Chapter 41: The Duchess of Rusewell

“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Duchess of Rusewell.
My name is Electra Vent.”

“Richard Claudius.”

After introducing ourselves, we bowed once more.

“Yes.
I received a letter from the Grandra Margrave.
First, please come this way and take a seat.”

“Thank you very much.”

Following the duchess’s words, and guided by a maid, we headed toward the gazebo.

We sat facing the duchess across a large white table.

“I have heard from the margrave that you are seeking my recommendation for Sir Claudius’s promotion to senior knight.
Is that correct?”

“Yes, Duchess.
That is correct.”

“Very well.
Then allow me to confirm a few things first.”

The duchess began by reviewing Richard’s background.

Naturally, he answered honestly, without falsehood.

In aristocratic exchanges, one might not reveal everything.

But this time, we were seeking trust.

“What was the reason you left the knight order of the Pharmason Ducal House?”

“…I suffered a severe injury to my right arm and was forced to retire.”

“But it appears to have healed now?”

“That is because… I was fortunate enough to encounter a skilled healer who treated me.
I can now use it fully again.”

She confirmed the details carefully.

So far, everything matched the information we had already submitted.

“…Very well.
What the margrave said appears accurate.
Normally, the next step would be to confirm your actual ability, but before that—”

We listened intently to the duchess’s words.

“Why did you decide to request a recommendation from House Rusewell?
Sir Claudius, you have connections to two houses of marquis rank or higher, not counting the Grandra Margrave.
One of them is House Romaria, is it not?”

“…Yes.
That was the knight order my father served, but I personally have no direct connection there.”

Richard’s father had also been a knight, and House Romaria was the house he had served.

Despite being engaged to Richard, I had yet to meet his parents.

We exchanged letters, but I hoped to visit them properly soon.

“Yes, I see.
Then it would indeed be improper to ask the Romaria marquis.”

That matter could be dismissed easily enough.

“But what about the Pharmason Ducal House?
If you retired due to injury, now that you have recovered, you should be able to return, should you not?”

“…I am engaged to Lady Electra here.
I wish to remain where she is.
And…”

“Yes?”

We had explained the situation in advance.

There were no lies.

However, we had intentionally avoided putting problematic details into writing.

As such, the turmoil within the Pharmason knight order had not been mentioned at all.

Only that he had retired due to injury.

Of course, we had no intention of deceiving the duchess.

So here, Richard explained the circumstances in his own words, as objectively as possible.

“I do not know the intentions of the Pharmason knight commander.
However, it was in connection with that matter that I was injured.
I did not have a good relationship with him, and I do not believe I could return to that house.”

“…I see.
At that time, the knight commander would have been Sir Greg Godwin?”

“Yes.
He was the commander when I served there.”

The man who had caused Richard’s severe injury.

Personally, I could never forgive him.

But Sir Godwin himself was a senior knight, married into a viscount’s family, and served as commander of a ducal knight order.

In terms of authority, we could not oppose him at present.

“By coming to Rusewell, are you seeking personal revenge?
Rusewell and Pharmason are not of the same faction, after all.”

“No.
I do not actively desire revenge or retaliation.
Of course, I have my feelings about it.
But now… I am bound by ties to the woman I love.”

W-Wait.
I mean, this is an honest discussion, but still…!

“In other words?”

“…I only wish to live happily with her.
However, as we walk our own path in life, I believe that certain people will inevitably become obstacles.”

“Hm.
And you feel the same way, Electra?”

“…Yes, Duchess.”

At that point, she shifted her attention to me.

“Are you aware of the rumors surrounding the ‘saintess’s wedding’ in the capital?”

“…Yes.
The margrave informed me, to some extent…”

“I was not in attendance myself, but I hear it was quite an entertaining wedding and reception.”

Being described as “entertaining.”

For those uninvolved, it must have been quite the spectacle.

“Your name came up there as well.
To be at the center of it all, yet completely uninvolved—what an interesting position you’re in, Electra.”

“…There is really nothing I can say from my side…”

“Of course.
Fufu.”

So she was fully aware of it.

More accurately, it seemed the wedding itself had spread widely through high society.

Which meant my name had spread as well.

“You two seem to have quite a bit of fate binding you to the Pharmason Ducal House in ways that do not align well.”

“…Yes.
We have no intention of doing anything from our side.
Although, I am still angry about Richard’s arm.”

“I see.
But their interference might hinder your happiness or your advancement?”

“…I cannot help but feel that way.
There is no proof, so I cannot accuse anyone.”

“That is correct.
At present, no one is doing anything to you.”

Yes.
So why not simply ignore it all?

“But still, it is likely only a matter of time.
Rumors from the frontier are gradually reaching the capital.”

“…Rumors?”

“The ‘Holy Knight’ and the ‘Battlefield Goddess.’
Fufu.
It is an honor to finally meet you.”

Ugh.
Even if I had decided to make use of it, hearing it said outright was still embarrassing.

“In my view, the Pharmason duchess’s ‘revenge’ is already complete.
All that remains is observation.”

“Observation…?”

“Yes.
For example, if you were to support your former husband despite the divorce, she might act again.”

“Support him?
I am divorced.
I cannot involve myself with House Carlson.”

“Of course.
But do you still worry about the common people of that land?”

“…Yes.”

If their lives became truly unbearable, I hoped they would flee to my family’s neighboring domain, the Viscount Vent territory.

But abandoning the land where they were born and raised would not be easy.

In the end, I could only rely on their own judgment.

However, I could not openly concern myself with the Carlson domain’s people.

I could not assert such a stance.

Not only because I lacked the right or qualification, but because it could become a weakness.

If someone thought they could bargain by saying, “Help the Carlson people in exchange,” it would be disastrous.

It could not be helped.

I had chosen to leave that land.

From the perspective of the people there, that was irresponsible.

I worried, but I could not act.

That would never change.

“Very well.
I believe I understand your situation.
Let us move on.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

We straightened our posture once more.

“Under the agreement between Rusewell and Grandra, I do not object to recommending Sir Claudius for senior knight, if that is what Grandra desires.
His ability and character seem beyond reproach.”

Those words were reassuring.

But—

“However, if he attains that position, Rusewell will bear responsibility for him as well.
For that reason… we must also gain something from this.
Do you not agree, Sir Claudius, and Electra?”

“…Yes.
I agree.”

We had never believed that mere pleading would suffice.

If the margrave’s words alone were enough, this meeting would not have been necessary.

“I will give you both a task.
That will be the condition.
If you fulfill it, I will recommend to my husband that he support Sir Claudius’s promotion.
Is that acceptable?”

With a gentle smile, the Duchess of Rusewell spoke.

Though she appeared to be around my age, she carried an undeniable presence.