Predestined Ruin (3)
Duke Mars let out a hollow laugh. "My apologies. I thought I was still quite hale and hearty, yet it seems my hearing has already failed me. Could you say that again?"
"Academy student Chrome Midas. Fiore Midas. Ligret. I have orders to arrest those three individuals."
"Goddammit. I almost wished I really had gone deaf."
The duke, who had spat out a curse unbecoming of his exalted station, wore an expression of pure bewilderment. "Those three are heroes who contributed greatly to resolving this incident. I could understand if it were an 'invitation,' but an 'arrest'? What kind of absurd nonsense is this?"
The black knight answered with a face utterly devoid of humor. "It is an imperial command, Your Grace, Duke Mars."
His attitude made it clear that no further explanation was necessary, nor was any additional reason required. It was far too rude for someone addressing a duke, and the soldiers of the ducal house—including Daniel—bristled visibly. Yet even they dared not act rashly.
The empire founded by the absolute hero known as the Grand Emperor was that kind of nation, and the emperor's authority was held sacred. Now that Ludwig had withdrawn as the former emperor and rarely engaged in public affairs, the balance between imperial power and divine authority had been somewhat restored. Even so, nothing carried more weight than an imperial decree.
Which meant the real question was...
His Majesty the Emperor personally issued an order like this?
Despite his immense popularity and ducal title, Duke Mars was not deeply entangled in the empire's central power structure. The warning passed down from his predecessor had been simple: Don't linger near the imperial family and get yourself killed for nothing. Keep a proper distance and live moderately.
Still, he was a duke—one of the empire's most prominent nobles. Having observed the current emperor since his own youth, how could he not know the man's character? The Dominique Loop Barhart he knew was absolutely not the sort to proactively issue such a command.
Governing through inaction sounded elegant, but in truth the emperor handled everything with half-measures—watered-down water, diluted wine—doing little more than lounging about in ways his ministers couldn't openly criticize. Perhaps the civil and military officials had finished their coordination and the emperor had simply granted approval? But if that were the case, word should have reached the duke's ears beforehand in some form.
Duke Mars possessed no towering fortress of raw power, but he did maintain a vast net of connections built on goodwill and favor. The fact that this net had shown no reaction at all meant the central army's movements had been exceptionally swift and secretive.
Yet the emperor—who alone held the right to mobilize the central army while bypassing normal procedures—was not the type to issue such an order of his own volition. Which meant someone had goaded him into it.
The empress? Other members of the imperial family? Or perhaps the chancellor?
Duke Mars realized this was no longer a situation he could shield them from. The moment his face clouded with the realization that he could not protect the young people he had come to feel genuine gratitude toward—
"Uh, is something the matter?"
A voice that sounded almost carefree echoed through the garden.
Golden hair and a monocle. Luxurious attire that evoked a wealthy merchant. The massive backpack that should have been slung across his back was nowhere to be seen. At the appearance of the young man who now looked considerably lighter on his feet, the faces of the ducal household's people filled with dismay.
The one person who should have stayed hidden had walked out on his own. How could they not feel suffocated by the sight?
Seeming to read something from their reactions, the black knight asked, "Are you Chrome Midas?"
"Yes, that's correct. And you are...?"
The black knight ignored Chrome's question entirely and stated his business with a perfectly blank expression. "You and your companions Fiore Midas and Ligret. The three of you will come with us. Should you resist, your personal safety—"
"Hmm, is that so? Then let's go."
Not only had he cut the man off, but Chrome approached as if accompanying them was the most natural thing in the world. For the first time, the black knight's eyebrow twitched.
"Where are the other two?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself. Duke Mars's residence is rather large, after all. But really, who are you?"
Several of the black-clad figures showed clear displeasure at Chrome's overly familiar tone, but since their apparent leader remained silent, none of them took further action.
The black knight turned to the duke. "We will search the interior. Your permission is requested."
"Very well. However, do not harm the servants inside, and refrain from damaging any property. I'm not refusing the order, so this much should be acceptable, shouldn't it?"
"...I will keep it in mind. Move."
At a single word from the black knight, the central army soldiers began tearing through the residence. At first they questioned the servants about the pair's whereabouts, but when every answer proved to be some variation of "I don't know," they abandoned the servants and began flinging open every door, searching each room from top to bottom.
Whether mindful of the duke's request, they refrained from needless destruction. Even so, the sight of multiple fully armed soldiers clad entirely in black moving with mechanical precision was terrifying enough to the servants on its own.
How much time had passed since the search began?
The adjutant commanding the internal search—while the black knight remained outside—frowned at a report from his subordinates. "A room that cannot be investigated?"
"Correct."
At first the adjutant assumed the servants were simply being stubborn. But upon reaching the location himself, he realized the situation was far more complicated than expected.
"...Her Highness the Princess's... bedroom?"
At the unimaginable reason for the prohibition, the adjutant—who had inadvertently stammered—received a troubled look from his subordinate.
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean, what should we do? We obviously have to search..."
The adjutant trailed off. Since this was the most likely hiding place for the arrest targets, the search had to be carried out. It was an imperial command; refusal was not an option. Besides, this wasn't even the princess's private quarters—it was merely a temporary room she was using while staying at the ducal estate.
Yet no matter how sound the logic, the weight of having to burst into a princess's bedroom did not lessen. Unable to withstand the stares of his men, the adjutant considered knocking himself before eventually calling over a nearby servant to deliver the message instead.
The servant who entered and returned shortly afterward spoke. "She says she understands the matter and requests that two servants be sent in."
"Why?"
"She said... it is necessary to tidy her appearance..."
"...Ahem. Send them in."
It was already well past noon. The claim of tidying her appearance now was suspicious, to say the least. But if he forced his way in out of suspicion and witnessed something he shouldn't, how would he possibly handle the consequences? While they were carrying out an imperial order and thus bore no formal fault, he knew all too well that the world did not run on reason alone.
About ten minutes later.
Just as the search of every other room in the residence was concluding, the princess finally emerged. The central army soldiers, including the adjutant, all saluted as one.
"All personnel of the Imperial Central Army greet Her Highness, Princess Lyla Everblaze Barhart!"
"Spare me the formalities."
Princess Lyla waved a hand dismissively. When her face—beautiful enough to send chills down the spine—openly displayed displeasure, even these elite veterans could not help tensing unconsciously.
"So you said an investigation is required? Do as you please. I won't interfere."
As if to prove her words, the princess stepped aside. The central army soldiers entered the room she had vacated with careful, almost reverent caution. The result was nothing.
To the clearly troubled soldiers and adjutant, Lyla snapped sharply, "Is this sufficient? Or will you only be satisfied after lifting my skirt as well?"
"N-no, we apologize for the intrusion!"
She glared at their hurriedly retreating backs until they disappeared, then returned inside the room and spoke.
"It's done."
At her words, a section of the ceiling detached like a puzzle piece. From within emerged Ligret and Fiore.
Ligret wore a dissatisfied frown. "Even if we do this, it doesn't look like they'll give up. Wouldn't it be better to just fight?"
Lyla answered, "Stop saying such idiotic things. Simply staying out of sight can be excused as 'not having heard the order.' Drawing blades would be genuine treason."
Fiore, who had taken Chrome's luggage, scattered white magical power as she continued. "We need to understand the full situation first. Why the order to capture us was issued, who our true enemy is—many things. Using force can come after that. There's no need to rush."
Watching the two who seemed to be dissuading violence while clearly prepared to resort to extreme measures if necessary, Lyla could only shake her head. If anyone else had spoken that way, she would have thought they were underestimating the empire. But these two knew exactly what they were saying, and that was precisely what made it terrifying.
Well, she supposed she wasn't one to talk.
"...For now, let's observe. For now."
After all, she herself was already prepared to step before the emperor if the situation demanded it.