"How can we believe you? What is your proof?" Oscar was wary after what just happened earlier when they thought it was enemies who were eavesdropping on them.
Odette was about to speak, likely in Nadia’s defense. But Nadia gestured to her that it wasn’t necessary.
Nadia had her proof and she seed confident about it.
"I am also a knight, so I am allowed to carry these weapons here," Nadia showed them a brooch that she wore as a necklace. She had been hiding it in her clothes.
Her fellow assistants gasped.
It was the brooch of the Valerian knighthood.
"How are you able to be a knight and yet an assistant as well?" Egbert was puzzled.
"I and my brothers were knighted by His Majesty for our service, loyalty, and dedication to our holand even in turbulent tis. I’m sure you have heard about what happened to Safiro by now. I keep overhearing people talk about it."
"I heard the story. But I thought only your brothers and the warriors with him were knighted," Norbert wondered.
"I was knighted as well because I was also one of those warriors."
Nadia undid her necklace so they could inspect her brooch much more closely. Her na was engraved in it so there was no debate that it wasn’t hers.
It was the real thing, so Egbert and Oscar finally sheathed their swords.
Egbert looked visibly envious since he once wanted to be a knight too.
"Holding two positions at once? Is that even allowed?" Narcissa frowned. She clearly wanted to make it an issue.
"Yes, it is. I also got knighted about two months ago," Oscar showed a brooch he had also been wearing as a necklace.
It was also of the Valerian Knighthood and had his na engraved on it.
"Why didn’t I know that?!" Egbert was scandalized.
"It is not widely known. I only learned about it from my grandfather. Every son in my family is required to undergo knight training and be knighted. I was only allowed to be a palace official on the condition that I also beco a knight."
"I should have enlisted as a knight too. I had been training since childhood," Egbert lanted.
"You can still be a knight if you undergo the official training. But only if you can do the training while doing our work. We are currently swamped with docunts since people know that His and Her Majesty are not around," Oscar pointed out.
That was true. There were a lot of nobles who were trying to submit all kinds of pleas and projects thinking they could have the approval of the Pri Minister much easier by using their connection with the Ryvaleh family.
They did not know that Raymond was not even around as well. And even if he was, he would not approve projects or grant pleas he didn’t deem worthy or necessary.
"I see. I’ll enlist once the timing seems right," Egbert was excited that he could actually do both.
"Why is that even allowed? What happens when there is war? You will leave your post here?" Narcissa questioned. She could not accept the fact that Nadia and Oscar were knights.
"It depends on how grave the war is. If it is an all-out war that requires all knights of Valeria to join the fight, we may be summoned and would have to leave our office post temporarily."
"See? Isn’t that troubleso for Her Majesty? If three of you had to leave, it ant, Her Majesty suddenly lacked three assistants. Shouldn’t you choose one and stick with it?" Narcissa suggested.
Narcissa had a point. Suddenly lacking in manpower would swamp everyone with more work than they were used to and may cause them to lag behind.
"We don’t have to since that situation is highly unlikely to happen since Valeria had a lot of knights. Each territory had its own knights. Riva itself had the Imperial Knights which are overflowing in number. So, we are likely to remain as Her Majesty’s assistants even if there is war."
Oscar’s point was also true. There were too many Imperial Knights that the knights of other households were not even summoned to another location that often.
It only happens in case there is another territory that needs imdiate help or lacks knights.
Prudencia’s case for instance. They lacked knights due to the forr count’s plots to divert their manpower and sell the others as slaves.
Cordellia’s situation was another example. They lacked knights since they had a smaller population, and the n there rather help on the farm than be a knight since their main livelihood and inco generator was farming.
"But what if it suddenly happens? We don’t know what happens in the future," Narcissa pushed.
"I have heard about all the wars His Majesty went to, and there was never a ti when he required all knights of Riva to join the fight. He usually only uses a third or less of the Imperial Knights because they are so capable and nurous," Oscar defended.
His claim was also true. Ferdinand had stationed knights in Prudencia and the borders of Crux. He also assigned a number at Safiro and Cordellia. There were also knights assigned to the borders with other countries and the knights he recently sent to the western borders of Eliora after the Assembly in deus. Yet, the Imperial Knights stationed in Riva are still a lot.
The military might of Valeria cannot be underestimated since with the vast land it had occupied over the years, it also increased its population and gathered more and more knights and soldiers through the years.
Three knights serving as Arabella’s assistants would not make the knighthood lack in number.
"Really? Just how sure are you about these numbers?" Narcissa still did not want to back down though.
"I have heard about it since childhood and read official accounts and books about it. My family gets educated about all the wars that happen in Valeria because my grandfather and those before him were once the Grand Commander of the Imperial Knights. Moreover, Her Majesty can gather her own knights. We can enlist on it once she makes one so we can serve as her guards and likewise her assistants," Oscar explained, and Narcissa could no longer rebut him.
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