Chapter 322 So Weak - Side Jeffrey -
When No. 18 returned to the main branch of the Sophia Merchant Guild, Jeffrey quickly sent his subordinates home and fell into deep thought alone.
It's clear that this isn't an urgent message, but Daniel wouldn't ask for a message at this hour unless it was important. Jeffrey hesitated about how much to reveal regarding this matter.
'Should I tell His Excellency the Marquis? But this is just Sara's theory, and there's no solid evidence. Besides, Sara intends to prevent this issue from happening. Maybe it's better not to make a fuss about it.'
Jeffrey fully understood that he, as just the captain of the knights, shouldn't be deciding what information to share. However, he feared showing Sara and Sophia's value to the royal family any further.
'In the end, I'm just scared of losing Sara to Grandchester. It would be nice if she could marry one of my sons, but right now, neither of them seems reliable.'
It's understandable that a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old would be seen as unreliable, but when compared to Sara, they really do feel like little brothers. In studies, magic, and swordsmanship, Sara excels, especially in magic, where even the current king of Avalon can't compare. Scott seems determined to surpass Sara in swordsmanship, but from what he has seen of his training with Sophia, his chances look slim. If he's not careful, he might even lose to her.
Jeffrey quickly realized that Sara, unlike many other women, would not be infatuated with the pretty-faced Thomas. Even in front of Thomas, Sara openly showed her affection for Jeffrey, playfully acting like a kitten. It seemed that Thomas believed he had a chance with Sara as she grew up, but Sara didn't seem to value Thomas's good looks or smart mind any more than she did now.
'It would be a good experience for a rich kid who has never faced heartbreak.'
If he learned the pain of unreturned feelings, it would change how he interacted with the women who would fall for him in the future.
Suddenly, Jeffrey thought of Rihito. On the day he first met Rihito, Jeffrey was confused by the closeness between Sara and Rihito. They had just met, yet their distance was too close, and there was an atmosphere only they understood.
When Sara collapsed, while they were panicking and unable to do anything, Rihito calmly discussed solutions with the fairies and gave instructions to the maidens for treatment and care. It was natural for Mr. Paracelsus, the great alchemist and pharmacist, but it was undeniable that they felt powerless. More than anything, they didn't know enough about Sara.
Rihito was married, and his wife was still alive. There was a significant age gap, and Sara was younger than Rihito's great-great-grandchild. Still, Jeffrey had a feeling that one day Rihito might take Sara away.
'If that guy gets interested, my sons won't stand a chance.'
However, for now, Jeffrey didn't sense any signs from Rihito, so he hoped that his worries would turn out to be unfounded. Jeffrey already loved Blaze just like his own son, Scott, and he cared for Sara just as much.
With that thought, Jeffrey made up his mind.
'I should properly report this to His Excellency the Marquis. Sara and Sophia will probably be targeted even more than before. I find it hard to believe that Sara could be easily harmed, but still, I need to protect her.'
On the other hand, Jeffrey thought that he shouldn't share the conspiracy theories about the Coastal Union with the Grandchester Knights.
'If I tell the guys in the Knights, they'll get furious and the tension will rise quickly. But if the Grandchester Knights take noticeable action, the enemy might catch on. If that happens, it could interfere with Sara's battle. I want to be fully prepared, but how can I act without raising suspicion from the enemy...'
The Grandchester Knights are called "Knights" due to historical reasons, but in reality, they are an organization that combines military and police forces. They are a tightly-knit group that other territories envy, filled with the spirit of never allowing anyone to harm the citizens or the Grandchester family. While this is definitely a virtue, it also means they can be a bit inflexible at times.
In Avalon, the term "knight" originally refers only to those who hold the rank of knight. This means that being a knight is a title and profession that only nobles can claim. However, in the Grandchester Knights Order, even commoners who pass the entrance exam are treated as "knights." This status only applies within the Grandchester territory, and outside of it, they are just commoners.
Nobles are few in number, and other knight orders in different territories often have to rely on similar practices. There are fewer territories that can afford to let capable commoners remain idle. Local common knights are sometimes called "rural knight," but this term is often used in a discriminatory way to emphasize the class difference from knights or noble sons.
In the Grandchester Knights Order, the term "rural knight" is strictly prohibited. In the past, even within the Grandchester Knights Order, knights with the rank of rural knight discriminated against those who came from common backgrounds. As a result, the order became sharply divided between nobles and commoners, leading to internal conflicts. This division allowed other territories to launch attacks, resulting in a major defeat.
Since then, Marquis Grandchester has firmly prohibited the discrimination against rural knights and has made sure that the order's leader enforces this rule. If anyone is found to have discriminated against rural knights, no matter how skilled they are, they will be expelled from the order. Discriminating against fellow knights based on status is considered the most despicable act, and from the time they are apprentices, they are taught that loyalty to their lord and compassion for the people are the true duties of a knight.
Due to these circumstances, the members of the Grandchester Knights are proud to be knights or knight trainees. No matter their original status, everyone has high aspirations and is dedicated to protecting the people.
...However, they are inflexible. If the members find out that they are seen as enemies of the Coastal Union, it would cause a huge uproar. Military training is becoming more active, and there might even be some who would teach self-defense to the villagers. In fact, right after the riot incident, several knights returned to their home village to teach the farmers stick fighting and spear techniques, swayed by rumors of Roisen's involvement.
To these knights, Jeffrey is giving a speech, saying, "It is very dangerous to be swayed by rumors. The policy of the knights will always be shown by me, the leader, so we must not act recklessly." However, since many of them are the type to act before thinking, it's uncertain how effective this will be.
By the way, the martial arts training at this time was not wasted, as in one village, the villagers successfully captured a group of bandits. The captured bandits were rogues who had tried to set fire to the Grandchester territory in response to the riot. They panicked and fled when they saw their companions getting caught one after another, but they had turned to thievery out of desperation. The ten villagers who captured the bandits received a letter of thanks and a monetary reward from the lord. Among the village heroes, 3 were housewives with children, proving to Jeffrey and the knights that frying pans and rolling pins can be weapons.
Although he still felt quite anxious, Jeffrey decided to invite Sara to the knight's martial arts training. The younger knights and trainees would probably be captivated by Sara, and even the older ones would surely be mesmerized by her graceful dual sword techniques. If many knights started to admire her, Sara might be safer than ever before.
Of course, he had no intention of forcing her if she refused. Jeffrey himself wasn't very enthusiastic about this idea either. If he wasn't careful, a rival for his sons could emerge from among the trainees.
'I can't say anything about Rob, but I'm really weak when it comes to Sara.'
Jeffrey let out a small sigh and chuckled at his own worrywart nature.
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