Shadowy Intrigue (6)
The next day, a summons arrived from the Senate. It was their "reaction" to my emergency arrest of Senator Cato the previous evening and the start of my investigation into his accomplices.
Of course, I'd already explained the situation to Senator Crusio, one of the Senate's key figures, but I couldn't prevent the senators from feeling displeasure at one of their own being hauled off.
I crumpled the summons and tossed it aside.
Erenia, who had been bringing in some fruit, picked it up, read it, and asked me, "A summons from the Senate?"
"Yeah."
I smacked my lips. There was no way I'd hear anything good if I went. A mountain of blame and complaints was sure to come pouring down.
Erenia set the fruit on my desk and said, "Don't go."
"Why not?"
When I asked, she leaned against the pillar opposite me.
"It's a chance to show them your power."
"Show them my power?"
"The Praetorian Prefect can ignore even a Senate recommendation. It's a perfect opportunity to plant that idea in their minds."
"I need the Senate's cooperation. Provoking them too much would be a problem."
"It's not provocation. It's just a show of strength."
Erenia said.
"You mean a battle of wills?"
"Exactly."
"It's not worth the gain. The losses outweigh the benefits."
Erenia smiled.
"In the short term, maybe. But perception is everything with people. My father handled them the same way.
He feared assassination so much that anyone who came within three steps of him—man or woman, no exceptions—got their skull split open with an axe, reason be damned. Whether it was a servant girl attending him in his sleep or a warrior bringing urgent news, no one was spared.
After a few died like that, no one dared approach him without his say-so. 'Get close to him and you die.' That's the perception Father created to protect himself. You need the same kind of perception."
"So, make them think twice before underestimating me."
"Yes. The people in the imperial capital fear you, but they also see you as some barbaric frontier bumpkin. You need to change that. Make them realize—deep down—that you can brush off even the recommendations of the Senate, which they hold in the highest regard, whenever you feel like it."
I listened to her and gave a wry smile.
"I get what you're saying. But I can't ignore the Senate's recommendations."
"Why not?"
"To you, who grew up outside the empire, the Senate might just seem like a bunch of old men. But to me, it means something else. It's one of the empire's two pillars of sovereignty. Like it or not, I can't completely dismiss its authority and traditions."
"But—"
I cut off Erenia as she started to speak.
"I know why you're saying this. You're worried about my position being unstable, afraid I might not keep my promise to make you my official wife. Right?"
Erenia bit her lip.
"Don't worry. I'm not abandoning you. I've already turned down Princess Euresia's proposal."
At my words, Erenia's eyes widened.
"Even the title of imperial princess means nothing to me. You're the only woman for me, Erenia."
"Y-You refused the princess? The emperor's own sister?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
Erenia covered her mouth with her hand.
"I keep my promises. So no need to rush or fear."
I took a bite of the fruit Erenia had brought.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
"Anything."
"Just from refusing the princess, it's clear you don't care much about power. But wouldn't she be more helpful than me in achieving your dreams?"
"If it meant strengthening ties with the imperial family and solidifying my position, sure. But Erenia, I'm a man. I won't play the fool, claiming to be the empire's wall while failing to protect my own woman. That's my answer."
Erenia nodded at my response, came around behind me, and gently rested her head on my shoulder.
I lightly stroked her hair.
The Senate assembly hall was frigid. Most of the attending senators wore stiff expressions. Draped in my white toga, I stood before the presiding officer.
"Thank you for responding to our summons."
"No need. It's my duty as an imperial citizen."
I replied with proper formality.
Originally, I hadn't been an imperial citizen. I'd gained citizenship automatically right after my promotion to centurion in the legion. Legion officers without citizenship would be a problem, after all.
"Then, the reason we summoned the general here today—"
"Before that."
I interrupted the presiding officer. While he looked flustered, I slowly turned to face the senators.
"A word to you senators. Recently, I've investigated Senator Cato's circle and uncovered the full extent of highly 'political' conspiracies, including the bathhouse arson. This wasn't just about toppling a rival—it's a direct challenge to the empire's order itself, an act of treason that cannot be tolerated."
"Treason? That's a dangerous accusation."
"Arresting a senator and pinning treason on him is outrageous."
A few senators protested.
Of course, they weren't fearless. They were raising their voices because they knew that setting a precedent of senators being arrested by my hand meant their own status was no longer guaranteed.
I took a step toward the protesting senators. As I approached, they fell silent.
"Honored senators, you must regret the arrest itself. But this ties directly to the Senate's honor and trust. If a schemer of political plots and intrigues remains protected under the Senate's privileges, how could the emperor trust you?"
"General, that's speculation. Senator Cato—"
"We have evidence. Rikius!"
At my call, Rikius strode in and presented a bundle of parchments, including sales contracts. I had them handed to the presiding officer.
"Th-This is..."
The officer looked at the parchments, then at me.
He realized I hadn't acted without evidence. Of course, evidence could be fabricated easily enough. But this much made it hard to claim there was no justification at all.
I continued calmly.
"I acted cautiously out of respect for the Senate. I gathered evidence carefully and confirmed solid circumstances from the shadows. I hope you senators understand that."
"Hmph."
The senators swallowed or cleared their throats awkwardly.
With the senators assembled, I formally secured approval for the "investigation" into Senator Cato. They'd probably planned to pressure me to release him, but since I'd come prepared, the Senate had no choice.
I threw in a veiled threat that the probe might expand, scaring and placating the senators just enough to keep them out of our investigation.
With all the groundwork laid, I immediately authorized torture for Senator Cato. With the Senate's approval, tormenting a senator was no big deal.
Rikius dipped the senator's feet in saltwater once, then hung him from a rope.
Bleeeh~
Goats gathered beneath the dangling senator's feet and began licking his soles with their rough tongues.
"Hahaha! Stop it!"
Senator Cato twisted his body, unable to hold back his laughter. The beauty of this torture was that it started as tickling but turned agonizing over time—the goats' tongues slowly peeled the skin from his soles.
"He won't last a full day," Rikius said.
The senator laughed like a madman, dipping in and out of the saltwater repeatedly. Each time, he screamed that he had no involvement.
I watched the process silently, arms crossed.
Eight hours later, Senator Cato confessed.
"I-I'll confess everything. P-Please, just get me out of here."
The senator writhed as he shouted. His soles, now oozing blood, looked horrific even from a distance.
I nodded, and they lowered him.
"One chance. Senator Cato. Next time, it'll be something more entertaining. Ever heard of the pit of hellfire?"
Cato shook his head. I smiled.
"They rub your whole body with boar bristles to strip the skin, then stuff you in a sack of salt. You'll feel a thousand times more pain than this. It's the punishment for barbarians we can't just execute outright. If you want to experience it, feel free to keep waggling that tongue."
At my warning, Cato shuddered.
Just hearing about the salt sack was enough to chill the blood. Better to bite your tongue and die.
He trembled and bowed his head repeatedly to me.
"N-No, sir. I'll tell everything. Just spare me that punishment."
"Good. Speak."
I sat in the chair, and Cato, shaking, opened his mouth.
"I-I never meant to oppose Your Excellency."
"Skip the preamble. Get to the point."
I cut him off before he could ramble.
"Yes. About a month ago, a man came to my house. He called himself Gaerto—seemed pretty old. He had a limp on one leg, an eyepatch, and the insignia of an imperial legionary on his shoulder."
"Legionary insignia?"
"Yes."
Garin.
I bit my lip.
"Continue."
"He said the current Praetorian Prefect Ain is a lion in battle but weak and inexperienced as a politician. Shake his position a bit, make him feel unfit for it, and he'll step down on his own."
"Amusing jest."
I thought Garin had me pegged well. The empire's safety and future mattered more to me than glory or honor, so if I became a threat to the empire's survival, I'd relinquish my post without hesitation.
But Garin underestimated me. Yes, I could walk away—but he overlooked the heavy responsibility I felt in my current role.
I wasn't soft enough to step down just because someone rattled me, especially with no suitable replacement in sight.
"I-I thought so too. But his offer was tempting. Honestly, when Your Excellency enthroned the emperor the second time, there was a lot of talk in the Senate. With the Praetorian Prefect controlling the emperor, aren't we just figureheads? Shouldn't we check him? That sort of thing. So..."
"No big loss, so you went along with his scheme?"
"I have no excuses."
Senator Cato bowed his head.
"Unbelievable. Thinking a prank like that would topple me is shocking enough, but a sitting senator being the mastermind? And you funded it? Or did you cover the costs alone?"
"No. The funds came from fellow senators."
As expected.
I almost laughed that it wasn't just Cato. If only one senator had moved against the Praetorian Prefect, it wouldn't have fit.
"That brick factory."
"Yes. The factory was mine, but the losses were covered by the others."
I closed my eyes.
"Your Excellency. Shouldn't we round up the other senators too?"
"No. We can't."
I drew the line.
The Senate was hypersensitive to threats against their class's interests and safety. I'd forced them to accept Cato's arrest, but pushing further would make them lash out.
One might say just sweep them all with the Praetorians, but that would only breed political chaos. With a young emperor on the throne, navigating rough seas, the Senate was an unwelcome but necessary sail for me.
"But—"
I cut off Rikius.
"More importantly, find this Gaerto. Senator Cato, where's he staying?"
"At my country villa."
"You heard. Bring him in. He's likely old man Garin."
"Yes, sir."
I clasped my hands behind my back.
"And Senator Cato."
"Y-Yes?"
"Since you cooperated so nicely, I'll give you options. A chance to donate for the empire. Offer your wealth and prove your loyalty to His Majesty, and I might show mercy. What do you say?"
"I-I'll gladly comply."
"Good."
I gripped Cato's shoulder hard.
Like an eagle's talons on prey, Cato let out a short groan.
(To be continued in the next chapter)