I looked at Fabian in surprise.
...Now that I thought about it, maybe my performance in the entrance exam wasn't that good.
In particular, during the final exam, after inflicting paralysis on brother Aldio, I simply looked at him unable to move for three minutes.
It's hard to imagine that the examiner would have given me such a high score as I stood still, and I wondered why I thought I did so well.
"Fabian, I thought I did well in the entrance exam, but now that I think about it, it may not have been as good as ten years of knight experience." (Fia)
I thought about it now, and I shook my head as I looked at my colleague, and Fabian nodded as if he understood.
"Yeah, I thought so. And of course, I didn't get such great results either, so I guess there's another reason why I was assigned to the First Knights." (Fabian)
When I saw Fabian, who was casually following along, I twisted my head.
Hmm, someone said that Fabian's entrance exam result was the first perfect score in several years.
Moreover, at that time, I heard that Fabian also graduated at the top of his class at knight training school.
Wow, the number one person actually exists somewhere! I was surprised.
The person in first place was...wow, he was next to me!
"Fia, you look like you’re having fun, changing your expressions all the time. Would you mind sharing with me what’s going on in your head?" (Fabian)
Fabian asked with a smile, and I asked the question in return.
"I heard that Fabian passed the entrance exam in first place. So, isn't Fabian's grades the reason he was assigned to the First Order?" (Fia)
Then Fabian shrugged his shoulders, as if he already knew.
"...Maybe that's the case with me. Compared to Fia, it's a pretty boring reason." (Fabian)
"Oh, no, it's not a boring story, it's an amazing story! That's a good result that is comparable to 10 years of knight experience." (Fia)
When I said it with enthusiasm, he laughed at me as if it were funny.
"Hehehe, there's no way I'd have a record like that. I have perfect grades and my family background is trustworthy, so I guess they thought I was the right person to be your guardian..." (Fabian)
"M-my guardian?" (Fia)
"Yes. Originally, I thought that if only one Fia was assigned to the First Knights among the newcomers, she would feel uneasy, so they decided to include me, who also seemed to have the least problems among the newcomers. I guess I was assigned to Fia. However, as I watched Fia after joined, I realized that you don't have the sense of being insecure. In fact, you're causing problems one after another. That's why I thought it would be appropriate to act as a guardian." (Fabian)
I felt like something terrible was said to me.
I glared at Fabian, and he replied, "That's right, I haven't been able to prevent Fia from causing trouble at all, so I'm not functioning as a guardian."
No, that's not what I meant.
However, Fabian, unable to hear my inner voice, continued to explain.
"This is information I heard from my father, but the church respects people with red hair. That's why they want to place people with red hair around the high-ranking saint. This time, I think the reason why Fia was unusually assigned is because of her unusual red hair. Also, I think your age is close to that of the high-ranking saint you serve." (Fabian)
"High-ranking saint I serve?" (Fia)
Fabian tilted his head to the side, wondering what on earth I was talking about.
Then Fabian explained carefully.
"Yes, a certain high-ranking saint will soon need someone to protect her. I think that's why Fia, who has bright red hair, was chosen. You may not realize it, but she has a lot of ability. There are many knights with red hair gathered into the First Order who seem to have no problem with this. However, none of them have red hair like you." (Fabian)
"Oh, I see." (Fia)
I wondered when Fabian observed things like that, even though we spent the same time together.
I widened my eyes in surprise, and Fabian smiled sheepishly.
"That's right. So, if things continue like this, you and I will be chosen to be in charge of the saint's guard. Of course, there will be many others chosen besides us." (Fabian)
"I see. By the way, who is the person to be guarded?" (Fia)
I thought the range was too wide to be able to pinpoint just using the condition of being a high-ranking saint, so when I asked Fabian, he rolled his eyes in shock.
"I thought you could guess from my explanation so far, but...of course, she's the newly chosen First-class Saint." (Fabian)
"Ah, I see!" (Fia)
That's right, I was told that a new First-class Saint was being selected.
"It was said that Saint Priscilla was the most likely candidate for the First-class Saint. Ah, that’s why Captain Cyril and Captain Desmond went to check on the person to be guarded in advance." (Fia)
I see, that's why the two busy Captains took the trouble to visit Duke Alcott's residence.
I finally understood what Fabian meant when he said that the two of us went to see Saint Priscilla.
"Hehehe, no matter who is chosen as First-class Saint, I'm looking forward to being in charge of guarding him! By the way, if she needs guarding, will we be visiting some dangerous place?" (Fia)
When I asked him in pure doubt, Fabian lowered his eyebrows in confusion.
"Yeah, well, I thought Fia didn't know." (Fabian)
"What?" (Fia)
When I asked him dumbly, Fabian smiled bitterly.
"We are the First Order Knights. We only protect the royal family. On rare occasions, we take on the responsibility of protecting foreign dignitaries, but our targets are generally limited to foreign royalty." (Fabian)
"Yeah? But right now, there are only two members of the royal family, His Majesty the King and the Commander, right? Ah, but I heard that Commander Savis' mother is still alive. Isn't Her Majesty the Queen Mother also a member of the royal family?" (Fia)
I asked with a flash, and Fabian nodded.
"Yes, Her Majesty the Queen Mother is on the same level as the royal family. Similarly, I think First-class Saint will be on the same level as the royal family." (Fabian)
Then Fabian opened his mouth carefully, choosing his words carefully.
"Commander Savis is 27 years old and single. Normally, the suitable age for male nobles is around 18 to 25, so he is later than other people. Moreover, Commander's status is that of a younger brother of the king. And, he is the first in line to inherit the throne. The most important duty of the royal family is to leave behind an heir, so I have to say that it is unusual for him to be single even though he is past the appropriate age." (Fabian)
"Ha! Maybe he has a lover with a different status!" (Fia)
I suddenly had an idea and presented my idea to Fabian, but he quickly rejected it.
"Yes, it's a very girlish idea, but I don't think so. Commander Savis was probably waiting for Saint Priscilla to become an adult. From generation to generation, His Majesty the King, chooses the most powerful saint of that era to become his queen, and Saint Priscilla's unique ability was discovered more than 10 years ago." (Fabian)
"Ah, that's right." (Fia)
I see, isn't it a good story that he has been waiting for one woman for 10 years?
As I was nodding my head, Fabian looked like he wanted to say something, but he seemed to have changed his mind and went back to continuing his explanation.
"Next year, Saint Priscilla will turn 17 and will be old enough to get married. Therefore, if she is chosen as Chief Saint, I think he will immediately invite Saint Priscilla to the royal castle and betrothed to Commander Savis. And when that happens, I think a new Order of Guards will be formed exclusively for the First-class Saint, and Fia and I will be selected as its members." (Fabian)
After listening to Fabian's story, I tilted my head in wonder.
"Huh, what does it mean that 'Next year, Saint Priscilla will turn 17 and be old enough to get married'? It's not like a woman can't get married until she turns 17, right? Many people get married at a much younger age." (Fia)
Then, Fabian said, "Ah," and complemented me.
"This is a rule on the Saint's side. Saints cannot get married until they are 17 years old. I don't know why, but it seems like it was decided 300 years ago." (Fabian)
Come to think of it, the same story came up when I heard about Captain Cyril's mother before.
And Captain Cyril said, "Saints cannot get married until they are 17 years old."
However, when I was a saint in my previous life, there were no such rules.
If it was decided 300 years ago, I wondered if it was made right after I died in my previous life.
"Thank you for letting me know, Fabian. I remembered that I heard the same story from Captain Cyril. But the formation of a new Order of the Guard Knight specifically for the First-class Saint is a big deal!" (Fia)
And being chosen to be one of them is a huge responsibility!
I clenched my hands into fists and looked up at Fabian.
"In any case, it's auspicious that Commander is getting married!" (Fia)
This was because the knight captains of our knight order were all single, even though they earned extremely high salaries.
Commander Savis, who controlled all the captains, was also single, so he said, "Even though they have so much money, good looks, and status, all of them are single. There is a curse on them that makes it impossible for them to marry anyone other than the Knight Captain!", which was almost always a topic of conversation at drinking parties.
Well, the Commander was finally free of that curse!
I was so happy and smiled, and Fabian nodded greatly.
"Yes, it's an auspicious story. However, Commander Savis is very popular with women, so I'm sure the women in the kingdom will shed tears when they hear this story. And I wonder if the knights will shed even more tears."
Ah, I think I understand.
Perhaps the people who love Commander the most are the knights of the Order.
I imagined their hot, oppressive love, and if I were Commander, I wouldn't be happy.
"Yeah, well, I'm sure there will be many knights crying like men." (Fia)
I'm sorry to have to involve you in such a hot scene. Okay, let's stay away from the knights for a while!
Being the smart person I was, I decided to do so.