That night, Rolynn didn't stray far. With her towering barbarian warrior and the sharp-eyed archer in tow, she lingered just outside the town, pacing restlessly. Her two companions urged a swift departure from this cursed place, but Rolynn seemed tethered by unspoken plans. Her eyes flickered with doubt, hesitation… and with that expression, she sat hugging her knees, gazing at the moon through the long night.
At dawn, Du Wei's caravan set off, but now trailed by an oxcart carrying a trussed-up mage. The poor sorcerer looked utterly spent, his face haggard, his robes soaked through. Du Wei's knights had followed orders to the letter: dousing him with cold water at regular intervals, ensuring he could neither sleep nor meditate to replenish his spirit.
As was his custom, Young Master Du Wei nestled into the carriage with a thick tome, lost in his insatiable hunger for knowledge. The finely crafted carriage glided smoothly, barely jostling despite the uneven road. Du Wei sprawled comfortably on a plush swan-velvet blanket, curling up as he read and pondered… until an interruption came.
A soft knock sounded at the window, followed by Marde's hesitant voice. "Young Master… there's something I need to trouble you with."
Du Wei slid the window open to find Marde frowning, riding alongside on horseback. "Young Master," Marde said, leaning in, "those folks from the tavern yesterday… they've been tailing us."
Du Wei blinked, craning his neck to peer back. Sure enough, about a hundred paces behind, there was the long-legged girl from the tavern, flanked by her two companions—the hulking warrior and the archer—tracking them from a distance on horseback.
The Rowling family's escort knights exchanged knowing glances, their lips twitching with suppressed smirks. Yesterday… hadn't that girl emerged from their young master's room? Could it be that the young master had charmed her, and now she was smitten, unable to let him go? Ha!
Yet none dared voice such thoughts to their lord's face.
Du Wei mulled it over briefly before murmuring, "Halt the caravan. Summon the girl."
Rolynn, trailing Du Wei's convoy all morning, felt her thoughts in disarray. Why was she following them? Was it concern for the captured mage? Hardly—she cared little for his fate.
Then, the caravan ahead came to a stop. Two knights galloped toward her. "Miss," one said politely, "our master wishes to see you. Please come with us."
Out of consideration for the possibility that this long-legged lass might have caught their young master's eye, the knight's tone was unusually courteous.
Rolynn, slightly dazed, nodded and urged her horse forward, her companions trailing with wary glances but following nonetheless.
"Why are you following me?" Du Wei didn't even step out of the carriage. He merely opened the door, lounging inside as he regarded the girl riding up.
Rolynn dismounted, her teeth grazing her lip. In that moment, the question that had tormented her all night found its answer.
Why? Perhaps… it was that devilish smile creeping across his face again.
"I…" Rolynn stood by the carriage, drawing a deep breath. Then, abruptly, she dropped to one knee beside Du Wei's carriage, her head bowed low, her voice solemn. "I, Rolynn Muen, pledge my loyalty to you. I offer to serve as your vassal! For the decades left in my life, I vow to guard this oath with my blood and soul. But… will you accept my fealty?"
Du Wei fell silent, studying the girl kneeling before him. At length, he spoke slowly. "You wish to serve me… why?"
"I don't know," Rolynn admitted, her heart laid bare. "Perhaps you were right—I'm weary. A woman bearing all this… I've felt my strength falter. Maybe I need a sturdy tree to lean on. And I'm willing to be the vine that clings to it."
"You think I'm that tree?" Du Wei chuckled.
"Yes," Rolynn replied swiftly this time. "Though I still don't know your true name, something tells me… you're no ordinary man. Or rather, you're destined to become extraordinary!"
"This is tricky," Du Wei sighed, turning to Marde. "Remind me, Marde—do I have the right to recruit my own honor knights yet? How many can I take?"
"My lord…" Marde, the former groom turned steward, had done his homework before his promotion, memorizing the customs and traditions. "As the eldest son of an earl, even if you don't inherit the title, imperial law grants you at least a barony. And with such a rank, you may recruit up to ten honor knights of your own."
"Thank you," Du Wei said, rubbing his nose. "Only ten, huh? A bit stingy. But knights can have squires, right? A knight can take several, so with the knights and their retinues, that's a fair few dozen men. Not bad."
Marde nodded confirmation, and Du Wei rubbed his temples before flashing a grin at the girl. "Very well, I accept your oath. From this moment, I name you my honor knight… my first honor knight, and a lady knight at that."
Rolynn seemed to shy from his smile, keeping her gaze lowered. "Thank you, my lord… And, since I've sworn myself to you, may I know your name?"
"Oh, my name?" Du Wei smirked. "I'm Du Wei Rowling, eldest son of Earl Raymond, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Forces and patriarch of the Rowling House. And, by the way, back in the capital, they've got a charming nickname for me… they call me 'the Idiot.'"
"Idiot?!" Rolynn's eyes widened.
By the gods! This man, an idiot? If he was an idiot, there'd be no geniuses left in the world! If he was an idiot, most of humanity would be drooling simpletons!
She stifled any trace of a smile and stood, gesturing to her companions. "My lord, these are my comrades. Their names are—"
"No, no," Du Wei cut her off brusquely. "Pardon me, but I've no interest in their names. You heard Marde—only ten knight slots, and I'm not squandering them. I've got my eye on recruiting a few holy knights or greatsword masters for the rest."
He didn't spare her companions a glance.
What a joke! That barbarian warrior was just a brute with a bit of muscle, and the archer? Hmph, a few hundred gold coins could buy three or four of his kind! Even this lady knight… well, if not for her beauty and those striking long legs, her skills wouldn't have caught his eye either.
"Lady Rolynn Muen," Du Wei continued, "you are now my sworn honor knight. Your two friends can serve as your squires. As for your knight's badge and gear, my family's retainers will see to it once we reach our destination. For now, bring your men and join the caravan. If all goes well, we'll be home by tonight."
Rolynn said nothing, though her companions' faces fell, crestfallen at missing their chance at knighthood.
A true knight's title!
In this world, there were only three paths to such an honor. First, possess exceptional martial prowess and earn a ranked medal from the Knights' Association—the most prestigious kind of knight. Second, dedicate oneself to the Temple of Light from youth, trained in combat and selected to become a sacred temple knight. Third, swear loyalty to a noble and receive the title of honor knight.
These two? They lacked the skill to pass the Knights' Association tests, and they weren't churchmen, ruling out temple knighthood. Their only hope was to catch a noble's eye—and nobles with the power to grant titles were great lords who wouldn't glance twice at their meager talents.
Seeing their disappointment, Rolynn murmured a few words of comfort.
In her own heart, Rolynn wrestled with a tangle of emotions. Swearing fealty to Du Wei meant surrendering her independence. The small band she'd struggled to hold together was no more; she was no longer a leader but a vassal.
Yet what Rolynn could not know was that, many years later, historians would mark this day. For it was the moment when the first true member of the legendary "Demon Knights"—the fearsome order that would shake the continent—pledged herself to the one they called the Demon: Lady Rolynn Muen, the earliest to swear loyalty, her name etched forever in the annals of time.