"Why did no one notify me?"
Several of the men around them took a small step back. James, the one who had been called out, was the only exception—his face had gone deathly pale. Yet the people inside and around Earl's Mansion looked almost gleeful at the sight.
James was the new wife's guardian knight, practically part of her dowry. In theory, he should have been an outsider. Even a knight from a ducal family like David had kept a low profile after coming here.
This one, however, had been outrageously high-profile. With the new wife's support, he had monopolized resources and positions, and over the years, half the positions in Earl's Mansion had been taken by his confidants. Many of the old knights of Earl's Mansion were furious about it.
Now that he had become the scapegoat, they felt immensely relieved!
James's expression was ugly, but he immediately fell to his knees after hearing that. "It was my fault. The situation was critical, and the orc was incredibly powerful. I was worried about your safety, Earl, so I took it upon myself to deploy all the knights to protect you!"
"You!" Seeing how cooperative he was, the Earl's icy expression softened slightly, though he still pretended to be furious. He strode over and kicked him. "Bastard! Who gave you the nerve?!"
James cooperated fully, taking the kick and landing flat on his face. After hitting the ground awkwardly, he hurriedly knelt back up, looking every bit like a loyal knight.
He knew this was his only chance. The upper nobility generally respected knights who were utterly loyal to their masters. As long as his character as a knight was affirmed, he could still be saved.
Just as he was thinking this, a flash of light suddenly streaked across his