62. Punishment

The assassination attempt on Princess Iris by Duke Ride Welzley had been thwarted by Reet’s actions.

Though Ride himself was dead, he had committed the grave sin of treason against the royal family—a crime that death alone could not atone for.

“This is the king’s decree.”

The one hearing the proclamation from the Palace Guard commander was Kait, bound in chains. He stood in his father’s stead as heir to the Welzley family.

Reet bore witness to it all as one of the palace guard knights.

“All titles and estates held by Ride Welzley during his lifetime as Duke of the Welzley territory are hereby stripped. His lands are to be incorporated into the Crown’s direct holdings.”

Kait had lost the noble status he was meant to inherit.

But the punishment did not end there.

“Kait Welzley, as Ride’s successor, is hereby stripped of his knighthood and expelled from the knight order.”

In a single night, Kait had been robbed of both status and honor.

It was a harsh sentence—though Reet knew that in another era, Kait might have faced exile or hard labor. In that light, perhaps this punishment was still merciful.

But even I can hardly think straight right now.

Having formally received his expulsion order at the knight order headquarters, Kait was escorted out of the building.

But just before his departure—

“…Reet!!”

Kait forced himself to stop and glared directly at Reet.

Now that his expulsion from the knight order was assured with nothing left to lose, his rage erupted.

“I’ll never forgive you for this!!! You hear me?! Remember this!!”

With that, he was dragged outside by two guards flanking him.

Reet silently watched his retreating back.

The heavy door slammed shut with a dull thud.

His bond with his father Ride had been severed.

Yet the fact that Kait, his father’s son, had also been punished stirred complicated feelings within Reet.

If Reet had received a noble title through the aptitude ceremony, it might have been Kait who stood as a knight while Reet himself faced expulsion from the knight order.

Did that mean I too bore responsibility for the sins my father had committed?

That thought lodged uncomfortably in the depths of my heart.

It was at that moment—

Someone directed a steady gaze at Reet.

“Reet Welzley.”

It was Iris, standing behind the knight commander, who spoke with clear authority.

Reet turned to face the princess and straightened his posture.

“For preventing Ride Welzley’s vicious plot and saving my life, I offer my deepest gratitude.”

“No, Your Highness, you are too kind.”

“However, despite being disowned by your family, it remains a fact that a blood relative of yours attempted treason against the royal family. In that regard, you cannot claim innocence.”

Hearing this, Reet thought: just as I suspected.

Strangely, he felt no anger or panic.

If anything, his heart felt lighter.

“Your Highness, I am prepared to accept whatever punishment you see fit to deliver.”

“Very well. Then I shall pronounce your sentence.”

With that, Iris exchanged a glance with the Palace Guard commander.

The commander produced a scroll of parchment and handed it to Iris.

“Reet Welzley. I hereby grant you the rank of Sixth Rank and appoint you as platoon leader of the First Guard Squad, Second Guard Company of the Palace Guard.”

For a moment, the words—so entirely opposite to what he had expected—left Reet speechless.

“Surely not… Your Highness. That is too much. I cannot accept.”

As a member of the Welzley family, Reet’s conscience would not allow him to accept a promotion, even if it meant accepting punishment in other ways.

But Iris deliberately frowned and replied.

“You said a moment ago that you were prepared. Did you forget that in just ten seconds?”

“No, that’s not… I mean—”

Reet struggled for words as Iris, brooking no argument, pressed the parchment bearing his orders into his hands and continued.

“Oh, that’s right. You previously refused an offer from my father to become a Platoon Leader, did you not? This is merely that position from back then.”

Saying so, Iris exchanged another glance with the Palace Guard commander.

At that, another scroll of parchment emerged.

“Reet Welzley. Furthermore, I command you: I hereby grant you the rank of Fifth Rank and appoint you as Platoon Leader of the First Guard Squad of the Palace Guard.”

Upon hearing those words, the assembled knights suddenly erupted in commotion.

Promoted to platoon leader, and then, mere minutes later, promoted again to Platoon Leader—a two-rank jump in a single day was unprecedented.

Reet stood bewildered, unable to grasp what had just happened.

Yet Iris wore a satisfied smile and held out the parchment bearing his new orders to Reet.

“Henceforth, serve by my side as a knight and prove that resolve of yours.”

Upon receiving those words, Reet finally committed himself. He knelt and accepted the orders.

“…This Reet Welzley hereby vows, upon my life, to obey your command.”

“I look forward to it, Platoon Leader Welzley.”