Violant of the Silver Ch 1: The New Knight – Part 3

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He thought it was Erik.

When he had first laid eyes on the person standing opposite to the window, Vio misunderstood the situation and grew dreadfully frightened.

He had been under the impression that that person had returned to kill him.

Out of reflex, Vio screamed while cowering.

As Lil shakes his shoulder once more, however, he comes to his senses. The predicament is over.

“It is alright now, Lord Vio. I have brought down that foe with a kick.”

At the sound of her violent words, he breaks into a gentle smile. “Eh? Brought down with a kick? What?”

Thinking that he heard wrong, Vio rises from behind the desk. It’s precisely as Lil states; he sees a young man collapsed in the garden.

The young man’s physique is well maintained, his hair short and tawny.

Vio is relieved.

Erik’s hair is a dull shade of blond and compared to this intruder, he is shorter and thinner. They’re not the same person.

The trespasser is supine and unconscious; it seems to have been a little while since he fainted.

After groaning, the person lifts the upper half of his body. Blood starts dripping from his nose.

“Are you waking up already after sustaining so much damage? You are rather sturdy!” Lil extends an arm out, shifting into a fighting stance. Vio’s eyes widen at her posture.

“L-Lil? Are you perhaps familiar with martial arts?”

“Yes, of course! As a maid serving the Lesserhain family, I cannot protect you unless I excel in that aspect.”

She says this mid-jump, paying no mind to her skirt, her right leg partway outside of the window frame.

All of a sudden, Jill calls out. “Stop it, Lil!”

“Mr. Jill? Why should I stop? This person is an intruder, an intruder!”

She jabs a finger toward the young man sitting in the garden, arching her eyebrows. The butler bows his head at his master.

“I am sincerely sorry, young master. That person is Sir Legion Salt.”

“…Eh?”

Astonished, Vio casts another glance toward the man, a poor thing struggling with a nosebleed.

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°•°•°

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“Thank you for the bath, change of clothes, and other amenities, Lord Violant.”

At the sound of a knock, Vio shifts his attention from the orange-dyed sky to the door.

Legion Salt, cleansed of the filth from his travels, is changed into neat clothes. He bows his head with reverence.

Thus, with a tidy appearance, Legion comes across as being a refreshing and agreeable youth. Not to mention, he has the fearlessness and honesty unique to a man of the military.

It’s unusual for such a knightly person to be around, with sun-kissed and healthy skin.

A pity that his Siberian hazel¹-colored eyes look quite dangerous. They suit his occupation as a knight on the contrary, as criminals will surely grow nervous from his threatening glare.

Though he wears a black shirt, it is clear that his muscles are pronounced.

He gives off a manly aura; for his sake, women of marriageable age may cause a fuss, squealing at and lionizing him.

Vio responds to Legion by nodding, inviting him to sit in an ottoman opposite of his hand. Legion’s long legs move with energy as he lowers himself into the chair. As Vio relaxes in the seat with Lil, she watches with a sword in hand.

Because Jill is on a couch horizontal to his, Vio can tolerate having a knight close by. This is a situation that usually proves hard for him to endure.

“I have heard the story from butler Jill. I apologize for mistaking you as an intruder.”

Because he is responsible for his servant’s error, of labeling Legion as a trespasser, Vio doesn’t hold back in his apology.

“No, it’s only natural to be vigilant. Therefore, can you please find fault in me instead of the butler?”

“Am I blaming Jill? I will not behave in such a manner. I have always understood from his conduct his worry for me… Well, I will be troubled if he does it too often, though.”

He directs his stare at Jill, the butler lowering his head even more.

“I am sincerely sorry for my impertinent behavior, young master.”

“Yes. Lift your head for I forgive you,” says Vio, turning from Jill to examine Legion.

“I believe that both my mother and Jill wish to appoint a new guardian knight to me. However, I do not require one. Oh, do not worry about the salary you have borrowed,” says Vio, noticing Legion’s slightly parted lips. “Since you have come especially to a remote region, do not fret as it will be granted as your traveling expenses thus far. Certainly it will be difficult to return at once. It is fine for you to rest in this residence for two to three days.”

“I am thankful for your tolerance and solicitude, Lord Violant. Despite this, I definitely want to become your guardian knight. Can you please allow me this honor?”

Vio tilts his head slightly.

He thought that Legion’s hopes were for his debts to be written off..

Therefore, for the sake of not having future concerns, he declined to talk, with a proposal as an objective. Yet, Legion still proclaimed his desire to be his knight.

“As for my mother, she will not worry because I will talk to her.”

“It’s not like that. I wish to serve you. I’ve been searching for someone to serve for myself. At last, I have found one!” Legion declares with a face full of joy, his eyes that are the hue of Siberian hazels glittering and sparkling. Vio scrunches his eyebrows, candid in his actions.

“Legion Salt, you should have heard in the town of Nada—no, from elder brother, father, and everyone in the lord’s manor, the rumors surrounding me. Do you want to serve an ‘incompetent younger brother’ or a ‘dullard’? I was given the rural Leca town because I had been driven from the lord’s manor. I cannot produce a salary of my elder brother’s magnitude, and I cannot leave the residence. As time passes without doing anything, your sword will rust and everything will definitely end.”

“Young master.” Jill’s eyes reflect a deep sadness.

He raises his right hand to control Jill’s unintentional interjection.

“Speak no more. Return and enter the Royal Knights’ order without complaining. In any case, my residence will be destroyed in the future for certain.”

“Lord Violant!” screams Lil. Large tears spill out from red eyes. “Please do not say such terrible things.”

“Lil, you will also experience the brutality that will soon be inflicted on our home. Currently, no one can interfere with the duke’s family, but eventually heaven will punish us. In that situation, you will be convicted along with me.” He turns back to Legion. “If you serve as my knight, you will also be involved.”

Surprise dances in Legion’s eyes. “Tell me, what are your sins? What did you do that’s so wrong? In my view, the people of Leca town are enjoying peace and your servants adore you. Excuse me, but this place doesn’t seem like Lesserhain territory to me. That’s all I have to say.”

“Are they all living peacefully?” Vio smiles from the unexpected good news. “Because I cannot leave the residence, I have been unable to see this for myself. I seem to have selected a good inspector.”

The current Vio holds a position similar to Leca town’s mayor. Thus, he selected an inspector for the tax bureau, overall town management, and state of affairs at Amade village, which belongs to Leca town. He hired a hardworking man with a wide face, but he appeared to have good judgment.

Aside from that, since this town doesn’t have any specialty products, he set his sights on Leca’s flowers, which contain potent magical power. Then he attempted to sell them as ink for creating magic circles. Moreover, he made candies for magic power replenishment from the flowers.

That profits have risen gradually is a recent occurrence. Since taxes have decreased as well, people in the village and town are incentivized to work hard.

“You are a splendid ruler. What’s strange about my desire to serve and believe in a person like you?”

“No, I am not speaking ill of your intention,” Vio says. “Mind you, I cherish this town because it is mine, but that is basically it. The next lord will be my elder brother. As I cannot leave here, I cannot do anything. The crimes of one’s family that one cannot stop are also one’s own.”

“It cannot be helped if you are ill. God will surely understand!”

Vio breathes a sigh.

“You are a stubborn individual. Anyway, I do not require a guardian knight. Please refrain from wearing a sword during your stay here. I rather not see one.”

Giving up on the conversation, Vio rises from his seat.

“Lil, please bring my meal to my room.”

“Understood.”

Nodding to Jill, who bows reverentially, he turns toward the door.

“I won’t give up, Lord Violant. Um, please call me Legi.” 

“…Legi?”

Wondering if he should ignore that, Vio stops his foot in an instant and turns around.

“Yes!”

Legion responds by flashing a broad and happy smile. That word slipped out of his mouth and now Legion looks as delighted as a dog.

(Legi, I ve heard of that name before. It comes from ‘Princess Dances with the Night.’ He is an absurdly strong knight. That’s right; he serves elder brother Rupheus but is treated like dirt. Then he is headhunted by the hero’s knight and becomes his comrade.)

Unbelievable. He has a pretty good supporting role in “Princess Dances with the Night.” Vio did not realize this until he had uttered the nickname.

“Hehe. So, Legi, is it? You should depart from here to the neighboring country of Ruslan. Because the succeeding queen is a wonderful and talented person, she will treat you well undoubtedly.”

“You jest. I wish to serve you!”

Vio waves his right hand as he steps out of the room.

(Elder brother, you are even more selfish compared to the version in the comic… Although Legion is supposed to be a key figure within the story, you have already dismissed him.)

In his chest bubbles a curious sort of admiration for the knight in question.

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Ending notes: Legion really wants to be Vio’s guardian knight AND he gave himself  a NICKNAME that he wants Vio to call him. LEGI!!!!

Also, I’m tired. There’s plenty of blue text because my Japanese is simply not advanced enough to understand everything being written. The last two blue lines I just grasped at straws.

Huge love to Mint and Nome for checking over the lines!

1. Siberian hazel¹: Corylus heterophylla.

Here are two questions for you guys:

1. When does preserving the literal translation trump maintaining fine English grammar, and should it ever?
2.  When is it okay to be liberal in translating, if ever?

As always, if you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a like or a comment below, and rate/review this novel on NU if you can!

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Edited 3/1/18

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