"I called you here for a simple reason, someone needs to succeed Genard."
At that, a few among those who had been keeping their heads bowed suddenly lifted their gaze.
Yuri curled his lips into a smile.
"Starting to get interested? Those of you who just raised your heads, all of you, stand up."
Yuri decided to gather Genard's relatives and choose a successor on the spot.
What he wanted was a puppet.
If he could control Bordeaux, and Bordeaux wielded the new duke's power, nothing could be better. In that sense, he first sought a relative who was either weak-willed or young in age.
"Those of you standing, line up over there in a single row."
They looked at each other for a moment, then rose from their seats and lined up as Yuri instructed.
"Good."
Yuri clapped his hands.
"Now, let's choose the duke among ourselves."
According to Yuri's standards, anyone who volunteered to be duke was automatically disqualified.
If they could spring to their feet at the mention of finding a successor right after hearing that Genard was dead, it was obvious they'd become another Genard if left alone.
Therefore, Yuri intended to select the next Duke of Euzeth from those who kept their eyes lowered as if they were dead.
"W-wait."
One of the relatives excluded by Yuri objected.
"You say you're looking for candidates, so why are we being excluded? We are rightful blood of the Jetherie line."
"My will."
"What nonsense is this, this is a ducal house, not some petty barony. This is an unfair—"
While he was speaking, the knights under Yuri's command dragged something into the hall.
It was the corpse of the dead Genard.
The relative speaking fell silent.
"Your Highness, shall we put it here? It will be unpleasant to look at."
"Leave it there."
When it was dropped unceremoniously in the center of the hall, the relatives gasped. Those faint of heart turned pale, some shutting their eyes tightly.
Yuri turned his gaze back.
"So, what?"
"That is…"
"Speak clearly. I didn't come here to play with you. Quite the opposite. What, you want to be duke? Be duke, and then lie next to Genard?"
"No."
"Good, that's how it should be."
Yuri grinned and gripped Guilty's hilt. The rasp of steel sliding from its sheath echoed through the hall.
With Guilty resting on his shoulder, Yuri spoke.
"I'm in a bad mood. As the Prince of Briol, killing all of you Jetherie bastards who colluded with the Empire is perfectly legal, so don't test me too much."
The relative who had stepped forward in protest closed his mouth and bowed his head.
Yuri nodded.
"Good, stay like that."
Yuri's eyes swept over the remaining relatives of the Jetherie family.
They couldn't be ambitious, but neither could they be utterly stupid. To live with their heads down like the dead required at least a minimum of awareness.
Yuri checked the documents Jared had handed him.
It contained the personal records of the gathered Jetherie relatives.
"Hm, hm…"
Then suddenly, a certain background caught his eye.
"Josephine Jetherie?"
"Yes?"
The woman, who had been sitting expressionless, lifted her gaze in surprise. She seemed uncomfortable with the situation, her fingers fidgeting constantly.
Yuri spoke.
"You're Genard's niece, and you've made many attempts to run away until now. And it seems you were trying to go to the Imperial Capital."
The Empire and Briol were currently at war. Josephine's face turned pale.
"T-that… it wasn't for any other reason…"
"Culture and art are the best in the capital, that's true. You wanted to become a musician? Planning to learn music in the Empire?"
"Yes…"
Josephine Jetherie was a woman who had wanted to become a musician despite her family's opposition.
"A fine dream you have. You still hold onto that passion, don't you?"
"What?"
"I'm asking if you still haven't abandoned your dream of music."
"Uh…"
She glanced around nervously, then gave a small nod.
Yuri asked.
"What instrument do you mainly play?"
"P-piano, but I'm more interested in composing than performing…"
"Good. From now on, you are the duke."
"E… excuse me?"
The hall fell silent.
Yuri closed his eyes.
"A pleasant silence. It would be fitting if music flowed through it. Now then, Duke of Euzeth Josephine Jetherie, will you play me a piece?"
"Uh, uh…"
"There's a piano right there, so please. If you feel burdened, you may refuse."
Josephine stared blankly at Yuri for a moment, then rose hesitantly.
She sat before the piano, rested her hands on her knees, scratched her thigh, then turned around.
"What should I play?"
"It's your day, so an original composition would be nice. Something lively."
After hesitating, Josephine set her fingertips on the keys. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then began to move her fingers.
Even to Yuri, who had no knowledge of music, it sounded highly skilled.
Her music, never once allowed before, now floated sweetly through the hall of Euzeth Castle, where Genard's corpse lay.
She no longer needed anyone's approval.
Because she was the duke now.
"Beautiful."
Yuri closed his eyes, savoring the melody.
"An outstanding musician. Perfect to be a duke."
Most of the people tilted their heads, not understanding what he meant, but a few quick-witted ones grasped Yuri's intent and sighed.
If Josephine became duke, she would not concern herself with running the domain. That meant the person the Third Prince installed would handle most affairs in her stead.
And just then, that very person appeared.
"Lord Bordeaux! I have carried out Your Highness's orders! The nearby lords have arrived first. What should I do?"
"Bring them here."
"Yes!"
The look of vitality on Bordeaux's face was unlike ever before, and the Jetherie relatives realized he had already fallen completely under Yuri's sway.
Soon, the hall doors opened, and several nobles entered with bewildered expressions.
They caught sight of the corpse of Jetherie lying on the floor and were horrified.
"G-good heavens!"
"What on earth!"
"Madness…"
They displayed the shock and fear that the Jetherie relatives should have shown.
One among them even went further and revealed anger.
"What on earth is going on! Third Prince, was this your doing?"
"I'm listening to music, be quiet."
"No matter if you are royalty! How can you do this to a duke, how could you—"
"He colluded with the Empire."
"E-even so! No matter what—"
Yuri swung his sword.
With a light slash through the air, a thin line appeared across the protesting noble's neck, and blood spurted out.
His head dropped to the ground.
The body collapsed a moment later.
A noble's life was taken, far too easily.
Both the relatives of the Jetherie family and the nobles who had been summoned suddenly into attendance kept their mouths shut in silence.
They were experiencing firsthand what kind of man Yuri Briol was.
"To say 'even so' after hearing he colluded with the Empire, this bastard…"
Yuri gave the nobles a cold glare, then rested Guilty on his knee and closed his eyes again, savoring the melody Josephine played.
"Josephine, what's the title? It's lively and grand."
"'News of Victory.'"
"News of Victory…"
Josephine paused her fingers for a moment and spoke.
"I, I composed it when Your Highness returned after defeating the orcs."
"Was it a piece for the Allied Army?"
"Yes, for the Allied Army, and for you, Your Highness. T-to be honest, I thought of you more. It was originally a symphony, but right now it's just…"
"Thank you, Josephine."
"M-me too."
With a flushed face, she nodded, then began playing the piano again.
Knowing the title made it even more enjoyable to hear.
"I chose my duke well."
The bloody purge continued.
Yuri cut down every insolent one. Those who survived pledged their loyalty to the royal house of Briol.
"If you collude with the Empire, or endanger Briol from behind the scenes, you'll see me again. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Cooperate."
Several corpses already lay strewn across the hall's floor.
The Jetherie relatives and the nobles were appalled.
Though they knew Yuri had made a name for himself on the battlefield, they had not expected such a young man to deal with matters this ruthlessly.
They realized something.
The disappearance of Fiore Briol did not mean the royal family's control had weakened.
Instead, someone even worse had appeared.
The most frightening part was, he was not spilling blood out of mere emotion.
Yuri Briol was wielding his sword as an efficient tool for his own ends.
"You know something?"
Yuri spoke, resting his bloodstained sword on his shoulder.
"Up north, near the Empire, slave traders still roam free. So if a noble family disappears overnight, who would know? Even if they're nobles, no one could find them."
It was a blatant threat, but no one dared raise an objection.
They only lowered their eyes.
"Josephine, keep making good music. I should invite you to the royal palace someday."
"Thank you."
"As for the domain's management, work well with Bordeaux here. If this guy does anything strange, tell me immediately."
"Your Highness, would I ever—"
"Be quiet."
"Yes…"
Yuri gathered the knights he had brought with him. Among them was the newly recruited Vicius.
"You've all done well. Now, let's return."
"Yes!"
Yuri led the knights and departed from Euzeth Castle.
Before the eyes of numerous troops, Yuri, who had killed the castle's lord, and his knights passed through the gates without any obstruction.
In a single day, he had subjugated not only a ducal family but also its faction.
The knights who followed him felt pride at Yuri's relentless stride forward.
Their captain was the leading figure of a new era.
"Wait a moment, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness."
As Yuri was riding at the head, someone urged him from behind. Only Jared would dare speak so boldly.
"What is it?"
"We've gathered about thirty men now, haven't we?"
"And?"
"If we're going to keep moving like this, shouldn't we have a name as well?"
"A name?"
"Yes."
The knights all agreed.
They were, in effect, a knight order gathered by Yuri.
Knights, by nature, valued honor, and if their order's name became known, the reputation of each knight within it would rise as well.
Yuri tilted his head.
"I haven't thought about it. Do you have a suggestion?"
Jared answered immediately.
"How about the Invincible Knight Order?"
Yuri clicked his tongue.
"Tch, next."
"Why?"
"Anyone else?"
Then, a knight who had been silent raised his hand.
"I recommend the Unmatched Knight Order!"
Yuri stared at his face for a moment, then shook his head.
"Next."
"How about the Certain Victory Knight Order?"
"Next!"
"Deadly Knight Order!"
"Ugh, fine, fine, just say whatever you want. Everyone, one by one."
As if they had been waiting, the knights began shouting names that reflected their own tastes.
"I recommend the Advancing Without Hesitation Knight Order!"
"How about the Raging Wave Knight Order, surging like a tidal wave!"
"The White Bone Knight Order, meaning we'll kill them all!!"
"Key Knight Order! We'll be the key to open any castle gate!"
"Blue Star Knight Order, the bright star in the sky!"
"Rather than Blue Star, the Seven Star Knight Order, after the Big Dipper, is better!"
"What about the Roly-Poly Knight Order, that always gets back up no matter how many times it's knocked down?"
Yuri sighed. They were just throwing around words they'd heard somewhere before.
For an ordinary knight order, perhaps those names would have suited well enough.
But this time was different.
"I'll decide."
Yuri closed his eyes, thinking for a moment.
He was preparing for a single goal.
The knight order would also fight for that goal.
"Revenge."
Yuri looked back at them.
"I gathered you for revenge. The disappearance of the previous king, my father, Fiore Briol, the destruction of Francaise, the massacre of innocent citizens, the loss of our land Bezos, the countless comrades we've lost to the ongoing war — all of it is because of those Imperial bastards. I have no intention of letting them be."
Until now, it had only been rumor, and the Empire's involvement in all these events had never been officially acknowledged.
But in this moment, Yuri declared it.
The enemy of Briol was the Empire.
He did not mention it outright, but his brother Cedric was the same.
Thinking of them all, Yuri ground his teeth and spoke.
"That's why we are the Knight Order of Revenge."
The weight of the word carried a solemn force.
The knights' expressions grew serious.
A knight must take vengeance on his enemy.
If the grudge was bound in blood, then it must be repaid in blood.
It was the moment the Knight Order of Revenge, led by Yuri Briol, Third Prince of Briol, was formed.
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