A Slight Change
The day after the Kingdom Council was held.
Peter, Vice-Commander Bellows’ familiar, came to report the results.
“Lord Justin has been proven innocent. The revocation of your Holy Knight title, which had been under consideration, has been withdrawn. If you wish, you can return to duty in the capital immediately.”
“I-I see.”
Pressed by Peter’s excited tone, I reflected on the outcome.
First of all, the fact that my innocence had been proven—that made me happier than anything.
When I’d been informed of my demotion, there was this atmosphere of “no questions asked” coming from Commander Solard, and I was convinced it was irreversible… but just as Miracca had said, Vice-Commander Bellows and my comrades must have fought hard for me. According to Peter, it seems the proposed reassignments for Gary and Miracca had also been canceled, and he promised to report back again in a few days.
“I’m glad for you, Senior.”
“Yeah… and thank you, too, Elina. I’m really glad you were here.”
“I-I didn’t do anything, though?”
Elina downplayed her role, but the truth was that she had supported me.
Thanks to her, each day had been cheerful and fun.
“Still, that man Hank Delant is unworthy of being called a knight. After the Council ended, a flood of accusers came to the Knight sOrder headquarters, and it turned into a bit of a panic.”
“With this incident, the Delant family is likely headed for ruin…”
Just as Elina said.
The crime of sowing confusion in the Knights Order with false information was a heavy one.
I doubt anyone will be hearing the Delant family name again within the borders of Landval.
“They say they’re now pursuing his other crimes as well, and it sounds like there’ll be quite a few.”
“He had the skill with the sword. If he had trained properly, he might’ve been able to become Commander one day… what a waste.”
“I don’t think he could’ve made it anyway. He had no mental strength at all.”
You’re harsh, Elina.
But then again, she did seem to have had a hard time dealing with his stalking, and he even tried to get close to Lady Alyssa in an attempt to curry favor with a ducal family. So I can’t really blame her.
“So, what will you do, Lord Justin?”
“Hmm? About what?”
“About whether or not you’ll return to the capital.”
“Oh.”
That’s right.
They probably wanted my decision soon due to the formalities involved.
… Though I already knew my answer.
“I’ll stay in this village.”
“Understood. I’ll arrange a carriage for your return to the capital—wait, what!?”
It seemed Peter had assumed I would go back to the capital, and he was thoroughly shocked.
“Y-You’re not going back? A Holy Knight like yourself wants to continue serving in this remote province?”
“If I’m allowed, I’d prefer to stay.”
There are only a few Holy Knights in existence—they’re an important military asset to the kingdom.
If the higher-ups said no, I’d have no choice but to return.
But I explained to Peter that I still had many things left undone here.
“U-Undone things…? Is there even anything left for you to do?”
“Now, now, Peter—that’s a rude question.”
Elina replied on my behalf.
“B-But still…”
“Just tell Father what was said just now word for word. Oh, and add that I’ll be staying here for a while too.”
“Lady Elina as well!?”
Hearing the decisions from both of us, Peter couldn’t help but raise his voice.
But once he realized we were serious, not joking, he simply said, “Then I’ll report accordingly,” and returned to the capital.
“Are you really okay with this, Senior?”
“That’s my line… You don’t have to stick around with me anymore, you know?”
“Officially, I was reassigned here by order, but in truth, I came by my own will. So I’ll keep working to protect the peace of the Abbot region.”
Saying that, she smiled.
Good grief… Looks like this lively life of ours is going to continue a little while longer.
What do you think about this chapter?
Thanks for the chapters