The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 23: Special Commission

After meeting with Etienne earlier, Alice was a little preoccupied when she was approached by someone.

She greeted the person with a simple, “Hello.”

Looking up, she realized that the person was around the same age as Etienne and dressed in a very fashionable manner, indicating that he was likely a cockney.

He introduced himself as Viscount Verona, a nobleman from the royal capital, “It was out of character for those individuals to leave someone as lovely as you alone. However, this situation finally allows me the opportunity to have a proper conversation with you.”

Alice wasn’t in the mood to engage with anyone right now, but thinking about the payment for the mission motivated her to smile through it.

Despite only managing a smile at the moment, she was born beautiful and still looked good.

When the viscount saw her smile, he mistakenly believed she was interested in him and felt pleased, “Today’s feast is quite intriguing, but the crowd is overwhelming, making it challenging to find a moment for a private conversation. The duchess, residing in the western frontier, is considered an outsider in the royal capital, resulting in the party’s format being different from the usual customs. Someday I will extend an invitation to you from my aunt’s salon, Countess Brendi, known for representing the Royal Capital’s Salons.”

“That does sound fascinating.” While she nonchalantly responded, Viscount Verona appeared captivated, praising her beauty while boasting about his prestigious family lineage, oblivious to his unwelcome presence.

As the banquet concluded, with most guests preparing to depart, she half-listened to his words while surreptitiously searching for Etienne’s departure.

Even though Viscount Verona was rather self-absorbed, he could somewhat sense the impatience of the other party.

He didn’t want to give up halfway, so he inquired with great attentiveness, “How did you arrive here? If it’s convenient, would you like to accompany me and I will escort you?”

Alice quickly spoke up, worried about missing the opportunity to decline, “No thank you, I came here in the duchess’ carriage, and later the duchess will arrange for someone to take me back.”

“Why should we inconvenience the master again? It’s much easier for me to drive you. Have you not yet seen the nighttime view of the royal capital? I will make sure that the carriage passes by the front of the Royal Palace, so you can truly experience this sight unique to the city.”

Alice, of course, was not willing to accompany the light-hearted viscount any longer.

She was already extremely annoyed and considering whether she should risk not receiving the final payment for the mission by punching him and knocking him out, or continue tolerating his nonsense until he realized that she had no interest in paying attention to him and willingly left on her own.

As she was grappling with this dilemma, a lady who had been with the duchess approached them, “Viscount Verona, I apologize for interrupting, but the duchess wishes to speak with Miss Alice at this moment.”

“In that case, I will stay here until their conversation is over. As we agreed at the party, I will make sure Miss Alice gets home safely,” said the viscount.

Alice’s eyes widened in amazement as she observed someone who was exceptionally skilled at conversing with themselves.

Just as she was about to object, the lady laughed, “I believe they will be occupied for quite some time. You should go ahead by yourself.”

Though the lady herself held no significant rank, she was a member of the duke’s household, and it was clear that she was conveying the wishes of the duchess.

Within this residence, the duchess held absolute authority, and her commands were to be unquestioningly followed.

The viscount’s hunting plans had to be abruptly halted at the duchess’ instruction. Despite feeling dissatisfied, he could only shrug and depart, unaware of his escape.

Alice let out a sigh of relief, relaxed her tense fists, and followed the lady to the duchess’ side.

At this moment, most of the guests have already left, leaving the duchess and Alice alone.

The lady who was instructed to fetch her also left after lighting an additional lamp. Eventually, only the two of them remained in the room.

The duchess nodded and motioned for her to take a seat opposite.

Alice had previously only seen her from a distance, but being in her presence now felt different.

While observing her up close, she noticed the remarkable beauty of the duchess that she had not seen before.

The duchess, aged around forty to fifty, showed signs of aging on her face despite good maintenance. However, these signs only enhanced her charm, giving her a deeper allure that comes with age.

This kind of attractiveness is unique to older individuals.

Looking at the stunning duchess, Alice felt a surge of admiration in her heart.

Currently, the duchess was sitting opposite her, leisurely drinking tea while assessing her. It appeared that she may have had something to convey.

Nevertheless, the pace of older individuals always seemed to be a bit slower, prompting Alice to initiate the conversation first.

“I assume you did not just invite me here to liven up the party?”

The duchess placed her tea cup down, “You are quite intelligent, not bad for someone I find favor in. I have a task I wish to entrust to you, that is why I invited you here today to see if you are up to the challenge. Based on what I have observed so far, I believe I made the right choice… Will you accept my request?”

Her words left Alice in a difficult position, “If you have any jobs for us, please visit the Mercenary Union to make a request. Mercenaries like us are not permitted to accept tasks privately. If we are caught doing so, not only will I be expelled from the Mercenary Union, but you may also face difficulties in assigning tasks to the union in the future…”

The duchess smiled slightly and highlighted the main concern, “You are worried about losing your source of income.”

This was understandable, as being a mercenary was Alice’s main source of livelihood, and she had achieved the status of an Special Grade Mercenary, so she was reluctant to switch professions easily.

“Do I resemble the type of person who seeks out hired soldiers for clandestine tasks solely to cut costs? I have my own valid reasons for not relying on the Mercenary Union. Since you didn’t make any promises to me, I’m unable to provide you with that explanation. However, I can share the compensation I’m willing to offer before you decide whether to accept my offer.”

Alice had already witnessed the duchess’ opulence, deducing from her mere presence at the party that the duchess had spent a significant sum of gold coins, not to mention the expenses associated with hosting the event.

It was likely that if she had privately hired Alice for a task, the payment would be substantial.

If Alice walked away without knowing the details, she feared she would struggle to sleep for the rest of her life.

Anxious, she cautiously asked, “So, what is the amount you are prepared to offer as compensation?”

The payment for this task had been planned by the duchess in advance, and she disclosed it at that moment, “If you agree, I will provide an upfront deposit of one hundred gold coins for your expenses during the mission. If successful, I will knight you, give you a territory, and allow you to become a noble. Even if it fails, I will compensate you with 500 gold coins for the risks you’ve taken. This sum is sufficient to support you for the rest of your life, ensuring a comfortable living even if you choose not to pursue a career as a mercenary.”

The offer was alluring. Apart from the large sum of gold coins, the promise of knighthood alone was enticing. Knights and mercenaries, despite both being involved in combat for a living, have distinct differences.

Alice had only recently come to understand this distinction.

In today’s era, most mercenaries in the nation were associated with the Mercenary Union, where they earned income by undertaking missions. Despite working hard, the mercenaries’ earnings were meager in comparison to the union’s cut.

To increase their chances of surviving missions, higher-ranked mercenaries had no choice but to invest in costly equipment, leading many of them to be saddled with debts.

Viewed from a certain perspective, there was little distinction between them and prostitutes, as both were essentially selling their bodies or lives, with debts that seemed insurmountable.

Only a few mercenaries like Rom managed to reach their forties without debts and even saved money for retirement.

Alice had always been under the care of her master and hadn’t paid much attention to financial matters until she reached the rank of Special Grade Mercenary.

It was only then that she realized the financial challenges she would face.

Had she not been fortunate enough to receive a sword and horse without cost, the expenses she would have incurred to obtain them could have left her in debt for the rest of her days.

If someone were to be knighted, the situation would change drastically.

Knights are members of the noble class, so being knighted means entering that class.

It not only comes with the possibility of receiving land and a stipend from a lord, but also exempts one from paying taxes and being under anyone’s authority. The financial benefits are also substantial.

Winning in battle could lead to gaining more land and ascending to a higher noble rank.

In theory, any noble lord with a significant amount of land could knight someone, but most prefer to knight those who are already nobles in training and are reluctant to grant knighthood to commoners easily.

Only a powerful figure like Duchess Felix, who is wealthy and not beholden to anyone, would consider knighting a commoner like Alice.

The opportunity for a commoner to become a knight might only come around once in a lifetime.

She stumbled upon such a valuable opportunity quite easily. It is possible that living with Rom for a long time had influenced her luck.

Despite this, she did not immediately agree and instead posed a question, “Is it possible for a woman to become a knight?”

Her doubts were justified, as traditionally women were not accepted on the battlefield.

Although she had managed to become an Special Grade Mercenary as a woman, it had only been achievable under very unique circumstances. The requirements to become a knight were much more rigorous.

She had never heard of a female knight before.

“I have heard of the battle you participated in Moores City,” the duchess said to Alice, standing up and speaking with a serious tone. She continued, “Your skills are not inferior to any knight. While it may not be recognized elsewhere, in the West Felix Territory, I hold the power. I guarantee you with my honor as a duchess that, if you meet my expectations, I will appoint you as a Knight of West Felix.”

She made a solemn vow, and given her status as a high-ranking noble, she would not easily break her promise.

She outlined the terms and awaited Alice’s response.

If Alice was older, she might have requested time to think it over. However, at the age of seventeen, with nothing to lose and a strong desire, her biggest fear was letting this opportunity slip away.

“I agree.”