kscans

Chapter 42 - Cleaning House

When they met as family, Rod was a very cheerful person. That was how Lupia remembered him. But she had rarely seen his face as the king who ruled a nation. She was struck by how different he was, yet it was to be expected. The entire family accepted it as a matter of course, walking forward as prompted and bowing before the king. They would not raise their heads until permission was granted. They simply waited in silence.

(How utterly shameless.) (To think Lady Millière would come this far by brandishing her authority as a former princess…)

Heartless words were whispered back and forth. It was true that Millière had sought her brother's help for their immigration. She had gone through meeting after meeting, not as a former princess, but as a mother protecting her family, carefully advancing various matters. Lupia and the others said nothing. They showed no sign of protest. Taking this as encouragement, the murmuring did not stop.

"…………How noisy."

It was not a shout, but a voice filled with anger. The murmuring nobles stiffened, and the hall fell silent at once.

"Calmond family, you may raise your heads."

Having received permission, Lupia and her family smoothly raised their heads and met the king's gaze directly.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty!"

Just as Rod was about to speak, a male noble raised his hand and took a step forward. How rude, someone else muttered in disbelief. Everyone else thought the same but remained frozen, remembering Rod's furious voice.

"I am truly sorry for speaking without the King's permission. However! No matter how much the former princess begs, is it truly wise to welcome a damaged woman into our country?!"

"Damaged…?"

"Did her ladyship not have her engagement annulled by the Crown Prince of the neighboring country?"

The entire hall turned to look at Lupia. The subject herself couldn't have cared less, but for those looking to find fault with her family, it was the biggest scandal and the easiest point of attack.

"For a noble lady, a daughter of a ducal house no less, to have her fiancé stolen by a lady of lower rank is simply unacceptable, is it not?"

She had never expected to be accosted like this in such a public setting, but for now, she would not argue back. She hadn't been given permission to speak. The same was true for the noble currently relishing his attack on her, but he seemed to be drunk on his own self-image as a loyal subject.

"…And?"

"Huh?"

"Is that all you have to say to me? Your mouth certainly moves well, prattling on as you please without my permission."

"Ah, well…"

"Since when did you become greater than I? Since when have you been able to freely state your opinions to me in a place like this, over the head of my own Prime Minister?"

"………"

Not a shred of interest could be felt in Rod's eyes as he asked his questions flatly. Whether he knew it or not, the noble who tried to argue further suddenly gasped.

"Where did you leave your etiquette and manners? There is no need for you to come to the royal palace until you find them. Throw him out."

Rod waved his hand dismissively. Two knights in full armor firmly grabbed the noble by each arm and began to drag him away. He yelled various things like, 'Stop!' and 'I only became impolite for the sake of His Majesty!' but he was ignored by everyone and dragged out of the audience chamber.

Rod surveyed the murmuring nobles with cold eyes and asked.

"Are you all the same?"

A short question. Seeing that no one voiced a different opinion, Rod sighed in boredom.

"In the end, you are all just a bunch of people who judge things based on rumors, I see."

Then again, Rod could make such a statement because he knew the family before him well. To the assembled nobles, it was something that made them want to scream, 'Are you kidding me?' Just as it seemed things would get even more chaotic, one person smoothly raised his hand.

"Very well, you are permitted to speak."

"Thank you."

A young man with a gentle smile stepped forward. He walked slowly, stopping just ahead of the family.

"Count Rudger, is it? State your case."

"With all due respect… Your Majesty is a relative of the Calmond family. We understand that you would not be swayed by rumors, but we know far too little about the members of the Calmond family. Therefore, is it not natural for us to be somewhat influenced by what we hear?"

"To be influenced without even investigating?"

"Th-that is… well, yes, but…"

"What do you find so unbelievable?"

"Well… For example, that young lady there."

Count Rudger turned to look at Lupia.

"I heard she has received various forms of education since she was a child, but I wonder how much of that is true."

Well, it is true, Rod thought to himself. Lupia's study material and workload were indeed excessive for a child her age. But she had gritted her teeth and accomplished it all. As a result, Lupia's specs had become ridiculously high.

"Then, what would it take for you to believe?"

"Let me see… Since I have also heard such stories, I would like her ladyship to demonstrate that she will not lose to us so easily."

"Specifically?"

"For example… how about avoiding a surprise attack?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise attack if you announce it."

"Indeed. For I am not the one who will be attacking."

Was he saying she had to be constantly vigilant in this very room for an attack that could come at any time? Or was he telling her to live her life considering the possibility of future attacks?

As she considered several possibilities, Lupia smoothly released Rupert's hand, stepped to the side, and with a span, deflected a small knife that came flying at her with her fan.

"Hmm."

"Oh my."

The sound of the knife clattering to the floor echoed loudly in the quiet space. Aristerios and Millière commented calmly, neither panicked nor surprised by their daughter's actions. Rupert was stifling a yawn, looking bored.

"…Huh?"

"…I have not been granted permission to speak, but… Your Majesty, please forgive my rude behavior in your presence."

Lupia said calmly, then smoothly dodged an attack from a cloaked figure who dropped from above. The moment the figure landed, she lifted one leg, pivoted on the other, and despite wearing heels, delivered an unhesitating roundhouse kick.

"Agh—!"

"The moment you land is when you're most vulnerable."

She followed up with another kick to the back of the stumbling cloaked figure. As he fell flat on the floor, she mercilessly stepped on his neck to prevent him from escaping, let out a little 'heave-ho', and grabbed his wrist to twist his arm up.

"—!!!"

She twisted without mercy, but he couldn't move properly. The other nobles had probably known about this surprise attack. They weren't screaming, just staring in stunned silence. Even so, how rude, Lupia thought. To do something like this without informing the king of a country.

"So? Is the surprise attack over now?"

Rod asked, as if he knew Lupia would subdue her attacker so easily. Words like 'impossible' and 'how' could be heard, but it was their own fault for underestimating her.

This Lupia, and Rupert as well. Even Millière could handle this much.

Millière with magic. Rupert and Lupia using a combination of physical and magical attacks depending on the situation. Aristerios, needless to say, was purely physical. They should have known they were a family that had protected a nation… Rod looked on in exasperation. Count Rudger still seemed a bit dazed.

"Count, and all who are gathered here, I ask you. Is she weak? To my eyes, she appears to possess more than enough strength."

She, who had so brilliantly defeated an enemy in this very room without being informed of the attack, was by no means weak. And she wasn't gentle enough to show mercy, either. Not to her enemies.

"……Ah."

She felt an unpleasant feedback. The moment she thought that, a strange, muffled scream came from the person Lupia was pinning down.

"O-… ar… gaah… ah…!"

"Hey, Lupia."

"My apologies, Your Majesty. I got carried away."

She replied flatly, and only then did Lupia finally remove her foot from the man's neck.

"It seems I've dislocated his arm."

"But," she continued.

"I thought I might be killed if I showed any mercy."

"I imagine so."

Rod nodded in agreement and raised his hand to summon a healer.

"Heal him. Quickly."

"Yes!"

Though flustered, the summoned healer treated the dislocation and carefully healed the kicked areas. Lupia watched the process without letting her guard down, keenly observing him. If he came at her again the moment he was healed, what should she do next? Would it be alright to be more thorough?

"…An ordinary young lady would not react this way."

Count Rudger, having finally come to his senses, approached Lupia with an impressed look.

"My apologies, my lady. It seems our perception was mistaken."

What kind of perception did this guy have of me? she wondered, and was about to say it out loud, but Millière cut in from her side.

"Well, well, if it isn't the former princess."

"…It's one thing to underestimate us. But is such behavior in His Majesty's presence not considered rude, Count Rudger?"

"…Guh."

"I was not informed," Rod added nonchalantly.

Millière turned to Rod and bowed her head.

"Your Majesty, may I continue to speak?"

"Speak as you wish. Lupia, Rupert, and you as well, Aristerios."

"We are most grateful."

The smile was fleeting. Millière surveyed the room and asked in a clear voice.

"When did you all secretly arrange such a thing without His Majesty's permission?"

No one answered her question.

"If you have a complaint, say it to us directly! Surely… you are not plotting something untoward, are you?!"

"What nonsense!" someone shouted. Then others began to clamor, but Aristerios gathered a little mana in his palms and clapped them together with a loud PAN! The sharp sound silenced the room as if doused with water.

"Is this not far too disrespectful to His Majesty? I can understand finding people from another country troublesome. But… is it not questionable to act without even investigating properly? That is what I think. Furthermore, we have immigrated here because we received His Majesty's permission… Well, it would likely be for the best for both sides if we refrained from associating with those present here in the future."

Seeing the uncomfortable faces of the assembled nobles at his exasperated tone, both Rod and Aristerios could only let out heavy sighs.

"My subjects have behaved with extreme disrespect. I don't know what you were told, but it is nothing but a disgrace that we have so many fools who believe nothing but worthless rumors… Throw them all out. I do not wish for this to be seen as the level of this country's nobility."

No sooner had he finished speaking than members of the Knight Order swarmed in and began to drive out the assembled nobles. It was such an anticlimactic event that the Calmond family let out yet another sigh, but they all turned to the remaining Count Rudger with hostile glares.

"I-I am so sorry…!"

"Whatever you may say, both Lupia and Rupert are on par with, no, in some ways even greater than the proud knights of our country. Now, who was the one who launched the attack?"

"…It was my son…"

Seeing Count Rudger hang his head in defeat, Rod made a bitter face.

"Is your son not a member of the Knight Order?"

"…I am ashamed…"

"Why would you go along with your father's words… you…"

When Rod asked in a weary tone, Count Rudger's son, Emil-Rudger, finally removed his hood and bowed his head to everyone.

"I was told… to teach a lesson to the nepotistic former princess who's just coasting on her connections…"

"And so you attacked Lupia without any investigation whatsoever."

"…Yes."

"Like father, like son."

"I am deeply sorry…!"

"Enough… This just means the list of things to be cleaned up has grown. The royal family will deal with this disgrace. Aristerios, you and your family are to wait at the mansion we have prepared."

"Understood."

"Lupia, Rupert, there is someone who wishes to meet you. I will have you guided, so wait a moment."

"…Yes."

"As you wish."

Who could it be? the twins wondered, but said nothing. A palace maid came to fetch them, and the twins followed her. Then, Rod urged the Rudger father and son to return home as well.

"Go home. You are under house arrest until further notice."

After watching them leave with apologies, Rod finally glanced up at the approaching Prime Minister.

"Crush these incompetents who cannot even fulfill their own duties. We have no need for them."

"All those who were involved in this matter, Your Majesty?"

"That is correct. If they do not wish for their lines to be extinguished, have them summarize their proposed countermeasures and report them."

"It has been a while since our last major house cleaning, hasn't it, Your Majesty?"

"Who would have thought there were so many fools who have abandoned all thought?"

"Indeed."

Another sigh escaped him. Rod held his head, overwhelmed by the amount of work to come. But he could not have nobles who blindly swallowed rumors and were incapable of independent action. They were nothing but a national disgrace.