The imperial capital, Perias.
Abel Carius had returned, but the city was no different from usual.
Normalizing Delriat was a tremendous achievement.
Something no other administrator had managed to accomplish.
Yet despite such merits, there was no welcome ceremony.
It was because Duke Carius had returned so quietly.
But not long after, the emperor faction nobles began to stir.
“Have you heard that story?”
“What story?”
“The empire’s new star is detained by the security force.”
“New star……. You mean that wastrel from House Warren? He’s a bit arrogant, but not the type to commit a crime.”
“He caused a big incident this time.”
“What on earth happened for a noble to be caught by the security force?”
“He ambushed His Grace Duke Carius.”
The noble listening turned ashen-faced.
Even if he was known as a lunatic, to commit such a massive act.
It was utterly incomprehensible.
Then, another noble who’d been listening silently asked a question.
“How badly was His Grace injured?”
“Come on, what are you saying? He’s the one who swept away the northern tribes. Of course, he’s unharmed this time too.”
“Then that means Trevor Warren lost.”
“Probably. What a shame. No one got to see such a battle of the century.”
“The outcome was obvious anyway—His Grace Duke Carius was superior in every way. But the detention by the security force is dragging on.”
“Surely he won’t actually punish him? They’re both in the emperor faction. Won’t it end with a suitable agreement?”
“Given the unprecedented actions he’s shown so far…….”
The emperor faction nobles couldn’t finish their sentences.
No matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t find an answer.
They hadn’t peeked into Abel Carius’s mind, after all.
But right then, Count Warren gathered the nobles.
“Ah, you’re all here.”
“You’re here? How’s your son’s situation?”
“That’s why I came. In the end, a military trial will be held.”
“That’s fortunate at least. Who’s the military court chief of the Western 1st Legion? Anyway, lower rank than your friend Trevor.”
“The case isn’t being transferred there.”
“Then how will it go?”
“His Majesty will judge it personally.”
“Good heavens!”
Count Warren’s fellow nobles wore dizzy expressions.
The emperor personally judging was only for massive cases like treason.
It carried strong political implications.
It was a system usually used to eliminate political enemies.
“If we leave it like this, it’ll be a real disaster.”
“We’re already cowed by the other noble factions—can we let this happen?”
“We must stop it no matter what!”
The emperor faction nobles rose from their seats in a flurry.
They seemed to feel a sense of crisis that something had to be done.
But at that moment, someone asked a very important question.
“To stop this trial, don’t we need to petition His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Well, yes…….
Huh?”
“W-wait. I’ll come back later. Something urgent came up.”
“You’re free to petition His Majesty as much as you want. But there are laws and procedures. He’ll call when ready.”
The fellow nobles who’d intended to join Count Warren scattered in a hurry.
Like cockroaches scurrying away when the light turns on.
Soon, anger rose on Count Warren’s face.
“Damn them! Those bastards who usually cling asking for positions in the 1st Legion…….!”
If they offended the emperor’s mood, it wouldn’t just be Trevor in trouble.
But he couldn’t abandon his son.
Wasn’t he the key talent to make the family great again?
Count Warren gritted his teeth and moved his steps.
‘No, when did I ever want this?’
I just needed appropriate punishment for Trevor and the knights.
I didn’t even need to do it myself.
The military court would handle it anyway.
We just had to hand over the investigation materials from the security force.
But the emperor suddenly summoned Trevor Warren.
Leading to this outrageous situation.
“This is driving me crazy. What is this right after arriving?”
“I should have just sent those guys back to the Western 1st Legion.”
Cordell McNeil, not expecting this outcome, wore a troubled expression.
Even to this slick guy, the situation didn’t seem normal.
Why hold a personal trial for something not that major?
Anyway, since the higher-ups decided, I had to attend the emperor’s court.
As both the victim and a key witness in this case.
I planned to go home, rest comfortably, and check on my businesses.
From the start, it smelled like a total failure.
“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”
At the chamberlain’s cry, I bolted from my seat.
Angering that monster was akin to suicide.
I had to act swiftly to give no pretext.
The emperor, glancing around the seats, strode up to the dais.
The spot usually mine, but today he was the judge.
“That’s enough, sit down.”
As the emperor waved his arm and intoned, people quickly lowered themselves.
Everyone seemed to share my mindset.
Dawdling and getting marked would make life miserable.
‘Whatever the verdict, please end it quickly. Please.’
I sat still, hiding my resigned expression as much as possible.
Soon, Judge Josef Padiya’s tense voice rang out.
“We will now begin the imperial inquiry into the assault on Duke Carius.”
As the trial proceeded, the defendant’s lawyer rose with a grave face.
It was time for statements.
But he couldn’t open his mouth.
The emperor had raised his right hand to stop him.
“Skip the trivial procedures. Trevor Warren.”
“Yes? Yes! Your Majesty!”
“Do you admit your crime.”
“O-of course. It’s clearly my mistake for not controlling my competitive spirit!”
Just one sentence.
Yet Trevor immediately admitted all facts.
A confession obtained by sheer authority—a method that would never work in a modern court.
No criminal would fall for it, and it didn’t fit procedures.
But here, that man’s word was law.
No one could argue.
“So he says. Does the defense have more to add.”
“No, Your Majesty. I only wish to plead for leniency, as it was a youthful folly.”
“Then this simplifies things. I’ll pronounce the verdict now.”
Even if Enpher Empire’s trials were simple, this was too fast.
The verdict in under five minutes.
Anyway, with the defendant admitting all charges.
Probably no verdict unfavorable to me.
‘No, no need to be tense at all? I’m the victim to begin with.’
But something felt very uneasy.
There must be a reason for all this fuss.
Glancing at the dais, the emperor wore a subtle expression.
Like he might smile or not?
‘Usually he glares coldly like he’ll freeze you to death, or smirks—that’s it.’
Recalling his usual behavior, I shuddered.
Soon, the emperor spoke in a solemn voice.
“The defendant Trevor Warren assaulted Duke Abel Carius while on leave. However, considering the victim instead won and was unharmed.”
As the emperor paused, the audience murmured slightly.
Not as loudly as in my trials, but whispering.
“The empire’s new star was subdued without even using his power?”
“No, then how strong is His Grace Duke Carius?”
“Comparable to the Sword Star or Spear Hymn?”
“Grand Master?”
“To pioneer such a realm at a young age—no wonder the new star felt competitive.”
The Sword Star and Spear Hymn were the empire’s representative Grand Masters.
Monsters who’d built realms none could match.
To say I’m on their level?
‘Whew! Isn’t that overestimating too much?’
Even as people buzzed, the emperor said nothing.
Normally, he’d spew venom for interrupting him.
Come to think of it, somehow that guy…….
‘Seems to be enjoying this situation?’
The emperor’s mouth corners were curled up.
Deliberately avoiding eye contact with me.
Then he casually waved his right hand.
Amazingly, the audience’s voices subsided rapidly.
Is that what charisma is?
But right then.
“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor! This is all due to my failure in educating my child. Punish me instead!”
A middle-aged man burst in unexpectedly, knelt, and wailed.
Trevor’s father, Count Damion Warren.
The audience included various strata.
Yet for such a high noble to discard pride and beg.
Quite a rare sight.
‘He has no choice but to act like that.’
Didn’t countless die whenever Iron-Blooded Emperor Karon judged?
His nature was to crush anything obstructive.
To save his beloved son, kneeling was the only way.
Count Damion Warren’s plea was utterly poignant.
Even unrelated people looked on with pity.
But the emperor’s face showed no emotion.
‘Hey, you psycho bro. Cut him some slack. The victim says it’s fine.’
I shouted inwardly, but couldn’t voice it.
One wrong move, and I’d get entangled too.
Soon, Emperor Karon’s mouth opened.
Everyone held their breath, awaiting the dreadful verdict.
“First, relieve Trevor Warren of his position for violating military discipline.”
This was natural.
Even in military court, the same result likely.
Then quietly reinstate later.
That’s how the military works.
Arms bend inward, after all.
“Second, strip his knight title and order community service.”
The audience murmured instantly.
Count Damion Warren, forehead to the floor, jerked his head up.
If the verdict ended here, it was truly the best leniency.
At least no hellish prison life.
Community service?
He could do as much as needed.
But the emperor’s following verdict shocked everyone.
“The community service is for 10 years, in Duke Carius’s territory. The overseer is the local lord, so behave and don’t cause trouble. That’s all.”
Boom!
No, this is just passing the buck, isn’t it?
Lmao. The emperor loves trolling the MC.