A single knight began to move, moving to the middle of the throne and bowing before Justinian, departing immediately after to find his steward.
"What is the meaning of this, my lord?"
A knight from the right pillar spoke, his visor covering his face and muffling his voice.
"I will not let my capital rot and let the past burden me no longer."
Justinian answered briefly but articulately, trying his absolute best to show royal authority and confidence to his knights.
His knights may be deathly loyal now, but that didn't mean they were slaves. If Justinian crossed a line, then they would surely make a move.
And that was a far bigger threat than the protests outside.
"May I ask what brought this on?"
The knight replied, a faint glimmer of hope present in his voice.
"Do I need one? I have been nothing more than an idiot, abandoning my duties and letting my people suffer."
He rested his head on his hands, using the armrest of the stone throne.
"I am merely doing my duties like I should always have."
The knights shivered at his thoughts, not due to fear, but to his voice.
The duke still had his signature coldness in his voice, but with the help of Justin's worldview and personality, his words held sincerity and an aura of kindness, one that could be mistaken for someone who had lived as a commoner.
And it was all correct. Justinian, the new one, had not only gained a historian's knowledge but also wisdom and experiences from two lifetimes.
Without hesitation, the knight who spoke slammed the butt of his halberd against the stone floor.
And the others followed.
"Glory to House Thirell!"
Justinian didn't expect that response from the knights; he expected more hesitation and uncertainty.
But instead, he was met with loyalty, one that gave Justinian more motivation to do his job properly.
Justinian smiled briefly, enough for the knights to catch it, easing their posture.
"I have arrived!"
A voice rang out from beyond.
Matthias Krüger.
The Thirell Family steward, unyielding in his determination, and skilled enough to rival that of a king's entire ministry.
An important character in the novel, whom the real main character recruited in later arcs.
And now Justinian planned to use that knowledge to its fullest here.
"What's the city's current status?"
Matthias cleared his throat, surprised at the question; the duke he knew would never ask this question, let alone even care enough to sit on his throne.
"Pardon?"
"I need not repeat myself."
Matthias blinked twice. That authoritative tone was familiar, but with it also came a mix of competence, one that he had never seen from the duke even once.
"The mob has grown wide. I'm afraid that in a few months they will overpower the palace guards..."
"But I guarantee that I'm doing my best to fix the situation."
Matthias' words were filled with sincerity, but it was clear he was restricted. Where things currently stood, he was the real ruler of Snowkeep.
One keeping it all together, while Justinian was using his family's wealth to live his life and hide from his citizens.
But even with that power, he couldn't use the dukedom's full potential since Justinian never even bothered to grant Matthias any formal power to use any of its resources.
It was a miracle in itself that Justinian was still alive.
And it was all thanks to the competent steward by his side.
"You will no longer face this threat alone."
Justinian stood up from his throne, making Matthias take a step back.
"Excuse me...? What do you mean?"
Justinian smiled, crossing his arms.
"Gather the servants!"
He yelled out, and in no time, all the knights briefly scattered around. It wasn't much of a security threat; it barely took seconds for the entire palace to mobilize.
After all, it had been decades since they received an official order from the duke, and when it finally came to them?
They all rushed immediately to see what was happening.
"What's going on?" a maid asked, still holding a duster.
"I hope we're not in trouble..." another one said anxiously.
As the throne room filled with voices, growing more anxious the more time passed.
Justinian finally spoke, using years of unused English education to formulate the best speech of his life.
The duke wanted everyone, high or low, to witness this.
"From this day forth, let all men know: my steward speaks with my voice and bears my seal. His word is my will, and whosoever disobeys him disobeys me."
Justinian let the words hang heavy before sweeping his gaze across the hall — from armored knights to maids clutching dusters.
"You are all my witnesses. Remember this moment. Should any man question the steward's word, you will say you heard it from my lips. The law may need parchment, but power needs only memory, and yours will carry my will beyond these walls."
The statement alone was enough to garner unexpected gasps and shouts from the audience, and behind that shock? It was absolute excitement, hope, and joy.
Matthias was already popular, known for his skills and loyalty.
And now that he had complete power? Things might actually start to change.
"...My lord... are you... really doing this?"
"You have served my family well for generations, and during times of unrest, who else deserves this honor more than you?"
Matthias's jaw slacked, barely able to formulate words in his mouth as a single tear dropped from his eyes.
"And for the first order of business, why don't we give the citizens a long-deserved festival?"
Justinian didn't have to explain his thought process; he trusted that Matthias already knew what he meant.
To use the royal treasury and appease the citizens to lower unrest.
"And as for the second order of business..."
"Bring me someone suspected of corruption."