The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 71

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 71

Chapter Title: Provocation from the Princess

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"You've covered both sides."

"I merely answered your question. Or did you mean something else?"

She caught Jin covering his face with both hands from behind.

Well, the imperial who's pretending not to see and pulling that stunt behind her back isn't any better.

"Then what do you think, Venzel?"

"There's a saying about a frog in a well. The Rubaenu Duchy is far from the capital, after all."

Nina thought this situation was utterly distasteful.

Just tell us to fight already—that'd be easier. What is this?

They know exactly what we'll say, make us spit it out, confirm it on purpose, and even reveal the other side's reaction.

Feels like provoking dogs before throwing them into the pit. Doesn't he even realize that?

She stared blankly at Venzel with a straight face, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Pretty decent face.

Good build, handsome features... but is his head empty?

Perfect type to toy with. Won't last long, though.

While she inwardly delivered her scathing assessment, Princess Viariantil spoke to Adrian.

"Then both sides are fine with it. Duke, may I borrow the garden?"

"Princess, if you wish to cross swords with my knight order captain, please issue a formal duel request. My sword is not for entertainment."

At Adrian's words, Viariantil looked at him.

Nina thought she had frozen for a moment.

Eyes like glass orbs in a doll.

Viariantil smiled as she gazed at him.

"Very well, let's do it that way. Venzel, let's go."

As Venzel brushed past Nina, he whispered lowly—but obviously loud enough to be heard.

"Someday you'll pay dearly for that arrogance."

Nina replied, "Ah, please do."

Venzel halted as if he might strike her right then, but when Viariantil didn't stop, he followed after her.

What, he's not completely stupid. Makes sense for a knight order captain.

Thanks to Miminaga swiftly summoning the carriage while watching the scene, it was already prepared by the time Viariantil stepped out the front door.

The carriage carrying Viariantil departed after brief farewells, and Jin jumped up shouting.

"Isn't that one seriously full of herself?!"

Nina looked at Jin, who vented with pure irritation.

"We were in the middle of talking. She suddenly said she had business and stepped out, then pulls that with you. Thank goodness His Grace followed. I thought she'd gone to the bathroom."

He hadn't even imagined she'd be chatting with Nina there.

Nina crossed her arms.

"Ah, that explains it. Her entrance was so abrupt. But how did she know I'd arrived?"

At Nina's question, Jin's eyes narrowed. He whipped around, spotting Miminaga—who had been standing rigidly nearby—and she flinched under his gaze.

Jin's expression softened briefly at that. He scratched his head and said,

"There was no one else in that room but us."

"Probably."

Nina habitually brushed back her ponytail.

"Did you win?"

Jin, having noticed Miminaga, switched to polite speech as he asked, and Nina shrugged.

"As expected."

Jin nodded emphatically and crossed his arms.

"That guy looked pretty strong, though."

"Venzel? Yeah, he did."

"Even in the captain's eyes?"

"Yeah, that's why he's captain of the Lily Knight Order. And to me, you're strong too, Jin."

"Is it just my imagination that the afterthought makes me feel pitied all of a sudden?"

"Totally your imagination."

"Feels like it isn't."

"Maybe it's just a feeling born from an inferiority complex."

"What?"

Adrian watched Nina and Jin bicker, then spoke up.

"I didn't expect a fight to break out here."

Jin was in the middle of teasing Nina with, "Jealous? Come at me if you are," so she widened her eyes like, "Really?" before snapping to Adrian's words.

"Right? I was shocked too. And he's the Lily Knight Order captain. Is it okay for him to strut around declaring he's on the princess's side? He even called her 'Your Highness'."

'Your Highness' was for the imperial heir, not a succession candidate.

"They're cousins."

"Ah..."

Nina let out an 'ah' loaded with meaning and glanced at Adrian.

Adrian caught her look and said to Jin,

"Come up with me."

"I'll change and follow right away."

Jin followed Adrian upstairs in a daze, and soon Nina entered, having shed her uniform for a light tunic.

"So, what did she say?"

Nina flopped onto a nearby sofa. Jin was the only one in the room.

"Keep doing well as you are."

Jin scowled at Adrian's words, and Nina tilted her head.

"Keep doing well as we are?"

"Yes."

"No, Your Grace. How does that turn into that?"

At Jin's protest, Adrian countered, "Then what do you think it was?" making Jin grumble,

"No matter how I look at it, it sounded like, 'Figure it out yourselves.'"

"Ah, I get it. That's super weird."

"What's weird?"

Jin asked grumpily, and Nina twirled her finger as she explained.

"But aren't they competing for imperial succession rights right now? Trying to win over nobles' support. But what happened today doesn't look like gaining support at all. If anything..."

Nina trailed off.

"What?"

Jin pressed, and the answer came from Adrian.

"It looked like they were deciding which side to pick."

"Exactly."

Jin said with a sullen face.

"Doesn't that mean the princess is basically confirmed? That's why she's parading around like that."

"She doesn't seem that simplistic. Didn't it feel more like weeding out?"

"Where? More importantly, you weren't even there when we talked."

How does she know?

"You said it at the end. When Young Master said it wasn't for entertainment."

His expression, his reaction... it was a bit...

Nina circled her finger toward her face, and Adrian understood, replying,

"Yes."

"See? Scary person, that one. I get it, though."

"It's natural for an imperial. But I have no idea what she's ultimately aiming for."

Jin glanced between them, then drooped his shoulders.

"If you're going to have a conversation just between you two, why drag me into it?"

Nina widened her eyes and laughed.

"Why? You're a party to this too, Jin. You were there when she talked to the princess. Maybe she wants to strengthen imperial authority right now? That's why she wanted to pit the Rubaenu Duke's knight order captain—me—against the Lily Knight Order captain."

"How does that connect? If you win, doesn't that trash the Lily Knight Order's reputation?"

An imperial knight order captain getting crushed by a ducal knight captain—embarrassing, right?

"Mm, that's a prior issue."

At Nina's words, Jin grumbled before saying,

"Don't tell me it's 'if the boss says jump, you jump'?"

"Exactly."

Nina nodded.

She wants to command the Rubaenu Duke's knight order captain with a single word.

If I say fight, you fight—what's with all the talk?

That was her attitude.

So when the Rubaenu Duke defied her—probably took the refusal as defiance—her mood soured instantly.

She didn't even hide it on her face.

Any imperial would naturally dream of strengthening imperial authority and centralizing power.

Of course, nobles wouldn't like that.

"Nobles openly maintain knight orders as armed forces. An emperor wouldn't be thrilled. Sure, with Belak around, knight orders are tied up dealing with them and can't divert full strength elsewhere. The only place that doesn't need to worry about Belak is imperial territory."

Only the imperial palace has the spare capacity to deploy knight orders elsewhere.

Nobles' private armies are constantly drained fighting Belak, keeping imperial authority solid.

If a duchy like Rubaenu faced collapse against Belak, the only place to request aid would be the imperial palace.

Maybe the temple knights too?

Nina continued.

"The Ebony Knight Order used to have a fifty percent mortality rate too. One Belak appearance means heavy losses."

No room to stand against imperials.

Nina stretched languidly and flopped fully onto the sofa.

"Ah, but I have no idea what she's planning by acting like that!"