A Fistful of Justice

Representative Pompeius's office in Roman.

"What brings you here, Representative Alexander?" Pompeius, a robust, middle-aged man, asked as he sat across from Alexander, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Haha. Is it so strange for a fellow member of Parliament to pay you a visit?" the slightly gaunt man replied with a smirk.

Pompeius shook his head.

"Not strange, perhaps... but certainly unexpected."

Pompeius was not a noble; he was an MP elected by the votes of the common citizens of the capital, Roman. By nature, he kept his distance from both the Emperor's Faction and the Anti-Emperor Faction. To Pompeius, who viewed the struggle between the two factions as nothing more than a petty squabble over the nobles' own dinner plates, this sudden visit was far from welcome.

"Haha. I have come to secure your support, Representative, before I formally request a declaration of endorsement from Parliament."

At those words, Pompeius stared at him with cold, dismissive eyes, his expression making it clear he thought Alexander was talking nonsense.

"I have no idea what you are planning, but I doubt there is anything I can do to help you."

It was obvious what an MP representing Nikaia would bring forward—some bill designed to benefit his own country. Because Pompeius held the highly symbolic position of being the sole representative of the capital city of Roman, there were always plenty of nobles eager to win his endorsement.

"First, take a look at this."

"A Petition for Enforcement of Engagement?" Pompeius murmured, accepting the paper with a puzzled look. He had never seen a document in this format before. Seeing this, Alexander smirked with quiet triumph.

The document demanded the fulfillment of the promise to cede Epirus and Egypt to the Emperor's Faction, alongside the enforcement of the betrothal between Princess Joy and Yohanes's son. Naturally, Alexander had intentionally omitted the fact that Yohanes had already received Epirus and Egypt. He couldn't risk the Emperor's Faction catching wind of anything suspicious.

Unaware of this conspiracy, Pompeius flipped past the first page with a bewildered expression. But the moment he began reading the next page, his eyes visibly trembled.

"This... this is madness..."

Pompeius rapidly flipped through the subsequent pages, while Representative Alexander watched him with a leisurely air. When Pompeius reached the attached evidence—the actual treaty bearing both the Grand Duke's Signet Ring and Yohanes's seal—his fury finally erupted.

"How could the Grand Duke make such a promise?! To sign a treaty that utterly disregards the Emperor's authority... The Emperor's Faction, the Anti-Emperor Faction—you are all the same!" Pompeius roared, his voice thundering through the room.

"Do you honestly believe the Imperial Assembly will accept a treaty as absurd as this? I knew the Anti-Emperor Faction was led by a scoundrel, but I never imagined the Emperor's Faction could sink this low! How could you sign such a shameless agreement, accepting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lands and an Imperial Princess extorted by a rebel who held the Emperor hostage?!"

When the Emperor's Faction had previously marched to the outskirts of Roman, Pompeius, along with many other politicians and nobles, had been deeply puzzled by the sudden, dramatic peace treaty. It made no sense for the Emperor's Faction to agree to a truce when they had practically won the war. While the public suspected some massive concession had been made behind closed doors, no one had ever imagined it would involve ceding Epirus and Egypt.

After all, surrendering territories ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that served as the very foundation of the Emperor's absolute authority was tantamount to declaring that the crown would never wield absolute power again. Of course, Imperial law might still recognize the Emperor's supreme authority on paper, but in times of political chaos, laws were utterly powerless against spears and swords. In the face of Pompeius's fierce condemnation, Alexander merely offered a knowing smile.

"Is that so? We avoided a bloody war and preserved the peace using the concessions offered by the Grand Duke. And besides, the Grand Duke... doesn't he possess a remarkable talent for domestic affairs? He is the perfect person to manage things on behalf of His Majesty, who is still young and inexperienced."

In truth, everyone acknowledged Deviang's administrative brilliance and his ability to secure the state's finances through various enterprises. However, his competence was a separate issue; many were deeply resentful of the way he treated the Emperor like a puppet to rule the Empire as he pleased.

"And you dare call that an excuse?!"

Slam!

Unable to contain his rage, Pompeius slammed his fist onto the desk.

Slam!

"You and that wretched Grand Duke are cut from the exact same cloth! You're all nothing but parasites, completely ignoring the citizens of the Empire just to fatten your own pockets and consolidate your power!"

Alexander's brow furrowed at the insult, and he hissed a warning. "Watch your tongue."

"Watch my tongue?! If I must watch my tongue, then you lot had better watch your step! Do you not fear the past Emperors, the Almighty El, and the great dragon, El Dra Shamhat?!"

Alexander merely chuckled, feigning innocence. "Haha, you go too far, Representative Pompeius. Why should we fear those great entities? We saved Roman from being reduced to ashes. Was it not our agreement with the Grand Duke that brought stability to this chaotic state?"

Pompeius leaped to his feet, kicking his chair back. "Your kingdom of Nikaia has long been renowned for its scholarship and culture! Is this how you repay Emperor Aurelius, who conquered you but treated you with such mercy that he allowed your kingdom to remain intact?! Did your ancestors not swear an oath to serve the Emperor and the Empire for generations to come?! And yet, you repay our grace with such treachery!"

"Whoa, calm down, Representative Pompeius. If you continue to insult us, I will not stand by and take it."

"Shut your mouth! To plot such treason after basking in the Empire's grace for generations! You claim to be a kingdom where intellect and culture breathe, yet what civilized, cultured man would behave in such a manner?! You are nothing but shameless, unfilial bastards who don't know who their own parents are!"

Stung by the scathing abuse, Representative Alexander raised his voice. "I was willing to overlook your outbursts, but this? A shameless, unfilial bastard?! It seems your lowborn blood has left you with a truly filthy mouth!"

"Indeed! My blood may be common and my mouth vulgar, but at least I understand the meaning of gratitude and loyalty! Aren't you supposed to be of noble birth?! Yet, despite receiving generations of imperial favor, you commit acts so vile that even a sewer rat would turn its nose up at them, all while spewing pathetic excuses! If I were in your shoes, I would have drowned myself in the Tiber River out of sheer embarrassment! How does your supposedly noble King Yohanes plan to end his own miserable life?!"

"W-What?! Have you lost your mind, Pompeius?!" Alexander's face flushed a deep, angry crimson at the market-stall insults.

Pompeius sneered. "Not yet!"

Thwack!

"Argh!"

Pompeius threw a heavy fist straight into Alexander's face. "You absolute piece of trash!"

True to his reputation as a man with a notoriously foul temper who could never tolerate injustice, Pompeius let his fists do the talking.

"Aaargh! G-Guards!"

At Alexander's shriek, the guards stationed in the Assembly rushed into Pompeius's office.

"R-Representatives! What on earth is happening?!" The guards' eyes nearly popped out of their heads at the scene before them.

Thud! Thwack!

"Die, you subhuman beast!"

"Argh! H-Help me! Aaaargh!"

The sight of the burly Pompeius pinning Alexander to the floor and relentlessly pummeling him was something they had never imagined in their wildest dreams. Realizing they couldn't just stand there gaping forever, the guards grabbed Pompeius and dragged him away, pulling him off the battered representative.

"Let go of me! If I don't beat these subhuman Nikaean bastards to death today, my wrath will never be appeased!"

Once the beast-like Pompeius was pulled back, Alexander shuddered in terror. "You absolute lunatic! I will report this to the Speaker today and ensure you face severe disciplinary action!"

As Alexander scrambled out of the office in a pathetic, disheveled state, Pompeius roared after him, "Get back here, you rat!"

Terrified that Pompeius might break free from the guards, Alexander scurried away as fast as his legs could carry him.

The daily reports kept piling up. Every single one of them carried ominous signs, prompting me to hasten my preparations to return to Roman. I would have preferred to stay a little longer, but the timing was terrible. War was fast approaching. Yohanes had made up his mind, and it wouldn't be surprising if conflict broke out at any moment.

After instructing my family to prepare for our departure, Mary quietly entered my office.

"Brother. Are you leaving already?"

"I have to. Things are looking grim on Nikaia's end."

After Mary's wedding, all the other guests had departed. We were the ones who had stayed behind the longest.

"Right... I understand." Mary swallowed whatever she was about to say next. "Take care of yourself, Brother."

At her words, I opened my arms. "Come here. Let's have a hug."

Mary stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around me.

"Brother... seriously, be careful. If anything happens, call us."

"Don't worry. Do you really think I'd let the Empire's greatest knight and general sit idly by?"

In truth, those two were my greatest pillars of support in any war. Mary, who slaughtered enemies on the battlefield with supernatural agility, and Agrippa, who had held his ground against the formidable Demon King's army. Without them, waging war against Yohanes would be an impossible task.

"Yeah... okay. And make sure you take good care of Sister-in-law."

I looked at Mary, puzzled. "I always take good care of her."

Mary shook her head. "Not like that. I mean at night. How long are you going to leave her like that?"

My younger sister stared at me with a chillingly cold gaze.

Wait... why am I getting scolded by my little sister about my marital life?

"Hey! You're still a kid, watch what you say."

Mary shook her head again. "I'm an adult now, and I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk about these things with Sister Octavia all the time. Besides, do you have any idea how worried she is because you haven't slept with Sister-in-law yet?"

Her words pricked my conscience.

Sister Octavia... After our mother passed away, she had supported my precarious position within the Grand Duchy and protected me with all her influence, both materially and spiritually. In a way, she had filled the void left by our late mother ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and shielded me. In fact, even when Valorang was violent toward Mary and me, he had never dared to lay a finger on Sister Octavia.

"Anyway, stop making them worry and just get on with it."

I offered a bitter smile. "I'll see... but for now, the war comes first."

With that, I went back to packing my things.