Okoborehime to Entaku no Kishi Vol 1 Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND

with the story of the gods embroidered on it, framed with golden

on the carpet was a beautiful patina table made of deep evergreen

adorned with carvings on its boards, enough to be considered as

There were three people in this room "today." One of them, a

on the priceless desk like it was nothing and faced Leti with a wide

"Your mood is fouler than usual, Queen Leticia. When are you

"You are annoying, aren't you, King Alexander? I am in right

by stupid man.”

predicament was something pleasant, rubbing Leti's nerves the

The silver-haired man sitting on a distant chair inserted a

“There is no need to be impatient, Queen Leticia. I had the

agreed to be my knight.”

time and it has been passed down as your impressive anecdote,

‘fifty-five bows.’ So was it really fifty-five times?”

I kept a diary then.”

when I die since I only rant in there. I might wish to die again even

snorted Leti.

“It will be fine since it is, after all, you, Queen Leticia. If it

King… no… maybe there won’t even be subjects left to give me

“You are dark as usual, King Oswald. When are you in your

“I’m on my fifth year of war. I escaped here even though I

Given the dark atmosphere, Leti declared that she would be

“Queen Leticia, there is no need for you to follow what that

bowed down to them only want sincerity.”

“Hmmm… if it were me, I would have beaten them to a pulp

woman, the fastest way is to stage a dramatic act, like making him

“Destiny?”

what your uncle says.”

dynasty has changed already after your reign, so I am supposedly

Anyway, I think there is some merit in the advice given by the

his reign, so I will give it some thought.”

thinking about her next step.


Leti woke up to the chirping birds and warm sunlight in a cool

chandelier hanging on the ceiling when she remembered that she

“I probably go the Knight King’s space a lot recently because I

Lion King Alexander was there right before a revolution

Administrator King Karlheinz, it was after he was betrayed by his

situation at war.

common whenever they went there: they were at a loss on what

would be seeing Leti frequently during the time after she was

“Come now Your Highness, the next queen, Queen Leticia, we

Ever since the present king announced on Leticia’s

her maids were strangely spirited for some reason. While her maids

in pure sophistication.

beside her and she would not be giving him any power over the

fact that selecting her husband was an important part of her job.

until I say so. Bring to my room the portraits and documents

The maids obediently followed Leti's orders and carried into

of her spacious room. Leti was nauseated with the number of

“…Well then, let’s start.”

high heels, changed into a fresh new dress, and wore durable

her accessories and simply tied her hair with a velour ribbon. Leti

outfit complete.

window and leapt to the nearby tree. This had been always her

the perfect epitome of a princess would find it hard to believe that

“All right. Perfect score.”

noticing her. She dusted off her skirt and arranged her dress as she

“The Royal Chivalric Order should be coming around here for

Leti ordered her servants to investigate the schedule of Duke

Using the information her servants gathered, Leti decided to

“Hello there! Today is a good day, isn’t it?”

Leti talked familiarly with a lady that passed by. She had

near the castle, pretending to be a daughter of a poor baron.

Princess Leticia by her name and the description that she was as

out and wander around town.

me, so I wanted to ambush him and have him say ‘yes’ to me.”

young lady like you…”

princess from a high ranking family.”

several knights. But for a daughter of a low-ranked family, having a

‘I do not want to be known as the Leftover Princess’ lover,’ came from.

certain someone. Then a tall man, noticeably a head or two higher

her eye.

Leti took a step forward, raised her arm and called out to him.

For a moment, Duke wondered who that woman waving at

area to search for Leti's guards. Leti decided that Duke’s skills as a

recognizing her.

Leti pointed out Duke, now pushing his way through the

ask what she was doing there, she wrapped her arm around his

arm, but Leti tightened her grip on him while keeping a sweet

“Oh my! ‘Duke’ is such a regal name, isn’t it? Let me see…

fine, young woman like Lady Cia?”

“Is it because of a difference in social status? Are you an earl?”

“Then you’re just equals! There isn’t any problem, is there?”

interrogated by a woman I don’t even know? But Leti kept her poker face

A man joined in their conversation. “Or maybe ya wannabe a

next ruler is a queen, after all.”

Knight of the Round? So why don’t you just give up and be Lady

The two strangers laughed amusedly while Duke straightened

Being made fun of makes me want to say that the next Queen you’re

and I flatly rejected her.

in patrol duty.”

Duke said the required niceties and they took their leave, with

crowd.

Duke released his anger. “Oi! What are you doing here ALONE!?

Leti twirled around, showing Duke her outfit as if saying, ‘Did

“I am out traveling incognito, in disguise. I escaped from the

“Huh? For someone appointed to be the next queen, you sure

Leftover Princess. ”

me that title as a Princess and not as a Queen,” Leti said flatly,

“You can call this a job, you know, like information gathering.

sometimes go out to gather it directly since most of the

me in the castle and I already find it to highly unreliable.”

Duke was on guard with their surroundings as he listened to

would have to protect her if something happened. But for Leti, she

move freely.

good thing as their next ruler, but I feel that you are already

heir just last month?”

was formally declared last month on my birthday but I already

would happen but I was sure that I would be. I did not bother

me.

hear the stories around town. Let us start now. We still have a lot

“Huh? No, we’re going back to the castle. I’ll send you home

“I will forgive your casual speech today but speak with me in

because of treason. Are we clear? Yes? Then let us go over there.”

went inside to take a look at ribbons. Since Duke could not

unwillingly followed the princess into the shop. Seeing a knight

him and ask if there were anything wrong.

“Ah, I see. You’re Lady Cia’s lover, are you not? A beautiful

Duke wondered how everyone they met came to that

would surely ask him how they were related. Since he did not

careless.

for his lady. If you’re not careful about these kinds of things, you

Even though Duke thought that he would be rather glad to be

Leti's ribbons. He could not fathom why she, the princess of the

she probably had more than enough ribbons for her to use in a

“Here, have some tea.”

“Thanks.”

their tea. Their topic was, of course, the season’s hottest news: the

apparently a very beautiful princess, and Leti threw in her

of being shy or modest.

“No, a poor baron’s daughter cannot possibly have met her,

“…From afar… yes…”

heard that she was the one who suggested and built the hospital in

to donate for our festival here.”

and Prince Guido, focused on the military and foreign relations.

and welfare. She had two reasons for doing so: one, to avoid her

opinion that people had of her was proof of her hard work

Leti brought Duke everywhere she went to listen to the stories

a civil war would be the result of either one of the princes

princess succeeded the crown. Everyone welcomed the

After walking for a long time, Leti finally decided that it was

“…Your reputation is quite good, huh?”

His family was part of the peerage, though barely making the cut,

Chivalric Order so he was quite naïve when it came to the world

Leticia as a kind and delicate princess before she was selected as

beautiful ‘Leftover Princess.’

however, the nobles and members of the peerage consider me as

Leti had three objectives for this particular incognito walk.

know more about Duke as person, and third, to show Duke how

Based on Duke’s reaction, Leti judged her plan a complete

from the ‘Leftover Princess.’

did you change your mind about being my knight after hearing

Her first move was to lay down some of her cards on the table

“Let me tell you the reason why I selected you.”

last night, filled with insight that could not possibly be owned by a

duel.

when or how, but thinking about it logically, there is a high

never thought of establishing my own chivalric order.”

Duke convinced himself that it was probably through fortunetelling

plainly say that she just simply knew.

so I did not mind even if the best knights were recruited to

because they died. But that did not happen and now, I am in a

rejects – those that were not selected by either of my brothers. So

considered as tolerable? This is unreasonable!”

Duke understood Leti's point. The two princes, Prince

a King; it was natural that the talented knights would gather

were those that were not chosen by either of the princes. Being

not think about it for now.

of the Knights of the Round, then that will be you, Duke Barchet,

Duke thought that indeed, Leti was not just a Leftover

feel that she may have in her the makings of a wise ruler. However,

to her as his master.

Duke suddenly sensed that something was wrong. He swiftly

street thugs came out of the shadows.

some?”

there.”

asked Leti in a whisper, “Your cover’s not yet blown, right? Three

know.”

heir to the throne. She did take away the crown from her two

be told, there were probably more people who would want her in

normal thugs, but the worst case was that they were assassins sent

Duke’s mind was already in a swirl of possibilities for this situation

“Are you seriously telling me that?”

Duke thought that Leti would call him stupid since she looked

“The only person I know to be more beautiful than I do is

dating someone as beautiful as me will be asked for a duel or two?”

you?”

sounds sarcastic. … You can handle something like this, can you

all.”

you are beautiful” or “I don’t think so” was just troublesome and

reaction.

Duke still had a few things to say but decided that it would be

“If you back down now, you’ll be leaving without a scratch.

over with a wound or two.” ‘Cause if you do anything to her, the princess

prepared to receive a capital punishment for that.

“His swordsmanship is indeed one of the best I have seen. I

The scene playing in front of Leti was enough to send a

watched the fight intently. Duke, despite fighting one against three,

He hit them either with the hilt of his sword or his fist. His

also meant that he had the confidence to win without even

Leti watched over the fight with a satisfied smile on her face. It

presence from behind, drawing her attention from the battle in

“More company? Just when I had the chance to watch Duke in

Leti turned around to face the new comers and snapped her

“Oi! Are you ok?”

without even a single scratch. They were not that strong, but it was

“—Hey!”

Leti. He asked Leti who they were with his eyes and Leti replied by

“Maybe they were planning to get your attention first, then

because I know how to defend myself.”

noticed that there were others! Do you know how dangerous your

“I was the one who said to you that you need not worry about

“Huh?”

I can fend for myself, that I was not just a beautiful princess and to

them myself, but I guess it had the opposite effect and made you

smoothly shrugged off Duke’s anger.

about her. He convinced himself that it was normal for a knight to

personal. Yes, I was worried for the next queen and not because I care about

“Senpaaaaaaai!1

danger!”

They looked up to see where the voice came from when their

straight at them. Even the calm Princess Leti could not hide her

“Kyaa!?”

1 Senpai : a Japanese honorific for someone’s senior

The person who jumped from the roof and landed perfectly on the

were nothing. He looked at Duke and noticed Leti standing beside

Astrid stared at Leti's face, thinking that she somehow looked

her so he quickly went between them to block Astrid’s view, but it

“…PRINCESS!?”

“She is in disguise right now due to certain circumstances so

threatening voice known to make a crying child cry more. Astrid

while repeating Duke’s words, saying that he would not tell this to

“Astrid, I’ll be sending this beautiful lady home so can I leave

And another thing, how many times have I already told you

an elderly woman nearly got a heart attack when she saw you doing

“Eeeeh… but I cannot run in full speed on the road because

the crime scene as soon as possible, so I decided to use the roofs

Duke sighed, feeling tired with all the things happening. He

This was one of the reasons why Astrid was known as a tensionremover.

his character was not suited to be one. Duke decided to put off his

than disciplining Astrid.

or reinforcements?”

they could spare some hands.”

Duke and Astrid did the necessary exchange for the transfer of

away from Astrid’s sight as they walk away. Leti did not even have

discussion. She snuck a look at Astrid Gale and committed his face

“You have a quite pleasant junior, Duke.”

“His name?”

have the skills enough to be the leader of the Order. It is no

century.”

green eyes. His presence was more of a baker in training than that

him openly, Leti thought that he was worth being investigated.

was that good, then it is highly probable he is already someone else’s…

member of someone’s private order such as Prince Friedhelm’s

The word ‘knight’ in Sommevesle had two meanings.

Royal Chivalric Order established to protect the peace and order

in the Knight Academy regardless of social status, commoner or

would be taken to join the Order, and only those who passed it

The other meaning was honorary knight. Once a person swore

honorary knight. Honorary knights come in many types. There

were those were simply knights by name and were selected due to

wanted to flaunt their master’s connection and rank.

established by Leti’s brothers. Members of those two orders were

“He is currently not serving anyone, but I know he is receiving

introduce you to him,” Duke suggested to Leti, hoping that she

“No, thank you. I currently have my eye on one knight right

this commotion happened? ...Right.”

“I was able to observe you, albeit a short time. When you

calmly scanned the area to ensure my safety. Your fighting style

age or social status. Out of all the rejects, you really stand out. Now,

Leti’s feelings changed from Duke being “the only one” to

“Duke Barchet, I order you to be my knight. Gratefully accept

down to me!”

but this invitation was different from the last. The words were the

decided to not run away and replied with the same gravity.

honest answer in return. I wanted to be Prince Friedhelm’s knight.

might be as a master, you are not Prince Friedhelm and never will

Duke and Friedhelm were classmates in the Knight Academy

could be a good king and wanted to support the kingdom together

from the Academy, Friedhelm asked Duke to be his knight, but

Guido, he refused Friedhelm’s offer and decided to stay under

Leti answered nonchalantly to Duke’s obvious refusal. “Until

When they reached the castle’s wall, Leti set her foot on the

thinking about having that gap filled in to prevent her from going

wall.

from atop the wall, wearing a confident smile on her beautiful face.

feelings to me.”

“Yes. Listen I did. But only listen.”

Duke’s sight..

are not complete. Because inside, she is the perfect queen. Her high-handed

“But with this, I can say that Sommevesle’s future is safe.”

brilliant queen and that it would be better if she could get excellent

persistency and thought that if he continued rejecting her offer,

Astrid, left to clean up the scene, was tying each person lying

to do was to wait for the others to come and help him bring the

report.

Astrid walked towards the two unconscious men who had

weapons hidden in them. Upon inspection, he found that each of

“One hit on the neck rendered them unconscious. It’s already

really is amazing. He probably did this with the sword’s

Astrid looked at the direction where Duke and Leti walked.

But Astrid had no way of knowing that Leti was the one who

mind to wonder how she defeated them without any weapon on

A nostalgic scent was swept by the wind, calling out one of

as he inspected the unconscious men.

As soon as those words came out of his lips, Astrid – the

words.

was true until she was announced as the heir to the throne, and her

even to her father, the current king of Sommevesle.

should be groomed and taught about subjects necessary to become

assigned the top scholars in the kingdom to be her masters. That

father that she was giving her time and effort to improve herself,

“Princess Leticia, Prince Leonhardt has come.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

than her younger brother, Prince Leonhardt.

child of the king. He was known as “The Genius Historian, fourth

eccentric person. Most thought that this reputation, which he also

Leonhardt greeted Leti cheerfully. He, among all of the king’s

oddest ball in the lot.

! You seem to be in a good… I mean,

about Baron Barchet’s son rejecting you has spread in the castle

If Leonhardt would only groom himself up even just a little, he

they would be known as beautiful siblings, sharing the same

Prince Leonhardt cared not a single cent about his appearance. He

that strangely reflected light too strongly enough to cloud the

capacity to the fullest without caring to whom he was speaking

enjoyed the people’s disappointment.

enough to reach the houses of the noble families lest it will be a
problem for me. That way I can ward off those who wanted to

2 Ane’ue: A Japanese honorific for calling one’s older sister. (More formal and

have Duke as a knight for their daughters. They would not want to

The reason why Leti dressed up glamorously when she invited

have people talk and gossip about it. If this story had even reached

things, then her plan was a success.

among the rejects, but he was better than I expected… But

Do not tell me, you have decided to be a teacher for real?”

paper, and a single book.

bedtime stories, hahaha. Then, these papers are from Friedhelmani’ue3

Leti took the history book and placed it on her desk. Then she

after glancing at it for a second.

“What is it? Lemme see?!”

3 Ani’ue. A Japanese honorific referring to one’s older brother (More formal and

Leonhardt dumped the papers on the desk, then picked up and

paper was a portrait of a man and his personal information, such

the papers were of a husband candidate for Leti.

portrait artists to draw exactly how the models look like or they

like Friedhelm-ani’ue?”

faction.”

something. He kept on telling Leti the good points of the man, like

cetera. He spoke like this topic was not wholly connected to his

as amusing and made fun of it.

you are single yourself. Better just use that mouth of yours to talk

“Yes…yes… shall we start our lesson?” Leonhardt declared,

thought that his eccentric personality was represented clearly by

“Our first topic is about Sommevesle’s first king, the Knight

right?”

an ancestor. Sommevesle’s children were raised hearing King

“The world of man was in chaos due to Evil. One god named

god’s power into swords and granted these swords to man. So

Kingdom of Sommevesle. This kind of legend of origin can easily

Leonhardt gestured at the board with his pointing stick and

“I already know that.”

born and raised in Sommevesle, you should have heard about this.

given to the swords of the Knight King kind of lame? ‘The

Leonhardt wrote with his right hand ‘the Knight’s Swords’ on

“I had the same opinion… So? I also happen to know that

“Ahahaha. Yeah, you’re right. Then the god’s power was

given to the twelve knights who swore loyalty to King Christian.

everyone is equal and can freely share the opinions. This practice

continued on today. This is where “the Knights of the Round” is

feel more like to be fiction. Why? Because old Knight King’s

national treasure, but not even one of the twelve Promised Swords

“How many times do I have to say it to you? I already know

take the lectures of my younger brother? Moreover, the lesson is

to go to bed!” Leti exploded. She could no longer take any more of

and laughingly said that there was nothing Leti could do about it.

select you as his heir to prevent a civil war between the factions of

you in becoming a ruler.

properly greeted him. I said, ‘How are you doing, Prince-that-willdivide-the-kingdom-into-two?

with thrill knowing the other has sent assassins targeting your life?’”

announced that I will succeed the throne, their competition has

“Scary!” Leonhardt blurted out as he shrugged his shoulders.

returned their sentiments and did not think of them as her

“And since we’re at it, let’s talk about this important thing for a

Leonhardt wrote Knights of the Round on the board.

is the one topic that I should discuss thoroughly with you. But I

“Yes. Please do. At three times your normal speed.”

her to study history, law, political science and the ways of a ruler

elder brothers. But Leti still studied all of these, so these classes

order to appease her father, who thought she needed them, she

“Okay, let’s start with the question, ‘What is a knight?’ Knights

Royal Chivalric Order; their swords are to protect and not to hurt.

hurt, right? Hahaha. But I think saying that they protect all of

are kings who dream of world peace and yet simply care for the

the country, and their realistic goal is to vow loyalty and swear

There were several honorary chivalric orders around the

of Prince Friedhelm and the Valkyrie of Prince Guido. But the

Order of the King, the Knights of the Round.

to emphasize his point.

own private chivalric orders in preparation for their ascension to

twelve when they became the King. But they were pleasantly

Both of the princes had gathered skillful knights to their

bring shame to the name. Leti had been relieved because of this

frustrating.

When will your coronation ceremony be?”

thinking of establishing a stable Queen Leticia administration while

If Leti happened to ascend the throne because of her father’s

supporters would attack the newly established administration. So

over the crown while he could still act as her guardian.

Knights of the Round will take their stand in front of the pillars in

kingdom. There are twelve pillars, and you should have twelve

mission, but until that day, will you …”

her in the middle of his ramblings made him look a little scary.

“Of course I can. I will get twelve knights and none of them

Leti's eyes sparkled, her eyes oozing with determination. In

thought.

of the good knights are either in Seventh Heaven or in Valkyrie

“In this kind of situation, I do not care even if I have to steal

older brothers my knights?”

She did not know what kind of a ruler would she be, and that

already hurt.

knights to fill in all the seats in her Knights of the Round. She had

Knights of the Round was only fit for the Leftover Princess and

“I recommend the commoner but talented rookie, Astrid

Leti threw the history book at the babbling Leonhardt, cutting

dress and walked out of the room.

“I shall go and court again the Leftover Princess’ lover.

that point, today’s lecture had meaning.”

follow her as her escorts but she waved them off to leave her alone.

opportunity to run away and go to the Royal Chivalric Order’s

The knights were startled when they saw Leti walking into

whispering with each other. Leti was not bothered with their

“… Why, if it isn’t the next queen, a good day, Your Highness.”

clearly showed that Leti was just a pain and he wanted her to give

guards with her, he immediately scanned the surroundings.

Leti became the heir to throne by overtaking her two older

no, even she had ascended the throne, her life would be in

without any guards, and Duke was alarmed for her.

yesterday!?

but I have some business to do in the inner room. What shall I do?”

the inner room.

“You are addressing me again in a casual manner. Repeat.

“…Please stay where you are, Your Highness. I shall call

But Leti did not lend an ear to Duke’s words and proceeded to

Leti's escort.

follow her!

every one of the knights in the camp averted his gaze away from

here, he would have passed this task to him, but unfortunately he

“Princess! Your Highness!”

quiet?”

He followed Leti wherever she intended to go, realizing that he

I can’t simply abandon her. It’s not like we’re totally unrelated. I fully

neutral stance. I of all people, truly understand that feeling.

for Duke’s innate kindness. Then she stopped upon reaching a hall

“This is where the portraits of the kings are placed. This is the

Duke saw the portraits of the Kings lined up and arranged on

varied per time period, and he was so amazed by the paintings that

“The twelfth king, Lion King Alexander and beside him, the

master, Lion King Alexander, and he never justified what he did.

wearing it to tell the future people that this crown was never his.”

revolution in the first place.”

reason, so how would I know?”

acquaintance?”

forward, then stopped.

reign. In contrast to that, the eighteenth king, Administrative King

countries. King Karlheinz, together with his Queen, rebuilt the

focused on internal reform and diplomacy. He was truly a wise

“Was that about him bowing fifty-five times in asking

“Yes, that is it. How about you? How many more times shall I

“…Have you ever bowed your head down to me? I don’t

that.” Duke unwittingly retorted to Leti's statement, and she just

front of an empty space where no portraits adorned the wall.

be.”

Leti uttered the same prayer in her heart.

Will I be known as a wise monarch like the past and future reincarnations of

that she knew herself perfectly – that she could not win against her

disposition perfect for a king.

Administrator King Karlheinz, and the personality of One-handed

“Ha?” Duke said, not understanding the meaning behind Leti's

“The traits of my ideal man.”

mean that her standards were high that she could not find a man

think that way, but he noticed the true meaning behind her words

“Aah, I see. Your ideal king. But I do not know who the Onehanded

Duke noticed the truth behind Leti's joke. As she gazed at the

eyes. He suddenly remembered Leti’s age—she was but a girl who

old man like him, Leti was just a child. Yet the way this princess

that she, this young lady, carried a heavy responsibility on her

“No, they are my rivals.”

“They really are rivals. You do understand that, do you not?”

Duke was able to see through her and read her true feelings. She

condescending agreement, and she walked eight steps deeper into

“The portrait of One-handed King Oswald will be placed here,

Ludgar. It seems that he and the succeeding kings are no longer

“Huh?”

Leti ignored Duke’s questioning look and continued to walk

continue endlessly.

“…Hmmm, but I only see walls here. Is it something that can

“What do you mean? This is just a wall.”

tone says otherwise. Before Duke could even ask his question of

“The Knight King’s Space is a room with no doors. That is

“You mean like a hidden room?”

The Knight King’s Space did not even serve the purpose of an

all around. Duke knocked at the wall several times and wondered

“Does making a room like that have any meaning?”

made. Shall I ask him if ever we meet? I would also like to know

“Yes, please do… the interior, I think it is hollow judging from

stones so I guess it really is a room.”

accidentally when it was built when Leti started to speak and

“Embroidered on the carpet is the story of the gods, framed

chandelier – the kind no longer seen around here. On floor, above

wood are scattered around the room. All of the furnishings are

They are like gems, priceless in their rarity and beauty.&rdquo

Chapter end

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