The Leftover Princess and the Knights of the Round
Story by: Riine Ishida
Okobore Hime to Entaku no Kishi
Characters:
Knight of Sixth Rank of the Royal Chivalric Order
The receiving end of Leti's high-handed invitation
“Leftover Princess”
Already knew that she would be the next queen
Leti's younger brother
An eccentric historian
Friedhelm
Leti's eldest half brother
Astrid Gale
Duke’s junior
Second Prince of the Kingdom of Sommevesle
A Prime Minister-type of prince with his detailed
Okobore Hime to Entaku no Kishi
Brought to you by:
Credits:
Translation: Crystal Hikari
Quality Checking: Mizuouji
The Japanese honorifics were kept in the translation of the
shown by the characters. Footnotes were provided upon the
Thoughts are signified by italics.
vi
Okobore Hime to Entaku no Kishi: A Queen’s Conditions
The Knight King Christian, the first king of Sommevesle, and
symbolizing equality for all the members. This was passed on from
Twelve Knights of the Round.
representations of Sommevesle’s particular fascination with
where knights fought against each other under a set of rules, was
“An invitation to the Martial Arts Tournament?”
know about it, do you not?”
invitation at her knight, Duke Barchet, whom she had just recently
action clearly showed her dislike for the invitation.
just a simple knight by name but a knight with a rightful master. In
Knight has two meanings in Sommevesle.
- 8 -
Chivalric Order. The Order was established to protect the peace
The other meaning is Honorary Knight. This, on the other hand,
chosen master. For this knight, there are several reasons why they
their master; some are scholars who are knights by name alone and
connections.
and the Knight of the First Seat of the future Knights of the
second position he currently held.
interaction between the knights, but this is actually nothing but a
“But since I already have you as my knight, we have to
amongst the knights since you graduated from the Knight
use this opportunity to expand them.”
“Seventh Heaven and Valkyrie will also be competing in it. I
“Demand the impossible, huh.”
prince Guido’s “Valkyrie” were composed of the best knights in
synonymous to her asking him to be the strongest knight in
“Anyway, the real problem for this is that knights are the only
one there to stand as my guard during your matches. If it were for
to consider.”
of danger but since she was known to the world as a defenceless,
knight by her side for the duration of the tournament.
but truthfully, I do not want to show people that I rely on him.
about the political balance between the factions.”
current king, Leti's father. In order to keep this balance, he
serve as a restraint for the Three Grand Marquises. But time
more queen consorts at the same time. The Second Queen was
order to show that he was impartial. Leti inferred this notion had
crown princess.
knight for the tournament,” said Duke.
“Yeah. Someone willing to be your knight and you still get to
Duke knew the perfect person who was unaffiliated and would
of the idea of asking that person. Ask him why he felt that way and
reincarnations of Sommevesle’s first king, The Knight King
grand wooden chandelier and the floor was lined with lush carpet
- 11 -
In the middle of the room was a beautiful patina table made of
same wood. The reincarnations of the Knight King come to this
Leti had no plans to visit the Knight King’s Space tonight but
particularly crowded and she decided to start the conversation with
“Martial Arts Tournament? Juli prohibited having it during my
surprised to hear that the tournament was being held again.
Leti.
got fed up with me and decided to stop it all together.”
“The tournament is a lively affair in my time. I remember
“If the historians of the future learned that the celebrated,
thing, I am certain they might be shocked out of their minds.
- 12 -
with you to your grave,” commented Leti.
Administrative King Karlheinz, smiled gently and told his greatgranddaughter
bottle of wine.
resources anyway…” said The One-Armed King Oswald, a
dire war, which in a sense, was like having a tournament every day.
entertainment for the future,” Leti said to cheer him up.
rather the notion of a knight itself is unclear,” said the
“Do the Knights of the Round still exist?” asked Leti.
Ludgar was a reincarnation from a later future than Oswald.
the number of heartbreaks he had to endure, but he had a proper
“…A peaceful time, is it not? Queen Leticia’s time,” Oswald
envious of Leti’s era.
Knight King is needed. There is not even a chance to use the
“No. A day will come when you will have to use it. You will…”
beside Leti, kicked the table where he had been resting his feet a
“Oi, King Oswald! Telling the future to someone who doesn’t
mouth, huh?”
I wanted to.”
it was for you? You kept on yapping on things like that so your
Alexander.
control the situation.
does it not? If this becomes more than a verbal argument, I shall
- 14 -
If you think you can win against me who has eleven of the Swords
The reincarnations of The Knight King had the “Knight
swords created to protect the Knight King, sealed inside their
Leti recently granted the Sword of White Light, one of the
only had a total of twelve swords in her.
left,” said Oswald. He probably chose to go either because he
offended by what Alexander said.
atmosphere,” Leti said and left.
Leti woke up in a foul mood due to what had happened in the
Leti declared before to the other Kings that she had no desire
tongue some days ago regarding Leti's informal title,
“No. Definitely not. That will absolutely not happen.”
not because I have many lovers. No. Definitely not. I want to believe that of
“I have ignored the rumours going around about Duke being
if I or Duke deny it, it would just backfire on us making us even
Leti continued pondering on how to deal with this particular
maid came, informing her that Duke had come together with the
Tournament.
knight of the Royal Chivalric Order with his head bowing down to
Astrid Gale was considered a top-class knight due to his
was already rumoured to have the potential to be the next
“So you were the person Duke had in mind for my temporary
finished Leti in her mind.
indeed a likely candidate and simply became unexpected because
candidates Duke would have in mind. It seemed like she and
Astrid – one of Duke’s juniors – actually had a dark past
man was elated when Duke asked him to be Leti's knight and was
will give my best to protect her highness!”
beautiful Princess Leticia or because this was the perfect chance
know.
desired master but he skilfully dodged the topic every time,
Leti who was the most likely candidate for Astrid’s chosen
“You do not have to do much. All you have to do is to stand
So Leti, together with Astrid acting as her knight in place of
the tournament would be held.
stay. An elaborate tent stood out amongst the simple ones and
one chair on the side and Guido filled up the other one on the
would never sit beside each other on friendly terms. This was their
“Well, well, well. A pleasant day to you, your royal highness.”
with a perfect princess smile.
Friedhelm was surprised to find the baby-faced Astrid standing
“Duke prepared him as my temporary knight for the
also be assisting the Knights of the Round for the management of
this time to recruit Astrid to your Seventh Heaven,” explained Leti.
“I will think about it, your highness,” replied Astrid. This had
eyes were now different.
another good one slip out of my hands, thought Friedhelm. He did not
those eyes would not even look back at him no matter how much
would be taking in Astrid.
“Knights are weak against beautiful princesses, right?”
yes, saying that ladies were creatures naturally to be protected.
he heard them say this.
but she was truly fuming inside
“Astrid, why don’t we make a bet on who’ll win this
“Bet?” Astrid asked curiously with his head tilted to one side.
- 20 -
the best wine in my cellar. If I win, you become my knight. What d’
“I’m sorry, your highness, but I don’t drink.”
have any sweet treats to lure a kid.” Friedhelm grumbled in his seat,
Astrid clearly said that he does not drink rather than he cannot
knighthood with Friedhelm. And no one knew if Astrid did it
While Friedhelm was thinking about Astrid, Astrid himself had
“Uhm…Please pardon me, but what is this tournament in the
Astrid’s question was truly out of place. Leti unintentionally
exasperated, “Eh?”
a temporary knight, nothing more, nothing less.
a competition between the honorary knights in the kingdom.
honour and being branded as the strongest knight in Sommevesle,”
“Are they going to fight?”
using the same sword within a time limit as shown by the
Round as they are not participating in the tournament.”
Astrid said glancing at the busy Duke who was helping in the
“…it shall be Duke-senpai1
Leti's reaction was delayed due to her surprise at Astrid’s
Friedhelm glared at Astrid.
dared to utter despite knowing it!”
despite not understanding what he did wrong.
1 Senpai – a Japanese honorific used in addressing one’s senior
- 22 -
Astrid had meant.
he is my friend. I have my reasons, and of course, he does as well.”
Leti knew that Guido had recruited Duke before but Duke
that Guido wanted to prevent Duke, someone from his faction,
words, it was not the only reason.
performance of the future First Seat Knight of the Knights of the
And then the tournament commenced.
entertaining fights and some finished quickly. Leti kept watching
matches. Looking at him was enough to know he was busy helping
incumbent ones.
“Your highness, please watch carefully. Duke-senpai’s match
oozing with pride for his respected senior.
“What? Did he get even better? Unbelievable…” said a
“They say that it is the most efficient fighting move for knights
Leti determined before that Duke was weaker than the geniusassassin
maybe he really would.
thought Leti.
knight and measure his true abilities.
to start the battle. As soon as the sign was given, Duke quickly
The best fighting move for a knight is composed of these three
One, cross swords with the opponent and charge forcefully to
Two, strongly wield the sword, forcing the opponent to lose
And three, thrust the sword and point it towards the
a lot of sand still left in the hourglass.
three-move attack. Even the referee was rendered
He is…He really is strong, thought an amazed Leti. That
skills were far beyond the skills than that of a regular first-rate
“So, how was it?” Friedhelm asked with a smug face to Leti
“For a knight battle fought fair and square, there are only three
seen, Duke is way above the others for all of those factors. No one
“But I remember someone bragging that he was on par with
“Duke was a flimsy lad at the time and I had more height.”
confirmed Leti.
- 25 -
fighting style than the one she witnessed before when Duke
So why does he prefer using that practical fighting style? He is already
excessively strong junior.
wanted to prove that he was not only strong as a knight.
but he was a just a childish man when it came to Astrid.
thought Leti. Being strong as a knight was a valuable asset,
later and moved on to ask Astrid.
Order? Why is that?”
but Friedhelm said a while ago that no one came near to Duke so
“Yes, we do have equal records because I collect points from
it’ll be my complete loss. But if it’s over something else and there
“Do you also have other battles aside from swords in the
“Yes, we do your highness. We may be called knights, but
pickpockets. Fighting with swords would be difficult because we
train in different fighting styles,” explained Astrid.
combat, knives, and other items that could be considered more
Astrid’s favourite was “The correct way to stop a drunkard with a
“Senpai’s so great.” Astrid said, as if voicing out Leti's
Leti did not openly agree with Astrid but she was forced to
Duke, on the other hand, was being praised by his seniors in
momentum for the rest of the tournament.
were not rumours at all, realized Leti as she saw how Duke was
A knight with the best swordsmanship, a calm and decisive
his noble blood, were the conditions for the ideal Commander and
Order their future perfect Commander.
did, something dripped onto her from above. Leti felt something
even before she could react.
“No! Look up!” shouted Friedhelm and Astrid.
dripped down again, falling onto her hair. She touched it, dirtying
“What the…Quick! Call the Knights of the Round! This is
snap out of shock and gave instructions to Seventh Heaven and
tent’s roof did not look like it would stop at any moment and
“What’s wrong!?” Duke’s voice cut through the heavy
beautiful blonde hair and white cheeks were stained scarlet.
- 28 -
her head and told him to look up. “Calm down. This is not mine.
Duke followed what Leti said and saw where the blood was
“A lamp…with blood inside?”
one noticed it until blood started leaking out of it.
of Leti's chair and used it as a springboard to jump up. He took
“Ah! Blood is still leaking out.” Astrid’s hand was smeared
the bloody scent filled the training grounds that Leti had to cover
“…a bird’s corpse? Who’d do something like this?” said Astrid.
Sealed inside the lamp was a beheaded bird. The lamp was
in the lamp and dripped down so its existence could be discovered.
“Astrid, go and wash your hands. Then bring one wet and one
“Yes Sir! One wet and one dry!” Astrid confirmed the order
“Your highness, are you feeling all right? Do you feel dizzy or
“No. I am all right,” Leti calmly answered Duke’s worried
Leti, fortunately or unfortunately, was not delicate enough to
thinking about who would do such a thing and why.
simple prank or something else…Leti pondered. But sadly, she did not
incident was already spreading out and people were starting to
and Friedhelm examined the lamp and the bird.
blood. Leticia, don’t come out yet, it’ll make things worse. Not
The knights immediately followed Friedhelm’s orders and took
revealing the ground.
- 30 -
Everyone inside the tent gasped because beneath the carpet
had been.
isn’t he? I know what this is for, but I don’t know that much,” said
The pattern drawn was a pentagram – a five-pointed star that
Anyone who saw it could conclude that it was a magic circle drawn
burned into her mind.
This certainly refers to me and is most likely connected to The Knight
were true. As if on cue, Astrid came back with the two washcloths.
“Thank you.” Leti said and took the wet cloth first to wipe out
had stained already and would not be taken off with a normal
And one of my favourite dresses just got ruined in the rain recently…aah,
and the Knights of the Round. If only she was a man, wiping away
the incident. But no, she was a princess with a reputation to
being a princess inconvenient.
“Wait.” Guido called out. He took off his coat and then
added a few words.
around exposing herself.”
insist on it, I shall take my knight’s,” refused Leti.
Thank you for doing that in place of Mother.”
full younger sister – birthday in place of their mother who had
“Well then, I shall return it afterwards…and one more thing,
“Got it.”
- 32 -
the tent. It had been a long time since Leti had received that kind
conscious of the slight warmth lingering in her brother’s jacket.
curiously trying to find out what had happened inside. Leti
so she carefully examined the faces of the persons around. Using
her.
filtering out any useful information from the swarm of confused
“looks like it’s cancelled”.
situation, considered Leti.
Leti stopped walking upon hearing those words. The utterance
voice itself was already muffled and it was impossible to know to
“Your highness?”
here at this moment,” commanded Leti. When they reached a
“I heard a whisper a while ago saying ‘earlier than planned’. I
“The tournament started as planned. There isn’t anything that
“I agree, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the discovery of
The perpetrator probably did not expect blood to leak out of
when the training ground was being cleaned.
out. It’d be more gruesome and convincing than knowing you
“Yes, I see your point…” whispered Leti.
am going too quickly and searching for a reason for the conclusion. Leti, calm
Leti immediately asked her maid to prepare a pen and some
she had to ask Duke to do before he forgot.
Leti asked Duke to write the names of the people that were
the paper.
Duke’s hand smoothly wrote onto the paper the names of the
so much paper that some fell down onto the floor.
them, but she soon understood what Duke was doing when he
“…Did you remember the people who were there and their
“I learned how to due to the demands of the job. I probably
Duke wrote onto the paper the names of the people who were
honorary knights who participated in the battle, and the nobles
- 35 -
had stood at that moment. He wrote landmarks like, where the
remembered not only who, but also where the people were when
“This is certainly convenient. It would be of great help if I can
“Don’t ask for the impossible. Anyway, does this mean the
“Yes. I am not sure what happened earlier than planned but it
Leti.
Royal Villa and guards were already stationed around it but Duke,
Don’t go wandering around anywhere until he has arrived.”
while longer. And one more thing Duke…”
Order’s Camp to call Astrid.
that you were number one or two within the Order but I did not
Astrid’s unbelievable strength somehow overshadowed Duke’s
same category. Leti felt a little frustrated with herself for
was until now.
be my complete defeat.”
be meaningless if he could not protect his master when it came
“I do not expect and will not ask that kind of strength from
plainly.
Duke did not dare step on Leti's secret. He never forced her to
listen. That was it for Duke.
Duke’s inferiority complex, in a way, was connected to his
he would end up looking down on himself. This would be bad for
“Yes, I will not tell you. But look, even if I can kill Astrid, I
value. Next time I shall order you to win. If you remember, I said I
“True. That is not impossible for me. Then, I shall do as you
Leti, satisfied with Duke’s answer, finished the conversation,
“Don’t go anywhere until Astrid arrives.”
wash myself and change my clothes. You do not have to worry.
Duke took his leave and hurried back to the Order’s Camp,
was.
Leti did not give Duke an obvious compliment. She did not
that she would order him to win since she now knew he could do
Duke knew himself well. He knew that if he received any
a cold face but what Leti did fit more to his personality – to
- 38 -
would probably motivate him more.
similar to Prince Friedhelm. Does it run in the king’s blood?
Friedhelm’s and Leti's mothers were different so this ability
unconsciously uttered a swear word.
washed her hair and face with hot water and changed clothes.
report. With nothing else to do, she sat in front of the chessboard
board.
as she tapped on the black rook when she felt a presence in her
“Your highness! I’ve come to be your guard in place of Senpai!”
again and I shall kick you out.”
room. If anyone saw him coming in through the window, it would
- 39 -
For Leti, it was still too early for her to take the first step in
“Any progress on the magic circle?” asked Leti.
currently asking the knights who prepared the area,” reported
strange with Leti.
her and the strangeness increased as he got closer. Before he could
bent down and brought his face near Leti's beautiful, golden locks
The gesture Astrid did was so dog-like that even Leti forgot to
“What’s this smell…?”
“No, it doesn’t smell like blood…it’s more like…a black
word to describe the strangeness he felt when, his gaze slowly
for his next words.
- 40 -
thought as he was drawn in by Leti's steel blue eyes reminiscent of
“Ouch!”
Astrid’s head shook and firecrackers exploded in front of his
mercilessly hit him with the Knight Sword.
that again and I will pierce you with my twelve swords! Remember
“Huhuhu…Please forgive me…but your highness is so
“No one is asking that! Shall I tell you what it means to be a
meaningless if the guard attacked the master he was supposed to
“Ah, that’s right!”
and swore, this stupid naïve knight! She said to herself that her hot
“Anyway, it is done and over. Now go outside and guard there.
“…Is Duke-Senpai allowed inside your room, your highness?”
pointed out the door for Astrid to go out.
“Did I make her highness cautious of me? I’d better be careful
Now, back to work! Astrid switched back to work mode when he
“It’s impurity!”
responded to the impurities in Leti's hair. She already washed out
“That small amount should disappear in a few days so I guess
it? Probably not…not after what I tried to do. Astrid sighed dejectedly.
action had subsided, Leonhardt, who was called to investigate the
For reports like this, there was a proper order on how it
the leader of the investigation, which in this case was Duke, a
investigation, but Leonhardt ignored this protocol and proceeded
“First, the magic circle. This is most likely one of those magic
Leonhardt handed a paper with an identical copy of the circle
instability drawn with blood was so cliché that it lost the ability to
“There are still books about the lost arts of the past, books on
not guarantee it will give the desired effect. I know, for I’ve been
Leon believed that there would always be an occult belief that
about the past as the Knight King’s reincarnation, had a different
In the past, there existed not a God but gods and together with
mysterious power, was persistent throughout the lands. But that
even the fact that it once existed was forgotten and the only traces
The source of magic, the gods, had abandoned this world. The final god
Humans were the ones who erased magic from history but
of it completely.
is ‘Archaic Hellas’, or more specifically, a language older than
who wrote this is most likely not familiar with it.”
“Take, for example, this word. There should be a full stop in
and continued the stroke. This shows that the person who wrote
continuous and curved. This is what happens when people simply
Archaic Hellas was a dead language with only the writing
scriptures and a handful of scholars studied it to use for research.
“‘Severed from the Cycle of Life; forbidden to enter the
over this land for all eternity’ was probably what this would mean
someone a ghost forever but became meaningless due to the
confirm this with scholars of archaic Hellas and report again,” said
“So the criminal does not know archaic Hellas,” Leti sighed,
ghost energy who would definitely know archaic Hellas for it
unanswered.
Leti thought this message pertained to her secret as the Knight
And what was the reason behind the curse? Now that she was
questions became harder to find.
say that the criminal is someone who has access to an old book
Hahaha…There’s too many who can fit this description. Any noble
the Order and Scholars can as well as long as they have permission
for an errand,” Leonhardt summed up.
suspects. It would be impossible to interview the suspects even if
“Anything else?” asked Leti.
written there intentionally, then it means there’d be a number ‘II’
“So are you saying that there will be another one?”
sake of catching the criminal, let’s hope there is another one.
Anyone who saw the circle would only feel unpleasant or
for now was to wait for the enemy’s next move, just as what
“Do you have any idea who is the target, your highness?”
Any one of the three eldest royal children was a possible target
was not for a particular person but a certain group of people.
- 46 -
Family’?”
immediate family, and his relatives – the Dukes and their
the throne, regardless of their sex. However, there is no clear order
“If we trace the roots of the current bloodline, we shall arrive
is not directly connected to the Knight King, but not wholly
as well,” said Leti.
closer to the Knight King’s than the current line.
Leonhardt excused himself, saying that he also had to report to the
“Your highness, did something happen with Astrid?”
“He looked dejected.”
“He did something stupid so I called him a mongrel. You
you should teach him ‘stay’.”
anything else.
who sneaked out of her room once night came.
the day before she left to change her clothes. With this, the
found her there, she could easily tell them that she went there to
Leti, with her night vision thanks to the Sword of Black
walk outside in the dark without it so she simply carried one
“…I see it was erased already,” sighed Leti as she reached the
sacrificial bird and the magic circle drawn with blood were already
are’ again personally, but it was no longer possible.
- 48 -
I stay any longer,” Leti said as she slowly stood up, feeling a little
Leti gulped. The person approaching may be someone working in
might be, both meant trouble for her.
But the person was neither of the two.
“I should ask you the same? What you doing here alone at this
“I just noticed I lost my favourite earring so I am in the middle
to go back.” Leti smoothly said her prepared excuse.
home now.”
circle drawn in blood was at this time of the night…But how
earring?”
the Royal Villa.” Guido said. He clearly did not have any plans on
Leti decided to let it pass and go back home when,
Leti and Guido looked at each other when they heard the
them, the most likely reason they would come up with was that
no one should know about it. Now, if this information reached the
simply find the corpses of the two royal children together the next
“Stay still.” Guido said to Leti as he quickly took off his coat,
Ah, I see. But if he does this…Leti thought. Bad rumours would
“Who’s there? Answer me!” The voice and the sound of
“…P-prince Guido!?” The person calling out was a knight
at finding who was there.
knights based on the footsteps but only one of them had spoken.
“Yes, your highness!”
the knights saw as a clear act of an affair. While Leti was thinking
spoke.
to escort the young lady back to her home? Please do not let her out of
Leti swallowed her shock.
normal voice. He already knew that Guido’s fake lover was none
The knights left the prince and his lady and the two separated
“Looks like Duke noticed.”
scolding tomorrow.” Leti sighed as she was already desperately
him she had something to discuss privately with Guido but that
be scolding her for going out alone.
was still looking down, busy coming up with her excuse. But when
- 51 -
to say and simply said, “I will walk you home.”
asked Leti if Leonhardt was home.
him for you,” as thanks for sending me home, finished Leti.
and passed her younger brother to her older brother.
pass through the Order’s Camp. And why would he go alone? Leti
This only meant that he was going to do something he did not
An affair? No, no, no. That is the most unlikely reason for him.
Maybe he came back again to check the scene… Leti sighed at how
“Ane’ue2
here.”
2 Ane'ue: A Japanese honorific for calling one’s older sister. (More formal and
Leti’s thoughts were interrupted by Leonhardt’s obviously
“Is that so?” asked Leti, looking at Guido for confirmation. He
As soon as Leti’s footsteps could no longer be heard,
“I came to ask you about the magic circle.”
I’m surprised Valkyrie even allowed you to come here alone.
Leonhardt brought out a copy of the report for Guido to read.
suspects.
royal children were targeted so I