With a prideful smile on her face, Arielle Vyatch lead her procession of knights towards the Lord’s castle. Since no one could see her facial expression through the visor of the helmet, she was allowed to smile to her heart’s content without compromising her solemn and imposing appearance.
While these Valhan peasants didn’t shower her with praises like Frankonian peasants did, she was still nevertheless pleased by their response. Not a single person dared to speak out of line. They just quietly murmured to themselves as they witnessed her host of knights marched forward.
Their dignified and impressive presence extinguished anyone’s desire to show any signs of discontent. Such was only to be expected from citizens who were ultimately subject to Frankonian rule.
Even the ‘ruling family’ of Valha, the Eikthyrnir family had to ultimately submit to her will. Such was the privilege of someone who is not only a revered chivalric knight from the King’s Royal Knightage but also had royal blood running through her veins. Although it was only a cadet branch, the prestigious ‘Vyatch’ family still had blood ties to the royal Frankonian throne.
With one glance at Leistro Eikthyrnir, Arielle could see the placid but false smile on his face, likely a falsehood meant to hide his inner contempt. He probably wanted the Frankonians to like and accept him, yet at the same time he equally detested his Frankonian subjugators.
To him it must have been a peculiar feeling, to her, it was nothing that she hasn’t seen before.
She had nothing to fear even if he made a brash foolish decision. Her force of a hundred knights outnumbered his couple dozen. As the knights of the prestigious Vyatch family, they were more skilled and were armed with higher quality equipment than their Valhan counterparts. The balance of power was in Arielle’s favour and her favour alone.
A few short moments later, her host of knights slowed down to a stop once they were a couple metres away from the Eikthyrnir knights. All but one of her knights remained at their positions as Arielle and that one knight rode ahead to meet with Leistro. On the other hand, Leistro along with his knights bowed upon her approach.
“My lady, Arielle Vyatch. It is both an honour and a pleasure to meet you. I, Leistro Eikthyrnir, firstborn of Earl Golvond Eikthyrnir humbly welcome you to the city of Belmud. We are indeed very joyous for your most graceful and generous presence within our lands.”
When she heard the proper, respectful welcome from Leistro, she couldn’t help pridefully nodding in confirmation. Although he may have let a bit of his distaste leak within his words, it was not at the point that it would draw her wrath. Thus she simply took off her helm, held it under her armpit and responded to him, all while she was still mounted on her horse.
“The feeling is mutual my lord. I thank you for your delightful welcome. However…”
Arielle took her gaze away from Leistro and surveyed the inaudible crowd surrounding her knights while she spoke.
“I must admit that the fanfare was somewhat lacking. There would usually be more than just commoners staring… let's say ‘blank-eyed’ while some of your men holding banners cleared the way. Some Frankonian nobles much less kinder than I am would even claim that this would warrant some form of punishment. ”
She made sure to return her full gaze onto him when she finished speaking. The smile on her face slowly transforming into a disappointed frown as both of her eyes pierced into his.
“O-oh I a-apologise my lady.”
He was caught completely off guard by her critical response and the words he replied with were rushed and hurried. Within seconds, he began to quickly spout out excuses.
“We never meant to disgrace you with such a shameful display. It’s just that we were unable to properly prepare on such short notice.”
“Ah yes but of course. I see.”
At first, she responded with an understanding tone, as if she was pardoning the young man. For a split second, she saw a little sparkle in his eyes, believing that she forgave him. In that split second, she even felt a hint of pity for him. Mainly because of what she was going to say next.
“A few weeks apparently isn’t enough time for members of the illustrious ruling noble family of Valha to prepare themselves. Perhaps I should speak with your uncle? When I arrived at the capital city for a rest, your uncle’s welcoming ceremony wasn’t this lacklustre. Perhaps it’s just the Eikthyrnirs governing Belmud who are lacking?”
“Well…”
Leistro’s expression froze and his demeanour turned sheepish upon hearing those words. He struggled to look her in the eyes, much less speak. Seeing no point in letting this pathetic display continue, Arielle spoke up again.
“I can forgive you and your family’s misgivings if you are able to redeem yourself.”
Similarly to before, she ensured that she said that in a warm, understanding manner. However, unlike before, she made sure to place emphasis into her voice, creating a subtle but commanding threat.
“I hope that you have at least prepared the appropriate accommodation for me and my knights. We have traveled long and hard on unpaved roads. We deserve a good rest.”
“Yes, my lady! My father has already reserved rooms for your knights in the castle barracks while a vacant Lord’s bedroom was left for you. I can assure you that all of these rooms are truly worthy of your most esteemed personages.”
Leistro suddenly regained his voice in response to Arielle, quickly confirming their living conditions. However, that was not everything that he wanted to say.
“Not only that, but we prepared a wonderful banquet for your arrival! Once we have finished the tour of the castle, you and your knights can enjoy many delicacies prepared by Belmud’s finest chefs.”
With nothing else to say, she only nodded in affirmation as she spoke.
“For your sake. I hope that your claims are true.”
She paused and moved to introduce the knight that came up with her to Leistro before she resumed speaking. Unlike the other knights under her command, this knight had an orange sash over his breastplate and had three orange plume feathers attached to his helmet rather than just one.
“This is Sir Ian ‘Quasar’ Magellan, the one who has been appointed as my lieutenant. See to it that both he and I are resting in our quarters by the next hour. I also want the same for the rest of my knights.”
“Understood my lady.”
He quickly complied with her orders. A few short moments later, the host of knights began to move again, this time into the castle under the guidance of the golden-caped Eikthyrnir knights. Likewise, Ian and Arielle were personally led around by Leistro, taking them on a tour of the castle. After the tour, Leistro fulfilled his promise of a scrumptious feast.
During the tour and the banquet, she got to meet most of the influential nobles of Belmud. Apart from Leistro, the influential nobles were the Earl of Belmud and Leistro’s father, Earl Giolstro Eikthyrnir, and the Lord Commander of Belmud’s City Garrison, Jarren Claude. There was also a certain necromancer but he was of no concern.
By the time they finished, Arielle’s knights had settled into their newfound but temporary residences in the castle barracks while Arielle remained in the vacant Lord’s Bedroom. Standing at the balcony’s railing, she took in the scene of the city below her.
From up here, she could easily imagine what kind of thoughts would run within the head of whoever stood up here. A wild rush of euphoria upon experiencing such a ‘grand’ view of the city that they either ruled or were bound to rule. Even she had to admit that she felt her heart swell at this sight. How could she not?
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
She softly let a comment out of her mouth before she sighed contently. A few seconds later, a voice from behind her replied.
“It’s beauty cannot compare to you my liege-lady.”
The noise of metal boots stepping on the floor sounded quietly as Knight Ian Magellan walked up to her side. Despite being within the safety of the castle walls, he still donned his full suit of plate armour. Only his armet was left at his quarters within the castle barracks. Conversely, Arielle had already taken off her armour and is currently dressed in her formal gown.
With a slight smile, she responded to her lieutenant.
“Well that’s because we consider different things beautiful Sir Ian. I’m only claiming that this view is inherently beautiful to a lot of people. That being said, this isn’t what I find most beautiful.”
“Then what do you find most beautiful my liege-lady?”
Arielle let her mouth curve into a faint smile as she turned to face her lieutenant. Her answer quick and concise.
“We both already know what my response will be.”
Ian didn’t say anything back to her words, instead he only smiled and nodded his head once to agree with her. Seeing him agree, Arielle let out a sigh that was both grateful and sombre as she spoke.
“Unfortunately it would seem that this branch of the Eikthyrnirs neglected what true beauty is. However, we can’t afford to waste time re-educating them. We have a job to do.”
While most others believed that she was here under orders of the Duke of Riliana, Nathanael Katsuragi, that was far from the truth. In actuality, she was here under strictly secret orders from His Majesty the king.
Two months ago, the Royal Seers predicted the occurrence of some sort of cataclysm in one of the Franko Kingdom’s client kingdoms, the Principality of Belmud. The king took this matter very seriously despite his advisors recommending otherwise and sent Arielle to one of the Frankonian provinces which bordered the Principality of Valha in preparation for the coming prophecy.
Apart from the King’s inner circle, the Royal Seers and the Vyatch family including Arielle herself, no one else knew about this prophecy or her secret mission. Taking 101 of her best knights and their accompanying auxiliary-men with her, she traveled to the Riliana Province which was under the control of the noble Katsuragi family.
She was indeed grateful to His Majesty for granting her another opportunity to extend her already long list of feats and accomplishments. However, part of her also wished that His Majesty sent someone else instead of her on this mission.
And that was because of what she had to endure in order to keep her mission a secret. In particular, lying to Duke Katsuragi about the reason why she was stationed at his province. She informed him that she along with her contingent of knights were there to supplement his own forces in reward for his loyalty to the Royal Throne.
But much to her annoyance, the Duke has exploited her service at every opportunity. For the past two months, she had done nothing but errands for the Duke. Her days were usually spent hunting down traitorous insurgents, crushing paltry riots, and other trivial tasks.
It made her feel as if she was just a lapdog rather than the hero she truly was.
That changed when the Summoners of the Royal Magos detected sudden transmigration activity at the Principality of Valha. Duke Katsuragi and by proxy, Arielle were some of the first to be informed. Thankfully, the Duke sent Arielle and her chivalric knights to investigate instead of his own knights.
Whether it was because he didn’t want to risk his own reputation or because he trusted her capabilities, she didn’t care. If this unprecedented transmigrator was a key player in the cataclysm predicted by the seers, then that meant that capturing said transmigrator would like be the end of her service under Duke Katsuragi.
With that in mind, she gave her orders to Ian.
“Rest for an hour. Once you have recuperated, you will take seven other knights with you and meet with Leistro and Jarren. Inquire about any irregularity that occured in the past two months. I want a full report by tonight.”
Arielle turned her gaze away from Ian and stared at the Eastern skies as she concluded her words.
“If the transmigrator is here, then we will find him and bring him before His Majesty in chains.”