"I… I still cannot get used to all these formalities."
Carlisle sighed inwardly, yet the aura surrounding him did not weaken in the slightest. The terrifying pressure, like that of an ancient ferocious beast, continued to envelop the entire hall, making the air thick and heavy.
Bordeaux's face instantly turned pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably. This was the most instinctive reaction of a living creature when facing a threat to its life.
"You… what do you intend to do?" His voice became shrill. "De… declare war? Are you planning to openly betray the kingdom?"
Carlisle spoke in the same cold tone as before.
"Lord Bordeaux exaggerates. I cannot accept the accusation of betraying the kingdom. I am merely fulfilling the most basic vow of a knight, which is to protect those who should be protected."
Bordeaux instinctively wanted to call for the Guards, but when he saw the Guards who had already collapsed to the ground, unable to even hold their weapons because of the pressure from the aura, the command that had reached his lips was forced back down his throat.
He trembled as he turned his gaze toward the Knights Order, his eyes filled with a plea for help.
Marcos's expression was grim, and in his heart he had already cursed this old fool who did not know his own limits countless times. This idiot had been in power for too long. Had he forgotten that in this world, the true foundation of authority was strength rather than status?
As the Captain of the Knights Order who had watched Carlisle grow step by step from a squire into the Perfect Knight, Marcos understood the young man's strength better than anyone.
If Carlisle truly intended to kill someone, then in this hall, perhaps the only person capable of stopping him would be the Sword Saint.
Marcos slowly turned his gaze toward Reinhard.
However, the red haired Sword Saint simply stood quietly in place. No emotion could be seen in her eyes, and she showed no intention of intervening.
This sight made Marcos's pupils shrink sharply. Even Reinhard had chosen to stand aside and observe. The situation had already become very clear.
Carlisle's voice echoed across the hall.
"So, Lord Bordeaux?"
He took a step forward.
"Do you still insist on insulting my liege and harming those I cherish?"
Carlisle nodded slightly, but when he raised his head again, a dangerous light flickered in his blue eyes.
"Although my strength is insignificant, if someone insists on crossing this line, then I will have no choice but to see it through."
As his words fell, the pressure increased even further. The magical aura surrounding him alone was enough to make the micro spirits in the air cheer. Four colored specks of light appeared in the air, red, green, blue, and yellow, forming a dazzling vortex around him.
"I… I…"
Bordeaux's lips trembled. He wanted to say something that could preserve his dignity, but under Carlisle's overwhelming pressure, the arrogance he had shown earlier had completely vanished. Beads of cold sweat rolled down his temples, and his breathing became uneven.
Once again he cast a pleading look toward the Knights Order, yet all he saw were cold expressions. Those knights who normally treated him with the utmost respect now showed no intention of stepping forward.
This outcome was not surprising.
The earlier statement that the Perfect Knight was nothing more than a fabrication of the Knights Order had already angered nearly every knight present.
Before pledging loyalty to Emilia, Carlisle had always lived among the Knights Order. His strength and character had earned the respect of his comrades. Whether it was patiently teaching new recruits swordsmanship, voluntarily accepting the most dangerous missions, or stepping forward whenever his companions were in danger, these actions had long cultivated genuine respect among the knights.
Although the education they had received since childhood forced them to maintain outward respect for the Council of Sages, when they were faced with a choice between a comrade who fought beside them day after day and a distant dignitary who looked down on them, the answer was obvious.
Several young knights even deliberately turned their bodies slightly to the side, expressing their stance through their actions. The older knights maintained their formal posture, yet the cold glint in their eyes revealed everything.
A strange silence settled over the entire hall. The only sound that remained was Bordeaux's heavy breathing.
"Ha… hahahahaha!"
A clear burst of laughter suddenly shattered the silence.
Everyone turned toward the source and saw Felt standing beside Reinhard, laughing so hard that she had to bend over.
"So this," Felt said while wiping tears from her eyes from laughing, as she walked toward Carlisle, "is what you look like when you are angry? This is it? Just a slightly larger aura?"
She did not realize that Carlisle was carefully controlling the range of his pressure. The suffocating force was directed only at Bordeaux and those malicious nobles. For everyone else, although they could clearly feel the powerful aura filling the air, it was like standing on the edge of a storm. They could witness its strength but were not actually caught in it.
Felt casually patted Carlisle on the back.
"That really suits you, using polite language even at a time like this." She winked mischievously. "It seems you are truly angry, yet you still cannot bring yourself to swear."
After saying that, she suddenly turned around and pointed toward Bordeaux, who was slumped weakly in his chair.
She imitated Carlisle's tone, though her words were far more direct.
"You should say it like this. You useless old fool. If you dare touch even a single hair on my head again, I will show you what a real Witch's minion looks like."
Felt dramatically waved her arms.
"See? That is how you create some real presence."
"Exactly!"
Subaru grinned as she poked half her body out from behind Carlisle. She deliberately stretched out her words and made a face at Bordeaux.
"Did you hear that? Old… bas… tard…"
She pronounced each word slowly while provocatively pointing a finger at her own temple.
"Do you want to see what a real Witch's minion looks like?"
After saying that, she quickly shrank back behind Carlisle, pretending to be frightened while patting her chest. However, her eyes sparkled with playful cunning.
Seeing this, Felt burst into laughter once again.
She stretched lazily and waved toward Reinhard.
"Oh, finally something interesting happened today." Felt clasped her hands behind her head, her golden hair swaying lightly with her steps. "It is obvious that some people, even while wearing knight armor, still cannot learn how to act like lapdogs for the powerful."
She glanced back at Carlisle.
"But he is far more pleasant to look at than those bowing and scraping guys."
She continued walking toward the palace gates without looking back.
"Reinhard, let's go."
Reinhard sighed softly, but she still respectfully bowed toward the Council of Sages before turning to follow Felt.
Before leaving, she cast a brief glance at Carlisle.
"See you next time."
Her voice echoed quietly in Carlisle's mind.
...
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.