I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 118: Crumbling Foundation

Chapter 118: Crumbling Foundation

Each time the Duke presented himself, it seemed he had aged another decade. However, this latest sighting was more alarming than ones before and it seemed it would continue in that way until there was nothing left of the shriveled old man.

While sitting at the head of a table meant that he was supposed to be a dignified leader, the man revealed to them as they entered the meeting room was a far cry from that. His skin had paled further and his hair looked a bit stringy. He leaned into the staff he normally carried to aid in his movements and on top of it were shriveled hands that looked more like that of a corpse.

However, the most alarming part was his face. It was not only white as a sheet, but his lips—even extending further than that—were greying. He truly did seem corpselike. The fact that he was still considered fit to lead a duchy according to the King seemed impossible.

Sir Gunnar and Sir Sven were already in the room and, based on their somber expressions, it seemed that they were experiencing the same train of thought as the others. Their highest ranked knight under the Commander was going to leave them all the while the man looked the way he did.

What felt like a body running without a head, the knighthood was starting to seem like a body missing not only a head but a heart as well. How long could they keep going in such a way?

"Your Grace," Sir Arthur was the first to greet considering it was he who was calling such a meeting. "My deepest gratitude for meeting with us so suddenly."

"Sir Arthur," the Duke weakly responded. "It’s wonderful to see you walking after such a horrible injury."

"Yes, Commander," he responded with a bow of his head. "Fortunately it wasn’t my legs that were injured. However, that is also the reason I came to you this morning."

The knight gestured for the others to sit. The table was so large that they didn’t fill up all the spaces but the apprentices still stayed on the far side—even Irene who didn’t dare overstep her bounds.

"Continue," the Duke requested quietly.

"It is with a heavy heart that I come to request relief from my duties as a knight," Arthur explained with a bowed head. "How I command a sword is useless for what the knighthood needs. However, I promise to continue as your most trusted reeve in all of Tenetium. I can guarantee that whenever a winterization trip takes place, it will be unnecessary to bother with my lands. I will still protect them and ensure that they have everything they need in all seasons. This will take a bit of burden from your usual duties."

Irene could feel Leif and Felix’s eyes on her. All she could do was bow her head slightly and try to focus on the conversation unfolding in front of them. It felt like such a burden to handle, much less with her friends questioning her for having not told them anything the entire night that they were together.

The Duke’s expression fell but even that seemed to take effort. There was a long pause before the old man cleared his throat.

"Will this be sustainable for the knighthood?" he asked.

For a moment, the weathered knights in the room saw a glimmer of the Commander they once knew who cared deeply about the knighthood. He was in the position and held it for so long because he was a good leader when he was able to lead.

"I can only request Sir Gunnar answer," Arthur admitted. "But I have to also present that my being a dead weight to the knighthood while I figure out how to wield my sword with my left hand or continue shredding what’s left of my right in a prosthetic will be costly and timely. Considering the issues on the rise now, I believe we have until the end of winter to figure out a more permanent solution to the issue which is why I will only step away then. I dare say help from the Knights of Hydrogia or even Earl Auden’s personal knights would be something to consider if these issues further escalate."

"And what do you think, Sir Gunnar?" the Duke wondered.

Sir Gunnar felt heavy with dread but he managed to answer regardless.

"I believe that the winterization this year resulted in a more positive outcome than last year, but we won’t be able to see any definitive results until the snow is no longer and monsters reappear in our lands," Gunnar admitted. "However, we are adaptable and if Sir Arthur and his family are insistent on this outcome, we will step up. In fact, I advocate Felix’s move towards knighthood. However, I understand His Majesty is the one who must make final decisions."

"His Majesty is ever slow in making decisions for Tenetium," the Duke admitted quietly. "Please understand that I will advocate for this as well, Felix."

Eyes then turned to Felix who had to sit up a little bit straighter. He didn’t have a joke to crack. Something he had been working on from the moment his family was slaughtered in front of him was being presented even if it was slow.

"Thank you, Commander," Felix finally responded. "I give my sword to the duchy already. The title changes nothing of my seriousness in that."

"Very good," the Duke commented.

However, before more could be said, there was a knock on the door and soon appeared the Duchess who rushed forward eagerly and placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder when she finally made it to that side of the room.

Everyone in the room stood for her and even Rochelle offered a curtsy.

"This is a bit burdensome to such an ill man," she reminded them. "Please be considerate."

"I believe there is nothing more to say unless the Commander has an argument of his own," Sir Arthur responded.

The Duke’s eyes drifted to his wife but then they brushed over the room.

"I suppose I don’t," he uttered. "Whatever is best for the knighthood."

The Duchess then ushered the Duke out of the room and there was a sense of incompleteness as the man slowly left.

"Are you sure this is what you desire?" Gunnar was the first to speak up. "A knighthood where I am the highest ranked active knight... I can hardly believe it."

"It’s time," Arthur admitted. "I made promises that I must uphold."

"I understand," the other knight responded. Although his words of understanding were questioned slightly as he quickly walked out of the room, nudging Sir Sven’s shoulder so that he would make his exit as well.

By that point, Irene wasn’t able to look up at the others. She was quick to excuse herself and the two apprentices who were always glued to her went along as well.