The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 43: Lord Knight

Alice gracefully followed the village chief into his humble abode once more.

This time, his countenance bore a warmth and cordiality that contrasted sharply with his earlier demeanor.

“Please, take a seat here for a moment,” he kindly instructed.

He then found a plush cushion for Alice, ensuring her comfort, before bustling about energetically to prepare tea.

Without delay, he also ordered others to prepare a midday meal, “Go to the Paige family and inform them that Her Grace the Duchess’ knight will be dining there. And, make sure to find a few young folk to keep watch over Sir Reynolds. If he happens to leave, send someone to tidy up the house quickly.”

It was evident that the village chief wielded considerable authority within this community; his commands were obeyed without hesitation, and the villagers departed quietly, acknowledging his leadership.

Alice recalled that the Paige family he mentioned was perhaps the same family whose daughter had long been unable to wed, due to Reynolds’ insistence on exercising his rights of the first night.

Fortune seemed to favor them now; just as Reynolds had been making their lives difficult, her arrival appeared to turn the tide. This time, their daughter’s marriage was likely to proceed smoothly, a fortunate turn for the family.

A flurry of thoughts crossed her mind, yet she scarcely took the time to dwell on them.

At this moment, her focus was solely on rubbing her arms as her mind involuntarily replayed the scene where she had just called out Cecilion’s name.

What on earth is happening? Alice was confident she could defeat Reynolds on her own; she did not need to depend on Cecilion’s power. Yet, just moments ago, she had felt utterly out of control—a strange, compelling impulse driving her to invoke the divine power of the gods.

While divine power undeniably possesses remarkable effects, she disliked this sense of helplessness. If she had to put it into words, it felt as though she were possessed by something beyond her control.

Was it Cecilion? When she sensed this force attaching itself to her, it seemed almost as if that was the case—though she believed it shouldn’t be.

She had always trusted Cecilion implicitly. It was him who had saved her life, and she had sworn her oath to him within the shadows of the dark dungeon, dedicating everything she was to his service.

Beyond that, she believed there was nothing left within her that anyone or any god could desire. She did not think it was truly possession, but she yearned for a rational explanation—something that could make sense of what was happening to her.

Currently, Cecilion remains completely silent, his presence unmistakably felt by her.

Yet, she is well aware that He seldom adheres strictly to her requests; He moves to his own rhythm, follows his own plans, and does not usually offer immediate explanations.

The bustling activity of the village chief, coming and going, engaging in conversations, renders this place unsuitable for any meaningful dialogue.

Just as Alice found herself caught in a dilemma, the village chief approached her with a teapot in hand, “This herbal tea is remarkably effective in alleviating muscle fatigue. Please, try some.”

His timely offering of the herbal infusion was a welcome relief. Following her recent confrontation with Reynolds—and despite having invoked Cecilion’s divine power—the weight of Reynolds’ mass had pressed heavily upon her, leaving her muscles strained and sore.

Though relying on Cecilion’s divine aid was not her initial intention, the resulting soreness was an unavoidable consequence, fueling her growing frustration with him.

Fortunately, the fragrant herbal tea from the village chief proved soothing; its warm, aromatic brew eased her fatigue.

After sipping the tea, surrounded by its calming aroma, Alice felt her nerves relax and her tension diminish, providing a much-needed moment of respite amidst the chaos.

Acquiring the village land granted by the duchess is undeniably a moment of great rejoicing. Even if a few challenges arise along the way, she perceives them as no impediment to her happiness.

Sitting across from her, the village chief shared a cup of tea and recounted the current state of the village. His keen insight allowed him to recognize that Reynolds, who had long held sway over the settlement, would not be returning.

The reins now rest with the young female knight before him, at least until anything unforeseen befalls the duchess; under these circumstances, the situation remains steady.

This new master appears markedly more reasonable than Reynolds, instilling a renewed sense of hope in the village chief for the village’s future.

In Ronald Village, aside from a handful of self-sufficient farmers who own their plots, most residents are tenant farmers who rent land to sustain themselves. Each autumn, these tenants are required to hand over half of their earnings as rent.

Historically, Reynolds personally collected these payments; however, with the new knight unlikely to reside permanently in the village, the village chief has offered to oversee the collection on her behalf.

This task, however, demands considerable manpower, and delegating it to him would entail deducting a portion of the collected rent as compensation for his efforts.

In addition to the fields, the village also owned several properties, including a windmill and a shrine to the God of Agriculture and Herding. The windmill was available to tenants free of charge, but owners or residents of other villages who wanted to use it had to pay a fee.

The income from the windmill was usually modest and essentially only covered daily maintenance, so it wasn’t recorded in the books. The village chief usually kept the money, and any surplus was sometimes used for other purposes.

The village chief hadn’t had time to tell Alice about Panlos Labyrinth when the young man he had sent out earlier returned to inform him that lunch at the Paige’s house would soon be ready.

The village chief poked his head out the window and observed the position of the sun, “Well, let’s stop here for now. It’s just about time for lunch.”

The Paige’s family house stood a short distance from the village chief’s house. He suggested Alice ride there, and he also mounted a donkey. They rode for about seven or eight minutes and saw the house in the distance. Some people were waiting there.

Before she and the village chief could approach, they heard a call, “The lord is here! Come, everyone, and greet him!”

Alice felt a genuine sense of warmth upon being embraced by the villagers. Yet, from a distance, an unsettling feeling crept into her mind—something seemed amiss.

The villagers who gathered to welcome her appeared unusually apprehensive, their fear almost palpable.

Unbeknownst to her, while she was enjoying tea at the village chief’s residence, word had swiftly spread that the new knight, sent by the duchess, had defeated Reynolds. The spectacle of her duel with Reynolds, witnessed by many outside the village chief’s house, had become a rallying point of whispers and speculation.

Though numerous onlookers had seen her lift Reynolds effortlessly overhead, few had caught a clear glimpse of her true appearance. To the villagers, the knight who had bested the fierce Reynolds must be even more formidable and intimidating—a monstrous figure surpassing Reynolds himself.

Consequently, she was often described as a fearsome giant, larger and more terrifying than Reynolds. Nonetheless, a handful of witnesses who had a closer view noted her slender build and handsome features.

Due to ingrained gender stereotypes, many dismissed the idea that this formidable knight could be a woman, instead insisting she was a formidable, hulking presence.

Yet, amidst a crowd that largely branded her a monster, even those few who saw her clearly began to question their own eyes, uncertain whether what they believed was real or just an illusion born of rumor.

The family was horrified when someone came to the Paige’s house and told them that they would have to be responsible for providing lunch for “the new lord who has taken over the village.”

Honest Knight Martin had been dead for so long that these humble tenants had forgotten that there were landowners in the world who did not behave like Reynolds. So when the family heard the news, their first reaction was that the new lord was not as patient as Reynolds and could not wait until their youngest daughter Lisa’s wedding night, and now he was going to take her away.

What could such poor tenants do when the squire had made his decision? If they refused to give up Lisa, the squire would probably not allow them to rent the land, and the family would starve.

So the Paige family had to suppress their grief, dress their lovely little daughter Lisa in pretty clothes, and kill a chicken to cook for the squire.

When everything was almost ready, the crowd of onlookers outside shouted, “The village chief and the lord have arrived together!”

In the realm of exaggerated tales, within less than two hours, the once perceived monster had transformed into a formidable demon in the villagers’ eyes. Though the figure accompanying the village chief did not appear particularly frightening from afar, the villagers insisted it was merely an illusion designed to deceive them.

Lisa was compelled to step forward and greet the knight lord. Her heart pounded with fear, and she felt utterly trapped, with no escape in sight.

While Reynolds also carried an intimidating aura, she knew him well enough to recognize him; at least he was somewhat familiar.

In stark contrast, this knight lord—whose reputation had been whispered about for hours—was undeniably ten thousand times more terrifying.

She could only bite her lip and lower her gaze as she approached, until the horse halted before her.

Summoning her courage, she recited the words she’d been told, “Sir Knight… I am Lisa of the Paige family. Sir Reynolds asked me to accompany him before the wedding, and now that he’s gone, I have been sent to serve you…”

Her face flushed crimson, and it was difficult to discern whether her blush stemmed from nerves or fear. Her voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with vulnerability, and finally, she covered her face with her hands—overwhelmed and unable to bear the weight of the moment.

Alice, who was riding and listening to her, was completely motionless.

What the hell were these people thinking? She had no idea that the expression “right of the first night” would be associated with her.

In her opinion, after Reynolds was banished, the villagers should no longer be bound by such strange rules. However, the Paige family clearly believed that Reynolds’ departure did not mean that everything would change for the better, but only indicated that they were about to meet an even harsher master.

Alice thought she had seen a lot, but she did not know how to act. The common sense of mercenaries and knights was completely different, and she still had to adapt.

At this point, she could only say in her softest voice, “Um, Lisa, could you raise your head for a moment?”

Lisa hesitantly looked up and saw a face that clearly belonged to a woman.

She was stunned and did not know how to react.

At this moment, the village chief, riding on a donkey, waved his hand, “What are you all doing? Can’t you see that the lord is a woman?”