19
19
The Emperor's bedroom.
"Hmm⋯ You have arrived, Commander."
Empel woke up much later than expected.
Only after the sun had set did he summon me through an attendant.
"Yes, I have already heard everything that happened."
"Is that so, Your Majesty."
Seeing that the glass on the table was dry, it seemed he hadn't touched any liquor again after hearing the news of what happened in the Imperial Palace today.
Noticing my gaze fixed on the wine glass, Empel wore a bitter smile.
"Commander, do not worry. We do not usually drink much. It is just that yesterday was a rather special occasion, so We merely drank a little."
"Ah, yes⋯⋯."
It was bound to be tough on him.
After all, the bastard who was his own child had thrown all kinds of crazy-ass fits.
On top of that, his wife even barged in and threw a massive scene, so it would have been impossible for him not to drink even if he didn't want to.
"Hmm⋯ In any case, you did well today, Commander."
"I merely did what had to be done."
I simply disposed of the trash who failed to uphold even the slightest duty despite receiving imperial stipends and all sorts of privileges.
Since it wasn't particularly a great feat, I bowed humbly.
However, that was not what Empel was praising.
"I am talking about how you did not say much to the Empress."
"Ah⋯⋯."
Not only had I called nobles vermin without hesitation from the very first day.
I had also shown that I would not back down even a single step against the Sirius Grand Duchy or the Imperial Prince.
From Empel's perspective, he must have been worried that I might act recklessly toward Isabel as well.
'No, no matter how reckless I am, I wouldn't go that far⋯⋯.'
Honestly, I didn't like her, but she was still the Mother of the Empire, wasn't she?
Now that I had become a knight of the Imperial Family, I couldn't dare treat her rashly.
The moment I breached etiquette toward the Empress and excessively crossed the line.
Even Empel wouldn't be able to keep shielding me.
'I need to observe the bare minimum decorum so that our Your Majesty can wield me to his heart's content.'
Therefore, unless I had a solid justification, I had no intention of confronting Isabel.
'In the first place, my target is those Sirius bastards.'
For now, my targets are the Grand Duke, the eldest son, and the second son.
Those three.
'Um, as for that pink-haired young lady⋯⋯.'
ㅡ Count-nim, please wait!
ㅡ Because I will definitely save you!!!
⋯⋯On hold for now, let's think about her later.
Just recalling her for a moment makes my head dizzy.
"Do not worry. Unless it is a case of stepping forward for Your Majesty like yesterday, I will never cross the line."
"Yes, that is a relief. You will clash with her often from now on, so even if the Empress treats you a bit harshly, please endure it as much as possible. Especially when We are not present."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Endure it as much as possible, huh.
When it comes to patience, I'm second to none.
It seems our Your Majesty still cannot easily trust me.
'Well⋯ it's understandable, I suppose⋯⋯.'
To be fair and look at it objectively, my appearance yesterday was no different from a madman, a bloodthirsty slaughterer.
"And do not be too hasty."
"Hasty, you say⋯⋯?"
"I am saying this because I was worried you might become impatient seeing no reaction from the Sirius side."
"Ah⋯⋯."
As expected of our Your Majesty.
Even though I hadn't particularly shown it on the outside, he seemed to have already seen right through my inner thoughts.
He had also apparently noticed that entering under his command through Sion was part of my plan.
"We also intend to get rid of those Sirius bastards first, so let us ponder together on what would be best to do."
"Your Majesty⋯⋯!"
No way!
I was genuinely touched.
'Can two minds be so perfectly in sync?'
It seems I've met a truly great master.
'I had planned to bolt right away once I took care of all those Sirius bastards⋯⋯.'
The thought of just settling down and staying in the Imperial Palace crossed my mind.
Well, in any case.
Why on earth are the Sirius bastards showing zero reaction?
The third son, Freddie, died.
And that was in front of many onlookers, in a very cruel and gruesome manner at that.
Wouldn't it be completely normal for them to storm into the Imperial Palace to lodge a protest, just like Isabel did yesterday?
From what I looked into a bit, the Grand Duke is currently in his territory.
Then he could at least send someone from the townhouse on his behalf to deliver a letter of protest, yet he was staying dead still without any particular response.
'No, maybe saying they showed no response at all is wrong⋯⋯?'
The reason I couldn't help thinking that was.
Just earlier this afternoon, didn't they send a pink-haired assassin after me?
"⋯⋯Commander. The young lady's side was probably acting alone. It is true that the Grand Duke's side has made no moves. Still, he will probably start departing from his territory soon to hold the third son's funeral."
"Your Majesty, have you learned mind reading or something?"
How does he read my thoughts so well?
"What is there to read minds? It is written all over your face."
"Pardon? You mean it shows?"
No way in hell.
'I should have a smiling face on at all times, though.'
ㅡ Child. For you to maintain at least some semblance of sanity, you will have to smile at all times, even if forced.
Those were words Master had told me.
Telling me that if I wanted to properly avenge myself on my enemies rather than merely venting my anger on the world, I had to always be smiling.
ㅡ You have already gone mad, but you have not yet been consumed by madness. This alone is truly a miracle, so always smile from now on.
Back then, I was somewhat shocked by the words that I had already gone mad, but even if only to enact proper revenge.
I always smiled in accordance with Master's words.
No matter how infuriating or sorrowful things were.
Because there could never be anything more painful for me than that day ten years ago.
However, I must have looked different in Empel's eyes.
"⋯⋯Well, there is no need to worry that much, Commander. Besides Us, there are probably not many who would easily notice."
"Ah, is that so⋯⋯."
I wanted to ask in detail how he noticed, but I gave up as Empel didn't seem to want to explain any further.
'It's not like I have anything in particular I want to hide from His Majesty anyway.'
So it shouldn't matter, right?
The fact that he understands without me having to speak might actually be quite convenient.
"Well, in any case, the Grand Duke of Sirius will not move openly. If it were three years ago, perhaps."
"Three years ago? Don't tell me⋯⋯."
"That 'don't tell me' is correct. Unless the young lady asks him to dispose of you, he will not budge. Seeing the bizarre antics the young lady pulled in the Imperial Palace today, it seems certain that she hasn't asked the Grand Duke to do anything to you."
"Haha⋯⋯."
Laughter slipped out because I was utterly dumbfounded.
I had heard multiple times that the Grand Duke doted on Bathory dearly.
But his own biological child died, didn't he?
'Yet he won't move unless the young lady speaks up⋯⋯?'
To that question of mine, our Your Majesty kindly explained.
"To be honest, even We cannot understand it, but to the extent that one could practically consider the young lady to be the master of Sirius."
"To that extent?"
I couldn't understand it.
No matter how much Bathory resembled the late Lady of Sirius, Rachel.
In the end, she's a completely different person, isn't she?
'Don't tell me even her personality is identical⋯⋯?'
I don't think there could be another person like that in this world.
"Even if all she resembles is her appearance, it cannot help but hold extraordinary meaning to the Grand Duke. Not that I intend to belittle your origins, but back then, high society was in quite an uproar over the story of the Grand Ducal couple."
"Hmm, is that so⋯⋯."
The romance story of my mortal enemy bastard.
I don't particularly care to be interested in that.
However, if he won't move unless provoked...
'Then it'll be difficult to keep to my rules⋯⋯.'
Follow the minimum due process and the law.
This is the rule of my revenge.
'Because I don't want to act like Freddie, that bastard.'
That's why I went under Empel even if it was troublesome, but.
'Instead, because of that young lady, they won't particularly move even after I killed Freddie⋯⋯?'
That's rather extremely troublesome.
In fact, just at yesterday's banquet, the woman who glared at me as if she wanted to kill me was not only suddenly spouting nonsensical babble about saving me, but...
ㅡ There is no need to be so shy.
ㅡ Do not worry. Count-nim will not fall into hell.
ㅡ Because I am here!
She had looked at me terrifyingly in a different sense while spouting such total bullshit.
'I thought there wouldn't be any bastard in this world crazier than me⋯⋯.'
Turns out I was wrong.
Above the runner, there was a whole different breed.
Not just Bathory, but all the male bastards around her were completely out of their minds.
'As expected, Master's words aren't wrong in the slightest⋯⋯.'
Then I should follow Master's words.
"Looks like I'll have to set the target as the Sirius young lady."
Target the opponent's weakness.
Even without Master, this was advice anyone could give.
Anyway, in order to provoke the Grand Duke, it seems I have no choice but to target that pink head.
"Are you serious, Commander? As We mentioned earlier, We too wish to sweep Sirius away immediately, but there is no particular justification to touch the young lady to the point of provoking the Grand Duke."
As for creating a disturbance in the banquet hall, since it's something she could do for her family, it cannot be made into a major issue.
Rather, making an issue out of it might invite a counterattack.
Interfering with the execution of official duties by entering the Imperial Palace today is also difficult to make an issue of.
Because the very fact that Leon summoned her in the first place is an even bigger problem.
This also carries a high risk of the Imperial Family getting counterattacked.
However, I have no intention of directly doing anything to Bathory. I intend to make her move on her own.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to touch the young lady directly."
"Hooh⋯ It seems you have a good idea?"
"That is right. The timing is quite fortunate. There was something I wanted to report and request of Your Majesty."
"Yes, speak quickly."
"Yes, that is⋯⋯."
###
Rewinding time a little bit,
After Jeanne and I handed over the members of the knight order—including Ganelon and Garnet—as well as those who held secret rendezvous with them to the soldiers.
"Jean, thank you. Let us rest for a moment."
"Yes⋯⋯."
We took a break in the Commander's office.
Partly to recover from the mental damage I suffered from that pink-haired young lady.
I wanted to go report to Empel right away, but since they said he hadn't woken up yet, I also needed to kill some time.
Just then.
Sseuuk-
Jeanne naturally pulled out a new basket.
At this, I hurriedly waved my hands in refusal.
"Jean? Um, I'm sorry, but⋯ I ate quite a lot earlier, so I don't feel like eating anything right now."
"⋯⋯⋯!"
Tuk.
"⋯⋯⋯."
Chuuk-
'Haha⋯ good grief⋯⋯.'
Jeanne's face was still expressionless, but seeing how she looked somehow dejected, I had no choice but to make a request to her.
"Could you⋯⋯ please get me a cup of coffee instead?"
"⋯⋯⋯!"
Sseuuk-
"A-A regular-sized cup will be enough."
"⋯⋯⋯Yes."
Seeing Jeanne put down a cup the size of a beer mug with a look of regret gave me goosebumps.
'No, seriously, where does she pull all these things out from⋯⋯?'
Is she carrying around a sub-space artifact or something?
However, I couldn't feel any flow of energy like mana.
Right as I was truly wondering about that.
Ttok-ttok-
Along with the sound of knocking on the door, an attendant's voice could be heard.
"Um⋯ there is someone who wishes to meet with Commander-nim. What should we do?"
"Mmm⋯ Someone wants to meet me?"
Who on earth could it be?
'Don't tell me⋯⋯!'
Has that pink head still not returned and come looking to meet me?!
'No, surely that couldn't be it.'
In the first place, if it were Bathory, the attendants and guards would have cut her off.
Because Isabel, not me, had kicked her out.
'Besides, Lancelot, that bastard is there too, isn't he? So he would've surely escorted her away properly.'
That was why.
"Yes, that is fine."
I readily gave my permission.
Judging by how the attendant's voice was trembling, I naturally got the feeling that the guest was no ordinary person.
And before long.
Kki-eeek-
"⋯⋯It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
A certain woman opened the door and entered.
"I am Priscilla."