Chapter 101
The Avalon Empire’s five dukes…
There were many nobles throughout Avalon, but only five noble families sat on the highest seats of Avalon. The five families had their own unique characteristics, and they had been the driving force for Avalon’s development in the past few decades.
The head of the Agnus Family, Duke Aden von Agnus, was also well renowned as the Sword of the Empire. Another Master of the empire was a member of Avalon’s oldest family, and he was Duke Tremblin of the East.
If Duke Agnus and Duke Tremblin represented the military prowess of Avalon, Duke Prius represented the literature of Avalon. The Prius Family had produced many scholars who went on to hold high-ranking positions in the courts.
Meanwhile, Duke Reye of the North was called the Great Military Advisor of the Avalon Empire, and he was a master of diplomacy and strategy.
Finally, Duke Pontier of the South controlled half of the imperial trade.
They were the five pillars of the Avalon Empire.
They seemed unshakeable, but a significant change happened with one of them.
It was a change that could collapse one of the pillars.
***
Inside a ten-square-meter room with a modest interior was a 170 cm tall young woman whose height was just right for her age. Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, like fire being bundled into a blinding sheaf, and it had its benefits, though: it left her neck exposed.
Her eyes twinkled like rubies beneath her slightly raised eyebrows, and she had a beauty reminiscent of a cat with distinct facial features that reflected the traits of people from the southern region. She was sitting, yet her curves remained prominent. She was considered one of the most attractive women throughout the huge Avalon Empire.
“Lady Charles, it’s time to go.”
The woman sighed deeply. The voice had startled her awake from her stupor. Indeed, she was no longer a ‘young lady’. The youngest daughter of the Pontier Family had just turned eighteen, and eighteen was the coming-of-age of ladies in Avalon.
“Cox, do we really need to go? Can’t we just stay?” said Charles, seemingly annoyed.
“...”
A middle-aged man was following Charles. It was Cox. Time and labor had left their marks on Cox’s face, but the man’s love for money had never changed.
“You know that you can’t do that, right? Once you start ignoring the customs, the nobles will start looking down on you as well. Well, what can you expect from nobles? More importantly, we should also consider His Grace’s heart.”
“Those motherfuckers… Marquis Crombell.”
Foul words emerged from Charles’ sweet lips when she recalled her father’s situation.
Many things had changed throughout the past five years. The Pontier family, one of the most prominent families in the history of Avalon, started declining. It seemed Duke Pontier’s absence had a great impact on the war between the Crombell Family and the Pontier Family.
For the first time, they lost. They lost not just on financial strength, which was an extremely important asset in the trade war between the two families, but their number of knights, the quality, and the amount of personnel they possessed had all been surpassed by Marquis Crombell.
And then, a figure who had his own rules and followed no laws appeared and turned everything outside down. The figure was an outsider, he belonged to neither the Twelve Families nor the Nine Stars—Mercenary King Barbarian—The Axe Master.
With a glum expression, Cox continued his lecture. “I don’t want to rub it in, but His Grace’s health is declining even as we speak. I’m afraid that you will have to take over the family sooner or later, Lady Charles.”
“...” Charles bit her lower lip.
Cox continued. “It’s the First Prince’s birthday, Lady Charles, please uphold the Pontiers.”
“I understand, Cox.” Charles sighed before standing up with a determined look.
There wasn’t much time left until the banquet, so she had to prepare as soon as possible.
“Cox, do you mind going out for now? I’m afraid I’ll have to rush with my preparations.”
Cox smiled softly. “Yes, Lady Charles. I’ll tell the attendants to help you.”
“Thank you,” responded Charles.
At that, Cox bowed and walked out of the door.
Charles, who had been left alone in the room for some time, gazed out the window towards a remote location.
All alone, Charles gazed out of the window in the direction of a particular remote location. She had no one to depend on now.
‘But why am I still reminded of the face of the boy who broke my heart? Do I miss him?’
Perhaps, it was not the child that she missed, but rather those times. Back then, she was still a child, so she could afford to be carefree.
“Haaah.”
Charles' long sigh filled the room shortly afterward, and her sight seemed heavy as if it were carrying the weight of the world itself.
***
The Imperial Knights Order had its own administrative building, and the offices of each battalion commander were located on the third floor of the Imperial Knights Order’s building.
All of a sudden, the door with the number ‘9’ carved above it flung open.
“Are you slacking again?”
“Gah!”
The owner of the room was startled, and he fell off the sofa. It seemed he was taking a nap beneath the warm sunlight.
“Tch.” The man scratched his head and responded, “Sir. I’m not slacking. I was just doing a simulation in my head with my eyes closed, and you know what, Sir? I defeated more opponents than you had while my eyes were closed..”
“You’re full of shit.” the middle-aged man who flung open the door shook his head and sighed before saying, “Valmont, did you forget?”
The 9th Battalion Commander of the Imperial Knights Order, Valmont, responded, “Sir… what are you talking about?”
The Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights Order, Master Rod den Hogg, revealed a solemn look and said, “This isn’t a joke. It’s the First Prince’s birthday, not the birthday of a random Tom, Dick, and Harry. Your assistance is necessary, so do you really think that it’s okay for you to just take a nap here?”
At that, Valmont pouted with a disgruntled look. “Isn’t that the job of the top three battalions?”
“You shouldn’t be too relaxed. Just in case.”
“Meh. What kind of madman is mad enough to assassinate a prince while he’s around the most elite knights of the empire? And there's 300 of them!"
“Valmont!”
Rod den Hogg exclaimed with a frown.
However, Valmont started ranting instead of calming down. “Aaaahhh! Those prideful bastards order us around with that snobbish tone of theirs. Our 9th Battalion is pretty upset about that. And they said that we should patrol the outskirts just like the sub-battalion that we are? What the hell?”
At that, Rod sighed and said, “If you are that upset about it, challenge the commander then.”
“...” Valmont kept his mouth shut.
Noticing that, Rod continued. “If you take over his rank, no one will be able to ignore your men—I mean, isn’t it obvious when you see him? Don’t tell me you still don’t understand how he changed the 11th and 12th Battalions from chaff into some of the finest knights of our Imperial Knights Order?”
“That kid is a monster.” Valmont scowled. However, he immediately frowned when he realized it.
Rod realized it as well, and he pointed it out. “Aren’t you the same as him back in your twenties? You were like a monster as well as a B-Class Knight. You’re a lazy lad, but I know you, Valmont dun Brown, you’re one of the most talented leaders and also the youngest leader of the Imperial Knights Order.”
Valmont smiled, seemingly pleased with the Knight Commander's remarks.
“Well, I'm not the youngest anymore. And I didn’t think that you’re holding me in such high regard, Knight Commander, sir.” Valmont straightened his back and stood up. He looked like he was in a good mood as he said, “Now that he’s a baron, I think that it has gotten into his head.”
Valmont shrugged. He looked at Knight Commander Rod and said, “Well, I’m a Viscount, so I don’t really mind.”
Valmont glanced at Knight Commander Rod’s blond beard and scratched his head. “Um, may Knight Commander Sir tell me where he is now?”
“Unlike you, he’s out there doing his duties.”
Valmont grinned wryly when Knight Commander Rod emphasized the word 'duties'.
“It’s a banquet, so it’s only natural that he’s excited. Ah, I have to be there as well,” said Valmont with twinkling eyes.
Knight Commander Rod seemed annoyed as he said, “Valmont.”
“Yes?”
“The difference between being the best and being a Master is enlightenment.”
Valmont stared at Knight Commander Rod. He was startled by the latter’s serious look.
“Exploring new things and fighting stronger people are better than practicing on your own. I already told you that you’re one of the most talented people I know, so if you’ve hit a wall, it’s because you lack the experience to break through it. It seems that you’re still a kid, after all.”
At that, Valmont bitterly smiled and inwardly grumbled. ‘He knew? As expected…’
Knight Commander Rod turned toward the door.
“Knight Commander, sir…” Valmont called out.
Knight Commander Rod halted his steps just as he was about to walk out the door.
Seeing that, Valmont continued. “Don't worry, I won't let you down, sir. I will prove to you that I'm better than that monster Joshua.”
Knight Commander Rod laughed. “That’s more like it.”
Afterward, Knight Commander Rod walked past the door.
Thud!
“Baron Joshua…”
Valmont muttered as he was left alone in the room.
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