Chapter 3.1 – A Wave Rises from a Carelessly Thrown Pebble

What an annoyingly nice day….

Under a clear sky without a single cloud, Daphne cursed countless times inwardly. The target of her resentment was the Knight Commander who had organized this exam.

She was not the only one irritated by the sudden departure. The senior knights in charge of training the new recruits were also being sent out, so their expressions were far from bright.

“Good morning!”

As always, the cheerful Hailey greeted them in a bright voice. It might not really be a good morning for you, she added, and Daphne silently nodded in agreement.

“I’ll just go check the luggage.”

The days had been busy, preparing for the Imperial Knights’ competency certification exam. There was even a time when the number of supplies ordered was far short, so they had to pester the supplier just to barely make up the numbers.

Whatever means necessary, the quantities written in the official document had to be matched. If even one thing was wrong, not only would she be scolded by her superior, but she would also have to write a report. Of course, this would negatively affect her personnel evaluation.

Before getting into the carriage, Daphne checked the luggage one last time. Worried that something might be missing, she double-checked everything with keen eyes. As she returned to the carriage, an unwelcome person greeted her.

“Officer Daphne, why did you leave your post without orders?”

Daphne glanced at Brooks, who stood with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed, then lowered her gaze and answered.

“I went to check the supplies.”

“Did you check everything properly?”

“Yes. There’s nothing lacking in any item.”

Her emotionless, steadfast reply seemed to irritate him even more, as his eyes narrowed further. After picking a few more pointless arguments and confirming with his own eyes that nothing was missing, he finally left.

Only after seeing him board another carriage did Daphne allow herself to get in. She still felt uneasy, like she might have forgotten something, but at the Knight Commander’s signal, the carriage began to move.

Since it would take a whole day, Daphne pulled out a book she had brought to pass the time. Immediately, Hailey and Lise, who were sitting across from her, showed interest.

“What’s that?”

“I heard it’s popular these days, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Daphne showed them the cover. It was a romance novel that had shot to the top of sales and popularity charts since its release earlier this year.

She’d never been interested in such books, but the staff’s persistent recommendation had finally convinced her to buy it. Recognizing the familiar cover, Lise smiled brightly.

“I read that too! It’s really fun!”

“Is it really that famous?”

“Of course! These days, you can’t even buy it because it’s always sold out. I really love this author, so I own the entire series. I never knew you were interested in these kinds of books, Officer Daphne! You always read medical texts.”

“That’s true. I knew these books existed, but I didn’t buy them because I thought the kids might see. So, how is it? Is it fun?”

Hailey asked, but Daphne couldn’t answer easily. <Lady of the Rose> was a story about a noble Young Lady with rose-red hair and her romance with an Imperial Knight.

She hadn’t even read half, but she could already see why it was so popular. A romantic love that begins by chance—more than enough to capture the tastes of young noblewomen.

Moreover, since the time of the Empress, contraception procedures had been passed down for generations, and Imperial Knights had gained the image of being men with relatively low risk compared to other professions.

Unless they quit voluntarily, they could maintain a stable position for life, and even upon retirement, they received a pension. Plus, when sent on expeditions, they received individual hazard pay, so they enjoyed financial security as well.

With their bodies trained through rigorous exercise and economic stability, it was only natural that they were popular.

‘Sir Clyde must be the same, right?’

Not only was he in good shape, but he was also handsome, making him popular among those working in the Imperial Palace. Just seeing how Lise was always looking for a chance to talk to him made it obvious.

“It is fun. I think it’s good to read when you’re bored.”

“It’s really fun! Becoming an Imperial Knight for the sake of honor, even as a noble—so cool. Oh, I also like the previous work, <Love Betrays the Truth>. This one is a sequel to <The Lady’s Secret Secret>….”

Lise rambled on about things Daphne couldn’t understand. Lacking the energy to respond to everything, Daphne just gave vague answers and turned her gaze outside. Evan, sitting on his horse and looking straight ahead, came into view.

It seemed his assigned unit was tasked with protecting the supply wagon at the rear. Seeing him in armor instead of a uniform for the first time felt a bit unfamiliar.

The fine chainmail of his armor sparkled in the sunlight, making his good looks shine even more. Noticing Daphne’s gaze fixed on Evan, Hailey spoke up.

“The knight in the story—doesn’t he remind you of Sir Clyde?”

“Oh my! You’re right. The male lead had brown hair, didn’t he? Goodness, maybe the author used Sir Clyde as a model?”

“No way. Even if Sir Clyde is handsome, that’s a bit much. We didn’t even know he existed before we joined. If it was based on him, we would’ve known.”

Hailey waved her hand dismissively, but Lise snorted and replied very seriously.

“You never know. Who knows how popular Sir Clyde was before he came to the capital? It’s even funny that he’s still a v*rgin with that face. If it were me, I’d have made a move right away. And he’s not even the eldest or second son, but the third, right? No worries about living with his father-in-law—he’s perfect husband material.”

Daphne looked at her, dumbfounded. But Hailey nodded in strong agreement about not having to worry about a father-in-law. Daphne, unable to join in their conversation, kept her eyes fixed on Evan, who was still staring straight ahead.

‘Ah, our eyes met.’

Daphne gave him a slight nod. But perhaps he hadn’t seen, as he quickly turned his head away. Feeling awkward, Daphne lowered her gaze.

Reading in a moving carriage was certainly difficult, but she was willing to do anything to stave off boredom.

Lise, who had been chattering noisily, soon fell asleep, and Hailey began knitting. She said she was making winter sweaters for the children.

Winter was still far off, but she explained that starting early was the only way to finish on time, and Daphne applauded her with a bit of admiration.

After a couple of breaks, the rattling carriage finally reached its destination. Rather than stretching her stiff body, it was more important to organize the supplies in the temporary infirmary. Carrying heavy boxes, Daphne busily shuttled between the carriage and the infirmary.

“All done?”

“Yes. I brought in only what we need for now, and I’ll bring more as things run out. The supply wagon isn’t far, after all.”

“Good. The real exam starts tomorrow, so let’s rest today.”

At Hailey’s words, Lise groaned. The smell of meat stew, perhaps being prepared for dinner, wafted into the infirmary. Only then did Daphne realize how hungry she was.

Together with the others, she headed to the mess. Most of the other knights had already finished eating, so there wasn’t much food left.

Meals during expeditions were limited: clear meat broth and a piece of bread. Daphne soaked the now-stale bread in the broth as she ate.

Afterwards, there wasn’t much to do but read or chat with colleagues. Since official duties began the next day, today was to be enjoyed as much as possible.