Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 34

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“This entrance exam for the Northern Knights will be graded by a single examiner. The test will be a duel. You may face the examiner all at once, one at a time, or two at a time, as you prefer.”

Sener pondered Irtel’s words.

‘We can attack all at once or take turns?’

That seemed almost too generous.

The Grand Duke had said the entrance exam was just a formality, but since it was point-based, they didn’t even need to win.

He didn’t know who the examiner would be, but it felt like they were being given an easy pass.

Sener carefully inspected his weapon.

Beside him, Ashler grinned as he polished his newly acquired weapon.

Just then, the doors of the training ground swung open.

Sener and Ashler both paused in surprise.

“Are you ready?”

The hand Telon had been using to polish his weapon suddenly stopped.

The low, resonant voice that echoed through the training ground didn’t seem to fit the current situation.

The person who entered was none other than Grand Duke Asnel.

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Telon’s eyes widened as he watched Grand Duke Asnel enter the training ground.

‘Why is the Grand Duke here? I didn’t expect him to oversee such a simple entrance exam. We’re not even top-tier knights…’

He recalled their conversation over tea with the Grand Duke, where he had said the test was merely a formality.

[Is that true, Your Grace? You’re really giving us the chance to take the entrance exam for the Northern Knights? And you said the test was just for show, so we shouldn’t worry?]

The Grand Duke had set his teacup down and nodded.

[Indeed. Of course, if you prefer to stay at the House of Herins, I won’t stop you. But if you’re interested in joining the Northern Knights, I’m fully prepared to help.]

His gentle red eyes had looked at them kindly.

[You may think life in the Northern Knights is tough and rigid compared to the relaxed atmosphere of the Herins estate, but you’ve seen the Northern Knights staying here recently. Their carefree and vibrant personalities show that’s not really the case.]

The relaxed atmosphere of the Herins estate?

It was more like things just barely holding together by chance.

Telon had also envied the Northern Knights’ lightweight armor and boots, noticing how carefree they looked lounging under the shade of a tree.

The lightweight armor used less metal or compressed metal, unlike the formal armor that had numerous buckles and required meticulous attention.

It was simpler in design and allowed for easier movement.

However, the downside of lightweight armor was that it provided less protection from enemy attacks.

To overcome this, they used compressed metals or reinforced the armor with refined magic.

Regardless of the method, lightweight armor was extremely expensive and highly coveted.

Seeing all the Northern Knights, from the high-ranking officers down to the squires, wearing this armor had made Telon’s eyes spin with envy.

Telon, who had a deep interest in weapons and armor, immediately noticed that the lightweight armor worn by the northern knights was magically reinforced, making it as light as a feather but as sturdy as a rock.

That’s why he could hardly resist the urge to touch the armor every time the northern knights took it off.

People say that a true knight isn’t picky about weapons, but he found that ridiculous.

A knight, by tradition, should be draped in a mantle embroidered with gold on their shoulders and wield a gleaming weapon in their hand for their worth to be recognized.

No matter how skilled a knight was, if they were clad in tattered rags and wielded a dull paper knife, who would treat them like a knight?

They’d be lucky if people didn’t mistake them for a beggar.

Only those who had received proper support could say such things.

At the Count Herins’ household, it took ages to replace a worn-out sword.

With a low-ranking knight’s salary, what shiny weapon could one afford?

Even buying the most basic sword and armor was a financial strain.

[And I plan to provide the same support as the existing knights.]

As Telon recalled his past arguments with the stingy butler Kerrill, his lips twisted in annoyance, but his head shot up at the grand duke’s words.

‘The same support as the northern knights, does that mean we’ll also be given their weapons and armor?’

As Telon’s eyes widened, Sener glanced at him and asked.

[What kind of support do you mean, Your Grace?]

[I’ve heard that the largest and most historic weapon shop in the south is the Rock Weapons Shop.]

[…Rock Weapons Shop, you say?]

[If you are committed to joining the northern knight order, I will give you the opportunity to select your weapons from there. Since I am asking for your assistance, I will make sure you are treated well. I’ve instructed them to open the doors wide for you, as they have many historical weapons.]

[T-then, we can even go to the fourth floor?!]

Telon couldn’t hold back this time and blurted out. Asler, next to him, jabbed him in the side, but even Asler couldn’t hide the growing smile on his face.

‘…It’s not like I ever treated Ronen that well.’

In fact, he had probably been more harsh than kind.

He had yelled at Ronen for holding his wooden sword incorrectly and once told him to practice striking a straw dummy until he returned—only to forget and leave him there for hours.

When his eyes met the grand duke’s, Telon lowered his gaze, recalling his past interactions with Ronen that pricked at his conscience.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve treated him better.’

The memory of how he had brushed off Ronen’s questions, impatiently and dismissively, just because he found them annoying, left a bitter taste in his mouth.

But that tiny feeling of guilt quickly dissolved into self-justification.

‘Still, I treated him better than Captain Sener or Asler.’

Didn’t Captain Sener and Asler often whack Ronen over the head with a wooden sword, telling him to get his act together?

But that wasn’t such a big deal.

Letting your guard down during sword training could lead to a serious accident.

In those situations, it was only natural to shout and remind the trainee to stay focused.

So, there was nothing to feel guilty about.

Besides, Ronen hadn’t said anything about them to the grand duke… or maybe he had.

But if the grand duke hadn’t said anything, it must be because he understood the nature of knight training.

After all, as a fellow knight, he could easily turn a blind eye to such things.

As if to confirm this, the grand duke’s dignified, serene face was graced with a faint smile.

His voice was gentle, and his tone calm.

His courteous demeanor, devoid of any malice, was like a lighthouse showing the way, reassuring them not to stray from the path.

[Of course. I intend to repay the Count Herins and then leave for the north. I still can’t believe I’ve met Ronen again… So if there’s anything you want, don’t hesitate to ask.]

Not only would he prepare them for the northern knights’ entrance exam, but he would also provide them with weapons… Telon couldn’t contain his excitement.

[Don’t worry about how it looks to others. We’ll make sure everything from the exam components to the examiners is set up properly, so no one can raise any issues.]

The Royalte Knights, who guarded the northern region where half the year was bitterly cold and the other half even colder, were revered for their honor and pride.

In the stories passed down from person to person, they were celebrated for protecting the people from monsters and overcoming any hardship with persistence and patience.

Telon saw in them a testament to the human spirit’s triumph.

The Royalte Knights had something that ignited a fiery passion.

‘And now, I have a chance to join such a knight order?!’

Of course, even if he joined the northern knights, it would be a while before he could take on a major role, but just the thought of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Royalte Knights under Duke Asnel’s command thrilled him.

So naturally, he hurriedly signed the application form right then and there.

As Telon recalled that leisurely midday conversation, he tilted his head slightly as he watched the grand duke enter the training grounds.

‘…Wait, could it be that the grand duke came to watch the entrance exam?’

He hadn’t expected the grand duke to personally attend the entrance exam for low-ranking knights like them…

The thought of the grand duke observing their sparring test made Telon’s heart race again.

‘Damn, what if the grand duke finds out how sloppy my swordsmanship is? Compared to the northern knights, I’m nothing.’

Telon looked around anxiously.

‘And why haven’t we seen the examiner yet? I need to know who it is so I can prepare.’

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