The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 70

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 70

Chapter Title: The Imperial Princess's Visit

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Paradiv gaped for a moment before bursting into mad laughter.

He bent over, laughing so hard he could barely breathe, then wiped away tears and finally managed to stop.

"Ha, damn, I'm so jealous. Wow, that's really cool. Ha. If you're jealous, come at me... Fine."

"It seems like you've been receiving duel challenges like a mountain thanks to that."

"Just watch. I'll win them all."

Paradiv grinned as he spoke, and Naf gave him a puzzled look.

"How do you know?"

"You're saying it so openly. Plus, there's the story about winning against 100-to-1 odds. If you thought you'd lose, you wouldn't have said it in the first place. Above all, reclaiming the Ila Great Plains is a fact."

Paradiv steepled his fingers.

"Ha... Rubaenu Duke, Rubaenu Duke. Come to think of it, the recently popular Romi Merchant Guild is under the Rubaenu Duke too."

"Yes, we've confirmed that the guild master Lorokomo has made contact with the duke."

"Won't Viarentil try to approach him first? But I'm not sure..."

Paradiv's eyes narrowed. When Naf asked, "What do you mean?" Paradiv tilted his head.

"Sister's intentions."

"Isn't she aiming to become emperor?"

"Well, originally, imperial family members fight each other to become emperor—that's the basic structure. But compared to that, Sister lacks that aggressive, sales-rep-like push."

"Unlike Brother, Viarentil Sister overflows with the charisma of an imperial."

"Really?"

Paradiv widened his eyes exaggeratedly before shaking his head.

"Is that really it? But..."

"Have your eyes changed after nearly being poisoned by Sister a few times?"

Thorns prickled in Naf's voice. Paradiv chuckled and beckoned him closer.

Naf hesitated before approaching, and Paradiv ruffled his head wildly with both hands like he was messing with a little brother.

Naf jumped back.

"Paradiv!"

As he shouted, Paradiv cackled. Naf grumbled while fixing his hair.

"I'm too old for pranks like this now."

"Age has nothing to do with it."

Paradiv closed his eyes as he said that.

He was utterly exhausted.

Naf muttered while straightening his hair and picked up the jacket Paradiv had tossed on the floor.

"Really."

He turned to complain, only to find Paradiv asleep on the sofa.

"..."

Times like this made him feel sorry for him.

He wasn't sure if he could beat Viarentil Princess, and if she ascended to the throne, he and Paradiv would end up hanged, starved in a dungeon, or poisoned in exile.

'I need to send someone to the Rubaenu Duke.'

At least ask for a meeting.

Naf quietly slipped out of the room.

"The Princess?"

Nina dismounted her One-Horned Horse and asked again. Mimina nodded.

"Yes, she's currently in the palace. Did you win today too?"

"Of course. What kind of question is that?"

Nina shrugged.

Nina had converted all duels to public ones, and those thrashed by her in public never challenged her again.

The capital was abuzz with talk of the Rubaenu Ducal Family due to the public duels.

In taverns or on streets, wherever two or more people gathered, talk of the Rubaenu Ducal Family and Ebony Knight Order was inevitable.

Stories about the One-Horned Horses were a given, but even details like their black uniforms and longcoats were hot topics.

Of course, news of how Nina la Del, captain of the Ebony Knight Order, dispatched her foes in duels was indispensable.

Everyone expected her to use spirits, but Nina defeated them purely with swordsmanship, no spirits involved.

Early on, she knocked opponents out with fists without even drawing her sword, but she used her blade against skilled ones.

Since times and places for her public duels were announced, citizens packed lunches and rushed to secure spots.

It wasn't just commoners watching, either. Knights in disguise mingled in. Anyone with eyes could see Nina's prowess.

"Nina la Del is the empire's greatest sword after all."

"What nonsense! There's still Benzel of the Lily Knight Order or Roca of the Royal Guard Knights! What about the newly risen Edga of the Temple Knight Order?"

"Hmph, if they were confident, they'd challenge Lady Nina. She even said, 'If you're jealous, come at me.'"

"Hmph, would the tournament champion Roca of the Royal Guard Knights stoop to that? They have to be on the same level to fight."

"Not on the same level? Huh? How could a ducal knight order captain not match other orders? They're just scared."

"Falling for such vulgar provocation shows low class."

"What? It's just cowardice!"

"Who're you calling a coward? Done talking?"

Arguments like this erupted everywhere in the markets.

Of course, the source of it all, Nina, strolled around with a clear conscience, as if saying, "What does that have to do with me?"

Nina handed her One-Horned Horse to a servant and walked inside, asking,

"I shouldn't go in right now, right? For escort, has Jin gone in?"

"Yes, Sir Jin is attending as escort."

"Without notice."

Nina clicked her tongue.

Even for royalty, showing up unannounced wasn't right, was it?

"Without notice—what were you going to say next?"

Hearing the cheerful voice, Nina froze and looked up. A woman with flowing aquamarine hair stood at the top of the stairs.

Her hair reached her hips without a strand out of place, and her attire was as splendid as an emperor's.

With a circlet on her forehead, there was no mistaking her.

Nina greeted her with perfect posture that even Vivian would approve of.

"I greet Imperial Princess Viarentil."

"I'm pleased to meet the famed Lady Nina."

Her escort knight shadowed her closely as she descended the stairs gracefully.

His blatant stare made it impossible to ignore.

'Wow, he's glaring openly. Judging by his clothes, Lily Knight Order? Flashy for a knight.'

"We were just discussing how startled we were by Your Highness's unannounced visit. If my rude words offended Your noble ears, forgive my clumsiness."

Nina's etiquette was flawless.

As Nina wondered if the princess was wandering the mansion alone, Adrian and Jin emerged from behind.

Jin's jaw clenched at the sight. Adrian looked calm, but Nina quickly read his face.

From Adrian's expression, this wasn't what he wanted.

"Must I forgive you? Just because you asked?"

Viarentil feigned intrigue.

'Impressive.'

Nina was purely admiring. She could tell the intrigued tone was deliberately fabricated.

Were all royals like this?

Viarentil stood on the final step and commanded Nina,

"Raise your head."

Nina straightened and met Viarentil's gaze directly.

Viarentil smiled faintly.

"Your beauty lives up to the rumors. What do you think, Benzel?"

"Looks are irrelevant to me, Your Highness."

'Oh, so she's the Lily Knight Order captain. No wonder she's so flashy.'

This was the tournament's third-ranked.

Nina stared openly. Her light wheat-colored hair resembled Sir Lui's but was curlier.

She seemed just over 190 centimeters tall. Her stance alone screamed skill.

"They call you the empire's greatest sword, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I think my knight captain is the greatest."

Everyone harbors an empire's greatest sword in their heart.

Nina suppressed the retort and replied,

"Doesn't everyone think their own sword is the strongest?"

"Hm."

Viarentil turned to Adrian, who had descended and stood below her.

"What do you think, Duke? If my sword and yours clashed?"

"I hope it never comes to that."

"That's a lacking answer."

'No, Adrian means he hopes such a—troublesome—thing doesn't happen.'

Nina thought that inwardly and glanced at Benzel, whose eyes blazed. Nina had no intention of backing down.

"Well, Lady Nina? Can you say the same in front of my knight?"

"What do you mean? That I'm the empire's greatest sword? Or 'If you're jealous, come at me'?"

Nina paused, flashed Benzel an obvious smile, then continued,

"...Is that what you mean?"