"Do you know that you are late!" without showing any hint of surprise in her eyes, Renata stared at the four knights with the uniform of royal guards.
They were not just any knights but the first order of knights that served his father directly.
She knew this man, Reynold. He was one of the strongest. The only one in the past who had the capability of challenging his father and giving him a tough competition.
If not for his commoner status, he would have gone up to high position but father appointed him as a royal head of knights when he took over the empire from the position of a duke.
Reynold was very strong and popular among knights but he was still have trouble in getting married since he had crossed the position of a commoner, so he could not marry a commoner girl but the nobles ladies did not look at him as a noble even when he was given the position of a viscount.
She shook her head. It would have been better if he had remained as a commoner. The position of nobles is nothing but shackles that were holding him now and her too. But she was sure that she was soon going to break them.
"You do not need to worry, my lady. These are the best knights of the empire." the way the girl was looking at the knight with piercing eyes, the knights felt they were standing in front of Leo.
But was she not too small to have such a strong aura?
"I am not, I have full confidence in you and these knights. After all, they are the one who place their life in danger to save us.`` She spoke softly, surprising Reynold who felt that she was too cold for her age since she was only scolding him and being stern since the moment he had met her.
But that was not it, she bowed her head in front of the knights while holding the corner of her dress as a sign of respect,
"I know that I am troubling you but I hope that you continue to support me and help me in saving a woman.
I know that many have doubts on my thoughts but I only expect that you will not judge me until the end and I will try my best to not disappoint you."
"......" several gasps could be heard and the knights that were trained to stay calm and blank even if they were on the verge of death looked shocked and horrified.
A girl that should be talking about how to decorate her doll or play in the garden without a care in the world was talking like an old lady.
She was mature to the limit of hurting their hearts as they felt bad for the girl.
Just how much she has suffered to learn all this at such a tender age.
Their eyes burned with determination and their hands clenched into a fist as they swore their loyalty to the girl standing in front of them.
They swore to not only protect her but her innocence and childhood too. They would make sure that no harm would come to her so that she could enjoy her life like any other child.
Unknown to her, she had earned the loyalty of the best knights of the empire with her heartfelt words.
They stood erect and replied in unison, "we will serve you princess with the best of our abilities and your every word would be our command. So, you do not need to worry my lady.
We will never judge or doubt you. We are ready for any mission that you would give us." Lucy was shocked to see that the knights that have only served his majesty so far and never even looked back even if the duke had come to the palace was swearing their loyalty to a five year old kid who should not even know what loyalty meant.
"Thank you, your words meant a lot to me." she smiled brightly when her happiness reached her eyes.
She looked so adorable with that smile that they were not able to take their eyes away from their new mistress. She was such a cute child when she smiled but a perfect mature lady when she talked to them.
They have never seen such a child. She must be a genius, they concluded in their heart as she finally started walking towards the entrance where the carriage was parked.
"We are going to the palace of marquis with the pretense of mourning over his death.
But our main goal was to find out if Penny was there. And if she is, then is she there out of her free will or was she forced to leave.
You will think that it is a useless task but I know Penny. She was working for me.
If she wanted to leave, she would have informed and left freely. Why would she hide and leave without informing the palace when she is a commoner and afraid of the royal family so much." she tried to reason as she continued to walk without looking back at them.
She did not care if they were doubtful of her words. Words can win hearts but not trust. She had to show them she was right, or else she would never be able to win them truly.
This was not only the test of Penny but also hers. And she was nervous. Though she did not show them, her hands had truend sweaty.
In the past, she was so meek that she never got the chance to speak in front of the knights. They have escorted in the past too but they have never sworn loyalty to her and she was not expecting it to happen so soon.
Now she felt burdened by their words. It would have been better if they had not shown their kind side to her, so that she could have left without any qualms.