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Chapter 56
Commendation
Diana’s fifteenth birthday was when the concept of a Monster Wave first appeared.
It referred to a phenomenon where monsters would appear in great numbers every year and a half. Unlike the Kingdom of Rodbrok, where monster attacks were frequent, Panborough didn’t usually suffer so many outbreaks.
Sometimes, if the nobles participating in the Taliah subjugation simply regulated the monster population, there would be years with almost no appearances at all.
But this time was different.
A massive horde of monsters emerged from the Duchy of Drassel, the queen’s family estate. At first, Duke Drassel reported a smaller number of monsters.
No one knew whether his knights had underestimated the scale, or whether the duke had deliberately downplayed it. The king was already irritated that he hadn’t participated in Taliah. Even though the first prince, Ferdinand, had slain the Echidna, the king himself was displeased that the nobles had rallied under the Duke of Brienne’s lead.
The king didn’t miss the chance to show off his prowess.
But instead, he was utterly defeated. The forces of Duke Drassel were little more than a rabble, barely trained. Duke Drassel himself fled without even properly requesting reinforcements.
Some even whispered that he had withheld the request deliberately, to hasten Ferdinand’s accession.
Whatever the truth, it didn’t matter. For the first time in his life, the king truly tasted the terror of death.
It was a fear beyond being surrounded by his bodyguards, beyond dying while protected as a monarch. This time, he was reduced to fleeing with his underlings, his life hanging by a thread.
And that was when Diana’s father, the Duke of Brienne, appeared with his army.
The Brienne forces had been marching south to quell a bandit uprising. On the way, they diverted eastward to rescue the king—and succeeded.
Duke Drassel’s power weakened visibly after this. And soon after…
Diana Brienne became betrothed to the crown prince. The king grew ever more reliant on the Brienne household.
For all his faults, the king knew how to be grateful. Not only did he lean on the Briennes, he promised to grant any wish to the knight who had personally saved him. That knight, once a commoner, wished to become a noble.
The king readily bestowed a title, along with lands and a townhouse in the capital. A truly unprecedented reward.
From then on, monsters began appearing in great waves every two years. Even during the war between Rodbrok and Panborough, even while Diana resided in Rodbrok, the cycle persisted. This was what came to be known as the Monster Wave.
And Diana intended to seize upon it.
This time, she—not her father—would be the one to save the king. Though she was stealing her father’s glory, the honor would still belong to House Brienne, so it would be fine.
“Your Majesty, are you unharmed?”
Diana knelt before the disheveled king. His eyes brimmed red, a pitiful sight indeed.
“Wh-why are you here…?”
“On my way to the southeastern temple, I heard word that Your Majesty was in danger, so I rushed here.”
“…”
“It is such a relief, such a blessing, Your Majesty.”
Diana smiled brightly. The king looked upon her radiant expression, and behind her, the knights of Brienne and the holy knights.
She had been right to hurry once she learned Philip was there. A moment’s delay and she might have lost everything.
Surely, the gods were favoring her.
*
The Duke of Brienne’s army arrived a few hours later.
“Duke!”
Now clean and dressed in fresh clothes, the king clasped his friend’s hand. The duke’s expression flickered in surprise before returning to composure.
“Your Majesty. I am relieved.”
“Your daughter saved me.”
The duke turned in shock. Diana stood there, smiling.
“I’ve heard the tale… but what in the world happened…?”
He frowned at his daughter.
“Anne, how is it that both our knights and even holy knights were present here?”
“Well…”
Before Diana could answer, Archbishop Akra stepped forward.
“Your Grace, you must be overjoyed to have such a devout and pure daughter!”
“Hm?”
“While offering prayers, your blessed daughter received divine favor!”
Akra was nearly trembling with excitement. The king and duke exchanged confused glances. Diana stammered, unused to priests’ dramatics.
“I only prayed that I might walk the righteous path instead of the easy one… and then petals fell from the sky. Archbishop Akra declared it a divine response. To protect me, the holy knights escorted me thereafter.”
Lowering her gaze shyly, she murmured,
“Perhaps it was God’s will that I save Your Majesty. The timing of these events was too perfect.”
Her voice grew smaller, and she ducked behind her father like a bashful fifteen-year-old.
The king’s eyes lit with joy.
Panborough prided itself on its ties to the theocracy. To be saved by someone bearing divine revelation—what could be better?
“I owe your house much, Duke! I will never forget this!”
The king beamed. The duke forced a smile in return. Whatever the details, it was still his daughter who had saved the king.
She had never disappointed him. Beautiful and clever, always exceeding expectation.
Already, he was plotting what reward to wring from the king’s gratitude. He failed to notice the king’s gaze shifting toward the black-haired slave at her side.
*
“Anne, what on earth happened?”
Philip approached quietly, glancing around before whispering.
“You came here on purpose, didn’t you?”
“So you knew.”
At her cool tone, he flinched. Diana pressed instead,
“And what were you thinking, coming here? I told you to go back.”
He had no answer to her rebuke, only looked her straight in the eye.
“You knew this monster outbreak was no ordinary incident, didn’t you?”
“…”
“I know you have a special ability.”
She remained silent, and Philip’s face hardened. He sighed.
“You know… this incident made Father hold you in high regard.”
“…”
“He’s certain to make you crown princess now. Even the queen won’t be able to stop it.”
Of course she knew. Duke Drassel’s blunder had crushed the queen’s faction, while the Brienne name rose higher than ever. By sixteen, Diana would be formally engaged to the crown prince.
Her father had wanted it sooner, but the queen had resisted desperately.
“You’ll… marry Ferdinand, then?”
She widened her eyes at his tentative question. How was that relevant now? With a derisive laugh, she said,
“Oh, Philip. You already know what my answer will be, don’t you?”
“…”
“You turned me down before. Don’t pretend to care about my marriage now.”
His face stiffened. Silence stretched between them until, with a bitter smile, he walked away.
Watching his retreating back, Diana smiled coldly. He had failed, yet again, to take a single step forward. That was his answer.
Perhaps it could have been different… but no. She turned away. The time for hesitation was over.
And then she saw Giscard. Her eyes widened. Had he heard everything? He lifted the corner of his mouth knowingly.
“No one else heard. Except me.”
Diana nodded. The residue of her talk with Philip left her uneasy. Seeing her quiet for so long, Giscard spoke.
“My lady. I am not like that coward.”
“…”
“I will stay by your side. As your sword. I will protect you and cut down all you despise.”
He smiled with predator’s charm, hand extended toward her—as if to show he was nothing like the man who had abandoned her.
“So don’t grieve over him. You have someone else beside you.”
Why was he saying this now? Was this his way of drawing the line between himself and Philip? A kind of consolation? If so… it was acceptable. She took his hand without thinking. He clasped it firmly, rubbing his cheek against it.
“Oh heavens, Giscard, even your mind has become enslaved now?”
At her gentle voice, he chuckled and nodded.
“Of course. I am your eternal slave. I will remain by your side forever—even if you marry, even if you become a mother.”
Diana sighed softly. Sadly, his wish could never come true.
*
Thanks to the Briennes, the king’s return was not shameful. The duke had him dressed anew and escorted him with his army.
Though he had lost all his knights, appearing with Brienne retainers at his side kept him from looking too pitiful.
Upon returning, the king raged at Duke Drassel and excluded him from affairs of state. In his fury, he even sealed the path to the queen’s palace.
Meanwhile, the Brienne name soared in esteem. The king, before the eyes of all, invited Lady Brienne—the savior of his life—into his presence.
“I hear the one who saved me is your slave?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Diana answered meekly. Murmurs rose among the courtiers. The king had said the man could wield aura. Was House Brienne’s power truly so great?
“I wish to see him.”
“He waits in the carriage.”
At last, Duke Brienne spoke sharply,
“Your Majesty, why pay heed to a mere slave—”
“I won’t steal him from you, Duke. Don’t hide him.”
The duke scowled. Diana could feel his censure, but she ignored it.
At the king’s gesture, the slave was brought into the hall. Gasps spread. That slave was him? Rumors of Lady Diana and a slave knight had circulated quietly—but in person, he was far beyond expectation.
Taller than most men, his face well-formed and healthy, his physique like a tiger’s, his eyes like a wolf’s—feral yet sharp, disciplined.
If not for the collar around his neck, none would have thought him a slave.
The king studied him and said,
“So, slave. Do you have a wish?”
Kneeling, Giscard answered smoothly,
“My wish is my master’s wish.”
The king smiled at his reverent tone, while the duke fidgeted uneasily.
“Come now, surely you must have something—”
“A slave owns nothing. But if Your Majesty would grant a wish, then granting my master’s wish is my wish.”
“Such loyalty! Remarkable.”
The duke tried to interject, but the king raised a hand.
“Then, Lady Diana—state your wish.”
Diana’s eyes gleamed. At last. Just as she expected—the king would reward her, not her father.
The king pressed when she faltered.
“Come now. Do you think I don’t know the slave’s true master is you, Diana Brienne? Speak.”
Lowering her head, she stammered,
“I am most grateful, Your Majesty. My slave has given me a wish. And so… I return it to him.”
Her heart pounded. Her lips trembled as she forced the words slowly out.
“If I have but one wish… it is for my slave, Giscard, to be freed.”
Her clear voice rang out. The hall erupted in murmurs.
