“It seems they were hoping our Knights Order would step in to protect them. They knew it would be rude to call the Commander, so they must have called me, the most approachable one.”
“Ugh, those idiots! I knew those punks would cause trouble sooner or later.”
The Commander’s neck stiffened at the massive trouble caused by a group of men who usually spent their time chasing after women.
While Joseph, who had lost the battle of wits, was let off with a warning, there was no way to avoid punishing Terry and Angelo.
He would have felt relieved if he could just kick them out the door, but the problem was the unspoken code within the Knights Order: “The knights serve the Commander with loyalty, and the Commander must protect the knights under his command.”
“What on earth am I supposed to say to the Captain of the Royal Guard? It’s humiliating, honestly.”
He already felt awkward enough dealing with the Captain of the Royal Guard, who was much younger than him, and now, because of this incident, he wouldn’t be able to show his face in front of Laslo.
Edmund, who had been stealthily reading the letter of cooperation the Commander had set aside, glanced around and whispered softly.
“If there is rotten fruit in a basket, you must pick it out and throw it away quickly so the rest of the fruit doesn’t spoil. Since these men were already causing problems, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use this incident as a reason to cut them loose.”
“Lord Milton…?”
“You might call it heartless, but if we don’t cut them off decisively, the Knights Order will be held responsible as well. We must make sure this incident is treated strictly as a personal matter for these men.”
It was a surprisingly cold statement coming from Edmund, who was known to everyone as a ‘good man,’ but for the Commander, it was exactly the advice he needed.
‘Come to think of it, there’s no reason for the Knights Order to get dragged into the mud. We didn’t order them to do this…’
To be more precise, he didn’t want to take responsibility for this incident himself. Nor did he want to ask Laslo for any favors.
“Then, what do you suggest I do?”
“We should frame this as nothing more than a case of dissipated, personal deviancy and announce that we, too, intend to hold them accountable. As for their punishment, we can just leave it to the Captain of the Royal Guard.”
“The Captain of the Royal Guard seems determined to handle this according to military law. If that happens, the punishment will be quite severe…”
“I understand how difficult it is for you, given your affection for your knights. But if we don’t distance ourselves from this incident, other innocent knights will suffer.”
At those words, the Commander felt much more at ease.
‘Right, it’s all for the sake of the other knights.’
He nodded as if he had made a decision.
“I understand. It will be hard to face them, but I cannot let the rest of my diligent knights suffer because of this disgraceful incident.”
Edmund replied with a look that suggested he understood everything.
“I will go. They called for me anyway, and the Captain of the Royal Guard doesn’t seem to have any particular objection to me going.”
“But…!”
“I know that whether they are good or bad, they are like sons to you, Commander. I know it must be difficult for you to deliver a cold judgment for the greater good. So, I will handle this matter.”
The Commander was deeply moved by Edmund’s thoughtfulness. After all, thanks to him, he wouldn’t have to face any awkward situations himself.
“You really are a reliable friend. I feel secure having someone like you as my Vice Commander.”
“Think nothing of it. In return, I ask that you look after the knights’ training while I’m away.”
“Of course! Don’t you worry about a thing.”
“Then, I will be off.”
Edmund stepped out of the Knights Order building with a subtle smile.
* * *
Edmund had come to the Krissus Count Family in place of the Commander for two reasons.
First, to ensure the Commander wouldn’t find out that it was he who had taught those three idiots how to find out about Edele Lancaster.
Second, to visit the Krissus residence and see the interior for himself.
‘How absurd.’
Edmund, who had been escorted inside, suppressed a scoff as he looked around, noting that the place hardly looked like a count’s estate.
It seemed he had achieved his second goal more than enough.
Worthless paintings in cheap frames, gaudy decorations with gold leaf and artificial gems, cheap faux flowers, poor-quality carpets and curtains, tacky furniture designs…
Nothing was befitting the status of a count’s family.
‘I must find a way to make that bastard Laslo host a party here. The nobles need to see this mess.’
Then, Laslo’s reputation in high society would hit rock bottom. Though, it seemed like it couldn’t go any lower anyway.
However, the thing that immediately hit rock bottom was Edmund’s mood when he saw Laslo sitting arrogantly with the two bound men kneeling before him.
“You’ve arrived.”
Inside the armory near the training ground, there were a few men who seemed to belong to , in addition to Laslo and the two men.
They were just as well-disciplined as the elite guards of any other high-ranking noble family.
‘Whether it’s those mercenary nobodies playing knight, or Laslo, who keeps such things as his escorts, the whole lot is a disaster. Tsk, tsk.’
Edmund burned with intense jealousy toward Laslo, who had already reached the pinnacle at his age, but he managed to soothe himself by deliberately belittling him.
Of course, on the outside, he feigned a polite, kind, and refined demeanor.
“It has been a while, Lord Krissus. It is regrettable that we meet under such disgraceful circumstances.”
“Indeed. Since dragging things out doesn’t seem to be either of our tastes, let’s skip the empty pleasantries and get to the point.”
Laslo gestured toward the two men, whose expressions had brightened as if they had seen an angel sent to save them the moment they saw Edmund.
“I assume you have already read the letter of cooperation. These fellows insisted that I call Lord Milton before they are sent to a military tribunal.”
“I have confirmed the contents through the letter.”
“So, what is the stance of the Royal Knights Order?”
Terry and Angelo trusted without a doubt that Edmund would save them somehow.
However, Edmund didn’t even glance their way.
“There is no part of Lord Krissus’s request that is unreasonable, and the Royal Knights Order has decided to dismiss them.”
Laslo chuckled at those words, as if he had expected it.
Edmund felt offended, but surely not as much as the two men, who had just heard the equivalent of a thunderbolt striking them.
With their mouths agape, doubting their own ears, the two men crawled forward on their knees and clung to Edmund.
“Lo, Lord Milton! How could you do this!”
“The Knights Order is abandoning its knights! Does this make any sense?”
Then, it was not Laslo, but Edmund who frowned and scolded them.
“It makes even less sense that a member of the Royal Knights Order would commit such a foolish and filthy act! Do you have any idea how shocked the Commander is? Do you have any idea how angry the other knights are!”
“Bu, but she was only a maid, and it’s not like anything really happened, right?”
“We are truly sorry. Please, just forgive us this once, please!”
Terry and Angelo pleaded while sobbing.
Even now, the ones they were begging were not Laslo, but Edmund. Laslo found the sight quite comical.
‘Why beg a guy who can’t do anything for you?’
Even if he could do something, Edmund would never move if it didn’t benefit him.
Among the types of people Laslo detested were ‘political knights,’ and Edmund Milton was one of them; Laslo had never seen anyone as deceitful.
‘He pretends to be kind and affectionate on the outside, but he’s black-hearted beneath.’
Regardless, the matter between them wasn’t Laslo’s concern.
“So, the Royal Knights Order is leaving the judgment of this incident entirely in my hands. Did I misunderstand?”
“No, Lord Krissus. We are in agreement with your decision.”
“Clean and simple, I like it. Honestly, I’d like to chop off one arm from each of these guys, but the victim asked to follow the written law, so I suppose I have to respect the victim’s wishes.”
At the word ‘victim,’ Edmund recalled the root cause of this whole mess.
“Ah, come to think of it, the victim was the former Duchess Lancaster, wasn’t she? Is she unharmed?”
“He must have bruised her, dragging her by the arm so ignorantly. ……Should I just cut the arm off?”
As Laslo’s gaze turned menacing, Terry and Angelo let out a sharp gasp and scrambled backward again. Watching them with a look of disdain, Laslo clicked his tongue briefly and turned his head.
Edmund found that oddly bothersome.
‘It feels strange, as if that guy Laslo is protecting her……?’
Perhaps it was half-joking, or maybe just an excuse, but it was an incredibly significant remark coming from someone as indifferent and blunt as Laslo Krissus.
So, Edmund impulsively made a suggestion.
“If it wouldn’t be too much of an intrusion, I would like to apologize to her on behalf of the Imperial Knights.”