Published: January 4, 2026
"Hey, you two over there."
Ignoring the two who were stunned and lost in thought, I called out to a group of soldiers kneeling a short distance away.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The man who seemed to be the captain of the soldiers deftly moved his feet while still kneeling and stepped forward to respond to my call.
When I revealed my identity as the emperor, the soldiers showed a mixture of awe and respect reserved for a celestial being.
"Lock these two up in the prison for now. And some of you come with me."
"Y-Yes. W-Where to, sir?"
"To Governor Orcott's mansion."
☆
Leading the soldiers, I arrived at Governor Duselle Orcott's mansion.
Despite it being night, the mansion's grandeur was unmistakable.
Such a mansion naturally had guards posted at the gate.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
They questioned as expected.
I did not respond.
Having already revealed my identity as the emperor, the soldiers I brought took the natural course of action.
Without a word, they overpowered the guards and completely incapacitated them.
"Please proceed."
"Understood."
The main gate opened, and I entered the mansion.
The commotion at the front was quickly relayed inside.
Immediately upon entering the lobby, a large group of servants was present, as well as the man I had seen a few days ago on the river.
The man who had been scattering gold coins.
Governor Duselle Orcott himself.
"Who are you? Do you understand where you are to cause such disturbance?"
"How rude! This is before His Majesty!"
"His Majesty, you say?"
Orcott looked at me with suspicious eyes.
He probably didn’t know who I was, which was hardly surprising.
Orcott was not a governor I had appointed, and we had never met before.
Even as a governor, if one remained in the provinces for a long time, it was not unusual to have no acquaintance with the prince (my former self).
So, I—
"Does that convince you?"
Saying this, I released the pressure that confirmed my identity.
Orcott and the servants around him all turned pale at once and knelt on the spot.
"I apologize for my disrespect, not knowing it was His Majesty’s personal arrival—"
"That’s not important. More importantly—Orcott, you understand your crimes, don’t you?"
"—!"
Orcott knelt, bowed his head, and trembled slightly.
But that disturbance lasted only a moment before he straightened his wavering heart.
"What are you implying?"
"You won’t admit it? It’s too late to play dumb now."
"I don't understand what Your Majesty is referring to. I admit I did not come out to greet, but there’s no official document stating Your Majesty left the capital, and since it was a secret visit, there is no crime—"
"You still won’t admit it? What is the governor’s annual salary? Is it enough to scatter gold coins around?"
"I wonder what you mean."
Orcott feigned ignorance even further.
Though initially shaken, he seemed to have steeled himself and appeared quite calm.
Now, which piece of evidence should I confront him with—
"Uh, um!"
"Hm?"
Suddenly, a young voice cut in.
Turning in that direction, I saw a young man among the servants looking at me intently.
Judging by his clothes, he was a low-ranking servant—probably a slave.
The man seemed to want to say something, but—
"Mind your manners, you are before His Majesty."
Orcott rebuked him as a master naturally would.
The difference in status is such.
It is unthinkable for servants or slaves to interrupt when the emperor and the governor are speaking.
Such disrespect could warrant a beating on the spot.
However,
"It’s fine. You want to speak to me, don’t you? Go ahead."
I—the emperor—gave permission, so it was no problem.
At that, Orcott frowned deeply but said nothing.
The man looked at Orcott, swallowed hard, then stared at me.
"Are you really His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Hm? I just proved it (……) didn’t I?"
"N-No, that’s not it. I just can’t believe the emperor is here in a place like this."
"I see."
"Really… the real one…"
The young slave and I exchanged a seemingly meaningless conversation.
Seeing this, Orcott grew annoyed but—couldn't interrupt.