After leaving the room with Erselica—who I discovered was my cousin from my previous life and that this world was actually a disgusting game—my mood worsened a bit.
I went to the palace kitchens to check the order I had asked the cooks for. They gave it to me, I thanked them, and headed to the place where an emergency meeting was being held.
I had told Mayer-san beforehand so he could inform the right people and thus make my performance a success.
Ixion informed me that the meeting had just started, and I stayed at the door, observing from there what was happening until the exact moment when I would play my role as the "villain."
◇◇◇
"Marquis Balzac, explain yourself!"
Several ministers were shouting at Marquis Balzac about what had happened. Many members of his faction, to save their own necks or ask for a reduced sentence, confessed much of what the Marquis had planned.
His faction consisted of almost 80% of the palace people, including knights, guards, and servants.
Not to say all of them, they fled upon hearing there would be war.
Now he was in the hall where noble titles are bestowed.
King Leonis and his Queen, Lecia, were seated on their thrones awaiting a response. The Prime Minister was also seated nearby due to his condition.
Siegwald, among other nobles who didn't flee and showed their loyalty, were interrogating the Marquis and the few remaining from his faction.
Various reports detailed grotesque and disgusting events that shouldn't be possible. Among them, there was no detail that Duke Belmont had given almost all the power of his faction to him.
The Marquis, Moldred, was sweating and didn't know how to respond.
His eyes were full of rage, but not because of the interrogation—because of the traitorous and rebellious Kingsfort Household.
It was then that he came up with a plan.
"Your Majesties and ministers! May I speak?"
Everyone fell silent upon hearing that.
He began to speak.
"Certainly, what is happening now is my fault! But it was because I was being threatened by the Kingsfort's and Dixit!"
Both Siegwald and Mayer gave him a look of disappointment.
"Please, remember! Who is responsible for the kingdom achieving great changes? Me! I was the one who managed in a single generation to become a Marquis. I came to have my own faction due to my analytical and diplomatic skills. I am the only one in the history of this kingdom to acquire two ministerial titles. You have all seen that I started working here from my youth as a servant and in 40 years of hard effort I reached where I am!"
Siegwald did something unthinkable for many: he defended him.
"...That is true. More than anyone, I remember seeing you behind the former Kingsfort chief to have you at least wash his clothes. But Moldred, do you know what you have done?"
He responded in the same manner.
"Siegwald, between you and me there has always been a solid rivalry, but it never reached the extremes of wanting to destroy you."
Alisa's father looked at him with a face that said, "That was before, but now I don't believe you."
Then Moldred turned to Mayer.
"Prime Minister-dono, you know I always wanted to be at the top to prove that one's origin means nothing! That's why I wanted to be Prime Minister, but believe me, attempting your life is something only vermin like the Kingsfort's would do."
Mayer also gave him a severe look.
Everyone watched, and a man while stroking his mustache spoke to him.
"Marquis Balzac, what you say is true, but that doesn't take away the fact of your alleged treason."
Biting his lip, which couldn't be seen thanks to his beard, he responded.
"That's true, but as I said, I had no choice but to do it because the Kingsfort's and Dixit threatened me with false evidence. You're already seeing what's happening, Count Roseblaire!"
The man with the cyan mustache and hair added.
"Are you trying to say that even if nothing had happened, they would have planted false evidence for this situation?"
"That's correct! But at this moment we shouldn't be talking about my punishment for not saying anything or asking for help. We must find the solution to stop the attack of those rebels!"
For a moment, almost everyone agreed; punishing the traitor was the least of it. The important thing was what to do about the enemy fleet advancing slowly.
Their ships are so large and heavy that they fly at a speed similar to a snail's pace.
In a few hours, at the latest by nightfall, they would reach the capital to destroy them.
Taking advantage of the situation, Marquis Balzac added.
"We must request help from our ally, the [Principality of Edinburgh], and use the power of Viscount Bradford's Lost Item!"
Hearing him say that, the Queen stood up to correct him, very annoyed.
"Marquis, aren't you ashamed not only to request help from the principality but also to want to use something that doesn't belong to you?!"
He responded in a calm tone.
"My Queen, have you seen what happened out there? That boy—that man destroyed the invaders using that weapon against them!"
Everyone paid attention to those words, which were true.
"We don't know if he wants to take over the kingdom or destroy it! We must force him at least to hand over his Lost Item; a man like him who possesses neither desire nor ambition is dangerous!"
Once again, everyone fell silent; only Siegwald spoke, and not in defense of Rudel.
"I also understand that Viscount Bradford is a strange man. Any noble would be happy to be promoted and receive the benefits. I still remember that after being promoted, he went to cry in a corner."
Comments about Rudel came without regard for faction or whether they cared about his well-being or not.
"That's true; my daughter told me she sent him a letter for a private tea party, and he refused."
"I heard he uses his knight title only to beat up those who look at him badly."
"A vassal who works at the academy told me that he spits when talking about the crown prince or the aristocrats."
The lines that left everyone cold were the following.
"My daughter, who graduated this year, told me that he only shows favoritism and kindness towards the daughter of Duke Bismarck. He doesn't even always invite the daughter of Count Roseblaire to his meetings; in fact, he only invites a commoner and the Duke's daughter, and no one else."
Everyone turned their heads to see Siegwald with his arms crossed and a serious face.
Marquis Balzac smiled wickedly.
"Siegwald, I told you once before. But isn't it convenient that it's precisely your daughter who is the closest and most trusted person of the Viscount?"
Mayer also looked at Alisa's father without even moving.
The King and Queen watched the situation from their position; only Lecia felt discomfort about the way he spoke of Alisa as if she were an opportunist.
She had known her since childhood and knew her true feelings.
The problem was that, whether true or not, Alisa's family would be the most benefited from it.
Without even showing interest, Siegwald said.
"...I said it once and I'll say it again. If something happens between my daughter and that boy, it would be their business. If by chance they end up in a committed relationship, her children, my grandchildren, would be the only beneficiaries, not me."
That's what he said. That was the truth. The problem with that was that, according to the law, only the children could inherit the treasures of the father or mother, but there is no law that says grandchildren or parents can give part of their inheritance to other relatives.
For that reason, the obligation was established that all nobles, according to their rank, have more than one wife.
When Rudel marries and has children, that's where the problem would come.
Marquis Balzac was the first to realize how dangerous Rudel was.
Even if his words are lies, what he says is true.
Whoever inherits Rudel's Lost Item will have the power to destroy and rule anyone. And, coincidentally, the Bismarck family has a daughter who is that person's best friend.
The Marquis wanted to destroy both that house and Rudel because they are more dangerous than anyone thinks.
Lecia was about to defend Alisa, since it was impossible that a girl raised to serve and protect the royal family would cause a coup d'état.
"Well, well, you sure have some nerve to speak ill of me and my best friends, huh?"
The door swung open abruptly, and Rudel entered, speaking very rudely.
Everyone noticed him and fell silent.
In his right hand, he had a sandwich, and in the other, a bottle of wine. The aroma was strong, but Rudel was spitting out the alcohol for some reason, so he asked the cooks to prepare him very concentrated grape and plum juice to simulate that it was alcohol.
His shirt had drops of what he was drinking falling on it.
He ate in a very savage manner, and traces of food fell to the floor as he spoke with his mouth open.
"Don't pretend to be mute; I heard everything! Alisa taking advantage of me? Giving her preferential treatment? Having only those two by my side? ...And what about it, you bunch of idiots!"
Rudel walked almost staggering as if drunk. It was an act—a very bad one—but his way of expressing himself made it go unnoticed. He even acted like his original role without wanting to.
He walked, hitting some ministers, until he reached the stairs where the King and Queen were a few meters above.
He sat with his legs open after falling and let out a loud burp.
Everyone watched; the knights did nothing by order of Mayer, who had said before that no matter what happened, they shouldn't move.
Once again, he took his drink and yelled things that one should never say.
"Listen to me; I'll say it only once! They are the only people who have treated me well, and if I want to repay their kindness with gifts, that's my problem! I'm sorry your daughters are horrible inside and arrogant bitches on the outside."
Everyone looked at Rudel with disapproval, regardless of which faction they were from.
"It bothers you that my Lost Item is only mine and no one else's! That's why you fear me! But what do you think, idiots? You shouldn't fear me; I'm harmless!"
There were a few who wanted to say, "No one believes you!"
He wiped the remains of the drink and threw the bottle toward Siegwald's feet. He just looked at Rudel.
"Obviously, when I have children, I'll give them Battler and Brynhild! But not out of obligation or inheritance, but because I would love them and want my things to be taken care of by people I raised not to do bad things, unlike what you would do."
Many kept watching him, and no one spoke.
"Besides, what's your problem with Alisa and me? We're just—"
For some reason, Rudel remained silent for a moment, and an image of a blonde-haired girl smiling appeared in his head, and he resumed what he said.
"...Friends."
"You shouldn't think there's something secret between Siegwald and me. Because, who would want to have that guy as a father-in-law? Hahaha!"
Many ministers opened their eyes. Even Mayer's eyes were wide open because this wasn't part of the act.
"How can you think I would want to have a father-in-law who is capable of using his own daughter to try to destroy a house of traitors?"
Many looked at Siegwald, whose expression didn't change.
"I would truly like to have a girl like his daughter as a wife. She's beautiful, makes me laugh, and above all, she has enormous breasts for a teenager! I want to know what the hell they fed her to thank them for that sight?!"
Now, the one who opened her mouth at what she heard was Lecia, whose eyes were wide. Mayer covered his face at what he heard.
"Setting aside how much I would like to have a wife like her or Airi, the main issue is about you. What the hell do you plan to do about what you caused?"
This time, the one who spoke was none other than Mayer.
"Rudel-kun. What do you mean by that?"
Without even looking at him and with a wicked smile, Rudel's real plan began.
"It's exactly as you heard. All this happened because of you; your incompetence, selfishness, greed for power, and betrayal caused not only the Kingsfort's to get away with it but also made several idiots flee. But guess what? All that was going to happen anyway because—!"
Rudel had this thought before finishing the tip of his insult.
(The name of this country has a certain similarity to a word from my previous life, and that is...)
"Both you and this country are called the same: Old shits! You heard it; everything happened because a bunch of old shits thought of themselves, and that brought all these misfortunes. Hahaha, you deserve it, idiots~."
Rudel stuck out his tongue and moved it like a snake. Many shouted at him furiously.
"How dare this boy insult us!"
"Someone arrest him for disrespect!"
"I don't support the Marquis, but he's right. This individual doesn't deserve to have that Lost Item!"
"From the way you speak of your country, are you even a patriot?"
He stopped laughing upon hearing he wasn't a patriot. It was there that his villainous face made a very terrifying expression.
"Patriot, me? Of course I am. That's why I'm here, you bunch of imbeciles—to save your asses, both you and the country!"
This time, the Queen spoke, although her tone was indignant.
"I appreciate that you wish to help us, Viscount, but how will you do it?"
Rudel stood up, extended his hand to form a fist as if in a fighting pose, and said.
"Simple. Give me complete control of this kingdom's forces and make me the Supreme Commander of the entire fleet!"
Everyone, no matter who they were, reacted to something that wasn't part of the plan.
"Rudel-kun, what are you saying!" Mayer shouted, standing up.
"Viscount, are you sane?" The Queen did the same.
Everyone yelled at him, "It's impossible for a child to become Supreme Commander!" and others, "He's not only disrespectful; he's also crazy!"
Meanwhile, Rudel thought.
(Huh! There really is such a title? I just said it to say...)
This time, the one who spoke was Marquis Balzac himself.
"You see! I told you! He's dangerous! No one who isn't dangerous would say such absurd things."
Many wanted to tell him it was true, but they kept it to themselves because what he said mattered more.
A minister from the Marquis's faction spoke.
"Can you really save us, Viscount Bradford?"
That word made everyone who didn't flee in search of salvation realize: that salvation was in front of them and had a foul mouth.
Rudel extended both hands as if he were some kind of messiah.
"Of course. Only I can save you. I only ask for complete power over the armed forces and..."
Rudel's hand pointed toward the window.
"Freedom. As a reward, I want you to strip me of my noble title so I can live in peace."
That sounded like a good plan: the kingdom wins, and Rudel goes to live peacefully in the countryside. But someone interfered there.
"Bradfooooord!"
A loud shout was heard, and the door was swung open abruptly.
Liam had arrived, angry.
"Bradford, I can't take it anymore! What happened inside there with Erselica-san?"
Everyone looked at Liam, and then, taking advantage of the situation...
"Crown Prince!"
The Marquis made another move.
"What do you mean by that? Did something happen with the impostor?"
Liam ignored what the Marquis said since he didn't hear it and headed toward Rudel.
"Bradford, explain to me why Erselica-san clung to you and you told her you would help her!"
Everyone heard that.
"Why would the Viscount help that traitor?"
"The sanctuary is in ruins because the high command fled. Did something happen between the two?"
Marquis Balzac smiled with a half-moon shape in his mouth.
"Gentlemen, you heard it! Viscount Bradford plans to help the impostor escape; that's why he wants the position of Supreme Commander and to have his title removed! He wants to be her partner and thus make the sanctuary take over the palace under his regime!"
Everyone, including Liam, made an "Eh?!" sound, though Liam's was different.
"Bradford, so you planned to use Erselica-san for your perverse ends!"
Liam ran to Rudel and threw his left fist at his cheek.
He received it and fell to the floor.
Then Rudel...
"Stupid shitty prince!!"
He got up and, with his right hand, slammed it into Liam's stomach.
The Marquis shouted to stop Rudel; the knights looked at Mayer, who stopped them with his hand, signaling them not to.
Rudel also yelled at Liam.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, you huge animal!"
"That's what I should ask you! Don't try to use Erselica-san for your ends!"
A hook to Rudel's chin landed, then a right punch hit Liam's face.
Both proceeded to hit each other.
Everyone watched that.
"What the hell do you see in that flat board?"
"Don't insult her!!"
"She is one!"
Liam kicked Rudel to make him fall, then jumped on him and hit him mercilessly.
"Why do you want to get involved with Erselica-san now! Don't you already have Alicelotte and that commoner girl as partners?"
This time, annoyed, Rudel headbutted Liam. He stood up and launched a combo of right and left punches to his face.
"Why do you mention them!!"
"They're my friends, not my girlfriends!!"
A tear spilled onto one of Rudel's cheeks.
"Alisa is the daughter of a duke, and Airi is a commoner!! There's no way a guy like me can be by their side! But even more, I won't allow Airi to be with an idiot like you who was influenced by that bastard Klein, who mistreated Alisa!"
Liam stopped one of the punches and, after receiving the one from the other arm, threw his own punch at Rudel.
"That bothers me too!"
Now, Liam, after throwing Rudel to the floor, hit his face again.
"Why does everyone hate Klein?! Haven't you thought that his father might be forcing him! Besides, I never trusted Alicelotte since we were children!"
This time, the ones who reacted were Siegwald and Lecia.
"Always talking about the greatness of being nobles and how important your status is to the palace! I will never trust a girl who only talks about adult things for her age!"
Lecia and Siegwald smacked their foreheads upon hearing that.
"I was scared when my mother said she could be my fiancée! I was grateful it never happened! She's not as reliable as Erselica-san!"
Rudel returned a punch to Liam, and now it was he who was on top.
He grabbed his shirt with his left hand and hit him with his right.
"That's why you're stupid!! Alisa is a wonderful girl who deserves a good man! You are someone unworthy of both her and Airi! I am too, but more than anything, that trash you call a childhood friend is the worst!"
Punch after punch fell on Liam.
"That dirty bastard mistreated her; if they had stayed together, he would have killed her! He's also a traitor who killed that pest's father and wants your position! Why don't you understand that I'm trying to help you?! If they told me Alisa did the same, I would deny it; I understand you, but damn it, accept it! Klein used you like that trash Marquis!"
Now everyone's eyes focused on Marquis Balzac.
"This meeting was for him to confess all his crimes and be punished, but now because of you, I'm shouting it!"
A few people had the same thought.
(Then don't shout it in the first place!)
"Damn it! I don't understand how your mother could give birth to such a stupid son! Aren't you ashamed to have been brought into the world by a beautiful woman and humiliate her like this!!"
For some reason, now the fight focused on the Queen.
"Damn it! If I were you, I would never make her cry and would give her gifts especially after thanking her for coming out of those hips!"
This time, Liam returned the punch, stood up, and shouted.
"What do my mother's hips have to do with any of this?!"
Rudel also returned punches and added to his declaration.
"Nothing! I envy that you can see such a beautiful woman and have had the opportunity to breastfeed from her!"
Once again, Liam responded.
"Why do you only mention her?! She's an old woman!"
Rudel, upon hearing that, slammed his fist full of rage, sending Liam flying against the wall.
He was embedded in it. Rudel quickly approached him and pointed at Lecia.
"It's obvious because she's a very beautiful woman! Don't you see that childlike face on a woman's body? Breasts so big she should be worshiped like a goddess! And that youthful body after giving birth to you and wide hips! Damn you and the King! I wish I could have your mother as my wife!"
At that moment, just at that moment, Rudel realized he wasn't thinking it.
He shouted it. He shouted in front of all present—in front of Siegwald, the ministers, knights, Mayer, and the royal family themselves—that he is attracted to a married woman and that, moreover, has dark desires for her.
Slowly, he turned his head to the left to look at Lecia herself.
The King had a face that said, "Seriously?" while the Queen herself had covered her face, but it could be seen that her ears were red.
Meanwhile, Liam just said.
"...You're attracted to my mother, an old woman?"
"Don't call her old!"
"Enough!"
Marquis Balzac interrupted what was an obvious fight between children—very idiotic children, one might say.
"So all this time you wanted to set a trap for me! You see, gentlemen, he's capable not only of saying shameless things about the Queen but also shows no respect for the King or the Crown Prince!"
The ministers had confused looks about Rudel.
Meanwhile, he...
"Good. The farce is over. Let's finish this."
Rudel drew his katana and struck the Marquis in the stomach, making him fall to his knees.
He spat saliva and asked.
"What do you think you're doing?" The instant he finished speaking, Rudel placed the blade against his cheek, pressing it.
"Did I say the farce is over or not? That was just your judgment; now comes the punishment."
The Marquis was about to adjudicate what they were saying.
But at that moment, Ixion descended, carrying several documents.
"Master, I have finished reconstructing the destroyed documents."
"Right on time. Give them to everyone."
Ixion, using cables that came out of his body, delivered them to all present, including Their Majesties. Lecia was still covering her face and took it with her elbows.
"What is that?" asked the Marquis. Rudel, without mocking or laughing, responded.
"Evidence of everything you have done and burned or torn to pieces."
"Everything you wrote to the Kingsfort's, the Cashmiro family, and the deaths of several nobles about the insurrections you accused me of."
It was there that Rudel laughed.
"It's incredible that you are a faithful patriot and I'm a traitor! Wait, doesn't the situation indicate the opposite now?"
"They're slanders, nonsense, a vile and despicable lie!"
The ministers, including Mayer, read what the documents said.
"...I hoped it was only my things. But Moldred, you really were involved in the death of my wife and son."
Marquis Balzac kept denying it until Rudel snapped his fingers, and several videos were presented from Ixion's eye.
It's from when Rudel was imprisoned until a few minutes ago.
"Shishishi. That brat is imprisoned and will now go to the gallows! The Bismarck's are ruined! The best part is that since I was the one who reported him, I'll have them put me in charge of investigating his Lost Item!"
The next video was about the day his execution was decided.
"Now that the Cashmiro's have taken care of Mayer, I can finally be Prime Minister! Then, when the Kingsfort's take over this country, Franz will make me a Grand Duke, and I'll have more power, shishishi!"
The Marquis was sweating coldly as the recordings continued.
The last video was from before the emergency meeting.
"Damn you, Kingsfort! How dare you betray me after I did so much for you!"
There were other individuals in the video; many of them escaped, and the few who remained were present, and one or another exposed the Marquis.
"Marquis Balzac, what do we do?"
"We thought it would only be a small fleet, not a real invasion!"
"Shouldn't we negotiate with them? I'm sure if we hand over that thing the royal family guards, they'll forgive us."
"Idiots! No one knows where that is, not even that Kingsfort trash! That's why he told me his son became friends with the prince idiot to get information! But the big idiot had no idea what he was talking about!"
The Marquis in the video bit his nails.
"Damn it! I'll have to use the useless Leonis or his slut wife as a bargaining chip! I'm sure the Edinburgh royal family will want that woman!"
The video cut off, and Rudel just let out a big sigh before speaking.
"...Well? Will you still deny it? Traitor."
The knights moved at Mayer's signal to capture the traitors except the Marquis.
Liam was on the floor, accepting the cruel truth.
"...So, Klein used me all this time. I always wondered about the strange questions... So, am I just an idiot?"
Rudel wanted to say something to Liam, but the traitor Balzac...
"Don't believe him!"
...opposed his end.
"He created those strange images using that strange thing! Don't you see? He can do anything, even take over the world if he isn't stopped!"
Rudel looked at him without paying attention.
"A man like him must be controlled, whether he's loyal or not! Who guarantees that after the war he won't take the kingdom? Please listen to me. This man is more dangerous than any country, with or without his Lost Item!"
Rudel moved his right hand, which held his katana, upward.
"Your Majesties, Mayer, Siegwald, everyone! Do you really believe this man will keep his promise and not take reprisals?"
"Hey..."
The traitor turned to look at Rudel while trembling...
"You talk too much."
"...!?"
The katana swung quickly, cutting off his head.
It fell and rolled on the floor while a fountain of red liquid gushed out.
The eyes of Marquis Balzac saw for the last time the wicked smile of Rudel, who was smiling because his plan was going smoothly.
The other ministers screamed, but Rudel paid no attention to them.
He walked to where the King and Queen were and said in a respectful tone.
"Your Majesties, what is your answer?"
The King, Leonis, saw the blood still flowing from the deceased traitor and only said one thing before his decision.
"Viscount Bradford, are you sure you will save this country if I grant you that position?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. I guarantee I will bring victory this very day."
The King took a deep breath, stood up, and a servant handed him the royal scepter, which looked like a large red and gold globe with embedded diamonds.
He raised it and said aloud.
"I, Leonis von Altfode, King of the Kingdom of Altfode, declare Viscount Rudel van Bradford! Free of any accusation of treason, and I promote him to the 6th superior rank and, finally, I decorate him as the Supreme Commander of all the kingdom's forces!"
Rudel bowed. Leonis came down and placed the scepter on his left and right shoulders.
No one protested; only a very strange voice was heard.
"Hmph, despite everything he said, I give him 90 points. Undoubtedly, my Ellen found a rare noble," said the man with cyan-colored hair, while a man next to him responded.
"...Wallace-san, this is not the time for your strange scores."
Rudel ignored that strange conversation.
The King also did; instead, he asked.
"And so, Supreme Commander-dono. What is the first thing we should do?"
Rudel said without hesitation.
"Take me to the secret entrance located below the palace dungeon and give me that ship."
Upon those words, Leonis, Siegwald, Mayer, and finally Lecia, who was embarrassed, looked at him and spoke because of what he said.
"Viscount, how do you know the location of something that only the royal family and selected individuals know??"
When he was about to open his mouth, a soldier entered shouting.
"Your Majesties, there's trouble! That man. The Bloody Knight has escaped from the prison and the palace!"
Everyone was speechless upon hearing that.
Rudel clicked his tongue and spoke rudely.
"There's no time for questions; just take me and the people I need down there now!"
Lecia wanted to insist on her question, but Leonis moved his hand to silence her.
"I would like you to later indicate how you knew, but you're right. Who are those people?"
Rudel gave unexpected names, and Leonis, the King, accepted and tasked the knights with taking the traitors to prison and calling those people.
Rudel thought as he turned around and Ixion floated on his shoulder.
(Let's see the weapon, the ship that was capable of defeating Brynhild...)