Infiltrating the Duke Gustave's Dominion Part 4
1431 Words
After emerging from the inn's cellar, Jasper, Mike, and Saiki sneaked out the back entrance and looked toward the central plaza's fountain from their concealed spot. A most unusual scene greeted the duo's eyes.
Some dozen-odd armored soldiers were taking the villagers and lining them up. Aida, her daughter, and the old man who'd introduced them to the Protection Squadron and Saiki were among them.
Then…
"ALL HAIL!"
When the apparent large soldier shouted at them, the villagers chanted in a reply in unison while wearing the same radiant smiles with which they'd greeted the Protection Squadron and Saiki.
"Thank you very much for your good work today!"
"We commoners were able to enjoy another happy day today!"
"All of which is thanks to His Majesty and His Grace Elm Gustave!"
With the villagers' practiced mantra completed, the silver-haired, silvered-armored androgynous man who'd been waiting behind the soldiers dismounted from his horse and strode over them.
He swept his razor-sharp gaze across their lineup.
"Indeed, I am here today to judge whether or not you present in ways befitting the subjects of His Grace." He continued. "Last week I inspected your village itself, and today, my focus shifts to the appearances and smiles of you, its people. Now, straighten those backs!" The order was issued with a dignified tone.
"Yes! Thank you!"
The villagers all stood at attention, their backs held unnaturally straight. The silver knight looked each villager over from head to toe, his eagle eyes sparing no detail. After his inspection had gone on for a bit, he ordered those assembled to turn around and repeat the process.
Once the knight was satisfied.
"Very well."
He would utter a short assessment before moving on to the next in line.
It was like watching someone appraise goods.
"Ho...I think I get what's going on," Jasper said.
"You do?" Mike turned to Jasper.
"I'm just spitballing, but I think this village...No, the whole domain is being forced by its lord to keep their towns pretty, their clothes are fashionable, and their faces bright."
"But what does that even accomplish?"
"I don't know, but it's not too uncommon for people with absolute power over others to go and do stuff that doesn't really make any sense."
"What do we do?" Mike asked.
"We just observe and nothing more. If things go south, we will retreat." Jasper said. "Saiki, can you get to the wagon?"
"Why?" Saiki asked.
"There is a possibility that we might get found, compromising our mission. To protect ourselves I need you to do something."
Jasper then instructed her what to do, Saiki nodded her head in agreement and nimbly and covertly left the inn without getting herself seen.
Back at the inn.
Just as they were exchanging words, a sudden question caught the trio's ears.
"What exactly is this, girl?" The knight's hard question was directed at one person in particular.
"Amelia…!" The girl from the inn where the Protection Squadron and Saiki were staying.
"...!"
"The hem of your dress is soiled. One's clothing must be pristine and beautiful, never frayed or stained. Such is the basic requirement for citizens of His Grace's kingdom. It is my duty to punish those who cannot fulfill such basic requirements."
"Ah...I…"
As the knight solemnly issued his verdict, Amelia's whole body began shaking pitifully as tears trickled down her cheeks.
Her mother, Aida, quickly moved as though to shield her.
"P-Please wait, sir!"
She offered the knight a plea.
"A child's failing lies with her parents. Please punish me instead…!"
"Parent, child, it matters not. Our Lord commands that the guilty be punished. You, bring her here."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Mama! Help me, Mama!"
"Amelia! Please, I beg of you, have mercy…!" Aida made another desperate plea. However, her words fell on deaf ears.
"You stopped smiling." The voice of the knight was like cold steel, utterly devoid of mercy.
"...?!"
"As the people protected by His Majesty himself, you must show gratitude to him by maintaining a smile at all times. These are the laws of Duke Gustave. I am willing to overlook your fault thus far as that of a concerned parent. However, there will be no second chances. If you persist in your whining and obstruction of justice, I will have the heads of you and your daughter both."
"..."
"Smile." As the knight spoke, the man moved his hand to the sword at his waist.
If Aida failed to comply, her life would end in a single s***h. Her daughter, Amelia, would be next. As such, Aida had no choice but to forcibly raise the corners of her mouth into a stiff smile. All the while, the soldiers were binding Amelia.
A brawny one held the poor girl's head still the others drove a pair of stakes into the ground, wound a rope around them, and used it to bind her legs. Amelia sobbed and tried to flee, but there was only so much a child's strength could accomplish. A soldier with a lash made from series of leather straps stood behind her.
"Keep the strikes to her buttocks. If you hit a girl that small in the back or chest, she'd die before you got to the fortieth lash," the knight commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
"Now, begin the punishment."
A dry crack echoed through the night.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Immediately thereafter, it was joined by a young girl's scream. No matter how much Amelia cried, the soldier didn't stop. The lash struck her clothed behind.
"Amelia, be strong! You must endure this!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
Her skirt ripped a mere three strikes in, and by the seventh, her skin was broken and raw.
"What happened to our country….? Why the lash just because her dress was a little dirty?"
Mike rose to his feet, However, Jasper grabbed him by the shoulder to restrain his fellow Protection Squadron.
"Wait up. What are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna save her! I can't just sit here and watch this!"
"Those people were trying to trap us and eat us like livestock, remember? And also we are here to gain intel not to become a hero…"
"f**k the mission. That kid tried to warn me!" She tried to tell me to get out of the village!" Mike hadn't heard the end of Amelia's sentence, yet he was sure of it. That's why he wanted to save her. As they were talking about it, the screams finally stopped.
"Ahh...Uhh…"
"Amelia?! Amelia! Stay strong….!"
The little thing's knee gave out, and a dark stain began spreading out around her groin. Jasper and Mike both had a keen vision and could spot that Amelia's eyes had rolled back and the girl had lost consciousness. If things continued like this, her life was in danger.
"All right, screw this mission, I don't care what's going to happen to me when we return to Eighbury; I'm going!" But when Mike tried to stand again, Jasper grabbed him by the shoulder once more. As he glowered angrily at him, he spoke.
"I understand what you feel, Mike, but I have got an idea."
As he declared that, Saiki who just left for several minutes returned with a sack behind her back.
"Sir Jasper...I've retrieved what you wanted," Saiki said.
"What are you planning to do?" Mike asked.
"Well this could get us three in trouble by compromising our mission, I think it's best to let ourselves find out in our grand entrance." Grabbing something out from the sack, a Protection Squadron uniform emerged. "Wear this...we are here to gather intelligence right? Then let's just ask them directly."
…
Watching Amelia crumple to the ground, the soldier who'd been whipping her stopped.
"Sire, she's passed out…"
Albarest, the silver-haired knight, remained implacable. "...Continue with the prescribed number of lashes."
"Yes, sir!"
"No, nooooo! Stop, just stop! My daughter's the only thing I have left of my late husband! She's our future. Please stop hitting her!!!" Aida's screams grew even more frantic.
The moment, though, blood spurted out from the lash-wielding soldier's hand.
"AAAAAAARRRGHHH!"
"Huh?!"
"What's going on?!"
"All right, all right, that's enough of that. The girl's gonna die if you keep that up, you know?" The sudden attack sent a stir through soldiers. They all turned toward the source of the voice.
There were two men, who were wearing a fashionable black military uniform, a military hat with an embroidered imperial cross and eagle, a black armband with the same insignia in the white circle, wielding a cylindrical tube that is aimed at them.
It was the Protection Squadron officers!
- Writer
