At the market, while Seira was shopping, there were some guards who came from the palace asking for money from the merchants. They said that it was money to pay for their work as security guards at the market.
"This is an order from the crown prince. He said that you should also pay as a token of your gratitude to us!" said the leader of the guards.
But of course this was against them, as they were already paying high taxes to the palace. They didn't have any other gold pieces to give because they needed them too.
And Seira who was there was also unhappy with the treatment of the guards who even threatened the old man of one of the sellers in the market.
Her disapproval was resented by the guards, let alone the other merchants supporting what she said about them already getting paid by the palace about their duty to guard the area.
"You already get paid by the palace for that, so why are you asking for more money from these little merchants? Don't you have any shame for extorting them?" asked Seira in a stern tone.
This did not sit well with their leader who immediately grabbed her by the neck and pulled her close. "You have the guts to say that to us? That means you have the guts to die today!"
He raised his sword, and pointed it at Seira. But before the sword could hit her, Seira kicked the man's body until he was pushed away.
Albert had wanted to help her, but when he saw how Seira kicked the guard away from her, he immediately stopped his steps and returned to watching the situation to make sure that this didn't happen any further.
He thought that it was not his job or his part to interfere in the guards' problems, but he was also not happy with how they continued to extort money from the common people. He admitted that the taxes imposed by the kingdom were huge.
"What are you doing?! You bitch, you dare kick me like that?!" asked the head of the guards irritably looking at Seira.
"I may only be a servant, but at least I still have a conscience and a brain to think with compared to the rest of you. Don't you ever think about the fate of those you keep asking for money?" asked Seira.
"That's none of our business! They'll have to pay for it if they don't want to!" One of the guards picked up the apple basket and slammed it on the ground, shattering the basket. So did the apples inside.
"They will be taught a lesson and also banned from selling in this market again!"
The oldman who is the fruit seller was seen crying because his apples were destroyed and it cost him a considerable loss. This made Seira even angrier, but she knew she couldn't do anything against the guards. Not at the moment.
BRAK BRAK!
They continued to destroy the old man's fruit, showing that they were serious about their threat.
Seira squeezed her dress, trying to restrain herself. But she could not watch this any longer.
"Please stop! Please don't destroy my fruits. If you destroy it, how can I sell it and get the gold pieces to pay you!" he said as he knelt down and held onto the chief guard's leg. He pleaded and even prostrated himself before him, making the guards laugh and continue to make fun of him.
'They can't just be left alone. Someone has to stop them or they'll go even further!' Seira thought in annoyance. Then she walked over to them, to stop this atrocity.
Before a hand caught her shoulder from behind and stopped her.
She reflexively turned her head, and saw Albert who was currently standing behind her. "Lord Albert?"
"Back off, I'll take over from here," he said in a fairly dark tone, as if he was also very angry at this incident.
As the guards laughed, and continued to cuss out the old man selling fruit, Albert kicked the leader of them until he was knocked down.
THUD!!!
"Damn it! Who the hell are you?! How dare you kick me like that!" he shouted angrily.
"Who do you think you are to threaten and even destroy this old man's fruits?! Do you really have no feelings for an old man like him!" Albert asked back.
"It was his fault that he couldn't pay the money we asked for! And it's none of your business, you better shut up and leave or you'll be dealing with us too!"
"You're the ones who need to get out of here!" Without saying anything else, Albert immediately drew his rapier sword and attacked them.
The guards were surprised by Albert's sudden attack. They immediately drew their swords as well and fought him. Unlike Albert's, their swords had a larger tip than the thinner rapier sword. Even so, Albert was able to fight 6 guards at once alone.
Seira saw how Albert fought them alone. This was the first time she actually witnessed how the man fought. His movements were so fast and powerful.
There was a feeling of admiration within her, and realized that indeed Albert, one of the Emperor's three dogs, was not only known by his name and position. But indeed his ability was extraordinary.
It's no wonder why he, as well as Leonard and Harvey, are known as three powerful knights and are feared by all.
Despite their fame, it was rare for people to see what they looked like. Many of them only knew the names and news but they didn't know what the three knights looked like.
THUD!
Now the 6 men were lying on the ground with their bodies covered in wounds. Albert did not intend to kill them, but he seemed to refrain from doing so.
"This is my warning, stay away from the merchants and never ask for more money from them than the royal tribute. If I hear that you are still doing so, I will not hesitate to eliminate you right now. Do you understand?" asked Albert.
"But, this is an order from the crown prince! He said that we..."
"I don't care!" Albert cut them off.
His face, which sometimes looked silly and often smiled, now looked so cold and flat staring at them.
"If this is indeed an order from the crown prince, I will be ready to fulfill his summons, if he is not happy with what I did to you."
His eyes narrowed sharply at them.
"I won't let you look down on little people like them. Because you are also nothing more than a cockroach to me that I can easily step on."