As I pondered more about how to shower affection on Shishiru rather than Kaisar, the doors to the throne room swung open forcefully.
It seemed plenty of fools and ill-mannered death seekers gathered here. I turned my gaze towards the door, only to find Kaisar and Shishiru standing there.
“Oh-hou, can I assume that everyone has gathered here for the likes of me? How amusing. But when did you all gather here… I suppose you’ve been gathering like fools since morning, haven’t you? Well, it’s no wonder, considering our esteemed Emperor is nothing short of a fool. Why don’t you just stage a coup and behead him already? Why not? Hey, Commander of the Imperial Knights, you’re not that much of a fool, so why don’t you do it? Right?”
“I offer my sword to the Empire—”
“I hope you’re not stupid enough to say that offering your sword to the Empire means you can’t commit acts of betrayal. How many innocent people have died because of your way of thinking? And what about this foolish Emperor? Surely, someone has been unjustly killed today as well, right? Even though you’ve offered your sword to the Empire, why don’t you condemn the Emperor leading the Empire into decline? It means you’re not offering your sword to the Empire but to this foolish Emperor. Can’t you understand such a simple thing? Offering your sword to the Empire and offering it to this foolish Emperor are two entirely different things, aren’t they? Or is there something else? Are you saying that even if the Empire disappears from the map, you’ll continue to wield your sword for the sake of this foolish Emperor?”
“No, what you’re saying is wrong.”
“Oh? Then how exactly is it wrong?”
“The Empire is where the Emperor resides, and any country without the Emperor is not the Empire. Therefore, the highest priority is the Emperor himself.”
And so, not only did Kaisar insult me by calling me a fool right from the start, but he also asked Hugh de Iyan, the Commander of the Imperial Knights, such things.
I was on the verge of losing my temper due to such disrespectful remarks, but I managed to hold back and waited for Hugh’s response.
And Hugh’s answer was that the place where I am is indeed the Empire.
It can truly be called a perfect response.
Considering that, it might be alright to put off killing Hugh after I kill Kaisar.
“Hugh, quickly apprehend Kaisar.”
However, that’s only if Hugh can actually capture Kaisar.