Chapter 97: Bewilderment
Stanley's army of a thousand men could be considered his personal, core troops.
Though all were barons, some struggled even to put food on the table, while others could command a personal force of over a thousand knights. This was the chasm between rural nobility and the top-tier aristocracy.
However, even within this core force, Stanley actually had only about a hundred truly reliable confidants.
This was the common method by which high nobles controlled armies under the Orlan Empire's knighthood system: a small number of trusted individuals formed the army's backbone, and when needed, a large number of knights were conscripted to become its muscle and skin.
Remove this small core, and any great noble would immediately lose control over their army—unless it was an ultra-elite unit like the Imperial family's Royal Griffin Knights, Ethel Holovin's Companion Knights, or Roy Beckett's "The Pure." Stanley's thousand-man force was certainly not among them.
Of course, removing the backbone would also severely impact the army's combat effectiveness. However, this wasn't a major issue; Charlotte was only keeping them for emergencies.
According to the Empire's military system, each knight was obligated to serve only ninety days a year. These knights had already served over thirty days, meaning they had at most sixty days left before their tour of duty concluded. If these knights were Charlotte's vassals, she might have ways to extend their service, but they weren't. She had no grounds to prevent them from returning to their own lands for a good half-year's rest.
The risk of the army simply disbanding when their time was up—this conscription system left Charlotte utterly speechless.
To help Old Jack and Rayne quickly gain control of the army, Charlotte issued her first military order before leaving the barracks: starting today, the newly established garrisons of Fairy Lake, Lanwan Isthmus, and Ambrato—three forces totaling over nine hundred men—would, like the Lanwan Viscountcy Guard, each receive a daily salary of three Fusuo.
This order sparked a wave of cheers throughout the barracks; many knights were as delighted as children receiving New Year's candy.
It couldn't be helped; they were truly struggling to get by.
Knights of the Orlan Empire received no wages. Not only that, but they also had to bear many of their own war expenses.
For instance, many lords only provided a set of armor and weapons when a knight was first enfeoffed. Subsequent maintenance, repairs, and even replacements for damaged gear had to come out of the knight's own pocket.
Furthermore, when on garrison duty, many barracks only supplied crude flatbread and salted meat as rations. While easy to preserve, these provisions were truly unappetizing. Long-stored flatbread and salted meat could, with some effort, be wielded like round shields and clubs, with astonishing effectiveness.
Most of the time, knights would choose to pool their own money to improve their meals. It wasn't that they were delicate; they simply couldn't chew the tough flatbread and salted meat.
In short, serving as an Imperial knight cost money. And these knights under Stanley had run out of it.
Some had emptied their purses in casinos, while others had their money borrowed by companions who frequented such dens.
Charlotte's announced policy of paying salaries was undoubtedly a lifeline for them, like charcoal delivered in a snowstorm.
Afterward, Charlotte also ordered a ban on all knights participating in gambling, a decree which was accepted without a hitch.
Gambling was already a vice severely criticized by the Codex. Besides, these knights had just received Charlotte's favor; how could they dare to stand up and oppose her?
Having dealt with these matters, Charlotte departed from the barracks.
"Where is Knight Herman Green now?" Charlotte asked.
"He should still be at home recuperating," Cecilia replied.
"Then let's pay him a visit," Charlotte said.
Before long, Charlotte arrived at Herman Green's home.
Herman Green's residence was more modest than most knights': just three wooden rooms with a small courtyard. He had no maids, only a groom and two knight attendants.
Herman Green was over thirty but still unmarried. Some rumored he preferred men, but Charlotte knew he was simply too deeply influenced by the Great Mendicant, Mew Rouen. Mew Rouen was charitable, and so was Herman; Mew Rouen adopted orphans, and so did he. Mew Rouen remained unmarried his entire life, and Charlotte reckoned that unless Herman Green met a woman who truly captivated his heart, he wouldn't be marrying anytime soon either.
Upon seeing Charlotte arrive, a knight attendant quickly went inside to inform Herman Green. Soon after, Herman Green himself came out to greet her.
Following Herman Green out were several familiar faces, including Costa Scamario, Adams Bell, and other young men from the Lanwan Viscountcy Guard. These individuals were all local Lanwan knights who had only known Herman Green for two or three months, yet they now willingly gathered around him, a testament to the "White Knight's" charisma.
"Greetings, Viscountess." Herman Green meticulously knelt on one knee, and the young men behind him followed suit.
Charlotte waved her hand for them all to rise, then smiled and asked Herman Green, "Knight Herman, are your injuries any better?"
"They're completely healed. Please, My Lady, do not worry," Herman Green replied without hesitation.
Five hundred lashes... that could flay the flesh from bone, couldn't it? To recover so quickly... Swordsmen truly have monstrous physiques, Charlotte mused internally.
Still, only Herman could give such an answer without a second thought. Your wounds are completely healed, yet you're still resting at home. Aren't you afraid your superior will have an issue with that?
Fortunately, Charlotte wasn't the type of leader to fuss over such details. She crossed her arms, speaking as if she had just been through a terrifying ordeal herself, "I heard you were severely injured, and I was terribly worried, so I rushed back overnight from the Green Plains Dukedom. It's such a relief to see you're alright."
Herman Green stood up and apologized again, "I am truly sorry to have worried you, My Lady. My duty was to maintain order in the domain, yet I became a source of chaos. I have utterly failed your trust."
"I've already learned the full story, and in my view, I don't believe this was your fault," Charlotte said, shaking her head. "Every conflict between you and Lord Stanley occurred because you were trying to uphold order in the Lanwan Viscountcy, while Lord Stanley was the one disrupting it. If anyone should be punished, it should be Lord Stanley, for failing to manage himself and his men."
With that, Charlotte sighed, a helpless smile on her face. "Unfortunately, I cannot do that. Stanley Mellerfield is a high nobleman, and also my uncle. I have no authority to punish him; I could only persuade him to leave the Lanwan Viscountcy. He has left now, so you need not worry about any premeditated revenge from him. As a member of the Mellerfield family, I can only apologize to you on Lord Stanley's behalf."
Saying this, Charlotte bowed in apology to Herman Green in front of everyone.
Herman Green, who had just risen, hurriedly knelt on one knee again.
The young knights behind Herman Green, watching the exchange, surprisingly knelt as well.
Originally, these young men had gathered here because they believed Herman Green was not in the wrong.
In recent times, the disruption caused by Stanley's army to the local order in Lanwan was plain for all to see—extortion, bullying, and general tyranny frequently threw the domain into an uproar. If not for Herman Green's repeated interventions to suppress them, Stanley's men would have become completely lawless.
These young men were all Lanwan locals who had long harbored much dissatisfaction towards Stanley and his subordinates. They also deeply admired Knight Herman for actively opposing Stanley. They had been afraid that Charlotte would punish Herman Green upon her return, which was why they were just now strategizing with him on how to avoid punishment.
Such a thing wasn't impossible; the Orlan Empire was, after all, an aristocratic society bound by blood ties. As Charlotte had said, she and Stanley had a close uncle-niece relationship. If Charlotte chose to favor Stanley, these young knights wouldn't be surprised; they would even find it natural and her actions understandable.
However, to their astonishment, Charlotte did not side with Stanley. Instead, she bluntly stated that Stanley was the one at fault.
In the eyes of these young knights, Charlotte had not only recognized Herman's contributions but had also seen the suffering of the Lanwan locals oppressed by Stanley and his men.
Moreover, for someone of Charlotte's noble status to proactively bow in apology to a knight was simply incredible to these young men. For a moment, their hearts surged, and they were too moved for words.
Among those kneeling, only Herman Green probably managed to maintain a calm train of thought.
Charlotte had Renee fetch some money and handed it to Herman Green, then said with an apologetic smile, "Knight Herman, please consider this some compensation on Lord Stanley's behalf. I know this might seem unfair, but as you know, I really can't have him arrested and flogged. Even if we convened a court, he couldn't be found guilty."
Herman Green opened his mouth but said nothing, silently accepting the money.
The young men behind Herman watched this scene with broad smiles, taking Charlotte's words about arresting and flogging Stanley as an amusing joke. Indeed, to arrest and flog a high noble like Stanley over such a "trivial matter"—of course, it was a funny joke.
Immersed in this jovial atmosphere, Herman Green suddenly felt an immense loneliness.
From beginning to end, Charlotte only mentioned Herman Green being beaten. The young knights present didn't seem to find anything amiss either, as if the sole victim in this affair was indeed Herman Green alone.
However, Herman Green remembered very clearly: he had only been beaten, while Freddy had been mauled to death by a maned cat.
Was the death of a child truly so insignificant?
Charlotte did not stay long at Herman Green's residence. After confirming her chief knight was unharmed, she bid farewell to everyone.
Herman Green and the group of knights saw Charlotte off to her carriage.
As she was about to depart, Charlotte suddenly turned her head and said to Herman Green with a light smile, "Knight Herman, I know you might be dissatisfied with this outcome. But according to Imperial law, for killing a commoner, Lord Stanley would at most have to pay thirty Fusuo in compensation. His most beloved ceremonial sword alone is worth over thirty thousand Fusuo. Is that thirty Fusuo what you truly desire?"
Herman Green suddenly froze on the spot.
After Charlotte left, the young knights, relieved that Herman Green would face no further punishment, also took their leave from him one by one. As they each carried the news of today's events back to their homes, Charlotte's prestige in the domain would rise yet another notch.
Once all the guests had departed, Herman Green stood alone in the middle of the courtyard for a long time.
Suddenly, he mounted his horse again and rode off towards Elmwood Town.
Arriving at the thatched hut outside Elmwood Town, Herman Green immediately spotted Sally, her small head half-visible in the crack of the hut's door, peering out cautiously, her expression somewhat anxious.
Of course, Sally was a little blind girl; she couldn't see anything.
"Sally," Herman Green called out as he dismounted.
Hearing the familiar voice, Sally's face instantly lit up with a smile. "Uncle Herman!"
But then, Sally's little face fell. "Uncle Herman, big brother hasn't been home for many days. Do you know where he went? Brother told me not to go outside, so I don't dare look for him."
Herman Green's throat suddenly felt dry. He had been holed up at home recovering these past few days, but in truth, he was more afraid of facing Sally, afraid of telling this eight-year-old girl the truth with his own lips.
"I... I know. Your... your brother went on a long trip with some others, to hunt maned cats and earn a lot of money. Maned cats are hard to find now, so it should take quite some time. When he comes back with all that money, he'll... he'll be able to get Sally's eyes treated."
Herman Green, who had always abided by his principles and never lied, finally chose to tell a lie.
"Really?" Sally smiled again, patting her small chest in relief. "That's wonderful!"
"Mm..." Herman Green responded softly.
Little blind Sally seemed to keenly sense that something was off with Herman Green. She asked, puzzled, "Uncle Herman, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing," Herman Green said. "Uncle got into a fight with someone, lost, and got beaten up."
"Huh? Mama said fighting with others is bad, you know," Sally said earnestly.
"Yeah..." Herman Green sank down wearily onto the hut's threshold. "Sally, can you sit with me for a while?"
"Okay!" Sally immediately smiled and sat down beside Herman Green.
Leaning against the hut's doorframe, Herman Green looked up at the dim sky. An unprecedented weariness, pain, and bewilderment enveloped his heart. In that moment, Herman Green suddenly realized he didn't know what he wanted, nor what he should do.
"Under the bed, I heard a little frog croaking. I talked to it, but then it hid again. Uncle Herman, I learned how to do a one-handed somersault! When brother comes back, I'm going to show him..."
Little Sally chattered on, telling the White Knight about all the interesting things she had experienced alone in her small, cramped hut.