Chapter 6
Chapter 6
“From this moment, the trial of Third Prince Maximus Rosehill shall commence!”
A royal court was convened in the imperial tribunal, personally presided over by the Emperor, to judge the crimes committed by Maximus Rosehill.
I was present in my capacity as the one who had captured and interrogated the perpetrators behind this incident.
“Bring in the accused!”
“Yes, Your Majesty! Bring in the prisoner!”
Creak.
The massive doors of the tribunal opened, and Maximus Rosehill was dragged in by imperial knights, bound tightly with ropes.
His face was twisted with open contempt, as though he had just smelled something rotten.
Then his eyes met mine.
“You…!”
“Silence! How dare a defendant raise his voice in this court—!!!”
Before Maximus could finish his outburst, the Emperor’s voice crushed the entire hall.
At the same time, an overwhelming pressure of aura pressed down on him.
Rumble—
“Ghk… Father…!”
‘He really doesn’t know when to hold his tongue.’
Maximus Rosehill was known to be reckless, but even then, this level of lack of restraint in a formal trial was beyond expectations.
Still, I could understand it.
Because of my sudden appearance, all the dirty work he had been hiding had come to light.
More importantly, the moment he began eliminating imperial knights and secretly maintaining armed forces, it was already close to treason.
“…Do not provoke me further, Maximus. You are the accused.”
“Ugh…”
Even though they were father and son, there was no mercy in the Emperor’s voice.
That alone made the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
But this was not personal.
It was necessary.
If the Emperor showed favoritism here, cracks would form within the imperial authority itself.
“Since the accused has been brought in, proceed, judge.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The crimes of Maximus Rosehill, Third Prince, are as follows. First, the murder of imperial knights assigned to imperial protection. Second, the formation and operation of private armed forces. Third…”
The judge continued listing his crimes one after another.
The list kept going.
Ten charges… then eleven.
‘That’s quite the collection of sins. And the worst part is, he’s still considered one of the “mild” ones.’
The imperial family of Rosehill, aside from Emperor Perseus Rosehill and the youngest princess Yuria Rosehill, was filled with people who were, frankly, rotten to the core.
No, even the second princess above Yuria—who had not yet gone astray—was likely only an exception by circumstance.
Honestly, at this point, it wouldn’t be strange to suspect issues in the maternal bloodlines.
Yuria Rosehill was the only child of the late Third Empress.
The other princes and princesses were from the First and Second Empresses, which made them the most likely source of the corruption.
Otherwise, it was hard to explain how the Emperor’s lineage had produced such twisted heirs.
“…The punishment for Maximus Rosehill shall be as follows.”
The Emperor finally spoke.
All eyes turned toward him.
“Stripping him of all privileges as a prince, and appointing him as the lord of the Erengrad territory, where he shall serve the Empire.”
“W-What…?”
The entire court froze.
Even Maximus himself looked stunned.
That territory was not a reward—it was a death sentence.
Erengrad was a barren war-torn land on the western frontier of the Empire, constantly invaded by orc forces.
It was known as a place where survival itself was uncertain.
‘So he’s not killing him, but this is practically execution by exile.’
I had passed through Erengrad once during my mercenary work.
It was a land soaked in blood, where even the rivers carried a reddish tint from endless conflict.
Even just traveling through it meant constant battles with orc tribes.
There was no such thing as safety there.
The reason the Empire had not secured it was simple.
The nobles refused to risk their private armies.
They preferred maintaining the status quo, even if it meant leaving the western frontier unstable.
Truly, a short-sighted bunch.
Still, sending Maximus there would inevitably strengthen the military presence in that region.
The Second Empress’s family, who backed him, would likely be forced to send elite forces to “protect” him.
In other words, this was also political maneuvering.
“Going there is impossible, Father! I would rather be executed!”
“Enough! You will atone for your sins by governing Erengrad!”
“Father, please!”
His desperate cries filled the hall, but the Emperor did not waver.
Neither did anyone else.
No one dared object.
Because the backlash could fall on them next.
Thus, the verdict was finalized.
“Take the prisoner back to the dungeon until transfer.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Maximus Rosehill was dragged away once more, his screams echoing through the tribunal.
And just like that, the trial ended.
One by one, the nobles quietly left the hall.
No one wanted to be the first to move.
Even I followed shortly after.
◈
Later.
“Did I summon you unexpectedly?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
I stood inside the Emperor’s private office.
This was… clearly a private audience.
Only the Emperor and I were present.
Which meant this was an outright one-on-one meeting.
“Your expression says otherwise,” the Emperor chuckled.
“…Is it that obvious?”
“Of course. It’s not every day I summon a newly appointed imperial knight alone.”
His presence earlier in the tribunal had been overwhelming, almost terrifying.
But now, he was just… an old man speaking casually.
That contrast was unsettling.
“Relax. I did not bring you here to reprimand you. I simply wanted to express my gratitude.”
“…Gratitude?”
“Yes. Because of you, the murders of imperial knights were resolved.”
He smiled faintly.
“In truth, imperial knights are the shield of the royal family. Yet few emperors would truly mourn them.”
That was probably true.
But this man—Emperor Perseus Rosehill—was one of the few who genuinely did.
And so was Yuria Rosehill in the future I knew.
“I would like to reward you. Is there anything you desire?”
“Something I desire…?”
“Anything.”
I thought for a moment.
Money wasn’t an issue.
My salary as an imperial knight was already more than enough for my family.
And I wasn’t particularly greedy either.
If anything…
‘Preventing Yuria Rosehill from becoming the Blood Empress… that’s the only real goal right now.’
“Hmm. Nothing in particular, it seems. You really are like your father.”
“…You know my father?”
“Zikmund.”
The Emperor smiled faintly.
“The man who once refused a noble title I offered him.”
My breath paused slightly.
“…That was true?”
“Of course. He saved me from a Giant Troll back when I was still crown prince.”
A Giant Troll.
A monster combining brute strength and terrifying regeneration.
Even hearing that casually made it sound absurd.
“So yes. I tried repeatedly to make him my knight. Even after I became Emperor.”
A soft laugh escaped him.
“But he always refused.”
I stared blankly at him.
At that moment, one thought echoed in my mind.
‘What kind of man… was my father, really?’