Chapter 61

Ekaterina's POV

Accompanied by Mardu, we moved to the Great Hall. In the glittering hall with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and huge paintings on the walls depicting episodes from the founding of the nation, there is a flag with the emblem of the Yurinova family and the flag of the Yurinova Knights.

In addition to the resident troops of the Imperial Capital, the members of the knight order who had been recruited from the dukedom to guard the city tomorrow were lined up in the hall. There were a total of about a hundred people. It is a spectacular sight to see knights dressed in formal attire and carrying swords lined up in a dignified and orderly manner.

The total number of the Yurinova Knights is said to be around a thousand. In the past, they were the private army of the Yurinova family and spent all their time fighting against other countries and families. But now, after 400 years in the Imperial State, the country's domestic relations with other countries have improved and become stable.

Now, the main role of the Order is to clean up magical beasts, and since the Yurinova territory is inhabited by powerful magical beasts, the Yurinova Knights are renowned for their strength in fighting them. Also, saving people's lives when disasters occur.

If it was in my previous life, it would be like a hybrid version of a special effects movie's security force and the Self-Defense Forces.

According to the regular schedule of the Order of Yurinova, they would select new recruits in April to fill vacancies, and then the selected knights would take the oath of allegiance on the day before March. The strong and cool knights on the side of justice are the object of admiration in Yurinova territory, and every year there is a rush of applicants.

But I heard that in some other territories, knightly orders are not popular. It's either they've become pawns of the lords who oppress the people, or they're useless money-grubbers and such.

By the way, there are about 10,000 of them, and most are super money-grubbers. While the role of the Knights of Yurinova is to eliminate magic beasts, the main role of the Knights of Yurimagna is to crush by force any rebellion (or revolt) instigated by heavily taxed people, and they are generally hated by the common people there.

"His Excellency Alexei, Duke of Yurinova, and his sister Ekaterina, the Duke's sister, are here to see you!"

Rozen said in a booming voice, and the knights clacked their heels together noisily with fists on their chests, and bowed.

3rd POV

With Rozen leading the way, Alexei and Ekaterina stepped in front of the knights and faced them from a raised platform.

"Straighten up."

The knights raised their heads at Rozen's voice and looked up at Alexei and Ekaterina. The expressions on their faces as they looked up at the beautiful siblings were full of emotion and joy.

Alexei was ten years old when his grandfather Sergei died, and thirteen years old when he first took command of a magical beast sweep. In that first battle, Alexei won the hearts of the knights with his magical power and bravery to kill the monsters by himself, and they admired his intelligence to always make calm and accurate decisions.

After the death of his grandfather, Alexei was practically the head of the Order, but his father, Alexandre, was the official head. Until last year, it was his father who had taken the oath of allegiance from the knights here, while his grandmother Alexandra was the lady of the order.

There was no way that the knights would support Alexandra, who entrusted dangerous missions to a young child and acted as the head of the Order only in safe and glamorous places.

Alexei, who has shared his life with the knights since he was a child, becomes the head of the order in both name and reality, and receives the allegiance of the new knights.