Iselia sat with a calm expression. When Johan entered, she frowned her eyebrows. He was the knight who had caused a commotion at the city gate.
It was a chaotic surprise attack, but the face of that knight was vividly remembered.
As a knight, she thought she had lived far from fear while learning and fighting, but that knight was fear itself. It was unbelievable that the elite troops trained by Iselia had crumbled with just one charge.
“Are you Sir Gerdolf of the Golan family?”
“?”
Johan was puzzled. What is he talking about?
“Ah. Did you mistake me for Gerdolf? Gerdolf is another knight, and I am Johan of the Yeats family.”
“. . .?!”
Iselia was shocked. She didn’t expect the supreme commander to be so young.
No, rather than that, is it even permissible for the supreme commander to personally lead such a reckless surprise attack?
“Is it appropriate for the supreme commander to participate in such a surprise attack?”
“Would a knight shy away from such dangers and avoid honor?”
Iselia nodded unconsciously. Seeing this, Johan thought to himself.
‘𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.’
The elven nobles of the Erlans Kingdom were always beyond Johan’s imagination.
“Sir. I have been thinking while imprisoned.”
“What have you been thinking about?”
“Why did the church take this action? It’s clear that other relatives of the Asada family have accused me. Is that right?”
If she couldn’t figure it out in this situation, she had a problem with her intelligence. Iselia roughly understood the situation.
“That’s right. They wouldn’t move without such an accusation.”
“. . .If you guarantee the safety of Amien Asada with your honor, I will admit my guilt and cooperate with the trial.”
“So you’re guilty?”
“No!”
“If you haven’t committed a crime, you shouldn’t admit to it.”
“. . .?”
Iselia didn’t understand. Why complicate the situation when she’s from the order?
“And even if I guarantee Amien’s safety, the fiefdom will be taken away. The relatives’ eyes are already greedy.”
“. . .I’m already prepared for that.”
“That’s good to hear. It makes things easier.”
“?”
Johan got to the point. The judgment of the church was also important, but Johan’s purpose in coming here was this county itself. For that, Iselia had to cooperate.
“. . .!!”
Iselia looked at Johan with a shocked expression. It was an unexpected proposal.
“It wouldn’t make much sense to lie, so I’ll be honest. The countship is destined to fall into my hands anyway. All I can guarantee is the safety of you and your daughter.”
“Then why do I need you?”
“It’s different to obtain something easily rather than with difficulty.”
“. . . . . .”
“If it’s hard to decide now, I can give you some time. Is that your daughter behind you?”
A young elf was glaring at Johan. She seemed unaware of the situation but knew who the aggressor was.
Johan suddenly found it amusing. A new daughter not even ten years younger. Not particularly strange. . .
“Show some respect. Amien.”
At Iselia’s words, Amien bowed her head. Johan waved his hand nonchalantly.
“I’m not so narrow-minded that I can’t understand a child. Is she training as a knight?”
“No. She has a keen interest in theology and medicine, so I’m letting her learn that.”
“I see. Both are not bad fields of study. Come here.”
“. . . . . .”
“You may go.”
Hesitantly, Amien approached at Iselia’s words. Her eyes were mixed with fear.
Johan gifted Amien a malachite necklace. The deep green malachite, known for warding off misfortune and restoring vitality, brought a bright smile to Amien’s face upon receiving this unexpected gift.
“Say thank you, Amien.”
“T-Thank you.”
“It’s nothing much.”
Although it was a precious treasure, it wasn’t something Johan had bought with his money. After all, it belonged to the bishop.
“If you want, I can let Amien roam free.”
“No. Amien wants to stay here.”
“. . . . . .”
Amien looked at Iselia hesitantly. It seemed that she was bored of being locked up in a small room all the time.
“Amien doesn’t seem to want to?”
“. . .I understand. You can do whatever you want.”
Iselia shook her head. She thought Johan was threatening her to pressure her. He was truly a fearsome man.
From his ability to command an army at such a young age, to his methods of swallowing up fiefdoms.
There were many ambitious people, but only a small number of them were able to pursue their ambitions while properly controlling them.
Iselia was truly afraid of Johan. She thought she was less afraid of him when she thought he was just a powerful knight.
However, Johan did not think much of it. It didn’t seem like he needed to pressure her in the first place, so what kind of threat was that?
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.’
“Look. That’s my friend, the wolf.”
Showing Karamaf, Amien clung to him with a cry of joy. Karamaf shook his body as if annoyed, but Amien, elf-like, climbed on skillfully.
“I’m curious about the name! If it doesn’t have one, I’d like to name it!”
“Sorry about that. His name is Karamaf.”
“Sir Karamaf!”
“A fine knight indeed.”
Johan explained, considering the young elf. Karamaf was worthy of respect, after all.
“My mother called him a disgraced pariah, a fallen one.”
“. . .I thought so too, actually.”
Amien smiled as Johan agreed. Children quickly forget and become friends easily.
Unlike the strict Iselia, Johan was much more gentle and kind.
. . .Of course, this was possible because she hadn’t seen Johan’s rampage at the city gates. . .
Soon, Iselia contacted them. She had decided to accept the proposal.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
̇ȧ̇𝕨𝔢𝙗𝐬𝕥𝐨𝔯𝕚ᴇ𝐬.ᴄ𝕠𝙢
Greeted by a deeply prostrating Iselia, Johan was taken aback by this unexpected act of submission.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? 𝘈 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵?’
Is this some petty trick to spread bad rumors among the servants if they see her like this?
“I heard you accepted the proposal?”
“Yes. I will do as you wish.”
“Then why don’t you get up?”
“As you wish, I will do anything you ask, so please keep your promise. . .!”
“. . .Did you eat something wrong? I asked for cooperation, not submission.”
Of course, Johan was much more comfortable when the other party complied well, but this was a bit disconcerting.
Why is she doing this?
Caenerna, who had been waiting outside, poked her head in and asked.
“Looks like you might need help, Johan?”
“Oh, Caenerna. Do you know why she’s acting like this?”
“Here. Give her this iron chain necklace as a gift. It’s a cursed item that the Emperor once wanted to bestow upon his lover. . .”
“. . . . . .”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
𝙖𝐰𝔢ʙ𝐬𝘵ᴏ𝕣𝘪ᴇ𝕤.𝚌𝔬𝕞
Hearing that the trial was finally happening, Galen and his relatives rushed there with joy. They had been so delaying that they had offered bribes several times.
“Such greedy ones. Why are they so greedy. . .”
“Didn’t those guys have a slightly annoying smile?”
“That’s just how those barbarian guys talk.”
Every time they gave a bribe, the eastern warriors laughed in their language, saying ‘■■■.’ It wasn’t understandable, but it felt unpleasant.
However, they were met by well-armed dwarf mercenaries.
“Galen of the Asada family. You are under arrest for the suspicion of poisoning your kin!”
“. . .D-Did you guys betray me?!”