ended with 4 wins and 1 loss.
Commander Desmond seems to be a mood-dependent person, having strong and weak days.
Incidentally, today was a weak day. Is he giving me a lucky break for the monster hunt tomorrow?
Thank you for reading.
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