Chapter 46. Beauty and the Beast

The same as when we seized the Capital last time. Throughout history, speed is of the essence in a rebellion.

The most orthodox style is to plan in secrecy and then strike like lightning.

To add a little variation, it's also possible to divide the troops and carry out a diversionary tactic.

Have pre-positioned units subdue key targets in advance, then follow up with subsequent units to manage the area and control it so there's no counterattack.

What we're about to do is part of that variation.

Although we brought some of the Revolutionary Army that remained in The North, the main force was the Central Army stationed in the Capital.

"Your Excellency, a strangely shaped wall is visible. It's Lahator."

"Has the beacon been lit? It was clearly designated as the signal for the operation's success."

"I can see it faintly there. The color matches, too."

The Royal Capital, prepped in advance as I instructed through messengers on our way here.

Soldiers who usually handle policing duties have come out to occupy the Assembly and blockade the residences of the Nobility.

An entire Grenadier Regiment has been deployed to the High Court. Citizens who were out in the square have been forcibly sent home.

The army has filled every high-value target and place where crowds gather, excluding the cathedrals and churches that are already on our side. The commercial district and the prison are certainly no exception.

Lahator, the largest city in The Kingdom, drastically changed in just a few hours.

Into it, we marched, proudly raising the bayonets of our muskets.

"Welcome, Your Excellency. It's been a while."

"....Baden."

My subordinate, who came to meet me along with his officers.

He didn't ask how I'd been or if I'd had any difficulties. Neither of us was in the headspace for such small talk.

We merely exchanged brief glances and immediately moved on to business.

"Looks like you've made quite a mess. Have you secured all the places I told you to suppress?"

"Of course, sir. I've sent men to the Royal Palace, the courthouse, and the political prisoner detention center. Judging by the lack of requests for support, there are no problems."

As expected of the man who's served directly under me for seven years, his work is swift.

Even if he's a little clumsy in field command, he handles these low-intensity missions perfectly.

"Then let's go right away. I brought some of our men who were left in The North. I'll hand them over to you, so round up all the Nobility remaining in the Royal Capital."

"Yes, sir..... Wait a minute. All of them, sir? Including the families that cooperate with Your Excellency's forces?"

"Yes. Without exception. Arrest everyone, regardless of gender, except children under 10 and the elderly."

Lieutenant General Baden seemed bewildered, but my resolve was firm.

Any family with the standing to own a residence in the Royal Capital is bound to have access to the news of Central Region politics.

Even if they aren't interested in politics, the information will come to them one way or another.

Originally, the Blue Bloods are a breed whose daily lives consist of extreme socializing.

Unless they've completely cut off contact with the outside world and secluded themselves, they can't possibly not know.

So, they've remained silent until now? That means they knew and continued to feign ignorance.

There's more than enough justification to arrest them and thoroughly interrogate them. Of course, regardless of the results of the interrogation, punishment for everyone is already a foregone conclusion.

"Your Excellency!"

"....Go ahead and get started. I'll go to the Royal Palace."

I gave the order and was about to move when an unwelcome guest, whom I particularly didn't want to see in this situation, appeared.

Our republican Member of Parliament, the Young Lady of Arshakh, appeared in her nightclothes, not even properly dressed.

"Young Lady of Arshakh, how did you get out here? I'm sure soldiers were guarding your residence."

"The situation seemed unusual, so I came out. What's going on? Why are there suddenly troops all over the city...."

"There's a good reason for that. Do you remember what I told everyone last time? I've confirmed it's true."

Screams and gunshots could be heard from all directions, and soldiers were running around; it was a chaotic situation. But, as expected, she's quick-witted and her expression turned serious as she quickly grasped the situation.

"Are you talking about the hypothesis that the Crown Prince is the cause of the War? Could it really be--"

"If you understand, I'll excuse myself. I have to catch those damn Monarch and Royalty before they escape."

"What? W-Wait a minute! Your Excellency! Your Excellen—cy!!"

Leaving behind the Young Lady who desperately called out to me in bewilderment, I urged my horse forward. I'm sorry, but now is not the time to worry about her.

I'll have to meet with her separately later to apologize and provide further explanation.

* * * * *

The streets radiating out from the Royal Palace were all blockaded by the Central Army. As if to prevent a criminal from escaping anywhere.

Accompanied by my escort, I crossed the barricades and entered the Royal Palace without any hindrance.

I passed through long corridors and all sorts of miscellaneous rooms, simply continuing forward.

Towards the Gorgeous bedroom where the King and his family would be holed up.

Honestly, I walked half in a daze. The closer I got, the less control I had over my emotions, and the less clearly I could think.

It felt as though reason was disappearing within me, and my base nature was filling the void.

"Here it is. You can go right in."

And finally, the moment I faced the Crown Prince,

My reason vanished completely, leaving only rage.

"De-Deputy Speaker Roytel? Why are you here? Did you perhaps order the soldiers outside--"

--Crack!

"Shut up, you brain-dead bastard."

I slam my fist into the jaw of the man who tries to rise from his chair as soon as he sees me. With no restraint, my fist crushes his jawbone, and I grip it, grinding it to dust.

The sensation of the compound of calcium and protein shattering within my hand is surprisingly… not unpleasant.

"GAAAAAH!!!!"

"Why are you doing this?! What possible grievance could you have to justify this sudden outrage against us?!"

I trip the panicked Monarch, sending him sprawling. Glaring at the vermin who still haven't grasped the situation, I roar.

"Why am I doing this? You should know better than anyone!! You started this damn war for some idiotic reason, condemning us to ten years of hell!!"

I release the shattered jaw and shove him to the ground. I place my army boot on his chest and grind it in.

"You mobilized millions as cannon fodder, but you never told us why we were fighting! I had to hear it directly from the Empire! About the bullshit your damn child pulled in their territory!

It was a real spectacle, wasn't it? Invited as a guest, and what does he do? He sneaks prostitutes into the Imperial Palace? Attempts to rape the Imperial Princess and then flees without a word of apology? And after all that, you demanded we pledge our lives to the Royal Family!!!"

I apply a little more pressure with my foot, and I hear bones creak. I stop before they break completely.

Not out of any mercy. This bastard, who deserves to be torn limb from limb, shouldn't die from something as trivial as a few broken ribs.

"Ten years! Ten damn years!! I've dedicated my entire adult life to this war!! Kids barely fifteen years old died before they could even dream, or were left crippled and mentally scarred! All because of you!!

You ruined our lives! Because you were drunk and let your dick do the thinking, our decade was stolen! Ten years we could have spent building families, starting careers, anything!

And you have the gall to be angry with me? Don't make me laugh. You brought this entirely upon yourselves. If you'd shown an ounce of responsibility, an ounce of common sense, this wouldn't have happened. This Coup d'état wouldn't have happened, and I wouldn't be here in the Royal Palace beating the life out of you!"

I pull my pistol from my holster. I aim it downwards and pull the trigger.

-- *Bang!*

"Guh..."

I didn't put a hole in the Crown Prince’s body. I merely removed the protruding organ responsible for reproduction.

Simply put, his genitals.

"Be grateful. I've personally ensured that you won't be producing any more offspring."

I might not be able to do anything about the existing one, but I have to prevent any further additions. For the future of humanity.

"I understand now. I was foolish. You're not even worthy of being called human. You're garbage, no better than the criminals in prison except for your so-called 'blue blood.' I could put a monkey or a chimpanzee on the throne, and they'd do a better job than you."

I throw the pistol to the floor. And I draw my sword.

My beloved blade, stained reddish from taking so many lives.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. This wasn’t the plan.

But now… I don't know anymore. I can't think straight.

All I can think about is giving the enemy of my comrades and subordinates what they deserve.

"So I'll clean this mess up. Repent to the soldiers who died in hell."

I raise the tip of my sword to the ceiling. Just as I'm about to strike down both the Queen, who tries to shield her son, and the Crown Prince, someone bursts in and grabs me.

"No, Your Excellency!"

"...Young Lady?"

What is she doing here?

"I understand your anger. But this is wrong! If you kill the Royal Family without a trial, there will be no coming back from this! Even if they die, it has to be after a trial! Please, lower your weapon!"

"Ha, you understand?"

I scoff. Her pathetic attempt at empathy is laughable.

"You don't know. You don't know the hell we've been through! You’ve lived your entire life in comfort in the Royal Capital and your family estate, and you dare to speak of empathy? Don't bullshit me!!"

I grab Camilla von Arshakh by the throat. I yell in her face as she struggles to breathe.

"To you, war was 'news.' Something you heard about in Royal pronouncements or social circles! But to us, it was 'reality'!! A reality we faced every single day, every single moment, for 365 days a year!

Do you know? While you sat on your sofa, hearing about which fortresses were captured and how many prisoners were taken, my comrades and I were out there fighting, earning those victories ourselves.

Every single line in the reports you consumed as gossip, every single victory, cost hundreds, thousands of lives!! You have no idea what war is like, so stop pretending you do--Huh?!"

I can’t finish my sentence. Camilla, gasping for breath, pulls me into a hug.

“Ha… Yes. You’re right. Born a woman, I can’t truly understand how much you and the other officers have suffered. Perhaps I’ll never understand unless I experience it myself.”

She slowly raises her head and looks up at me with mournful eyes.

"But I can offer you comfort, can't I? Please, for now, let go of your anger and calm down. Please. I’ll take care of your sorrow and pain."

"...Even so..."

"Don't let a moment of passion ruin everything. You’ve lost enough already; you don't want to lose another ten years, do you?"

The Young Lady instructs her guards to take my sword. Then, she gently supports my exhausted frame.

"Let's go, Your Excellency. We can think about the Royal Family’s punishment later, when you've cooled down."

"That's right, Your Excellency. Calm down and come back. We’ll take care of things here."

"Get some sleep and rest. You’ll feel better afterwards."

Her hand pulls me outwards, and my subordinates surround me, preventing me from going further.

I can’t argue anymore. I have no choice but to retreat.