In the realm of knighthood, the title of Knight Squire serves as a prestigious apprenticeship.
These squires, often hailing from noble families, must dedicate several years in service to other nobles before they can claim the esteemed mantle of a knight.
It is a journey that not only demands proof of one’s capabilities but also an undeniable display of strength and valor.
The call for Knight Squires had been made public, and Howard took extra care to ensure that every villager was informed, commissioning the mayor to spread the word.
Yet, the announcement was met with lukewarm enthusiasm.
The role of a Knight Squire was not something just anyone could aspire to.
Most villagers possessed the self-awareness to recognize this, understanding the gulf between their ordinary lives and the lofty demands of knighthood.
Upon learning of the villagers’ reluctance, the mayor suggested seeking suitable candidates from noble families.
Howard, realizing his need for more capable hands, agreed to this plan and decided to recruit a few more dependable servants in the near future.
Three days later, two horses arrived at Yami Village, carrying with them the answer to Howard’s call.
As Howard stepped outside to greet them, he was met by the sight of two young women, each exuding her own unique aura.
On one horse sat a woman with golden hair that shimmered like sunlight, her presence commanding as if she were leading an invisible army.
The other horse bore a redhead, her demeanor shy and demure.
The mayor introduced them as the eligible children from noble families.
The golden-haired woman was Anna, daughter of a viscount and captain of his knights.
The redhead was Marguerite, whose father was a baron’s knight.
Anna addressed Howard with a mix of challenge and respect.
“Howard, I am willing to become your Knight Squire. However, there is a condition: you must engage in a duel with me and emerge victorious,” she declared.
Unlike Marguerite, who was dressed in ordinary clothes, Anna was clad in silver armor, looking every bit the warrior she was, ready for battle as if the field of combat was her natural domain.
Howard asked a maid to bring his weapon, a two-handed sword, and said to Anna, “Come, let me see your skill.”
Anna dismounted, drawing her sword and picking up her shield.
The duel commenced, with Anna charging towards Howard.
Her lithe figure moved swiftly; sword in the right hand, shield in the left, she quickly closed the distance. .
Anna swung her sword at Howard, who easily dodged and then struck towards her head.
Anna raised her shield to block Howard’s sword.
The heavy blow from the two-handed sword, despite not shattering the shield, knocked Anna to the ground.
She tried to hold her ground, but her knees buckled, and she sat down, defeated.
“I lost,” Anna conceded.
“I’m no match for you. You truly have skill. I accept my defeat.”
Howard extended his right hand to help Anna up, patting her shoulder.
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll hold the Squire Ceremony. You and Marguerite should settle down in the village for today.”
Anna, her face tense and flushed with the embarrassment of defeat, did not respond.
Howard invited Anna and Marguerite to dine with him in the lord’s hall that evening.
At dinner, Howard sat at one end of the table, with Anna and Marguerite on either side, neither too close nor too far from him.
Marguerite ate quietly, more resembling a lady than a knight.
Anna, now in regular clothes, wore a pristine white dress, looking every bit the princess.
The three, having just met, had little to say to each other.
They finished their meals and left the lord’s hall separately.
The next day, Anna and Marguerite underwent the Squire Ceremony, officially becoming Howard’s Knight Squires.
After the ceremony, Howard instructed Anna and Marguerite to clean his armor and weapons, teaching them how to properly maintain their own.
Without complaint, they each took to their tasks – one polishing the armor, the other the weapons.
Such duties were part of their responsibilities as Knight Squires.
A distinguished visitor arrived at Yami Village, a man named Resarite.
Unlike the common folk, he wore thick leather armor, rode a horse, and had a sword at his waist, leading the villagers to assume he was a noble.
This was unusual, and upon Anna’s notification, Howard personally went to meet Resarite.
Through conversation, Howard learned that Resarite was an officer trainer and an exceptional military coach.
He had helped an earl win many wars but was not treated fairly in return.
When Resarite protested against this injustice, the earl, being a man of opportunism, responded predictably, denouncing Resarite’s actions as presumptuous and revoking his knighthood.
This dealt a heavy blow to Resarite.
After a period of despondency, he came to Yami Village to recuperate.
Howard asked, “If you are so talented in military affairs, why did the earl stop valuing you?”
Taking a sip of wine, Resarite replied, “That foolish man. Once he faces war again, he’ll realize how important I was!”
Howard then inquired, “Now that your knighthood has been revoked, do you wish to reclaim it?”
Resarite glanced at Howard and said, “You yourself are merely a knight. Can you actually bestow another with knighthood? Impossible. One must hold a title higher than a knight to confer knighthood on another.”
Howard responded, “I have plans to grow stronger but need an assistant. Would you be willing to help me? Just aid me, and as soon as I become a baron, I will immediately knight you and grant you a fertile fiefdom. I give you my word.”
Resarite looked at the two women behind Howard and said, “I need to ask them about their opinion of you before deciding. There’s nothing like asking a noble’s attendants to truly understand the character of their master.”
Howard had no objections.
Resarite then inquired of Anna and Marguerite what they thought of Howard.
Anna, with pride, said, “He’s nothing exceptional, owning only two decent villages and one dilapidated one. As a lord, there’s little about him that impresses me.”
Howard waited for Anna to continue.
She added, “However, he defeated me with his personal combat skills, and from his fighting, I can tell he’s a straightforward person. If you help him succeed, he won’t let you down.”
Marguerite spoke softly, “Lord Howard is a very kind person. Just yesterday, he asked if I was tired after a day’s training.”
Resarite slapped his thigh and declared, “Alright, I’ve decided. From now on, I, Resarite, will follow you, Howard!”
Three to four days later, the tax revenue from Rui Village was delivered to Howard.
Eighty silver coins, slightly less than Yami Village’s contribution.
Resarite imparted some lordship wisdom to Howard: “In the lands where the lord resides, the taxes are usually a bit higher than normal.”
Puzzled, Howard asked Resarite for the reason behind this.
Resarite gave a meaningful smile and said, “When you’re watching over them closely, who would dare underpay their taxes?”
Howard had an epiphany.
Even seemingly honest villagers could evade taxes when not supervised.
He asked, “Is there a good solution to this?”
Resarite explained, “It all comes down to the lord’s financial acumen. A lord who manages his finances well will collect more taxes from the same piece of land. Conversely, a lord who is lax in financial management will collect less. To bridge this gap, you can find someone to help you with tax collection.”
Howard replied, “I’ve had such thoughts already. I lack capable hands in my family. When I first came to Yami Village, I could only rely on the village chief for assistance. But the village chief is likely in cahoots with the tax evaders. I can’t let him orchestrate everything. I need someone outside the system to oversee tax collection.”
Resarite suggested, “The people from my previous domain are willing to continue following me. There’s one among them, Bosiden, who is very efficient. If you need, I can call him over.”
Howard agreed.
A week later, Bosiden arrived at Yami Village and, after meeting Howard, demonstrated his exceptional administrative skills. 𝘪.𝑐ℴ𝘮
As Howard was only a knight and lacked honorary titles to bestow, Bosiden effectively took on the roles akin to those of a Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and even a Spy Chief.
He didn’t just manage Yami Village, but also showed impressive control over the nearby Rui Village and the impoverished Safa Village.
The remaining twenty silver coins from Rui Village were delivered to Yami Village within five or six days and handed over to Howard.
Even Safa Village, despite its barrenness, contributed thirty bronze coins to Howard’s coffers, showcasing Bosiden’s excellent financial management skills.
Additionally, Bosiden had a unique perspective on diplomatic affairs.
Resarite took charge of military affairs, training the villagers.
Generally, troops stationed in a castle are stronger and more disciplined than village militias, but in essence, both are conscripted during wartime.
With sufficient training, even villagers could match the combat effectiveness of castle garrisons.
Resarite had a special insight into soldier training.
The sounds of loud and orderly chants echoed through the skies of Yami Village as he drilled the troops.
𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮