The Queen Who Shares Love
S2 Chapter 12 New Knights

The sword was thrown towards the servant. Leonard swiftly repelled him and attacked the invader. 

"Go quickly!" leonard shouted at the waiter.

The waiter nodded. In a hurry he got up and ran away. The sound of swords clashed between Leonard and the invader. Elsewhere, the group that Leonard left behind suffered defeat. The members of his group stared at Leonard furiously, inwardly blaming the former mercenary.

Leonard defeated the invaders, but other invaders arrived. Leonard's getting desperate. Other knight candidates also joined in the fight against the invader. However, due to exhaustion they were cornered. Leonard, who could not hold on anymore, fell down. He stared intently at the invaders and regretted coming to the Duchess Hillbright's residence. The invaders drew swords in front of the necks of the knight candidates, ready to slash their heads. The sword is ready.

"Enough!" exclaim Judith.

The invaders lowered the sword. They bowed towards the Duchsss, then left the place while raising question marks on the knight candidates.

"You all gathered. I'll announce the ones who escaped. At the same time explain what happened," said the Duchess while circulating her gaze towards the knight candidates. His gaze stopped towards Leonard who was still wondering.

***

Flint arranged for the knight candidates in a neat row. When she was ready, she invited Duchess Hillbright to declare who would be knighted in the Duchess's army.

The duchess opened her mouth. "Group A is the winner today."

Group A who was the opponent of Leonard's group had puffed his chest with pride. They were chosen to be knights. While the other group could only bow down disappointed. 

"However, it does not mean that the members of the victorious group become knights in my army. My assessment is based on the skills you showed today and yesterday" the Duchess continued.

The entire knight candidate looked up anxiously. They hope that they will be elected. Not everyone thinks like that. Leonard suspected that he would not be elected because he abandoned his duties by saving the servant. Everything is just a show.

The duchess continued her speech. "Looking at your skills I thought many would get away. Unfortunately, my expectations of you are too great. Your abilities are great, but you don't care about others who are in trouble. Indeed being a winner and carrying out duties is very important, but the safety of the people and friends is no less important."

The knight candidates started whispering because of the unfair judgment. Judith cleared her throat to stop the whispers.

Leonard looked at Judith who was looking straight at him.

"Only one escaped. Welcome to my army, Leonard."

All eyes were on Leonard. The former mercenary walked up to Judith and bowed down, taking the oath of chivalry.

"I will always be loyal to the Duchess."

"I take your oath, be prepared tomorrow" replied Judith as she passed.

Leonard grinned at Judith's back. This time it was she who was prostrating, but one day it was Duchess Hillbright who would prostrate before her.

***

Candidates of the knights rushed out of the Hillbright residence. Flint immediately headed for the Duchess's study asking her master's decision. He thought that no one had passed the knight test earlier.

"Why did you accept that mercenary Duchess?"

Her master did not trust Leonard completely, proof that the Duchess did not take Leonard's oath of sword use like the other Hillbright knights. 

"It was just a pretext for him to let his guard down. I'll make him my bodyguard tomorrow. He must have thought that I believed him. I'm going to unravel the mercenary's plan and who's backing it. There's no way he would dare to come here without strong support" Judith replied coldly.

"Good, Duchess. Please be careful," Flint replied worriedly.

Duchess Hillbright's aide had a bad feeling about Leonard. The peaceful days at the Hillbright residence will change with the arrival of the former mercenary warrior who became the knight.