A Treasonous March
"A greenhorn like that is the Grand Duke's secretary? The Grand Duke must think politics is a joke."
"Indeed. Since he's a greenhorn himself, it's no wonder he hires people so thoughtlessly."
"Tsk, tsk."
The Members of Parliament looked at Müller with clear disapproval.
Fuck... seriously.
Müller wanted nothing more than to slaughter these corrupt, lecherous politicians, but he forced himself to hold back.
Speaker Charles spoke in a high-handed, overbearing tone. Müller stepped up to the witness stand.
"Good day. I am Müller, Secretary of the Grand Duke's Office. I have appeared today in accordance with the summons."
Speaker Charles nodded.
Müller raised one hand and began the oath.
Watching them dive straight into the main topic, Müller felt a sharp pang of anxiety in his stomach.
"Speaker, I shall initiate the questioning," Pompeius growled, gritting his teeth. Charles nodded.
Unbelievable. He speaks down to me, yet addresses Pompeius with high respect?
Müller held a ministerial-level position. He was technically equal in rank to the MPs present, so the Speaker's deliberate use of informal, condescending speech deeply offended him.
"Please, speak."
"I do not know much about that."
"At the time, I was merely a student at the Academy and did not even know His Grace. How could I possibly know the details of a treaty concluded during a period when I had no association with him?"
Pompeius nodded slowly.
"No. This is the first I have heard of it."
As soon as Müller finished speaking, the back rows erupted into a noisy clamor.
"What is he even saying? Why did he come here if he doesn't know anything?"
"Exactly. What does he know? Tsk, tsk..."
Müller replied, "I know nothing about that treaty."
Infuriated by Müller's response, Pompeius slammed his fist onto the podium.
Thud! Thud!
His voice, dripping with rage, boomed through the magical amplifier. Müller replied with perfect composure.
"Why would I lie to the honorable representatives?"
"At the time, the Grand Duke's Office did not even exist, and His Grace, who was the direct party involved, is currently not in Roman. Furthermore, I have been unable to locate any related records."
In truth, as soon as his appearance at the hearing was confirmed, Müller had ransacked the Grand Duke's Office looking for relevant documents, but found absolutely nothing. Of course, the Grand Duke's private chamber was guarded by his personal soldiers, so he couldn't enter there.
Müller nodded. "That is correct."
Pompeius was deliberately exaggerating the legal threats to pressure Müller.
"What reason would I have to lie?"
At those words, a prominent vein throbbed on Müller's forehead.
Thud!
Müller abruptly turned to leave. Seeing this, Pompeius called out in a panic.
Müller paused.
"If you have no intention of believing my words anyway, why did you summon me to this place?"
"Since I have told you everything I know, I shall take my leave. You will not believe me regardless, and I have nothing more to say."
With that, he resumed his stride.
While Müller was being dragged through the hearing, an urgent report arrived at the Grand Duke's Office.
"W-what is the meaning of this?"
Victor rubbed his eyes and stared at the Intelligence Department report again, wondering if he had misread it. But, of course, the written words did not change.
From what he had previously heard from the Grand Duke, the Golden Knights had been given secret orders to head to the Duopol Duchy when Yohanes launched his attack. Yet, receiving a report that they were moving along the Tiber River threw him into utter confusion.
If they moved west along the Tiber River from their current encampment, they would arrive at Roman.
Could they... have betrayed us?
Did the Empress strike a secret deal with Yohanes?
With these thoughts racing through his mind, Victor frantically called for Lucius.
"Lucius! Lucius, where are you?!"
At Victor's shout, the door burst open and Lucius entered.
"Minister, why are you calling for me again?"
Lucius, utterly exhausted from his crushing workload, asked with a weary face. Victor spoke in a frantic rush.
"I just received a report that Sir William is marching toward Roman! Contact the Ministry of Military Affairs immediately and summon Minister Marcus! Hurry!"
Hearing this, Lucius's expression turned grave. "What? Weren't they supposed to head to Duopol once the war broke out?"
"Do you think I don't know that?! But instead of going to Duopol, they are marching straight for Roman! Hurry up and bring Minister Marcus here! Please, just go!"
Lucius quickly shut the door and ran off. Watching him leave, Victor felt a sickening ache in his stomach.
Damn it. Why does this have to happen while I'm acting regent?
In truth, Victor had never wanted to take charge of the Grand Duke's Office in Deviang's stead. The Grand Duke's Office was already notorious for its brutal workload. On top of that, Deviang had dumped this responsibility on him during such a volatile political climate. Although Deviang had meticulously explained the war plans and details before leaving...
There had been no mention of a scenario like this.
For the Golden Knights, who were supposedly loyal to the Empire, to march on Roman without a word—that was nothing short of treason.
The Golden Knights would never plot such a thing on their own. Empress Theodora had to be pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
"Of all times..."
The Grand Duke's original plan was as follows:
He anticipated that once Yohanes seized Duopol, he would attack the Ern Kingdom and the Bohemi Kingdom. Thus, Deviang had sent secret warnings to both kingdoms in advance. Though they might have been half-skeptical at first, seeing Duopol attacked without a formal declaration of war would surely trigger their anxieties and prompt them to prepare.
In the meantime, to prevent Duopol from falling completely, Deviang planned to intervene in the civil war under the Empress's name, thereby dragging out the conflict.
Eventually, when the situation grew dire, the prepared forces of the Ern and Bohemi kingdoms would temporarily stall Yohanes's troops.
Then, they would declare the Nicaea Kingdom—which had attacked Ern and Bohemi without a declaration of war—an Enemy of the State. Using the ships of the Allied Kingdom, they would strike the border between Duopol and Nicaea, cutting off the main army's supply lines.
But now, with the Golden Knights committing treason, the entire plan was on the verge of collapse.
"F-first, I must write a letter to His Grace."
Victor hurriedly began to pen a letter. Just as he finished and was reviewing it, the office door swung wide open, and Marcus, the Minister of Military Affairs, rushed in.
"Minister Victor! Is it true that the Golden Knights are marching on Roman?"
"Ah, Minister Marcus! We don't have a moment to lose."
Victor quickly handed the Intelligence Department report to Marcus.
"These... these madmen. Are they trying to start a civil war?"
"What should we do?"
Seeing the anxious Victor, Marcus spoke reassuringly.
"There is no need to worry. Currently, Roman is defended by the Giant Legion and thirty thousand of the Grand Duchy's elite troops, and we are fully stocked with war supplies. They can never breach the triple-layered walls."
Victor nodded, feeling slightly relieved. "I see. Still, we must find out what their true intentions are in marching here."
"Isn't it obvious? They likely intend to sack Roman and seize control of the Imperial Palace. But that will not happen."
Victor shook his head. "Even if they seize the Imperial Palace, the Empress is not here, is she?"
Marcus looked puzzled. "That is true. Then why on earth are they marching here on what is essentially a suicide mission?"
"I do not know either. Why they are committing such madness... For now, I intend to send a few messengers to ascertain Sir William's intentions."
Marcus crossed his arms. "Even if we ascertain their intentions, it doesn't change the fact that they mobilized their forces privately without authorization."
"I am well aware. But they are the Golden Knights. Is there any need to shed the blood of our own allies if we can avoid it?"
Marcus clearly didn't like the idea, but what could he do? Victor was his superior in this regent role.
"Do as you wish. We will prepare for battle."
As Marcus left the room, Victor began writing a letter to William.
William was marching west along the Tiber River after dismantling their camp.
Though they were moving their forces without the explicit orders of the Empress or the Grand Duke, no lord dared to block the path of the Golden Knights.
Their mobilization was practically treason, and they were trespassing through the territories of lords loyal to the Empire... yet no one stopped them.
There was no reason to invite conflict with these human weapons.
As night fell, the knights set up camp and pitched their tents.
Seeing a messenger approaching their camp, the guarding knights went on high alert, pointing their spears at him.
"Who goes there?"
"I... I have come from the Grand Duke's Office in Roman to deliver a letter from Minister Victor."
The knight nodded. "Wait here."