Before September arrived, Jiafeier Lamut learned that the Knights' headquarters had appointed her standard-bearer herald. It was a semi-honorary position; in truth, most of the Starrealm Knights' ranks were like that. Still, it meant she was only one step away from becoming a knight commander.
In addition, her fief had received tax cuts and policy support from the Chancellor's Office. For a hereditary noble like her, that was the most practical kind of support.
However, just like all her colleagues, she was happy for less than three days.
Then came the news: Unity Fortress had been destroyed, the Mountain God Gandarang had sunk, and King Soren had fallen in battle. This string of terrible tidings was more than enough to offset the glorious victory at the Ring of Miracles.
"Besides, Grand Commander Saduran and the others are probably in grave danger too, aren't they? Otherwise, with a demigod's abilities, how could they have stood by and let this happen?"
After receiving the detailed battle report, Jiafeier reached that conclusion outright. But it wasn't something she could discuss in detail with her subordinates.
And so the question arose: if Duke Saduran and Duke Macedo had both fallen, the Starrealm Knights had effectively lost both their commander and deputy commander at once. Even the Third Galactic War, which had left rivers of blood across the galaxy, had never cost them so dearly. In the face of such devastation, what would become of the Knights?
Of course, this was not something an ordinary knight like her could presume to comment on. In fact, even the Privy Council and the Chancellor's Office had no say in the matter. The Starrealm Knights were the Emperor's personal troops, and only the Emperor could decide who would serve as commander and deputy commander.
For now, all she