09
09
"Michael Cromwell."
"As of this moment, I relieve you of your duty as Captain of the Imperial Knights."
As Empel declared this,
"Your Majesty!!!"
Michael shouted tragico-solemnly, as if he had become the tragic hero of a story.
"How could you do this to me!?"
Wow, I had a feeling about this guy, but...
He really seems like no ordinary lunatic.
To anyone who didn't know the situation,
they would think he was a loyal subject abandoned for no reason at all.
No, wait.
"Why... on earth... why...?"
At the very least, he seems to genuinely believe that himself?
But who was the one who stabbed the other in the back first?
'This dumbass right here.'
Didn't he completely forget his duty just to look good in front of a single woman?
As if proving my thoughts right,
"Michael. Are you really asking because you don't know?"
Empel asked back with a deeply displeased expression.
"Could it be... because of that single piece of advice I offered during the trial by combat...?"
"A single piece"? Is this crazy motherfucker for real?
To think a bastard like this was the Knight Captain.
'Ah, they said he was the Empress's nephew...'
It looks like Isabel just shoved him into the position.
Even if he has reached the realm of a Sword Master,
this is the Imperial Knights, not some adventurer party or mercenary group.
If they had any brains, they should have appointed someone with at least a functioning mind as Captain.
He definitely got appointed through connections.
As if confirming my thoughts,
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
Isabel immediately stepped forward to cover for Michael.
"Even considering the loyalty the Captain has devoted to the Imperial Family all this time, you cannot cast him out so ruthlessly!"
"Your Majesty! I beg of you as well, please reconsider. Is there any knight in the Imperial Court who has been as loyal to Your Majesty as Michael!"
When Leon stepped forward as well, raising his voice to defend him,
"Your Majesty the Empress... Your Imperial Highness the Prince...!"
Michael looked at the two of them with an intensely moved expression.
My evaluation of this scene was as follows:
'What a fucking clown show.'
In their own pathetic minds, they might think they're creating a touching moment by covering for each other...
Even for me, just watching from the side, it's this bad.
How must Empel feel watching this shitshow?
'How else? It must feel like absolute shit.'
As if proving me right once again,
"..."
Our Emperor's expression was looking extremely foul.
From Empel's perspective, it was only natural.
'I mean, I don't really want to say this as someone from a similar generation, but...'
Young people these days are fucking nuts.
I don't know the exact ages of Leon and Michael.
Only that they are young guys in their mid-to-late twenties.
But knowing just that much is more than enough.
To know that Michael and Leon were spouting utter bullshit.
Then what about the older Isabel?
Let me just say she's crazy regardless of age.
So, speaking of which, this mother and son.
Do they seriously think what they're saying makes any sense?
Things like "the loyalty devoted to the Imperial Family all this time."
Or "there is no knight more loyal than Michael."
Such utter nonsense.
How could Empel possibly take it?
'Not just His Majesty, but I see quite a few people with nasty expressions.'
Besides the Imperial Knights, aren't there countless other orders of knights and individual knights in this empire?
And there must be those who have been dedicating themselves to the empire since the previous reign as well.
Yet Isabel and Leon, just to protect Michael—
a single individual of their own—
had made statements that were practically insulting every knight present.
'No matter how powerful the Empress's faction is... this is crossing the line way too far.'
Crossing that line—
will the Emperor really tolerate it?
'Well, maybe in the past, but...'
Now that Sion has presented me as a card,
there is no way in hell he will.
"...My decision remains unchanged. As of this moment today, I appoint the Count as the new Imperial Knight Captain. To signify starting anew from the very beginning, I shall also change the name of the Imperial Knights to the Silver Knights."
As expected of our Emperor.
It seems he was sharpening his knives quite thoroughly in secret.
To think he would handle business so refreshingly this time as well.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor. As of this moment, my sword shall be wielded solely for Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Mm. Good."
Skipping all the tedious procedures, the moment I was appointed as the new Captain,
"""Your Majesty!!!"""
Isabel, Leon, Michael.
The three of them shouted in unison.
At this,
"Isabel."
Empel softly called out the Empress's name.
This meant his patience had reached its limit.
"..."
Isabel gritted her teeth tightly, and then—
Hwik!
turned right around and stormed out of the banquet hall.
'Hmm... Is the person following right behind her Duke Cromwell?'
As the Empress's maternal family, while not quite as powerful as the Sirius Grand Duchy, it was a high duchy of considerable influence.
Even so,
leaving without proper greetings, let alone the Emperor's permission—they were truly something else.
'I heard plenty about it from Sion, but...'
To think the empire was running in such a complete shitshow state.
"It seems Her Majesty the Empress is furious...!"
"Shh! Be quiet. His Majesty the Emperor looks even worse!"
Even the nobles, caught between the Emperor and Empress, squirming and reading the room, didn't know what to do.
It was a spectacle beyond spectacle.
'Sigh... Our poor Emperor, I genuinely feel bad for him.'
At this point, one couldn't help but feel sympathy for Empel.
Just then,
"Your Majesty!!!"
Michael suddenly shouted loudly, calling Empel once more.
His face still wore an expression of utter disbelief and refusal to accept the situation.
At this,
"Enough."
Empel raised one hand, as if he didn't want to hear another word.
"Michael. I have lost count of how many times you have talked back to my decisions today alone."
"I am not trying to talk back to Your Majesty's words! I am simply speaking because I cannot accept placing a vicious and treacherous man like the Count in my place, after everything I have strived and sacrificed in loyalty to Your Majesty!"
Mm.
I automatically questioned whether the words I was hearing right now were actually human language.
Calling me vicious and treacherous...
While I don't want to admit it,
sure, fine.
I can concede a hundred steps and grant that maybe he thinks so.
But.
'Loyalty...? Striving...?'
I had met Michael for the first time today, but I was certain.
He might have tried in his own way when it came to effort, but loyalty? Absolute fucking bullshit.
Isn't he just a lunatic who objected to His Majesty's decision just to look good in front of a woman?
'He probably acted however the fuck he wanted on a regular day too...'
And even at this very moment, he was diligently and persistently talking shit and defying authority.
In an instant,
'Ah...!'
A thought flashed rapidly through my brain.
'Is this what they call the language of nobles...!'
I see.
I finally understand.
'Starting from Lady Bathory, I thought communication was just completely impossible...!'
Since I was of lowly commoner origin,
I simply failed to comprehend the language of noble lords and ladies!
"I have no idea what on earth you are talking about."
...Apparently, that wasn't it.
Given that even our Emperor overtly turned solemn and cold at Michael's words.
"I am certain I told you to stop. Considering your 'brief' hard work and loyalty up until now, I shall endure it this far."
Mm.
Michael, this bastard.
Seeing how Empel emphasized "brief,"
he really didn't put in much effort either, huh.
'Even without me, wouldn't he have been fired sooner or later anyway? Or wait, would that have been tough because of the Empress?'
Just as I was about to sink back into my thoughts,
as if telling me not to,
"Your Majesty!!!"
Michael shouted tragico-solemnly once more.
Ah, this really won't do.
At this rate, our Emperor is going to collapse from extreme stress.
At this point, I decided to step forward as the new Imperial Knight Captain—
no, as the Captain of the Silver Knights.
"Hey there, 'former' Captain. Didn't you hear His Majesty? Just now, he told you to stop twice already."
"Count!!!"
Perhaps irritated by the emphasis I put on the single word 'former', Michael glared at me as if he wanted to murder me.
"A person like you is not fit to be the Imperial Knight Captain!"
"Ah, is that so? But what shall we do? Ending with the 'former' Captain, the Imperial Knights no longer exist. Its name was just changed to the Silver Knights. That was also stated by His Majesty—have you forgotten already?"
"Count! Shut your mouth!!!"
Sereung-
Wow, this crazy bastard.
Is this actually happening?
Now he has even drawn his sword.
Just who in the world does he think he is drawing a blade in front of?
Therefore,
I acted immediately without a shred of hesitation.
"You shut the fuck up, you motherfucker."
Seogeok-
"..."
Mm. What a delightful face to behold.
And it's about to turn into an even better expression.
Why?
Pisyu-uk-
"Gaaahhhh!!!"
Because blood spewed out like a fountain from the joint of his right shoulder.
"Michael!!!"
Leon rushed to Michael's side in utter shock.
He immediately wrapped his cloak around the severed stump and yelled at me.
"Count! What do you think you are doing!?"
"What do you mean, Imperial Prince? Are you really asking because you don't know?"
"You bastard! Are you trying to play word games with me as well!"
"Play word games? How could I possibly dare do such a thing to Your Imperial Highness?"
"Then answer my question! And Saint-nim, please come quickly!"
"Yes, I shall answer. However, Saint-nim, please do not step closer."
Sereung-
I pointed my blade right at Michael's neck as I continued.
"Because I am currently executing a traitor."
"T-Traitor! What nonsense is that! Michael is more than anyone...!"
Wow... Is this guy really a prince?
Is he seriously saying that?
Even if the target he pointed his sword at was me,
he drew a weapon without permission right in the presence of none other than the Emperor.
Isn't this a capital crime where he would have no defense even if executed on the spot?
Therefore,
I didn't bother answering Leon and turned toward Empel instead.
"Your Majesty, I plan to strike off this traitor's head as is. Would that be acceptable?"
###
"Kukuk... Kuhahaha!!!"
Kwang! Kwang-
Empel slammed the armrests of his throne hard enough to break them, bursting into loud laughter.
'I wonder how many times I've laughed out loud today alone.'
Has there been a time recently when I was this entertained?
'Sion did warn me that he was not in his right mind, but to think he was a lunatic of this magnitude...!'
In many ways, he was a good kind of lunatic.
However, in contrast...
"Your Majesty! How can you laugh in this situation! The third son of Sirius has died, and Michael's arm has been cut off!"
His own son...
I lost count of how many times he disappointed me today alone.
Just a moment ago,
my very enjoyable mood plummeted completely.
"Leon. Did you not hear the Count... no, the Captain of the Silver Knights?"
"Your Majesty! Are you asking me because you genuinely believe that? Michael a traitor!? That makes absolutely no sense! It is the Count's slander... no, absurd nonsense!"
"Absurd nonsense, you say... He drew a blade in my presence without permission. If that is not treason, then what is it?"
"It is true that Michael was hasty in drawing his sword! However, didn't the Count provoke him first! This is no different from a trap!"
At Leon's shout, Roy shook his head side to side.
"My, Imperial Prince. Provocation? And a trap...? I merely recited His Majesty's words once more because this traitor failed to comprehend them."
"Shut your mouth! Calling my brother and close friend a traitor! Take that sword off Michael's neck right this instant!"
"Mm, my apologies... but no matter if he is Your Highness's brother and friend, without His Majesty's order, this sword will not budge even a fraction of an inch."
"Kukuk..."
Empel's mood improved once again.
He didn't believe that Roy was sincerely devoted in loyalty to him.
'The fellow is simply taking advantage of me. But I am no different...'
Using each other in this manner was extremely welcome.
Following Freddie, even Michael.
To possess combat prowess of a level that toys with the Empire's Sword Masters.
'This can work... It definitely can...'
Reclaiming the Imperial Family's authority ruined by the previous generation.
Restoring an empire that looks magnificent on the outside but is impoverished within.
All of it is possible.
Even if that Sirius family tries to obstruct.
With this guy around, I can definitely overturn everything.
That was Empel's judgment.
Yet frustratingly,
the pathetic fool of a son kept shouting without a lick of sense.
"Your Majesty, I trust it is not so. Absolutely not. We must not shed any more meaningless blood!"
"...Khuk!"
Jureureuk-
Roy's blade bit lightly into Michael's neck.
At this, Leon distorted his face fiercely and shouted.
"You villain, what are you doing! His Majesty has said nothing yet!"
"Ah, my apologies. At the words 'meaningless', my hand slipped a bit without me realizing."
"Your Majesty! Look at this! The Count is nothing more than a murderer!"
"Enough."
Empel slowly raised one hand, as if refusing to hear any more of Leon's words.
"Calling my new blade a murderer. Your words go too far. Is that not so, Captain?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Highness's words are indeed a bit harsh. However, if it is for Your Majesty, I shall not hesitate to become even a murderer."
"Kukuk... Kuhahaha!!!"
Empel burst into loud laughter once more.
He truly was a mind-boggling guy.
'For my sake, he says... Not even funny.'
He has zero intention of doing so,
yet his tongue is certainly smooth, he thought once again.
Well, anyway.
Having already disposed of the third son of Sirius,
could I not execute a 'former' Knight Captain who is more loyal to a young lady than to myself?
'Though he is also my nephew...'
he was someone who showed no respect to me as an Emperor, let alone as an uncle-in-law.
Whenever anything happened, instead of listening, he would always run straight to Isabel.
'It was to the point where I was confused whether he was the Imperial Knight Captain or the Empress's Knight Captain...'
If so,
it would be best to clearly demonstrate that the Emperor's authority lives on, starting today.
Empel thought so and was about to give Roy his first order.
However, at that moment...
"Strike off my head instead!!!"
His son disappointed his father once again.
To save Michael,
Pu-uk-
Leon pressed his own neck right against Roy's blade.