How to Live as a Tyrant’s Bastard Brother

(14)

At this point in my past life, Rudi was already a dead body.

It had been some time since the ‘First Duke Rebellion.’

In my past life, I found myself indecisive, unable to choose either side, standing with one foot in each camp, hesitating.

And Rudi died for the crime of letting me stall like that, for not serving me properly.

“Neutrality does not mean you are not an enemy; it means you are not on our side.”

“There is no such thing as neutrality in this world. If you are not on my side, you are an enemy.”

The teacher of experience charged a hefty tuition fee in the form of a precious life.

Therefore, I decided to firmly choose a side in this life.

I would abandon the half-siblings, the dukes, and stand by my younger sister, Empress Jeilliris of the Solletarass Empire.

Thanks to that, I saved a precious person, but as a result, the history I knew subtly shifted.

“Rudi?”

I looked at my three-years-older maid with a bewildered expression.

Rudi’s fair face was gradually losing its color, shifting from yellow to brown to gray and finally turning pale.

“Rudi! Breathe! Breathe.”

I got up from her knees and patted her back.

“Your Highness, what should I do? It seems my actions have put you in danger.”

Tears filled Rudi’s green eyes.

I first looked up to see if the coachman had heard our conversation.

Seeing his unchanged expression, it seemed he hadn’t heard anything yet.

While I was lost in thought, Rudi collected her breath and soon spoke with a tragic expression.

“Your Highness, you must go and report me. You must live, at least.”

“What do you mean?”

“If this continues, Your Highness might get accused of trying to embezzle the relics. Your reputation is already not good.”

“………”

“I am unworthy and reckless, and I have not served you properly. I can only apologize.”

“……!”

I had heard those words in my past life too.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“I am unworthy and reckless, and I have not served you properly. I can only apologize.”

I grit my teeth and shook my head.

In my past life, I did not hear that the real culprit behind this incident was caught.

The fact that a servant from the Western Palace had stolen a penpoint was only revealed long after the event had passed.

However, I could not hope that this time it would be buried in time.

Someone must have seen Rudi leaving with a parcel outside the Imperial Palace.

Now, clearing Tenitia’s name would not be enough.

With my thoughts settled, I slowly lifted my head.

I could see groups of soldiers, four or five in number, roaming various parts of the Imperial Palace outside the carriage window.

Thinking that they had deployed soldiers throughout the palace, there must be at least a thousand.

The ‘Giant Urglim’s Penpoint’ was an important magic tool.

If used to besiege a fortress, they could uncover all secret passages of the enemy.

“Rudi, it seems your friend was not much of a friend.”

“Yes, Your Highness. How can I call someone who brings trouble to you my friend? That Ratbon scoundrel…!”

Rudi’s green eyes brimmed with anger.

I gazed up at the darkening sky.

Since the signing would have been completed during the day, by now, Tenitia’s imprisonment might have been lifted.

“Rudi. We need to catch that scoundrel before the soldiers chase you or before he gets caught and sells out your name.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ll head to the Western Palace first, so go to the Knight’s quarters and bring Tenitia back.”

“Tenitia? Understood.”

“You said his name was Ratbon? What does he look like?”

“Black hair, gently drooping eyes, a thin build. His irises are dark brown. He doesn’t look like someone who would pull such a stunt.”

* * *

The Platinum Knight’s quarters were located next to the training ground.

The coachman had a bewildered expression when I told him to take me back to where we just came from, but he closed his mouth when he saw my twisted face.

“I’ll get off here.”

I disembarked at the fork leading to the Western Palace.

“Your Excellency. I greet Duke Valencius.”

“Thank you. You must be tired at this late hour.”

“There has been an incident involving the loss of a magic tool at the Western Palace, and this area has been sealed off. I’m sorry, but no one is allowed to pass.”

The penpoint had already left the palace; what was going on now?

“This is my home; are you saying there are places I can’t go?”

I lifted my chin and spoke in an overbearing manner.

The soldiers mumbled something about ‘Sir Bonnel’ and ‘Casino.’

“Then, I apologize, but may we search your person?”

I spread my arms and answered heartily.

“Good to see someone so eager to do their duty.”

After the soldier checked various pockets of my uniform, I returned his salute.

“Yes, you may proceed.”

“Alright, have you grasped the outline of the suspect yet?”

“We newly planted seedlings in the Western Palace garden yesterday. We have reports that some of the servants and attendants showed suspicious movements around that time, so we are searching that area.”

“Seedlings?”

After a brief hesitation, the soldier opened his mouth.

“We planted five hundred seedlings. There was a possibility that the magic tool was hidden in that hole, so we are in the process of digging them all up.”

“…….”

They were just digging for no reason.

“Isn’t it possible that the magic tool has already left the palace?”

“The servants and attendants of the Western Palace can only go out on weekends. The maids and servants are not allowed in the area where the magic tool was kept, so we affirm that the magic tool has not been leaked out of the palace.”

“Got it. Good work.”

‘Why not just give it to me in front of the Western Palace instead of calling me out here?’

Rudi’s words flashed through my mind.

I quickened my pace.

* * *

The Imperial Palace of the Solletarass Empire was vast.

The surrounding walls, higher than most castle walls, stretched a full 13 kilometers, making it almost the size of a small city.

The main palace where the Emperor resides was nestled halfway up a mountain overlooking the capital, behind which lay the Crimson Crescent Palace and expansive lawns, artificially created forests, and lakes.

The paths made of sandstone and paving stones were wide enough for three carriages to pass side by side.

Next to them, elegant trees spread their long limbs, dancing in the night breeze.

Thanks to the rows of magic tool streetlights that gathered sunlight during the day and emitted it at night, darkness did not reign even at night.

Considering that even affluent districts of the capital still used oil lamps, it was a tremendous luxury.

Walking toward the distant Western Palace illuminated by the streetlights, Valencius moved.

The Western Palace was originally where the wives of the vassals stayed, either those who were left in charge during the prince’s reign or those who became widows after the vassal’s death.

However, a year ago, both the late emperor and empress handed everything, including their lives, over to Jeilliris.

The late emperor took the throne after the death of his father, Valencius’s grandfather.

The Western Palace had long been without a master and had devolved into a storage for necessary but currently unused magic tools.

A masterless palace. The symbol of a place where members of minor noble families and princes without connections came to become maids and attendants, it had become a grave for their ambitions.

Because of the symbol that was where the vassal family resided, a hefty management fee for the palace was allocated.

So that a few hundred seedlings could be planted without anyone to report or admire them.

“Although I don’t know, it must have been a massive amount of embezzlement.”

Valencius muttered as old memories and Madame Laviecia came to mind.

It was obvious that they had confused the money they managed with their own, even reaching out to the royal magic tools.

“Your Excellency, Duke Valencius?”

“You’ve had a tough time. May you have a tougher time ahead.”

Soldiers had gathered in front of the Western Palace lawn.

In this hot night, they were sweating profusely as they dug up the seedlings.

I spotted a few Platinum Knights clad in full plate armor.

“Dig faster! Hurry it up! If you can’t find it, you all will end up in that hole.”

“Where did the Giant’s Penpoint go? You better speak so we can hold back the punishment!”

“Bring the management ledgers! They weren’t just after one magic tool.”

Despite being nobles, the maids and attendants were merely held captive in the nearby quarters for now.

However, maids and servants were already being dragged out and beaten by furious soldiers and knights as they dug under the moonlight.

“I think we need to request support from the Chief of Police. We need to be able to figure out what’s what.”

“I agree. Hm? Your Highness, you can’t go in there.”

Two knights groaning while looking over the management ledger yelled urgently.

Valencius, heading toward the quarters, mischievously smiled and raised one hand.

“I will be back shortly. I have someone to meet.”

“Don’t be foolish. The Western Palace is sealed until we find the penpoint.”

Valencius discreetly snatched the palace management ledger from the knight’s hand.

“Let me show you how to read this.”

“Uh, uh?”

“You shouldn’t look recklessly-”

“Here is the money that came in. Here is the money that went out. This is the regular outgoing money, and this is the money that changes each month.”

He too had once been an unruly bandit in the capital, second to none.

In a past life, he had colluded with the manager of the Crimson Crescent Palace and made off with all the budget.

The Western Palace attendants had lived for decades without once being audited in their own little world.

Their shallow minds and lazy hands could not escape the eyes of the unruly Valencius, who had deftly walked a tightrope with Jeilliris.

“They say they bought new furniture, but the receiving location is a brewery. There’s nothing about quantity listed here.”

“Ah.”

“They claimed to have donated a certain amount to an orphanage, but the amount for next month’s banquet expenses has strangely increased. Yet the rental cost for the carriage they used to go to the banquet is missing. They probably split the donation with the orphanage.”

“I see.”

“They reported damage to the furniture, but there’s no record of disposal. There probably won’t be a record of buying new furniture either. They must have embezzled it.”

“!”

“This is unbelievable.”

The knight, looking at the same ledger, scolded himself for not noticing.

To him, Valencius gave a smile akin to that of a saint.

“Your talents are not in accounting, but in swords, are they not? You have no need to feel guilty for not knowing something like this.”

“When, when did you learn such things?”

One knight expressed his suspicion late, but the other knights were already bombarding Valencius with questions.

“Is that important?”

While answering those questions with a smile, Valencius looked at the knight.

“The important thing is that the report to the Emperor will become thicker, isn’t it? Even if we fail to find the magic tool, we can distract attention in other directions.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t Sir Barbatos imprison Lady Trentia yesterday? You all need to improve your performance. You need to prevent the Black Iron Knights from taking guard at the Western Palace again!”

Gulps could be heard from various directions.

For the Platinum Knights, it was unthinkable to allow the Black Iron Knights back into the palace.

With a halo of light like a savior behind his brilliantly shining white hair under the streetlight, Valencius spoke.

“Don’t just chase after a single missing magic tool; address the corruption within the Western Palace comprehensively. I hope you can prove that you are noble knights equipped with reason and judgment, not just simple swordsmen.”

Twisting his tongue with cleverness, Valencius smiled and turned back.

“Your Excellency! Thank you!”

“I, is that really the bandit who kicked Sir Bonnel’s shins?”

“I was inspired by your words!”

As I headed towards the maid’s quarters, Valencius bit his lip where no one could see.

Perhaps I should have used rougher expressions.

I needed to create an image where it seemed the knights realized this on their own, not just following my advice.

“We’re running out of time.”

That was always the problem.

“Their urgent need will prevent them from saying my name.”

Hoping the mistake wouldn’t end up as just a mistake, Valencius walked down the eerily silent corridor.

The rivalry and competition among the blue, platinum, black iron, and brass knight factions, and the extreme confrontations had been going on for days.

The Platinum Knights would likely claim they had resolved the Western Palace’s corruption without the aid of Duke Valencius.

Believing only in that fact, Valencius stood before a door.

“What do we do?”

“I don’t know! I don’t know! Who on earth is it?”

“No matter what, how can we be so lax with a magic tool?”

“Because of that one scoundrel, we are all about to be ruined.”

“But who is it? The maids and servants can’t even approach. Are you saying it’s one of us?”

“Come out quickly! Confess!”

“Wasn’t it one of those who frequented the casino? Who among us goes to the casino?”

“Are you talking to me?”

Hearing the conversations tinged with annoyance and fear, Valencius turned the doorknob.

The firmly locked knob would not turn.

With a crack, strength poured into his grip, and the wooden pieces and metal parts crumbled.

“Uh, uh?”

“Duke Your Excellency?”

Valencius nonchalantly glanced at the maidservants and attendants gathered in the room.

Even if none of them were the magic tool thief, they were all embezzlers nonetheless.

“Who is Ratbon?”

“I, I am Ratbon.”

One attendant raised his hand.

Black hair with drooping eyes, brown irises.

He was a boy who looked gentle, just as Rudi had said.

“May I speak with you privately?”

“I’m sorry, but we received orders to gather in this room—”

“Did I ask if I could come? Follow me. That is an order.”

“…!”

Ratbon stood up.

The maids and attendants who had been gathered all exchanged worried, suspicious, and questioning glances.

Valencius led him into a nearby room and closed the door.

“Who sent you?”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

Without hesitating at that answer, Valencius stated.

“A sharply pricking flame.”

A long flame, elongated like a spear, danced over his shoulder.

Ratbon’s once gentle eyes turned sharp like those of a snake.

Valencius distinctly saw his hand slipping toward his waist.

It was a movement that did not belong to an ordinary attendant.

‘Did he come in with a plan?’

However, he was a swordsman who had reached the highest level of Sword Expert.

Whack! Before Ratbon could even draw his dagger, he had already kicked under Ratbon’s knee.

“Hahaha.”

Ratbon, dropping the dagger and crashing to the floor, laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“It seems you have no intention of abandoning your maid. Rumor has it you have been selling out your half-siblings in a desperate attempt to survive, but unexpectedly, you are quite loyal.”

That hit home.

“Rudi, right? Yes, Rudi. If you intended to catch me, you could have just told the guards outside, yet you came alone?”

“…….”

“I have no intention of dying alone. The moment I am captured, everything will burn. Your maid will be dragged out with me. Do you understand? We are now in the same boat.”

“…….”

“It seems getting close to your maid has paid off. Tomorrow, please accompany me as we leave this palace. It seems we need to make our escape quickly.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Do as you wish. Soon, rumors will spread that some maid carried a parcel outside the palace. Of course, after that, I would be caught too.”

Valencius remained silent.

Thinking of that as surrender, Ratbon kept talking.

“No one in this palace will take the blame for all the crimes on your behalf. What knight would follow a scoundrel like you?”

Footsteps sounded below.

It was a familiar step.

Valencius closed his eyes briefly and shook his head.

“What if they do?”

“!”

With slightly tousled short hair mixed with a dull red hue.

A knight with a noble yet tragic presence, like a heroic wolf, entered the room fully armed.

“Duke Valencius.”

“Lady Trentia.”

After a light nod to each other, Trentia approached the fallen Ratbon.

“Did you frame me?”

“Wait a moment!”

Then she kicked his face with her steel boots.

---