Getting back to the building's entrance didn't take long. Retracing her steps was easy, considering it had only been a handful of minutes since she had left the training area in a hurry.
Nodding to the few admin staff who were now filtering in to begin their day's work, Delphina paused to straighten out her clothes before heading over to the Knights' central area.
Her belt had skewed to one side in the initial fuss, and the Estoc now sat too far forward on her hip. Probably didn't help that she had just dumped herself down on the ladies' toilet with little regard for it.
Just as she was about to set off, a proffered metallic hand entered her line of sight.
Please accept my escort, my Lady.
Slowly blinking before looking up towards Jenkins' face, she was somewhat puzzled as to where he had appeared from.
"If I didn't know better, Jenkins, I would've thought you just teleported over here to meet me."
This elicited a grating noise from him that Delphina could only assume was, in fact, some form of laughter.
Apologies, my Lady, you were too preoccupied with your belt. I just came from informing the young master of your delay.
Yeah, sure, she, the skill user extraordinaire with senses upgraded to the Ultimate level, missed his approach.
Well, to be fair. When hopping into a new body, she deliberately tried to dull her own senses unless she needed them, lest the brain explode from the initial information overload. Definitely not something she'd done by accident before…
But that wasn't the point.
Jenkins was clearly able to use some form of stealth skill, despite being an automaton.
"Yes, yes, I'll take your word for it, Jenkins."
Shooting him a lengthy side eye, she stepped into his escort and allowed him to lead the way back to Pietro.
As they wandered towards the centre field, Delphina pondered the extent of 'Delphina's' physical capabilities- she really did seem to be brawn over brain in terms of her skill base.
Perhaps she could tone down how much she was limiting herself in Delphina's body, considering her earlier display of innate strength.
This tournament would definitely be a good opportunity to see the limits of the general Knights and possibly even other Sword Masters.
The last 5% of memories No.69 had given her access to didn't provide anything useful, just some social tidbits that included a few childhood interactions of Delphina with the other Ducal Families.
She had hoped for something that involved Hayle or the Burgess Family Knights directly, but she wasn't lucky this time around. Not that that was a surprise.
Shaking herself out of her deepening thoughts, she noticed Pietro in the distance, arms crossed, radiating an aura of 'fuck around and find out'.
"Hmm? Problems with the Knights already, or has he been informed of Hayle Burgess arriving with his cohort?"
My Lady, I think I should stop escorting you here.
Looking up to Jenkins, who had brought them to a stop. She thought for a moment before nodding and allowing him to step away behind her.
As she drew closer to Pietro's location, she could see that he was waiting for her on a small raised wooden platform, the kind used for an instructor to stand on during drills or group exercises.
In front, there were still Knights lining up in squad groups not too dissimilar from the Hunters they had just visited, though each squad had to have at least double the number. The largest group had at least twelve Knights in it.
Unlike the Hunters, who all wore the same sleek and stealthy-looking dark leather gear and light metal armaments, the different Knight squads had corresponding bright armour patterns.
"That explains the Knights I saw earlier, must have been different squad members practising against each other, though I wonder which one Pietro leads…"
Stepping up next to him, she lightly nodded in greeting before turning to face the now fully assembled Knights.
Wow, they did not look pleased to see her. Considering the skill she had recently applied, she was actually shocked.
Pietro, having seen the blatant displeasure on the majority of the Knights' faces, furrowed his brows before barking out an order to stand to attention.
"As everyone here knows, this is my sister Delphina, the Heir Apparent. I don't have to remind you that, as Knights, you have sworn loyalty to the de Velasques Family…
As Delphina tuned out Pietros' rousing hoo-rah speech, admonishing the Knights for their behaviour. She didn't miss the fact that somehow she was 'well known' in the ranks despite never having worked or trained with them before.
Some of the nastier looks were, no doubt, related to 'the bug joke' from earlier in the morning; she had just assumed Delphina had made a bad name for herself before she had transmigrated into her body.
But it seems she may have reacted too hastily.
"Instead, it looks like some little bitch has been spreading dirt. Well, I've got a few things that can fix that."
"A smile hides ugly truths. Words sharper than blades."
[VɆⱠVɆ₮ Mask: A smile hides ugly ₮ⱤɄ₮Ⱨ₴.
Effect: You project ₵Ⱨ₳Ɽ₥ ₳₦Đ ₩₳Ɽ₥₮Ⱨ while subtly concealing your intent. Opponents may underestimate you, while allies ₲ⱤØ₩ ₱Ⱡł₳₦₮ to your persuasion.]
[₴łⱠVɆⱤ ₮Ø₦₲ɄɆ: Words sharper than blades.
Effect: Persuasive ₴₱ɆɆ₵Ⱨ compels listeners to trust, follow, or hesitate. Debuff: less effective on crowds.]
Taking in a deep breath, she felt them activate successfully. The effects of the three skills combined would smooth over any immediate issues.
"And so, after discussing it with the Hunters, we have decided to hold a short tournament today to settle any grudges. Does anyone have any objections?!"
Tuning back in to catch the end of Pietro's quite frankly overly sensible tirade, Delphina noticed a few gazes upon her. Though they now held more of a suggestive edge than the displeased glares of earlier.
Giving the Knights a gentle smile, a swathe of young red faces filled the field, quickly distracting anyone from the complaints they might have made against the tournament.
"Sister, do you have anything you want to say to them before they introduce themselves?"
Maintaining her smile, she turned to Pietro, who was trying to give her deference. Lowering her lashes, she seemed a little bashful at this suggestion. But she eventually stepped to the forefront of the stage.
Clenching her hands down by her sides and then relaxing them, she lifted her chin to look at the people spread out in front of her.
"I'm looking forward to participating in the tournament with you all later. I have been wanting to work with the Knights for some time now, but after certain events…"
With this, she let a flash of sorrow pass across her face, her brows briefly narrowing and relaxing as she regained her composure, the earlier smile just a distant memory.
"Let's just say my brother and I have begun to reconcile, though to learn that there have been people interfering between us so successfully… I can't say I was too enthused coming here today."
A few Knights grasped at their chest as this young lady's anguish barbed their hearts.
"I hope you all prove that my being here was indeed worth it."
Turning on her heel, she stood back next to Pietro, who moved to rest his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie.
"And I hope she doesn't leave disappointed, so let's not let me lose face as the younger brother, shall we?"
A few raucous laughs were let out at Pietro's jest; no doubt members of the Knights who had older sisters themselves.
From that point on, knightly salutes were presented in Delphina's direction as they were introduced by their respective Captains, squad by squad, rather than giving individual team members' names, like in the Hunters.
Pleased with the brighter atmosphere, she knew the de Velasques Knights now held her in a higher regard, though the initial issue with the Valour's Call skill still worried her.
Whilst it wouldn't really work on those who wanted to push for Pietro to be the next Head, if they were truly a Knight, it would have still had some effect regardless.
"That's seriously concerning, is the quality of chivalric Knighthood that low in this World?"