I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 264: Job Well Done

Felix’s words hit Irene right where she needed them to.

The offer of going south sounded like an exciting opportunity. To see a knighthood so organized and active as the Knights of Hydrogia would be endless fun.

A childish urge struck her. Whenever people pitied her for living under such serious circumstances, she never thought much of it until she realized just how much she lacked any sort of fun.

However, rather than fun, she should have been focusing on the reality in front of her.

Her reality wasn’t fun, it was serious as they tried to rebuild the duchy so that the people felt safe again. It had been a long time since the knights had gone through and assured everyone that they were doing their best to keep the monsters that came from the northern mountains at bay.

She felt a strange sense of pride for Chemois and Felix’s negative response to the other knights’ suggestion made her certain about what she would do.

"Sir Felix is right," she responded resolutely. "Our place should be here in the north. I want to ensure the people know we’re doing our best even with half a knighthood and no commander."

Sir Gunnar smiled slightly and nodded. He should have expected as much from the two of them.

Even though the older knight had written a letter to Commander Lothian, he had put off sending it because he wanted to hear their answers first.

For their first impression as knights in leadership positions, they were doing a wonderful job.

"Shall we get to it then?" Felix asked. "I know that you had a few questions."

Irene nodded.

"While we get the treasury and armory reorganized for the future Duke, I was also curious about the management of the estate," Irene admitted. "Are any of you aware of how the maids are being compensated or organized? I noticed there are a few new faces around here. I know this isn’t necessarily our duty, but it still raised the question for me regardless."

Sir Gunnar nodded; although it wasn’t their duty, it was smart for them to at least know the ins and outs of how things had been handled since the war.

"As you two are aware," Phillip responded, deciding to take the lead on this one, "we lost our butlers during the war. Only one of their bodies was recovered, but there has been no word of any others surviving. We will allow the future Duke to handle the butler situation since that is a role that requires a bit of trust. As for household affairs, Ingrid has taken on the duties as the head maid and is organizing them herself. I trust her to pay the maids what they are owed and nothing more. The new maids also understand that we are working under capacity. Once things have settled, Ingrid will be able to compensate a bit better."

"Understood, sir," Irene responded with a nod. "Thank you for this information."

Felix nodded as well.

"My main concern right now is what the next few months will hold for us," Felix admitted as he looked to the others. "I have a few ideas, but please tell me if they don’t make sense."

The others nodded readily. They were allowing him to give his vision for the knighthood. Most doubted that he would lead them astray while they waited for a new commander.

"Considering the winter season that is looming over us, I believe we ought to take a quick tour of the duchy to see where forces or help are needed," Felix explained. "I know that Commander Lothian helped with supplies, but I know that isn’t always the entirety of what the main villages or townships need. I believe it would also be a good way for Dame Irene and me to show our faces to the duchy as people they can look to for support if needed. I want this trip to reveal our intentions."

"A well-thought-out idea," Sir Sven complimented the new knight. "Commander Lothian assured us that the villages were well-stocked, but showing face is certainly important in a time where safety here feels a bit unsteady."

"Yes, I agree," Phillip responded.

Other knights were in agreement as well before Sir Gunnar spoke up once more.

"While the two of you go off into the duchy, I believe I will stay here with the apprentices and knights left over so that we can do a bit of our own winterization," he responded. "While we’re only working at half capacity, we will likely only have enough manpower for the plains and foothills, but monster sightings are low right now, and I believe it will take a long time for them to even come close to replenishing their population."

"And by then, we all hope that a duke will have been chosen to lead the winterization efforts going forward," Felix explained, then sighed. "And if not, we will reconvene and figure out what to do then."

"The best we can do is hold out hope," Irene agreed, but her expression was still serious. "If not, we know how to lift ourselves out of anything. We will take what comes to us."

Since it seemed all knights agreed about what the future would hold for them, there was a bit of chatter as they decided things such as dates or how long Felix and Irene predicted they would be gone.

It was strange to Irene that a conversation which started with the possibility of going south ended up with her going around the duchy with Felix instead. Admittedly, she was excited to go with her friend and prove themselves as the highest two ranked knights in the land for now.

However, Sir Phillip eventually spoke up again, fielding a question directed at Felix.

"What about winter, Sir Felix?" the knight asked. "While it is customary for all of us to go to the corners of the duchy where our families are, we can only be understanding if we are asked to stay here."

Except, the moment the words left his lips, he received quite a few knowing smirks.

Everyone knew that after he and Thyra had been rescued from the Duke’s Tower amidst the war, the two of them didn’t stop seeing each other after that. In fact, when the war finished, he found the maid and stayed away from the tower for a month—an opportunity he certainly deserved because of all the sacrifices he had made for the duchy.

Sir Phillip wore scars far deeper than those of others in the war. He struggled to put on weight after being subjected to starvation for nearly a year. Everyone was surprised when he even returned to the tower in the first place. It couldn’t be easy to be in a place that was once a prison for him where he felt like he was slowly dying.

"I merely figured we would do as we always do," Felix admitted. "I have nowhere else to be during winter except for the Duke’s Tower. Everyone who has a place to go ought to." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"I will stay with the apprentices," Gunnar assured him. "As I always do. I have nowhere else I would rather be than here."

"I will be here as well," Irene assured them. "My father has his area of the duchy plenty covered."

That elicited a few laughs of understanding.

"Then, if we are in agreement, I don’t believe there is much more for us to discuss," Felix announced. "Instead, Dame Irene and I ought to discuss our travel plans going forward."

There were more noises of agreement from the remaining knights, and they all began excusing themselves since it seemed that they were no longer required in the meetings. They would go where they were helping the apprentices on the basement level.

Getting the Duke’s treasury back together was a difficult task, and there was still plenty of weaponry to clean that they had taken off of goblins and corpses alike.

Some still held out hope that they would find Duke Arlin’s Chemoian sword somewhere in the rubble, but so far, they hadn’t been very successful.

When the room was clear of all except for the second and third in command, Irene smiled gently at her superior. It felt surprisingly natural that he fell into his higher rank the way he did.

"You did well," Irene complimented him. "I can tell the others were thinking that as well."

Since things had been more lighthearted after they were all reunited, Felix gave Irene a sideways glance at first. However, he saw her completely genuine expression and he couldn’t help the small smile on his face.

It always felt good when someone was proud of you. He was rather lacking in friends at that moment, anyway.

"You did, too," he responded evenly. "Now we ought to decide when it’s time to set off."

"As early as possible, wouldn’t you say?" she asked. "It seems like it might freeze soon."

"I agree."

Without much else to discuss, the two of them finalized their decisions and went on their separate ways to prepare for their journey together.

Their first real test as second and third in command was on the near horizon.

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