Chapter 15: A Knight’s Circumstances

“I understand that the borderlands are seeking personnel, but… why me?”

“From what I can see, Ellen, your talent for healing magic is quite remarkable.
Of course, having you remain at this church would be a great help, but… I believe you would be better suited in a place where you are needed more.”

“…I see.”

Healing magic is primarily in demand for so-called external injuries.

While it can have some internal medicinal effects, those tend to fall more under the domain of apothecaries.

In other words, healers who use healing magic are most needed in places where injuries occur frequently.

For example, territories that maintain knight orders, or locations close to battlefields.

To my surprise, I had aptitude and talent for healing magic.

That must be why.

“And as for that gentleman, um… Sir Claudius accompanying me?”

“We can hardly have a woman travel alone to the borderlands, can we?
So the idea is for you to go together with him, since he is already headed there.”

In other words, Sir Claudius would act as my escort.

The borderlands where magical beasts were fought for two years, under the rule of the Grandra Border Marquisate.

…The very land where my former husband fought for two years and found his lover.

It feels strangely fated, but I do not sense any malice in sending me there now.

Because if anyone would feel uncomfortable about me approaching that region, it would surely be the Carlson Barony.

If my former husband and his partner have already left that land, then wouldn’t it be safer instead?

I doubt they would return anytime soon.

Perhaps they might visit someday as a commemorative trip… maybe?
Hmm.

“…However.”

“Yes?”

“In truth, Sir Claudius may not be able to fully perform the role of an escort.”

“Eh?
What do you mean by that?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“…Actually.”

At that point, Sir Claudius himself stepped forward apologetically and loosened his clothing.

I wondered what he was doing, but I immediately noticed.

There was a large scar on his right arm.

“The tendon in my dominant arm was damaged…”

“Oh my, that is terrible.
What happened?
Was it perhaps during a battle with magical beasts?”

“No, it was not…”

I looked closely at his injured arm.

The wound had already closed, but the scar remained.

Which meant he had likely been unable to receive magical treatment right away.

Healing magic is not omnipotent.

Treating so-called old wounds is difficult.

Still, Sir Claudius looked quite young.

Depending on the circumstances it is hard to say, but he must have suffered a serious injury in a place where treatment was unavailable.

“In fact, it happened during a mock battle with real swords… in other words, during training.”

“Oh…”

Now that he mentioned it, it did resemble a sword wound.

How unfortunate.

“With that arm, would it not be difficult for you to fight as a knight even if you go to the borderlands?”

“…I know.
However, I was dismissed from my former knight order.”

“Dismissed!?”

A knight being injured is, in some sense, unavoidable.

And if they can no longer fight, then their role as a knight becomes questionable… but dismissal.

“I received compensation, but I still need to find a way to live from here on.
So…”

“And thus, the borderlands’ call for ‘relocation’?”

“Yes.
They are calling for people, but it seems they have not gathered many yet.
I thought there might still be a chance.”

“I see.”

Those who had originally been sent there were forcibly conscripted by royal command.

Many knights must have had complicated feelings about it, and many lesser nobles were forced to leave their lands.

So it is unlikely that the same people would willingly return.

In fact, it would not be strange if they never wanted to go again.

After all, this time there is no command compelling them.

The reason the proposal reached me was probably just the result of casting a wide net.

Even with his dominant arm impaired, if he could still fight to some extent as a knight, perhaps…

That must have been their thinking.

“…………”

I stared at Sir Claudius’s right arm.

“Is something the matter, Sister Ellen?”

“No, it’s just…”

From what I can see, his body is extremely well-trained.

And from the way he carries himself, there is something… how should I put it.

An air about him.

“…Sir Claudius, how skilled were you originally as a knight?”

“Eh?”

“Ah, I apologize.
I was simply curious.
You believe you could still work as a knight even without your dominant arm, so I thought you must have been very confident in your ability.
I do not mean to belittle you!”

“Oh, please do not worry.
You were simply curious.
As for my skill… it is difficult to say such things about oneself.”

Of course it is.
That must be awkward to say.

And I might not even be asking the right person.

What am I even asking?

“Sir Claudius’s skill is exceptional.
In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say he was the most skilled in his former knight order.”

“The most skilled!”

“…Father Ryuse, that is—”

“It is the truth, is it not?
Ellen, in fact, he and I are distant relatives.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.
Because of that connection, I arranged for him to stay here at the church.”

Father Ryuse and Sir Claudius.
Relatives.

…They might both be nobles.

Setting aside their current status, they have the air of people with noble blood in the family.

“He originally belonged to the knight order of Duke Farmason’s house.”

“A ducal knight order?
That is quite something.”

Even among knights, that would be elite.

One of the most prestigious assignments, without a doubt.

Of course, the pinnacle would be the Royal Knight Order.

But serving in the knight order of a ducal house that shares blood with the royal family would be a great honor.

And he was the most skilled among them?

“That is impressive, especially at such a young age.”

“Thank you.
It is an honor I have since lost, but hearing that still makes me proud.”

Sir Claudius smiled gently as he said that.

Seeing that smile, I thought that as a man of such ability, he likely never lacked attention from women.

“But his skill provoked the jealousy of the knight commander, and that is how he suffered this injury.”

“Eh…?”

That is unfortunate, but… is it really appropriate to tell me this?

Internal strife within a ducal knight order?
He seems to be the victim, but still.

“Perhaps you wish to distance yourself from the capital, and that is why the borderlands?”

“…That is part of it.
In the central regions, even finding work in another profession has been difficult.”

Well then.

In short, Sir Richard Claudius is a knight with circumstances.

And yet, he is to be my escort.

That does make the journey feel somewhat uncertain.

More importantly, I am currently in hiding.

If staying quiet and unseen is possible, that would be ideal.

…However.

I do have talent, it seems.

And moving to a place where that talent can be used is not a bad proposition.

Remaining hidden forever, doing nothing, does not sit well with me either.

Someday, I want to live freely and fully.

For now, I chose to lie low because someone harbored malice toward me.

Which is why… the Grandra Border Marquisate.

As a destination, it does not seem like a bad option.

“…May I have some time to think it over, Father Ryuse, Sir Claudius?”

“Of course.
There is no need to move immediately.
This is merely a proposal.”

“Thank you.
…I will give you my answer within two or three days.”

Having said that, I bowed to them both and left the room.