MFAWW 05

Chapter 05

Since childhood, I had dreamed of becoming a knight. I had a hobby of collecting fairy tales about famous imperial knights and biographies of their heroic deeds.

Yet, strangely, I could never get my hands on any books about the Duke of Bright, one of the foremost knights of the era.

It was the same even when I asked the butler. He could procure everything else without issue, but he never managed to get anything related to the Duke of Bright.

That wasn’t all. When I asked the bards who visited the territory to sing songs, or when I asked my swordsmanship teacher—they all shook their heads, saying they didn’t know anything about the Duke of Bright.

Back then, I thought the Duke simply disliked having his stories spread around, or that it was impossible to get such books because we lived in such a remote area. But thinking about it now, it seemed the butler and nanny had deliberately blocked everything related to the Bright family out of consideration for my mother.

Just wait until I get back to the territory.

“Um…… Young Lady. Did I do something wrong?”

“Hm?”

I was pondering how to get revenge on the butler and nanny when Sophie asked with a nervous face.

“Your expression didn’t look good…….”

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking. What is the Marquess—no, Father—doing?”

“The Duke came to visit this morning, so they’re having breakfast together. Would you like to go to the dining room as well?”

“No.”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation. Eating at the same table as that uptight Duke? I’d rather go hungry than lose my appetite that early in the morning.

“Bring it here.”

“Understood.”

Sophie, who knew about yesterday’s commotion, nodded without protest.

“Then I’ll bring you something simple.”

“Ah. Right, Sophie. I have a question.”

“……? Go ahead.”

Setting aside the birth secret I’d learned after eighteen years and the reunion with a family I didn’t even know existed—I had a more pressing issue.

“Sophie, do you know where I can submit the application for the Imperial Knights?”

Soup or bread, first I needed to take care of the reason I’d come to the capital in the first place.

“Stand in line properly! No cutting!”

“Application number 850!”

Wow, there are so many people. Are they all my competitors?

I was amazed by the number of applicants, far more than I’d expected. I’d heard they were recruiting about twenty people, but even just those here looked formidable.

“Alright. Don’t lose your nerve.”

When a knight draws his sword, even a scarecrow gets cut!

I pulled my hood down firmly and approached the doorkeeper at the entrance of the registration office.

*’We know you’re Iris Young Lady now, but others don’t…… What if you get mistaken for her again?’*

*’If it’s for the exam registration, wouldn’t it be better to ask the Master……?’*

The butler and Sophie had been very worried when I said I wanted to go register for the knight exam.

If I’d had time, I might have followed the butler’s advice and asked the Marquess, but today happened to be the last day of registration. In a hurry, I ignored their protests and headed to the registration office alone.

*’I can’t let you go alone, Young Lady. I’ll prepare a carriage—at least take that.’*

*’It’s fine.’*

*’But…….’*

*’Wouldn’t riding a carriage with the Bright family crest draw people’s attention?’*

*’Hmm, that’s true.’*

I’d refused the butler’s offer to take the family carriage, making various excuses.

Perhaps it was because I’d always done things on my own without help, from childhood until now. It was a stubbornness, but I didn’t want to owe anyone anything. Especially not to people I still didn’t fully trust.

“I’m here to register for the knight exam…….”

“Number 866.”

The doorkeeper didn’t even let me finish. He mechanically handed me a registration number and application forms. He looked exhausted from the endless stream of people.

“Go inside.”

“Thank you.”

Sure enough, with my face covered, no one picked a strange fight with me like yesterday.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I filled out the forms in the waiting room. If I could just finish the registration safely, then by the time the selection exam came around, word would have spread that I wasn’t the Bright Young Lady—everything would work out perfectly.

“Application numbers 861 through 870, please come in!”

After filling out the forms and wandering around watching the other applicants, my turn came sooner than expected. Pressing down my racing heart, I entered the registration room.

There were four registration clerks at a long table, and about nine people waiting in line. There were more people inside than I’d expected.

“Application number 866!”

“Yes!”

I quickly handed over my registration number, application forms, and ID card. The registration clerk, who had her silver hair neatly tied back, wore the Imperial Knights’ emblem on her left chest. Just seeing that emblem made my heart flutter.

“Iris Subrina, age eighteen, specialty: sword…….”

The registration clerk tilted her head after looking at my ID card, then read through my application in a purely businesslike tone. She looked as tired as the doorkeeper. After examining the documents, she picked up a stamp and looked at me.

“Take off your hood.”

“……Pardon?”

“For identity verification, please remove your hood.”

“Uh…… well.”

This is troublesome. Very troublesome. I was caught off guard by this unexpected situation. As I hesitated and swallowed dryly, the clerk urged me.

“What are you doing? Take it off.”

“Do I have to?”

“To prevent proxy test-takers, we need to verify your face in advance.”

“Hmm, then…… please don’t be surprised when I take off my hood.”

What if another commotion breaks out when I take it off? I wanted to avoid getting caught up in any more trouble.

When I made the request in a worried voice, the clerk furrowed her brow. She seemed to be getting annoyed.

“Do you have a scar or something?”

“It’s not a scar, but everyone who sees my face gets surprised…… I don’t want to be misunderstood.”

Her curt attitude and gruff voice stung, but I had no choice but to endure it—I was the one in need here.

“Nothing like that will happen, so just take it off.”

“Are you sure you won’t be surprised?”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake. I told you, nothing will happen!”

“Ah?!”

I’d been caught. The irritated clerk snatched my hood away with a swift motion. As expected of an Imperial Knight—the hood was gone before I could even defend myself.

“Eh?”

Just a moment ago you said nothing would happen—the clerk, who had been frowning, widened her eyes at the sight of my face.

“The Marquess Bright’s daughter?”

“No!”

I shook my head vehemently and quickly pulled my hood back on, but it was already too late. The moment the clerk’s words ended, everyone’s gaze turned toward me.

“Ha.”

The clerk let out a scoff and folded her arms. Then she glared at me with an incredulous expression.

“What is the meaning of this, Lady Bright?”

Excuse me, I’m the one who’s incredulous here! What on earth has my twin sister been doing? How famous does someone have to be for everyone who sees them to recognize their face?

“I’m not that person.”

“This is not a place for you to play games, Young Lady. I won’t hold you responsible, so please leave quietly.”

It was this pattern again. I’d expected it, but it was starting to make me angry. I told you I’m not her! Why won’t anyone believe me?!

“I’m Iris Subrina! I even showed you my ID card!”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but forging an ID is a serious crime. Even if you do this, you won’t be able to meet His Highness the Second Prince.”

Second Prince? Who is that? I don’t care about some prince whose face I don’t even know. All I want is to become an Imperial Knight!

As my frustration rose, so did my voice.

“I applied because I want to become a knight!”

“If you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to arrest you under the authority of the Imperial Knights.”

“Ah, seriously! I told you I’m not!”

I’m going to develop a prejudice against the people of the capital at this rate. No one here listens to reason. They all think they’re right. If you’re not going to listen to what people say, why do you even have ears? As decoration?!

“What’s going on? Why all the noise?”

“I don’t know. Apparently it’s the Bright Young Lady.”

“Huh? That wicked woman? Why is she here?”

As I argued with the clerk, people began to surround us. I could hear them whispering among themselves from all directions. They watched me and the clerk facing off with great interest.

“This is your final warning. Leave.”

“Ah, seriously!”

To hell with it. Unable to contain the fury rising to the top of my head, I flung off my hood. As my face was revealed, gasps erupted from the onlookers.

“Gasp!”

“It’s really her! The real one has appeared!”

Real one, my foot—you people can’t even tell one face from another.

I was so angry my head was spinning and my chest was burning. At this rate, I’d really get an ulcer.

“I told you I’m not her! All of you!!”

I deliberately showed them my face and shouted at the whispering crowd.

“If you have eyes, look properly! I am Iris—ow!”

Ouch! As I was huffing and puffing like an enraged bear, a rough grip yanked my shoulder, and I turned my head. There stood the clerk with an icy expression.

“Lady Bright, I’m arresting you for disturbing the peace…….”

“Ugh.”

I’d let my guard down. With my arm twisted behind my back, I couldn’t move freely. As I struggled to break free, a voice came from behind me.

“What is this commotion?”

“Gasp.”

At the unexpectedly clear voice, the clerk who had been restraining me froze.

Who?

I lifted my eyes to identify the owner of the voice, but the clerk was blocking my view. All I could see over her shoulder was emerald-green hair, as vividly green as freshly ripened spinach.

“What’s all this noise?”

“Well, the Marquess Bright’s daughter…….”

The clerk stammered nervously. The owner of the voice seemed to be someone of high rank.

“The Marquess Bright’s daughter?”

At the clerk’s answer, the dew-clear voice rose slightly. The sound of neat footsteps drew closer, and a fragrant floral scent tickled my nose.

“Could you lift your head?”

Following the voice, I slowly raised my head. And my eyes met a brilliantly gleaming golden gaze.

“Ah.”

“Hm?”

The moment our eyes met, a gasp escaped me. I stared blankly at the owner of the voice, half-dazed.

Blue-tinged light green hair, golden eyes sparkling like sunlight, a fair face that could only be described as immaculate……

Goodness. Is this a person, or a fairy?

The owner of the voice was so breathtakingly beautiful my jaw nearly dropped. He looked down at me, held by the clerk, with interested eyes, then slowly opened his mouth.

“You are not the Marquess Bright’s daughter, are you?”