Not Killed

64

The Empire holds many ‘traps.’

Consider, for instance, someone desiring to incite rebellion.

Unless that someone is a Grand General of the Imperial Army, they would, of course, need to raise forces from beyond the capital.

Yet, even the combined might of the provincial lords cannot stand against the Imperial Army stationed within the capital.

Save for one exception.

“Albrecht appears to be audacious enough to plot the assassination of His Imperial Majesty, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, and Her Imperial Highness the Princess.”

Within the speeding carriage, Crebiz Margrave, his face grim, recounted his conversation with the head of the Regalis family.

Margrave. The title, as its name suggests, denotes one who guards the Empire’s borders.

As defenders of the frontier, they are, naturally, permitted a larger force than ordinary provincial lords.

They are the first targets to approach and subvert for anyone wishing to incite rebellion.

Therefore, the Margraves of the Empire have, for generations, served as traps.

Informing the Empire of the existence of foolish rebels who approach them without suspicion.

Besides, granting a Margrave to participate in the Rebellion, even with a hundred concessions, no, a thousand! If such a figure were to travel from the frontier to the capital, I, the Minister of Intelligence, could not fail to know!

What a decrepit old fool.

“What are your orders, Your Excellency? Albrecht is growing desperate. Would it not be prudent to eliminate him before he employs a mercenary company and throws the Empire into chaos?”

If it were possible, I would have done so already.

Even if it were in the past, striking down the head of the Regallis family, a toothless old tiger, could have been done at any time I chose.

Instinctively knowing this was going to be a bothersome affair, I let out a small sigh and asked Margrave Krebitz about something that had been nagging at me since I first heard his report.

“This mercenary band, you said they’re called Marduk?”

“Yes. They were supposedly formed a few years ago, after the Mercenary King was slain by the Thunder Dragon. They swelled their ranks by absorbing all of the Mercenary King’s former forces.”

That much I knew.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the current mercenary world is under Marduk’s dominion, so we couldn’t help but keep a close watch on them.

They were also the ones who attacked the Shaper clan, driving them to the brink of annihilation.

However, as Margrave Krebitz suggested, even if they are large, they are still just a mercenary band.

They shouldn’t have the nerve to even consider attacking the Empire unless they were truly mad, yet they apparently accepted Albrecht’s request.

“It must be one of three things.”

Either they deceived Albrecht, or they truly have lost their minds.

“And the final possibility?”

“They might have a backer powerful enough to not care about becoming enemies with the Empire.”

Likely candidates would be the Kingdom of Labor and the Oracle.

However, Siegfried, the next in line to the Labor throne, has no particular desire to fight the Empire, and his father, the current King, is truly inept.

I can’t completely rule out the possibility of a separate force in Labor contacting Marduk behind my back, but considering the time and circumstances of Marduk’s creation, the weight shifts towards the Oracle.

This requires further investigation.

Though, that can be done at a later time.

The immediate problem is the Regallis family.

“Even Your Excellency, the Grand Duke, cannot touch the Regallis family?”

“Of course, I can.”

In any country, treason warrants the extermination of three generations of the family.

Even if I weren’t the Grand Duke, I would have executed all those involved.

And I would have slaughtered all the relatives of those involved, regardless of their status, gender, or age.

That meant everyone, from the elderly to the innocent children.

Treason is a crime that weighty.

The only reason I haven’t had Albrecht’s head rolling is…

“His Majesty has declared that Albrecht and the Regallis family will not be held accountable for their crimes.”

“His Majesty?!”

It was understandable that Margrave Krebitz’s eyes widened in surprise.

From the very start, the Regalises’ downfall was His Majesty’s own handiwork, so it wouldn’t be odd to feel bewildered at his declaration of not seeking blame anew.

Even I find it difficult to understand, but His Majesty seems unwilling to extinguish the late Empress’s kin.

“The Regalis family, wielding immense power with utter disregard, had long been a thorn in the Empire’s side. Thus, they were struck down with a coldness. Even so, the Empress’s family is still her family.”

I added, hoping to clarify, that the late Empress and His Majesty had been a most devoted couple, which made this leniency perhaps even more understandable, but Marchgrave Krevitz still couldn’t conceal his bewilderment.

“Even so, it’s treason… Surely, His Majesty isn’t planning to simply permit the rebellion?”

“That is not the case.”

The meaning behind His Majesty’s pronouncement of not seeking blame from *me* is simple: do not kill them.

It’s more troublesome than simply killing them off, but I have more than enough methods at my disposal to inflict suffering that feels like death.

“Are you certain this is acceptable? Albrecht claims the Merchant Guildmaster has also pledged his cooperation.”

“Gustav Heisen, upon hearing that, came to me that very day, lamenting that they had no connection whatsoever to the Regalis family.”

His lie about cooperating was merely for his own safety.

A tiger without teeth, perhaps, but a tiger nonetheless.

To openly refuse a madman who breathes rebellion would surely invite repercussions, so he nodded in agreement before me, then promptly sought me out.

If he hadn’t spoken to me beforehand, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were later implicated in the treason.

“In reality, there’s no trace of funds being channeled from the Merchant Guild to the Regalis family, so you needn’t worry. He also comes to me whenever he meets with Albrecht.”

Furthermore, everyone Albrecht contacted has been flocking to the Intelligence Bureau, pleading their innocence.

It’s almost bothersome, the sheer volume of petitioners.

“That’s a relief… I understand. If His Majesty and Your Excellency have decided thus, then it is not my place to interfere further. I shall return to my territory, then.”

“Since you’ve come all the way to the capital, at least stay for a meal. My treat.”

That day, he gorged himself at the Golden Gryphon, became thoroughly intoxicated, and was only able to return to the borderlands late the following afternoon, plagued by a hangover.

As he departed, Marchgrave Krevitz apologized for showing such a disgraceful side, but considering all the hardships he endured for the Empire, this was truly nothing.

So, with the Marchgrave safely dispatched, how shall I scheme to torment this old wretch?

—

Albrecht was convinced he must be dreaming.

A nightmare, at that.

“Father! They’ve told me not to come to work anymore!”

“Grandfather! I’ve been expelled from school!”

“Lord! All trade conducted in the family name has been abruptly severed!”

Abruptly.

Suddenly.

Suddenly.

His son lost the work he had done for so long, and his grandchildren were expelled from school.

The family’s business crumbled, and members of the family were thrown into the streets.

All of this happened overnight.

“Wait, everyone, wait! I will find a way to fix this!”

Alberich went first to the Head of the Merchant’s Guild, hoping to arrange for financing.

He was refused.

They wouldn’t even grant him an audience.

He attempted to send a letter to the Margrave, requesting aid, from the Tower of Correspondence.

It was stamped “Sender Unknown” and incinerated on the spot.

These occurrences repeated for days.

No hospital would accept a member of the Regalis family.

If a member of the Regalis family was robbed before their very eyes, the knights would pretend not to notice.

All the newspapers ignored them, refused to listen, when the speaker was from House Regalis.

“…What is this? What in the world is this?”

A member of the Regalis family could no longer ride in carriages.

A member of the Regalis family could no longer purchase goods in the market.

A member of the Regalis family could no longer enter a restaurant.

“Something is wrong! I will set it right!”

He could not set it right.

Because nothing was wrong.

Without money, he couldn’t even incite mercenary companies to attack the Empire.

All bank drafts were frozen.

Nowhere could he find a single gold coin.

Everywhere he went, he was ignored.

He exhausted all remaining connections, but not one would respond.

There was nothing he could do.

As a last resort, he attempted to escape the capital and flee into exile in another country, but he couldn’t even leave the capital.

Because the gatekeepers shattered their travel permits right before their eyes.

The Empire, it was pushing the Regalis family to the fringe.

No, perhaps isolating them was a better way to put it.

“Heh, heh heh heh heh heh heh…”

Albrecht, watching the members of his house starve and sicken day by day, laughed as though his mind had broken.

Then, one day.

A parcel arrived for Albrecht.

Inside, a small dagger.

And a single postcard.

Seeing it, Albrecht did not hesitate. He plunged the dagger into his own throat.

Like an ancient tree falling, his body collapsed, and the postcard he clutched fluttered to the floor.

There was nothing written on the card.

A blank void of paper, soaking in the spilling blood.

Immediately after, the members of the Regalis family were able to buy bread.

Immediately after, the members of the Regalis family were able to go to the hospital.

Immediately after, the freeze on the Regalis family’s treasury was lifted in full.

Because Albrecht had ended his own life.

—

We did not kill him.

However, as Minister and Grand Duke of the Empire, it was also true that we could not simply let a traitor be.

Thus, we have made the rebel punish himself, and hope that you will be so kind as to understand.

“…………”

It would be a lie to say that he hadn’t foreseen this.

Therefore, the Emperor offered no response to the Minister who had come to report the passing of his father-in-law.

He merely nodded silently.