Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 12
“This seat suits my liking,” David remarked, then turned to look at Coustou in the adjacent seat.
He had witnessed Coustou being harassed before taking his seat. Essentially, David’s comment served as a warning not to mistreat someone based on their status. In the end, this silenced everyone.
Coustou, however, was embarrassed.
“Are you sure you like this seat?”
“At least more than the others,” said David with a smile.
Coustou was dumbfounded.
‘Why is this guy smiling and talking to me like this?’
Especially with everyone else keeping their distance.
‘Is he some sort of pervert with a slave fetish?’
Coustou wondered, eyeing David suspiciously. In the process, their eyes met.Coustou quickly looked away, flustered, but it was too late. He heard a small chuckle next to him.
“I’m David Bertier. And you?”
Coustou, feigning disinterest, responded without making eye contact.
“Coustou.”
Then David leaned slightly toward him. Ignoring Coustou’s discomfort, he whispered, “There are recording devices installed throughout the arena.”
“?!”
Upon hearing that, Coustou looked around carefully. Only then did he spot the cleverly hidden cameras.
‘There was notice in the invitation that said that we would be recorded.’
All competitions were recorded to be shown to the public and for evaluation. But like now, they were installed in a way that blended into the environment so that the participants wouldn’t be conscious of them.
‘These things might catch me doing something unguarded or offensive.’
These recordings would be edited by the princess and broadcasted.
‘Is the technology she has to manipulate and record things really that advanced?’
He only knew that they planned to cut a long video to make it shorter. Anyway, it was installed so naturally that he forgot it was all there. Everyone else, including Count Monsieux, seemed to have forgotten as well.
Except for this weirdo next to him.
“I don’t know who you are, but I have to admit you’re sharp.”
“You don’t know who I am?” David asked, a little embarrassed.
Having spent his youth as a slave and mercenary, Coustou didn’t have the luxury to keep up to date with the Empire’s celebrities. So he was used to hearing questions like this. But the statement that followed surprised him.
“It’s been a long time since someone said something like that to me.”
“?”
Coustou moved slightly away from David, feeling more than a bit uncomfortable at this point. A commotion erupted at the entrance once again.
“What was that?”
“What the hell is he doing here?”
“Wow, he’s crazy.”
“Where the hell is his conscience?”
Hostile comments came from all directions.
‘Who is this guy and why is everyone throwing jabs at him?’
He was treated almost as poorly as someone who was a former slave.
Coustou lifted his head to look at the entrance. A group of participants gathered around a man.
“Ugh, who invited that guy?”
“I’m sure the Princess didn’t ask him, and he must have acted on his own greed and ambitions.”
Keeping their distance, everyone refrained from approaching, choosing to criticize from afar.
‘He seems to be a formidable opponent—they want to curse him but fear facing him head-on.’
Then, that’s when he saw the man in question. He appeared to be a handsome man with a mysterious background.
‘I have no idea who that is.’
Coustou crossed his arms.
‘I wonder who would be more unpopular, me or him?’
A strange sense of competition sprang up from Coustou. The man walked over and sat down on the bottom row, unperturbed by the verbal onslaught he was receiving.
He was the acknowledged traitor of the empire, the hound of the tyrant—Dmitry Cassel.
* * *
“Alright. I will participate in Cartamen to honor the memory of those who died by my hand.”
“Well done, Dmitry!”
“However, I have a condition.”
A few days ago, Dmitry decided to participate in Cartamen after being persuaded by Princess Edith. Edith’s eyes, initially gleaming with joy, now showed signs of anxiety. Nevertheless, she was a keen observer; after all, a princess was skilled in reading between the lines.
“Do not reveal that I played a role in the revolution to Cartamen participants and the people.”
“Why not? If I tell them the truth, they’ll clear up their misconceptions about you and they’ll love you.”
“Do you really think they would believe that?”
“What?”
“Not only will they not believe it, but they would think that the Princess was covering for me, using this competition to whitewash my crimes. That would be detrimental to Cartamen.”
“….”
Dmitry had a point. The one they had relentlessly criticized turned out to be a person who risked his life for the revolution. People wouldn’t easily accept this revelation, especially considering the strong condemnations in the past.
“However, we can’t hide the truth forever.”
“I know. When the time is right, I will reveal the truth myself.”
“Really? Will you eventually disclose the truth?”
“As a knight, I swear on my life to you, Princess.”
Number 100.
Sitting in the very last seat, Dmitry recalled the conversation he had with Edith. As he did, Edith ascended to the stage installed on the opposite side of the waiting area.
“Wow.”
“Is the Princess coming out herself?”
The audience buzzed with excitement. It was rare for anyone other than high-ranking nobles to easily catch a glimpse of the Princess. Edith, famous for bringing down the tyrant through her genius alchemical skills, did not immediately take her seat on the stage. Instead, she stood facing the audience.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m Edith Lafayette, your master of ceremonies for Cartamen.”
“Wow!”
“First, let me introduce the judging panel.”
Three women stepped up to the stage.
The audience stirred.
“Who are they? How dare they judge our faction?”
“Wait, could they be…!”
“It can’t be! Are they really the ‘Knights’?”
Those who had been arrogantly shouting became humble as they realized the identity of the judges.
Coustou frowned.
‘Who is it this time?’
Once again, he didn’t have a clue.
David leaned over and whispered, “They’re the Valkyries.”
“!”
Valkyries! Even Coustou, who cared little about the affairs of the world, had heard of them. The Valkyries were an all-female imperial order of knights. The tyrant never included him in his blood duels because he underestimated their strength. As a result, the Valkyries had kept a low profile until then, allowing them to survive the carnage.
However, they were not pleased to have survived. Instead, they were the ones who persuaded the current emperor to overthrow the tyrant.
In other words, they were one of the heroes of the revolution.
After showcasing their prowess in the revolution, the honor of the Valkyria Knights soared.
“My name is Amonte Beckes, Commander of the Valkyries. I don’t expect much, but I wish you all the best,” said a woman with long red hair pulled back into a tight bun.
Next, a woman with short black hair and wolf-like blue eyes continued, “I am the Deputy Commander, Ynnes Parteau.”
That was it.
Finally, a woman with a golden bob and sparkling red eyes said, “I’m Milla Pond, just one of the Valkyrie Knights. I hope you all do your best so you don’t get in trouble with the Commander and the Deputy Commander!”
Unlike the previous two, her voice was lively. However, her words carried the most weight.
As the judges took their seats, Edith called out.
“The initiation assessment begins now! Get ready starting from number 1!”
Soon, participant number 1 received their weapon, a whip, and ascended the stage.
And the ‘whack-a-mole’ began in a way that no one expected.
