Overgeared

It had been confirmed that Mercedes disobeyed an order and went to Valhalla. Breaking an order was proof that she had lost faith in the emperor, while visiting a hostile kingdom without permission was evidence of rebellion. The contents of Gyuratan’s report contained clear slander and distortion of facts. The behavior of the First Knight was a cause for emergency because she had gone to visit the enemy.

‘There is a reason why Mercedes visited Valhalla.’

She had tried to get revenge by finding the Undefeated King’s descendant. In fact, there was no way she would join with Valhalla. Emperor Juander was convinced of this. However...

‘It is also true that she broke my orders.’

Sadly, the emperor had no choice but to doubt Mercedes’ loyalty. If she were truly loyal to him, she wouldn’t have left his sight for any reason.

‘Well, I never expected loyalty in the first place.’

It was natural. Even the trusted Piaro had betrayed him and the empire. The so-called knights were no different from clowns. Loyalty was merely a mask that could be thrown away at any time.

‘But it would be nice if I could trust Gyuratan a bit more.’

The Fourth Knight Gyuratan was the decisive figure who revealed Piaro’s betrayal 12 years ago. What was his reason for monitoring the Red Knights and turning Mercedes into a villain by distorting the truth?

‘There might be something dangerous. I have to watch out for Mercedes.’

Emperor Juander made a decision.

“The First Knight should be loyal to the royal family, but Mercedes abandoned her duty by breaking my orders. I will deprive Mercedes of all her qualifications, and she will be disciplined for three years.”

It was like a bolt out of the blue. The big and small officials were upset.

Who was Mercedes? She was the person who united the Red Knights which had been fractured due to Piaro’s betrayal. Thanks to her work, the Red Knights could be maintained and stability restored. She showed bravery in wars and activities which were difficult to emulate. Mercedes was the symbol of a new era. Yet the emperor was throwing away this symbol? The wave of shock created at this time was terrible.

Even the emperor’s aide thought negatively about it.

“She is under the empress’ command. No, I don’t think you should do this, even if she is a puppet of the empress.”

“That’s right. Disqualifying her is on a different dimension from simply disciplining her.

“You have to think about her influence. There is a fear that the knights will go against Your Majesty. I think it is right to give proper disciplinary actions.”

Would the Red Knights follow Duke Limit or First Knight Mercedes? Most of the knights were likely to choose Mercedes. Mercedes was a respected knight, so the emperor’s decision was puzzling.

“Hrmm...” With even his closest people reacting like this, the calm emperor became frustrated. He tapped the table with his thick fingers. Then suddenly...

Kwaduduk!

Strange noises came down from the ceiling.

“...!”

In the emperor’s office, Emperor Juander and the dukes sitting around the table looked up.

“Wait a moment.” Guard captain Bain, who was always protecting the emperor’s side, jumped up. The falling metal chandelier was caught in Bain’s big hand.

“W-What is this...?”

The faces of the dukes turned white. The chandelier hanging on the ceiling had suddenly fallen?

‘What an ominous sign!’

This was the emperor’s office. It was impossible for the facilities to not be maintained properly. Indeed, there were no signs of old age on the chandelier. In fact, it seemed new. The dukes read this as the sign of a disaster and were anxious. However, the emperor was furious. “Empress...!”

The empress wasn’t a puppet of the nobles but their leader. The emperor confirmed

“Understood!”

ground, rushed out of the room. There were

the doors right now! Don’t let a

“Yes!”

Marie! This is

“Yes!”

chaos poured out. The political situation

to the emperor. “A

“What?”

single enemy since its founding, had collapsed? To think that all of this was happening so suddenly? It was an unprecedented event and emotional instability started to bubble deep in the heart of

***

on saying flattering words. She was carefully painting the empress’ nails. A noble lady from a good family

worried this powdered pearl might not

responded with a benign smile. She felt a bliss that couldn’t be spoken. A noble lady was like a puppy before her…

is doing my

was the power of the empress. She couldn’t imagine what the power of the empress dowager would be like. Marie’s

was a beautiful song like an angel was singing. However, the noblewoman and the maids knew. They couldn’t be deceived by the empress’ kind

“Your Majesty!”

“...Huung.”

tranquility was broken. The empress stopped humming and moved her gaze. Viscount Albert had urgently rushed over, panting

empire’s empress and would later be the mother of the emperor. Yet she now had to avoid the emperor? Her?

explained to the frowning empress, “Duke Grenhal is headed for this palace, but his mood is

“Duke Grenhal...?”

was the right arm of the emperor coming here? The emperor’s guards were

empress said, realizing that the mood was unusual. Then she immediately rose from her seat, and the maids carefully put on her shoes. Before leaving

maids

bowed with thanks. The empress’ palace, which was filled with lowly women, was also disgusting today. Viscount Albert bit his lips so that the empress wouldn’t

mobile hanging in your bedroom fell down.” (Mobile: a decorative structure that is suspended

face stiffened.

The maids said that the mobile became

her ears. Empress Marie immediately grasped the situation. “Right now...

to explain it at once. Then the empress heard a voice, “I have already prepared the carriage. Now, let’s

he was riding on top of a rhino. The empress didn’t like his gaze. However, she couldn’t express this. Duke Grenhal, who boasted the strongest

you for

***

“This is serious.”

of the awfulness, the empress’ palace was

was overturned. Veradin identified the cause and decided that the empress’ position would be greatly reduced

we might be caught

Knights under Empress Marie’s command. They had to be careful

new nesting site

Agnus had stayed at the

‘Let’s leave this palace.’

backing of the empress could be poison. Then it

be nice to move

was an opportunity. It might be forced but this was good timing to try new challenges. Veradin thought so and felt a

it would be a big mistake. His enemies were greater in number than he had imagined. For the sake

Step, step.

“.....”

step, a second step,

left the palace. He felt a sense of discomfort. Due to the absence of the empress, the knights and soldiers who used to be on guard everywhere couldn’t be seen.