The Glory of the Female Knight

The carriage raced through the forest path. After a night of rushing, flags could be faintly seen in the distance through the window—the temporary camp of the Dawn Knight Order, one of the southern expedition armies. But in the morning light, it looked more like a beast with bared fangs and claws waiting for prey to walk into its trap.

Anne sat in the carriage heading to the camp, praying she could arrive before the knight order broke camp. Her eyes swept over the letter in her hand, her face showing no emotion, though the paper was covered in wrinkles—clearly crumpled up by someone venting their anger before being smoothed out again.

Two evenings ago, she had finally received news that her husband Holden would be returning. This should have been happy news, after all, they hadn't seen each other in three years.

Anne's husband, Holden Titan, might only be the second son of the Titan family, but he commanded the Empire's Third Knight Order—the Dawn Knights—one of the Soth Empire's most elite forces with the power to dominate entire continents. His three-year campaign in the south was a direct order from the King himself, steadily expanding the Soth Empire's borders.

Now victory had been reported back—the small nations all the way to the southern coastline had surrendered, and Holden could return with his army, covered in glory.

Except now, Holden's glory had nothing to do with Anne anymore.

Even though going to war for the country was an honor for the entire family, it did mean the newlyweds had to separate on their wedding day. During those early days when their feelings were strongest, Holden would send letters home once a week, then later every two weeks, then monthly, then every six months.

This happiness only lasted about a year.

Anne remembered that Holden had stopped writing to her much two years ago, and for the last year and a half there had been no news at all. The letters she sent out also disappeared without a trace. She had always thought he was too busy on the battlefield to spare time, until a soldier returning home delivered a letter to her. Anne recognized the handwriting—it was Holden's.

But the letter from home she had waited two years for was only to inform her that her husband was going to marry another woman.

Tears filled Anne's eyes. She didn't get it—three years she'd waited for him, running the house, caring for his parents. His brother and sister-in-law were useless, so she'd carried the whole Titan family on her shoulders. Everyone knew how devoted she was. If she were some spoiled wife doing nothing all day, how would she feel getting this letter?

Probably she would cover her face and cry, yet be powerless to do anything.

Too bad for them—she came from the Virlet family, renowned for military achievements. Her father was Duke Skoda, who had conquered most of the territory for the Soth Empire. If her father hadn't been accidentally struck by a poisoned arrow and died on the battlefield, her mother wouldn't have insisted she marry quickly.

Anne didn't want this marriage, blessed by her mother, to collapse or even break apart. But if she just waited at home for Holden to return, everyone in the territory would know that Holden was taking another wife, and everything would be beyond repair.

For this reason, she had to talk to Holden alone before he returned to the territory.

Thinking of this, Anne suppressed the bitterness in her heart. Just then the carriage stopped. Her maid Elisa lifted the curtain and looked out, confirming they had reached the Dawn Knight Order's camp, before helping Anne down from the stopped carriage.