Semi-Coercive Imperialist

Swish── swish──

Winter, when thick snowflakes had already begun to pile up.

“In all my years, I never thought I’d see…….”

Chiron let out an empty laugh as he gazed out the window.

A small-scale war had erupted within the Imperial Palace. The root cause was the bombing attack that had targeted Reutern II.

Julius claimed it was a staged incident orchestrated by Reutern’s side, and Reutern claimed it was the work of Julius’s faction.

Both knew that the moment they backed down, it was over, and so the gap between them never closed. Suspicion became conviction, and conviction festered into hatred. In the end, bloodshed broke out between Julius and Reutern.

How many had died, no one could say for certain. He’d heard that assassinations and poisonings had run rampant.

The stench of blood, however, never leaked beyond the palace walls.

The House of Nobles Ethics Committee was convened.

Julius von Arensburg was permanently expelled from the House of Nobles.

For the first time in a hundred years, someone of royal blood had been stripped of their seat in the House of Nobles. That extraordinary news was kept strictly confidential under the Imperial household’s iron control. No press outlet in the Empire dared print a single word of it.

“……Max. Thank goodness you’re here.”

Chiron exhaled a sigh of relief. The investigation into Julius’s charges of embezzlement and illegal trafficking of Gigantes weapons had now fallen squarely on the Sentinel Knight Order’s shoulders.

It couldn’t be helped.

No common prosecutor or police officer could dare investigate someone of royal blood, and entrusting it to the Novus Knight Order was out of the question.

“What do you intend to do regarding the sentencing and execution of Julius going forward?”

Chiron asked Maximilian. He answered calmly.

“Members of the House of Nobles are ordinarily afforded immunity from prosecution and indemnity, but now that he’s been expelled, he’s nothing more than an ordinary citizen of the Empire.”

Therefore.

When Maximilian paused briefly, Chiron could easily anticipate what would come next.

“By the book. Treason. The death penalty.”

“……Are you sure about this? He may have lost his power, but he still carries royal blood.”

“The Empire’s knight orders must be able to take the head of any traitor, even if that traitor is royalty. The authority of the knight orders demands nothing less.”

With Maximilian, there were never exceptions.

Julius, too, would vanish on the executioner’s block without exception.

“But won’t the timeline be tight? There must be quite a mountain of paperwork to process.”

“The Knight’s Court will be over in no time.”

Maximilian had taken charge of Julius’s individual Knight’s Trial, and Hannah had taken the criminal trial of his small-fry subordinates.

By now, Hannah should be in court as the prosecutor.

“I heard Hannah is stepping into court as well.”

“Yes. Given her stake in this case, she needs to take ownership of it.”

A knight is the Empire’s watchdog. As such, a knight can perform virtually the same functions as a prosecutor…… but.

A misch⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌ievous smile crept across Chiron’s lips.

“A commoner judging a noble. I wonder how that’ll go.”

The Empire had, at some point, come to prioritize status over profession, so she would likely have a rough time of it.

* * *

The Sentinel Knight Order’s parking lot. Hannah loaded an armful of investigative files for court submission into the trunk.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She climbed into the car with one administrative officer and two field officers, ready to depart.

Clunk! Rrrrrrrrr.

“……Ah, this piece of junk, I swear.”

Hannah got out of the back seat and slammed the hood. Bang bang bang bang!

Bang bang bang bang!

Only then did the engine finally start.

“Hah.”

She scratched the back of her neck and climbed back in.

Rattle-rattle-rattle! Rattle-rattle-rattle!

The car engine groaned like an ox cart as it lurched forward.

“This really isn’t easy.”

The bon⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌us from Operation Volska’s success had been split among the staff who’d done the hard work, and her salary as a knight was being poured into loan repayments, rent, living expenses for her family, and above all, building an intelligence network.

“Ma’am, it may not be our place to say, but your expenses really are excessive. No matter what, you need to at least keep enough for your own living costs…….”

The administrative officer offered his advice with concern in his voice.

Costs that couldn’t be documented. In other words, the cash she slipped to her informants had already exceeded half her annual salary.

“No. It’s absolutely necessary. There are far too many terrorists and violent criminals threatening the Empire these days.”

Hannah was fairly confident in her own ability to learn.

The biggest reason she’d nearly been done in during the Volska affair was nothing other than a lack of intelligence.

Without eyes and ears of her own, she would only end up someone else’s pawn again, driven straight into the jaws of death.

“They say each Imperial knight is the equivalent of an entire agency or organization. So we need to have that kind of scale ourselves.”

Meanwhile, the beat-up secondhand car arrived at the Imperial Central Court.

“Let’s get out.”

Hannah walked into the courtroom with her officers and took her seat at the prosecution bench. Across from her, six noble businessmen who had aided Julius’s money laundering were lined up in a row.

Every last one of their faces looked thoroughly sour.

“Please be seated.”

Six judges entered, and the presiding judge at the head of the bench made his declaration.

“We now open proceedings in Imperial Central Court, case number IR 1517/91, for the trial of the defendants.”

Hannah rose from her seat immediately.

“I am Sentinel knight Hannah Usar, who led the investigation in this case. Here is the list of evidence previously disclosed.”

She submitted to the judges evidence that Julius had laundered money through the defendants’ companies, and that the defendants, as intermediaries, had collected enormous commissions.

“……Therefore, pursuant to Article 114 and Article 237 of the Imperial Criminal Code, under the Act on Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds, I request the full forfeiture of the defendants’ criminal proceeds and a sentence of five years’ imprisonment.”

The evidence was clear-cut, but since the opposing party were nobles, the maximum penalty was limited to this level.

Just as Hannah finished her sentencing request—

“I object.”

The defense attorney rose with an easy smile.

“Your Honor, and Knight Hannah.”

The look on his face as he said the word knight was deeply irritating.

“I do not question the credibility of the evidence submitted by the knight. We acknowledge that the illicit funds did pass through our clients’ companies or houses. However, I wish to clearly address the matter of ‘intent’.”

The defense attorney emphasized the defendants’ “innocent intent”.

His argument was that the defendants had merely processed the payments believing them to be legitimate trade fees, and had no knowledge that the money was criminal proceeds connected to Gigantes weapons trafficking.

“Put simply, the defendants are nothing more than victims themselves.”

Cunningly forged circumstantial evidence and contracts came pouring out to support the claim.

“Objection! Those contracts are appearing out of nowhere just now? Your Honor, those contracts were not presented during the pre-trial evidence disclosure process and therefore have no evidentiary standing!”

Hannah called out urgently, but the flow of the trial was grossly unfair.

“The objectio⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌n is overruled. The evidence will be admitted to ensure the defendants’ right to defense.”

The presiding judge casually dismissed Hannah’s legitimate objection.

“……A portion of the fund-tracing reports submitted by the prosecution were potentially obtained through unlawful collection methods and contain excessive subjective judgment. Their evidentiary standing is hereby rejected.”

He also neutralized Hannah’s arguments and evidence.

“Your Honor. The results themselves prove that the defendants deliberately laundered the funds. Since when has Imperial law allowed criminals to hide behind some paltry excuse of ‘intent’—”

“Now, now. Knight Hannah. The charges have not yet been established. Please maintain decorum in this court and observe the presumption of innocence.”

“…….”

Hannah grounded her teeth.

Beneath the faint undercurrent of contempt and dismissiveness toward a young, common-born knight, the trial dragged on.

In truth, it felt less like a trial than some kind of public speaking contest for the defense attorney.

And so─ after all arguments had concluded.

“……Ahem. The sentencing date will be set for next Monday.”

The judge cleared his throat and struck his gavel.

The first trial ended, its outcome perhaps already a foregone conclusion.

…….

The Empire’s Knight’s Court.

The atmosphere there had settled into a solemnity so heavy that even breathing felt difficult.

Both prosecutor and defendant were figures of such stature that no one dared describe them in words. Nearly every judge had refused the presiding seat, unable to bear the pressure, and a single Grand Justice on the verge of retirement was all but pushed onto the bench.

“Duke Julius von Arensburg…… ahem. My apologies.”

The Grand Justice’s voice trembled with tension.

“I hereby commence the Knig⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌ht’s Trial for the defendant.”

A place where a high-ranking royal of the Empire would be judged.

In the defendant’s seat sat Julius, looking as though he had resigned himself to everything. At the prosecutor’s bench, Maximilian Ebenholtz stood alone.

“Does the prosecutor wish to make a statement?”

“Yes. Based on the evidence previously submitted.”

Maximilian’s words were brief. He had already provided the court with every piece of evidence related to the Gigantes weapons trafficking, and the judges had completed hundreds of reviews.

There had been no need for Maximilian to appear in person at all, but he had come as a courtesy to Julius.

“I request the death penalty.”

As if the inevitable had finally arrived, the Grand Justice slowly closed his eyes.

In the Knight’s Court, verdicts were almost always, unless the evidence was extremely flimsy, handed down in accordance with the presiding knight’s intent. That was how exceptional a venue it was, reserved only for those who had inflicted grave harm upon the Empire.

But even in that long and heavy history, this trial carried a weight all its own.

The moment this gavel fell, it would set a precedent: the first royal to lose their head in a hundred years.

“…….”

The Grand Justice lifted his heavy eyelids and cautiously looked across the room.

There was a man gazing back at him in silence.

Maximilian Ebenholtz.

His cold Golden Eyes were frigid and unwavering.

A gaze that compelled a decision, that pressed without a flicker of hesitation.

Gulp.

The Grand Justice swallowed hard, and with a trembling hand, brought the gavel down.

“……Regarding the defendant, Julius von Arensburg.”

His cracked voice fell heavily into the empty courtroom.

“I sentence him to death.”

…….

One week later.

The final sentencing hearing for the criminal trial prosecuted by Hannah Usar.

“Ahem. Ah-hem.”

The judge who entered the courtroom cleared his throat several times, then, as if there were no point in delaying, immediately picked up the prepared verdict.

“The Imperial Central Court hereby commences sentencing for case number IR 1517/91.”

Hannah listened to the judge’s voice. Something about the tone as he read the sentences sickened her, and she glared at him fiercely.

“Between the evidence of fund flows presented by the prosecution and the defendants’ claimed intent of merely facilitating trade…… after multifaceted consideration…… it can be determined that the evidence submitted alone is insufficient to clearly prove the defendants’ willful involvement…….”

Even hearing just that much, it was perfectly transparent which side the judge had been bought by and what “intent” he’d already decided on for the verdict.

“……As evidence that the defendants willfully participated in money laundering is markedly insufficient, this court finds all defendants not guilty.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The gavel struck the courtroom at the same moment as the bullshit verdict, delivered with an air of affected gravitas.

Hannah looked at the defendants’ bench.

The noble defendants, sighing in relief and swaggering with self-importance. The defense attorney across from her, smirking at Hannah as if in mockery.

Where money and power existed, even clear-cut guilt could be scrubbed clean by hiding behind the vague word “intent”.

This was the reality of the Empire’s rotten courtrooms.

…….

That evening, at an upscale restaurant in the capital.

“Bahahaha! You should’ve taken a photo of that little country mouse’s face, I’m telling you.”

“I mean, Sentinel or not, she’s still a common-born nobody! A commoner! Where does she get the nerve trying to drag nobles into this?”

“I heard the little rat’s from some backwater village. Ikanso? Where the hell even is that?”

“Her surname alone is low-class. Usar? What is that, Usar? Sounds like a name for livestock. Hahaha!”

The nobles who had received their not-guilty verdict gathered together, toasting their victory and mocking the young knight, when—

“By the way, what will you do if that little rodent files an appeal?”

“Oh, it’ll obviously be dismissed. I’ve got connections not just in the courts but in the Sentinel too…….”

Thud. Thud.

Someone approached their table.

Thud. Thud.

Every seat was already taken, but the figure walked right up without hesitation, pulled a chair from the neighboring table, and settled in among them as naturally as anything.

“What the…….”

The nobles scowled and glared at the uninvited guest.

“A pleasure.”

Perfectly styled golden hair. Golden Eyes curving as if forming a smile.

The moment they saw the man who had appeared out of nowhere, their laughter cut dead.

“…….”

“…….”

The nobles stared at him with stunned faces.

He smiled faintly and introduced himself.

“Maximilian Ebenholtz.”

Maximilian. Ebenholtz. There was something inherently dangerous about the combination of those two names. In an instant, all color left their faces.

Right on cue, a sharp-eyed waiter brought out a fresh glass.

“Let us eat first. You may listen to what I have to say while you dine.”

He gestured elegantly toward the food on the table. But not a single one of them moved a hand. They simply couldn’t bring themselves to.

“First, allow me to sincerely congratulate you on the not-guilty verdict in court today.”

Glug glug glug. The waiter poured red wine into Maximilian’s glass. A sliver of his face, reflected in the glass, rippled and distorted.

“However, when it comes to the Empire’s procedures…”

These nobles were blind and deaf to the world, little mayflies fluttering about with nothing but their flimsy status and sources of money to rely on, unaware of the bloodstorm raging inside the Imperial Palace.

“A single trial in an ordinary court is hardly sufficient to account for everything.”

“What…… do you mean by that……?”

One of the nobles asked, cold sweat running down his face. A faint smile touched the corners of Maximilian’s lips.

“Ah, let me explain it in simpler terms.”

The red glow of the wine shone in his eyes.

“After this trial concludes, I intend to formally refer all of you to the Knight’s Court.”

In that instant, every face at the table froze cold. They looked as though they’d just been sentenced to death on the spot.

A tribunal where a defense attorney’s sophistry was useless, where a bribed judge’s mercy held no sway—a judgment seat where the will of the knight named Maximilian became the verdict itself.

“Aiding in the laundering of funds for criminals who embezzled Gigantes weapons constitutes clear treason and an act of sedition that strikes at the very foundations of the Empire.”

Maximilian’s words pressed down on the air itself. The nobles stopped breathing.

Of course, if he had applied outside pressure in advance, there would have been no need for this.

But that would fail to make an example. It would fail to show these pigs that before she was a commoner, she was a knight, that the authority of the Sentinel was not to be trifled with.

“If, knowing all of this, you still cling to the foolish certainty of your innocence.”

Maximilian tilted his gaze, sweeping across every face gathered there, each and every one of them.

“Then I can only conclude that you are taking a Sentinel knight for a joke.”

“……N-no. I, that’s not what…….”

“Sir Knight, Sir Knight, we, we’re—”

The nobles stammered, ashen-faced.

Bzzt─.

Just then, Maximilian’s terminal buzzed briefly. He glanced at the screen and twisted the corner of his mouth upward.

“I’ve just been informed that Knight Hannah Usar has appealed the court’s not-guilty verdict.”

Maximilian rose slowly from his seat.

“Whether this is a welcome development or an unfortunate one, I honestly couldn’t say.”

He looked down at the terror-stricken nobles with dispassion and spoke.

“From here on, the choice is entirely you⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌rs.”

As his retreating figure disappeared, that dangerous smile still lingering, the nobles in the restaurant watched him go with the wide, vacant eyes of cattle waiting to be slaughtered.