I Resign From the Coin Mercenary Knights

For Ember Hyde, the past few days had been a nightmare. No, worse than a nightmare.

‘I should have gone to him right away.’

When she learned that the ‘verbal warning’ her father had recommended to the Imperial Knights through a junior prosecutor had escalated into a discharge.

When she realized the female knight Selina had deliberately fueled suspicions about Eric as part of a scheme. She should have acted immediately at that point.

But back then, Ember had remained still.

She had judged that Eric was isolated within the Imperial Knights.

Even her usual circle of friends had advised her, “Now is the time to keep your distance from Eric.”

Most of Ember’s friends were daughters of legal professionals or civil servants. While Ember desired elegant friendships with ladies of high nobility, that was an impossibly lofty aspiration, so she had to make do with befriending those of comparable status.

Your fiancé is done for. Do you know what a dishonorable discharge from the Imperial Knights entails? It’s not just becoming unemployed, it’s a social stigma. The true retaliation will likely only begin after his discharge.
40 billion? …Ah, Ember. Surely you don’t think Eric can actually keep that fortune? I’m sorry, but he’ll be lucky to even retain half of it. To be frank, having it all seized with him being exiled to some frontier territory wouldn’t even be surprising.
All the Imperial Knights guarding nobles and marquis households are drawn from their order. With those connections pressuring him, how could your commoner fiancé possibly withstand it?

Perhaps from being raised under elite civil servant families, these friends displayed a degree of social perspicacity.

That Ember needed to distance herself from Eric for her own safety. That running after Eric for his money would only lead to her and her family being dragged down with him. That she should annul the engagement now to avoid further reputational damage and be free to pursue other suitors.

At the time, such assertions had sounded quite plausible.

While the thought of Eric’s 400 billion rir fortune made her heart race, her usually cold fiancé didn’t seem inclined to share that wealth with her anyway.

‘Yes, that’s right. Eric is finished.’

If not the complete asset seizure and exile her friends warned of, she at least believed he would be unable to live extravagantly.

Within the Empire, and especially the Imperial City, making an enemy of the Imperial Knights was an exceedingly dangerous proposition.

But for some reason, as time passed, Eric showed no signs of becoming a social pariah. On the contrary, there were indications his standing wasn’t as bad as expected.

I heard Commander Weinwright personally sent letters to major households, saying he wouldn’t actively oppose Eric being taken in if they wished? While Eric did err, forcing his discharge, it seems the commander has no intention to utterly destroy him.
Rumor has it he pressured the Guard High Command to increase patrols in the 18th district. Could it be related to Eric supposedly planning some relief efforts with the money from selling his Codanas?
If that’s the case, why did they discharge him in the first place? Are they idiots?
Well… it’s hard to see it any other way. But let’s not say it too bluntly.

These were the rumors Ember had overheard a few days ago at a salon she had forced herself to visit.

That the Imperial Knights’ Commander was discreetly watching over Eric. For him to shelter a member he had personally expelled was hardly something a sane person would do – akin to savagely stabbing someone before tossing them a basic healing potion.

However, regardless of the commander’s behavior, his words still carried immense weight.

As one of the only three remaining masters, and holding the highest social standing and prestige among them. Not only was his martial prowess peerless, but he was also the lord of an influential marquis household, giving him a formidable power base.

While rumors portrayed him as rather obtuse, he remained one of the highest authorities nonetheless.

‘If that’s the case, then why…?’

As much as Ember wanted to rush to the Imperial Knights’ quarters and demand answers from the commander, it was impossible. Rufus Weinwright was not someone an unemployed commoner could simply meet just by asking.

Instead, she at least wished to meet Selina, the root cause of this entire fiasco, but that too proved unfeasible.

Selina had departed the Imperial City under the pretext of rescuing a territory, leaving Ember unable to even chase her to the Lancart territory reportedly being overrun by lizardmen forces.

In the end, all Ember could do was clutch her frustrated heart, feeling as if the entire world had conspired to torment her.

As the rapidly distancing Eric faded from her grasp despite her ardent wishes, Ember sank into despondency.

Though their relationship had never been that affectionate, she found herself constantly tearing up, Eric’s perpetually aloof face now haunting her thoughts, wondering where his 400 billion rir fortune was being spent.

It was her father’s uplifting news, delivered with an elated expression, that roused Ember from her solitary distress.

“Is that really true, Father…?”

“Yes. There is still a chance, Ember.”

Thanks to her father, Ember regained her composure and immediately prepared to meet Eric again.

To shed her image of greed, she deliberately purchased modest attire, and decided against wearing makeup or fragrances to appeal to Eric’s sympathy.

She felt this was the only way to sway his heart, even if only slightly.

Above all, she resolved to never bring up his fortune in Eric’s presence. After all, if their relationship was mended and they proceeded with a formal marriage, she would rightfully share in that wealth.

Soon, the day of reckoning arrived.

Eric had finally moved into the 3rd district.

After exchanging resolute looks with her father, Ember left home with a solemn demeanor, determined to maintain a penitent attitude no matter what Eric said, feeling an inexplicable yet baseless premonition that things would work out.

“Sir Eric? You have a visitor.”

Amelia, the maid I had hired just today, called out to me hesitantly. I had yet to fully unpack.

Finding it impractical to manage this spacious residence alone, I had hired this girl – Amelia, not even twenty years old yet.

She wasn’t a complete stranger, having previously assisted the Imperial Knights’ administrative staff, an acquaintance of mine. Still unfamiliar with managing servants myself, I had decided to bring on someone I knew.

“A visitor? But I just moved in.”

“They introduced themselves as the high prosecutor, sir.”

A prosecutor visiting immediately after I moved in – it was obvious who it had to be. Gregory Hyde, Ember’s father, with a high likelihood of Ember accompanying him.

‘For the first guests in this new residence to be those two.’

As vexing as it was, I had no reason to refuse them. I happened to have words for them as well.

“Very well, show them to the reception room.”

Soon after, I found myself seated across from the Hyde father and daughter.

Fundamentally, they gave off an affable air – a modestly hunched man in his late 40s, and a fair-haired beauty clinging to his hand, casting pitiful glances my way.

Their resemblance made it evident they were parent and child at a glance.

While their outward appearances suggested a loving father-daughter pair, to me they were nothing but backstabbers.

“A servant, I presume? My apologies, but could you give us a moment of privacy?”

“Ah, yes.”

As Amelia hurriedly moved to leave, I gestured for her to stay put.

“No need. Just remain standing. Or sit down if your legs get tired.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

I had reason for unnecessarily keeping Amelia present.

I was following the lawyer’s advice to “always have someone who can testify on your behalf.” If Ember tried claiming I had assaulted her or something, it could devolve into a mudslinging match. Not that I would ever dare such a thing in front of her father, of course.

“Eric. The conversation we’re about to have doesn’t seem suitable in the presence of a servant…”

“I apologize, but please understand my position of being unable to trust you, given prior incidents.”

“You… you’re calling me ‘you’ now?”

Yes, I was addressing them as ‘you,’ staring intently at the Hyde father and daughter.

Gregory Hyde opened and closed his mouth, seeming at a loss for words.

The lawyer’s second piece of advice: do not give them a chance to make excuses. If you let them prattle on with justifications, it would inevitably devolve into arguing over who was right or wrong. Especially against someone from the legal profession, he warned against prolonging the conversation.

In that moment, Ember spoke up.

“…Eric? What are you saying? No matter what, he’s still my father.”

“My apologies, Miss Ember. But your father the high prosecutor must consider how his disciplinary recommendation ended my knightly career. My current circumstances force me to make a living by distributing bread to children – can you blame me for feeling bitter?”

“That… Of course, I was in the wrong. But Eric, please don’t exaggerate. From what I know, you’re on good terms with Commander Weinwright…”

“That’s true. But the only reason that’s possible is because I begged him on bended knee, swearing to engage in charitable works after leaving the order. To be honest, my knees still ache from it.”

“That’s not something you need to apologize for, Eric. The Imperial Knights were simply too rash from the start.”

“If High Prosecutor Hyde had not unnecessarily escalated the matter initially, it would never have come to this. He must have branded me with the stigma of a deserter ravaging villages during pursuit, leaving the order no choice but to discharge me.”

“……”

If this was the Ember I knew, she should have protested sternly by now. But her plaintive gaze revealed her desperation, though I had no intention of wavering regardless of how mournfully she looked at me.

Instead, I recalled the lawyer’s final advice:

There are plenty of fools who will offer compensation to quietly settle an annulment. But that’s a trap.

If I truly wished for a swift separation, his advice was to make demands instead – not an exorbitant sum, but a reasonably realistic amount.

I decided to follow that guidance precisely.

“I won’t ask for my honor to be restored. But if you provide reasonable compensation, I will withdraw cleanly.”

“Compensation…?”

The Hydes’ faces instantly paled. I discreetly slid the compensation amount I had calculated in advance towards them.