TVPSTDK-43

“……”

 

“……”

 

The atmosphere fell silent once again.

 

Cassia’s explanation was crystal clear, leaving no room for rebuttal. Yet, there was still one person who struggled desperately until the end.

 

“T-That barrier stone wasn’t allocated to us! It was assigned to the Azure Dawn Knights, wasn’t it?!”

 

The one speaking was none other than the commander of the 4th Knights, now cornered with no way out.

 

As he frantically glanced around, his eyes met those of Sir Gerard. At that moment, his face twisted into a grotesque grimace.

 

“Yes! The deputy commander must have secretly switched the barrier stones!”

 

The 4th Knight Commander immediately latched onto Sir Gerard.

 

“You conspired with the Azure Dawn Knights to frame me for all of this, didn’t you?!”

 

Sir Gerard’s expression turned ice-cold.

 

“Commander, do you think I am someone like you?”

 

At those biting words, the 4th Knight Commander’s eyes widened in fury.

 

“You bastard?!”

 

“I suggest you watch your words.”

 

Sir Gerard met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down an inch.

 

“I will no longer tolerate you tarnishing my honor.”

 

At that moment, Giscard stepped forward.

 

“You insist on disgracing yourself until the very end, Commander of the 4th Knights.”

 

“Sir Romanov!”

 

“Did you really think we wouldn’t know you took our barrier stone?”

 

To make matters worse, even Sir Patrick, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up.

 

“I saw it myself.”

 

“You saw what?”

 

With a face hardened like stone, Sir Patrick stared at the 4th Knight Commander.

 

“I saw you taking the barrier stone from our storage.”

 

Shock spread across the 4th Knight Commander’s face.

 

‘Lies!’

 

Back when the demonic beasts had just broken free from their seal, he had been in a hurry. He had to switch out the barrier stones before the Azure Dawn Knights discovered him.

 

So he had rushed into the nearest storage room and grabbed whatever barrier stone he could get his hands on.

 

It was only after he had left the storage that he realized it belonged to the Azure Dawn Knights.

 

But he had thought it wouldn’t be a problem.

 

After all, the barrier stones allocated were the same. As long as he replaced them before anyone noticed, there would be no issue—at least, that’s what he had believed.

 

‘Damn it… who would’ve thought they’d tamper with the barrier stone…’

 

Unconsciously, the 4th Knight Commander began backing away.

 

If he could, he would have run from the scene that very moment.

 

“Restrain him immediately.”

 

Giscard issued the cold command.

 

The 4th Knight Commander’s face contorted in panic.

 

“W-What are you saying?! I am the commander of the 4th Knights! How can you treat a fellow commander like this?!”

 

“A knight commander should protect the empire, safeguard civilians, and fulfill their duty, should they not?”

 

Giscard stared him down with an expression so severe it seemed not even a needle could pass through.

 

“But you have done none of those things. That alone strips you of the right to call yourself a knight.”

 

“Sir Romanov!”

 

“Thus, you are no longer a commander. You are merely…”

 

His blue eyes were now filled with nothing but disdain and loathing.

 

“…a piece of trash who defiled the portal’s seal and orchestrated the release of demonic beasts.”

 

At the same time, the Azure Dawn knights surged forward and seized the 4th Knight Commander.

 

They twisted his arms behind his back, binding him forcefully.

 

“Let go—Argh! That hurts!”

 

The 4th Knight Commander thrashed, screaming.

 

“I-I’m the Commander-in-Chief’s nephew! Do you really think you can treat me this way and get away with it?!”

 

He continued to struggle, but there was no way he could overpower the Azure Dawn knights, who were hardened by years of battle.

 

Meanwhile, the knights of the 4th Knights were taken aback as they watched their leader being restrained.

 

“C-Commander!”

 

“But still… isn’t this a bit too much…?”

 

Just then,

 

Cassia suddenly raised her hand to her forehead, feigning frailty.

 

“Ah… I suddenly feel so dizzy… I think I’m going to collapse.”

 

“Administrative Officer Astrid?!”

 

Startled, Giscard turned his attention to Cassia.

 

Cassia feigned an expression of sheer terror as she looked at Giscard.

 

Beneath the shadow of her long, thick eyelashes, her crimson eyes trembled faintly. She continued speaking in a delicate voice.

 

“Well, it’s just that… this whole incident made me truly realize how close I came to dying.”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

At those words, the knights of the 4th Knights stiffened.

 

That was right.

 

Everything had happened so chaotically that they hadn’t fully grasped the gravity of the situation. But the truth was undeniable—this incident had placed the Empire’s sole legitimate imperial princess in mortal danger.

 

Even if she was a troublemaker, a reckless nuisance—she was still a princess.

 

The fact that a member of the imperial bloodline had been attacked meant that the royal family would undoubtedly pursue this matter with serious repercussions.

 

Cassia’s maternal family, the Ducal House of Diaz, the most prestigious noble house in the Empire, would surely lodge a formal protest as well.

 

But more than anything, the greatest problem was…

 

‘The cause of this incident… is us—the 4th Knights of Knights.’

 

Unconsciously, the knights swallowed dryly.

 

It was one thing that their commander had ordered them to delay the replacement of the barrier stone.

 

But they were the ones who had followed that order.

 

And now, with that engraved barrier stone as undeniable evidence, the responsibility was undeniably theirs.

 

Holding her forehead as if overwhelmed, Cassia continued in a voice loud enough for all to hear.

 

“The commander of the 4th Knights, instead of setting an example as the leader of his knights, was negligent in his duties, attempted to destroy evidence, and even tried to frame our Azure Dawn Knights?”

 

For someone who claimed she was so shaken she might faint, her voice and tone were remarkably clear and steady.

 

“I’m just so, so terrified. I really think the commander of the 4th Knights should be tightly restrained right away.”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

Silence filled the room.

 

Her shameless audacity left the knights of the Azure Dawn Knights momentarily stunned.

 

The commander of the 4th Knights couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

 

Meanwhile, the sheer brutality of her factual accusations had drained all color from the faces of the 4th Knights knights.

 

And then—

 

‘In that case…’

 

‘There’s only one option left.’

 

Exchanging glances, the knights of the 4th Knights suddenly lunged at their own commander.

 

“Commander, please remain still!”

 

“If we let this escalate any further, we’ll all be doomed!”

 

In the end, the 4th Knights made their decision—they would cast aside their leader.

 

“How—How could you do this to me?!”

 

The commander of the 4th Knights struggled in betrayal, but his subordinates showed no hesitation.

 

Ultimately, he was forced to his knees by the very knights under his command.

 

Sir Gerard watched with a complicated expression as the man who had once ruined his life now met his downfall.

 

‘Hehe.’

 

Cassia couldn’t hide the satisfaction on her face.

 

And as for Giscard…

 

‘Impressive.’

 

His blue eyes, filled with admiration, remained fixed on Cassia.

 

She was a princess who had lived her entire life sheltered within the imperial palace.

 

On the surface, she appeared composed, but there was no doubt that the events of today had been deeply shocking for her.

 

And yet, she had regained her composure in an instant, assessed the situation, and determined exactly what needed to be done.

 

Not only that—she had seized control of the moment and brought everything to a swift resolution.

 

That was unmistakably… the mark of a leader.

 

‘Far more capable than Prince Fernando.’

 

Unable to tear his gaze away from Cassia’s sharp, perceptive eyes, Giscard found himself unconsciously thinking that very thought.

 

* * *

 

Finally, the long day had come to an end.

 

Giscard and I had decided to return to the Azure Dawn Knights’ quarters tomorrow.

 

To leave early in the morning, I needed to get some sleep somehow.

 

‘…I can’t sleep.’

 

Right now, I was staring at the worn-out ceiling with my eyes wide open.

 

‘To be honest… I was really scared.’

 

With hands damp from cold sweat, I gripped the blanket covering my body tightly.

 

The moment I faced the demonic beast.

 

Just recalling that moment made my entire body tremble uncontrollably.

 

The scorching breath of the beast brushing against me.

 

Its fierce, piercing gaze locked onto mine.

 

The raw, unmistakable hostility I could feel on my skin.

 

The relentless pursuit, as if I were its sole target.

 

‘No, I need to stop thinking about it.’

 

I forced myself to focus on something else.

 

‘At least I gained something from today’s events.’

 

The biggest outcome was, without a doubt, the opportunity to officially expel the commander of the 4th Knights.

 

And while I was at it, I could also purge a few insolent knights who were particularly close to him.

 

‘It might be a good idea to strengthen Sir Gerard’s position here.’

 

If I could promote Sir Gerard to commander, our knights wouldn’t have to struggle so much when working with the Fourth Order in the future.

 

And yet…

 

“Sigh.”

 

At this point in my thoughts, I let out a deep breath.

 

No matter how much I tried to focus on something else, the dark shadows of that encounter lingered in my mind.

 

Before I knew it, my fingertips gripping the blanket had gone cold.

 

‘This isn’t working.’

 

Lying here like this wouldn’t help me fall asleep.

 

I sat up abruptly.

 

TL/N: FROM NOW ON, I’M GONNA STICK WITH THE “4TH KNIGHTS” RATHER THAN “4TH KNIGHT ORDER” (KINDA LONG TO WRITE EVERY TIME:/)

 

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