Chapter 54


    “Forgive me, Madam.”


    “……..”


    “As a knight, I cannot receive this from Madam. That is the first code a soldier must follow. One should


    be wary of urrences that can result in one’s heart being drawn to a particr Master. Secondly, a


    sense of deprivation and jealousy could arise among each other in the Order of Knights.”


    Except for Redra and a couple of knights, the rest acted disrespectful towards Laritte and therefore


    were punished to starve for days on end.


    Redra and her followers had a good meal. That was natural and non-discriminatory. But she didn’t want


    to receive any more than that.


    Others wouldn’t have denied Laritte’s drink if they were in Redra’s position. But, Redra was too uptight.


    “……Ah, I see.”


    What Redra was worried about was getting Laritte’s low response.


    ‘Have I offended her?’


    But Laritte had something else in mind.


    If it was discrimination to give a drink to a certain soldier, then she should give it to all of them. Whether


    the other soldiers considered her as the Duchess or not, she didn’t care.


    Her past had been too rough.


    This discrimination was just a cute little speck of it.


    ***


    One afternoon, the Knights of Reinhardt were still training on the field. By the time they wrapped up,


    everyone was sweating even though it was spring.


    “Goddamn it! I’m so thirsty.”


    One of them grumbled. Another knight wiped his neck with a thick cloth.


    “Do you want water?”


    “That water is hot. Besides, I can’t focus because of the trashy meals we receive nowadays!”


    The knights were parched, just like grass under a scorching hot sun.


    “Did you see that carriage stop at the main building? I think they bought strawberries. I wonder what


    those were for.”


    “Quit dreaming. We won’t see those at our tables.”


    One swung his sword, but it missed the target on the scarecrow. He dropped the sword out of shame.


    Thankfully, it was just a wooden sword, but the knight was furious.


    “Darn it! It’s all because of that illegitimate girl!”


    Although they didn’t say it out loud, everyone agreed.


    The other person stopped him out of courtesy.


    “That’s enough.”


    “Why do you want me to stop? Madam is happy to see us starve.”


    He understood that proper food was restricted for those who acted poorly before their master. But living


    on an empty stomach would certainly make them angry.


    It led them to think that Laritte, the Duchess, was aware of everything going on.


    However, Laritte waspletely oblivious to this truth, and therefore, she didn’te to see it.


    Among these knights was Mason Moore.


    Mason was partly responsible for instigating them, but they couldn’t me the old man. However, he


    kept silent during this whole conversation


    “Cough, Cough.”


    A young knight coughed.


    “Cold beer in a ss of ice can work, too! Anything but hot water.”


    Meanwhile, Laritte headed for the training field with jugs filled with juice and wooden cups. Alice and


    Irene followed behind.


    The girls couldn’t understand Laritte’s determination to distribute the juice – which she made – among


    the knights.


    “Madam! Are you certain that you don’t want to reconsider? Such people don’t even deserve a grain of


    wheat!”


    In the end, they followed the will of their beloveddy, but dear me, the field was probably filled with the


    grumbles of angry beasts.


    “I have to apologize.” “You don’t owe them an apology, Madam. They are the ones who are narrow-


    minded. Hmph! Damn knights.”


    They could see the field from afar.


    The knights noticed them one by one as Laritte and the maids approached. They stood on guard as


    they began to ponder.


    ‘What brings her here? What’s in her hands?’


    An ordinary youngdy would have lost her courage midway. But Laritte was different from an average


    individual.


    The knights saluted her reluctantly.


    “It’s been a while. I came to give you something.”


    Laritte beckoned to the maids.


    Each knight clenched his hands at the sight of the wooden cups.


    “It wasn’t purchased from a store, but I assure you that it won’t taste bad.”


    Silence hung over the group of knights.


    Not long ago, they cursed at Laritte for not giving them a proper meal.


    But a drink…


    They were embarrassed.


    One found the courage to ask.


    “Why a juice all of a sudden?” “It’s for the hard time you’ve all gone through.”


    Of course, Laritte thought that it was Redra who ‘suffered’.


    Unaware of that, the knights thought she was making fun of them. But they stayed silent as they feared


    they’d have to receive another punishment if they confronted her again.


    But Mason stepped up.


    “I’m afraid I don’t understand. Is this a punishment for us as well? Or is it for training?”


    The old man had no hesitation in uttering suspiciousments about Laritte.


    This was part of Mason’s stratagem. Perhaps because Laritte decided to give them a drink when she


    felt pity for them.


    ‘She’s young and an illegitimate child. It’s obvious.’


    How dare she make the Knights of Reinhardt suffer like this!


    Mason shook his head inwardly.


    Young Lady Redra may have sumbed to power, but he did not. He would never allow anyone to


    take control of this proud knighthood.


    Needless to say, Laritte didn’t understand Mason’s words.


    “What do you mean, sir?” “Everyone’s already having a hard time dealing with the limited meals we’ve


    been given these days. And now juice for only an hour! Funny, isn’t it? What a deplorable act to mock


    the soldiers with such a shallow n.”


    Other knights began to get even furious when they heard Mason.


    But Laritte was still clueless.


    This was what caught Mason off-guard.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    “…….Limited meals?”


    The victorious smile he had on his face vanished.


    Laritte’s voice sounded innocent.


    “Do knights go on diets as well? But, I thought knights needed strength.”


    She poured the juice on wooden cups one by one for the knights to drink and continued.


    “Even if that’s the case, this juice doesn’t contain sugar, so it will be fine. By the way, who is


    responsible for the knights’ meals? The cook must be quite professional.”


    The knights present at the field right now were of noble origin, so they arrived at the mansionte. As a


    result, they could not participate in Ian’s squadron.


    At the same time, because they were aristocrats and received higher education, they were able to


    determine whether someone was lying or not.


    They could tell Laritte was unaware.


    Even though everyone acted disrespectfully toward Laritte, she did not impose any punishment.


    They were ashamed to assume that the dietary restrictions they’ve been suffering from were part of


    Laritte’s plot.


    The knight who was given a cup of the juice from Laritte muttered unknowingly.


    “T-Thank you very much……”


    “It’s nothing much.”


    He politely epted the wooden cup – filled with Laritte’s special strawberry juice – with both hands.


    He raised the cup to his mouth.


    He knew that Laritte was an illegitimate girl. But he felt a little ashamed.


    ‘This is what those strawberries were used for.’


    It might not be cold, but he expected the sour and sweet taste of the strawberries.


    He took a sip.


    It was not long before the knight blurted out.


    “Delicious. Somehow…… It’s quite refreshing.”


    His words startled the other men.


    “Refreshing?”


    Since their training had juste to an end, everyone was sweaty. What’s more, before Laritte arrived,


    all they had was lukewarm water in a ss.


    The knights turned to Mason as they drank the juice.


    Laritte stopped in front of Mason. She tried to pour the juice into his ss, but only a few drops came


    out of the jug.


    “Oh, it’s all out.”


    There was still a small amount of juice left, but it was for Redra and Ian.


    Because of that, Laritte was a bit troubled.


    He wouldn’t like this kind of juice because he’s old, would he?


    “Forgive me. If you want to taste it, sir, please share with the other knights.”


    “…….”


    “Then I’ll get going. I wish you all good luck.”


    Laritte went on her way to Redra with no hesitation.


    The younger knights carefully approached Mason, who did not receive a cup of juice.


    “Uhm, Sir Mason….. even if it’s mine–”


    “……I don’t need it.”


    Mason somehow felt rather sorry.


    Even though they figured out Laritte didn’t know anything, Mason’s wrinkled expression worried the


    knights.


    ‘If she had nned for this situation from the beginning, she would have been a great strategist.’


    She got lucky.


    Mason clicked his tongue and removed his armor.


    It should have been him to lead the Order of Knights instead of Redra. But now, he was unsure.