The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 2
Back to the past (2)
An unprecedented incident in which a prince beheaded a count, a high-ranking nobleman, in the palace.
Moreover, the opponent was Count Asus, a long-time close friend of the King.
Thanks to this, the throne of the Kingdom of Esteban was turned upside down.
“His Highness the Prince has eaten.”
The servant’s voice echoed throughout the palace.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the unfamiliar title.
I walked slowly and approached the throne rising at the end of the wide hall.
A golden chair that you can’t even see unless you look up. A seat that was mine until recently.
And finally, a space where mountains of corpses and seas of blood spread out endlessly.
But now, there sat the father he had longed for so much, looking very presentable.
“Allen Esteban.”
I smiled faintly at the sound of my father’s voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time.
How long has it been since I last smiled like this?
If anyone knew what I looked like before I regressed, they would be very surprised.
Since I suddenly ascended to the throne, I don’t remember laughing sincerely for at least ten years.
But I still felt like the corners of my lips naturally went up and didn’t look awkward.
“Ahem.”
I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of a nobleman’s cough.
As I looked around with my eyebrows furrowed, the nobles lined up around the throne turned their heads with weary expressions.
Oh! These are all familiar faces.
Without realizing it, I blurted out the sincerity that was welling up in my heart.
“It’s been a long time, Father.”
“I always told you to be careful of your words and actions, Allen Esteban. Remember that this is a time of serious assembly.”
Oops.
I nodded, recalling the etiquette I had learned long ago.
“Greetings to His Majesty the King, who is the beacon of all knights and the leader of the Kingdom of Asteban.”
“Tsk. Prince, stop and raise your head.”
“yes.”
It’s been a really long time since I’ve recited such ridiculous lines.
This also felt refreshing in its own way.
The nobles’ meeting began in such a rather solemn atmosphere.
“Do you know why we held this meeting of nobles?”
“Yes. Chewb… … Ahem. Isn’t it because Count Asus died?”
“That is indeed correct. Does the First Prince admit to killing his aide, Count Asus, in his office this morning?”
“Yes, I admit it.”
My quick admission created a murmur around me.
Most people just shook their heads at the disaster that occurred in the palace, but some of them looked at me with disapproving or even hostile eyes.
Looking closely, I saw that the lynxes had been following Duke Asus around and eating the fallen beans before the return.
As the commotion continued, the sword in the king’s hand struck the floor loudly.
Knock knock knock!
Then the inside of Daejeon becomes as quiet as a mouse.
As I glanced over the quiet nobles, the angry king’s voice struck my ears like a thunderbolt.
“Why did the prince murder the innocent Count Asus, and in the royal castle that should have been noble?”
The innocent Count Asus.
In some ways, it was an obvious story.
In the eyes of the nobles, Count Asus was a loyal subject who was more upright and devoted to the royal family than anyone else.
‘I thought so too.’
But I was confident.
It was right for me to kill him, it was the right thing to do.
Their position was of no concern to me as they knew nothing.
Of course, that doesn’t mean we can just leave it like that.
Whatever the future holds, isn’t he still the innocent and upright Count Asus who never showed his teeth?
It goes without saying that this incident will continue to be a stumbling block in my future endeavors.
‘I can’t afford to waste my newfound time on something like this.’
Now that we’ve returned to the past.
There was a mountain of work to be done.
That’s why I took out the knowledge I had learned from the future as a weapon.
“Before answering that question, there is something I would like to ask Your Majesty the King.”
“Speak.”
“What is the scope of conduct that constitutes collusion with an enemy state under the laws of the Kingdom?”
The expressions of several nobles distorted at my confident question.
I did not miss that moment and remembered the faces of the nobles whose expressions had changed.
The king spoke, bewildered by the unexpected question.
“It is defined as small-scale financial support such as military rations or gold coins, and large-scale all acts that benefit the enemy.”
“If so, what punishment will be given to those who plot a rebellion with the support of another country?”
“that…….”
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Only then did the king feel something strange and furrow his brows. However, the words that would come out of his mouth had already been decided.
“That person and his three family members are summarily executed and their titles of nobility are permanently stripped away.”
The corners of the mouth go up again.
I spread my arms wide and shouted as if giving a speech.
“If Count Asus had been innocent, I wouldn’t have killed him! But he was secretly training an army with the support of the Carrot Federation Empire!”
“… … What?”
“Of course, I dare say that all of this was done with the intention of inciting rebellion.”
Then, the nobles’ voices suddenly grew louder and an unprecedented commotion broke out within the palace.
“That’s a lie! How could Count Asus, who has been loyal to the royal family, say something like that?”
“That’s nonsense!”
Groan groan-
How dare you tell a lie to the prince of a country.
Although this would have been an absolutely unacceptable action under normal circumstances, the shock it gave the nobles lined up in front of the palace was enormous.
But on the contrary, the king’s face was filled with anger.
“If you just listen, there’s nothing you can’t say, Allen Esteban!”
“It is the truth without a single lie.”
“How dare you! You stand here now for the crime of murdering a pillar of the kingdom who has been loyal to the crown for hundreds of years!”
“Yes, I know.”
“But, how dare you mock me in such a place!”
It was a series of unbelievable sounds. It was only natural that the King’s voice would be raised.
“I was only acting for the sake of the kingdom.”
But isn’t his appearance so confident, different from usual, as if he had only told the truth, as if he had truly done what he had to do?
“If you were trying to disparage Jim in order to make excuses, I won’t take it lightly. You will have to take responsibility for your own words.”
“Of course.”
“Evidence. There must be evidence. Where is the evidence that Count Asus was in collusion with the Empire?”
“Coincidentally, I have it now.”
“Bring it right now.”
I took out the two pieces of paper I had brought with me in advance from my bosom and handed them to the courtier waiting under the throne.
It was something I took out in a hurry before being called to the nobles’ meeting.
Of course, as he said, all the evidence was sleeping under the office.
‘I never thought it would be written like this… … .’
The password to open the hidden safe is the same one he usually uses.
Given his personality, my guess that the place where he hides his stuff or the password wouldn’t have changed was correct.
The paper eventually passed from the hands of the subject to the king.
As the King read this, his expression began to gradually crumble.
What I handed over to the King was one of the clear pieces of evidence that Asus had been seeking for a long time in his previous life, which he had wanted to send to the Carrot Federation Empire.
There was no information about the sender, but perhaps the king, who was a long-time friend of Asus, could read Asus’ unique handwriting and engraving.
but.
“This is… … .”
It was only two letters long, but the content they contained was astonishing.
Not only did it directly mention the usurpation of the throne, but one of the letters even detailed the movements of the kingdom’s troops.
Especially in the following passage, the king’s anger reached its peak.
“You’re going to make me drink slightly diluted poison for ten years so that there will be no evidence of the assassination? Are you telling me to believe this now?”
The letter in the king’s hands was crumpled terribly.
Is this how it’s going to be?
Even I, who had regressed, could not believe this fact, so I did not think that others would believe it right away.
of course…….
‘If I couldn’t prove this, I wouldn’t have presented it.’
I said, slowly approaching the throne.
“Do you really think that the letter was forged?”
“If it’s for immediate immunity, then it’s possible!”
“Even so, call the palace wizard to investigate. He will be found out within an hour. Of course, His Majesty the King, a close friend of Count Asus, will know better that the letter is genuine.”
You already know that.
In an instant, the inside of Daejeon was filled with suffocating tension.
And as I looked at it, my mouth slowly opened.
“There are other things that Count Asus has done. For example, he colluded with the barbarians in the north and sold military information to our allies.”
“… … What?”
If collusion with the Carrot Empire was close to a shocking accusation, this statement was truly a series of absurdities.
This was also the case for the king, who appeared relatively calm.
The king spoke, trying to calm his stammering voice.
“You sold information to the barbarians? That is truly absurd.”
“As proof, a messenger will soon arrive announcing the invasion of the barbarians.”
“Huh! How could a barbarian invade a kingdom?”
“I see you still don’t believe me. Okay. Then how about we do it this way?”
I twisted off the ring on my left hand and carefully put it back down.
It was a treasure that represented the royal family’s emblem and evidence of the prince’s status.
“If I am wrong, I will accept all punishment. However, this incident has made me realize the importance of information.”
“that…….”
“So if what I’m saying is true… … please allow me to establish a direct intelligence agency for the sake of Esteban’s future.”
“Huh, you’re asking for your rights at your own criminal hearing?”
The interior of the palace is still filled with the noise of the nobles.
But the king, who should at least silence the commotion for now, also felt the same way.
“You will also have to take responsibility for your words.”
Because the idea of an invasion by barbarians was just too absurd.
That moment.
bang!
All the commotion was put to an end by a knight running in with a thoughtful face.
He ran without even giving himself time to get up, and dust flew from the knight’s body and scattered across the floor of Daejeon.
The king frowned at that sight.
“What kind of rudeness is this!”
The king’s angry voice echoed throughout the palace.
The knight, who had rushed towards the king without giving him time to catch his breath, lowered his head and spoke hurriedly.
“Oh, breaking news! Please forgive my sudden rudeness!”
“Breaking news? What is it that has caused you to interrupt this solemn noble meeting?”
“A large-scale invasion by barbarians has been detected in the northern border area!”
“……what?”
The nobles’ gaze was immediately focused on me.
An expression of utter disbelief was clearly visible on their faces.
Inside Daejeon, chaos ensues.
I took off my coat and spoke to the knight who was gasping for breath in the middle of the battle.
“Immediately draw up troops from the nobles along the border, and tell the soldiers on the front to concentrate solely on holding the line. The royal elite will arrive within four days.”
“Yes? Yes! I will obey your orders!”
A command so natural.
It was a clear abuse of authority, but no one here was aware of it.
I swept my bangs back as I watched the departing knight.
“Your Majesty, does this prove what I am saying?”
“For now, what is this… … .”
“What better evidence can there be that Count Asus was in collusion with the enemy?”
It was a lie.
The invasion of the barbarians simply had to happen today. It had nothing to do with Count Asus.
But thanks to a series of circumstances, at least for those present, the only thing that would have dominated their thoughts was that it was Count Asus’ doing.
A situation that fits together like a puzzle.
That was the reason why he deliberately delayed and did not present the evidence right away.
With a design that was close to perfection, it was able to impress upon the King that it was a work of the Carrot Federation Empire, even though it was not complete evidence of collusion.
And the result is… … .
“The first prince… … how did he know this fact?”
“I noticed something strange about Count Asus and conducted a separate investigation.”
“Is that so… … Count Asus really… … .”
“I dare not say that taking a life in the palace is a trivial matter, but my beliefs do not allow me to forgive it.”
The king leaned back on his throne with a groan that was almost a sigh.
I didn’t miss this moment and started pushing hard.
“That’s not all. In addition to collusion, the Count has also committed heinous acts, such as hiring assassins to kill nobles who interfere with his business.”
“Phew.”
Likewise, this is not easy to accept just by saying it in words.
Evidence that could not be brought in due to lack of time.
What I pulled out this time was the wedge that would end this case.
“It is not difficult to prove this, but would it be meaningful for me to tell you where the evidence is located here?”
“What does that mean?”
“Even if I tell you where the evidence exists, it would be of no use if someone there destroys that evidence.”
My gaze passed over the nobles’ faces once again.
From the bewildered-looking nobles to the thoughtful ones, I continued talking while thoroughly enjoying all of those expressions.
“Therefore, Your Majesty, I request that you immediately seal the gates of Daejeon and dispatch investigators.”
The confident appearance of the first prince was completely different from the behavior he had shown until now.
The way you speak and act is as if you are a different person.
That’s what it seemed to the King, with whom he had been living for the past twenty years.
But the judgment was quick.
“Where is the evidence?”
“It’s nearby.”
“Hmm… … Listen. Royal Guardian Knight Commander Arnold, listen up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring evidence as soon as the prince tells you the location.”
“I will obey your orders… … .”
“no.”
I cut Arnold off.
Then the king’s eyebrows twitched.
“What now?”
“He was someone who was usually supported by Count Asus. Wouldn’t it be possible for him to destroy evidence for the sake of Count Asus’s honor?”
Before returning, the Royal Guard Knights, despite being the King’s direct guard, helped the rebellion.
And Arnold was still serving as the Commander of the Royal Guard in the future.
That’s why I rejected him, I rejected him because I couldn’t trust him.
Arnold shook his head with a look of indignation.
“Absolutely not!”
“It is said that you can know the depth of ten feet of water, but you cannot know the heart of a one-foot person. Even Asus was like that. We must be very careful in case of an unexpected situation.”
Then she smiled at Arnold and answered.
“Wouldn’t that be so?”
“Phew.”
The king said with a sigh.
“Then who would the First Prince like to send as an investigator?”
“In my opinion… … .”
I looked closely at the faces of the nobles listed.
A person who had no contact with the Asus Duke before his return, but whose expression did not change at the time of the revelation.
I found a suitable figure and nodded.
“Baron Vidor would be nice.”
“Yes? Are you talking about me?”
Baron Vidor, who had been called by my name, spoke with a puzzled look on his face.
He was known to be a man of modest means and not very ambitious, even in the future. He was a fair and just nobleman who cared for the people of his territory more than anyone else.
It was enough to trust and leave the work to him.
“Very well, Baron Vidor. Ask the First Prince for the location and go immediately.”
“Poem, God Vidor. I will obey your command.”
Okay.
This is exactly what was intended.
I walked over to the desk where the secretary was sitting and snatched the paper and pen from him.
He then drew a brief map of where the evidence was located and gave it to Baron Vidor.
Baron Vidor was greatly surprised when he confirmed the location.
“Am I really in a place like this?”
“hmm.”
I hurried Baron Vidor with a wave of my hand. Then he left the palace with a half-hearted expression on his face.
The king opened his mouth after confirming that he had escaped.
“Then let’s postpone the agenda of this noble council, the decision on the treatment of the First Prince, for a while. Do you have anything else to say, First Prince?”
“Yes, there is.”
“… … Try it.”
“Now that Count Asus is dead, I will appoint my aide again.”
“……i get it.”
The king spoke, sweeping his bangs back with a tired look on his face.
“If there is an aide the First Prince desires, call his name.”
The nobles’ faces hardened at those words.
Don’t worry, you won’t be picked.
“I’m not here, so I’ll tell you later.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Also, please allow us to establish a separate order of knights to conduct intelligence gathering under the Ministry of Information.”
“Huh… … Okay, do as you wish.”
The king soon closed his eyes and leaned back as if he didn’t want to think about anything.
So Daejeon was filled with silence.
In this situation, I was the only one who felt excited.
Let’s see… … .
My cold gaze fell on several nobles.
Just before he died at the hands of the Duke of Asus. The faces that laughed behind him.
And the three masters who received orders from neighboring countries and only interfered with everything.
Even though I was younger now, I still recognized those disgusting faces.
Thanks to that, a smile came out of my face.
I will kill you all soon too.
This incident was just a minor warning.
My revenge was just beginning.
