Heavy boots thudded against polished marble as the last of the royal messengers departed, leaving silence in their wake.
Sir Alfonso Bareno stood by the tall arched window of his stone-walled office, a gauntleted hand pressed against the sill. The midday sun painted the tiled floor in streaks of gold and blue through stained glass, but his expression remained storm-shadowed.
He was not a man prone to rage. He had led Vernetia's royal knights for over thirty years, more than half of his life, through civil war, foreign invasion, and fighting demons, and his steel-gray hair bore testament to the burdens he carried.
Yet as he stared down at the open report clenched in his other hand, his jaw tightened visibly.
Aldric, once a prodigy knight, now became a traitor.
"Damn him…" he muttered under his breath.
A knock at the door broke the quiet.
"Enter," Alfonso said, voice level but low.
The door opened, and Marianne Devearux stepped inside, armor slightly scuffed, and a calm yet weary look in her eyes. Her long hair was still damp with sweat from the battlefield.
"Commander Devearux, reporting as ordered."
Alfonso didn't turn.
"Close the door."
She did so without hesitation. Silence fell again, thick and pressing.
He finally turned. His eyes—sharp, cold, and unforgiving—locked onto hers.
"Sit."
Marianne complied. She remained upright, posture firm, hands resting on her thighs.
Alfonso tossed the report onto the desk between them. The pages fluttered like wounded birds.
"Explain it right now, Marianne.." he said curtly.
"How in the name of the Crown did you let Aldric go away?"
Her lips pressed into a line.
"With all due respect, Sir. Aldric led several hundreds of the Rogue knights with him. The knights were also exshauted from the encirclement they did and suffered several lost."
"That much I read. What I don't understand, Marianne.." Alfonso's voice was razor-thin now, "is why you let him go, after you beat him in the fight."
Marianne didn't flinch. "Because capturing him would have cost more lives. Besides, I believe he was not their true leader, Sir. There are more Rogue knights out there waiting for us to make mistakes."
Alfonso stepped around the desk, slow and deliberate, until he stood just before her.
"I know about that. I also know the information you did not know. But Aldric wasn't just any traitor. He knew our secrets,our formations,and our internal situations. He knows you. Yet, you let him free?!."
-BAMMMMMM!!!
Alfonso slammed the table with his first to let out his angry.
He sighed hardly and started to talked again to her.
"I know he was a knight with great potential. I know you had the closest relationship with him back then. But i want to ask you one important question. If he came back again and attack this kingdom,and peoples you want to protect, What Will you do?!"
Hearing Alfonso's question, Marianne was still calm and began to answer.
"I was his closest friend, and i still believe in him. He won't harm ordinary peoples. But if he really do that , Commander..."
Then with serious tone and killing intent, she continued.
"I will take the responsibilities, and i will kill him with my own hands. I will accept any punishment you will give to me."
The room grew tense—so taut it might snap. But instead of angry, Alfonso looked at her resolve again ,sighed with complex expression.
"…You think it was that simple? Back then before I got this 'Commander' tittle, I was like you, a thirty years old man who still believe in a traitor, with the same damn decision, and all i got were pain."
With tired eyes, he continued his speaking.
"Every day I read these reports—for thirty years of service as the knight commander. When i heard the knights under our command, our own—cut down by a man we trained, housed, and bled beside, it is really tearing down my heart, and haunted me for every night."
He stared at the crest of Vernetia on the wall. A lion crowned in silver. Majestic. Untouchable.
"I just hope that this time, you were right, and i was wrong.. Otherwise, if you was wrong again, Marianne, it will not be the report I throw at you. It will be your sigil."
Marianne was deep in respect for Alfonso. She then soften her words. With respectful tone,she began to speak
"I will not let your trust be in vain, Commander. I swear no matter what happened, my heart, loyalty,and even my life will always be with this kingdom, and to the peoples we swore to protect. "
A long pause stretched between them.
Then finally, Alfonso gave a single nod.
"And then you may leave. You still have a lot of works to do. I will trust you this time."
Marianne saluted, turned on her heel, and strode from the room.
And as the door closed behind her, Alfonso stared out once more at the kingdom of Vernetia, and the city with Its peoples he protected
"This kingdom was corrupted from within, and i could not do anything. If only i have enough power to eradicate those nobles and the temple, i would have done that long time ago... "
--------------------------
The next morning, Marianne gathered her knights.
She knew they were wary of her.
She knew they were beginning to doubt her.
But she couldn't afford hesitation anymore.
A choice had been made.
Now, she had to face the consequences.
She stood tall, voice firm.
"I made my decision," she said.
"I will not justify it to you. You know who i am, and you saw it with your eyes for years. If you wish to leave from my command because of what happened last night, you are free to leave. I leave the choice to you."
Murmurs spread.
"But," she continued, "I will never abandon my duty. We are knights of Vernetia. If you still believe in me, you can stand by my side."
Silence.
Then, slowly—one by one—some of the knights knelt. And one knight tried to speak.
"Captain, You taught us for years,fighting side by side. We know it is hard for you to fight with our own comrades. I believe you have your own reasons. But we will never leave you as long as we serve the same kingdom we loved."
Fiona, looking at all of them knelt, was impressed and patted Marianne 's shoulder.
"You're not great at showing your expression but you could affcet people's heart like this? I see you have the best knights at your service right now."
Marianne was really touched with the knights, and gave a small but honest reply.
"Thank you for trusting me, all of you...."