"It's been a while, Commander Cyril. I'm truly honored that you've taken the trouble to come such a long way."
The tall knight, who appeared to be the Thirteenth Knight Commander, bowed deeply to greet Commander Cyril. In response, Commander Cyril let out a sigh of exasperation.
"Still with that, Curtis. As a fellow Knight Commander, you should call me Cyril."
"If that's the case, Commander Cyril, please stop using formal language with me."
"My habit is deeply ingrained, so it would take a great deal of effort to stop."
"I understand. Having served Commander Cyril for many years, it would take a great deal of effort and pain for me to treat you as an equal."
Commander Curtis spoke earnestly to Commander Cyril.
Commander Cyril let out a small sigh and turned to the others.
"There might be some of you who are meeting the First Knight Regiment for the first time, so let me introduce you. This is Commander Curtis of the Thirteenth Knight Regiment."
Commander Curtis, who was introduced again, was a tall knight in his early thirties with sun-tanned skin and blue hair that reached his shoulders. When he smiled, his white teeth contrasted sharply with his tanned skin, making them look very clean.
"First Knight Regiment, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Commander Curtis Bannister of the Thirteenth Knight Regiment."
His well-mannered and calm greeting gave the impression of a well-built civil servant.
In a way, he lacked the imposing presence that the other Knight Commanders had. Looking at him, I couldn't help but think that Commander Cyril of the First Knight Regiment, Commander Desmond of the Second Knight Regiment, Commander Quentin of the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment, and Commander Zachary of the Sixth Regiment were truly impressive. They all exuded a commanding presence and had the ability to lead others. However, Commander Curtis seemed reserved, lacked assertiveness, and even had a soft voice. I wondered how he could command the knights who favored strength.
As I stared at him, our eyes met. Instantly, Commander Curtis's eyes widened in surprise.
"Duchess!"
"Huh?"
I let out an involuntary exclamation, but Commander Curtis seemed not to hear my voice and continued to stare with wide eyes.
"Wait, you mean me, the Duchess? ...So, you're saying I look like a Duchess, full of grace?"
Not understanding, I turned to Fabian, who stood beside me. He replied with a serious face.
"Yeah, I think it's definitely not the case. I find it amazing that you would think that in a moment. ...Maybe you were mistaken for a literal Duchess?"
"Really!? Does that mean there's a Duke here?"
My voice rose in surprise, and the other knights turned to look at me.
Oh, wait? Did I say something strange?
Feeling the exasperated gazes of the knights, I took a step back and bumped into someone. Turning around, I found myself looking up at Commander Cyril. He stared at me silently for a few seconds, then put on a fake, beautiful smile.
"Hello, Lady Fia. I am Cyril of the Sutherland Dukedom."
As he spoke, Commander Cyril took a step back with his left foot, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed slightly, performing a gentlemanly salute.
Grr...
I knew I was being mocked, but seeing the perfect image of a high noble, I couldn't think of a retort. While I was speechless, Commander Cyril straightened up and shook his head lightly.
"Truly, Fia, you have no interest in me. Even though everyone knows I am a Duke and the First Knight Commander, you have never asked anyone about me."
"…Grr. Well, I prefer to see things with my own eyes rather than relying on rumors."
"That's a noble attitude. However, with your investigative skills, you will never know anything about me. …I explained that this land of Sutherland was granted to my father, but to be more precise, it was when he renounced his royal status and became a vassal. My father was the younger brother of the previous king."
"The younger brother of the previous king!!"
I was shocked and my eyes widened.
...What? Commander Cyril has royal blood.
But, it makes sense when you think about it.
I had wondered what reason there could be for such a vast and fertile land to be granted, but it makes sense if it was due to renouncing royal status. Being a representative of the royal family also makes sense if he is from a family connected to the royal line.
"Indeed, I thought it would be a high noble to receive such a grand land, but I never imagined it would be a Duke..."
As I stared at Commander Cyril in genuine surprise, he raised a hand in resignation.
"Being surprised by such common knowledge... Fia, if you have any questions, ask them now. I'm afraid of the misunderstandings you might form on your own."
I swallowed hard and asked the question that had been on my mind since Commander Curtis called me.
"Well, if I was mistaken for a Duchess, does that mean I look like Commander Cyril's wife?"
"………………"
Commander Cyril's eyes widened slightly, and I worried that I had asked a strange question.
"A, a, aah! No, no, I'm not asking if I'm Commander Cyril's type or anything like that!"
Commander Cyril let out a dramatic sigh in response to my hurried clarification.
"Is that where you're going, Fia? You have no interest in me at all."
"Wait, what?"
"I am single. Cyril Sutherland. 27 years old. 187 cm. My parents have passed away, and I have no siblings. I hold the second position in the line of succession to the throne and the title of Duke, and I am the First Knight Commander."
"Throne succession...!"
"…That too. On the contrary, what do you know about me?"
"Well, of course, I know you have gray hair and blue eyes!!"
"Anyone can tell that in a second. …I was foolish to have expectations of you."
Commander Cyril let out a deep sigh and spoke in a tired voice.
"What Curtis meant was probably my mother, who passed away ten years ago. My mother also had red hair like you. Most of the residents here are from an island and have dark blue hair, so red hair, which is not uncommon in the capital, stands out here. …Probably, Curtis mistook you for my mother just by your hair color."
The idea that I could be mistaken for your mother is terrifying, Commander Cyril continued, but I turned to Commander Curtis without further attention to Commander Cyril.
"Commander Curtis, I'm 15 years old. Did you really think I looked like I had a grown child? ...Commander Cyril as my son? ...No, I refuse! I don't want a son who is so capable and perfect!!"
"I, I'm sorry."
Commander Curtis hurriedly approached and took my hand.
"I have poor eyesight. From a distance, I could only see your red hair clearly, and it had been ten years since I last saw red hair here, so I made a completely wrong assumption. ...Yes, up close, you look like a cute and sharp female knight. I mistook your sharpness for the dignity of a Duchess."
"H, h, h, h, h, so that's it?"
Hearing Commander Curtis's explanation, I smiled and turned to Fabian.
"Fabian, did you hear that? It seems my overflowing grace caused a misunderstanding."
"…Do you really believe that? As I said before, Fia, you're amazing. You can always find a way to have fun, no matter who you're with."
Fabian shrugged, looking exasperated.
Oh, wait? I heard similar words before, but this time it feels a bit different?
Fa... Fabian.
It's okay to be happy when you're praised, even if it's just once in a while.