I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 160: Outdoor Patrol

Chapter 160: Outdoor Patrol

"Iro," Felix called from between clenched teeth. "You’re looking quite idiotic right now."

Irene had to shake her head as if it would clear the thoughts that were plaguing her. Since she had already lost the fight, she couldn’t help her eyes traveling back to the walkway where the person she thought she saw was before.

There was no sign of him.

But she knew she saw him.

When the older apprentice reached downward to help the other one up and rectify the situation, she slapped his hand away at being called idiotic. She then got up by herself.

"I merely lost a spar," she snapped. "And you’re not helping the situation much at all."

Felix merely raised his hands in defeat and he went back to the line where Leif and Arin were already standing.

To Arin’s chagrin, Leif had won their match and he was silent. If he were a dog, his tail would be between his legs.

Sir Gunnar couldn’t help his eyebrows lowering at Irene’s display in the practice yard. Normally she didn’t go down so easily. He made it a point to watch her as he wondered how she had improved compared to the past times he saw her face Felix. They were getting closer in skill level, but that last spar would indicate far otherwise.

"Get it together, apprentices," he ordered. "We are to guard the Earl’s home tomorrow evening. There are invaluable guests already here and a few more arriving."

"Yes, sir," they all said, but Irene’s voice sounded the most clear.

Her head was bowed in silent apology for looking like a fool while there were so many important people outside along the walls.

After the practice, they were permitted to go off in various directions since the rest of the day wasn’t all that busy except for a meeting with all the knighthoods about the plans that would ensue the following day.

When Irene got back to her family’s shared guest suite, she was permitted a quick bath before she got into fresh clothing. For not having to wear a dress in a place like that, her mother was still laying it on thick with all the clothing she was forcing her to wear.

She knew if she wasn’t careful, the other apprentices would start poking fun at her ensembles.

However, Irene wasn’t in the mood to argue with anyone. She was still shaken from seeing someone who had meant so much to her at one point. It was hard to remind herself that it wasn’t in that life that he mattered. He didn’t even know who she was. She wasn’t even presenting herself as a girl.

It didn’t take away the memories that she would always have of having to kiss him, them sealing their vows—all the things that were required to be the wife of a nobleman.

Her thoughts often drifted in that direction and her face felt hot. It carried her all the way to the next day where she was having to really pay attention to herself and get out of her head or it would lead to trouble.

All of the knights were on rotating schedules with some in the ballroom, some outside, and some in the hallways. Luckily, every knight was allowed to work alongside those they were familiar with. Her father was the one who suggested this since each order trained their knights a bit differently. If they were near people they already knew how to work with, it would lead things to a better outcome on the chance that an emergency happened or monsters and bandits appeared.

The Knights of Tenetium were in the hallways when the last of the guests arrived and the festivities were in full swing.

However, the commander of the Auden’s knights came into the halls.

"It is time to switch shifts," he announced. "Knights of Tenetium will be outside. Please remember yesterdays meeting and the proper procedures."

The knights and apprentices uttered some form of agreement before they went off in their own direction to retrieve cloaks to cover their outer coats and armor already being worn.

Despite how much no one wanted to be out in he cold in a Chemoian winter, Irene breathed a sigh of relief. At least outdoors they wouldn’t have to be stopped by anyone or talked to.

The sky was devoid of clouds and, as Irene went to her post on the southwestern end of the large property, she regarded the dark expanse for a few moments. Even though the hour wasn’t late, the sun had already set considering the mere few hours of sunlight they had in the deepest part of winter.

Considering the importance the sky had to the Sunsto, she couldn’t help her thoughts drifting to fate as they often did.

It made her so nervous to be close to what she deemed in her past life to be her fate. That teenager would grow up and she wouldn’t be his wife.

They never shared love even though she respected the way he ran his estate and never forced her to do anything she didn’t really want to. Almost everything she did that was required to be a noble woman was undesirable to her anyway.

It was simply too strange for her to face at that moment.

Pulling her eyes down and continuing on the path she was meant to walk, Irene knew she needed to focus and let go the things that would no longer affect her anymore.

As far as anyone knew, she was a boy. That was what she needed to focus on.

After all, that was the only way she could be a knight.

Unfortunately, she was pulled from her thoughts as one of the Auden’s knights approached her. She bowed in respect, unsure of his reasoning for being there and hoping she wasn’t in trouble for anything considering how distracted she had been.

She needed to lock her focus in. A requirement of a knight was to focus. It was the least she needed to be able to do.

"Iro Litharion?" the knight asked as if it were really a question who was the only person with red hair matching the other Litharions in attendance.

"Yes, sir?" she asked.

"Her Highness, Princess Marie, has requested your presence in the ballroom."

"Pardon me?" Irene asked a bit dumbly.