Chapter 37
Laszlo's cold stares at him.
"Why? Do you also want to take a look at that woman, Deputy Commander?"
“I have no ill intentions. After all, they used the name of the Imperial Knights, so I’m just doing my duty.”
“That’s fine. Calling a sick person all the way here will only cause more trouble. I will convey your apology.”
Edmund's doubts about Laszlo's somewhat dismissive stance deepened.
'Now this makes me even more curious.'
He nodded, barely suppressing the smile that threatened to escape.
“If that is your opinion, there is nothing I can do. I have conveyed the Knights’ position, so you will leave now. Do you have any other requests or statements?”
“No, there’s nothing there. Please, check yourself.”
As they exchanged what appeared to be farewell words, Terry suddenly screamed with bloodshot eyes.
“You told us! You said that if we challenged the captain of the guard to a duel, we would be invited! So that we could go in and see the woman!”
Angelo did not remain calm either.
“If you hadn’t told us that, we wouldn’t have come here! We were just joking…!”
When he heard that Edmund was involved, it aroused Laszlo's interest.
Of course, Edmund can defend himself very well.
“There must be some misunderstanding with Sir Crises. Didn’t I tell you clearly? You don’t come here to flirt with a woman, but to learn something. Do I need to bring in the witnesses who heard that testimony?”
“But…! But…!”
Terry and Angelo realized that they had fallen into a trap from which they could not escape.
The friendly and kind Edmund Milton is no more.
Ironically, only Laszlo believed what the two men said.
'It's easy for a snake like him to tempt fools and make them do foolish things.'
This does not mean that the fools who were arrested are innocent either.
In the end, Edmund left without helping them at all, and the chained knights were dragged to the Imperial prison.
Upon returning to his office, Laszlo asked Nathan who had been following him.
"Do you think this happened by chance?"
“Considering what Sir Milton has done so far, this seems unlikely.”
“If those idiots had really harassed the woman, it would have caused quite a stir. It’s perfect fodder for a scandal.”
“Furthermore, disrespect from lower-ranking knights would be a great way to embarrass the commander.”
“Exactly. He’s adept at doing evil without getting his hands dirty.”
Not to mention that Edmund Milton had an incredible talent for devising escape routes for himself. Even if László had his suspicions, he couldn't accuse him of recklessness, which only fueled his anger.
“Oh, you brought Sir Milton here, didn’t you?”
"and?"
“He kept wandering around the palace the whole time, as if he was planning to steal something.”
Although it was a ridiculous suspicion, Laszlo could not shake his feeling of unease.
“He was probably looking for the woman. It was a good thing we didn’t let him meet her.”
Watching Laszlo tap his tongue in frustration, Nathan tilted his head slightly.
'A former commander was arranging a meeting just to catch him in the act… There's definitely something wrong with the commander.'
Nathan let out a small sigh, remembering Edel's expressionless face and the strange look in Laszlo's eyes whenever he looked at her.
* * *
"Hide! The Count is calling for you."
On the third day after that incident, Daisy came to pick up Idil.
Edel wasn't upset at all, as she had already prepared herself for this, but Daisy seemed worried.
“The knights who tried to harm you have been sent to a military tribunal. They will likely be expelled from the Imperial Knights and fined as well.”
"Did someone from the Imperial Knights come here as well?"
“Yes, yesterday. But they didn’t stay long before they left. I suppose, even though they were fellow knights, it was difficult to cover for them under the circumstances, wasn’t it?”
Edel adjusted her clothes and nodded, but things seemed to be moving faster than she expected.
Count Crisis must be furious.
It is likely that he intended to use this incident as an opportunity to send a clear message: “I will not tolerate disrespect.” Daisy certainly confirmed that his anger was also directed within the palace.
“The day before yesterday, the Count severely reprimanded Miss Linnea and the head servant. It happened while I was bringing you your meal.”
Because of her defiance of the master's orders, Linnea was forbidden from leaving the palace for two weeks, and Marsha's wages were docked for the same period.
Edel anticipated that she, too, would soon face some form of punishment. In noble households, it was common for servants to bear the brunt of punishment whenever something went wrong, regardless of whether they were at fault or not.
"Okay, I'll go."
"my sister …!"
“Don’t worry too much, Daisy. I…”
She was about to say, *I've been through much worse*, but she stopped and smiled instead.
This was not the kind of thing one could say in front of Daisy, who had probably endured far more hardship than she herself had.
With a sarcastic smile, Edel took a deep breath and headed towards Laszlo's office.
"She called me."
When she entered and announced herself, Laszlo stood by the window, gazing out, lost in thought. She stood quietly, waiting for him to continue.
It wasn't long before Laszlo spoke.
"Have you heard about these men?"
“Daisy told me about their punishment. I think it was appropriate.”
"Really? Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't seem enough for me."
Idel understood his anger.
As a war hero, the owner of the largest mercenary guild in the empire, and now a count, to be insulted by mere knights, the sons of low-ranking nobles, was deeply offensive.
What is even more unfortunate is that she was the cause of that insult.
“I apologize. I should have handled things better.”
“That’s an interesting thing to say. What exactly could you have done?”
Edel received no response and kept her mouth shut.
As Laszlo pointed out, she was not in a position to refuse Linnea's orders, and she did not know how to deal with the men who harassed her.
She wondered whether she should be grateful that Laszlo understood this much.
When he saw her remain silent, Laszlo clicked his tongue.
“The real fault lies with Linnea and the head maid. Their immersion in them made them believe they could get away with anything.”
“But I am sure Miss Linnea had no other choice. She is still young and has little experience in dealing with noble guests. She must have been frightened.”
"What's so difficult about telling them to sit with a cup of tea until I get back? They weren't even important guests!"
Laszlo's voice rose in frustration, which was a little frightening, but Edel mustered her courage to respond.
“Miss Linnea is not you, Count. When someone is suddenly asked to do something they have never done before, it is only natural that they should feel panicked, especially when it comes to receiving guests – an aspect that nobles take very seriously.”
"Are you defending her?"
“I suppose I am, although I may be speaking out of turn. I just wish you would be more understanding towards someone so young and inexperienced.”
“You say you’re speaking out of turn, yet you keep saying whatever you want.”
Idel braced herself, thinking that Laszlo might become even angrier, but instead, his voice carried a hint of amusement.
After another short silence, Laszlo tapped his tongue again, but in a quieter tone this time.
“It is shameful that my servants have to endure insults because their master is incompetent. I have lost face.”
“No, that is not true. Those men were the ones who were wrong, not you, Count.”
“If I were more decisive, I wouldn’t have to deal with scum like this in the first place.”
He clicked his tongue again and then handed over Edel's new task.
“Anyway, from now on, you will be working in the kitchen. The laundry room seems too much for you.”
The decision was not at all related to the recent incident and was almost a promotion.
Edel stood there, stunned for a moment, wondering if there was more to come, but Laszlo looked at her with a puzzled expression, as if asking why she was still there.
She couldn't help but ask.
"Is... is this it?"
"Why? Were you expecting something more?"
“I thought… there would be some kind of punishment for me.”
"Why? You're the victim here."
He was right. That was the logical conclusion. But the world didn't always work that way.
"Because that's how things usually go."
"How are things going? What do you mean?"
“In noble families, when something unpleasant happens to a servant, the servant is usually punished as well.”
Laszlo frowned, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.