"Huh?"
"Public officials must not disturb the peace of the citizenry."
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
The color drained from the man's face.
Given that I was citing Imperial Law, he had likely begun to realize I was no ordinary traveler.
However—it was already too late.
"Likewise, Supplementary Provision to Article 365: If a public official reveals their status and uses it to disturb the peace of the people, the penalty is death."
"I-I've never heard of such a clause!"
"It was enacted after the reigning Emperor ascended the throne."
"Wha—"
The man choked on his words, his eyes flying wide.
Just as I thought his spirit had broken, he gritted his teeth, glared at me furiously, and lashed out in defiance.
"You bastard! Who do you think I am?!"
"I could ask you the exact same thing."
"Eh?"
"Who do you think I am?"
Saying that, I projected my identity directly into his consciousness.
Not with my face, nor my name, nor any physical proof.
It was a technique that impressed the absolute truth straight into his mind: I am the Emperor.
I directed it at him alone.
"Ah... Aahh..."
The man began to shake.
In an instant, his face went deathly pale, and violent tremors racked his body.
He slumped onto the bed, and before long, steam was rising from his crotch.
Overcome with terror to the point of incontinence, he could not even string a coherent sentence together.
"Now then—"
I started to turn back toward Cindy.
If this was a post town, there had to be patrols, and in a stop large enough for carriages, there ought to be officials as well.
Just as I was about to have Cindy fetch one of them—
"P-Please forgive me!"
Having soiled himself, the man snapped back to his senses, scrambled off the bed, and dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead against the floor before me.
Halting mid-turn, I caught sight of the innkeeper and his daughter in my peripheral vision, looking completely baffled as to how things had devolved into this.
Putting them aside for a moment, I turned back to the man.
He pleaded desperately for his life.
"I just lost my head! I haven't done anything yet!"
"It already constitutes 'disturbing the peace.'"
"That can't be... Ah! I-I have elderly parents at home! My mother is sickly, and if I, their only son, am gone, they won't survive!"
"..."
I looked down at him with cold eyes.
Where had he heard about it?
Where did he learn that I was often lenient toward those devoted to their families?
I had never kept it a secret; in fact, it was quite well known.
It wouldn't be surprising if he knew Noah, the Emperor, was that kind of man.
That was why he was using it as an excuse to beg for his life.
However...
"Imperial Law contains no provision for reducing a sentence based on family circumstances. It merely grants sentencing discretion to the one presiding over the judgment."
"I—"
"And Article 365 carries only one sentence: death. There is no room for discretion."
"—N-No! P-Please spare—"
"Leviathan."
Realizing that nothing but unsightly begging would follow, I ordered Leviathan to knock him out with sheer pressure.
Leviathan responded with her usual "By your will" and unleashed an overwhelming aura.
Instantly, the man's eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Without sparing him a second glance, I turned around.
The innkeeper and his daughter stood frozen, looking even more bewildered and lost than before.
"Go fetch the resident official of this post town."
"Huh? Ah, yes... Um..."
The innkeeper hesitated, looking utterly perplexed.
Doubt was written all over his face, unsure if he should really take orders from me.
And understandably so; I had revealed my true identity only to the man now lying unconscious. To the innkeeper and his daughter, I was still nothing more than an enigmatic, wealthy guest.
It was only natural for him to hesitate.
Now, how should I handle this?—I wondered, just as—
A flurry of hurried footsteps came pounding up the stairs.
Wondering what the commotion was, I glanced toward the door, and the innkeeper and his daughter looked around as well.
Cindy entered, leading several men.
At the front was a man dressed properly like an official, followed by three armed soldiers.
"Forgive me for the delay," Cindy said, giving me a slight bow.
"You went to call them?"
"Yes. Halfway through, I realized they would be needed shortly."
"Well done."
After commending Cindy, I turned my attention to the official.
Now, how should I explain this to him?—I thought, but—
The moment the official saw me, his eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
He moved to drop to his knees on the spot.
It was the unmistakable reaction of someone who knew I was the Emperor.
If he did that here, things would get complicated.
Just before his knees hit the floor, I stopped him with a sharp, subtle glare.
"—!"
The man froze instantly.
After a brief pause—
"It has been a long time, sir," he said, adopting a tone far too casual for addressing the Emperor, and merely bowed his head slightly.
"Do you know this gentleman, Lord Robin?"
"Ah, yes... He is a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Justice."
The official—whose name seemed to be Robin.
I was rather impressed by his quick-witted response.
A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Justice. Since I had once served as the Imperial Prince Minister of Justice, it wasn't a lie. It prevented unnecessary commotion while lending instant authority to my actions.
He was a sharp, clever man.
"Is that true?!"
"Yes, he is also acquainted with my lord."
"With an imperial prince?!"
Oh? I thought.
His lord was an imperial prince—which meant this man was a retainer of an imperial household.
That made things simple.
"Take this man away. Ensure that Article 365 of the Imperial Law is strictly applied."
"Understood—Hey, you lot."
Robin signaled the soldiers behind him with a flick of his chin.
They entered the room and hoisted the unconscious man away.
If Robin was a retainer of a house that knew me from my days as the Imperial Prince Minister of Justice, I could safely leave the rest in his hands.
"U-Um..."
The innkeeper called out to Robin uneasily.
Both the father and his daughter looked anxiously back and forth between Robin and me.
I decided to address them directly.
"That man will never bother you again. Rest easy."
"Just as that gentle—this gentleman says."
Since the pair still seemed doubtful and uneasy after my reassurance, Robin backed me up, which finally allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was only natural that the word of a local official they knew carried more weight than that of a stranger. Robin's prompt support left me well satisfied.
"Thank you so much!"
"Um... Thank you, truly."
☆
Parting ways with the innkeeper and his daughter, Cindy and I returned to our room.
We hadn't moved to the top-floor suite partly because the incident had soured the mood, but also because the man had soiled the bed, rendering it unlivable for the time being.
Even when the innkeeper offered us a slightly better alternative, I declined and came back here.
Cindy and I returned, accompanied by Robin.
Stepping inside, Robin waited until the door clicked shut before dropping to his knees without a word.
It was a formal, silent bow executed strictly according to imperial etiquette.
"You handled yourself well. At ease."
"Sire!"
With my permission, Robin rose to his feet.
"Which household do you hail from?" I asked, taking a seat.
Cindy quietly set about brewing a cup of tea for me with the set provided in the room, while Robin answered.
Incidentally, Cindy prepared tea only for me.
Regardless of whether I was the Emperor, serving refreshments to only one person was a standard practice to clearly delineate the hierarchy between two parties.
Leaving Cindy to her routine, I faced Robin.
"Sire, I serve in the household of Lord Dustin. While I was not blessed with the honor of being born in Lord Dustin's estate, I entered his service with my parents when I was two years old, and my loyalty is second to none."
"Dustin, is it? He has a fine retainer."
"Your words are far too kind, Your Majesty."
Robin bowed his head once more.
"Is there any reason you must remain here?"
"Eh? No, Sire... None."
"It would be a waste for that sharp mind of yours to wither away in a mere post town. Try your hand in a broader arena."
The moment I said that, Cindy, as if anticipating my intent, stepped forward and quietly offered me a sheet of paper and a pen.
Robin's eyes went wide with disbelief, and he threw himself flat against the floor, prostrating with deep reverence.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Your Majesty!!"