Stein Rays's Move (13): A Secret Conversation (2)

The king had intended to crush the First Knight Order, his royal guard.

As I stared at him in shock, Lord Rays calmly began explaining how it had happened.

—I told you how the Tenth Knight Order began as an emergency force formed to counter the Empire's invasion. The official reason the First Knight Order didn't mobilize was that they were "the guardians of the royal capital," but there was more to it.

In peacetime, the First Knight Order stood at the pinnacle of what a knight could aspire to.

Those who had distinguished themselves in the other knight orders all vied for a place in the First Knight Order.

The First Knight Order received better pay, and they had no dirty work to do. Their role was to wear splendid armor at ceremonies and bask in the people's envious gazes. They were proud to be in a class above the other knight orders.

Naturally, they increasingly associated with the nobles and officials at the center of power. That must have gradually corrupted the First Knight Order.

Even with the Empire declaring war and Rudek facing an existential crisis, the First Knight Order tried to use the Empire's actions as a political tool—to further enhance their own authority.

In short, they wanted the king to formally beg them to deploy. Their arrogance had reached its peak.

That was the first incident that made the king give up on the First Knight Order...