The next morning, I headed down to the knights’ training ground again. In a stroke of genius, I had told the cook to prepare some desserts last night. Reputation spread easily, so I needed to make sure to appear as the perfect saint.

“Good morning, my lady.”

Sir Williams bowed and just like the last time, the knights paused in their training, happy for the short break. They needed to be as healthy as possible, but surely they wouldn’t turn down gifts from a considerate little girl? I smiled sweetly.

“Your knights have been working so hard, Sir Williams! I brought some treats for everyone, to thank you for all your services!”

“Thank you, my lady, but these knights…”

The knights looked at the commander with puppy-dog eyes, just like the novel described. Sir Williams gave in and nodded.

“Very well. You should accept her ladyship’s kindness.”

The knights cheered, some shouting words of gratitude. They rushed out to the cart of sweets I brought, and I watched them with satisfaction. The saint had a similar scene with the knights of her house. However, a question, or more like a plothole from the novel, soon struck me.

“Sir Williams, you’re the commander of all our military power. Why are you personally training these knights?”

I knew these weren’t all our knights. In fact, the ones currently outside with the food, including my squadron, were just a small fraction. I really didn’t understand it well.

“House Avington’s knights are stationed at many locations, and this place is the headquarters where most of them train and live. It’s located near the castle, in case of emergencies.”

I swallowed. Emergencies, like if the royal family decided to get rid of us. Sir Williams continued.

“My subordinates and their subordinates oversee the training for most of the knights, and other soldiers as well. These knights here are part of our most specialized troops, handpicked from the elite. Their captain usually handles most of the training, but I always command morning drills to raise morale.”

“And you gave me a squadron of your best knights?”

Sir Williams looked at me and smiled.

“You’re the daughter of His Grace and the future of the grand duchy, so I trust that you will always do the best for it. That’s why I’m telling you all this, Lady Valentina. The squadron is serving you well, I hope?”

I was touched by his trust, so much that I felt gracious.

“Yes, it’s excellent. Thank you very much, Sir Williams.”

This man would fight to the death for us. He would die because of us. I could not allow that to happen. The knights outside were laughing merrily. One day, they would be labelled as traitors to the kingdom and their bodies would not even receive proper burial. It was my responsibility to prevent all of it.

“Excuse me, my lady?”

I was snapped back to reality by Sir Harrod’s greeting. He bowed, anxiety flickering over his expression briefly.

“Ah, yes. Please continue with the training, Sir Williams. I would like to speak with Sir Harrod.”

The commander nodded and went to gather the knights. Sir Harrod and I strode to the side, Zoe following behind me.

“I’ve narrowed them down. Go gather more information for everyone on the list, and also find a boy named Nathaniel Seaton. Details are inside.”

I gestured for Zoe to give him the satchel she carried and she obeyed. He took out the list to briefly glance over it, and my heart sank slightly. It was still so long. I wished I could just look at the sketches and tell, but I only knew the saint’s face from the novel’s cover, and that was when she was seventeen. The art style had been beautiful, but completely unlike a real person or the few sketches I checked before giving up.

“I will get to it immediately, my lady. Apologies again for my previous error.”

Sir Harrod bowed his head, and I waved dismissively.

“It doesn’t matter. Just get it done this time. And this may be a long shot, but try and gather information on Baron Bryant’s lost daughter. See where it takes you, if anywhere at all.”

Zoe had arranged specific information on the details of the accident, like the forest and path, and included them in the files, but there were apparently no orphanages along that road. I didn’t have high hopes in the first place, especially since the accident had been so long ago and the novel said that Baron Bryant tried to find his daughter for many years without avail before the lucky coincidence where he stumbled onto her. However, if these knights were as great as Sir Williams claimed, then perhaps I should give them this lead and maybe they’ll find something Baron Bryant’s knights didn’t.

That reminded me of something. If Sir Williams was training these knights because they were specialized elites, why was Baron Bryant’s knight commander doing that as well? He wasn’t a powerful noble, in fact, the novel described him as almost stupid, though honest and good. The novel also did not have many details on our world, and I should find out more things about the barony later, just in case.

For now, though, finding the female lead was the priority. Everything else would go along smoothly if I could just get her out of the way.

“Thank you, my lady. If that’s all, I can escort you out.”

As we walked past the knights, the apprentice with bright silver hair caught my eye again. He was completely focused on his sword as he practiced.

“Who’s that?”

“Hmm?”

Sir Harrod was looking at the list of names I had given him. I shook my head. There were more important things I had to worry about.

“Nevermind.”

I was Valentina of House Avington. These people were my knights. It was my duty to protect them and bring them to glory, and I would not fail.