Chapter 26 : Chapter 26
Chapter 26. Rise with the Steps of a Knight
Blanc was called the Knight of the Moonlit Grass by people, but he did not actually possess a knighthood.
The only official titles he held were Baron Cadmus and the rightful successor of Norington.
In other words, it meant he was not qualified to be called a 'Knight' of the Moonlit Grass.
For Blanc, as well as all sons of noble families, a knighthood was very important.
If possible, it would be best to inherit the family and obtain a noble title, whether it be Baron or Count, but only one person could have such glory.
Unless the sibling who inherited the family looked upon the remaining ones with favor and gave them a position, the only title they could take was a knighthood.
A knighthood was a verification of skill proving that one was a swordsman capable of handling a sword sufficiently, but in another sense, it was also determining a patron.
Depending on which knight or noble appointed them, the level as a knight was practically determined.
If appointed by an unknown, humble local noble or an undistinguished knight, the appointed knight would also not be greatly recognized, but if appointed as a knight by a powerful noble, they would possess a higher status than most nobles.
Taking the Knight of Godspeed Edwin as an example, since he received his knighthood from the previous head of the Tolome family, even though he was not a noble, he held a higher status compared to Blanc, a penniless Baron.
Since the Tolome family stood behind Edwin, no matter if Blanc was a noble, he could not treat him carelessly.
In short, since one could ride on the influence of the noble and family who granted the certificate of appointment, noble sons wishing to receive a knighthood could be seen as always being anxious to catch the eye of high-ranking nobles or famous knights.
In that sense, Blanc was in a position where he had nothing to worry about, unlike them.
For the head of the Tolome family was already keeping an eye on him.
Moreover, since the Tolome family was already famous for the sword, if he received a knighthood from Bartomyu, it was no different from the highest-ranking knighthood within the Felix Kingdom.
It was concerning that Blanc's support base was concentrated on Tolome, but it was a knighthood that would not hurt to accept at all.
"Blanc Cadmus, kneel on your left knee!"
Bartomyu decided to hold Blanc's knighting ceremony before his coming-of-age ceremony.
Since Blanc already held a Baron title unlike other noble sons, it was because kneeling before others and bowing his head to another noble after fully becoming an adult did not suit him.
Because he had not yet become an adult, Blanc knelt before Bartomyu as Blanc Cadmus, not Baron Cadmus.
Bartomyu and Edwin, who were watching that appearance from the platform, smiled proudly.
"Blanc Cadmus! Today, you will be appointed not just as a swordsman, but as a knight who protects the kingdom. Are you prepared for that!"
"Yes!"
Becoming a knight meant entering a quasi-noble position where one had to feel responsibility beyond simply being a swordsman wielding a sword.
All the knights in the Tolome family were watching that moment. Including Jonas, who was making a disapproving expression.
Bartomyu, receiving the gazes of all the knights, came down below the platform and stood in front of Blanc.
He put down the sword he was holding onto the ground.
'......?'
And then, he also knelt on one knee like Blanc, taking the same posture as Blanc and meeting his eye level.
Seeing that, the knights began to buzz.
Properly, if it were a knighting ceremony, the noble granting the knightly rank should tap the shoulders with the sword they were holding, but right now, Bartomyu had not only put down the sword but was also kneeling on his left knee just like Blanc.
"A proxy knighthood ceremony..."
One of the knights muttered quietly.
In cases where one could not directly perform the knighting, such as during a war or when the distance was too great, there were often cases where a proxy was sent to grant the knighthood.
In that case, the proxy had to proceed with the ceremony at an equal position with the knight receiving the appointment, just like Bartomyu now.
However, the problem was that the person kneeling in front of Blanc right now was Bartomyu.
Who dared to designate Count Tolome, a Meritorious Noble of the Felix Kingdom, as a proxy?
Even while the knights were buzzing, Bartomyu kept his mouth shut and made eye contact with Blanc.
The knights, watching Bartomyu's silence, stopped buzzing and recalled the reason they were standing in this place once again.
"Blanc Cadmus, do you swear to always contain justice in your sword?"
"Yes."
THUD!
The sound of knights stamping their feet echoed throughout the mansion.
"Blanc Cadmus. Do you swear to always contain valor in your heart?"
"Yes."
THUD!
"Blanc Cadmus. Do you swear to always follow your conscience at the end of your gaze?"
"Yes."
THUD!
Blanc answered Bartomyu's questions without an inch of hesitation.
Every time Blanc's words ended, all the summoned knights stamped their feet.
This was a sign of respect for their lord Bartomyu, who was conducting the ceremony, and also a sign of welcome for Blanc, who was newly becoming a knight.
"I command Blanc Cadmus, who has answered the three questions."
Bartomyu, who finally received the knight's oath from Blanc, took a wooden stick from Edwin and tapped Blanc's left and right shoulders alternately.
"Rise with the steps of a knight. Blanc Cadmus. The sixth knight appointed by Aselheit."
It was not a loud voice.
However, Bartomyu's voice, possessing a serious and deep resonance, echoed in all directions.
All the knights who intended to welcome him with applause as soon as Blanc's knighting ended froze like ice as if planned upon hearing Bartomyu's last words.
It was Blanc's knighting ceremony where they naturally thought he would be appointed as a knight of Tolome, but an unusual atmosphere flowed from the point Bartomyu knelt, and in the end, when the unexpected name of Aselheit was called, the gathered knights could only be bewildered.
However, a few knights who had watched the spar between Blanc and Aselheit nodded and sent enthusiastic applause to Blanc, who had newly become Aselheit's knight.
Aselheit's Knight.
Just as the children of Tolome were expected to become lions, so were Aselheit's knights.
There were a total of 5 knights whom Aselheit, who had lived a long life, had personally knighted until now.
All 5 knights who received appointment directly from Aselheit became legends shaking the era without a single exception.
And now, Blanc Cadmus, who became Aselheit's sixth knight.
The young boy with black hair was slowly rising with the steps of a knight.
From now on, people would expect a legend from him.
***
A splendid office with a red carpet laid out.
Golden candlesticks and luxurious-looking ornaments were placed everywhere.
At the back of the room, a bookshelf huge enough that one had to look up to capture it in one glance was placed, and books were stuck in enough to densely fill that bookshelf.
Looking only up to here, one might think it was the office of some eminent scholar.
"I am sorry. My Prince."
However, the existence of a middle-aged man bowing his head while bleeding from his nose and mouth as if hit hard was denying that expectation.
"Nasnore. I do not desire an apology."
A young man in his mid-20s wiping his bloody hand with a handkerchief.
The young man, possessing crimson red hair burning like fire, looked down at the middle-aged man called Nasnore with cold eyes contrasting with that hair color.
"Baron Cadmus, the rightful successor of Norington, and Aselheit's sixth knight..."
As soon as the young man's words ended, Nasnore fell to his knees.
"Please kill me! Prince Aleid! I have ruined the matter!"
The young man, looking at Nasnore who was bowing his head down to the floor, put down the bloody handkerchief and picked up a wine glass containing the same color.
"At this point, we must see that fate guided him. Isn't it unavoidable for you as well, Nasnore."
It was Nasnore who had chased Blanc's traces all the way to the Free City Baywood.
However, Blanc, who was thirteen at the time, had disappeared completely with his servants.
Nasnore, who later learned the full story, could only smile in futility.
Who would have thought that a thirteen-year-old boy with no foundation in Baywood would use the secret route of smugglers smuggling gold?
When Nasnore barely found Blanc's traces, Blanc had already entered Baltimere, so it was unavoidable for him as well.
Although it was an uncomfortable situation leaving a source of trouble, Nasnore had consoled himself asking what a boy who became a penniless orphan with nothing could do, but that boy was a talent that lightly surpassed Nasnore's expectations.
"Stand up. Nasnore."
"Yes!"
Nasnore stood up quickly with a disciplined appearance.
In front of him, the figure of Aleid swirling his wine glass while looking at the window was visible.
"That child is also struggling to survive. Just like me."
"...My Prince."
Aleid, who showed faint eyes as if recalling the past for a moment, soon emitted a flashing gaze.
"Blanc Cadmus is receiving full support from Tolome and at the same time has a marriage scheduled with the Neudorf family. At this point, it is impossible not to notice Count Bartomyu Tolome's intention."
"How should we prepare?"
At Nasnore's question, Aleid looked at the wine glass for a moment and then parted his dry lips as if he had decided.
"Contact the Langketa, Kamora, and Vicious families. Tell them that Tolome and Neudorf are targeting Norington."
"Yes. My Prince."
Nasnore nodded without even being able to wipe the bloodstains on his mouth.
"Especially tell the Langketa family, which directly borders Norington. Tell them to suspend all internal and external activities and expand armaments from now on. Make them prepare for a territory war. I permit some direct support."
Nasnore, who was listening quietly to Aleid's instructions, raised his head and asked Aleid.
"Should we prepare an assassin instead? No matter if he is Aselheit's knight, he is merely a young boy yet."
At Nasnore's question, Aleid, who was staring blankly out the window, answered.
"No. We must not do that. The boy named Blanc Cadmus has already ridden the flow. If we try to forcibly cut that flow, disaster might rather reach this side."
Aleid put down the glass after drinking the remaining alcohol in the wine glass in one gulp.
"This is Gartaria and Blanc Cadmus is in the Felix Kingdom. The methods we can use are limited, so we must wait for the time now."
"Yes! My Prince!"
"If you heard, leave. Go and cover up your mistake."
Nasnore bowed his head and backed out of Aleid's office.
As Nasnore left, Aleid filled the wine glass again and swallowed the alcohol again while looking at the rain clouds approaching in the distance.
Aleid staring blankly out the window.
In the center of his pupils, a white thunderbolt falling from the approaching rain clouds was reflected.