The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 21

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 21

Chapter Title: Knight Order Captain Appointment

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Nina smirked.

"Got it. Then appoint me as Knight Order Captain first."

"First, I'll give you a surname. Ra Del, Nina Ra Del."

Having a surname in the Empire meant she was now a semi-noble. But there was one thing she was curious about.

"Is it 'Radel' or 'Ra Del'?"

To her question about whether there was an extra middle name, the answer came back: "Surname is 'Del', middle name is 'Ra'."

"Are you giving me a fiefdom?"

A middle name meant she was a lord with territory. Of course, it wasn't permanent ownership, just temporary usufruct rights.

If Nina ever had a successor, they would have to come to the Rubaenu Duke to have their succession rights recognized.

"To hold onto a spirit knight who returned from death and contracted with high spirits, this much is necessary."

"You're saying 'don't get bullied out there' in such a classy way."

"Because you understand even when I speak classily."

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Nina accepted the title without hesitation, swallowing it down whole. Refusing when it was offered would be rude, terribly rude.

Adrian pulled sealed documents from the desk drawer, tapped both her shoulders, and said,

"I bestow upon Lady Nina a fiefdom. The title is Viscount, middle name 'Ra', surname 'Del'."

Nina received it politely with both hands. "I humbly accept." Peeking inside after breaking the seal, there was a thick stack of documents: the noble appointment for 'Nina Ra Del', succession rights, territory papers, and more.

All it needed was Nina's signature.

"When did you prepare this?"

When the surprised girl asked, the reply came: "It's been ready for quite a while."

Nina put the documents back in the envelope and hugged Adrian tightly from across the desk.

"Thanks for waiting."

"Thanks for coming back."

"Then I'm a noble now too!"

Holding the envelope, Nina spun around in a dance-like whirl and left the study. Adrian watched her go and let out a soft chuckle.

He turned his gaze to the chessboard. The black and white pieces were mixed up, with many not in their proper positions.

He wasn't actually playing chess. Whenever he planned strategies, he would assign the pieces to different factions like this.

Adrian carefully took the queen from the drawer. The pure white ivory queen was chess's strongest piece, able to move anywhere.

He placed his queen on the board.

All the impure elements had been filtered out. Now it was a completely new board. It was time for the ducal family to extend its retracted claws.

'If Nina moves, they'll move too.'

He narrowed his eyes.

'Heretics.'

He didn't forget what he'd lost. Revenge was merely postponed, not forgotten.

A bit more.

A little more.

Hone the anger coldly.

Just a little further ahead.

Black Shield Castle had a greenhouse. Though small, it was a proper glass one, leaving Nina astonished.

'How much did this cost!'

Kiril casually opened the greenhouse door and stepped inside. Nina followed behind.

"Wow!"

The moment she entered, herbal scents assaulted her nose.

Sweet fragrances, bitter ones, grassy scents. Mixed with the greenhouse's unique humidity, it felt like stepping into a perfume bath.

"I brought the plants from your garden and improved them."

Kiril giggled.

"Oh my god..."

"They can be grown elsewhere too. In fact, they're already growing in rocky fields. Most of the ducal territory has harsh land, making wheat farming difficult."

She had planted herbs there as well.

"Can you live off herbs?"

"The ducal family buys them all."

At Kiril's words, Nina suddenly recalled the poor castle's meals. Tears welled up for some reason.

At the same time, she felt appreciative.

He could have forced labor, but Adrian hadn't.

"I do develop medicines, but it's tough alone. It'd be great to have help. People who do this kind of work are rare."

At Kiril's words, a person came to Nina's mind.

The original male lead.

"Hmm, I'll look into it."

Kiril said to Nina,

"I'll give you the report later, so check it out and use it to lure them. Plant researchers will lose their minds over it."

Kiril cackled and gestured to leave the greenhouse.

After leaving the greenhouse, she showed the regular garden too. Plants were thriving vigorously even outside.

The ones in the greenhouse were experimental crops not meant for outside, while the garden ones were for mass production outdoors.

Nina asked,

"By the way, Kiril, what about wheat?"

What about the most important wheat?

In this era, wheat was the most vital currency.

Bumper crop or famine decided everything.

Why are those with more land richer?

Because they produce more wheat.

In the Empire, which measured currency value in gold, wheat and gold were the twin pillars of the economy.

Kiril looked at Nina.

"That depends on you, Knight Order Captain."

Nina frowned, not understanding, and Kiril beckoned her to follow with a finger.

Opening the door to the wooden warehouse built in the back, sacks were piled high.

"Wheat. The ones you brought. Plant one seed, get at least thirty—thirtyfold increase, filling the warehouse in no time. The problem is there's nowhere to sow it."

That lost land.

The vast plain belonging to the Rubaenu territory.

Nina grinned at Kiril's words.

"Then I need to find that plain."

"Yes, find it quick before the seeds spoil."

"Got it."

Nina lightly patted her chest.

Kiril now led Nina to her lab, telling her to take the research report.

Kiril's lab was in the basement of Black Shield Castle—not fully underground, but a semi-basement.

One-third below ground, two-thirds above, all with glass windows letting in plenty of light.

"Where did these glass windows come from?"

Such large windows, and the greenhouse too.

"Squeezed it out of His Grace."

Kiril's answer was concise. Nina nearly fainted.

Indeed, there was a reason they only ate potatoes.

Kiril's lab wasn't cluttered; everything was neatly organized.

The glass jars of dried herb powders on the shelves had tidy labels.

"Here."

Receiving the thick stack of Kiril's report, Nina suddenly felt like she had become illiterate.

"Kiril, I knew your handwriting was bad, but isn't this too much?"

"Did I give you the original? Here, the copy."

Kiril pulled out another document. This one was clearly readable. Nina offered silent condolences to the copyist.

"I don't know who you're sending it to, but I selected only things safe for external exposure."

Nina nodded at Kiril's words. Exactly one place came to mind.

Where the male lead lived.

Isle of Sages.

The mages there were called Sages and lived gathered on the island called 'Isle of Sages'.

"Is there another copy?"

"Yes, you can take that one."

"Oh right, Kiril. I'm heading into Violet Forest—any requests?"

"Of course."

Kiril rummaged and pulled out a list of needed items. The paper was worn and the writing faded, clearly old, so Nina asked curiously,

"When did you make this?"

"Long ago. No one's asked this old lady what she needs. I've kept it shelved until now."

Kiril tsked, 'Young ones nowadays, tch tch,' and Nina smiled as she took the list.

"Thanks for waiting, Kiril."

"Hmph."

Kiril snorted and shooed her out. Nina hugged the reports and left the lab.

Reading the report in her room, Nina realized Adrian had prepared this thoroughly for a long time.

'To keep all this secret until now. Well, we're cut off from the center.'

He had tracked down every plant from the garden she tended and sent them to Kiril, who had first cultivated the important varieties.

"Wheat, transparent fruit, oil tree... Lots of herbs too. Good."

Packing the herb list Kiril wanted, Nina set off for Violet Forest.

Jin offered to accompany her as Vice-Captain, and she gladly accepted.

She tied her hair in her usual twin tails dangling down and donned the black uniform. After loading the luggage on the horses, the two set out.