Chapter 65

It wasn’t an incorrect statement. Someone who knows they’re a talent never sells themselves cheaply.

In fact, one of the reasons Lucian had been pursuing the nectar so eagerly was precisely that.

It was a means capable of instantly attracting any talent—and even more so, a knight.

“That’s true. Unless you owe someone your life, that’s normally how it would be.”

“I’m glad you understand. Then wouldn’t it be better for you to just step aside this time and let the other brothers try?”

“Who knows.”

Lucian gave a faint smile and shrugged.

“Maybe, without realizing it, I already made the Swordmaster’s disciple owe me a life debt.”

“What are you talk—!”

“Just kidding. Don’t get so tense. If you manage to recruit her, I won’t even get a chance anyway.”

“Hah.”

Joshua stared blankly at Lucian and let out a hollow laugh.

He seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, but held back, since there were more important things at hand.

“I said something unnecessary. The investiture ceremony is about to begin, so I’ll go on ahead.”

“We’re heading the same way—how about we go together? We could chat a bit as brothers.”

“No thanks!”

At Lucian’s suggestion, Joshua frowned and quickly walked off.

Watching his retreating back, Lucian let out a quiet chuckle.

“He really is an interesting guy.”

Unlike Tristan or Jordi, who had already weathered several of life’s storms, Joshua was so naive that it was especially fun to tease him.

If possible, Lucian would’ve preferred he stayed that way, but unfortunately, today would be the moment Joshua had to grow up.

‘I hope the blow isn’t so harsh that he ends up becoming someone like Jordi.’

If Joshua ended up turning into someone like that, Lucian would have no choice but to crush him without hesitation.

He’d rather Joshua remain the little brother he could still poke fun at.

***

As expected, the investiture ceremony was splendid.

A stage had been erected in a spot visible to all outside the inner wall, the path was covered with a red carpet, and knights were lined up on both sides.

Considering that an investiture was normally a simple event lasting just a few minutes, all of this was a clear display of respect and consideration toward Swordmaster Eisen.

‘Alright, no need to stand somewhere flashy. If I stand out too much, I’ll attract unwanted attention when I act.’

The star of the day was Felicia, so no one else should steal the spotlight.

Although they were the duke’s sons, no special seats had been reserved for them, so they could blend in behind the other knights.

While waiting for the ceremony to begin, another person approached the spot where Lucian stood and widened his eyes in surprise.

“You… you bastard!”

“Long time no see, brother.”

Hearing the strained voice trying to suppress his emotions, Lucian greeted him with a smile and a wave.

Jordi, unable to hide his confusion, asked automatically.

“When did you get here? I heard you planned to stay in the capital for a while.”

“Not long ago. Just a few hours, at most. Normally I would’ve received a report already, but I suppose you were too busy with the investiture ceremony.”

At Lucian’s teasing, Jordi didn’t explode with anger. On the contrary, his discomfort and confusion were plain to see.

‘Seems like he already has a rough idea about my connection with Felicia.’

When Felicia was brought in, Tristan was stationed in Bornholm, and Joshua had just entered the succession race as a rookie.

The only one in the family with a solid information network at the time was Jordi, so it wasn’t strange that he had a general grasp of the situation.

“No wonder it seemed odd to me. I wondered why the investiture was suddenly organized. So it was you pulling strings behind the scenes, brother?”

“What nonsense are you spouting now? What would I have to do with the ceremony?”

Jordi tried to brush it off, but couldn’t hide his slight flinch. Lucian’s suspicion turned into certainty, and he gave a cold smile.

“Still no hesitation when it comes to using underhanded tricks. Go ahead, try it. If you end up losing after flailing around so miserably, all that will remain is your disgrace.”

“Don’t get cocky. No matter how capable or well-known you are, without power backing you, you’re just a pawn. You’re nothing but a shooting star that shines for a moment.”

“Saying that while I’m still shining just sounds like the loser’s lament.”

At Lucian’s taunt, Jordi’s eyes flared with fury—but that was as far as it went.

Perhaps he didn’t want to cause a scene before the ceremony, because he finally backed off without further comment.

Shortly after, Tristan arrived as well, clicked his tongue upon seeing his brothers, and positioned himself a bit farther away.

Amid that subtle tension, the four brothers remained silent.

Clack!

A moment later, when the star of the investiture ceremony finally appeared, the spectators opened their eyes wide in astonishment.

***

“A helmet?”

“A helmet at an investiture ceremony?!”

“What disrespect!”

The knights became agitated, frowning, and the citizens watching nearby began to murmur.

Outside of service or the battlefield, covering one’s face with a helmet was considered disrespectful anywhere.

However, the Swordmaster’s disciple completely ignored the looks and walked down the red carpet until she stood before Duke Sigmund.

“Remove your helmet.”

Duke Sigmund gave the order in a solemn voice, loud enough for all to hear.

The knight obeyed without protest and revealed her face.

“A woman?!”

“The Swordmaster’s successor is a woman?”

“This makes no sense…!”

When Felicia shook out her tousled hair, gasps of astonishment burst from all directions.

It wasn’t that female knights didn’t exist, but they belonged more in fairy tales.

In reality, aside from honorary political titles, there were no true female knights who wielded a sword.

And yet, the heir of the Swordmaster was a woman.

“Disciple of the great Swordmaster, Eisen Brightner. State your name.”

“I am Felicia Brightner, adoptive daughter of Eisen Brightner.”

“Felicia, I ask you. What will you pursue as a knight?”

“Loyalty. Absolute loyalty.”

The excessively concise answer startled several knights.

It was common to swear to justice or the defense of good, but to speak only of loyalty was unusual.

The duke looked at her with a sharp gaze.

“Even if your lord falls into evil, will you still remain loyal?”

It was a question that precisely pointed out the contradiction in the oath, but Felicia answered without blinking.

“If my lord chooses to become evil, then I will become evil with him, and even if we must wallow in the mud, I will remain by his side. If the Eight Gods cast my lord into hell, I will take on his sins alone and burn in hell with him for eternity.”

Faced with such an extreme answer, Duke Sigmund fell silent.

He hadn’t expected something like this in such a simple rite.

“…Then may your lord always make righteous decisions. May they have the wisdom needed to guide a great knight down a great path.”

With that, the duke softened the atmosphere and raised his sword.

Felicia knelt, and the blade touched both her shoulders and the back of her neck.

“In the name of Sigmund Valdeck, I guarantee your honor. Felicia Brightner, from this moment on, you are a knight. I hope that both you and I may feel pride in that name.”

The investiture concluded and Felicia stood, but unlike other ceremonies, there were no cheers.

The crowd was still stunned by the revelation that the Swordmaster’s disciple was a woman.

The silence was just about to shift into murmurs when—

“Your Excellency, Duke! Knowing it is disrespectful, I dare make a request!”

A knight with a stern expression burst forward and knelt.

Despite the interruption, the duke nodded calmly.

“Speak.”

“A knight speaks through the sword! Allow me to test whether she is worthy of the title of knight!”

“Hmm.”

The duke looked at Felicia. It was a silent question—would she accept the challenge?

Felicia nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“That’s right. A knight speaks with the sword. If you doubt me so much, see with your own eyes.”

“Thank you!”

The audience murmured at the sudden duel, but at the same time, a peculiar excitement began to rise.

It wasn’t every day one witnessed the Swordmaster’s disciple in combat—let alone a knight worthy of legend.

Lucian watched the circle being prepared for the duel with a bitter smile.

‘Looks like Father and Lord Eisen set this stage together.’

The figure of a female knight was far too unusual for society.

Before rumors could spread, showing her skill in front of everyone was the most effective way to silence them.

Otherwise, no one would have dared to interrupt an investiture approved by both the duke and the Swordmaster.

It was all clearly arranged beforehand.

‘Now that I think about it, even I don’t know how strong Felicia has become after training with Eisen. With a true master, she must’ve far surpassed what she was in my past life.’

When Lucian snapped out of his thoughts, the two knights were already facing off in the ring, swords in hand.

“Let this duel be fair and honorable, one we need not be ashamed of before the Eight Gods.”

After completing the arbiter’s rite, the duke stepped back.

And then, the swords clashed in midair, scattering sparks.

***

Clang! Crack! Kiiing!

Ten minutes into the duel, everyone present was holding their breath, unable to look away.

Lucian was one of them.

‘It’s beautiful.’

In a typical duel, one would expect blood and brute force.

But Felicia moved with the grace of a dance, deflecting every strike.

Her opponent struck with nearly invisible speed, and yet Felicia blocked them all with movements clearly visible to the eye.

“…Is that really possible for a human being?”

A knight near Lucian murmured in disbelief, and several others nodded without realizing.

Blocking impossible attacks with a sword moving so slowly it could be tracked by the eye—it was inconceivable.

While all were in shock, Lucian could clearly see the flow of the battle.

‘I can see it.’

Thanks to the effects of the nectar he’d taken earlier, his vision revealed Felicia’s intentions.

Each of her dancing movements landed exactly where her opponent would strike.

More than a swordswoman, she looked like a prophet reading the blade.

But most impressive was her ability to read the flow and react instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

‘This is what they call a true genius.’

A chill ran down Lucian’s spine.

Even if he saw what she saw, he knew he couldn’t move the same way.

Reading mana, near-instinctive reflexes, flawless decisions made in the blink of an eye, and a temperament wholly devoted to the sword.

‘She looks like someone born solely to master the sword.’

With a loud crash, a sword was flung into the air.

The knight who had issued the challenge stopped his offense and stepped back, soaked in sweat, while Felicia calmly lowered her sword as though she didn’t even need to catch her breath.

“Do you wish to continue?”

“…No. That’s enough.”

The knight backed away with a bitter expression, as if he had just encountered a genius unreachable despite a lifetime of effort.

‘The duel may have been staged, but that feeling was real. I’ve felt it before too.’

After composing himself, the knight bowed his head to Felicia.

“A knight speaks through the sword. You’ve proven yourself. Perhaps I wasn’t worthy to test you.”

“The weight you’ve accumulated in your blade—I know it better than anyone, for it was my sword that met it. To be tested by you is an honor.”

“…That’s excessive praise.”

Though he rejected the compliment modestly, his face was filled with emotion.

It wasn’t respect toward a “female knight,” but to the future Swordmaster.

When the knight stepped back, the duke looked around.

“Felicia has proven her worth. If anyone else wishes to test her, step forward now.”

No one moved.

The stares had already changed long ago.

She wasn’t a strange female knight—she was the reincarnation of a legendary heroine.

Just as the duke was about to speak again—

“Tristan Valdeck wishes to ask Knight Felicia a question!”

Tristan stood up at once.

With all eyes on him, he extended a hand toward Felicia.

“Will you not serve me as my knight?!”

It was a proposal so bold it bordered on insolence, but Tristan continued.

“If you enter my service, you will always ride at my side, share my table, and when I draw my last breath, I’ll entrust you with my will. You, heir to the Swordmaster’s name! I await your answer!”

To share his ride and table meant treating her as an equal.

To entrust her with his will was to give her the greatest trust.

Faced with Tristan’s passionate proposal, Felicia bowed her head.

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”

“Wha…?!”

Before Tristan could ask why, Joshua stepped forward urgently.

“Then come with me! No knight will ever stand above you, and all will honor you! I swear to uphold this promise until my dying breath!”

Though exaggerated, the offer meant making her his second-in-command for life.

Even so, Felicia shook her head again.

“I appreciate such a high evaluation, but I must refuse.”

After turning down two sons of Valdeck blood, the murmurs grew louder.

Did she accept the duke’s investiture only to reject all vows of loyalty?

Then, Jordi stood with a confident smile.

“Felicia, future Swordmaster! Will you not offer me your sword? If you swear loyalty to me, I’ll grant any wish within my power. Eight Gods of the Sky, bear witness to my vow!”

“What?!”

“The Pantheon Oath!”

The crowd was shaken.

It was an oath that, once spoken, could never be taken back.

While everyone held their breath, Felicia responded calmly.

“I appreciate such a generous offer, but forgive my discourtesy—I must refuse.”

“…?!”

“My sword already has a master. No matter what offer I receive, I will never swear loyalty to anyone else.”

Jordi’s face twisted with rage.

He had even made the Pantheon Oath and was still rejected—publicly.

In the heavy silence that followed, Lucian stepped forward.

“Lucian Valdeck makes you a proposal. As you can see, I have nothing but this wretched body, and I can promise you nothing.”

“…”

“The future is uncertain, the rewards are scarce, and the dangers are constant. But if you stay with me until the end, we will carve our names into history. Will you come with me?”

His brothers and the spectators looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

It seemed like a proposal made to be rejected.

As everyone braced themselves to hear “I appreciate the offer, but…,” Felicia smiled and knelt before Lucian.

“You made a mistake in your proposal. I don’t care if it’s in the very center of hell—just allow me to stay by your side.”