Published: January 4, 2026
I wiped the blood off my cheek with my thumb.
“P-Pardon me, Your Majesty! I’ll report this immediately and have those men chased down.”
After Alice, the shopkeeper came back to his senses next.
The shopkeeper, whom I had known for many years, crawled on all fours like the thugs from earlier and reached me, still bowing, saying that.
“No, that’s not necessary.”
“Eh?”
“It’s not a serious crime. A scratch on the cheek is nothing more than a lecture if taken to the court. In fact, it’d be troublesome even if you did.”
“B-But to do such a thing to Your Majesty is outrageous, no—it’s worthy of death!”
“Don’t be hasty. I did not announce myself, so it’s not a crime of disrespect.”
How many times have I said this already? I found it a bit amusing.
Since becoming Minister of Justice, I have often interpreted laws for my Father, the then emperor, and perhaps the most misunderstood and frequently corrected interpretation was that of the crime of disrespect.
The crime of disrespect is a law prescribing punishments when commoners show disrespect to nobles.
Among these, those directed specifically at the emperor are sometimes called “crime of lèse-majesté,” but that’s a common name; officially, it’s just one article within the crime of disrespect.
This law clearly states that the offender must “recognize the other party as a royal or noble” for it to apply.
In other words, in this case, since the emperor did not announce himself, it’s not a crime of disrespect but merely a case of simple assault for injuring the cheek.
…This is something I’ve said many times before my Father since childhood.
“It’s just simple assault, and I merely eliminated the threat based on the principle of retribution.”
“Oh… what magnanimity.”
The shopkeeper said, impressed.
Then the other customers began to cheer and praise me all at once.
“Then at least let’s identify who they really are. We’ll circulate their descriptions to the guild and ban them from this area.”
“That’s unnecessary, too.”
“Eh?”
“I did announce myself in the end, didn’t I?”
“Eh? Ah, yes.”
The shopkeeper hurriedly nodded.
The crest materialized by the power of Leviathan.
That crest has the power—no, the technique—to imprint on even those who know nothing, “This is the emperor.”
It was a technique I developed on the way to Leararat last time.
“What if you, knowingly or not, injure the emperor?”
“Of course… I’d run away, ah—”
“Exactly, run away. I have no intention of applying the crime of disrespect, but normally people, including you, think along those lines. They likely think the same. They probably won’t be in the Imperial Capital anymore.”
“Amazing… to think this far ahead…”
“It’s no big deal. Even if they don’t fear me and bear a grudge, their anger would be directed at me—I only protected the place where Alice sings.”
“Your Majesty…”
Alice, who had been listening beside the shopkeeper, was moved and her eyes glistened.
“So then… Alice, I’ll send a proper escort later. Shopkeeper, make sure to guard the shop properly while Alice is away.”
“Y-Yes! Even at the cost of my life!”
I smiled gently.
“Everyone, take it easy.”
Saying that, I waved my hand and slowly left the shop.
After leaving, I walked alone through the city.
Just casually strolling, observing here and there.
The scenery of the Imperial Capital, its prosperity.
Since I would be marching out soon, I wanted to imprint it on my eyelids while I still could.
Though it had no practical meaning, in case of emergency, perhaps the thought of “something to protect” would stir my heart and spirit.
Thinking that vaguely, I wandered around the Imperial Capital, looking here and there.
While looking around, a carriage stopped right in front of me.
With the neighing of horses, the carriage halted, and a man got off.
“Your Majesty—it’s been a long time.”
“Alan, huh?”
Getting off the carriage was a familiar face, the merchant Byron Allan.