A New Knight's Duty

“My, my,” Nina said with a gentle smile.

“I mean…” Charlotte glanced sideways at her, gripping the hem of her pale green cape, adorned with a bow.

Today marked her first official outing with Hoche, the enigmatic knight Jack had assigned to her. Sleep had eluded her the night before, caught between anticipation and nerves.

“You needn’t look so worried,” Nina reassured her. “He was chosen by the commander himself.”

Charlotte nodded. She was the one who agreed to let him become her guard. He had seemed so rigid. So serious. Surely, he wouldn’t do anything outrageous or reckless. On the contrary, if something were to happen, he’d probably be the first to shield her. She’d been telling herself that since yesterday.

But her heart wasn’t fully convinced.

“There they are now. Off you go, Your Highness,” Nina said, offering a soft smile as she saw her off.

Charlotte walked toward the fountain, where the two men waited—Jack, lounging casually against the stone rim, and Hoche, standing straight as a statue.

Jack looked human. Alive.

Hoche, on the other hand, seemed carved from marble—untouched by fatigue or the simple human need to shift or stretch. Would he really be like this all day? She found herself wondering if he ever relaxed at all.

When Jack noticed her, he grinned and lifted a hand. “Morning, Lotte.”

Hoche bowed low. “Good morning, Princess.”

“Good morning, you two,” Charlotte replied. She forced a smile, though her heart was beating just a touch too fast.

“Well then…” She looked up at Jack, her eyes asking if they were ready to leave.

“Ah, but first…” Jack turned to Hoche, his grin fading into a more serious look.

“Listen carefully, Hoche. From this day on, you’ll serve as Charlotte’s personal guard. You are to follow her orders without question. Understood?”

Orders—the word settled uneasily in her chest.

“Yes,” Hoche replied, his tone utterly neutral—neither eager nor reluctant.

Jack continued, his voice firm. “However, if her orders endanger her safety, you are permitted to disobey them. Her well-being is your top priority.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Do your job well.”

“Yes.”

Finally, Jack turned back to Charlotte with a faint smile. “Formalities matter, you know.”

She peered at his face. “Um… Jack, should you really be here? What about your duties as commander?”

“Just for today, I’m playing escort too,” he said, his grin returning. “Next time, it’ll be Hoche and probably Nina with you.”

“I see…” She nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of it all.

It’s official now, she thought. He’s mine to command. My knight.

But instead of reassurance, the thought brought a quiet heaviness.

She stole a glance at his face. Does he even want to serve me? she wondered. If I give him an order… will he truly listen?

“Lotte?”

“Hyah!” she jumped, startled. “Wh-what, Jack?!”

He chuckled, hand on his hip. “You were spacing out. Come on, let’s go.”

To the town.

Peridotia’s royal castle backed into the forest. The main gate opened toward the city, leading out across a wide bridge and through the protective wall.

From that bridge extended the main thoroughfare—the downtown district, bustling with life and color.

As they walked toward the city, Charlotte spoke to Hoche.

"Well, we are going to visit each district, since preparations are beginning for the Peridotia Kingdom's spring festival... the Moonblossom Gala."

"It’s a special kind of festival. The streets will be lined with food stalls everywhere… it's quite a sight," Jack said.

"Oh, Jack, really…” She gave him a side-eye. “The food stalls are certainly worth seeing, but that's not all there is to it. There's a contest for the most beautiful bloom, songs from traveling bards, and dances in the town square during day and night... I'm sure even you, visiting this kingdom for the first time, will enjoy it."

"I see," Hoche said. He seemed to be listening attentively to her and Jack's conversation, showing no signs of boredom or disinterest. However... he himself appeared to have absolutely no interest in the festival itself.

Walking beside him now, his tall frame silent and composed, was… unsettling in a way she hadn’t expected.

He was too quiet. Too perfectly still. Not once since they left the castle had Hoche spoken unless spoken to directly. And his footsteps made no sound. Well, not none at all—but far softer than what an ordinary person would make. Just like yesterday… in the armory.

A knight built from silence, Charlotte thought.

Jack, thankfully, was his usual self—chatting casually about the weather, a bakery he’d passed earlier, and which vendors might be shouting the loudest today.

Hearing Jack’s casual talk, Charlotte thought to herself—maybe, just maybe, if he could venture into the town and meet the people, his overly rigid demeanor might soften.

She would later come to realize how wrong she had been.

Peridotia’s royal capital was as lively as ever. Cobblestone streets bustled with townsfolk, carriages, and vendors calling out with charm. Slowly, Charlotte began to relax—despite the quiet shadow at her side.

She inhaled deeply as they moved through the crowd, warmth blooming in her chest.

Familiar stalls, new shops tucked between old ones, the blending of noble and common life—it always felt like stepping into a living storybook.

“Ah! Princess Charlotte! What a delight to see you again!”

She turned at the cheerful voice. Hamilton, a portly merchant with a full beard and keen eyes, was waving at her from behind his fabric stall.

“Oh, Hamilton! It’s been a while.” Charlotte smiled, stepping closer. “Did your travels bring in anything good?”

“Indeed! Take a look at this crimson cloth! It's dyed with minerals and, if you can believe it, crushed insects. I do hope that’s not too dreadful for you?”

Charlotte giggled. “Insects don’t scare me. We are a kingdom surrounded by forests, after all.”

“I thought as much! The Princess of Peridotia knows her stuff!” He held the cloth toward her, red and shimmering in the morning light. “Go ahead—touch it! It's smoother than silk!”

Charlotte reached out, fingers brushing against a bolt of iridescent silk—

—only for it to vanish.

She and Hamilton gasped at the same time. She turned and found Hoche standing beside her, closer than she thought. He held the cloth between gloved fingers, inspecting it like he would a weapon.

Hamilton’s eyes bulged. “Hey, sir! I was trying to—”

“My apologies,” Hoche said flatly, turning the fabric over. “Before the princess touches any item, I must inspect it for threats.”

“That’s a silk blend from Astalia! It’s not a weapon, it’s art! And now it’s got dust on it—!”

Charlotte hurriedly stepped between them. “I’m so sorry! We’ll purchase it—please send the invoice to the castle!!”

She tugged on Hoche’s sleeve and dragged him along before Hamilton could explode further.

Behind them, Jack rubbed his temple. “Yeah… saw that coming.”

“Hoche!” Charlotte glared. “You can’t just do things like that!”

“I will not allow anything to endanger you,” he replied, unmoved.

Before she could reply, another voice chimed in from a nearby stall.

“Well, if it isn’t the princess!”

A stocky man in a worn white shirt and a wine-red apron stained with paint and plaster approached, smiling broadly.

“Oh, Uncle Tom!” Charlotte brightened. “You’ve been well?”

“Busy as ever! Me and the apprentices are working on our Moonblossom Gala piece. The base is done—you ought to come see it. Right this way, come on.”

He reached out, casual and warm, a guiding hand moving toward her shoulder—

—but never made it.

In a flash, Hoche grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back in a practiced hold.

“Gwah—! What the hell?!” Tom yelped. “Lemme go!”

“You will not touch the princess so freely,” Hoche said, unflinching.

“W-wait, Hoche, stop!” Charlotte commanded.

Instantly, he released the man and stepped back—though he remained close at her side.

Charlotte stared. He obeyed her. Instantly. Completely.

Like… a puppet.

“H-hey, Princess,” Tom muttered, rubbing his sore arm. “Who is this guy?”

Curiosity and unease flickered in the crowd. The people who once greeted her with warmth now eyed Hoche with wary glances. They saw how he moved—with his flawless features and mechanical precision.

“Um… His name is Hoche,” Charlotte answered, forcing a calm tone. “He’s my new personal guard.”

“A bodyguard, huh?”

“Oh dear, was the city really getting that dangerous?” another merchant chimed in.

Jack stepped in beside Hoche and Charlotte, giving a casual shrug. “Not at all. This city is as safe as ever. But you know, she’s a princess, and Gilbert is busy… so we figured a new personal guard was necessary. We’re just in a trial period for now.”

"Hmm... he's quite handsome, isn't he?"

"But where'd he come from? Did he come here from the countryside?"

“He’s my secret weapon,” Jack teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Secret weapon?!”

“The knight commander’s hidden disciple?!”

Charlotte sighed. The townsfolk were clearly drawing their own conclusions.

“Hoche, come here,” she said, motioning him into the shade.

She turned to face him, serious now. “You can’t go around threatening people like that.”

He looked back at Charlotte with the same calm gaze. “My duty is to protect you. If someone approaches, I must eliminate the threat.”

Her eyes widened. Then her brow furrowed. Does he really believe a merchant would poison fabric? Or that someone like Uncle Tom would harm me?

“We came here to learn from the people. To connect with them. Not scare them away.”

“That is dangerous. You cannot predict people’s true intentions.”

“But I know these people! They would never harm me!”

She glared up at him, daring him to argue.

To her surprise, he didn’t. After a brief pause, he bowed his head. “Understood. I will remain vigilant from a distance.”

He took a step back—but his cold, piercing gaze swept over the crowd like a silent warning. His mere presence was enough to unnerve them.

“P-Princess, I… I’ll show you my new fruit stock another time,” a vendor stammered and turned.

“Mommy, that knight is scary…” a child whimpered.

“Maybe we should wait before speaking to the princess again…”

The warmth that usually surrounded her in the city was gone. The people hesitated, their steps faltering.

Jack sighed. “Well… This is gonna be an uphill battle.”

Charlotte could only agree.