1 The cold knight captain

"Hey hey, look that way, isn't that the knight captain Raymond Steel-Sama?!"

"My! Yes, that's him! How dreamy, hearing about him is enough to make one's hurt flutter but seeing him in the flesh really makes you want to faint!"

"dear lord I can't believe I'd witness such a dreamy gentleman in my whole life! With his flamboyant garnet hair his deep emerald eyes! They say his face was already beautiful in his younger years however his manliness only made it even more handsome and attractive! Maa, how I wish he'd look over here..."

"Captain-Sama! Please look this way!"

"Kyaaaa, I'm sure he glanced over here!!"

"No way! That was me he looked at me!"

Haa...

As I'm walking from my office to the training grounds, a very familiar scene unfolds before my eyes and I can't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Are those people that carefree? Seriously, whenever i pass by do all the maids, servants and noble ladies have to make a fuss just because I'm a little good looking? This is getting seriously annoying, as long as I remember I've never been able to take a walk quietly or just change locations without creating a commotion. When I think a knight is to carry his duty as quietly and efficiently as possible, it makes mad... do these guys even realize they're being a nuisance?! Of course, I'd tell them off if I could but the one time I tried the girl started crying and I ended up being labelled as the bad guy, even being scolded by his highness for making a young lady cry, I can't believe it... they say I must be as much of a gentleman as I can and endure it as it is part of a knight's duty... bit seriously there's a limit to everything! Women are so fussy I've even stopped bothering with them all together.

God, I wish there was some efficient repellent I could use to make them get the hell away from me. Shouldn't ladies be elegant and dignified creatures? Shouldn't maids be quiet, polite and diligent workers? How come they don't behave! Yes, why not behave as beautifully as the lady that just past by! And ... eeh? Wait! did that girl just pass by quietly? Is that a miracle? Was she sick or troubled? Is she blind? I don't mean being rude but even old women and married ones won't let me slip without a comment or two, how come this young lady just passed by this quietly? Plus, the way she's walking quietly, maintaining a straight back, her head high but not in haughty way, with a dignified air around her, and as she noticed me a few minutes away she respectfully bowed her head without stopping nor slowing down her peace... that young noble lady must have certainly been brought up very carefully... wait a minute... why was she carrying a pile of folded sheets? Don't tell me... she's wearing a maid uniform?! That was a maid?! I'm confused, I was sure she was some kind of noble lady that had business in the palace... my word, if I never thought I'd meet a commoner behaving remarkably better than any noble so far... I'm kind of curious about her, but since she was actually carrying her duty quite diligently I'd feel bad prying into her business which doesn't even concern me... though I hope the chance to meet again rises sometime as I didn't have the time to grasp her facial features, I somehow remember her hair color though... very long dark blue hair shining in the sun as brightly as starry night... I wonder how long I've been standing here, if I don't hurry up I'll be late for training.

As I get to the training grounds, the young recruits are all lined up and very nervous, all very stiff and looking up with their backs as straight as possible... this sight is kind of funny, makes me remember my own start a few years ago, i even feel like teasing them a bit, they look like little rabbits in front of a giant snake ready to be eaten... oh well this is their first day i might as well go easy on them, I'll work them to death starting tomorrow...

"Gentleman, keep your stances and listen to me!

-YES SIR!

-Starting today, the 30 of you are all new recruits of the imperial knights under his highness' direct command!

-YES SIR!

-You are still in training and thus not official recruits, only your hard work and effort can grant a position to serve this country!

-YES SIR!

-From today, you are all to spend 4 years of restless training and irreproachable conduct, as well as a pure and valiant heart according to the knight code of conduct and shall dedicate your bodies and souls to protect the country, the royalty and the people!

-YES SIR!

-My name is Raymond Steel and I'm the knight captain of the imperial knights. I will supervise your training in the year to come, and I'll make sure you'll sweat so much you'll bleed! I don't expect any cowards or slackers among you so if anyone wants to leave, now is the moment and he may never step in these grounds again! Is that clear!

-YES SIR!

-Well, well, captain, go easy on the recruits they're still 16 years old and some are even younger, you shouldn't burden them too much.

-vice captain Robert Clein will assist me in your training. In case I'm not around you are to act under him with the same authority I would hold! As for answering you Robert, I myself enrolled as a new recruit 8 years ago and I was myself no older than 17 years old. If one can focus on his task and dedicate his all to his duty I believe they will achieve great feats in the future with no doubt.

-Haha is that so, you're saying that when you're obviously the young genius who became captain at 25 thanks to his great physical abilities and his remarkable academics! But anyways, you heard him newbies! He's expecting great things from you so don't you let him down!

-YES SIR!!!

Later that evening, I went back to my office in order to progress some accumulated desk work while Robert is casually playing with a ball in a chair in front of me.

"Hahahaha they sure were fired up!

-Well, after making such a speech of course they would, i never intended to stress them that much but if it can motivate them more all the good i guess.

-Well, well, well, you may appear as a demon on the training grounds you're quite a softy inside arent'cha. You're properly looking after them huh.

-Of course, they are future knights, their duty is heavy and the responsibility is great, i will absolutely not overlook any part of their training.

-Heeh, how serious of you. You've always been this stern and diligent, but seriously you should loosen up a bit from time to time, the accumulated stress will end up harming you more than any battle. How about a few drinks with me tonight? You could even get yourself a nice girl or two to release all that built up tension!

-I'm afraid the only company I'll have tonight are these certifications, authorizations and reports which all need to ne turned in by next week. The new recruits took much more time selecting than I had thought, I ended up with more work to do.

-Well, I'd like to help you but since they all need you direct approval i guess there isn't much i can do?

-Indeed, I thank you for the kind offer though, I appreciate the thought.

-Haa, no need to be so polite, seriously, Ray we're all worried about you! You're too focused on work you're missing out on life! Aren't you already 25? You don't even have a girlfriend let alone a fiancé.

-Haha ... i think that's a different issue completely unrelated to work though.

-Aah you still have that issue of not being able to stand women or whatever?

-Well, as to stat polite towards the ladies I'd call it more a fear or commitment but between us i indeed hate even the idea of approaching those brainless birds that care about nothing but their beauty or parties and that can't even behave properly as they've been taught to.

-How harsh... I'm sure every girl in the palace would cry if she heard you just now... I understand they're noisy and annoying when you pass by but that's to be expected from a young 25 years old handsome unmarried successful and rich knight captain, also there seems to be some kind of charm to your coldness not that i understand anything about young maidens' hearts... well, I'll back down for now since you're seriously busy and I'm keeping you from progressing work, however i won't give up! I'll definitely find you a nice lady to care for you! Hopefully in your young days before the old ones hahaha!

-... As you wish, I'll properly look for a wife in order to leave descendance.

-Seriously? Is all you think about is your duty? I'm talking about enjoying a woman's warm company and body! If you weren't my best friend, I would already label you as a lost case and leave you alone.

-Well, I thank you for your concern. See you tomorrow I shall finish my reports, goodnight Robert.

-Haa, Goodnight ray.

As he reluctantly leaves my office, Robert wears a very tired expression as if I was one of his biggest worries. I'm slightly smiling at his hanging shoulders as this isn't his first failed attempt at bringing me drinking or getting me a woman. I'm happy for my friend's concern but he doesn't need to worry this much. Of course, I'm aware of my position as the high duke Steel's family heir, and I know I must leave progeniture for the descendance of the family. Especially since my 4 younger siblings are all girls and I do not wish to burden my precious sisters with political marriages. Not only Robert, but my parents and sisters also keep nagging me to get a wife, I feel like the mansion's servants have approving gazes whenever we talk about my marriage. Honestly, I feel blessed for everyone's concern of my well-being but I can't really find a wife if I just wish for one to appear. However, I must admit I'm not very young anymore, soon I'll be 30 and it'll get even more difficult to find a suitable partner the older I get. Ah, well, I should leave think about such matters to a later date as it's already almost dawn and not much of the paperwork in top of my desk has advanced.