Chapter 18

# Chapter 18: The Tin Knight and the Lion Duke’s Bloodline

“…and that’s what happened.”

On the way back to Friedel Territory, the girl was able to recount everything that had transpired to Roni.

From being captured by the slave trader, to being rescued by the Tin Knight, to fighting the Columbo Thieves’ Guild, and even creating a double to bring her to safety—it was all laid out.

“Really incredible people, aren’t they?”

The girl couldn’t hide her admiration.

Someone who suddenly appears when someone is in danger, showcasing incredible skills while defeating evil—that silver-armored knight.

A witch in black who handles various magical spells with ease, enchanting people and bending them to her will.

“It’s just like the characters from a fairy tale,” she said, her eyes glazed over in wonder.

Being known for her rich sensitivity, it seemed she was intoxicated by the situation where ‘characters straight out of a story had come to rescue her.’

“Haha, right? Haha.”

Not wanting to shatter the girl’s fantasy, Roni pressed a trembling cheek into a controlled smile.

Of course, Roni also respected the Tin Knight and the witch, considering them benefactors.

But if—let’s be real—if they were to ask whether they were the ‘fairy tale knight and witch’ the girl was describing, he would nod, well, a lot.

Unbeknownst to the solitary turmoil of the sprouting seed, the girl began speaking joyfully about her future plans.

“My father always says you must repay any favor you receive. When we return home, I should properly thank the two of them! That’s the right thing to do, right? Roni?”

“Yes, that’s true,” Roni replied.

In reality, throwing a grand party would be difficult.

Friedel Territory had lost its lord and then his eldest son, and on top of that, they had been plundered by thieves and had the heir kidnapped. How could things be all right here?

The girl would have to put much effort into restoring the territory, and it would undoubtedly be a long and arduous journey.

But Roni chose not to point out that part.

The girl simply had many dreams; she wasn’t foolish. In fact, she was quite talented.

There was no way she wouldn’t realize the truths even an ordinary person like Roni could guess.

He couldn’t reprimand her for wanting to avert her eyes from the future filled with hardship, seeking a bit of comfort.

Time passed, with a few suns rising and setting.

Finally, their hometown betrayed their expectations in a different sense.

If we borrow Dorothea’s assessment:

“It’s not as bad as I expected?”

The streets were bustling with people, and the movements of the guards protecting the territory were orderly.

Though traces of the thieves’ rampage were still left here and there, the residents were quickly restoring everything.

Roni and the girl, who had imagined the territory in ruins, could only be left speechless at the sight before them.

“Lady! Roni! You’ve returned safely!”

Meeting them, as they looked around in bewilderment was the feudal lords who had returned from Albert City ahead of them.

“You all are safe, thank goodness. But what on earth happened here? Has my mother finally regained her senses?”

With the lord and his eldest son dead, and the daughter kidnapped, only the lady could manage the territory now.

The girl surmised thus, but the reply from the noble was unexpected.

“No, your relatives are currently managing the territory. They’ve brought troops and supplies to help with the reconstruction.”

Noble bloodlines can be quite complicated.

The number of people who could call themselves the girl’s ‘relatives’ exceeded a hundred, and even if grouped by family, there were more than five.

But among them, if one were to name a ‘relative family’ that could swiftly take command and revive the dying territory, there was only one.

And after meeting the girl who had returned home, that relative said this:

“Oh my, you made it back on your own? We were just about to send a rescue party, so it’s a relief we don’t have to.”

***

There are many nations on the continent, but if you were to ask which ones stand as the mightiest, most would mention two names.

The Southern Empire and the Northern Magical Kingdom.

Let’s exclude the Holy Kingdom, which floats in the sky, from this discussion, since dragging a sick patient hidden at the eastern end of the kingdom here would be too cruel. After all, prioritizing routes is important.

The Lenart Duchy was a family rooted in the Empire among these two powerhouses.

The reason for saying ‘rooted’ is straightforward.

The family that carries the surname Lenart is not limited to the Empire.

Being a well-known noble family, they received love calls from various corners, and sensing the royal family’s displeasure, the duke’s family halted their power growth within the Empire and dispersed their forces outside.

Those members of the duke’s family established in the Empire are referred to as the ‘main family.’

While they share the same bloodline, those belonging to states outside the Empire are classified as ‘branch families.’

The relationship between the main family and branch families was hardly equal, even if one tried to say so for politeness’ sake.

It might be easier to understand it as the difference between a directly operated store and a franchise.

And at this very moment,

the inspector belonging to the directly managed store was mercilessly criticizing the employees of the franchises.

“When I first heard the news, I couldn’t believe my ears. The only heir to the family wandering the territory without adequate guards and getting kidnapped by a band of thieves? How on earth does something like that happen?”

Gisel von Lenart, a beautiful woman with silver-blonde hair and violet eyes, glared at the girl with a chilling expression.

The girl stammered as she tried to respond.

“The condition of the territory was poor. After losing all our main forces in the war, our ability to protect the territory weakened—”

“I’m aware of that. The deployment of Count August was made in consultation between our main family and the kingdom. It is only natural for the main family to supplement the territory’s deficiencies if it has weakened as a result of fulfilling our request. The question is why the heir was wandering around the territory in the first place. Surely you were instructed to hold out in the mansion until support from the main family arrived?”

With the girl speechless and shrinking back, Roni hurriedly spoke up on her behalf.

“Excuse me, Lady Gisel. May I speak?”

“Permission granted.”

“The situation in the territory was quite chaotic, and the nobles were trembling in fear. The lady was simply trying to calm them by touring the territory when she fell into harm.”

“May I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

“That so-called ‘calm’ you mention, did it weigh heavier than the chaos that would come if something happened to the last heir here?”

Roni could not answer immediately.

And that, in itself, was the answer.

“Your crime is clear. Ignoring the instructions from the main family and taking autonomous actions. Being unable to resist the impatience of needing to ‘do something’ has led you into this danger that could easily have been avoided.”

Gisel added coldly,

“Simply put, your abilities are pitiful. An heir who cannot protect herself from a mere bandit does not deserve the title of being a descendant of the Lion Duke.”

The girl’s eyes shook heavily.

Unperturbed, Gisel continued with her icy remarks.

“The main family has judged that the current Friedel Territory lacks the capacity for self-sufficiency. By formal agreement with the royal family of the kingdom, the title of lordship and the barony of Friedel Territory will be transferred to me, Gisel von Lenart.”

“W-wait a moment! You can’t just—!”

“You needn’t worry. I won’t neglect the protocol for the ‘former lord’s family.’ I will provide a monthly allowance sufficient to maintain dignity, and I will assist in pursuing a position of your choosing as per your wishes. We should continue treatment for the baroness, who has yet to regain her senses. Lord Roni Locksley, you are the same.”

“Me?”

“A loyal vassal who personally rescued the heir needs to receive the proper recognition that comes with that. I shall appoint you as a formal knight of Friedel Territory. It will be a temporary appointment for now, but a formal ceremony will be held once preparations are complete.”

It was an utterly one-sided declaration.

With each of Gisel’s words, everyone present was being swept along with her whims.

The girl felt anger rise within her.

She quickly glanced at the faces of the vassals around her.

No one among them would acknowledge this absurdity, this tyranny.

These were people who had supported her father.

Those who had stood by her older brother.

They were the same who had consoled her, telling her it would be alright even after losing her father and brother.

And the girl realized something.

Not a single person would meet her gaze.

Only Roni wore a similarly confused expression, but the overall atmosphere was clear.

The vassals of Friedel Territory were supporting Gisel instead of her.

‘Why?’

A question arose in her mind.

What on earth was happening? She couldn’t grasp it at all.

She had just escaped a horrific experience of being sold into slavery.

Just when she had endured a long ordeal, grateful to her benefactors and was preparing to celebrate, this was unfolding.

If this were a short fairy tale, this would be the part where it reads, ‘And everyone laughed happily.’

But why had it come to this?

What on earth was the reason?

Unable to accept this situation, unwilling to acknowledge it, the girl desperately racked her brain.

To deny the woman before her, she tried to find faults in everything she had witnessed in the territory.

The revitalized citizens. The buildings being reconstructed. The disciplined elite troops.

Indeed, it was amazing. Very amazing, but all of this was only made possible thanks to the support from the main family.

It couldn’t be said that Gisel had proven her own abilities.

In contrast, herself—what had she done?

‘…Huh?’

What had she accomplished?

The girl reflected on her actions.

Soothing the sentiments of the nobles had resulted in nothing but worse outcomes after she was captured as a slave.

Even after being enslaved, she had achieved nothing.

The ones who saved the captured nobles were the Tin Knight and the witch, and it was Roni who had called for help from those two.

Her will and efforts had no impact on the current situation whatsoever.

She had merely been saved by circumstances beyond her control.

The moment she realized that, the girl quietly sank back down into her seat.

***

Thud.

Like her legs had lost strength, the girl sat down again, and you and Dorothea watched from a distance.

Roni hurried to support the girl, while the surrounding vassals wore expressions tinged with guilt.

Only Gisel and those dispatched with her maintained emotionless expressions.

You felt that something about this situation didn’t sit right with you.

Just as you were about to step forward, the voice of Dorothea reached you.

“What are you planning to do saying something? You want to take down the new lord?”

That made you pause for a moment.

Indeed, that lord did seem skilled, and there might be some enjoyment in fighting her, but taking her down wouldn’t resolve the current situation.

[‘The Tin Knight’ says that’s not the solution!]

“Just stay quiet. No matter who the lord is, we’ll just get our compensation and be on our way.”

[‘The Tin Knight’ points out that’s too cold-hearted!]

“Then let the witch be cold-hearted. What, is she supposed to have an enormous heart and spread happiness surrounding her?”

Hearing Dorothea’s words made you glance downward.

Setting aside her personality, physically speaking, she did seem to take up a lot of space, but that wasn’t what was important right now.

[‘The Tin Knight’ asks if it’s not a bit pitiful, no matter what!]

Dorothea looked at you as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Just from what I’ve seen, the number of people I’ve taken out is about to reach three digits, and now you want to talk about the idea of being nice when it comes to dealing with the ‘former lord’s family’?”

Dorothea’s criticism was accurate, but you didn’t feel particularly guilty or tormented by the contradiction.

You just said what you felt at that moment.

You didn’t like how things were unfolding right now, and to resolve this, you needed something other than brute force.

You had plenty of power, but lacked any other elements.

Therefore, you made a request to Dorothea.

[‘The Tin Knight’ says to recall the second clause of the contract!]

【‘Dorothea Aschengard’ provides the magical power needed for ‘The Tin Knight’ to move. In return, ‘The Tin Knight’ protects ‘Dorothea Aschengard’ from harm.】

【‘Dorothea Aschengard’ and ‘The Tin Knight’ can demand each other’s additional cooperation as necessary. The terms of cooperation will be determined by mutual agreement at that time.】

Your words made Dorothea scowl.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she let out a short sigh, as if resigned.

“Then you’re forbidden from calling me ‘evil’ or ‘villainous executive’ or any such nonsense from now on.”

You nodded readily.

After all, there were plenty of ways to tease her regardless of that.

By skipping the details when forming the contract and loosely setting the terms, it was both a strength and weakness of Dorothea.

“Alright, so the contract is established.”

Unaware of your true intentions, Dorothea seemed somewhat energized as she stepped forward.

And then she said,

“-As for the main family of the Lion Duke. Do they perhaps specialize in being thugs? Is it fun to beat down a poor little kid with words? Such a taste, indeed.”

You watched the expressions of those around you turn to shock and realized—

It would have been nice to have popcorn and soda right about now.

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