The emperor's sudden appearance and blatant covering of the crown prince took many aback.

　　What bribe? The guard captain was a von Jurgen handpicked by the emperor himself and whose life entirely revolved around Holger's wellbeing. Who dared bribe him? Bribe him with what?

　　Even Olrich didn't believe his words. The only reasonable explanation he could come up with was that someone paused as Holger to entrap them all. That or Holger was the real mastermind behind the ploy.

　　But how could that be?

　　The emperor's pressure weighed heavily on Wolfgang, forcing him to take another step back.

　　"Do not falter. Help will soon arrive."

　　Konrad rea.s.sured Wolfgang through a mental message while maintaining his disguise of the wailing widow.

　　Although he couldn't tell who would join the fun, they'd created such a beautiful opportunity to take the imperial family down a peg. At the very least, the church would not stay idle.

　　"Hopefully…"

　　Wolfgang's eyes regained their full conviction as he fired a defiant gaze toward Olrich. He then fell on his knees.

　　"Your majesty, all my life I've toiled for the empire, for the imperial family's glory. When the barbarians stirred north, it is I who received your majesty's order to lead the armies and suppress their advance.

　　When the two kingdom alliances threatened to rob our cities, it was still I who dispatched troops and opposed them.

　　When…

　　When…

　　When…

　　Lastly, when your majesty's consort began forming factions and infecting the imperial court with her spies, it was still I who gathered the n.o.bles, leading them into resistance!"

　　"Bold!"

　　Olrich roared, however, Wolfgang didn't stop.

　　"Across centuries of loyal service, I have never asked for rewards, never asked for more land, honor, or wealth. Only asking to faithfully serve the empire. However…what did I gain in return?!"

　　Full of fervor, Wolfgang's words aroused the indignation of those surrounding n.o.bles.

　　"Listening to your favorite consort, your majesty took my only daughter and niece into house arrest! Allowing one to fall into a decade long coma, and the other to suffer the humiliation of degenerating into a maid!

　　I ask your majesty, is this your reward for those centuries of service?

　　Your majesty then allowed them to return home, but when my daughter falls in love with my house's new talent and future hope; when out of jealousy the evil prince has him murdered during their wedding night, your majesty asks me…to forget about it?

　　Is this your majesty's reward? Is this how the empire pays back…centuries of loyalty? If so, then although I, Wolfgang, am but an ant in front of your majesty's boundless power, this ant must decline your majesty's -goodwill- and challenge oppression!"