The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 25 - Knight of the Principality (11)

Bostov’s house finally revealed itself after they had entered the city and traveled quite a bit further inward.

The magnificent and enormous mansion was built in the principality’s distinctive style; though it was single-storied, its pointed, high roof made it appear incredibly large.

As they entered the courtyard, servants bustled about, receiving luggage and leading the horses to the stable.

“Well then, Sir Viktor. Please rest comfortably. I’ll return by evening at the latest.”

“Ah, thank you. Going to report to the veche, I presume?”

“Haha, that’s right. Besides that, I must stop by the guild to handle remaining business and address the matter of those who died. My goodness, even after returning home, there’s no time to rest.”

Bostov joked around before giving his servants stern orders.

“Attend well to this knight. He is the savior of my life.”

“Yes, master.”

“Sir Knight, this way…”

The servants respectfully guided Viktor.

Past the reception hall, the guest room he was assigned was even larger and more beautiful than Lord Kobarov’s room, which had once been rumored to be the largest and most luxurious in the village.

Viktor couldn’t hide the bitter smile that suddenly appeared on his face.

‘We may have been called nobles, but our family truly was nothing…’

A city councilor could furnish even a single guest room far more grandly than a countryside knight’s most cherished chamber.

It was no wonder that Lord Kobarov had been somewhat ostracized by other nobles during his lifetime.

Viktor shook off the sudden emotions and slight nostalgia rising within him, and slowly examined the room.

Large fur decorations hung on the walls, and gold ornaments gleamed as if boasting the wealth of the mansion’s owner.

While Viktor was having useless thoughts about how much he could get if he secretly took some of those furs, a servant knocked on the door and respectfully called out.

“The bath is ready, Sir Knight!”

“Ah, thank you.”

After removing the armor he hadn’t taken off for days, a musty smell began emanating from his body, soaked in sweat and blood that hadn’t been washed.

Following the servant to the bath, he saw an elegant bathing area and sauna unlike anything he had ever seen before.

After thoroughly washing his body and reclining in the sauna, he felt all the accumulated fatigue washing away.

‘Ahhh, this is wonderful. When I make a lot of money, I’ll definitely install a sauna like this.’

In his previous life, he hadn’t particularly enjoyed saunas, but since being born in this world and using them frequently, he had now reached a point where he quite enjoyed them.

The priests didn’t entirely approve of such culture, but given the extremely cold nature of the principality, it was virtually essential, so even they couldn’t object.

After beating his body with ornately inlaid birch branches and finishing with a cold water bath, his whole body felt like it could float away.

Viktor, with a very satisfied expression, put on the prepared robe and followed the servant to the reception hall.

There, a feast was laid out on the table just for him.

Snow-white bread and salt, which he couldn’t even dream of in the village, large meat pies, grilled salted herring, thick soup made with cream and beef fat, and strong mead that was clearly of the highest quality.

How long had it been since he had such a meal?

Viktor couldn’t help but smile, embarrassed by his own reaction, as he kept touching the corners of his mouth in delight.

‘Heheh, being rich seems nice; the hospitality is no joke.’

Grateful for having earned Bostov’s favor, he sat down.

Just as he was about to put a generous portion of meat pie in his mouth and gulp down the mead, it happened.

“Sir Viktor! Sir Viktor! I’m terribly sorry to interrupt your meal, but you must come out for a moment!”

It wasn’t a servant but Bostov himself, running in while sweating, and Viktor had no choice but to put down the piece of pie he was holding with an extremely regretful expression.

****

“…So even though it’s a bit late, the Administrator wishes to meet Sir Viktor right away.”

“I see.”

“…Sir Viktor, did my servants perhaps make some mistake?”

Seeing that the knight didn’t look particularly pleased, Bostov carefully watched his expression while repeatedly rubbing the joints of his hands.

“If there was a servant who behaved rudely, please tell me. I will punish them severely.”

“…That’s not it. More importantly, what did the Administrator say?”

Viktor sighed and composed his expression.

He couldn’t honestly say that he was in a foul mood because he had been dragged away without even getting to taste the delicious-looking food.

Viktor was still a person with a conscience, and one who understood what dignity meant.

Though some regret still lingered in his heart, he shook his head to dispel any attachment.

“Well, you see… when I went to the veche and reported about what happened during the journey and the situation in the east, the Administrator was extremely curious about Sir Viktor.”

“Hmm, you didn’t exaggerate too much about me, did you? If you pushed yourself just to introduce me, there was no need for that.”

“Not at all! Even though I merely told things as they were, the other councilors seemed rather skeptical. Good heavens, have they lived their lives being deceived?”

Though Bostov said this, even he hadn’t expected the other councilors to fully believe everything about Viktor.

After all, a certain amount of exaggeration and embellishment was considered a natural virtue.

When recommending or introducing a decent knight, it was customary to slightly exaggerate that knight’s martial prowess or achievements.

In fact, doing so showed respect for the knight’s honor and was the convention.

However, in this case, Bostov truly had only spoken the exact truth.

Even without exaggerating Viktor’s martial prowess, it was already monstrous enough.

Honestly, there was little need to embellish a knight who could cleave through an armored barbarian warrior along with his horse in one stroke, and who could smash enemies to pieces by circling behind them alone when ambushed.

“In that case… what did the Administrator say?”

“Well… it would be better for you to hear the details directly. But I swear by God, it won’t be anything disadvantageous to you.”

As Bostov spoke emphatically, Viktor couldn’t help but nod.

‘The Administrator…’

Someone who led a city of this size would certainly be a person of tremendous power.

Probably within the principality, those with more power than the Administrator of Permikoff could be counted on fewer than ten fingers.

Despite heading to meet such a powerful authority, Viktor remained perfectly calm.

‘Whatever happens, if an opportunity comes, just seize it. Let’s just act prudently.’

While this opportunity seemed far too generous for the third son of a countryside knight, Viktor was unlike such ordinary people.

By now, such matters could no longer disturb his composure.

The experience and knowledge from his previous life, confidence in his martial abilities, and his naturally robust physique had made Viktor incredibly solid.

****

The Administrator’s mansion was smaller than Bostov’s, but it had a dignity that wasn’t felt in his house.

“Did you say the Administrator’s background was that of a merchant?”

“Yes, that’s right. From a family with quite a deep history. Two Administrators have emerged from that family in three generations. His younger brother is also excellently leading the family’s main business.”

Viktor nodded.

He didn’t know about other countries, but at least in this principality, merchants were highly respected.

It wasn’t for nothing that Viktor had occasionally grumbled about wishing he had been born into a merchant family when he was struggling.

Trade was an enormous pillar supporting this country, and merchants were the ones who worked on the ground to keep that pillar turning.

Of course, no matter how respected merchants were, they naturally couldn’t compare to nobles, but at least they could be treated as the class immediately below nobility.

For this reason, the position of Administrator—elected by vote in the veche, or city council—was overwhelmingly more likely to be filled by someone with a merchant background than any other.

Merchants of that caliber were merchants in name only; they could be considered to have power and history comparable to most nobles.

Those who organized trading companies and exerted influence deep into every corner of the principality!

The sense of dignity that nouveau riche could never imitate probably came from such reasons.

“Please wait a moment. We’ve sent word, so someone should come to greet us soon.”

While Viktor was thinking about the lavish but somehow vulgar decorations in Bostov’s mansion, the door quietly opened and a servant in proper, thick formal attire came out to greet them.

“Welcome. The master is waiting for you.”

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Hey, make sure to tell the Administrator that I personally escorted the knight. If this proves my loyalty to the Administrator even slightly, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Don’t worry. I will certainly convey your message.”

“Uh… you’re leaving? Is it alright not to go in with me?”

As Bostov prepared to leave after coming all this way together, Viktor asked with slight confusion.

“The Administrator asked for you alone. That I escorted you this far is… let’s say, an investment. I, a councilor of the veche, personally came all the way here on foot! It’s all an investment to curry favor with both you and the Administrator. Hahaha!”

With an answer that seemed both honest and arrogant, Bostov departed.

Viktor scratched his chin for a moment before entering the Administrator’s mansion with the servant who cleared his throat.

****

The corridor leading to the Administrator’s reception room was long and dark, but the servant guided him skillfully.

Only the sound of their footsteps echoed, and a somewhat awkward silence hung in the air.

That’s when it happened.

The servant suddenly addressed Viktor.

“That merchant from earlier. Don’t you think he’s quite greedy?”

“…What did you say?”

“Well, perhaps one needs to be that greedy to be called a merchant… but to prattle on without knowing his place. Hahaha, I nearly died laughing.”

“…?”

‘Has he gone mad?’

No matter how greedy and arrogant Bostov might appear, his status wasn’t low enough to be casually discussed by a mere servant.

This servant’s remarks were clearly crossing the line.

Even with the utmost tolerance, this wasn’t something to say in front of a knight who had been introduced by Bostov.

While Viktor was briefly pondering what to do with this person, the servant’s words grew increasingly bold.

“He asks me to absolutely convey that he personally escorted the knight? Ridiculous. Even if I say such things, there’s no way the Administrator would value that fellow. What’s so great about being a councilor of the veche that he acts as if it’s an honor that he came along? It’s laughable to the point of pity.”

“…”

“Are you listening, Sir Knight? I don’t understand. Why, of all places, are you staying at someone like Bostov’s residence? You should leave that house right away. If you stay there, you’ll rot too, Sir Knight.”

“Are you insane?”

Beyond incredulity, reaching the point of absurdity, Viktor opened his mouth.

“I don’t know how grand the position of the Administrator’s servant is, but it doesn’t seem like a position where you can freely make such remarks. Especially if you know that I’m a knight introduced by that merchant. What are you thinking?”

“Hahaha, I haven’t said anything wrong, have I? Are you perhaps planning to run back to Bostov and tattle on me? That doesn’t seem very knightly.”

Now openly provoking even him, the servant’s words instead made Viktor feel suddenly cold and clear-headed.

“Did the Administrator order you to do this?”

At Viktor’s abrupt question, the servant’s expression showed dismay.

“What are you talking about? That couldn’t possibly be—”

“A mere servant wouldn’t suddenly, for no reason, spout such things to someone they’ve just met. I suppose the Administrator ordered you to test me.”

As Viktor calmly spoke, the servant’s expression began to change in various ways.

“But why? Why in this manner? If I had simply cut you down and then claimed my knightly honor had been insulted, a life like yours would have been easily overlooked. It seems the Administrator doesn’t particularly value you.”

“…Hiiik…”

“I don’t know what kind of behavior they expected from me, but I won’t fall for such tricks. And if there wasn’t a valid reason for insulting my honor, I won’t let it go lightly, even if it was the Administrator. Now, walk. Lead me. What are you doing?”

As Viktor applied pressure with an unchanging face, the servant’s complexion turned from blue to nearly black.

Though Viktor spoke in such a manner, there was no way a knight could actually harm the Administrator.

Those words meant that if he wasn’t satisfied, he would kill the impertinent servant.

The servant fell to his knees and began to beg with a desperate voice, entirely different from before.

“Oh, Sir Knight! Please! Have mercy. I only did as I was told! Please, please!”

“Now you decide to open your mouth? Speak. What orders did you receive from the Administrator? Why did you insult me?”

“Well, that, that! When we were alone, just, insult Lord Bostov and observe your reaction… that’s really all! Please believe me!”

“That’s all?”

Viktor gave a hollow laugh.

“Then was it your own idea to call me unworthy of being a knight?”

“No! No! How could I have such an insolent thought! It just came out as I was talking, truly. Oh, Sir Knight, please have mercy on this poor thing!”

Ignoring the servant who was begging until his hands were bruised, Viktor fell into thought.

Cutting down one mere servant would be nothing, but that wasn’t the issue.

‘Why would the Administrator order him to insult Bostov…’

Perhaps to find out how close he was to Bostov, or what he thought of the merchant?

If so, the Administrator was certainly a cold politician.

For knights would never forgive a low-ranking servant speaking so freely, regardless of the reason.

The Administrator probably genuinely didn’t care whether that servant lived or died.

Viktor organized his thoughts about the Administrator he was about to meet before speaking again.

“Get up.”

“Please, if you spare me just this once, I’ll offer half my savings to God and repent with—”

“Are you deaf? Get up.”

“Yes, yes sir!”

“I won’t kill you, so hurry up and guide me.”

“Thank you! Thank you! This grace, I will never forget for generations—”

“And one piece of advice—you’d do well to reduce your unnecessary chatter. It’s a habit that will easily earn you the enmity of your superiors.”

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He didn’t particularly want to kill some mere servant.

From what he could see, the servant’s loose tongue would likely get him into serious trouble someday without Viktor needing to do anything.

After that, the servant silently guided him.

At last, a massive door appeared before Viktor’s eyes.

Behind it waited the cold politician who ruled this large city.

Viktor no longer paid attention to the dignity permeating the mansion.

Having been lightly struck on a journey he’d started with a relaxed mind, it was now his turn to strike back.