Ch#36
“They probably hope our Knights will step in to protect them somehow. Too ashamed to call the Captain directly, they called the relatively easygoing me instead.”
“Ugh, those idiots! I knew those guys would cause trouble someday.”
The Knights Captain felt a stiff ache in the back of his neck due to the major scandal caused by the very men who usually trailed after women.
Joseph, who had lost the battle of wits, got off with just a warning and was released, but Terry and Angelo were in a situation where punishment was unavoidable.
It would feel good to kick their asses and boot them out, but the problem was the unspoken promise in the Knights order: ‘Members are loyal to the Captain, and the Captain protects his knights.’
“What on earth am I supposed to say to the Imperial Guard Captain! It’s so embarrassing.”
Already uncomfortable dealing with someone far younger than him as Imperial Guard Captain, this incident meant he couldn’t even lift his head in front of Laslo anymore.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
Edmund, who had glanced at the cooperation letter the Captain set down, looked around and whispered softly.
“You have to pick out and discard the rotten fruit in the basket quickly, or the rest will rot too. Since they were already troublemakers, it wouldn’t be bad to cut them out on this occasion.”
“You might say it’s heartless, but if we don’t purge them ruthlessly, the blame will extend to our entire Knights order. We need to make this strictly their personal issue.”
“Sir Milton...?”
Truly written by Lemon Frog
It was quite a cold statement from Edmund, who was known to everyone as a ‘good person,’ but it was exactly the opinion the Captain needed right now.
Still, there’s no need for the whole order to get splashed with shit. It’s not like we ordered them to do it...
To be frank, he didn’t want to take responsibility for this himself. He didn’t want to grovel to Laslo either.
“Then, what should we do?”
“We should treat this as nothing but the reckless deviation of depraved individuals and say we’ll punish them too. Leave their punishment to the Imperial Guard Captain.”
“The Imperial Guard Captain seems intent on handling it by military law. That would mean quite severe punishment...”
“I know it pains you, Captain, who loves his members like children. But if we don’t distance ourselves from this, innocent members will suffer.”
Those words eased the Captain’s mind even more.
- 2 -
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*Yes, it’s all for the other members.*
Not one thing befitted a count’s house.
He nodded as if he’d made his decision.
*I have to make that Laslo bastard hold a party here somehow. The nobles need to see this mess.*
“Alright. It’ll be hard to look at those guys’ faces, but I can’t let the rest of our diligent members suffer due to this unsavory incident.”
Then his reputation in society would hit rock bottom. Though it already seemed there too.
But what hit rock bottom right away was Edmund’s mood upon seeing Laslo sitting arrogantly with the two bound men kneeling before him.
Edmund put on an expression as if he understood everything and spoke.
“You’ve arrived.”
“I’ll go. They called for me anyway, and the Imperial Guard Captain doesn’t seem opposed to me coming.”
“But...!”
There were several men resembling Calliope members in the armory near the training grounds, besides Laslo and the two men.
“Whether good or bad, I know all members are like children to you, Captain. You must decide coldly for the greater good, but how hard that must be. So I’ll handle this at my level.”
They were as sharply disciplined as the guard knights from other high noble houses.
The Captain was deeply moved by Edmund’s thoughtfulness. Now he wouldn’t face any trouble himself.
*Mercenary riffraff imitating knights, or that Laslo bastard dragging them around as his guards—they’re all a mess. Tsk tsk.*
“You’re a truly reliable friend. Having someone like you as Vice-Captain makes me feel secure.”
Edmund fiercely envied Laslo, who had reached the top at such a young age, but inwardly soothed himself by belittling him.
“No need for that. Instead, please oversee the members’ training while I’m away.”
Of course, outwardly he pretended to be polite, kind, and refined.
“Of course! Don’t worry.”
“Then I’ll be off.”
“It’s been a while, Sir Criserus. I regret we meet under these unsavory circumstances.”
“Indeed. Neither of us likes wasting time, so let’s skip the pointless greetings and get to the point.”
Edmund smiled brightly and left the Knights building.
Laslo gestured toward the two men, whose faces lit up as if seeing an angel come to save them the moment they spotted Edmund.
“You’ve probably already read the cooperation letter. They insisted on calling you before being sent to military trial!”
Edmund had come to House Criserus in the Captain’s stead for two reasons.
“I’ve confirmed the contents via the cooperation letter.”
First, to avoid the Captain finding out he was the one who told those three idiots how to get to Edel Lancaster.
“So, what is the Imperial Knights’ stance?”
Second, to visit House Criserus and see the inside for himself.
Terry and Angelo had no doubt Edmund would save them somehow.
Ridiculous.
But Edmund didn’t even glance their way.
Guided inside House Criserus, Edmund looked around the utterly un-count-like interior and swallowed a sneer.
“There’s nothing unfair about Sir Criserus’s request, and our Imperial Knights have decided to expel them.”
Laslo chuckled. As if he’d expected as much.
The second goal seemed more than achieved.
Cheap frames holding worthless paintings, gaudy gold leaf and fake jewels on decorations, tacky artificial flowers, low-quality carpets and curtains, vulgar furniture designs...
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