The Red Knight Seeks No Reward

Chapter 8

Kaillou could only grin. Judith appeared entirely different to him now.

What sort of expression would she make if I told her that I was smiling because I found her so adorable? Instead, Kaillou asked her another question, as her emotions seemed to be running high. “Are you ashamed to wield your sword like a sellsword?”

Judith didn’t answer, but her silence suggested she was.

The captain put a damper on his playfulness and spoke more calmly. “If that’s the case, I hope you won’t feel that way for long. That feeling is only experienced by those with a conscience. One mustn’t ignore it, but rather learn from it and move on.” He felt Judith staring at him. When he met her gaze, he noted that her amber eyes were beautiful.

They had already said everything that was necessary, so he rose to his feet. He took a couple steps toward Judith, who was sitting awkwardly on the bed, and held out his hand. “I’ll say this once more. You fought tooth and nail against a captain of an order, though you were wounded in the end. I promise you a fitting position and proper treatment in the Order of Red Knights. So, what do you think? Will you join me?”

Judith stared at his calloused hand. She couldn’t help but admit that it was a tantalizing offer, one just as appealing as a sack of gold. It seemed too good to refuse.

“What do you say?” he asked again.

What should I say? Or more like, how should I say it? wondered Judith as she continued to stare at his hand.

There was no mistaking that it was a knight’s hand. At a glance, his long fingers looked like those of a musician’s, with prominent knuckles. But a closer look revealed the small scars and calluses that marked the crooks of his thumb, characteristic of hands that held a sword. It was a testament to his training and hard work. His broad palms exuded confidence, telling her that he could easily show her a path forward. Maybe that was why Judith wanted to grasp his hand.

Regardless, she had already decided that she would not join the black knights. Most importantly, this man might not mock me. She felt like Kaillou wouldn’t despise her for considering every possible way to pay off her bills. He’d said there was a fine line between a knight and a rogue. Maybe he’s different from Jeromell, she thought.

Am I being impulsive? Judith had never felt the need to rely on someone before, but for now, she wanted to grab hold of that hand rather than remain cynical and lament that there was no one on her side. She couldn’t tell if her change in heart was due to traveling back in time or because of the man in front of her.

But does it matter? What was important was that someone had reached out to her.

“Yes, sir.” Judith hesitated only a moment longer before taking Kaillou’s hand. “I am in your care, Captain Kaillou.”

“Wow… I thought I was about to be rejected,” he muttered to himself, rubbing a soothing hand over his chest. Relief washed over his face.

Judith smiled absentmindedly. “You weren’t confident? I’m surprised. You’re less courageous than I thought, sir.”

“Don’t be so mean.”

Kaillou Lewalmeigh. He’s twenty-five this year, right? Judith found his incredulous grin and animated expression fun to watch. His curt demeanor changed as he pouted. It was amusing to see him sulking like a little boy, hardly befitting of his age.

“Where did you learn to trifle with a person’s emotions in such a way?” he asked. “My heart’s beating faster than usual.”

Judith sat up in bed, and Kaillou held her hand, pulling her toward himself to help her stand. Her eyes widened, startled by how close they suddenly were.

He was just as surprised. Oh no, he thought. They were too close, even closer than during the match. If his adjutant, Desian, saw him right now, he would be furious and tell him to think before acting.

Kaillou ignored his pounding heart and released Judith’s hand. Without its warmth, he was left with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. “Well, I’ll leave you in peace,” he said. “But if anything happens, you know where we are. We’re located in…”

“I know.”

“You won’t even let me finish?”

“I must live up to my reputation as an outspoken subordinate.”

Kaillou chuckled at Judith’s nonchalant response. His expression was much more relaxed than when he had walked through the door. “Indeed. That’s far preferable to a subordinate who doesn’t speak their mind,” he said with obvious fondness.

***

The next morning, Judith signed up for the red knights. As they walked over to submit the application, Violet repeated that couldn’t believe what had happened. “Really? Are you sure? Are you absolutely positive? Is this really your final decision?” she asked, staring into Judith’s eyes.

“Violet, you’re going to trip if you don’t watch where you’re going.”

“You’re not going to tell me later that it was a lie, are you? You’re really not pulling a prank on me?”

“I told you, eyes forward.”

Judith had only told Violet that the red knights’ captain himself had invited her to join, but her friend was even more excited than she was. “I’m asking you if it’s true!” she cried.

“Yes, it’s true. Why would I lie about something like that?”

“But the captains rarely recruit anyone themselves. Wow! Just… incredible! What did he say? How did he recruit you? Tell me!”

Judith couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at her friend’s childlike admiration. “I don’t think this is worth such excitement.”

“How can you say that? It’s like you don’t know anything,” Violet said, overwhelmed with emotion. “This is amazing. I was certain you and Calipa would both join the black knights and leave me all alone. I was so worried.”

Judith stopped in her tracks. She had never considered Violet’s feelings in her past life. After they had joined different orders, she had still seen Violet often, but she hadn’t felt the need to ask her friend how she was doing since she always seemed so energetic. She was perpetually smiling and surrounded by others, to the extent that it was almost strange.

She just didn’t show how lonely she was, Judith realized. Now she knew things she hadn’t in the past. I wish I’d known before…

She was unable to look away from Violet, who was especially cheerful today and smiled toothily. “It’s a shame that only Calipa went to join the black knights. We should visit her often.”

Judith wasn’t sure how to reply. Should I tell Violet that the black knights’ dormitory is far away from the red knights’, and that they restrict visitors from other orders?

It was only natural that Calipa had chosen the black knights, just as she had before. Nothing could be more important to her than finding the enemy who wiped out her family. Nothing would stop her, even if all that awaited her at the end of the road was suicide.

But even if it seems impossible, maybe a friend could change the tide, Judith thought. “Quite right. We can’t leave Calipa alone.” Her muttered response was more like a vow to herself.

Back at the dormitory, Judith evened out her hair with Violet’s help. She cut it on her own before, but this was her first time receiving help, passing around the mirror to see her hair from all angles.

It’s the same bobbed haircut, but it feels different. Judith felt that it looked awkward, but it wasn’t terrible. In fact, everything that had happened since traveling back so far had been that way. The people she knew and the situations she had already been through once before were almost novel to her.

After trimming her hair, Judith visited the dressmaker with Calipa and Violet. This time, only Calipa had a set of the black uniforms of the Order of Black Knights tailored to her. Judith joined Violet in ordering the white uniform of the Order of Red Knights.

“Why do the red knights wear white uniforms?” asked Violet. “Is it because red uniforms draw too much attention?”

“I’m not sure,” Judith said.

“Could you ask the captain?”

“I prefer to avoid asking annoying questions on my first day…”

Violet giggled and brushed off her uniform. She smiled, proclaiming that it was pretty and dapper.

Calipa looked around in wonder as she exited the dressmaker’s shop. “I think the white knights wear priest robes instead of uniforms,” she remarked.

“Well, the white knights are closer to being priests than knights,” Judith said. She caught herself absentmindedly trying to explain further. She shouldn’t have known so much about the white knights this early in her career, and there was no good in showing off her knowledge.

Normally, Judith would have returned to the palace straight away, but she couldn’t refuse Violet’s offer to go window shopping. Before, she would have turned down the offer, by quite firmly saying, “Shopping makes me tired.”

I don’t like shopping, especially when I’m broke, she thought. Window shopping would only expand the list of things she wanted. She had been practicing frugality, but she was bound to spend more if she was out and about. Judith was undeniably materialistic, and she felt deflated whenever she couldn’t obtain what she desired. That was why she didn’t like to wander the shops aimlessly.

She found herself lost in her own thoughts. I’ll pay off the debt first. Once I do that, then I can buy what I want, eat what I want… Will I really be able to?

Calipa had also joined them in window shopping. Having grown up as a noble daughter in a ducal house, she wasn’t used to buying things at a street market. No matter what objects Violet or Judith pointed out, she only responded with an unenthusiastic, “It’s fine,” and it wasn’t long before Violet was sapped of the joy of shopping.

“Let’s head back,” Violet said with a downcast face.

“Don’t you want to look around more?”

“No. You two are no fun.”

Judith couldn’t deny Violet’s words. Feeling guilty, she averted her eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m just… not in the right headspace for this.”

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about. We can always come again later. Let’s go shopping, or whatever you like, when you’re up for it. Just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. You have to invite me, promise?”

“I will.” Judith smiled gently.

Eventually, the three of them made it back to the imperial knights’ headquarters in time for dinner.

Back in her room, Judith laid down, turning her back to the window. Many emotions flitted through her. She felt sorry for Violet who cared for her so deeply, and was heartbroken about Calipa’s sad situation. And then there was Kaillou, the one who had triggered this change. He had reached out to her despite how twisted she was and brought a visible change to her jaded life.

This is just the beginning of all the changes to come, Judith thought, rubbing the bandaged wound on her neck. Now that I’ve joined the red knights, I won’t have to face Jeromell anymore. She had originally caught his eye when she joined the black knights because among the new recruits, she had particularly high potential as a sellsword.

“Jeromell…” Judith’s whisper echoed in the dark room. In the past, she would never have dared to call him by name. She would only call him “Captain,” but he was no longer worthy of that title. The betrayal she felt was indescribable. Her anger had not diminished, even now. But she did not want to waste her second chance by dedicating herself to killing the man who had murdered her.

The stinging pain in her neck intensified, as if the sharp cut was insisting that it should not be ignored. Judith sat up and took the painkillers she had been prescribed, then laid back down, put her hand to her forehead, and closed her eyes. She had cried often since traveling back in time, but such moments had opened her eyes to many things. Jeromell was a bastard she wouldn’t want to face twice, but she was more or less of a scumbag herself.

“It’s all right. I won’t need to see him again…” But Judith’s fingertips were still trembling as she hugged her pillow tightly.