The party members of the Princess Harem formed a circle around a girl standing in the center, but her fear had subsided.
This was because the party members had removed their Valkyrie masks and hooded robes, revealing their true faces.
Surrounded by beautiful girls, the girl’s cheeks were flushed red.
“Now, please tell us your name and circumstances. As promised, we’ve released you from your bonds! The underwear and clothes are a bonus.”
“I-I have no choice. Knights must keep their promises… My name is Nestella Yaggard. My Yaggard family was a vassal noble family, but we were a lineage of knights who supported the Wahl Imperial Kingdom. However—”
Nestella Yaggard, freed from slavery by Alicia, seemed to have resigned herself and began to speak her name and history.
Incidentally, Nestella’s appearance was characterized by her short, neatly cut brown hair and plain black eyes.
Although her face was lightly freckled, her features were surprisingly well-defined.
She had a broader, more robust build than most women, but her chest was magnificently full, reaching the level of large breasts.
She was currently dressed as an adventurer by Kirika’s choice, but her chest was so voluminous it was almost violent.
Furthermore, according to her explanation, her body bore many deep scars, but they had been completely healed by my “Healing Magic.”
This seemed to have been the catalyst for her to open up.
Nestella then spoke of how she had dedicated herself to daily training, aspiring to become a true knight.
Suddenly, the Espana Imperial Army attacked.
Local nobles were annihilated, and Nestella’s family, except for her, had died in battle.
In such an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, Nestella, a knight in training, fought fiercely against the Espana knights, defeating three of them.
However, it was a battle against overwhelming odds, and she was eventually surrounded and captured.
As a prisoner, Nestella was subjected to terrible torture; she was supposed to be executed by beheading, but was instead demoted to a Level 3 Slave to prolong her shame and further inflict hellish torment.
Alicia listened to her story with tears in her eyes.
“You… have suffered greatly. However, even as a knight in training, defeating three Espana knights is a remarkable feat. What if I were to formally—”
“Hold on a moment, Ly. First, we need to confirm Nestella’s skill. I’ll test her. And then, Nestella. If you can take even one point from me, I’ll bestow a title upon you. The victory condition is that if you can make me move even one step, you win.”
Perhaps out of sympathy for Nestella’s plight, Ly suggested that she might perform the “Ceremony of Ennoblement” for Nestella to become a true knight.
If this were to happen, it would be a matter of great honor.
However, Swan Hilda’s words interrupted Ly’s.
She proposed to test Nestella’s knightly abilities and bestow a title if she could score a point.
Furthermore, Nestella’s victory condition, at first glance, seemed incredibly easy to meet.
This was no small matter.
Despite appearing as a slender beautiful girl, Swan Hilda was in reality a Valkyrie of the lower God Clan.
And to receive a title from a Valkyrie would be proof of being a knight of heroic caliber.
Nestella, with a look of bewilderment, seemed to have judged Ly and Swan Hilda as naive noble ladies.
Even the illustrious Ly was not known to the daughters of minor noble families.
Perhaps Nestella had lived her life immersed in training without any distractions, aspiring to become her longed-for true knight.
She likely had little engagement with the social circles connected to royalty.
In fact, Ly, as an Imperial Princess, the Fourth Imperial Princess, was extremely popular, with her portraits even circulating in other countries.
Moreover, Crown Prince Liliana of the Yangas Kingdom, who was considered Ly’s equal, was also present.
It would be natural for any respectable noblewoman to recognize their status.
“Little girl, knightly battles are not a game.”
“Is that so?”
Nestella, with a wry smile, gently admonished Swan Hilda.
In response, Swan Hilda gave a somewhat absent-minded reply.
*Ching, swoosh, swoosh, shush, zash!*
Then, Swan Hilda drew the inexpensive longsword hanging at her waist with astonishing speed and performed a few sword forms.
Her flowing and elegant swordsmanship was likely the result of grueling, bloody training forced upon her by her elder sisters.
“Wh-What… incredible! That’s not… humanly possible!?”
“This is my skill. I will fight you from right here, so if you can make me move even one step, Nestella, you win. So, what do you say?”
“Of course, I will accept. However, I do not have a sword…”
“Use this…”
“Thank you, cute little girl with fox ears.”
“Yes… nya, nya ♪”
Upon witnessing Swan Hilda’s sword dance, Nestella’s enthusiasm flared. However, as she had only been a Level 3 Slave until moments ago, she didn’t have a sword for sparring.
At that moment, Shera took out a sword similar to the one Swan Hilda was using from her Item Box and handed it over.
Her fluffy fox tail also swayed merrily, seemingly in good spirits.
Nestella accepted the sword and thanked her sincerely, though she would likely be surprised if she knew Shera’s true nature.
At long last, the preparations for the match were complete.
A small plaza for rest was set up a short distance away, with Swan Hilda standing in the center, and Nestella poised to attack.
“Can you block my sword? Kyyaaa!!”
Nestella, holding her longsword in a formal stance, struck at Swan Hilda with a single powerful cry, imbued with fierce spirit.
*Chun*
However, Swan Hilda deflected the blade, which held a deadly intent, with the flat of her own longsword.
Nestella stumbled, but Swan Hilda showed no intention of pursuing an attack.
“That slash was quite good.”
“Whaaaaat, this time for sure!”
Dismissed so easily by Swan Hilda, Nestella attempted to overwhelm her with a barrage of rapid attacks, like a storm.
With sharp sword strokes, she executed a diagonal cut, followed by a horizontal cut with the return stroke, and then a reverse diagonal cut, bravely engaging with a variety of swordplay.
Her attacks were tricky, sometimes including thrusts, and an ordinary opponent would have been cut to shreds.
Swan Hilda, in contrast, parried with her sword or evaded with minimal upper body movement, toying with Nestella.
After a while, Nestella’s breath grew heavy, and her movements became sluggish as she panted.
Swan Hilda, as she had declared, had not moved an inch.
“The match is over. Winner, Swan Hilda!”
Seeing that Nestella had reached her limit, Ly announced the end of the match.
“Swan Hilda had an overwhelming victory. Unfortunately, it seems the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’ for true knight is off.”
Elise sighed, looking at the match result, and declared that Nestella’s ennoblement was probably not possible.
“Elise, your opponent was too strong. In this case, we should make an exception and hold the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’.”
“I agree with Freya’s opinion.”
Freya and Dietlinde, however, held the opposite view.
“In this situation, it’s up to Ly’s discretion.”
“I agree.”
Meanwhile, Liliana stated that she respected the will of Ly, the party in question, and Tirna concurred.
“From my perspective, I believe we have confirmed her skills as a knight.”
“If Edele says so, then it must be so.”
On the other hand, Edele stated that Nestella had shown the skill befitting the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement,’ and Eria agreed.
The other party members either left the decision to Ly or feigned disinterest.
However, all eyes naturally turned to Ly’s every move.
“Nestella, what do you think?”
“… *pant* … *pant* … *pant* … I’m frustrated, but… I was completely defeated.”
Ly asked for Nestella’s opinion.
Nestella, heaving ragged breaths, honestly admitted her complete defeat.
“Now then, could you please tell me the results of Swan Hilda’s test?”
“Well, yes. I think she showed skill beyond that of an ordinary knight, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, thank you. I have come to the same conclusion. Tirna, please make preparations for the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’.”
“Understood, Ly. Zwei, help me set up the venue.”
“Of course, Tirna, Mother. And Ain-chan, work your hardest!”
“Eeeehhh. Nooo—”
Tirna, with Zwei’s assistance, began to set up a temporary tent in a corner of the plaza.
Ain was put to work like a carriage horse under Zwei’s direction to help set up the venue.
Although she looked like she wanted to complain, Ain was no match for Zwei in this kind of task.
Furthermore, Zwei and Tirna conferred and were creating some documents.
Ly stood at the head of the tent, wearing a ceremonial sword at her hip.
Liliana, standing diagonally behind her, was likely there as a witness.
The party members of the Princess Harem stood along the tent as spectators to witness the proceedings.
Conversely, the protagonist, Nestella Yaggard, still seemed to view this as a knightly game.
Incidentally, in the former Wahl Imperial Kingdom territories, there were so many girls named Ly that she didn’t realize Ly was the genuine Fourth Imperial Princess.
“It’s quite elaborate for a game…”
“Well, if you’re willing to do it, that’s fine. It will surely benefit Nestella. However… you’re skipping the ranks of orderly and escort knight and becoming a true knight in one go, that’s amazing.”
“Did you say something?”
“No, just muttering to myself.”
To the bewildered Nestella, Swan Hilda, who had sparred with her, said something like, “Everything is an experience.”
Moreover, since most of the party members were acting as if they were enjoying a festival’s entertainment, it probably felt less real to Nestella.
“Nestella Yaggard, please kneel on one knee and face Ly-sama.”
Tirna called out to Nestella.
Her voice carried a sense of pride as Ly’s former chief maid.
“Hereafter, we will perform the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’ for Nestella Yaggard to become a true knight.”
Tirna’s resonant voice silenced the specially constructed venue.
Still, Tirna was quite capable when it mattered.
Nestella, on the other hand, seemed to be overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere of the venue.
“Nestella Yaggard, state your ‘Knight’s Oath’.”
As Nestella knelt on one knee before Ly and bowed her head, Ly’s solemn voice echoed.
Her voice exuded an ineffable dignity.
Indeed, she was an Imperial Princess of a great nation.
“This is a good learning experience.”
“Yes, truly. I’d like to do it too.”
“How dignified… unlike Elise.”
“Wh-What did you say! Freya!!”
“Elise, you’re too loud.”
Edele, Eria, and Freya were keenly observing the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’ unfolding before them, but Freya inadvertently let her true feelings slip.
Elise, who overheard her, was then admonished by Kirika.
“My loyalty… remains with the Wahl Imperial Kingdom. When the rightful successor arises, I shall serve with my life.”
“That spirit is commendable. In my name, I shall bestow upon you the title of true knight. Come closer.”
“Yes!”
Upon hearing Nestella’s ‘Knight’s Oath,’ Ly beamed and beckoned her to approach.
Nestella’s demeanor now was that of addressing a noble person, and she approached with respectful movements.
Ly then calmly drew the ceremonial sword at her hip and lightly tapped both of Nestella’s shoulders with the flat of the blade.
“May there be light in your knighthood.”
Ly was… likely consecrating Nestella, whom she had just appointed as a true knight for the first time.
“I bear witness to this matter.”
Then, witness Liliana declared that she had witnessed the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement.’
“Ly-sama, Liliana-sama, please sign here.”
Tirna, who had been waiting at a distance, approached carrying documents and a quill pen on a silver tray.
“Thank you, Tirna. Still… you managed to prepare even these things so well.”
“Zwei made them for me.”
Ly and Liliana immediately signed the documents.
It appeared the documents were the ‘Letter of Ennoblement’ for a true knight.
“Hey Ly, can we sign it too, as a memento?”
“You can, but… there’s only the back available.”
“That’s fine too.”
At this point, Elise chimed in, asking if they could also sign.
Ly readily agreed to her request, but since there were no more blank spaces, she had them sign on the back, making it look like a simple collective message.
Still… most of the signatures were so ornate that they were illegible.
However, according to Liliana, a herald would be able to decipher them at a glance.
“Now then, receive your ‘Letter of Ennoblement’ as a true knight, and your sword.”
“Yes, this is a most gracious gift.”
Nestella then received the ‘Letter of Ennoblement’ and a knight’s sword from Ly.
This sword was likely what is called a “gifted sword.”
This had turned out to be a rather troublesome encounter, but may this meeting be a fortunate one…
Nestella, who had been freed from slavery, was to accompany us for a certain period under Alicia’s guardianship.
There was space for one more person, including the canopy area on top of the carriage that Zwei had built.
However, steadfast in her refusal to accept any handouts from Espana nobles, Nestella chose to follow on foot.
She wore the sword Ly had gifted her at her waist, but she seemed to believe the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’ was merely a playful excuse to hand over the sword.
If she knew the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement’ was official, Nestella would be astounded.
Ly also couldn’t carelessly reveal her true name along the kingdom’s main roads.
Indeed, even during the ‘Ceremony of Ennoblement,’ travelers and merchants were coming and going…
And so, we slowly proceeded along the main road, mindful of Nestella walking alongside us, and arrived at Yaruta Village.
While there was still time before sunset, pressing on would mean camping outdoors, so we decided to look for an inn for the night.
After all, with the exception of myself, the Princess Harem consisted entirely of young maidens, so we tried to avoid sleeping outdoors as much as possible.
Tonight, we were scheduled to perform the ‘First Night Ritual’ for Lulu_Berze Vampire, the youngest of the former Vampire sisters.
Thank you for reading.
episode 51-8 “The Youngest Sister is Skillful at Service ①” is scheduled for 0:00 on October 27th.
