Suddenly, I recalled.

The moment we first met.

As if foretelling the hardships to come, heavy rain poured down from the morning.

Drenched by the rain pouring from the gloomy sky, I dismounted from my horse.

Thinking it fortunate to have arrived before nightfall, I looked around.

“…”

The place I had just arrived at, the Silver Knights’ encampment, was enveloped in silence.

A few knights resting nearby, sheltering from the rain, glanced at me, but no warm greetings were offered.

Well, that’s to be expected.

To these knights who follow Duke Martin von Habicht, I must be nothing more than an unwelcome guest.

Ignoring their cold dismissal, I headed towards the large tent at the center of the encampment.

The Duke would likely be there.

As the new vice-captain of the Silver Knights, appointed by imperial decree, I had to formally greet him.

As I was about to enter the tent where he was likely to be, someone suddenly blocked my way.

It was a red-haired knight who had been glaring at me, almost murderously, since I arrived here.

“Wait, what business do you have, barging into the Captain’s quarters so rudely?”

“I am Yulia von Schneesteeren. I’ve come to greet the Duke, so please step aside.”

Despite my brief introduction, the red-haired knight’s eyes narrowed further.

“…I already know who you are. Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know the name Yulia von Schneesteeren?”

“You know me? Yet I don’t know you.”

His gaze was so fierce that I unconsciously uttered a provocative response.

The red-haired knight’s eyes narrowed even more.

“The Silver Knight with ice abilities. One of the Empire’s top powerhouses, and the most loyal knight of His Imperial Majesty…”

“You seem to know quite a lot?”

“…What I’m curious about is why someone like you suddenly shows up and tries to enter the Captain’s quarters without permission.”

Everyone knows that His Imperial Majesty and the Duke are at odds, so I expected some hostility from them towards me, the Emperor’s knight.

Even so, this fellow’s attitude was quite brazen.

“If you have business, please tell me. I’ll personally relay it to the Captain-”

“What’s your name?”

“…”

Displeased at having his words cut off, he replied with a frown.

“It’s Karl.”

“Right, Karl. Let me give you a piece of advice – it would be better not to keep interfering with me by saying unnecessary things.”

I didn’t want to draw my sword if I could avoid it.

But there are times when that action becomes necessary, and this was one of those times.

If I appeared weak here, it would be difficult to live in the knights’ order from now on.

I willingly drew my sword and pointed it at Karl.

“If you keep annoying me by blocking my way, I might execute you right here and now.”

“…”

“I came here by imperial order. Therefore, obstructing me is tantamount to defying His Majesty’s command.”

With a sword pointed at his neck, Karl’s attitude became somewhat more cautious.

Still maintaining his wariness, he muttered in a slightly lowered voice.

“If it’s an imperial order…”

“Didn’t the Duke inform you? I came here to become the new vice-captain of the Silver Knights.”

The knights who had been quietly observing the situation nearby finally started to whisper among themselves.

I could fully understand the shock they must have received.

Not only did I, a loyal knight of His Imperial Majesty, suddenly appear at the knight order led by the Duke, his rival, but I even dared to say I would become the vice-captain.

Some of them didn’t stop at whispering but approached me with hostile glares.

“We haven’t heard anything about this.”

“Suddenly becoming vice-captain, what’s the meaning of this?”

“The vice-captain position has been vacant for a while, but we’ve never felt inconvenienced. We won’t need a vice-captain in the future either.”

Hearing their protests filled with hostility, I gripped my sword even tighter.

Being people who hated His Majesty and me, they might lose their reason and attack at any moment.

It was then, as I was on edge.

“What’s all this commotion?”

A tall man with black hair suddenly appeared from inside the tent.

He was someone I knew well.

The existence that gave His Majesty headaches, Duke Martin von Habicht.

He looked me over, and then the knights around me.

Seeming to have grasped the situation with that glance, he let out a long sigh.

“Causing trouble on your very first day.”

As expected, the Duke’s gaze towards me was sharp.

Although I didn’t like him either, I was in a position where I had to work under him for now, so I bowed my head.

“I apologize.”

“…Tch, come in for now. How long are you going to stand there getting rained on?”

The members who had been noisy until just now quickly quieted down at his words.

Those who had gathered dispersed again, and I followed the Duke into his tent.

Perhaps as a form of intimidation, he didn’t offer me a seat.

He sat alone in the chair at his desk and just stared at me standing in front of him.

I could have waited for him to speak first, but not wanting to do so, I broke the silence.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Yulia von Schneesteeren. By imperial decree, I have been assigned to assist you as the vice-captain of the Silver Knights.”

Did my ill feelings towards him show in my eyes and tone?

He didn’t respond to me and just kept staring intently.

Until the raindrops on my head had fallen more than ten times, without saying a word.

With a gaze so fierce it seemed to devour even my soul…

“…”

“…”

I endured that time of silence, again and again.

My assigned mission was to monitor the Duke’s every move and report to His Majesty.

For that, I had to become the vice-captain of the Silver Knights, and furthermore, gain at least a shred of the Duke’s trust.

So I endured. I endured that oppressive time of silence.

Fortunately, even that burdensome silence had an end.

“It may be redundant to say this, but I don’t trust you.”

“…”

“It’s not that I have any particular grudge against you. It’s because you’re a knight of my brother, who is the Emperor of this empire.”

I clenched my fists, trying to contain my anger.

No matter how powerful an awakened one he is or that he holds the title of Duke, how dare he show such blatant hostility towards His Majesty?

His arrogance knows no bounds.

But since I had to endure in this situation, I managed my expression and listened to his continued words.

“I’d like to chase you out right now if I could. However.”

He let out a long sigh.

“Right now, our knight order, our empire, needs even one more awakened one with powerful abilities. That’s why I want to use you. Regardless of whose person you are.”

As expected, His Majesty’s prediction was correct.

He had said that despite being reluctant, they would ultimately accept me due to the shortage of manpower, and it seemed to be exactly as he said.

To stay by the Duke’s side continuously, I needed to appear as useful as possible.

I bowed my head to him with a disciplined posture.

“It’s fine if you don’t trust me. Just use me. I will become the finest sword in protecting the empire.”

“You certainly have a way with words.”

The Duke smiled for the first time.

It was closer to a sneer since only one corner of his mouth lifted, but I thought it was quite a handsome smile nonetheless.

He was a man with a different charm from His Imperial Majesty, who was a gentle and mild-mannered beauty.

Showing that cold smile, he opened his mouth again.

“Then shall we test it? Whether you’re only good at talking, or if you actually have the skills to back it up.”

“You want to test my abilities?”

“Yes, I’ve heard plenty about how capable you are. But I find it hard to believe rumors I hear through others.”

His lips were still smiling, but his eyes were not.

It was a piercing gaze as if trying to see through my very soul.

Even though I felt exposed before him, I maintained an upright posture with my shoulders straight.

“Feel free to test me as much as you like. I will prove my worth to you.”

“Your answers are certainly refreshing. Then I’ll give you a task right now.”

Resolving to face any trial without avoiding it, I waited for the Duke’s words.

His ominous smile deepened.

Just as I swallowed dryly, anticipating that I would receive a difficult task, he suddenly asked.

“Can you kill people too?”

There could only be one reason for asking such a question.

I met the Duke’s gaze without wavering and replied.

“I can. Whether monsters or people, if the situation calls for it, I will cut them down.”

“You answer so easily. Do you take human lives so lightly?”

“It’s not that I take lives lightly, but that my resolve is heavier than that.”

Hearing my answer, the Duke let out another indecipherable laugh.

“Then let me change the question. Are you prepared to cut down even the person most precious to you?”

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.