Chapter 35
Even if they were scoundrels, they must have known that what they were doing was shameful. They had some pride as nobles, so they couldn't possibly have mentioned their family names.
Therefore, she hoped that they would come to their senses and stop this behavior.
"Do you still think she's a duchess?"
The man named Terry pushed Edel directly against the wall.
“I heard that even Count Chrysos wasn’t impressed with you, so we were going to give you a chance, but what?”
“Do you even realize your current situation? There is no one here standing by your side, no matter what we do to you.”
Idel heard stories many times that during the reign of the previous emperor, crimes committed by nobles were so overlooked that even minor nobles who could not even obtain the title of baron ignored the law.
But she never imagined she would experience it firsthand. And the belief that her attackers would be members of the Imperial Knights, who were supposed to maintain law and order, was deeply troubling.
Idil looked at them with eyes full of contempt.
“It seems the knights are the ones who don’t understand. What you are about to do is treason. Not only will you be dismissed from the Imperial Knights, but you will also have to pay reparations to the Crises family.”
“Ha! What nonsense! If that’s the case, then you too…!”
She added: “I could have kept quiet and let it go as if it didn’t happen, but I won’t. You know, I’m not a maid who can be easily dismissed. So why not stop now?”
Only then did the two men realize that Edel was not just an ordinary maid.
While ordinary maids might remain silent for fear of not receiving a letter of recommendation after being abused, Edel had no such fear. She was bound to this family for life unless Count Crisis decided to dismiss her.
“You… you…!”
However, their egos were so inflated that they could not back down now.
“Let’s see if you can still be so confident after you’ve actually been assaulted!”
“Come with us!”
Stung by their wounded pride, they grabbed Adele and tried to drag her away without thinking about the consequences.
She struggled with all her might and screamed, believing that someone would hear her, even in this great palace.
“Leave me alone! Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”
"Shut up, you crazy woman!"
As they dragged Idil towards the men's bathroom, holding her arms tightly and covering her mouth, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the deserted corridor.
"Is this why you want to see me at my home?"
The two men froze in place, and their blood froze.
Idell used her shock to free her arms, quickly stepped back and bowed to the owner of the voice.
"I have arrived, sir."
And there, Laszlo stood, looking at them with a cold stare.
When they came to their senses, the two men began making excuses and waving their hands frantically.
“This is a misunderstanding! That woman seduced us first!”
“That’s right! She clung to us, begging us to take her away from here. And now that she’s here, she’s pretending to be the victim!”
“Women in such difficult circumstances are truly terrifying, aren’t they?”
There were two of them and her. No witnesses.
They shamelessly clung to their lies, believing that Laszlo was only trying to intimidate them.
But Laszlo's gaze remained fixed on the knights.
"Is what I just said true?"
"naturally!"
"Are you prepared to risk your lives for him?"
"What…?"
"Are you prepared to risk your lives for him?"
Laszlo asked as he slowly pulled his sword from his waist.
The blade gleamed dangerously in the winter sunlight.
"Why, why are you doing this, sir?"
"Hey, there's no need to be so scary. Let's talk about this through…"
They tried to evade the situation and back down, but Laszlo did not sheathe his sword.
"Answer me. Will you put your necks on it?"
“Y-yes! Who would dare to lie in front of you, sir?”
They persisted, believing that Laszlo was only trying to scare them.
Laszlo smiled.
“It is unfortunate that I have to execute the first guests I invited to my home.”
"What?"
"Do you think I didn't see everything?"
Their faces turned pale.
Edel also felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't feel anyone else near her.
“S-Sir…”
Lazlo's sword pointed towards the two men.
“As knights, you must honor your word. It will be less painful and faster if you kneel and accept your fate. What will you do?”
At that point, the two men immediately fell to their knees, pleading desperately.
“We are sorry, Lord Crises! Please forgive us just this once!”
“We must have lost our minds for a moment! It’s the first time we’ve ever seen such a beautiful woman up close. Please show us mercy!”
There was no trace of pride in them as members of the Imperial Knights.
Laszlo suddenly transformed into Edel.
"You, the victim. What should be done with them?"
Edel was slightly surprised and did not expect to be asked for her opinion, but when she saw the faint relief on the faces of the two men who had assaulted her, she felt a wave of anger.
Do they think I'm going to let this slide? But I'm not the Duchess anymore.
She was no longer in a position to tolerate injustice for the sake of her future relationships or reputation.
Ironically, she was only able to act freely after her status had declined, but Idil responded as coldly and indifferently as possible.
“Sir, as the commander of the guard and since these men are members of the Imperial Cavalry, I believe it is appropriate to follow military law.”
“I don’t know the entire military law.”
“It is likely to be classified as treason and a violation of the dignity of the Imperial Knights. They should be dismissed from the Imperial Knights and receive corporal punishment and pay reparations.”
The knights were shocked and opened their mouths, but Laszlo frowned as if he were dissatisfied.
"Is that all?"
Idel understood the reason for his displeasure.
He was already engaged in daily battles of wits with the nobles who regarded him with contempt, and now his subordinates, the Imperial Knights, had humiliated him in his own home.
Idel added, hoping to instill more fear in the hearts of the knights.
“In the past, the commander of the Imperial Cavalry cut off the right arm of a knight who had insulted his daughter, but I am not sure if such a punishment would be acceptable in this case.”
“Hmm. The right arm, huh…”
When Laszlo's gaze turned towards the men's arms, they grabbed them as if they had already been cut off, and screamed in panic.
“If anything happens to us here, the Imperial Knights will not stand idly by!”
“That’s right! Even as the commander of the guard, you cannot arbitrarily punish Imperial Knights!”
The men, who had just prostrated themselves on the ground, were now arguing shamelessly, which angered Laszlo.
“Do you remember what that woman just said? You both committed treason. A mere low-ranking knight insulted the commander of the guard, so you can be punished.”
“This cannot be true! N-An appeal to Sir Edmund Milton! He will judge this situation fairly!”
"Oh, so this scoundrel Edmund Milton is your supporter?"
Laszlo's eyes became as cold as ice.
Even Edel had heard of Edmund Milton. He was hailed as a brilliant knight and a possible future captain of the Guard, and was very popular in high society.
'Is it really acceptable to insult the second son of the Milton family, and in front of these knights as well?'
The kneeling men seem to share Edel's doubts, but they are even more shocked by Laszlo's apparent indifference towards Edmund's position.
Laszlo smiled as he sheathed his sword.
“Very well, I will grant your wish and bring Edmund Milton here. I am curious to see his reaction as well.”
After postponing his judgment on the men, Laszlo then turned to Edel with a displeased expression.
"But why are you here? I specifically ordered you to stay inside until I call you."
"I'm sorry. There seems to be a lack of help."
"Did Linnea call you?"
“…”
Idil hesitated, unsure of how to respond, and silence seemed to be the solution for her.
"Go back to your room. After I deal with these men, I will decide your fate as well."
Without showing any sign of frustration, Idell bowed obediently and returned to her room.
Laszlo watched her retreating form, remembering her scream as she was violently dragged away. His leather gloves tightened around his fists, causing them to wrinkle under the pressure.
* * *
The Imperial Knights were in an uproar over the two knights who had been caught harassing a maid at the residence of the Commander of the Guard.
It did not help that the leader in question was Laszlo Crises, one of the emperor's closest confidants, and that the maid they harassed was none other than Edel Lancaster, the prisoner to whom the emperor himself had given a gift.
“It seems these stupid men specifically asked you. I don’t know why they mentioned your name unnecessarily when I should be the one dealing with this.”
The Imperial Cavalry Commander spoke, barely containing his anger, as he typed the “Letter of Cooperation” that Laszlo had sent. Edmund, who had been listening, replied.