Chapter 23

The third method. Making my side. (3)

The 2nd Knight Commander came, as I said, with documents containing brief histories of the candidates for Carl’s escort. The age range was very diverse, but only the knights who had served for at least five years were nominated. So of course there was no Oscar among the candidates. Above all, the document even stated the reason for the change and who the Knight was previously loyal to.

Some Knights are straightforward and simple and know nothing but loyalty to their masters and brandishing swords, but if they are the head of the Knights Templar, they need to understand a certain amount of politics. He agreed that Lady Blone would have the Count of Petrika’s Knight as an escort to Carl, and he watched me and Lady Blone’s conflict in front of him. The 2nd Knight Commander would have understood why Count Petrika, with Lady Blone at the forefront, would now appoint an escort to Carl at this time.

Lady Blone was doing all the work of the Duchess on my behalf and behind her was the Count of Petrika. Count Petrika was a Count of money and power enough to make his daughter, Merilyn a Duchess, Carlos, her only son and heir to the Duke of DeMancier, and a man who was influential enough to put his son-in-law into the Duke’s position. And I was a nominal Duchess who seemed to be on good terms with the Duke and Young Master of DeMancier, but had no real power. No matter who you see, my side was more inclined, and in the midst of a complex background, the 2nd Knight Commander took my side.

“Everyone seems to be very loyal to the Duke. What does the Knight Commander think? Is there anyone who I should pay special attention to? I want anyone capable of defending Carlos and not being bought by anyone. I think it would be better if the Knight was familiar with children enough to be trusted and followed by Carlos.”

I also gave a gesture of trust in him. I mean, the Knight Commander thought for a moment and put the papers of some of the knights before me. Seeing that they had a child of Carlos’ age or a younger brother about the knights, I could tell how well he knew about them.

I picked three escorts on his recommendation. Although their appearance was not as good as those of the previous knights, they were all veterans who had long been loyal to the Duke, and were sometimes his escort knights when he stayed in the castle.

“Since they are knights for Young Master’ safety in DeMancier, it would be better to select them as they have long been loyal to the Duke.”

“…that’s a good idea.”

Lady Blone, who was completely excluded from this selection, did not nitpick about the Knights I chose. No, it would be more correct to say that she couldn’t. Among the newly selected Knights, there was no Knight that I knew and the history of the Knights was good, so she couldn’t find fault with them.

I held Carl safely and completed the Pledge ceremony. The knights were not mine, but those who were loyal to the Duke of DeMancier, Gellerhard, and his son, the Young Master of DeMancier, Carlos. If Count Petrika is really worried about my unexpected change and the threat posed by it, there will be no better appointment than these.

The work on Carl’s escort came to a close at that line. Neither I nor Count Petrika stopped at that’ But there were the Knight Counts Petrika who remained in the Duke castle with Lady Blone’s wish.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt dizzy about what would happen if I accepted the escort articles Lady Blone had picked. I’m sure I would have heard about a lascivious Duchess, I almost added an unusual scandal that I had a connection with three handsome escort Knights. Is that all? According to the original story, ‘Amanda’ also gives birth to a son, and when I gave birth to a son like ‘Amanda’, a scandal could have occurred that the father of the child was the Duke or not.

The urgent fire was put out, so it was time to make my side as determined.

Who’s on my side now? First, there was my most certain ally, my adopted son, Carl. Carl, who was probing a square block with his mouth, put the block on my hand without any hesitation when I put my hands together and held them out to him.

“Oh, good job. Thank you.”

“Kyahh.”

Minorly, Carl gave me anything when I reached out my hands, from the pacifier he had in his mouth to toys, fruits, and so on. On the other hand, when I held out one hand, he grabbed my hand and smiled like an angel at me. With a big smile, he patted the child in his arms and returned the block, and Karl held it in both hands and began to explore it with his mouth. Karl followed me so much that people who didn’t know the situation would think he was a child born to me.

“Young Master is really good at following Amanda.”

And of Carl’s two nannies, the Viscountess Desmond, Margaret, was probably on my side. She once fought Agatha, who was seeking the position of Duchess of DeMancier, And her husband, Viscount Desmond, is a brave knight who went to war with the Duke, and was a close retainer of the Duke. If I had refused to become a Duchess and Agatha became the Duchess of DeMancier, it would have been very difficult for her and her husband, so she was one of the people who swept my heart after I became a duchess. Of the ladies who stay in the Duke castle, the closest to my side is Margaret. I carefully added my words on top.

“Because I prioritized taking care of Carl over other jobs. Thanks to Lady Blone.”