Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 318 - 318 156 Adelina's Gift of Thanks

318: Chapter 156: Adelina’s Gift of Thanks 318: Chapter 156: Adelina’s Gift of Thanks In the afternoon, taking advantage of a rare idle moment, Leon headed to the grand estate that was once the home of the Village Elder of Selva Village to pay a visit to Lady Adelina, who was staying there temporarily.

This large estate, which had belonged to the Village Elder of Selva Village and had also served as a meeting place for the villagers, had undergone several renovations due to temporary stays by nobles and more recently Lady Adelina’s residence, and its interior furnishings had already been transformed.

Farolis’s servants had brought in some noble furniture, potted plants, and carpets, turning the estate quite luxurious.

The original owner, the Village Elder, and his entire family had perished in the war calamity at that time, and his eldest son, who was serving abroad, later inherited this large estate.

After being requisitioned many times, the former Village Elder’s son had already moved to other houses in the village to live.

Of course, Leon hadn’t occupied someone’s ancestral home by force; he always paid appropriate rent whenever it was requisitioned for various reasons.

Entering the home guarded by soldiers and knights, Leon met with the Baroness in the great hall and began with an apology.

“Selva was negligent in its guard, allowing the villain to approach the estate that night and disturb you.

I am deeply ashamed.”

Lady Adelina waved off the concern nonchalantly and laughed gracefully, “It’s nothing, that was after all an accident.

Even high and solid castles can’t keep those villains’ prying eyes at bay, let alone this place.

Moreover, the knights and soldiers were all very diligent.

I was not startled that evening.

On the contrary, the first time I was attacked, it was you who saved me, and the second time I was ambushed, there was a foreign knight who admired your reputation and helped me drive away the assassin.

This can be regarded as good fortune you’ve brought me.”

Listening to the Baroness’s jest, Leon couldn’t help but sigh.

Her words were truly pleasant to hear; no wonder this lady was so beloved in her youth.

He then expressed his gratitude to Adelina, “I have come to visit you to thank you for your help.

Without the reinforcements from Sir Redo, I fear I wouldn’t have been able to secure victory in the battle of Longka.”

Sir Redo and his Duwana army, although nominally loyal to Baron Eriv, were essentially a dowry brought by Adelina from her parental family, belonging to her personal armed forces, regularly almost entirely supported by Adelina’s personal wealth.

It was said that Sir Redo’s territory had at least two more squads of such elite soldiers guarding the north of the Thorny Flower Territory.

A total of one hundred and fifty warriors from Duwana County, although Baron Thorny Flower had the right to deploy them, according to the unspoken agreement between noble spouses, Baron Eriv would not step over his wife to command them unless it was absolutely necessary.

Therefore, Leon understood that Lady Adelina’s dispatching of Sir Redo’s troops to support his battle unconditionally was entirely a show of gratitude for his previous saving of her life and honor.

You should know, to maintain these fifty elite Duwana Long Spear Soldiers and ten fierce war dogs for service in battle would consume at least nearly a hundred Gold Coins a month, not to mention the cost of provisions.

“You have established such extraordinary military merits for my husband and still remain so humble.

Do Seryan people all practice such humility?

No wonder that great poet wrote poems praising your knightly virtues.”

Lavishing praise freely, Adelina covered her mouth with a smile, “Redo has praised you extravagantly for your bravery.

Even as a woman like myself, I feel my heart race with excitement for your feat of charging into battle alone.

If you participate in a knightly competition in the future, you must let us witness your valor firsthand.

I fear many beautiful girls will offer you flowers.”

“Should I have the good fortune to partake in a competition, I will do my utmost to bring honor to the Thorny Flower family,” Leon nodded, indeed quite interested in the competitions the Baroness spoke of.

His interest was not in the flowers from noble ladies in the audience, nor the so-called honor.

But like many knights in this world, he coveted the prize money of the competition.

Of course, for many knights, the noble ladies and even Baronesses in the audience stands were synonymous with prize money in their eyes.

In casual conversation previously, Leon had heard other Thorny Flower Knights say that some Great Nobles and Lords who host grand events not only offer substantial prize money, but even have a rule where the loser must forfeit their Armor, weapons, and warhorses to the victor; the loser must either comply or redeem their equipment with money.

Unlike ordinary competitions, those knightly events that only wealthy knights dare to enter, if one can win all the way to the end, walking away from the competition anointed as the “Champion Knight” and becoming legendary throughout the Kingdom, the wealth and arms won could even outfit a Knight Order.

The difficulty of such, of course, was beyond imagination.

All competitions forbid the use of witchcraft and Magic Items for cheating; violators not only have their titles stripped and properties confiscated but are also spurned by the entire Kingdom and permanently expelled from the country.

Relying solely on personal martial skills, without any cheating, Leon admitted to himself that he certainly could not make it to the end of the competition among countless competing knights.

But even without the legendary valor of a “Champion Knight” that “no man can match.”

As long as he won a few more matches, even if he lost a set of Armor halfway and dropped out of the competition, he could still amass a substantial amount of wealth and equipment.

Every time he thought of this, Leon felt anticipation.

Although there was also the danger of injury or even death in the competitive arena, fair combat was indeed much safer than the risk of battlefield slaughter, and the reward was still so bountiful.

Sadly, such costly events could only be afforded by the King and a few Great Nobles.

“…However, compared to glory and applause, your current praise, my lady, is my great honor,” Leon complimented.