Please Vote for Your Knight! Chapter 1

“My beloved daughter.”

My father.

Carlus Lafayette, the Emperor of the Shinodia Empire, asked me gently.

“Are you in your right mind?”

His tone was one of utter disbelief.

Or rather…

‘Has this kid completely lost it?’

…was the expression he was desperately trying to keep off his face.

I replayed what I had just said.

“We’ll select the Imperial Knights through a competition. And the final decision will be made by a vote of the people.”

Hmm… I suppose it was a rather bold proposal.

Even the emperor’s aide standing behind my father looked as though he couldn’t believe his ears.

“My dear daughter, I’m afraid your father has no idea what you’re talking about.”

Father spoke as calmly as he could.

“Which part is the hardest to understand? The idea of holding a public vote? Or organizing a knightly tournament?”

Father looked at me as if to say, “All of it.”

“The tyrant Beauvoir—the one we overthrew with our own hands—used to gather knights under the pretense of choosing the best, then force them into a bloodbath until only one remained. You, of all people, should know that. After all, you played a major role in the Revolution.”

So it wasn’t the voting that bothered him.

It was the tournament.

Father had completely misunderstood.

As he said, I was only sixteen years old, yet I had made tremendous contributions to overthrowing the tyrant.

To be precise, I was a genius alchemist.

The Revolutionary Army won largely thanks to the magical tools I created.

That’s why the tyrant had called me “a child blessed with the Devil’s talent.”

He insisted no ordinary human could possess such extraordinary alchemical abilities at such a young age.

Wasn’t that basically a compliment?

I only learned so quickly because I remembered my previous life.

Of course, in that previous life, I had nothing whatsoever to do with alchemy.

I had been a television producer in South Korea.

Just before I died, I had created the most successful TV program of the year.

Then I got hit by a truck on my way to the broadcasting awards ceremony.

I wasn’t even going there to accept my own award.

Although it should have been mine in the first place…

“Yujin, this project is fantastic. Let’s put my name on it—from the proposal all the way to the editing concept.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but people will only pay attention if they think I was the one behind it.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll still list you as the assistant producer. You don’t think I’d abandon you, do you?”

He did.

The star producer took all the credit for my ideas and hard work.

I was furious.

The injustice ate away at me so badly that I couldn’t even sleep.

Still, I endured it, believing there would be another chance.

Next time… my name will be on it.

I was thinking exactly that as I walked down the street.

Then—

Crash!

A truck hit me.

When I regained consciousness…

I was here.

At first, I was completely bewildered.

I’d awakened in the body of a newborn baby, in an unfamiliar world.

On top of that, my mother had died giving birth to me.

The only person before my eyes was my father.

What is this? Some childcare fantasy where I have to act adorable to survive?

I’m not exactly confident in my cuteness.

Just as I was thinking that, my tiny body was suddenly lifted into the air.

“My precious daughter! This father of yours will protect you with his life, Edith! All you have to do is grow up healthy and happy!”

Father hugged my tiny body tightly as tears welled up in his eyes.

His golden hair—the same color I had inherited—brushed softly against my cheek.

Guess I won’t have to act cute after all.

I thought that calmly.

But honestly…

It moved me.

Of course, once I learned that Father was a member of the imperial family constantly targeted by the tyrant…

My life became a fight for survival.

The tyrant hadn’t persecuted only my father.

He oppressed the people.

He killed for amusement.

As a result, public resentment reached its breaking point, and the Empire descended into division.

One of the tyrant’s greatest atrocities was the Knights’ Blood Tournament.

He forcibly gathered the strongest warriors from every region…

…and made them fight until only one survived.

Then, when a final victor emerged—

The winner was granted the privilege of becoming the Emperor’s Knight.

But every single champion…

Refused to become the tyrant’s lapdog.

Instead, they chose death.

They chose honor.

All except one.

After countless knights died over the years…

The Empire could no longer endure the Emperor’s tyranny.

In the end, Father joined forces with those who shared his ideals and led a revolution that overthrew the tyrant.

The peace they won had come at an enormous cost.

So I understood.

I understood why Father was so cautious.

“But Father, I think you’ve misunderstood.”

I let out a quiet sigh as I looked around the empty conference hall.

“I never suggested a bloodbath. I proposed selecting the Imperial Knights through fair and honorable competition.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“You called this noble council to find a way for the people of the Empire to come together again, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Even though nobody showed up.”

In my words, both Father and his aide lowered their heads with solemn expressions.

Today, Father had convened a meeting of the nobility.

Its purpose was to discuss how to heal the divisions tearing the Empire apart.

But not a single noble had attended.

Not even those who had fought alongside us in the Revolution.

The reason was obvious.

Because Father had declared that any revolutionary hero who exploited or oppressed the people would be severely punished.

The moment he did…

They turned against him.

Because they had never joined the revolution for justice.

They simply envied the luxury enjoyed by the corrupt nobles and wanted those positions for themselves.

But Father drew a firm line.

So they secretly agreed to boycott the meeting together.

It felt like the ultimate betrayal.

His reign had only just begun.

This was the moment when he needed the support of his ministers more than ever.

If this continues, the authority of the new Emperor will crumble.

Father stared at the empty conference hall with a devastated expression.

It broke my heart.

Was this really all his life-risking revolution was worth?

I have to help Father.

“I still don’t understand how the Imperial Knights have anything to do with unity. Wouldn’t a tournament only divide public opinion further?”

Of course, Father had no idea I was doing all this for his sake.

“This is completely different from what the tyrant did. I’m proposing that we create an order of knights to protect both the empire and its people through fair competition—just as His Majesty the First Emperor once did.”

“The First Emperor…? Surely you don’t mean…!”

Father’s face filled with astonishment.

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes. I’m proposing that we revive the knight tournament known as Cartamen.”

Cartamen.

The First Emperor founded the empire alongside five legendary knights known as the Di Eques.

The tournament that selected those elite knights was called Cartamen.

“A competition where knights face various challenges, and the people themselves vote to choose the empire’s finest!”

“Exactly! Instead of blood deciding the winners, it’ll be the will of the people!”

It was essentially a knight survival competition.

In my previous life, I had produced an idol survival program.

This time…

I’d produce a knight survival show.

Perhaps this is the “next chance” I’ve been given.

Or perhaps…

My last.

A final opportunity given to me—for Father, for the people, and for myself.

Just then…

Father’s silent aide finally spoke.

“If we truly revive the original Cartamen, everyone will be desperate to participate. The second, third, and later generations of the Di Eques all became legends after defending the empire from demons and foreign invaders.”

“Finally, someone understands.”

It was unusual for Father’s ever-loyal aide to support my opinion.

I quickly nodded.

“The tyrant nearly wiped out the empire’s knights. We desperately need new ones. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for talented people who dream of becoming knights.”

The Di Eques were every aspiring knight’s—and every squire’s—greatest dream.

The ultimate goal worth risking one’s life for.

“Most importantly, the goal isn’t to defeat each other. It’s to build a single order of knights. That alone will unite the people’s hearts.”

“True… However, it’s impossible at the moment.”

The aide spoke firmly.

Figures.

I never expected him to agree so easily.

“Cartamen has been discontinued for the past twenty years because of the tyrant. Every regional arena and all the supporting infrastructure have been destroyed. We have no means of broadcasting the tournament, nor any way for the people to vote.”

Everything he said was true.

But that didn’t mean there wasn’t a solution.

I shrugged.

“But now you have me.”

“Pardon?”

The aide blinked in confusion.

Then realization slowly spread across his face.

I smiled brightly.

“I’ll create a way for the entire empire to watch the tournament.”

“And I’ll create a way for everyone to vote.”

It was completely possible.

I’m a genius alchemist.

I even helped win a revolution with this ability.

Watching hope bloom across Father’s face and the aide’s alike, I added one final sentence.

“The people of the empire only have to choose their knights.”

 

***

 

Knight Tournament “Cartamen” Announced

By imperial decree, the knight tournament “Cartamen” shall be revived to restore the glory of the Di Eques, the knightly order that founded the Empire.

Those who survive the first stage of Cartamen will also be granted the opportunity to receive official knighthood.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Anyone capable of wielding a weapon may participate, regardless of birthplace or social status.
• Above all else, participation is entirely voluntary.

—Carlus I, Emperor of the Shinodia Empire

 

“Cartamen? They’re really bringing back the Cartamen that disappeared twenty years ago?”

In front of the notice posted in the capital’s central square…

Someone shouted from within the gathered crowd.

A cynical voice immediately answered.

“Who do they think they’re fooling? We’re supposed to believe this?”

“In other words, they’re saying, ‘Hey, suckers—fall for it one more time.'”

“They’ll just gather innocent people and send them all to their deaths again.”

Those words quickly spread a wave of skepticism through the crowd.

Although Carlus I was nothing like the deposed tyrant…

The announcement was enough to remind everyone of the tyrant’s infamous Bloody Tournament.

Even so, hopeful whispers could still be heard.

“If this really is the genuine Cartamen, even a commoner like me could rise in status!”

“My grandfather’s friend’s cousin was one of the Di Eques! They were granted land and treated almost like a duke! It’s a shame they died because of the tyrant…”

“When I was little, my dream was to become one of the Di Eques. If this is real, I’ll stake my life on entering. I swear it.”

While the crowd argued among themselves…

A small figure quietly slipped past them.

A petite girl hidden beneath a hooded robe.

It’s real! Please, just believe me, everyone!

That girl…

Was me.

Edith.