Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 82 : Game of Thrones - 3

“Then, since you all must have thought sufficiently, I will proceed straight to gathering opinions. I will distribute voting papers one by one from now on, so please write down the name of the person each of you thinks is suitable…….”

I, who seemed like I would distribute the paper to write down the name of the selected candidate at any moment, suddenly stopped speaking.

“Do you have something to say? Pierce.”

The giant bald knight who was positioned right in front of me had suddenly raised his hand high.

“Yes. If you permit, there is something I must tell you.”

“Speak.”

“Actually, a few days ago, an anonymous tip arrived at our Knight Order Headquarters.”

“A tip?”

“That is correct, Your Excellency! I should have reported it earlier, but the report was delayed as I was verifying the authenticity of the tip. However…….”

“However?”

“I am telling you this at the risk of rudeness because it seems to be content you must know before presiding over the meeting today.”

“Bring it here.”

There wasn't anything particularly strange in the process of the knight delivering the tip and me receiving it.

But why was it?

This whole process looked contrived like a well-scripted play.

“Are you saying two letters came up to the Knight Order Headquarters like this?”

And the moment he saw the two envelopes held in my hand.

Mackin’s heart began to pound wildly.

One of those letters was sent by him.

Then what about the other one?

I read down the tip without a word.

“Are preparations made for evidence that can prove the content here?”

“Of course, Your Excellency!”

As I slowly read down the documents Pierce handed over, the tension in the meeting hall sharpened.

“……I, Grand Duke Reichart, command Haken to bind the sinners immediately.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

And as soon as the command fell from my mouth, the heavily armed Haken Knights bound the ‘sinners’ and made them kneel.

“What is the meaning of this! Your Excellency, what kind of behavior is this!”

Albert!

Seeing Albert, whom he hated to see so much, being bound in an instant, Mackin shouted in delight and clenched his fist tightly.

‘I won! It’s over!’

However, before Mackin’s fist, which was clenched tightly enough for veins to pop out, could even be unclenched…….

“According to Your Excellency’s command, we urgently arrest sinner Mackin Batavia!”

“Wh-What!”

Mackin also ended up in a state of rolling on the ground tied with ropes.

“……!”

The expressions of the Queen Dowager and the royalty watching this scene turned pale in an instant.

Just 5 minutes ago, they were the two people who seemed closest to the seat of the next King of Zodiac.

They simply could not accept this situation where these two were bound and rolling on the floor.

Thud.

I threw the tip and evidence documents held in my hand right in front of the eyes of Albert and Mackin, who had their heads stuck to the ground while bound.

“I will give you ten minutes to explain yourselves.”

“……!”

What fell in front of the two people’s eyes were documents where traces of the evil deeds the two had cherished and hidden for the past were revealed in detail.

As people who had survived even the first inspection I conducted, their skill in concealing sins had truly reached the level of masters.

However, the evidence thrown in front of their eyes was so perfect and meticulous that even those two couldn't help it.

Because the ones who provided this evidence held in my hand to me were exactly themselves.

Just as their skill in concealing sins was exceptional, their skill in digging up traces of sins committed by each other was also outstanding.

Only then could the two people know.

That the Grand Duke had sent secret letters to both of them, and with the same content at that.

And,

‘Did you sell my information to the Grand Duke!’

‘Y-You bastard too!’

Should I say birds of a feather flock together in despicableness?

Or should I say they are brothers in pettiness?

The two people thought the board would tilt just by me raising their hand.

But accustomed to their unique trickery, they sold information to stick a more certain dagger into each other’s hearts.

And that pettiness became a noose and ended up choking each other’s necks.

‘If I knew you guys would prepare this meticulously, I almost didn't have to prepare the treasure.’

Actually, I had prepared data containing corrupt acts even before nominating the two as candidates.

But with the data I prepared, at most, it would have been exile to a faraway place.

However, thanks to hitting the jackpot in an unexpected place, a final firework display using the two people’s lives as firewood unfolded truly grandly.

The Queen Dowager, Aleyna, who watched this spectacle from beginning to end, eventually closed her eyes out of frustration.

‘Foolish people. You ended up falling right into the trap set by the Grand Duke.’

Currently, only two people were tied up, but there was no way the aftermath of the enormous sins the two committed would stop at just beheading them.

Soon, another storm of blood will blow in the political scene of Abysin.

And after that storm of blood stops…….

‘The royal family will suffer damage beyond recovery. Did the Grand Duke aim for this?’

Blood trickled down from the Queen Dowager’s tightly clenched lips.

But no one in the meeting room showed interest in her blood.

“Ten minutes have all passed. Can I consider it as meaning there is nothing to explain?”

“Your Excellency! It is not that but…….”

“Your Excellency! It is all a frame-up!”

Mackin and Albert screamed while choking.

However.

“What are you doing? Not escorting the sinners to the interrogation ground.”

My attitude dealing with sinners was harsh to no end as always.

“Regarding the additional crimes related to the sinners, I will interrogate later.”

“Hic!”

At the words that I would interrogate related sinners later, hiccup sounds burst out from here and there.

“We will receive your command. Your Excellency! You bastards! In whose presence do you dare to squeal like pigs being slaughtered!”

“Gaa…… Uup…….”

The giant bald knight, Pierce, firmly blocked the mouths of Albert and Mackin, who were shouting at the top of their lungs, with prepared gags.

“Let’s go!”

Then, carrying the two people on both sides of his waist, he headed underground.

Heavily armed Haken members followed behind him.

Tremble tremble.

Violent trembling spread rapidly among the royalty.

They could not believe it.

That the big shots of the political world who seemed like they would become King at any moment became pathetic beings like limp rags and headed to the underground prison.

And that they had to breathe in the same space as the ringleader who directed this lie-like situation.

“Since I have to interrogate the sinners, time is not that plentiful, so I will proceed with the matter regarding the succession to the throne in a hurry. Is there anyone who wants to speak?”

“…….”

“Then I will gather opinions immediately. Since I will distribute papers where you can write down the candidate’s name from now on, you can go into that room over there, put the paper into the prepared ballot box, and come back.”

“I-I understand. Your Excellency.”

“Then let’s start with Sir Masano.”

With my words as a signal, the royalty moved to the prepared space while forcibly holding onto their trembling knees.

Of course, I didn't say they shouldn't write down the names of Albert and Mackin who were dragged to the interrogation ground.

But in this situation where my intention was already clearly revealed, would there be a person bold enough to go against my will?

“It is unanimous.”

Starting from noon that day, it was proclaimed throughout Abysin that ‘Friedrich Rosbach,’ the eldest son of the Rosbach Duke Family, had become the successor to inherit the throne of Zodiac.

Afterward, gossips gathered together and whispered these words.

With this purge by the Grand Duke, the nobles and royalty whose spirits were already broken to the limit were as good as annihilated.

In other words, now, excluding the Grand Duke, no obstacle existed that could go against the will of the new King.

And two days after Friedrich Rosbach ascended to the position of successor to the throne.

‘Sheldrick Apelheimer’ visited me with his disciple.

***

“Sheldrick Apelheimer greets Grand Duke Reichart. It is truly an honor that you made a precious seat for this lacking person.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir. Please sit this way.”

A plain greeting was exchanged between the two people who faced each other for the first time.

“I gratefully received the insight you conveyed through Sir Dorian last time. It was a great help in relieving the famine of the people.”

“How could a few words uselessly babbled by a lacking person be of help? If the lives of the people truly improved, that would be solely due to the Grand Duke’s decisive decision and benevolence.”

Watching the Grand Duke conversing with his teacher, Dorian had to feel a sense of disparity.

Dealing with Sheldrick, I was neither crossing my legs, resting my chin on my hand, nor crossing my arms.

For Dorian, who had clearly seen how I treated the high-ranking ministers of the Ministry of Interior, it could be said to be a truly surprising matter.

“Sir, the reason I invited you to this seat is because there is something I want to ask of you.”

“Please speak. Your Excellency.”

“Would you please help me?”

Around the time the first teacup placed in front of the two people showed its bottom.

I revealed the reason I invited Sheldrick.

“Teacher!”

Oh my god! For the Grand Duke he respected endlessly to ask for help from the person he followed like a father?

At the tremendous opportunity that came to his teacher, Dorian grabbed Sheldrick’s hand with sparkling eyes.

“If you say help…… are you telling me to accept a government post?”

However, unlike the heavily excited Dorian, Sheldrick’s expression was only peaceful.

“You may accept a government post, or if you do not wish for it, you may help me without being tied to a government post. The form is not important. I just wish for you to lend your insight to the work I intend to do in the future.”

“I offer my gratitude to the Grand Duke’s immense generosity in bestowing a big opportunity to such a lacking person. However, I ask you to withdraw the words you just said to me.”

“Teacher!”

“I am merely a foolish country bumpkin whose entirety consists of being stuck in a small study reading a few books. I do not possess the talent to help the Grand Duke’s great will.”

Despite Dorian’s dissuasion, Sheldrick declined the offer with an infinitely humble attitude.

Pour.

I poured tea into my empty teacup and spoke.

“Sir, to be honest, I am not a person with a lot of time. But despite that, the reason I invited you was because I believed in your insight.”

“I am grateful, and grateful again for Your Excellency’s deep benevolence.”

“Then shouldn't you also be honest at least in this seat?”

At a glance, it sounded like there were thorns, but my expression saying those words looked surprisingly peaceful.

“Declining the proposal is your freedom, so it is not something I can argue about. However, I wish you would also become a little more honest.”

I brought the teacup to my mouth with elegant movements.

“Sir, you do not like me, do you?”

“……Your Excellency, my teacher does not mean that…….”

Dorian tried to step in for mediation with an urgent expression, but I raised my hand to stop Dorian and waited for the answer.

“I am well aware of the amazing tasks Your Excellency has achieved. Since this country is in a state of shaking violently due to the achievements Your Excellency has made.”

And, Sheldrick began to confess his ‘true feelings.’

“You achieved complete victory in the war, dragged down the foolish King, received a title no vassal has enjoyed in the meantime, and swept away the gang eating away at the country in one stroke. Now you have even succeeded in raising the person you want to the throne. Like this, this country is now moving entirely according to Your Excellency’s will.”

“…….”

“However, Your Excellency, everything in the world overflows if it is excessive. Now that this country is moving entirely according to Your Excellency’s will, wouldn't it be not a problem if there is at least one thing that doesn't go according to Your Excellency’s will?”

Sheldrick closed his eyes gently, gathered his two hands together, and continued speaking.

“Actually, I came here today to tell Your Excellency these words. In case my telling you these words became delayed, I thought my innocent disciple child would burn with anxiety. Please forgive the foolish me who cannot respond to Your Excellency’s will.”

With these words as the last, Sheldrick shut his mouth.

“Dorian, I have a story I want to share intimately with your teacher, so could you excuse yourself for a moment?”

“Your Excellency! I-I understand.”

Dorian, who was hurriedly trying to make an excuse for his teacher, soon left the room as is with his mouth shut.

His eyes as he left the room were greatly dilated.

‘The Grand Duke is smiling?’

The tone was polite, but the answer Sheldrick gave me was a clear refusal.

But even at that cold answer, I was smiling.

Click.

Confirming that Dorian hid his appearance, I opened my mouth with a voice as peaceful as Sheldrick’s.

“I will say it just once, so listen well.”

My gaze was fixed on Sheldrick before I knew it.

Eyes that knew no wavering pierced Sheldrick.

“Sheldrick, do you think you are in a position to be picky about cold rice or hot rice right now?”