Interlude: The Anger of Junior Knight Elina
By the time Justin arrived at the Tryon estate, the Knights Order was still reeling from the recent upheaval.
A scandal involving an active Holy Knight—yet some knights were skeptical of the accusations. Would Justin, a dedicated knight who had diligently trained and built his career, truly throw everything away for a small sum of money?
One female knight, determined to uncover the truth, took action.
Her name was Elina Bellows.
With long blonde hair and blue eyes, she was such a beauty that she naturally drew the gaze of both men and women as she walked through the barracks. Her noble lineage only added to her allure, and many male knights sought her favor.
When she first joined the Knights Order, it was Justin who had been assigned as her mentor, guiding her in her training.
“There’s no way Senior Justin would embezzle money… I can’t believe it.”
Certain that Justin, who despised corruption, would never commit such a crime, Elina headed to the Vice-Commander’s office inside the barracks.
She knocked, waited for a response, and then stepped inside.
“Excuse me, Father.”
“In the Knights Order, you will address me as Vice-Commander.”
“Oh—r-right.”
After clearing her throat, Elina straightened her expression and spoke firmly.
“Vice-Commander Bellows, I wish to discuss the treatment of Sir Justin Foil.”
At the mention of Justin’s name, Vice-Commander Bellows’ brow twitched. Sensing his interest, Elina pressed on.
“I was trained by him from the moment I entered the order, so I can say with absolute certainty—he is not the type of man who would stoop to embezzlement.”
“I completely agree.”
“… Huh?”
Elina was so shocked by the unexpected agreement that a dumbfounded sound escaped her lips.
“T-Then why was he demoted?”
“The decision came from far above me. There are… unsavory forces at work.”
“Should you really be saying such things when you hold the position of vice-commander?”
“It’s the truth, so I have no choice.”
Though his tone was resigned, Elina could sense a quiet anger simmering beneath her father’s words.
She knew how much her father had cared for Justin.
Justin was ambitious, wanting to rise in rank, and he had the drive and discipline to make it happen. However, he despised shortcuts—such as currying favor with the upper ranks—and insisted on climbing the ladder through his own strength.
Her father had once told her, before she even joined the order, that Justin’s attitude reminded him of his younger self. That was why he had personally chosen Justin as Elina’s mentor.
And his decision had been the right one.
Elina, who had always admired her father, found that Justin, who had a similar presence, was a perfect match as her instructor. Her natural swordsmanship talent flourished under his guidance, propelling her rapid growth.
But Vice-Commander Bellows had foreseen one possible danger.
The jealousy of other knights who sought Elina’s attention.
She had always been close to Justin, spending nearly all her time with him. While this was a natural outcome of their mentor-student relationship, there were those who saw it differently—and her father had received reports that some harbored resentment.
Could someone have set a trap for Justin to remove him as an obstacle?
Though he had initially dismissed the thought, the current situation was riddled with inconsistencies.
He had his eye on two key figures: Reyes, Justin’s fellow knight and the one who first discovered the alleged embezzlement, and Hank, the knight who reported the incident to the upper ranks.
However, as things stood, there wasn’t enough evidence to press them.
It was too soon to make a move.
If they wanted to bring Justin back to the royal capital, they needed to proceed carefully.
At the same time, Vice-Commander Bellows had a plan in mind.
“Incidentally, I was about to summon you. This saves me the trouble.”
“Me? Do you need something?”
“Yes. Elina Bellows, I am assigning you to duty in Curtis Village in the Abbott region.”
“… What!?”
“The arrangements—ah, I mean, the paperwork is already complete. Justin will likely struggle in his first posting to a remote area. Support him.”
“F-Father…!”
“I told you, it’s Vice-Commander—well, never mind. More importantly, start preparing. You leave at first light tomorrow.”
“Yes! Excuse me!”
Elina practically burst through the door as she rushed out, nearly breaking it off its hinges.
Vice-Commander Bellows let out a deep breath as he watched her go.
“This should buy us some time…”
Leaving Justin in the capital would have exposed him to danger from unseen forces. After consulting with other knights who shared his doubts about the demotion, he had arranged for Elina’s reassignment to Abbott.
This move would undoubtedly stir protest.
And that protest would reveal something crucial.
“Now then… let’s see who breaks first.”
Quietly, Vice-Commander Bellows waited for the enemy to reveal themselves.
What do you think about this chapter?
