There were many who enjoyed knightly literature.
It was a culture mainly enjoyed by nobles or knights, and being illiterate didn’t matter.
If a noble or knight couldn’t read, their subordinates could simply read the books to them.
However, this didn’t apply to Lord Hermann.
He didn’t learn to read until he reached marriageable age, but he picked up literacy in just a few years purely to enjoy knightly literature more comfortably.
Keldric was inwardly impressed. Learning to read at an age when the mind has solidified, well past the pliant, sponge-like years of youth, was no easy feat.
And he didn’t learn to read out of necessity for official duties, but simply to indulge in his hobby.
“Your story stirs my heart. Ah, it reminds me of the heroic deeds of Sir Gernhilt, who conquered the land of savages…”
Gernhilt was a fictional character from knightly literature.
He was from a modest northern family, left home at a young age, won numerous tournaments, and rescued a beautiful lady held captive by wicked pagans, among other feats.
The only similarity between Lord Hermann’s description of Gernhilt and Keldric was that both hailed from humble northern families.
Keldric forced a neutral expression, nodding.
But Lord Hermann, still full of enthusiasm, urged his scribe to record the events with vigor.
“A rock troll, you say! That cruel, dull beast surely brought suffering to the good folk of the land! Scribe, are you getting all this?”
“Yes. The fame of Sir Keldric will spread even wider.”
“Don’t hold back on the embellishments! Craft a worthy account that befits the honor of Sir Keldric!”
“Of course.”
The scribe’s expression, however, was somewhat peculiar.
He managed a strained smile but seemed to be thinking, ‘Am I a novelist?’
Keldric averted his gaze, watching as the scribe gave a small sigh.
Meanwhile, Lord Hermann continued to look at Keldric with an admiring sparkle in his eye.
“Anyway… Sir Keldric. That was merely my personal impression.”
With those words, Lord Hermann’s cheerful demeanor shifted slightly, making Keldric swallow nervously.
“Your personal impression?”
“Yes. Personally, I think Sir Keldric’s accomplishments are highly commendable. You were also a great help to Lord Volpen…”
“It was nothing. Lord Volpen seemed quite troubled, so it was only natural to step in.”
“As I thought… I wasn’t mistaken about you.”
Mistaken? About what exactly?
Keldric felt a hint of suspicion.
It seemed like Lord Hermann was hiding something beneath his words.
“Scribe, you may leave now. I apologize for summoning you when you’re surely busy.”
“No worries, Lord Hermann.”
With that, Lord Hermann practically ushered out the very scribe he had summoned himself.
Left in the office were Lord Hermann, Keldric, and Alisa.
Keldric glanced at Alisa.
She also looked confused, as if she didn’t understand why she was still present.
“Um, Lord Hermann. Should I leave as well?”
“No, Alisa. I’d like you to stay. There’s something I want you to hear as well.”
Keldric adjusted his posture slightly.
Though the jovial attitude Lord Hermann had shown earlier wasn’t insincere, it seemed he was a person who separated personal matters from official ones.
Lord Hermann sipped his wine quietly, letting the silence stretch.
The sound of the fire crackling by the fireplace and the faint noise from the city filled the room for a while.
“Sir Keldric. I have a proposal for you.”
Lord Hermann finally broke the silence, moving closer to the main topic.
Everything up to now had been a prelude.
“I know it may be inappropriate to discuss this with a guest who has offered such great assistance…”
Lord Hermann retrieved something from a bookshelf behind him—a scroll made of parchment.
“However, hearing about your deeds has only reinforced my conviction. I’m certain you could accomplish something I couldn’t.”
“And what exactly would that be?”
“Do you want to hear it? But, Sir Keldric, I need you to keep one thing in mind.”
Lord Hermann leaned in, his expression turning serious.
“Once you hear this, you won’t be able to back out.”
“Alisa, this applies to you as well. You can leave now if you wish, but once you hear my story, it’ll be too late to turn back.”
Alisa’s expression grew tense.
She sipped her wine nervously, seemingly trying to calm herself.
Keldric, however, remained steady, his expression unwavering.
Seeing this, Lord Hermann quietly marveled.
‘How steadfast he is.’
This was coming from a governor entrusted with the rule of a city.
It was likely to be something deeply tied to the city—a burden for someone like Keldric, who was more of a wandering knight.
Yet, to Lord Hermann’s eyes, Keldric simply sat there, calmly sipping his wine, unaffected by tension.
A knight with a steady disposition and ample courage was a valuable asset.
Excessive courage could be perceived as arrogance, but a healthy dose of courage and confidence fostered an unshakeable resolve in any situation.
To Lord Hermann, Keldric seemed to embody this quality.
‘What is he talking about?’
Of course, Keldric felt nothing of the sort.
He was simply unable to follow Lord Hermann’s sudden, cryptic words, and sat there with an impassive expression, lost in thought.
Unaware of this, Lord Hermann watched Keldric and Alisa’s reactions carefully.
“I believe I’ve given enough time. Sir Keldric.”
“Yes.”
“I know. I haven’t explained anything yet, and here I am saying that once you’re in, there’s no way out. However, this is a grave issue on the city’s level.”
Across the empire, nobles were increasingly vying for each other’s lands.
The north was no different, and the areas attracting the most attention were the Baronies of Volpen and Goffrite.
The situation was far from a mere dispute between Baron Volpen and Baron Goffrite—the powers behind them were already formidable.
“As an honorable knight, you would likely never do such a thing, but as someone loyal to Lord Volpen, I must proceed with utmost caution. I hope you understand.”
Lord Hermann was considering the possibility that Keldric might hear him out and then either back out or carry the information straight to Baron Goffrite.
It was a remark that could easily be taken as an insult to Keldric’s honor.
However, Keldric delved into the hidden meaning behind his words.
‘What kind of situation could this be?’
A city of Belam’s size was rare in the North.
The Kassel family, entrusted with managing such a city, wouldn’t lack influence, and if this matter had already been reported to Lord Volpen, it should have been resolved long ago.
Keldric considered two possibilities.
One was that this issue was not easy for either the Kassel family or Lord Volpen to resolve.
Having seen Baron Volpen struggle against rock trolls in Yalta village, Keldric had recently realized that there were countless problems even a wealthy baron couldn’t solve.
If this matter was similar in nature, there would be no reason for Keldric not to step in.
The other possibility was that it was a matter Lord Hermann couldn’t easily report to Baron Volpen.
While rare, there might be exceptional circumstances where that could be the case.
Keldric asked in a low voice, “First, let me ask you, Lord Hermann. Do you doubt my honor?”
“Oh, no. I do not doubt your honor. I respect it greatly.”
“Then, I hope you understand that I would never ally myself with that vile, dishonorable Lord Goffrite.”
Lord Hermann’s expression brightened slightly.
At least, Keldric didn’t appear to be lying.
While expressions alone couldn’t reveal everything, the lack of a hostile feeling was a favorable sign for Lord Hermann.
“But, Lord Hermann, before I hear your story, I’d like you to answer my question first.”
“What would that be? Ask anything I can answer.”
“Is the matter you’re telling me about one you haven’t reported to Lord Volpen?”
Lord Hermann’s face turned a bit pale.
His pupils wavered as he tried to regain composure, eventually nodding slowly after a cough.
“There… there were unavoidable reasons.”
“What reasons would those be?”
“Sir Keldric, explaining that would be a bit…”
Keldric decided to take a step back.
Pushing too far could risk offending Lord Hermann or tarnishing the Kassel family’s honor.
“Understood. It must be quite serious, then.”
“P-please, sir. Since I’ve told you this much, please don’t mention it to Lord Volpen…”
“That’s something I’ll consider after hearing the story. If I find that your reasons for not reporting it to him are purely personal… then that would not be right.”
There was no flaw in Keldric’s reasoning. Lord Hermann, whose eyes drooped slightly, nodded helplessly.
“You are correct, sir.”
“So let me ask. Is it a personal reason?”
Lord Hermann did not answer, and confusion crept over Keldric’s face.
‘He doesn’t seem like a greedy person.’
To Keldric, Lord Hermann did not appear to be the type to betray his lord for personal gain.
Of course, as the saying goes, one cannot see into the depths of the human heart, and absolute certainty is elusive.
At least to Keldric’s keen intuition, Lord Hermann didn’t seem that sort.
“I… truly… don’t feel honorable.”
Lord Hermann finally spoke, looking at Keldric with a slightly weary expression.
“You’re right. In a way, you could say it’s personal.”
“So it’s personal enough that you can’t report it to Lord Volpen, but still serious?”
“That’s correct.”
At this, Keldric glanced at Alisa.
Alisa was sipping her wine nonchalantly but stared off into the distance, as if silently saying, ‘I’m not hearing any of this.’
“Alisa, you may leave. If I need you, I’ll call for you later.”
Alisa hesitated briefly at Keldric’s words, then bowed politely and exited the office.
Now, only Keldric and Lord Hermann remained.
Keldric wasn’t particularly inclined to involve himself unnecessarily.
He hadn’t intended to delve deeply into matters concerning another lord’s territory or city.
In any case, he hadn’t even decided on his next destination after Belam, so he figured he might as well explore the city and stay a while.
However, he had caught the scent of money in Lord Hermann’s story.
Although Keldric still had a few ducats left, in his experience, the more money, the better.
“So, Lord Hermann. What exactly is the matter?”
Keldric asked cautiously.
Lord Hermann, who had been sighing heavily, gazed quietly at the wine in his hand.
“As someone entrusted with overseeing Belam, it’s deeply shameful to say this… but, Sir Keldric.”
“I’m listening.”
Lord Hermann continued with a serious expression.
“It appears that there are traitorous scoundrels within Belam who have betrayed His Lordship.”
This revelation was delicate, indeed.
So much so that Keldric shuddered at hearing it.