Chapter 122: The One at Fault Is This World

“How long has Fakenna been the commander of the knight order?”

“Twenty-four years.”

“As a commander, as a soldier—was there anything wrong with his handling of matters or his proposals?”

“…No.”

“Then what? He followed the duties you assigned him, yet still ended up like this. Not even allowed to resist. Let me guess—he’s a commoner too, right? Otherwise you wouldn’t dare act so recklessly.”

Anasha didn’t reply. She simply nodded heavily.

The gap between nobles and commoners had long been a deep-rooted disease embedded in the Empire’s bones. Being part of it, she could only watch helplessly, powerless to change anything.

She seemed to understand now—

Why Peretti had chosen to accept judgment rather than reveal her identity.

She had probably long since lost all patience with so-called noble authority. She simply didn’t care anymore.

“A group of termites devouring the Empire, sending a hero who wanted to protect the country to the gallows… how absurd.”

Peretti leaned against the bench, staring blankly at the ceiling.

A question lingered in her mind.

Why, knowing that the Regulation Squad had come to kill him, did Fakenna still choose to stand before Anasha?

Even more strangely—

As a knight, neither he nor his followers wore armor.

Most of his knights were outside the city. He was isolated, his companions not particularly strong.

Under such circumstances, facing Anasha’s squad was no different from seeking death.

What exactly was he trying to do?

Was he hoping his sacrifice would awaken something?

Or had he already lost all hope in the Empire, choosing such a tragic ending?

Peretti couldn’t understand.

Her chest felt unbearably tight.

Everyone present looked at the silent Peretti, exchanging glances, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Mara, who had originally wanted to get closer to her, heard her resentment toward nobles. At a time like this, stepping forward to strike up a conversation would be nothing short of foolish—perhaps even dangerous.

She wisely kept her mouth shut and stepped back.

What Peretti said wasn’t wrong.

But in the Empire, nobles were the truth.

Those with power and status could do whatever they pleased, treating commoners’ lives like grass.

And the powerless commoners could only curl up at the very bottom of society.

Even if they managed to climb upward, they were nothing more than valuable chess pieces in the hands of nobles—replaceable, disposable.

Even Peretti herself had once lived cautiously after that, afraid that one wrong step would doom her forever.

If even someone like Fakenna, whose experience and strength far surpassed hers, could be ruined by a single word from nobles—

What chance did someone like her, with no background, have?

“Lady Peretti, your information has been processed. Next—”

The bishop hurried back into the hall, only to find that the atmosphere had subtly changed.

“…What happened here?”

Peretti shook her head.

“Nothing. No one feels like talking.”

“Anasha, even so… you still intend to kill Fakenna?”

“Of course. That’s my duty.”

There was no hesitation in Anasha’s answer. Her gaze was resolute.

Just like that war-torn dusk—

When she and Irene had looked at Peretti with the same expression.

In Irene’s eyes back then, there had been pain from broken friendship, struggle, reluctance—and ultimately, the helpless determination to raise her weapon for the sake of duty.

But in Anasha’s eyes—

There was only absolute protection of the Empire’s order.

Fakenna wasn’t wrong.

His proposal had only been meant to make the Empire better.

But it had touched the interests of the nobles—threatening to shake the very foundation that sustained the Empire.

As members of the Regulation Squad, guardians of internal order…

Just as the bishop had outlined earlier—

All blame would fall upon them.

At that moment, Peretti suddenly realized—

The one at fault was never Anasha.

The one at fault…

Was this devouring world.

This decayed, rotten Empire that allowed no dissent.

“…Right. After all, you’re a noble.”

Peretti’s voice was soft, laced with self-mockery.

She had thought that after saying so much, even if Anasha still judged Fakenna as a rebel—

She would at least feel a trace of sympathy for his twenty-four years of service.

She was wrong.

Anasha was even more unyielding than she had imagined.

What Peretti didn’t know was—

At that moment, Anasha was bearing an immense weight.

The Empire’s order.

The balance between nobles and commoners.

The mission of the Regulation Squad.

All of it rested on her shoulders.

Every decision she made affected countless lives.

She couldn’t afford to waver—not even slightly.

So she buried all her emotions deep inside, presenting herself as cold and unfeeling.

After saying that, Peretti turned and left the church without looking back.

Along the way, she passed several Regulation Squad members, silently pretending not to recognize them—and they did the same.

That was fine.

At least this way, she could have a moment of peace—

Without facing those suffocating people and matters.

She desperately needed some quiet.

By her estimation, once her information was sent out via carrier pigeon, it would take about three days to reach Josuna.

That was the fastest she could imagine.

Anything faster would require military-grade communication—and surely the bishop wouldn’t use such expensive resources just for a “safe” high-ranking priest.

Even if he did…

Even if Josuna learned of her today, she couldn’t possibly arrive that quickly.

The distance between the two cities was fixed—even if she could fly, it would take three days and nights.

This time, Peretti was certain her calculations were flawless.

Even if Josuna had some ability to foresee the future—

The course of events had already changed too much.

There was no way she could know Peretti was in Brest, let alone wait here in advance.

Thinking this, Peretti finally felt a bit more at ease.

By her estimation, she still had about three days in Brest—

Enough time to figure out what Fakenna had truly intended.

“Fresh grapes! Come take a look!”

…And maybe try some local food along the way.

Ever since being captured by Anasha, she hadn’t had a proper meal—either she missed the chance, ran out of time, or spent too much money.

At least now, she saw a possibility of reconciling with the Beast Queen.

That alone made the expense worthwhile.

“…Why does my chest feel so heavy…”

She remembered that in times like this, she used to grab a couple of oranges from the kitchen and slowly eat them.

The sourness that numbed her teeth helped ease her frustration.

Not lemons—those were too much even for her.

Unfortunately, there were no oranges here.

She had specifically checked earlier at a fruit stall—grapes, melons, everything—

Except oranges.

Feeling a bit disappointed, Peretti was about to leave when—

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a uniquely styled little shop at the street corner.

Its signboard was distinctive, written in rounded lettering:

Freshly Squeezed Juice

And most eye-catching of all—

There was a drawing of an orange right on the sign.