Chapter 60: Knight Commander Arthur

At the sudden greeting from the young man, Elaine immediately rose from her seat and responded politely.

“I greet you, Lord Rigrid Deepsnow, second son of House Deepsnow.”

Following Elaine’s lead, I also bowed in greeting.

Rigrid, looking somewhat flustered, gave a shy smile and waved his hand.

“There’s no need to be so formal. I don’t hold any significant position—I only came as my father’s attendant.”

Just as Elaine had brought me along, Lynell Deepsnow had also brought an attendant—his second son, Rigrid.

It was common for politicians to expose their children to major affairs, allowing them to gain experience and motivation.

If the intention was to properly groom a successor, it would make more sense to bring the eldest son instead of the second.

Which raised the question—why had Lynell brought Rigrid instead of his heir?

“I’ve heard news of your elder brother. Congratulations on his appointment as captain of the Wall Defense Forces.”

“Ahaha, thank you. He is indeed a brother to be proud of.”

When it came to breaking the ice, nothing worked better than exchanging pleasantries.

And since Elaine was constantly by Grace’s side, she was well-informed about all major happenings in the North.

Among the most crucial military divisions in the North, three stood out—

The Guard, led by Elaine, responsible for protecting Grace.

The Elite Troops, commanded by Günther, specializing in expeditions.

And lastly, the Defense Forces, tasked with protecting the Northern capital, Wintercannon.

The Defense Forces were further divided into the Wall Defense Forces and the Inner Defense Forces, based on their area of responsibility.

Among them, the Wall Defense Forces held the most importance, as they were the first line of defense against enemy attacks.

Being appointed as the captain of such a unit was a testament to one’s skills, making it a position worthy of familial pride.

This was likely why Lynell had brought his second son along.

His eldest son, already part of the military, was present at the meeting in an official capacity, eliminating the need for Lynell to bring him personally.

After responding to my congratulations, Rigrid turned to me with a curious expression.

“So you’re the newly appointed Sir Luke. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m honored that you recognize me.”

“Haha, you don’t need to be so formal. I found your presence quite impressive earlier. You didn’t seem the least bit nervous despite being in such a grand meeting.”

Rigrid hunched his shoulders slightly, as if admitting his own nerves.

“From what I can tell, we seem to be of similar age. It’s incredible that you’ve already made such a name for yourself as the hero who saved the North.”

“Please, you may speak comfortably. I am merely a newly appointed knight-in-training.”

“Hahaha, I can’t do that. If I did, I’d have to acknowledge that I’m not even a knight yet.”

This wasn’t mentioned in the novel, so I wasn’t sure about other regions, but—

In the North, just being a noble didn’t automatically grant one knighthood upon joining the military.

Regardless of status, nobles had to enlist as regular soldiers first, and only those who demonstrated sufficient skill and talent could pass the knight’s exam to earn the title.

Of course, noble-born individuals had the advantage of wealth and connections, allowing them to hire skilled tutors or access potions to enhance their training.

However, if they lacked ability, they wouldn’t be knighted—no exceptions.

In other words, nobles like Rorone, the captain of the Guard’s Second Division, had to endure the same grueling training as commoners to reach their current positions.

That was why noble-born officers in the Northern army never looked down on common soldiers.

They had all experienced the same hardships firsthand.

“Understood. Please speak as you feel comfortable.”

As I relented, Rigrid continued, still using polite speech.

“In truth, I’ve wanted to meet you since the knighting ceremony. You piqued my curiosity.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! As I mentioned earlier, we seem to be around the same age, so I thought it would be nice to build some rapport.”

Rigrid, with his slim frame—uncommon for a Northerner—flashed an innocent, puppy-like smile.

“But if I may ask, why are you here as Lady Elaine’s attendant? Do you two have a prior connection?”

“I serve in the Guard under Her Grace, the Grand Duke. And I am also the adjutant to the Guard Captain, Lady Elaine.

I accompanied her today to assist my superior.”

“You’re the adjutant to the Guard Captain?!”

Rigrid’s eyes widened in exaggerated surprise.

“Wow, that’s truly impressive! You’ve only been a knight for less than a week, and you’ve already become the adjutant to the Guard Captain?”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

For someone I had just met today, Rigrid showed genuine joy for my achievements.

As a knight, I maintained proper etiquette and expressed my gratitude.

“Haha, this makes me even more determined to befriend you.”

Just then, footsteps approached.

Another person was making their way toward us.

As I turned to see who it was, Rigrid, Elaine, and I all found ourselves surprised.

“Sir Luke, so this is where you were.”

The owner of the approaching footsteps was none other than Knight Commander Arthur.

“Hmm, I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Knights were granted the status of quasi-nobles.

However, there were those who had been born as nobles from the start.

Arthur, bearing the surname Gravaine, was undeniably one of them.

Of course, while House Deepsnow was one of the two most prestigious noble houses in the North, Rigrid was still merely a noble’s son, having yet to inherit a title.

On the other hand, Arthur was the head of House Gravaine, a Northern elder, and the Knight Commander—all titles of significant authority.

He had more than enough status to enter this conversation.

“I looked outside but didn’t see you. I have something important to discuss with this knight-in-training—could you spare me a moment?”

When Arthur singled me out, it wasn’t Rigrid who responded, but Elaine.

“Commander, may I ask why you wish to take my adjutant aside?”

“There is something I wish to discuss with him privately.”

“He is my adjutant.”

“Your adjutant?”

Arthur glanced at me before turning back to Elaine.

“Hmm, I wasn’t aware of that… but all the more reason to speak with him. Captain, even if he is your adjutant, he is still a knight in his own right. That means he is also under my command.”

Neither seemed willing to back down, so I decided to step in.

“Captain, since the Commander has something urgent to say, I will speak with him briefly.

Lord Rigrid, I apologize for excusing myself first.”

“Ah, yes.”

Though a bit bewildered, Rigrid nodded his permission.

Elaine, on the other hand, gave me a somewhat displeased look but reluctantly allowed it.

She had likely guessed Arthur’s reason for calling me aside.

I had a good idea as well.

It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Even so, I had no choice but to follow Arthur during the short break.

This man would be a key piece in the events to come.

Arthur led me down the hallway, walking further until we reached a relatively narrow corridor, devoid of others.

Only then did he turn to face me.

“This is our first time speaking since your knighting ceremony, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“It hasn’t even been a week, and you’ve already become the Guard Captain’s adjutant?”

“The adjutant position was newly established, and since I was already awaiting assignment within the Guard, it was deemed a fitting role for me. I was fortunate to be chosen.”

“Hah. The Guard Captain wouldn’t place just anyone by her side. It wasn’t luck.”

His words had an odd nuance when he phrased it that way, but Arthur wasn’t implying anything specific, so I wasn’t particularly shaken.

“If I had known, I would have made my offer sooner. I wanted to observe you a little longer before acting.”

“Offer…?”

“…….”

Perhaps because we were alone, Arthur’s demeanor became more casual.

His usually solemn face softened slightly.

“Do you have a betrothed?”

“?!?”

This genuinely caught me off guard.

I had expected a recruitment offer for the knight order—not a marriage proposal.

He was asking me to marry into House Gravaine?

‘What should I do? Should I say yes?’

If I said yes, the next question would be, “Who is she?”

If I said no, a meeting would be arranged on the spot, and Elaine would probably grab me by the collar.

“To be frank, I think highly of you.

You may not be aware, but this is the first time Her Grace has ever granted a special knighthood.”

“?!?”

That, I hadn’t known.

I was familiar with the special knighting system because, at the end of Episode 4, Aran had been given an honorary Northern knighthood by Grace.

Unlike my public ceremony, however, his had been a private moment shared only between them—just before his departure from the Winter Palace.

It had been a masterfully written scene, conveying Grace’s deep yet unspoken emotions.

“Word of your accomplishments has reached me.

I also heard about your performance during the knight’s exam. It’s been a while since we’ve had such a promising recruit.”

Arthur’s voice was warm yet firm, carrying an undeniable weight.

Unlike Gi, who had tried to recruit me in a casual, older-brotherly way, or Dariel, who had tempted me with an enticing offer like a merchant, Arthur had a different approach entirely.

“I happen to have a daughter of marriageable age.

She was a late-born child, so we raised her with great care.

I’ve been contemplating where to send her, but seeing a capable and promising young man like yourself, I believe I could entrust her to you.”

Ah, so that was his real intention.

First, he would marry me into his family and tie me to House Gravaine…

He planned to tell Grace that he wanted to teach his son-in-law about the work of the knight order’s headquarters, pulling me out of the Guard and taking me under his wing.

A son-in-law, a subordinate, and, if things went well, even a future successor.

It was a guaranteed two-for-one deal at minimum—potentially even three-for-one.

As expected of a seasoned knight commander who had served since the previous era.

I briefly thought about jokingly calling this a “new route unlocked” situation, but I erased the thought as quickly as it came.

I had already been on the expressway for a long time now.

Even in a dating sim, if you’ve already seen all the main events with one heroine, suddenly switching to another would send you straight to a bad ending.

A harem? That was only possible in fiction.

For me, this was real life.

“I appreciate your words, but this is rather sudden. I don’t think I can give you an answer right away.”

“If you’re worried about my daughter’s response, she’s already given her approval.”

‘I don’t even know what she looks like, though.’

I considered myself to have rather particular preferences.

Long, blue hair.

Tall.

A well-proportioned figure—curves in the right places but with toned muscles, not excess fat.

A personality that was strict and composed in public but more relaxed in private.

Fashion? Sure, elegant dresses were nice, but I preferred tight-fitting armor or formal wear that suited her.

And at home, something loose and comfortable.

‘Damn, he’s not going to back down easily, is he?’

I had no choice.

“I don’t have a fiancée at the moment, but… there is someone I have feelings for.

I plan to confess to her soon.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, so while I am deeply honored by your offer, I must decline.

As a knight, it would be dishonorable to discuss marriage with another woman in my heart.”

Arthur, who had been briefly pleased to hear that I had no official engagement, sighed with regret as I continued speaking.

And since I sealed my words with a declaration of knightly honor, pressing further would make him look morally questionable.

“Hmm. This is unfortunate.”

Arthur stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“If that’s the case, then it can’t be helped. Forget this conversation ever happened.”

“I apologize.”

“Haha, there’s no need to apologize.

In fact, it’s admirable.

Devotion in love is the most knightly virtue of all.

I, too, married my wife that way and have lived in harmony with her ever since.”

As expected of the knight commander—he understood the essence of chivalry.

Yes, knights are meant to be devoted.

“But hearing that only makes me more eager.

The marriage proposal may be off the table, but if you seek to rise as a knight, have you considered joining the headquarters?”

“You mean the knight order’s headquarters?”

“While the Guard pays well, the working conditions… hmm, pardon me, but isn’t it quite demanding?

If you want to build a happy home with your beloved, the headquarters might be a better choice.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Just look at my senior, Garen from the 1st Squad.

Even though he and his lover lived in the same city, their schedules made it feel like a long-distance relationship.

But Commander,

My lover is already within ten paces of me.

We’re already living together.

If I were to transfer to the knight order’s headquarters, I wouldn’t be able to see her as often.

“Since you already turned down the marriage proposal, don’t reject this outright.

Take some time to think about it and let me know.”

With him putting it that way, I couldn’t just refuse outright.

I had no choice but to stall with a vague response about considering it.

“It’s about time we returned.

I’ve been doing all the talking, which wouldn’t be fair.

If you have any personal requests, now would be the time to ask.

I might be willing to help as a show of goodwill.”

‘Here it is.’

This was the reason I had engaged in conversation with Arthur in the first place.

The traitor mentioned in the novel—the one present in the meeting hall.

It wasn’t Arthur.

He remained loyal to Grace until the very end of Episode 4.

That meant, in order to eliminate the traitor in the future, I needed to secure this loyalist as an ally now.

“I am still young and inexperienced, but I’ve heard that you have devoted yourself to the North since the time of the previous Grand Duke.”

“Is there something you wish to ask?”

“Yes. If war breaks out and we are put in a dire situation…

Do you think there might be someone within who would seek their own survival at the expense of others?”

“Hmm?”

Arthur frowned slightly, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

“A knight suspecting others is hardly honorable…

But since it’s you asking, I’ll hear you out.

What exactly do you mean?”

“I mean it as it sounds.

To defeat the North, the enemy will undoubtedly use deceit and sweet lies to sow discord among us.

Winter Cannon’s walls are impenetrable—so the real threat would come from within.

What do you think about the possibility of someone betraying the Grand Duke,

not necessarily out of malice, but under the belief that they are protecting the North in their own way?”

“Are you expecting an immediate answer?”

“Yes.”

“Hah.

You demand an immediate answer from me, yet you avoided giving one yourself.”

Arthur grumbled briefly before falling into deep thought.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“If such a person exists…

Then they must hold enough status or power to believe they can take Her Grace’s place.”