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...!”

a puppet of the nobles but their leader. The emperor confirmed that this chandelier was a gift from the empress one month ago and shouted furiously, “Drag

“Understood!”

out of the room. There were already hundreds of guards in front

doors right now! Don’t let a single mouse leave

“Yes!”

Marie! This is

“Yes!”

political situation of the empire was

delivered to the emperor. “A corner of the

“What?”

enemy since its founding, had collapsed? To think that all of this was

***

carefully painting the empress’ nails. A noble lady from a

this powdered pearl might not be

a benign smile. She felt a bliss that couldn’t be spoken. A noble lady was

is doing

imagine what the power of the empress dowager would be like. Marie’s desires were overwhelming. Her goal of putting the 4th Prince on the throne became even more

her mouth. It was a beautiful song like an angel was singing. However, the noblewoman and

“Your Majesty!”

“...Huung.”

was broken. The empress stopped humming and moved her gaze. Viscount Albert

She was the empire’s empress and would later be the mother of the emperor. Yet she now

headed for this

“Duke Grenhal...?”

right arm of the emperor coming here?

she immediately rose from her seat, and the maids carefully put on her shoes.

maids cried

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

knight ran and reported to the empress, “I heard that the mobile hanging in your bedroom fell down.” (Mobile: a decorative structure that

face stiffened. “What is

that the mobile became bigger

grasped the situation. “Right now... Prepare the carriage

empress heard a voice, “I have

a rhino. The empress didn’t like his gaze. However, she couldn’t express this. Duke Grenhal, who boasted the strongest power among the seven dukes, wasn’t someone

you for your

***

“This is serious.”

the empress’ palace was peaceful

was overturned. Veradin identified the cause

move, we might be caught in the

the Rose Knights under Empress Marie’s command. They had to be careful of the guilt by

new nesting site

Immortal and Agnus had stayed at the empress’ palace for a

‘Let’s leave this palace.’

the backing of the empress could be poison.

would be nice to move

opportunity. It might be forced but this was good timing to try new challenges. Veradin thought so and felt a clear sense of hope. He thought it was simply Marie’s crisis and forgot how dangerous the

at least the palace was still the safest place. Leaving it would be a big mistake. His enemies were greater in number than he had imagined. For the sake of revenge, the enemy had sunk the biggest

Step, step.

“.....”

second step, a

empress, the knights and soldiers who used to be on guard