“COMMANDER, please give us another chance!”

“We swear we’ll never make the same mistake again!”

“Please don’t remove our knighthood from us!”

Diether heard the pleas of the four young men that he had just removed from knighthood, and yet he didn’t budge even though the ‘kids’ were kneeling and crying in front of him.

Degradation was usually done in public places.

But he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it when people were busy preparing for the upcoming banquet honoring the kingdom’s war heroes.

Hence, the awful ceremony took place in the Avari Temple.

The four young men stood in the middle of the courtyard while surrounded by the Holy Knights and some of the high-ranking Temple Knights who served as witnesses.

Diether informed the king about the Degradation for the sake of formalities.

The king gave him permission, but of course, it wasn’t like the king could stop him since the matters concerning the Holy and Temple Knights fell directly under his authority.

“Just kill us if you’re going to take our honor away from us, Commander!”

Diether let out a frustrated sigh. “Don’t talk about honor when you hired an infamous mercenary guild to kidnap and sell off Madam Margo and the young ladies from the Red-light District.”

He didn’t want to admit this, but what Sonata Florin said to him during their last argument rang in his head loudly.

That was probably how impactful her words were.

[“I guess you don’t see the people of the Red-light District as humans since they never received help from the temple or the kingdom.”]

He got offended by what Sonata Florin said, but it was probably because she hit a nerve.

“Or did you think it wouldn’t be a big deal because of the work Madam Margo and the ladies in the Red-light District do?” Diether asked coldly, his sky-blue eyes glowing menacingly. “Do you think you’re morally superior to them– hence giving you the right to “punish” them by committing an act of violence? Have you forgotten about the code of chivalry about respecting women?”

He could see the answer in the grim expressions of the young men that he had just kicked out of knighthood, despite the silence.

All the guilt he felt for removing these punks’ honor disappeared instantly.

“Ah, you don’t see Madam Margo and the other girls from the Red-light District as women you need to respect,” Diether said, disappointed. “Thank you for letting me know you deserve to have your honor as a knight taken away from you.”

After saying his piece, he turned his back on the ex-knights.

“Commander!”

Diether didn’t turn back.

He just raised his hand to let Ethan Tanner, his vice-commander, wrap it up.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

[I’m getting a headache…]

“Oppa?”

Diether stopped walking when he reached the entrance to Avari Wings– the annex building of the temple dedicated to the Holy Knights. “Why are you here, Francine? And why are you alone?”

“I sneaked out of my residence when I heard about the Degradation,” Francine said worriedly. “Is it really necessary to remove them from knighthood, oppa?”

“It’s the only way to save their lives.”

After all, those fools meddled with the underworld without knowing a damn thing.

Francine tilted her head to one side, then she grinned and shrugged. “I really don’t understand what’s happening, but I trust you, oppa.”

Once again, he heard Sonata Florin’s voice while staring at Francine’s innocent face.

[Or should I say ‘naïve?’]

[“The Saintess is eighteen– she’s capable of making her own decisions. And isn’t Her Holiness supposed to be the law in the temple?”]

Diether had known Francine since the Saintess was eleven-years-old.

[Francine hasn’t matured much since then since she grew up overprotected here in the temple.]

“Oppa, should we have lunch together?”

He knitted his eyebrows. “I thought you were busy studying the Ancient Holy Language?”

“I asked for a break!” Francine said cheerfully. “I have nothing else to do these days aside from studying, so I thought I should play a bit before studying for the next Sunday Worship Service.”

Diether hated how he heard Sonata Florin’s voice in his head again.

[“I just had this impression that only rich nobles who donate a lot to the temple have the privilege to meet the Saintess during a Sunday Worship Service. After all, it’s so hard for the lower nobles like me and the common people to see the Saintess.”]

Dammit.

He knew it all along– he knew that the temple was run by some corrupt officials.

But he didn’t care.

He thought as long as Francine was treated right, he should turn a blind eye.

After all, he couldn’t afford to go against the temple and get removed from his position as the commander of the Avari Holy Knights.

It was the only position that would allow him to stay beside Francine.

And he needed to stay with the Saintess in order to find Celeste.

[I’m doing fine turning a blind eye to all the injustices around me all this time. As long as I find Celeste, I don’t care even if I become corrupted myself. So, why did I suddenly grow a conscience?]

“Oppa, are you alright?”

No, he wasn’t fine.

[And it’s all Lady Florin’s fault.]

Sonata Florin was far from righteous, and she was just as corrupted as Diether.

They even committed mass murder together on their second encounter.

[So how dare you make me feel bad about my choices, Lady Florin?]

“Francine.”

“Yes, oppa?”

“I’m going to marry Lady Florin.”

Francine’s eyes widened in shock, and then she covered her mouth with her hands when she gasped. “Why, oppa?” she asked, obviously disappointed. “Are you really going to betray Celeste unnie? I thought you still love her!”

“I do– and that’s exactly why I’m marrying Lady Florin,” Diether said firmly. “I need to become the Grand Duke in order to enter Mount Ashira.”

***

SONATA hated public appearances.

But she had an important role in tonight’s banquet, so she had no choice but to be there.

[Moreover, that stupid king blackmailed me again.]

Fortunately, she didn’t have to wear a dress tonight.

Sonata wore her maroon knight’s uniform.

[I have nothing against dresses. In fact, I enjoy dolling up. But this uniform will play a huge role tonight, so I have to wear this.]

And who knows?

[If I get into a fight later, this uniform would allow me to move with ease.]

It was funny to be back in Azure Hall– the very same hall in the Royal Palace where Diether ran away in the middle of their engagement ceremony.

[The king did it on purpose, didn’t he?]

“That’s her, right?”

“Lady Sonata Florin– Commander Hexford’s fiancée.”

“You mean ‘ex-fiancée.’ The commander ran away in the middle of their engagement ceremony.”

Pfft.

Sonata just savored her glass of champagne while listening to the young ladies gossip about her.

[These poor young ladies are restricted from doing a lot of things, so let them talk.]

“Perhaps that incident has taught Lady Florin a good lesson.”

“Right?”

“An orphan like her should know her place.”

Ah, that last one crossed the line.

[Although they’re still young, they still ought to be disciplined the hard way from time to time.]

Sonata turned to the young ladies gossiping about her with a smile on her face. “Young ladies, do you think your parents will live forever? If your parents get into an “accident” tonight, then you would end up an orphan like me.” She tilted her head to one side, her golden eyes glowing menacingly. “Wouldn’t it be tragic if you suddenly lost your parents on the night we honor the death of mine?”