I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 259: Knighted

Everyone was permitted to sit down on the mismatched furniture as Lord Arthur pushed forward the ceremony.

As expected, Arthur unsheathed his sword and he stood at the front with it readied until everyone had taken their seats and set their eyes on the front.

Since their backs were to the north and Arthur’s back was to the south, the sun setting in the west was making his already fiery hair look particularly alive at that moment. While his scars, missing hand, and bulky body were certainly intimidating, it was surprisingly his unique hair that made most people take a second look.

In those times, red hair wasn’t prevalent, and most people with red hair could be traced back to the Sünstoian people. There was a knight from Hydrogia with red hair whom Irene had seen a few times. She often wondered if they could be distantly related.

"Let us begin," Arthur announced. To no one’s surprise, he said, "I would ask that Felix come forward to receive the honor first. Since he will be the closest confidant and guide of the next Commander, I believe it’s important for him to receive his long overdue title first."

"Yes, My Lord," Felix responded as he stood up and walked forward.

His blonde hair, which had gotten lighter and grown longer, was tied back at the base of his neck, and he looked up at Arthur with determination evident on his face. While he felt like he had lost so much, he hoped that this would be a gain. Even with all the burdens it would likely come with, he was ready to dedicate his life to something since it seemed he wouldn’t be able to dedicate his life to love or family.

"You have been burdened by the responsibilities of a knight even without the title," Arthur continued. "Please kneel to receive your knighting, which is undoubtedly yours already."

Felix did as he was told and got onto his knees in front of the large man who loomed even further by being a couple of steps higher than him.

Arthur lifted his sword.

"Even though you have already proven yourself through action, from this day forth, do you pledge your fealty to the King of Peroda and all people within this kingdom, specifically this dukedom?" he asked.

"I do, My Lord."

"Will you make the promise in front of the duchy today to put the Code of Chivalry above oneself and truly join the brotherhood that is the Knights of Tenetium?"

He put the sword over one of Felix’s shoulders effortlessly, despite the size of the blade.

"I will, My Lord."

Arthur placed it over his other shoulder.

"On behalf of King Alfred the Second, I, Lord Arthur Litharion, declare you Sir Felix Magnusson, Second in Command of the Knights of Tenetium," Arthur announced as he gave his former title to the younger man and pulled back his blade. "Go join your fellow knights."

Irene felt such pride as Felix crossed to the other side and was greeted eagerly by Sir Sven and Sir Gunnar, who patted his shoulders and accepted him to join their ranks, even though he had already been behaving as a knight for more than a year. A small smile appeared on her face. He deserved so much more than that. It felt like his personal losses outnumbered everyone else’s.

Having only lost one person she was close to, her heart was always clouded with grief. Seeing Felix be able to stand and be burdened with the second in command position while also being knighted made her fully understand why he was chosen for that position. His true introduction to knighthood and age didn’t reflect his experience at all.

However, the only thing that could knock her from her thoughts was her father speaking her name—her real name—in front of all the knights and ceasing the celebration for Felix’s step forward.

"Irene Litharion, it is your turn," the former knight announced. "Please come forward and accept the title that you have earned."

"Yes, My Lord," Irene responded with a bowed head before she walked forward.

"Please kneel to receive your title," Arthur requested. "As deserved as it is, it’s hard for a father to watch his daughter put herself into such danger time and time again, knowing the hardships this life requires. However, after the years in which I watched you fearlessly walk into situations that seemed so much larger than you, I have realized that there is no obstacle that is too much for you."

Irene kneeled, but she smiled up at her father after he said such a heartwarming thing about her. With his support, she had been able to keep walking on the path even when it was full of obstacles. Call it the blind confidence of a girl with Sünstoian blood running through her veins, but her father was the reason for most of her actions.

He lifted his sword and held it over one of Irene’s shoulder.

"From this day forth, do you pledge your fealty to the King of Peroda and all people within this kingdom, specifically this dukedom?" he asked.

"I do, My Lord."

"Will you make the promise in front of the duchy today to put the Code of Chivalry above yourself and truly join the brotherhood that is the Knights of Tenetium as their first female knight in recorded history?"

Irene squeezed her eyes closed. It felt so incredibly heavy and only hit her in that moment that she was the first female knight in Tenetium’s history. Her reasoning for hiding herself felt that much more justified. Even though it was her parents’ wish at first, she grew to understand it.

"I will, My Lord."

Arthur placed his sword over her other shoulder.

"On behalf of King Alfred the Second, I declare you Dame Irene Litharion, Third in Command of the Knights of Tenetium," Arthur announced with a faint smirk on his face and lifted his blade. "Go and join your fellow knights."

At the announcement of her stance in the chain of command, Irene lifted her eyes and stared at her father with her mouth agape.

The expression didn’t cease even when she was within the grasp of the other knights who stood from their seats and immediately embraced her and expressed their joy for her to join them. There wasn’t even a second thought that she was a girl and not one of them. She was held close and celebrated just as much as Felix, who came before her.

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