122: The Lady is no coward (part 1)

The Lady is no coward (part 1)

"It is only convenient if Your Majesty were reluctant to trust our words," Egon shrugged, once again,0

his disrespectful manner of speaking and carrying himself around Emanuel de Lanark bothered everyone present except his brother.

The King stroked his long gray beard for a moment, deep in thought. His eyes shifted behind Egon's back, and then he pointed with his forefinger at the wall in front of him.

"Look at this painting behind you, Egor. Are you aware of the most significant victory House de Lanark achieved on that day?"

Egon seemed bored as he awaited the King's response to his own question.

"The throne... Such a response is predictable from the ignorant. However, those who possess knowledge will offer a different answer," the King's expression turned grave. "Wiping out the name of the fallen Empire was a triumph that exceeds even the significance of the throne I currently occupy... Isn't history shaped by the imagination of those who hold enough power to write it?"

Adela fought to maintain her composure, sensing rather than seeing Egon's penetrating stare on her. Her eyes remained fixed on her King, where they should be, as he spoke.

Emanuel tsked repeatedly, "Nowadays, Kaiser, young men lack patience. They desire only the final outcome dismissing the importance of everything that led up to it."

Kaiser cleared his throat, capturing Egon's attention and proceeding only when he had it. "What His Majesty is implying is that he finds your words highly questionable," 

Adela bit her cheek anxiously as Egon flashed a smile.

"As a businessman, storytelling is not my strong suit," Egon remarked. "I focus on results and I encourage you to do the same. We have successfully cracked down on the rebels that have plagued the forest apprehending the majority of them. Lady de Lanark is secure and awaiting her family's arrival in Kolhis where her husband can ensure her safety,"

The hushed stillness that followed was disrupted solely by the measured clapping of the King. Each applause caused Adela to flinch as the foreboding sound echoed throughout the hall.

"Indeed, your words ring true... They leave me with but one option," 

As the King stood up, Kaiser followed suit, and Adela who had to adhere to the customs remained seated, awaiting a man to extend his hand to assist her. A chill ran down her spine as Emanuel de Lanark unsheathed his sword, the twin of Extermizer, and advanced towards the kneeling Egon. Her nails scratched and then dug into the leather of her chair's armrest. She felt powerless, unable to intervene while the King's sword inched closer to her mate's head.

A protective instinct surged within Adela, overriding her initial helplessness. She refused to let any harm befall Egon.

Her next action unfolded instinctively, devoid of conscious thought. A cool sensation emanated from her heart, coursing through her fingers and wrists. Though invisible to her eyes, she imagined a radiant glow surrounding him.

Egon who had been intensely observing the King suddenly furrowed his brow, his expression shifting. His eyes swiftly turned to Adela and widened in awe.

That's right, you and I are connected...

She had grown tired of fighting the bond between them, and she was glad that he sensed the safety she had enveloped him with.

King Emanuel de Lanark stood with regal poise looking down at Egon. His face betrayed no emotion, concealing his intentions and leaving those in attendance to speculate about his true motives.

"...Egor von Conradie, you have demonstrated valor and dedication to House de Lanark...With this sword, I dub you a knight of Emoria, granting you the responsibilities that befit this noble title."

The room was filled with shocked expressions, but the most profound one was visible on Egon's sickly green face. The resounding clash of steel filled the air as the King lightly tapped Egon's armored shoulder with the flat side of the blade, symbolically sealing the knighthood.

"Rise, Sir Egor von Conradie," 

Egon rose to his feet with a towering figure that cast a shadow over the King. His face was etched with unmistakable disgust, the kind that Adela knew she could never alleviate, and the cool sensation in her fingers faded away with that thought.

Emanuel de Lanark turned his bored gaze to the other side, his eyes filled with cynicism as he looked down at Bastian.

"I have just recovered from illness, and the emotional strain I have endured today is too much for me to bestow knighthood upon another commoner... Kaiser, do come forward and perform the knighting ceremony for this...fine and healthy young man here," 

Kaiser stared at Bastian with an unexpressive face, but his thoughts were all too readable.

The Archduke — a seasoned warrior who had witnessed the horrors of the battlefield — would naturally refuse to accept a one-eyed man risking his life and jeopardizing the safety of his comrades. He had no knowledge of Bastian's fighting skills, and for that, Adela could forgive him. However, his silence during the King's attempt to shame both brothers due to Bastian's disability made him complicit in her eyes.

She despised the feeling, her stomach churning with disgust. Yet, what recourse did she have as an Emorian woman, where even standing required the assistance of a man's hand?

Cursing was an unfamiliar practice to her, but in her mind, she cursed the life imposed upon Emorian women. Amidst the men surrounding her, the true disability lay within Adela herself.

"...Though my feet may be nonfunctional at the moment, my tongue remains in working order," she murmured to herself.

"My Lady?" Count Sirius, the closest platoon leader to Adela, asked with concern.

Adela held her hand high, avoiding direct eye contact. "Count, I require your aid."

"Of course, My Lady," the count replied, bowing with one hand behind his back and the other ready to support Adela's suspended hand. She firmly placed her hand in his grasp and rose, her father's sword tightly held in her other hand.

"Your Majesty," she began, releasing the count's hand and making her way towards the scene of the disgraceful display, "I believe you have yet to be properly introduced to the newest platoon leader of the Second Order of knights."

Bastian looked up at her with a face devoid of emotion, while Egon stood beside her exuding anxiety.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Bastian von Conradie has proven his exceptional prowess in an unofficial duel with Sir Arkin. I, myself, witnessed his remarkable raw power and acute abilities. Therefore, as a qualified member of the de Lanark Household, I am fully capable of knighting him on behalf of the Archduke."

She gripped the hilt of Extermizer tightly, silently praying that her trembling hand would go unnoticed. The worst that could transpire was being stopped and humiliated before everyone, and such humiliation would directly impact the two other royals in the hall.

She gave herself a determined nod, resolved to pursue that course of action rather than succumbing to cowardice.

pqdm.com