With a gentle wave of the hand she had extended, Guinevere caused a list to unfurl immediately before Kenley's eyes. It meticulously documented every task that Kenley had accomplished, and indeed, there was not a single record of his entry into any labyrinth.

  Kenley was rendered speechless. Evidently, Guinevere had conducted an exhaustive investigation of him prior to her decision to enfeoff him as a baron. Confronted with this woman, who was as meticulous as they come, Kenley found himself at a loss as to how to appraise her.

  "Your Highness, before I joined the Adventurer's Guild, I had already been to..." Kenley reluctantly forced himself to offer an explanation.

  "Mr. Kenley."

  Before Kenley could complete his sentence, Guinevere deftly interrupted him.

  "I shall not delve into your past." After a brief pause, she seemed intent on observing Kenley's reaction. Regrettably, Kenley maintained his usual demeanor, leaving her unable to discern anything. "The reason I have engaged in this lengthy conversation with you today is that I have a request. I desire for you to serve as my knight."

  What? Kenley was taken aback. So, after all this time, that had been her objective.

  "But Your Highness, I have only recently become a member of the Bronze-ranked populace. Although I am somewhat stronger than the average individual..."

  "Mr. Kenley, what do you suppose was the purpose behind my enfeoffing you as a baron?" Kenley's words were once again interrupted by Guinevere. A hint of mockery glinted in her eyes, particularly as she observed him attempting to explain himself.

  Damn! I've been completely manipulated by this woman. This was precisely what Kenley had been most apprehensive about, yet he had not anticipated it to transpire so swiftly.

  "I am honored to render my service to you, Your Highness. It would be a privilege for me to become your knight," Kenley realized that to continue refusing would be ungrateful.

  In the territory of Christophon, the opportunity to become the knight of the future Grand Duchess was an honor that countless individuals yearned for but were unable to attain. Which noble would decline such an offer? Had it been the representatives of the Baggins and Riddle families today, Kenley suspected that they might even have been willing to kneel and lick her toes.

  "Rest assured, your period of service will not be protracted. You need only devote 40 days of your year to serving me, and you may allocate the remaining time as you see fit. However, I must caution you, Mr. Kenley, that you are not at liberty to refuse my summons. Is that clear?" There was a trace of playfulness in Guinevere's tone.

  What does she mean by not being able to refuse her summons? Am I not her vassal? Do I possess the right to decline?

  Kenley was now thoroughly perplexed...

  After Guinevere's departure...

  "Master, you are truly fortunate," Tia said with a soft smile, covering her mouth slightly.

  "Fortunate? I feel as though I've been completely exploited, with not even a trace of myself remaining," Kenley said, wearing a rueful expression.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "You are only required to work for the Grand Duchess for 40 days a year, and you have the freedom to manage the rest of your time. Is that not a favorable arrangement? Moreover, upon becoming Her Highness Guinevere's knight, you will have increased opportunities to interact with her," Tia analyzed earnestly for Kenley.

  Kenley nodded. "That is true, but in reality, I am genuinely concerned about a different matter."

  "What matter is that?" Tia asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

  Kenley regarded Tia for a moment but ultimately decided not to speak, deeming it inopportune to broach the subject at that moment.

  "Never mind. Let's take things one step at a time. First, let's focus on completing this session of the Grain King Competition," Kenley said as he gently patted Tia on the shoulder.

  "Mm," There seemed to be a glimmer of understanding in Tia's bright eyes, as if she could sense Kenley's thoughts. Although Kenley had not explicitly voiced them, she understood.

  Three months later

  When Kenley's subjects wheeled in wheat with a yield of 1800 pounds per mu into the competition arena, they were met with astonished stares from the crowd. He had only been in this place for three months, had he not? How could he already be producing such a substantial amount of grain?

  "Judge, I demand a thorough investigation into the origin of his grain!" The individual named Mibosei, with his rat-like mustache, shrieked as he sprang to his feet.

  "I find it difficult to believe as well. Wheat with such a high yield of 1800 pounds per mu in merely three months. Baron Kenley, are you perhaps engaging in deception?" Clay Baggins, standing nearby, also wore a look of suspicion.

  In an instant, everyone's gaze converged on Kenley. An ordinary person would undoubtedly have felt ill at ease and nervous under the scrutiny of so many eyes, but Kenley remained completely composed.

  "Indeed, from a conventional perspective, it is highly improbable for such a situation to occur. Achieving a yield of 1800 pounds per mu in just three months is truly extraordinary," Kenley did not shy away from the skeptical looks of the crowd but instead responded with confidence.

  "It appears you are well aware of that yourself. Baron Kenley, I would advise you to refrain from such childish antics. Considering that this is your first participation in the Grain King Competition, I am willing to overlook it," Clay Baggins narrowed his eyes.

  "Clay, I believe that such behavior, devoid of both dignity and moral integrity, should be made known to all the nobles in the Christophon territory. Let everyone witness the true nature of this insidious and despicable individual," Mibosei raised his head once more, his nose almost pointing skyward.

  In the face of their coordinated accusations, Kenley couldn't be bothered to engage with them.

  But just then, an unexpected presence emerged.

  A carriage, its surface glistening with a dark brown luster, slowly rolled into the arena. The moment everyone caught sight of this carriage, they instinctively held their breath.

  "Your Highness the Princess?!" Someone exclaimed in a hushed tone.

  "Your Highness, what brings you here today?" The chief steward of the Christophon family and a retinue of vassals, who were responsible for the judging, had not anticipated Guinevere's personal presence that day.

  Upon seeing Guinevere's arrival, Clay, Mibosei, and a throng of nobles and noble stewards all stepped forward to greet her.

  Mibosei was so overwhelmed with excitement that he could scarcely contain himself. He took a step forward and declared, "Your Highness, it is truly an honor for me to have you presiding over the judging today!"

  Guinevere waved her hand, signaling for everyone to relax and not be overly formal. Subsequently, she stated, "I can attest that Mr. Kenley's wheat was produced on his own fiefdom."

  "What?!!"

  Everyone was taken aback. No one had anticipated that the Princess herself would come to Kenley's defense.

  They stared at one another, and for a moment, no one dared to utter a word.

  Mibosei's eyes were filled with envy towards Kenley. Why was His Highness showing such favoritism towards this person? Although he did not fly into a rage, he was consumed by jealousy.

  "But Your Highness, a yield of 1800 pounds per mu of wheat is simply too extraordinary," Only Clay maintained his rationality. Although he was also bewildered by the Princess's actions.

  "Extraordinary? Clay, I suspect you are laboring under a misapprehension. This concludes the Grain King Competition. I hereby declare that Kenley is the champion of this competition."

  As soon as these words were spoken, they caused a stir among the assembled audience.

  Everyone exchanged incredulous glances. What on earth was happening?