Chapter 25 : The Price of Loyalty and the Promise of a Grand Marshal
Not long after Maribel left, my adjutant Bedivere entered my office.
He was wearing a coat over his training clothes, and the smell of sweat still clung to him.
“I heard the 95th Rifle Regiment finished another joint exercise today with the Glinda Knights, the Glaston Knights, and even the Air Force. Good work.”
Bedivere cleared his throat and sat down on the sofa.
“The Air Force was only there in a supporting role, and the three knight orders took turns playing the enemy force.”
“Perhaps because Princess Cornelia is still recovering, our 95th Rifle Regiment broke through the objective in three minutes.”
“The Air Force was practically crying, ‘This is cheating.’”
I laughed and offered him a teacup.
“As expected, it has to be you.”
“You’re the only Knightmare commander I can truly rely on.”
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”
At that moment, the door opened slightly, and Millirze entered with a handmaid carrying a tray of maple syrup pie and black tea.
She came over and sat down beside me.
Thump.
“His Highness has been talking about you constantly lately, Sir Bedivere.”
“Things like, ‘As long as I have that man, I can end any war against the SPQR or the Chinese Federation.’”
At her words, Bedivere scratched his head.
“...You honor me too much, Lady Millirze.”
I set my teacup down and spoke plainly.
“Bedivere.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“When I take power, I will appoint you Grand Marshal.”
Bedivere’s eyes widened.
“...Grand Marshal? Are you serious?”
“I am. It is your reward for everything you have endured until now.”
“And... there is one more thing I would like to ask of you.”
I paused for a moment and continued.
Sigh
“Take Lady Alba, Euphie’s head lady-in-waiting, as your second wife.”
The office froze in an instant.
Bedivere’s eyebrow twitched faintly.
He was smiling.
But his expression did not look like a smile at all.
“...Your Highness, are you truly serious?”
Millirze smiled faintly and added,
“Of course His Highness means it.”
“Also, Lady Alba has already made up her mind.”
Bedivere let out a deep sigh.
“...I will go home and discuss it with my first wife.”
I nodded.
“Take your time, Bedivere. Just let me know before the ball.”
Bedivere rose to his feet, and this time, he gave a genuine smile.
“Then... I will give you my answer then.”
After the door closed, Millirze lightly tapped my arm.
“You did well, Your Highness. Now all we need to do is wait for Lady Alba.”
I looked out the window and murmured,
“I feel as though I did something terrible.”
Millirze chuckled.
“You did a good thing, Your Highness. Sir Bedivere will accept it in the end.”
Then she added,
“Ah, Your Highness. About the manpower issue for Area 11’s ‘Red Knights’...”
Ah, right.
Thanks to what the Knight of Six, Lady Anya Alstreim, had told me last time—
Before the memorial ceremony in the Falkland Islands began, I had made a “request” to the Commander of the Raphael Knights.
He then spoke not only to Raphael, but also to the other three holy knight orders—Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel.
In the end, all the holy knight orders of the Britannian Orthodox Church had agreed to send volunteers and capable retirees.
“That matter... has now been completely resolved.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Good.
That means the chances of Kallen appearing at the ball as Lelouch’s third wife—or his first mistress—have become even higher.
Milly and Shirley are both pregnant, and if the “Red Knights” begin functioning properly, the Stadtfeld family’s value will rise as well.
The dice have been cast.
All that remains now is the ball.