The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 38: West Felix

A steward discovered a suitable accommodation for Alice within the castle.

Upon learning her identity, he made arrangements for her to stay in the section designated for the knights serving under the duchess while on castle duty.

This location is in close proximity to the armory, away from the servants’ kitchen, and completely separate from the area designated for the duchess’ guests.

It is likely that she will have to reside here often once she officially becomes a knight.

It appears that many rooms on this side of the castle are already occupied, but currently, only one knight is living next door to her. This knight has daily duties and rarely spends time in the room.

Upon her arrival, Alice did not encounter him.

No instructions were given to her regarding her accommodations or movements, allowing her the freedom to explore the castle and surrounding villages as she pleased.

Located on a cliff, Cloudmist Castle is the largest in the west and the second largest in the country, boasting a grand appearance and a long history.

It has served as a vital military stronghold for centuries, reflecting the resilience and courage of the Felix family. This fortress has stood for many years. Despite undergoing constant repairs and reinforcements, the living conditions within are quite poor.

Many nobles in the Felix family have chosen to abandon the castle in favor of more comfortable homes in the capital.

Duchess Felix, however, remains faithful to her family’s motto: remain vigilant in times of peace and never let your guard down.

To adhere to this philosophy, she spends four months each year at the castle, residing here throughout spring and half of summer. During this period, she supervises the training of soldiers and oversees the maintenance of the fortress.

Furthermore, couriers travel daily between the Ferren Mansion and Cloudmist Castle, delivering various documents to the duchess.

The duchess oversees a team of stewards who manage different aspects of her territory including land, finances, and the appointment of officials. Despite this, she personally oversees many matters, signs documents, and sometimes mediates between conflicting lords to resolve disputes.

In the evenings, she joins her knights for dinner in the dining hall.

Although not yet a knight, Alice is already a member of the duchess’ inner circle.

At the table, she meets Knight Kent, a young knight who lives nearby and was recently promoted from squire. He informs her that loyal knights of the duchess will arrive over the next few weeks for their annual training and knighthood ceremony.

Her new coworker was a friendly guy who didn’t act superior and didn’t seem bothered by her gender, which made her feel a bit better.

However, he cautioned her, “The senior members will be here soon and they may not treat you with the same respect. But don’t worry, you’re under the protection of Her Grace.”

‘Are all these knights and individuals associated with the duchess?’ Alice thought.

She struggled to comprehend the intricate dynamics among the noble class.

During her nightly prayers, she implored Cecilion, a supernatural being who materialized before her, to shed light on the dire situation faced by the Duchess Felix.

Cecilion disclosed, “The Duchess Felix acquired her title solely through marriage, lacking any offspring. Consequently, upon her demise, the duke’s title and lands will be dispersed among remotely related individuals. The majority of the knights serving under the duchess hail from prominent local families in the west, with only one loyalist whom she brought along from the royal capital following her marriage.

While these knights ardently supported her late husband, the duchess herself has no ingrained ties to the west. Hence, it is more advantageous for these knights to secure benefits for their own kin rather than pledge allegiance to a childless leader. Their strategy is to maximize gains amidst the tumult that will ensue post the duchess’ passing.”

His tone was cheerful, but Alice felt uneasy.

This was her first introduction to politics, and her young mind, usually preoccupied with combat, was now confronted with unfamiliar information.

Through Cecilion’s implication, she realized that being a knight required more than just fighting skills.

There were other important aspects to consider, perhaps even more crucial than combat itself. She was adept at fighting, with Rom teaching her lethal techniques, strategies for survival, and financial management.

However, he had never instructed her on navigating political alliances, warning her of the dangers involved.

Feeling lost in this new territory, she turned to Cecilion with a straightforward question, “What am I supposed to do?”

“Don’t fret,” He reassured, “Just stick close to the duchess and she’ll find a way to keep you safe, since she has chosen to knight you. She needs your support more than you need hers. Given her age, she should be able to reign for at least another ten years. By then, if things change, you can come up with a better plan.”

His guidance proved effective in calming Alice’s nerves for the time being. Despite thinking she was brave enough, once faced with the situation, she felt somewhat vulnerable.

As the knights began to arrive individually, she felt even more out of place.

Everyone else was older than her, except for Kent.

Although they knew she was soon to be a knight, they still cast odd glances in her direction whenever she joined them at the table.

It was as if she were a scullery servant who had mistakenly stumbled into the knights’ gathering.

The group took over the training ground and other areas frequented by Alice. She grew tired of constantly seeing them and decided to avoid going to the village daily.

Instead, she shadowed the duchess, observing her activities and listening to her conversations. The duchess remained silent on the matter, seemingly approving of her presence.

As she walked a short distance, she noticed a strange phenomenon in the air.

While not politically savvy, Alice could recognize the aura of death and the intense desire for someone’s demise emanating from a person.

It was a feeling that went beyond the eyes, manifesting from the very core of one’s being. This grim atmosphere was familiar to her from the battlefield, but she was surprised to sense it in the duchess’ drawing room.

She discovered that almost all the knights and occasional visiting lords in this place did not want the duchess to continue living.

The only individuals truly devoted to her were the elderly Knight Philo, who had accompanied the duchess from the royal capital, and Knight Kent, recently promoted by her.

Philo, at sixty years old, was too aged to offer much help to the duchess. Kent, on the other hand, was too inexperienced and lacking a solid background to make an impact.

Alice believed this was precisely why the duchess required her presence—someone who had endured hardships and who would remain steadfastly loyal to her.

She observed them coming and going in front of the duchess like vultures or crows, with some not bothering to conceal their contempt.

Their desire was for the duchess to perish quickly so they could align themselves with a new master at the earliest opportunity, assisting the new master in claiming a piece of the Felix family’s territory and reaping their own benefits.

Despite the obvious disdain shown towards herself, the duchess remained unfazed and never displayed any vulnerability in public.

However, the environment was clearly dampening Alice’s enthusiasm.

After a long day’s work, the duchess would often feel exhausted and uninterested in conversation, signaling for Alice to depart.

Sometimes Alice would delay leaving and catch a glimpse of the duchess holding the box containing the crown close to her heart when closing the door.

On a few occasions, she thought she saw a glimmer of something on the duchess’ face as she gazed at the crown; perhaps she even noticed a tear once.

Being in the castle under this oppressive atmosphere made her feel suffocated, but at least she had Cecilion as a companion.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t always rely on talking to him due to the castle’s poorly insulated stone walls with cracks that allowed sound to travel.

Before most of the knights arrived, Kent, who had a room adjacent to hers, discreetly mentioned that he could hear her conversations at night.

Alice informed him that she had indeed been praying, a fact that was undeniable, but Kent appeared skeptical based on his expression, “I suggest being cautious about who you speak to. The house near you may be empty for now, but Sir Horton will be moving in soon. He tends to gossip and won’t keep secrets if he overhears something.”

Grateful for the warning, she resumed her regular prayers but continued to sense Cecilion’s presence whenever she reached out to him.

If He had nothing to communicate, He would silently sit beside her.

The sensation was peculiar yet delightful for her, regardless of how many times she encountered it. She could physically feel his body, discern the contour of his fingers, and even perceive his breathing—whether his body actually required it was uncertain.

At times when the lighting shifted, she could observe faint shadows in the atmosphere flicker, offering glimpses of his posture.

At times, she would lean her head against his knee. Her thick crimson hair flowed freely, resembling red seaweed in the ocean.

Initially, she had kept her hair short to disguise herself as a boy until she disclosed her true gender. Since then, she had let it grow long.

His gentle touch caressed her hair as his fingers glided through it. His motions were delicate and unhurried.

When she was ready to rest, He would grasp her hand until she drifted off to sleep.

Within a short span of two weeks, the day of Alice’s knighthood approached swiftly.