Throne of the North.

Chapter 806 The Initial Establishment of the Knight Academy (Part 9)
This was originally intended to be a simple knightly exchange event.

But in the last two days, the taste has gradually started to change.

The students of the Imperial Knight Academy were incredibly excited, not because of the academy itself, but because of their bloodline and the sudden importance placed on them by the family name behind them.

Many people who were originally on the periphery of the noble territories suddenly received important figures in the noble families, or even the nobles themselves.

The encouragement and commands given to them in his words greatly excited these knight trainees, inspiring them to give their all and demonstrate their loyalty and absolute obedience to their lord.

"We will defend the honor and glory of our family to the death."

Each resounding vow, centered on surnames and revolving around ancestors and descendants, was a passion that even the instructors at the Knight Academy could never evoke.

Of course, they also received help from their monarch, and obtained magical potions that aided the knights' training.

Looking at the expensive items, the knight trainees, who were originally forced to take the route through the capital city because of their marginal status within the territory, were in a daze, as if the rumors of reduced production of knight life potions in Neiqiu Province were a lie.

In any case, this simple exchange began to change the tide. The nobles became more proactive, and if it weren't for the issues of face and honor, they might have sent their elite bloodline members back to the Knight Academy.

Just like the instructors at the Imperial Knight Academy hesitated.

All of this does not depend on the Imperial Knight Academy itself, but on the true rulers of the empire—the noble lords.

They discussed it among themselves for several days without coming up with a plan, but with the arrival of the nobles' will, an answer was decided in just a few hours.

"Just three days from now!"

Brand finally received the news that the two knight academies would officially hold a knight exchange conference in three days.

……

There's never anything new in the capital.

Any trending topic might be memorable elsewhere, but in the capital city, no excitement can last.

In recent days, as the emperor and nobles have made their judgments, the focus has shifted to the Imperial Knight Academy.

"Northern Knights Academy?"

"There's a knight academy in the North? I've never heard of it before."

"I wonder if we can witness the conversations between the knights. It's not allowed inside the Knight Academy."

The people of the capital city always have a passion for life and hope that they can enter the Knight Academy to watch.

After all, they had even been inside the imperial palace, so their thoughts were naturally different from those of the common folk outside the capital.

……

Joni, Joni Edwards.

It was a noble surname, but for Joni, in just a few days, she felt the terrifying majesty it carried.

When the dignified Earl Edwards sat quietly in that magnificent chair, Joni saw her respected, cheerful father standing beside her with a serious expression, not daring to utter a word. His eyes seemed to be telling her not to be like at home and to quickly lower her head.

With her head down, all Johnny could see was the intricate pattern of the laurel blossoms, the very robes of the Earl, and such flowers symbolized the Edwards family's status in the empire.

Before the interdimensional war of the gods, they were the Marquis of Edwards.

Compared to the seriousness and tension of the others, the Earl was somewhat disheartened. He didn't quite understand why the First Duke of Fleming wanted them to lose this exchange. Was it something to be proud of for the noble Edwards to lose to an unknown minor nobleman from the North?

As a result, Earl Edwards became dissatisfied with Archduke Fleming.

But there was nothing he could do. It wasn't the Archduke of Fleming who said it to him, but the old Archduke. Otherwise, Earl Edwards wouldn't have believed that Archduke Fredias Fleming was qualified to let him taint the laurel blossoms.

Moreover, even the eldest prince shouldn't act like this.

Earl Edwards believed that His Majesty the Emperor was a factor in this.

Their struggle with His Majesty has always been fierce. The emergence of the Imperial First Legion was due to their defeat in the struggle. The exchange at the Knight Academy brought this to its peak. If it is too splendid, it will surely enhance His Majesty's prestige.

This was not good news for the nobles who had enjoyed enormous benefits during Columbus III's decades-long reign.

Perhaps His Majesty Columbus IV can reach the heights of his father, but not this year, not so soon.

Much of the Edwards family's wealth has yet to be harvested and transferred. Even if it were to be handed over to His Majesty, and His Majesty were to hand it over to those damned fellows on Grand Duke Meyers' side, it shouldn't be happening so soon.

They've enjoyed it for decades; they're not about to give it up so easily.

If the status quo can be maintained for another ten years, no, twenty years, Earl Edwards is confident that the interests of his earl family will not suffer too much damage. Of course, it would be even better if it could last longer...

This is the capital city. The same event can have drastically different consequences depending on who sees it.

Their differing opinions, stemming from their own interests, can lead to different outcomes in a given situation.

For Meyers' faction, suppressing the Northern Knights Academy was for their own benefit and for the Emperor's prestige. For Fremin, however, the matter of the Knights Academy was insignificant; the key was to prevent the Emperor's prestige from rising too rapidly.

Earl Edwards did not feel any pressure.

The words of Archduke Meyers that 'there are too many nobles' were not important to him.

From this perspective, Earl Edwards was actually quite relaxed; he only needed to accomplish one simple goal.

lose.

“Jonnie, this name reminds me of my grandmother, but she didn’t have skin as dark as yours.”

Johnny's skin had turned wheat-colored from the knight's training, which was naturally disliked by Earl Edwards.

These Edwards bloodline members shouldn't expect to be close to Earl Edwards. Over the long course of the lineage, many of them have long since become loyal executors within the territory, holding a status slightly higher than that of servants.

They don't even have the right to betray; they are eternally loyal to their bloodline monarch.

Hearing his words, Joni did not feel too much fear, frustration, or other unease.

Previously, she didn't even have the right to be disliked by Earl Edwards. She would never have appeared in this house, and the Earl would never have seen a member of the Edwards family who couldn't even get into a banquet.

The difference was so great that he didn't know how to react after hearing the count's words.

Beside him, Joni's father lowered his head, not daring to speak, and did not react to the Earl's words.

“I heard from Adebayo that you will be the first to fight at the Knights’ Exchange Meeting the day after tomorrow.”

Are you confident of winning?

Upon hearing this, Joni resolutely raised her head and swore an oath:

"Please rest assured, Earl, even if Joni dies, she will leave honor to Edwards and will never allow Edwards' bloodline to suffer any stain."

"Um……"

Earl Edwards was torn. He really didn't want to lose. What about the family's honor? If his deceased father knew, he didn't know what kind of beating he would receive.

This hesitant attitude puzzled those around him.

"Oh well, never mind, Joni, right?"

“You remember you have to lose to that kid the day after tomorrow, but… well… you’d better lose gracefully, so that Edwards’ bloodline isn’t tarnished.”

"what?"

Joni was bewildered and puzzled. "We can't let... never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway. In short, don't win. After you lose, you can go back to Edwards' territory."

Edwards had to hide the woman to avoid attracting ridicule for the Edwards family.

The count was still torn between the family's honor and the balance of interests.

"Damn it, why did they let someone from my family be the first to fight?"

Earl Edwards was unhappy and didn't want things to turn out this way, but the other nobles weren't going to take it lying down. They forcefully pushed Joni forward, giving the reason that it was an internal matter within the Knight Academy, saying that the conflict between the two sides was caused by Joni.

Honestly, there's not even a sliver of space for distortion.

"Anyway, did you hear that?"

Earl Edwards' voice turned cold; he had no more interest in speaking to Joni. He waved his hand, and servants led Joni and her father away.

He didn't even care about the consequences of disobeying, because it didn't need to be said; within the Earl of Edwards' domain, his will was absolute.

……

……

Can't win?
Why is that?
Banners fluttered in the wind from all directions, and shouts filled the air. The somewhat introverted Joni couldn't help but feel uneasy under the gazes of thousands of people. The noble and gorgeous aristocratic robes indicated that many noble lords had come to the Knight Academy to witness this extraordinary 'exchange'.

On the vast sandy land, Zach, who was opposite Joni, had never experienced such a scene before.

He shrank back, and if it weren't for the knight's armor, his head would probably have been completely hidden in his neck.

"Are those the peasants from the North? Hahaha, they're really ugly."

From the distant stands, nobles were mocking him, which made Earl Edwards' expression change.

"What is that? A peasant?"

He stared in disbelief at Zach, who was standing opposite the dashing Joni on the field, his face extremely grim. He was about to reach out and call for the knights to stop him.

“Earl Edwards, since we have already agreed not to interfere with the Knight Academy’s exchanges, let’s not meddle.”

Beside him, Count Pascal stopped Count Edwards.

"Are you kidding me? How could the blood of Edwards be defeated by a peasant?"

Earl Edwards roared out in suppressed anger, much to the surprise of Earl Pascal.

"How do you know he'll lose? That country bumpkin is weak to begin with, and he hasn't been a trainee knight for long. How could he possibly lose?"

Edwards' face turned pale; he was holding it in.

"No, absolutely not! Edwards' bloodline must not be lost to that damned peasant."

Count Pascal looked at the count with surprise and stopped him again.

Ryan's letter to him was meant to ensure 'fairness,' but now it seems... something's not quite right.

On the sandy ground, Joni had already drawn her weapon and pointed it at Zach opposite her.

Zack's performance was far worse. Surrounded by nobles, he had lost even the courage to draw his weapon, and was trembling on the spot.

"do not worry."

“Ryan is protecting you; no one can challenge you by overriding Ryan’s name.”

"Don't forget who gave you your power."

Brand's voice fell calmly into Zach's ears, finally reminding him of the day he stood innocently in the square of the Northern Knights Academy.

"I will grant you the power of a fearless knight. Remember, from this day forward, everything you do will be in accordance with my will."

“You will be fearless of any bloodline or surname, for Ryan will protect you.”

These few words inspired Zack to persevere and become an outstanding member of the academy.

When Zack opened his eyes again, he still looked panicked; there were just too many nobles in the capital city.

"For Ryan's glory!"

Ignoring everything else, Zack roared and unleashed his powerful blood energy, charging towards Joni with astonishing speed and strength. He did possess some skills, but he was so nervous that he forgot how to fight.

Fortunately, the other side was very cooperative.

Abandoning all chivalry, the two charged straight at each other, weapons in hand.

"Women's strength is always much weaker."

Count Pascal said this while observing Count Edwards's expression, which remained ashen. The battle on the sandy ground, now over, had elicited roars from countless knight cadets.

Some roared in anger, while others laughed mockingly.

Clearly, this comes from two different knight academies, one in the Empire and one in the North.

Amid the commotion, Joni left, head bowed, trembling with despair, knowing she had lost even the right to remain at the Imperial Knight Academy.

Zack was also on his way out, and he seemed quite happy. He looked at Joni and assumed she was disappointed because of her defeat.

"Your weapon is a bit lacking. Mine is 'Snow Dragon's Roar'. If your weapon had been better, you might have been able to win."

Joni glanced at Zack. Did this fool really think he could win?

Even though his legs were trembling and he could run crookedly, if it weren't for my cooperation, the other side would have had to run out on their way to charge.

Is Edwards's bloodline glory really so easily tainted?
Joni was indignant, but wanting her own future, despair once again enveloped her, and she couldn't muster any anger.

"Father, I lost."

Joni lowered her head and sobbed in her father's arms. Here, far from the bustling noise of the other side, the students of the Imperial and Northern Knight Academy were once again locked in a fierce battle.

"It's alright, Joni. Wasn't this the Earl's request in the first place?"

"But Father, I can no longer train as a knight."

“In the earldom, I simply have no time or resources.”

"It's alright, you can continue to dream. I've arranged a marriage for you in Zishan Province, but unfortunately it's just with a minor noble family that's fallen from grace."

Joni looked up at her father and felt that he had aged considerably at that moment.

“Father…how do you know nobles from so far away?”

"It's not that I know them, it's that they found the South."

The man sighed, gazing at the distant bustle, the noise of which had nothing to do with them anymore.

"They were nobles who came to the south with the Northern Knights Academy, but they were separated halfway through for some unknown reason. I only found out about them a couple of days ago."

"It seems they were driven out by His Majesty at the palace gates."

(End of this chapter)