Published: August 3, 2025
After Benno left, Darmel moved toward the vacant seat. It was a lower seat, so I was about to stand, thinking I should sit there, but the high priest stopped me.
“Myne, stay as you are.”
“Huh? But…”
I glanced at Darmel, who narrowed his gray eyes slightly and smiled gently before sitting back down. It felt strange to make him move just so I could sit, so I obeyed the high priest and sat back down.
Once everyone was seated, the high priest looked around at everyone gathered.
“Now, Myne. I will explain the punishment the lord issued regarding the knight’s blunder during the recent trombe subjugation.”
“Punishment?”
I knew the knights who guarded me would be punished, but I hadn’t really wanted to know the details. I thought it would be fine as long as I didn’t have to deal with them again.
Reading my thoughts, the high priest lowered his gaze.
“…You probably don’t want to know, and we hesitated whether to disclose noble affairs to you. But this information might be necessary for your future.”
With a light sigh, the high priest turned his gaze to Karlstedt and Darmel.
“During the trombe subjugation, the knight assigned to guard the shrine maiden apprentice harmed her, worsening the situation. The lord was very angered. First, Karlstedt, as knights order commander, must strengthen training for rookies and suffers a three-month salary reduction. Additionally, he must cover a quarter of the cost of your ceremonial attire. As for Shikikoza…”
The high priest explained matter-of-factly.
In the knights order, disobeying orders and abandoning duties are serious crimes. If a subordinate cannot follow orders, operations are compromised. Also, harming the person you are assigned to protect is unforgivable for a knight, the lord decreed.
“The lord’s sentence for Shikikoza was execution. His family would have suffered consequences but, considering the hatred and anger that would be directed at you, the lord gave Shikikoza’s father two choices: either the family bears the crime or they swear not to interfere with you and pay a fine. If they swear and pay, the family is spared, and Shikikoza is treated as having died in the line of duty to preserve honor.”
I swallowed hard. I had heard punishment would be announced, but never imagined it would be execution. Considering Shikikoza was noble and I was commoner, I expected a lighter penalty.
“Shikikoza’s father paid the fine and swore never to interfere with you again. The amount was half the cost of your ceremonial clothes. Thus, Shikikoza was declared to have died on duty.”
Realizing the execution was already carried out, I instinctively looked at Darmel. Since he was here, he must have escaped execution, but maybe he received a severe punishment.
Noticing my attention shift, the high priest looked at Darmel.
“Darmel must cover a quarter of the cost of your clothes and is demoted to apprentice status for one year. The difference in punishment from Shikikoza is because you defended Darmel.”
“Defended?”
I didn’t recall making any special plea.
Darmel smiled happily.
“Ferdinand-sama heard you defended me, that you were kind, tried to help, and spoke to reprimand Shikikoza. Thanks to you, I wasn’t punished as severely as Shikikoza.”
Though I was demoted back to apprentice after becoming a full knight, it was a very mild punishment compared to execution.
“My family is low-ranking among lower nobles and just swallowed the social injustice of status differences. No one has helped me much before. So, knowing you pleaded with Ferdinand-sama to reduce my sentence made me happy.”
Though it seemed exaggerated, in a society where such injustice prevails, even lower nobles called nobles have it tough.
“And Darmel will guard you during the year as an apprentice.”
“Huh?”
“You are truly in danger.”
The high priest narrowed his eyes and stared at me. “I’ll explain so even someone unaware like you understands,” he said, then looked at Karlstedt.
Karlstedt noticed the gaze, nodded slowly, and looked me straight in the eye. His pale blue eyes grew a bit stern.