15
15
"Mmm..."
I looked out the window and lost myself in thought for a moment.
It wasn't because I regretted rejecting Garnet's offer and throwing her out.
I hope there is no misunderstanding.
Even if I am someone with zero dating experience because I spent my entire life thinking only of revenge.
'Definitely not a whore like that.'
Then why was I like this?
'Because this place is a total, complete clusterfuck...'
I really couldn't have imagined it would be to this extent.
Absenteeism without leave.
Let's make a huge concession and say they didn't like a guy like me becoming the commander.
No, actually, it's hard to make even that concession.
Because this alone constitutes insubordination by disobeying direct orders from the Emperor, as well as desertion.
But to think they were even having trysts in the quarters.
It wasn't just Garnet.
The other knight bastards were shoving men or women into their rooms too.
'No, does this even make sense? These are the quarters inside the imperial palace grounds.'
Michael, this bastard.
Just how on earth did he manage the knight order?
Anyway.
'Adding unlawful trespassing into the imperial palace and security violation charges too.'
Yet, that wasn't the end of it.
'To think they even forged documents...'
The Imperial Knights.
What on earth is the point of their existence?
Such a question couldn't help but arise naturally.
'Well... no need to go out of my way to find an answer.'
With Garnet, whom I just threw out, as the last one.
I had evicted all the trash from the knight order quarters.
Just then.
"Hi, hiiik...!"
A terrified sound was heard.
Having a good time with Garnet...
No, it was the sound made by Felix, who had been having a tryst.
"Ah, you were here too. I almost forgot about you."
"I-I was wrong, please, at least spare my life...!"
"Ah, don't worry. As long as you don't resist like Sir Garnet, you won't be severely injured right away."
Key word being 'right away'.
He seems to be a noble young master.
For now, the decision regarding the handling of the knights, including this bastard, and the young masters and young ladies who had trysts with them will be handled by Empel and the judiciary.
So as for me...
"Jean, please hand this person over to the soldiers outside as well."
"Yes."
Sending these bastards to prison like this was enough.
In my heart, I wanted to throw this guy out just like Garnet, but since his status was that of a noble, I couldn't treat an opponent who wasn't even resisting too harshly.
Therefore, since this was also my first duty as the knight commander, I decided to observe procedures in my own way.
'Hmm, by the way... will His Majesty be all right...?'
If Empel finds out that his knight orders are pulling this bullshit in the quarters inside the imperial palace...
'...I feel like he'll be reaching for the alcohol again.'
Even if it's a knight order managed by Michael, whom Isabel planted.
He probably couldn't have even imagined that it was running as such a complete mess.
'There's almost zero chance he already knew.'
Otherwise, Empel would never have tolerated it.
No matter how weak the imperial authority might be.
'Because this is way, way too out of hand.'
Well, anyway.
Ending with Garnet, whom I threw out just now, I have disposed of all the trash forcibly occupying the quarters.
So I headed outside the quarters with the intention of immediately reporting to Empel.
It was about that time now.
'By around this time, His Majesty should have gotten out of bed as well.'
However, as expected...
"Garnet! Are you okay!?"
"Oh my god! Her bones are all broken!"
Despite giving dismissal and eviction notices to everyone without missing a single person.
"You crazy bastard!"
"Do you think you'll be fine after doing this!?"
Not a single one of the 'former' knight order members had moved even an inch from the quarters entrance, waiting for me.
More than the young masters and young ladies who unlawfully trespassed into the imperial palace to enjoy trysts with the knights,
the severity of these bastards' crimes was much worse, so I naturally intended to send them to prison together.
However, whether it was because they were all children of prominent families...
"Hey, you there! Don't you dare lay a single finger on us! The Cromwell Ducal House will never let this slide!"
"Yeah, who do you think you're dragging away! We remembered all of your faces, so you'd better think carefully!"
Because these bastards were threatening and intimidating like this, the soldiers couldn't easily arrest these bastards, let alone those who enjoyed the trysts.
'Even if this is the imperial palace, in the case of ordinary soldiers, they're commoners, so I expected it to some degree, but...'
It was a sight that made me realize once again how truly weak the imperial authority was.
'Because this is way too abnormal...'
No matter how prominent nobles these bastards might be.
'They shouldn't be able to boldly spit out such ridiculous bullshit to the imperial palace soldiers.'
Well, whatever.
Since I was the person who came here to rebuild that imperial authority.
Seureung!
I immediately faced the man shouting the loudest.
I placed my sword directly against Ganelon's neck.
"If you don't want to be arrested, I can offer you summary execution instead?"
"W-What do you think you're doing! Who do you think you are to dare...!"
"Who am I? I'm the commander of the Silver Knights. And isn't Sir Ganelon's family a viscount family? In terms of status, I am higher than you as well."
"K-Kuhk...! Don't make me laugh. A mere commoner who just got lucky and rose in rank...!"
"Hmm... still, I think I'm better off than you, who scammed your way claiming to be a Sword Expert?"
"Sh-Shut..."
Pook-!
"Keok!"
"You shut up. If you were at the banquet hall yesterday, I'm sure you would know very well. That I am holding back a lot right now."
As my sword dug into his skin.
"..."
Ganelon shut his mouth.
It seems the bastard finally remembered.
The fact that I killed the young master of Sirius and even sliced off Michael's arm.
Thanks to that.
"..."
"..."
The other bastards all shut their mouths together in perfect harmony.
"Mmm. Quiet at last. Very good."
I nodded once with satisfaction and turned my gaze toward the soldiers.
"Everyone, you are the proud soldiers of the imperial palace. Meaning, you are soldiers of His Majesty the Emperor. Therefore, there is no need at all to be afraid of the threats of such criminals."
At my words, the expressions of the soldiers changed.
I had merely stated the obvious facts as they were, but...
"......Th-That......"
"......Ahem... Ahem......"
Their faces looked quite confused.
As I said, they wanted to act with pride in their own way, but...
'They probably can't move easily because they're afraid of retaliations from those bastards.'
As I mentioned earlier, since they were commoners and not nobles.
There was no telling how the nobles might retaliate against them in the future.
If it were just one person, it might be fine, but even their families could be gravely threatened.
From their perspective, they had no choice but to hesitate.
'Our Emperor must really be having a hard time.'
Because the strength of the imperial authority is ridiculously weak to the point that even ordinary soldiers are treading on eggshells like this.
'In that case, I should show them more through action.'
Thinking so, I immediately raised my sword high.
"You guys are truly amazing. Threatening our poor soldiers who are already suffering so much... This simply will not do."
"Will not do...? What..."
"What do you mean 'what'? I mean I've changed my mind."
"Ah... so you're letting us go after all! Wise think...!"
"Huh? What kind of bullshit is that? Summary execution is the obvious choice."
"Wh-What!? What did we do wrong!? And what right do you have!"
"Pardon...?"
For a moment, I was rendered speechless.
'Don't tell me he's asking because he really doesn't know...?'
No, there's no way.
No matter how debauched they were when playing around, it was only natural to be aware of basic laws...
'No, wait a second. He really might not know.'
Is this not a world where my common sense doesn't apply at all?
'Man... it's annoying to explain it all over again though...'
Even when beating the shit out of them earlier.
Didn't I explain it several times already?
"My, my... I really have no choice here..."
The kind-hearted me has no choice but to explain it again.
"Insubordination, absence without leave, permitting unauthorized trespassing, forgery of documents, and insulting a superior. I'm sure I told you there were five counts? Well, of course, in the case of documents, there are a few of you who didn't commit fraud, and as for insulting a superior, since it's been a long time since you were dismissed, I will generously overlook that count, but..."
Insubordination by disobeying the Emperor's orders.
Even if they stayed in the quarters, since they abandoned their duties, it was absence without leave no different from desertion.
Just bringing unauthorized outsiders into the quarters alone.
It was more than enough grounds for summary execution.
Let alone...
"Since you are threatening His Majesty the Emperor's soldiers and even resisting arrest, isn't it obvious that as the new knight commander, I have no choice but to carry out summary execution?"
Saying so, I decided to behead Ganelon first as an example.
Seureung-!
As I raised my sword high once more.
"W-Wait a moment, hiiik...!"
Realizing I wasn't bluffing, Ganelon frantically reached out his hands.
Naturally, I had no intention of accepting the bastard's pleas.
However, my sword had no choice but to stop in midair.
Well, there was a good reason for that...
"Ggureureuk...!"
Not only did the bastard suddenly foam at the mouth and pass out...
Jureureuk...
...he even pissed his pants.
"Oh dear..."
In the end, I withdrew my sword.
For the first guy I behead as the Emperor's Sword to be a bedwetter...
No matter how I thought about it, it was way too uncool.
Therefore.
"Thanks to Sir Ganelon's sacrifice, I am planning to withhold summary execution. So I'm thinking of transferring you all to prison as intended, is that fine with you?"
Sheathing my sword back into its scabbard, I asked them.
Those raising objections...
"..."
"..."
Naturally, there was no one.
No matter how arrogant and stupid noble bastards they were.
There was no way they didn't know opening their mouths here meant immediate death.
'Now they'll probably bide their time for the future.'
If they were dissatisfied with me becoming commander in the first place, they should have just submitted their resignations and quit the Imperial Knights.
Even so, the fact that they didn't meant it was obvious they didn't want to give up the perks, and...
'It's probably because news reached their ears that the Empress stormed into the Emperor's palace.'
They must have expected Michael to be reinstated or someone of similar standing to become commander.
'Sorry to break it to you, but that will never happen.'
I can be certain.
That Empel will never be pushed around by Isabel ever again.
Maybe in the past, but...
Didn't he properly draw his sword yesterday already?
Starting with granting my trial by combat, he has begun to directly oppose the Sirius Grand Duchy.
Empel will no longer concede or bend in the future.
'I don't particularly have a grudge against the Cromwell Ducal House, but...'
Since they seem to be in cahoots with the Sirius bastards for some reason.
'I should put in a bit more effort for our Emperor.'
To do that, I should first wrap things up here and go see Empel.
Fortunately, thanks to me brandishing my blade, the soldiers began moving to escort the bastards away.
Cheolkeok-
As handcuffs were clicked onto their wrists.
"Heuheuk..."
"Ah... Ah..."
A few began to sob.
Though they were biding their time for the future in their own way, their trip to prison was confirmed for now.
They were probably shedding tears because it was disgraceful as nobles.
'Well... it seems there are some bastards who have finally come to grasp reality properly.'
Even if I don't carry out summary execution here, if they go through proper procedures, death sentences will probably be confirmed anyway.
'Unless their family is truly extraordinary or they're a useful bastard, even the Empress's faction won't bother saving them.'
In fact, wouldn't they rather cut ties saying they have no relation?
'Well, whether they do or not is none of my business.'
I just do my job.
Therefore, leaving the scene to the soldiers, I tried to head back to the commander's office with Jeanne for now.
Just then.
"What on earth is going on here!?"
A familiar voice pierced my ears.
'Wait, I only heard it for the first time yesterday...'
Calling it familiar.
What kind of sense did that make?
However, it really was familiar.
Because it was a voice I couldn't forget even if I wanted to.
Therefore.
'Oh, my goodness... Anastasia... Please tell me it isn't so...'
I prayed earnestly to the goddess.
However, it seems my prayer was insufficient.
"I asked what you are doing right now, Count!"
"Ah, fuck..."
Curse words burst right out of my mouth.
Well, how could I not?
'Why the hell are you popping up here...?'
Yeah, why on earth was she popping up here?
"Count!!"
I had no choice but to turn my head.
And standing there...
"Explain yourself right now!"
A pink-haired young lady, with both hands on her hips...
"Count Roy!!!"
...was glaring intently at me with her green eyes.