“Anyway, our Majesty is quick to take action.”

“?”

“You should know that you were chosen as the Empress’ guard because of me.”

“Why? What do you mean…?”

I, pretending to be a knight, asked him.

“I suggested to His Majesty that the Empress was frail and that he should strengthen her protection by choosing a knight because he was so worried.”

What?

“I didn’t expect him to choose one just a day later.”

The man had already determined that I had been chosen as a knight to protect the Empress.

I lowered the tip of my sword to the ground and relaxed my tense shoulders.

An unexpected event was unfolding.

But fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t have to shed any blood thanks to this.

“…Thank you.”

“Anyway, nice to meet you. I was the greatest master of the Laphion Empire… No, as long as there are no incidents, I will continue to be known as Markrom, the honorary knight commander.”

“Nice to meet you, Commander Markrom. But, honorary… are you a knight commander?”

“Yes. I retired from my position as the first knight commander serving His Majesty closely, but everyone still calls me the commander. Well, as you know, I left that position because of a minor defect.”

Commander Markrom pointed to his eye with his finger.

‘See, I told you he can’t see in front of him, didn’t I?’

The god within me suddenly spoke.

“Oh, I see.”

I carefully stepped closer and took a close look at Commander Markrom’s eyes.

Up close, the focus of his pupils seemed a bit blurred.

“…What’s with that reaction of not knowing? Don’t you already know because you’ve heard?”

“Ah, I…”

“Aren’t you a knight from the Royal Academy?”

“Yes, I came from another city.”

“Which city?”

“It’s a very rural area. Even if you heard, you probably wouldn’t know…”

“Well, then you may not know much about me.”

Fortunately, Commander Markrom didn’t interrogate me, but soon seemed to accept it.

“But, Commander. What about your vision…”

“Let’s just say it’s a glorious wound I received on the last battlefield with His Majesty. You really don’t know anything about me?”

“I’m sorry. But I’ve been well informed about serving Her Majesty the Empress.”

I quickly evaded the question.

“Hahaha. Well, that’s all that matters.”

Commander Markrom laughed heartily.

“Someone seems to be coming again?”

He stopped laughing, turned his head towards the entrance of the training ground, and spoke.

Commander Markrom had lost his vision, but in exchange, he seemed to have exceptional senses.

I also followed his gaze.

Theresa?

Theresa was panting as she ran into the training ground.

I quickly turned on a lamp.

“You need to get back to the Empress’ palace right now…!”

While waving her arms desperately, Theresa saw Commander Markrom in front of me and quickly shut her mouth.

I raised my hand to signal her to wait.

Theresa nodded and stood still.

“Commander, I should be going now. It seems Her Majesty the Empress is urgently looking for me.”

“Well, you should go. Wait. What’s your name?”

I was momentarily speechless.

I hadn’t expected him to ask my name.

I couldn’t think of a name off the top of my head.

Looking at Theresa’s expression, something urgent seemed to have happened in the Empress’ palace.

I couldn’t delay any longer, so I eventually said the name that had been on my mind the most today.

“My name is…Bonis.”

“Nice to meet you, Bonis. Would you like to spar with me next time?”

“…I would be honored.”

Although I hesitated for a moment in response, if I ran into him again at the training ground, all I had to do was pretend to be the Empress’ knight.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

“Sure.”

I quickly left Commander Markrom behind and ran to Theresa.

“Theresa, what brings you here?”

As I led her out of the training ground building and into the forest path, I asked.

“It’s a disaster. His Majesty is coming to the Empress’ palace!”

“What?!”

“Sharon passed on the message to the steward that Her Majesty the Empress was not feeling well and would retire early tonight, and His Majesty, who heard this, said he would finish the meeting within 30 minutes and go to the Empress Palace!”

“Sharon must have been at the Empress Palace for a while, so now, there’s less than 30 minutes left, right?”

Even though Rinel had time to finish the meeting and come to the Empress Palace, time was tight.

“If I subtract the time it took for me to run here, less than 10 minutes are left. What now?”

“Well, we have to run. Did you leave the laundry room’s back door open?”

“Of course, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Good. Then we’ll have to run hard from now on. Theresa, I’m going ahead!”

“I’ll follow hard behind you. Sollie is waiting in front of the costume room with a change of clothes!”

“Okay, see you later!”

I started running, leaving Theresa behind.

I had to be lying in bed until Rinel arrived at the Empress Palace and opened the bedroom door.

So…… I had no choice but to run for my life.

I felt my heart thump in my throat.

I didn’t even have time to pick up my heart if it jumped out of my mouth.