"What's the matter, my knight? Why aren't you fulfilling your duty? Are you planning to betray your oath and your liege?"
Veronica's voice, filled with teasing amusement, echoed down from her lofty throne. It was as light as a breeze, yet it left Clobber standing below her with a sigh of helplessness.
"At your command, Your Excellency," he replied.
In this world, social hierarchy was strict, and rules were many. Only a true king was honored with the title "Your Majesty," while a duke, despite ruling a nation, could only be addressed as "Your Excellency" according to etiquette.
Clobber took a deep breath, his steps firm yet somewhat heavy as he ascended the stairs. Each step felt like walking on cotton—soft and lacking strength.
To be honest, facing the most powerful figure on the continent, the ruler of an entire nation—it would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous.
Just as he was about to reach the final step, Clobber paused for a brief moment, taking several deep breaths to calm the turmoil within him. With a burst of courage, he continued forward.
Finally, he reached the space beside the throne, standing tall, his back straight as he gently rested his hand on the sword hilt. His sharp gaze swept across the magnificent throne hall.
At this moment, Veronica sat proudly upon the throne, her eyes as deep and sharp as a hawk's, seemingly able to see through everything.
When she noticed Clobber's behavior, the corner of her mouth curled into a satisfied smile.
Clearly, she was pleased with Clobber's respectful caution.
However, Clobber didn't notice the smile on her face. His mind was entirely blank, his gaze fixated on one of the pillars in front of him, lost in thought.
"Oh no, this is a disaster, isn't it?"
In a duchy with so many people, who wouldn't dream of standing in his current position? Yet, here he was, on his first day, having already accomplished what others could only wish for in their lifetimes.
Wasn't this just going to land him in hot water?
Right now, he was nothing more than an average knight, just another low-ranking member of the noble class.
Anything could happen in the throne hall, and it was far beyond his ability to handle.
For example, if someone held a grudge against the duke and sent an assassin to attack her, that assassin would at least need the power of a Chimera Knight to infiltrate the castle.
But Clobber? He was just a regular knight—he wouldn't even survive the first strike.
Still, he couldn't back down. After all, he was entrusted with guarding the duke. It was his duty to be the first to charge into battle, to fight for her.
Otherwise, if the duke defeated the assassin, he'd be the next to face the consequences.
As Clobber thought of this, his expression darkened with increasing worry.
Only those with powerful status or great strength would have the honor of visiting the duke in the throne hall.
Clobber couldn't afford to offend anyone here. Making enemies without cause was an incredibly foolish move for someone like him.
Even the Golden Rose family backing him had to be cautious about every move.
Seeing Clobber standing perfectly still like a statue, Veronica sighed, a hint of boredom creeping into her expression.
Normally, she handled her duties in the privacy of her chambers. But today, due to Clobber's presence, she found herself sitting on the throne to oversee things.
At Veronica's signal, a maid moved a small table closer to the throne. Veronica leaned over it, picking up a quill to slowly begin handling some paperwork.
Clobber, who had been daydreaming, was distracted by the maid moving the table. Duty-bound, his gaze followed her every movement, only pulling back when she finally placed the table at a distance.
The vast hall, however, offered little to entertain the eyes. After staring at it long enough, everything started to blend together—simple columns and the floor, with only a few statues and red carpets offering some decoration. His gaze kept wandering aimlessly.
It was then that Clobber's attention was drawn once more—this time to Veronica, who was absorbed in her work.
As the saying goes:
"A man who is focused is the most charming."
And the same held true for women. At that moment, Veronica, deeply focused on her tasks, was all the more captivating to Clobber.
She held a piece of parchment in her left hand, carefully reading through it. Her right index finger rhythmically tapped the table, creating a soothing, steady sound.
The document she was reading wasn't anything important—just a report detailing the number of soldiers and supplies from various noble houses. Veronica, however, was deeply immersed in calculating the potential duration of the upcoming war based on the enemy's strength, weapons, and resources.
But suddenly, a strange intuition stirred within her. She glanced to her right instinctively.
And there it was—a burning gaze fixed on her, so intense it seemed like it could melt her entire being.
Veronica paused for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. A subtle smile curved on her lips as she realized where that gaze came from.
It was Clobber—the little knight, the little rose. Clobber of the Golden Rose family.
She placed the parchment down and spoke, her voice tinged with amusement.
"My knight, is there something on my face? Why do you keep staring at me without blinking?"
Caught off guard by her words, Clobber quickly turned his head forward, doing his best to look the part of a diligent guardian knight.
"Ha!"
Veronica couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Clobber's embarrassed attempt to straighten up. That sound only made Clobber feel even more embarrassed.
"Great, caught sneaking a peek at the boss during work hours. What do I do now? Waiting for instructions!"
Veronica, however, was no longer concerned about the paperwork. She was more interested in teasing the little rose in front of her.
" Clobber, take off your helmet. You don't need it in here. It'll make it easier to spot any potential dangers."
At the duke's command, Clobber hesitated only for a moment before removing his helmet and holding it with his left arm at his side.
Looking at the red flush creeping onto Clobber's cheeks, Veronica's smile widened with satisfaction.
She thought to herself, teasing this little rose was just...
So much fun!
(Don't be misled by the nickname "little rose"—it's simply a term of endearment. In this world, surnames are often used as metaphors, just like how the Stark family is called "the little wolves" in Game of Thrones. Clobber's surname comes from the "Golden Rose," a special potion, so "little rose" is quite fitting.)
(Also, don't worry about the direction of the story. This is a "soft boy" novel, where the protagonist's growth and relationship build over time. Don't expect everything to happen all at once—there's a process to it!)