Chapter 62
To be honest, aside from the fact that I found the whole situation distasteful, it wasn’t that serious.
If the heads of the two houses had personally committed the offense, or if those young fools had dared lift their chins even after I appeared, it might’ve been different.
But strictly speaking—if we set aside the insult to the royal family—everything else was merely attempted wrongdoing.
And even the insult to the royal bloodline—well, unless it’s directly aimed at the reigning Emperor, it’s not necessarily a crime worthy of death.
Granted, the offense to my mood is a crime deserving execution. So, if I were to behead the brats and their fathers right here and now, I’d still be within reason.
But... it would be overkill.
Even during the war with the beastkin, when a few dared to stir near-treason, I’d opted for exile instead. To execute these two here would just feel... petty.
So I decided to hand the matter over to Rael.
Killing them all would be excessive, but letting them off the hook would be infuriating.
And I had just the position in mind for Rael—this would be the perfect opportunity to test her judgment.
Let’s see what you’ll do.
“…What?”
For the first time, Rael was visibly caught off guard.
Not even when Fran and Garter had threatened her had she faltered.
That calm voice had reassured her back then—that her brother, the Emperor, was watching.
Ah, well… she had been unsettled when the nobles acted oh-so-gentle with the commoner cadets. But that had been different.
This time, though? She had every right to be shaken.
Punishing nobles—especially not just barons but the heads of House Zieger and House Trevor—wasn’t something you could do lightly.
Unless it was the Emperor’s will, even guilty nobles required an intricate web of bureaucracy to punish.
For commoners, prosecuting a noble was virtually impossible.
Even among nobles themselves, most found it easier to send an assassin than navigate the courts.
After speaking, my brother was looking at me with that all-too-familiar expression—the one that said, “Go on then. Let’s see what you do.”
Sure, I had asked him to trust me. And yes, I’d promised I wouldn’t be a threat to him.
But still… this was a lot, wasn’t it?
As I mulled it over, I recalled the violet energy from earlier.
The same voice that had told me he was watching had explained that power, too.
There was no way it had been lying. And now, my brother had no reason to keep me in check.
So there was no need to hesitate.
I had a chance. I just had to seize it.
“…Lord Zieger. Lord Trevor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Your heirs attempted to rally students of the Academy—an institution founded by His Majesty—to serve their own ambitions.
They sought to bend those granted Imperial education into personal pawns. Would it be fair to say this was a challenge to His Majesty’s authority?”
Before she had even finished speaking, the head of House Zieger dropped his forehead to the ground.
“My foolish son is an utter disgrace, but he is no traitor to His Majesty! Had I even suspected such intentions, I would have ended him myself! This was merely the result of a fool acting without thought. Nothing more.”
The Trevor patriarch echoed his peer’s sentiment, bowing deeply.
Rael watched them with calm detachment.
Not bad.
Her opening had hit the right tone—calling attention to an affront to Imperial authority.
She held her composure when the heads prostrated themselves—no softhearted theatrics, no “please stand”—just silence.
For someone known to be gentle and merciful, I had worried she’d go soft here.
But it seemed she knew how to take charge when it mattered.
And focusing the accountability on the family heads rather than their sons? That was the right move.
“They also had the gall to speak proudly of ‘noble rights’ and ‘the rule of the strong.’”
“To my shame, I raised a successor who knows neither rights nor responsibility.
For his arrogant tongue to sully Your Highness’s ears… I have no words. None.”
This time, it was Lord Trevor who spoke.
“And that wasn’t the only offense, was it?”
“To think he would dare threaten Your Highness with such impudence… That alone is a grave crime.
As his father, I failed in his education. I will accept whatever punishment Your Highness deems appropriate.”
The two hadn’t committed the crime themselves, and yet here they were—brought low, humiliated before the court, yet still thoroughly contrite.
At first, it was almost strange—such powerful nobles acting this meek.
But then it hit me: they had watched, closer than anyone, as the previous Duke Triell and his faction were wiped off the map.
They knew what defying the Imperial family led to.
And now, even Rael could see it—there was no longer any need to press further.
The nobles were already broken.
When her gaze drifted to Duke RozeTriell, he was quick to speak.
“Your Highness, please do not concern yourself with our house. Decide as you see fit.”
Rael gave a small nod of appreciation—then announced her decision.
“Lord Zieger. Lord Trevor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You dared insult Arhan’s name and disgrace His Majesty’s cadets—your families carry grave sins. But His Majesty did not command your erasure. Instead, he entrusted me with your punishment. I take that as an act of mercy. So I, too, will act in accordance with His Majesty’s will.”
At the mention of mercy, a faint surge of emotion colored Rael’s voice.
Perhaps she was thinking of the maternal family and supporters who had never once been granted such mercy.
But the moment passed quickly, and she continued, composed once more.
“I assume you’ve both heard about Tamiel. His Majesty has designated it as a place of exile, and placed it under the administration of Duke Fael. Your houses will be relocated to Tamiel—not as exiles, of course.
You will assist House Fael in bringing stability to the region.”
Put plainly: they were to abandon their ancestral lands and serve under House Fael, not House Triell, from now on.
No blood had been shed—not even that of the heirs—so at first, it might have seemed merciful.
But to be ordered to leave a home occupied for centuries… that was arguably crueler than death.
Had this order been issued to the Marquess of Gyor or the Marquess of Lute, it might’ve sparked rebellion on the spot.
But these two nobles belonged to the central region—men of pure pragmatism above all else.
“…We are grateful for Your Highness’s mercy.”
They accepted it.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Just as I had when I first appeared, I began to applaud.
The only difference was that now I wore a satisfied smile, not a hardened scowl.
“Well done. It’s decided, then. Count Zieger, Count Trevor—gather your fools and return home. Begin preparing for relocation immediately.”
“Yes… Your Majesty.”
“Let me give you a small piece of advice. I don’t plan to leave Tamiel untouched forever. And as of now, the only influential house stationed there is House Fael—soon to be elevated to ducal status.”
At that, a flicker of life returned to the two nobles’ eyes.
Good. That should be motivation enough.
“Thank you again, Your Majesty, for your mercy. With your leave, we shall depart.”
“Go on, then.”
As the nobles bowed deeply and made their exit, I turned my attention back to Rael.
Unlike the stern demeanor she showed the nobles, she now looked visibly tense—like a student nervously awaiting a grade from their teacher.
Well then. Time to deliver the evaluation.
“Rael.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“That was impressive.”
And I meant it.
Not just the severity of the punishment—but the outcome. She made a decision that aligned with the Empire’s best interests.
House Fael lacked administrative competence, even if it had fame and military strength.
Sending two established noble houses to support them would be a tremendous help.
And while completely annihilating House Zieger and House Trevor would have left deep resentment, Rael instead punished them while offering a new path—ensuring they’d bear no lingering grudges.
“Rael, tell me—when you saw those foolish heirs from the two houses, what crossed your mind?”
At my question, Rael answered without a moment’s pause.
The sincerity in her voice made it clear she had been holding these thoughts for a long time.
“Nobles have a duty to care for the people, as representatives of Your Majesty. Growing their power, amassing strength—those things are supposed to be for that duty. That’s what I was taught. But so many nobles don’t see it that way. They exploit the Empire’s citizens for personal gain—for glory, for convenience, or just because they feel like it. It’s wrong. And there are far too many of them.”
Her words weren’t perfectly polished—but that only made the emotion behind them more real.
That was enough for me.
“Rael. Then why don’t you be the one to change that?”
“…What?”
“I’ll grant you the authority. And I’ll have Dia and Giel assign you proper personnel.”
“Does that mean…?”
“I hereby appoint you as the Empire’s Inspector General. You’ll have the full weight of royal authority behind you—information, enforcement, and the power of the throne.
Use it to shape the Empire as you see fit.”
Of course, I’d instruct Dia and Giel to keep things in check if she ever went too far.
If she tried to prosecute every minor corruption, she’d never see the end of it.
Still—
“Do what you must to ensure the nobles never again oppress my people.”
“…I will not—ever—disappoint you, Your Majesty.”
That’ll do.
Rael would manage just fine.
Even if she slipped here and there, with the support of the Intelligence Bureau and the Imperial Guard, she’d be more than capable.
With that matter settled—
“…You may come out now.”
At my command, a hidden agent of the Intelligence Bureau stepped forward.
“We greet His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Good. Report.”
“The Pontiff has moved. He is expected to arrive in the Empire in three days.”
“Understood. Prepare accordingly.”
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