Chapter 39: Richard

──‘I will protect this woman, no matter what.’

That was the vow Richard held deep within his heart.

Richard was born into a knight’s family.

His respected father served a certain marquis family.

However, his father was injured in a battle against magical beasts, and although he received treatment, it became difficult for him to return as a knight, so he accepted a retirement stipend and withdrew from service.

His father left the royal capital together with his mother to live quietly.

A knightly title is limited to one generation.

Therefore, his father’s knighthood could not be inherited by Richard.

Richard had to establish himself through his own strength.

Recognized by his father for his talent, it was only natural that he aimed to become a knight.

He wished to serve the same marquis family his father had worked for, but unfortunately the timing was poor, and there was no connection.

However, the knight order owned by the Pharmason Ducal House was holding recruitment exams, and when his ability was recognized there, Richard became a knight-in-training.

After spending years honing himself and eventually being formally granted a knighthood, Richard gradually came to have his strength acknowledged by those around him.

It could be said that his life was a fulfilling one.

…However, problems were arising beyond Richard’s awareness.

The knight commander of the Pharmason Ducal House had long harbored jealousy and inferiority toward Richard’s ability.

He saw Richard as an enemy, fearing that one day Richard would take his position.

The trigger that caused those pent-up frustrations to explode was Richard’s engagement prospects.

With his good looks, Richard was a popular presence even within the knight order.

On top of that, he belonged to a ducal knight order, which drew even more attention to him.

Among high-ranking noble houses, it is not uncommon for them to arrange engagements for members of their knight orders.

Richard, who was expected to eventually earn a senior knight title through merit, naturally became the subject of such discussions.

The woman proposed as a candidate for the newly adult Richard was the daughter of a certain count.

A senior knight rank corresponds to the status of a count.

Thus, if Richard were to receive a senior knighthood, he would be a suitable match for her.

…If Richard were tied to a count’s daughter, his evaluation would become unshakable.

The knight commander’s wife was from a viscount family, making the difference painfully obvious.

Now in his thirties, the knight commander still intended to remain in his position within the Pharmason ducal knight order.

However, his body would inevitably decline with age, and unlike civil officials, it would be difficult to retain his current post indefinitely.

Richard being promoted was something that would happen someday in the future.

If he could have accepted that much, he might have been able to simply watch over Richard’s growth.

But his emotions refused to accept Richard’s existence.

…And so, the knight commander of the Pharmason house framed Richard.

For Richard, who had lived as a knight and intended to continue doing so, having the path of knighthood closed off was an unbearable despair.

“……”

There were times he felt resentment.

There were times he grew wild with frustration and impatience at his unmoving right arm.

He even considered throwing away all honor and seeking revenge on the man who had done this to him.

With his ability, even if his right arm did not move…

But he could not do it.

If it were only his own honor, perhaps it would have been fine.

But if he stained his hands with such wrongdoing, even his parents’ names would be dragged through the mud.

He could not defile the names of the parents he respected.

What followed his anger was resignation, a sense of giving up on everything.

Even so, he could not abandon the way of the sword…

It was then that he heard about the situation in the territory of the Grandra Margrave.

Even with his right arm unable to move, there might still be a path as a knight.

It was a faint hope.

Even with one hand.

Resolving to somehow accept that and live on.

Just as he was resigning himself to that reality.

Richard encountered fate.

The one he met was a goddess.

“……Hehe.”

“What is it, Richard?”

“No, I was just remembering a little.”

“The day I met you.”

“…And the moment when you healed this arm.”

The woman beside him now had brought light back into his life.

He could never be grateful enough.

How could he not swear loyalty, when he was a knight?

He refrained from pledging his sword to her when she was still a sister, believing it would only trouble her…

But in truth, the moment he truly realized that his right arm was completely healed,

He had wanted to offer his sword to her.

And so, Richard decided to follow her.

To become her support.

Her true name was Electra Vent.

Electra’s appeal was not limited to her power alone.

If one thought she was merely a noble lady or a noblewoman, she would surprise them with her courage at critical moments.

Even without the power to fight, the steadiness of her nerve was wonderfully admirable.

…Electra was not a woman who was merely delicate.

The feelings he held toward such a woman were closer to reverence than anything else.

Because he had lived as a knight, the way he saw her was as a master.

Or perhaps, truly, as a goddess.

However, as time passed and they spent their days together, he began to notice that the feelings in her gaze toward him were far more… human.

At first, he honestly felt it was ‘too presumptuous.’

That she was not someone he was allowed to stain.

But when he conveyed such thoughts, she would reply, ‘…I am just a normal person, you know?’

‘I do not even have any particularly notable status.’

That was true.

The depth of his gratitude, reverence, and loyalty toward her was nothing more than his own feelings.

Being seen that way would likely be unwelcome to her.

If he treated her as a goddess and neglected her feelings, that would be far more disrespectful.

And so.

Slowly building their relationship, aligning their feelings…

When she confessed to him, he was surprised.

To say he did not hesitate in his response would be a lie.

But that hesitation was never because he disliked Electra.

Affection already existed within him.

He found her attractive as a woman.

Even so, he could not shake the feeling of whether he was worthy of standing in such a place.

She was precious to him.

But just a little.

The scales of his heart still leaned toward ‘respect for her as a person.’

Someday, they would tilt toward ‘affection for a woman.’

Until that time.

And even after that time.

He wanted to remain by her side, supporting and protecting the path she walked.

Thinking of Electra, Richard smiled together with her.