By Zephyria 
On a languid afternoon, Cecile entered the training grounds as usual. As she lightly warmed up and prepared for training, her eyes caught sight of Rocco, who looked particularly drained.
“What’s wrong? Why do your lips look like that?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Rocco’s lips were chapped and had patches of dried blood in several places. He silently rubbed his lips, as if trying to hide the wounds.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, then.”
Cecile shrugged it off and adjusted her wooden sword.
If he says he’s fine, is there really a need to meddle? She had never been one to care much about others, except for Alexis.
However, lately, Rocco’s face had been increasingly troubled, his movements sluggish, and even the bruises peeking out from under his long sleeves caught Cecile’s attention. Rocco’s anxious demeanor kept nagging at her.
‘Is he getting beaten up?’
Rocco was one of the more delicate trainees. He was short and had a gentle personality, which didn’t quite fit the image of a knight. Still, he seemed to be doing well, given his strong determination.
Before long, Cecile concluded that Rocco was being bullied. Once she started to suspect, clear evidence kept flashing before her eyes.
After training, Cecile spoke to the attendant waiting outside.
“Leo, go get a bottle of malt whiskey. The best one.”
“Excuse me? Whiskey? Didn’t you say you weren’t drinking anymore?”
“I’m not planning to drink it… Just hurry up and bring it.”
Unable to resist the urgency, Leo dashed off to the Peridot Palace. Even as he returned with the expensive whiskey clutched to his chest, his expression remained doubtful.
“Good, you brought it properly. Wait here for a moment.”
Cecile smiled satisfactorily as she filled the neck of the bottle. Without delay, she headed toward the lodging behind the training grounds.
She intended to give this malt whiskey to Rocco.
It was a high-end drink that couldn’t be easily enjoyed, so the fellow knights would surely go wild over it, and they would undoubtedly try to charm Rocco into getting a taste.
Moreover, if she handed it to him directly in front of others, they would think she had a close relationship with him, making it clear they couldn’t treat Rocco carelessly in the future.
With this perfect plan, a smile lingered on Cecile’s lips. Although her body was tired, this much effort was worth it. After all, she had received help from Rocco, so it was only right to return the favor.
Cecile opened the lodging door without knocking. From the entrance, raucous laughter and vulgar curses could be heard. It seemed everyone was relaxed since it was break time.
The inside of the lodging was filled with a sour smell of sweat. Cecile pinched her nose with her fist and stepped inside.
“Gah! Lady Cecile! What brings you to this humble place…?”
As soon as the trainees saw Cecile, they hurriedly adjusted their clothing.
The men who had just finished training were, as always, half-naked, and they scrambled to cover their bare skin in front of Cecile.
Cecile looked around the knights with indifference. No matter how fit they were, to her eyes, they were just large, fleshy masses. Not seeing the face she was looking for, she pointed to a nearby trainee and asked.
“Hey, do you know where Rocco is?”
“Ah… You mean Rocco Maxwell?”
At that moment, the knights exchanged meaningful glances. Some even glanced toward a secluded area inside.
“…….”
“…….”
Cecile immediately sensed the suspicious atmosphere. Convinced they were hiding something, she pushed aside the knight blocking her path.
“Hey! Wait a moment!”
Cecile strode straight into the lodging without hesitation, despite the shabby and rough surroundings.
As she walked down the narrow corridor, she came upon what appeared to be a changing room. In front of it were trainees, similarly half-naked, leaning against the wall and giggling.
But that wasn’t all; they had their pants unzipped, exposing their darkened genitals as they fondled themselves. It was a scene that could hardly be considered normal relaxation.
“Gah! L-Lady Cecile!”
Upon seeing Cecile, they hurriedly shoved their hands away from their bodies. In the chaos of adjusting their clothes, Cecile flung open the wooden door and stepped inside.
In the dim changing room, three bodies were tangled together as if they were one. Cecile froze, as if she had witnessed a secret she shouldn’t have seen.
“Ugh, ugh, cough, ack!”
“Can’t you get it out properly? Is that why you’re struggling?”
“Ha, you bastard, it’s so tight down there. Hey, push deeper.”
“Rocco, come on, put in some effort. There’s a long line waiting behind us!”
While the men laughed and joked, Rocco was on all fours, whimpering like a dog. The grotesque sight of a member thrusting in and out between his gaping mouth and rear was nothing short of a horrific weapon. Rocco’s contorted face proved that this was not a consensual act.
“Those bastards.”
Cecile clenched her jaw tightly. Rage surged within her, to the point where her vision blurred red. Even the hand gripping the whiskey bottle trembled.
The knights, lost in their debauchery, belatedly sensed her presence, but before they could react, Cecile moved first.
She marched straight over and smashed the whiskey bottle down on the head of the knight who was forcing himself into Rocco’s mouth.
Crash!
With a violent shattering sound, the heavy glass broke into pieces, and the knight’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed. In an instant, the thick scent of oak whiskey filled the changing room.
Cecile twisted her upper body, still clutching the broken neck of the bottle.
Another knight, who had been assaulting Rocco, quickly stepped back, pulling up his pants that had fallen to his ankles.
“Are you out of your mind? How dare you, a knight of the Empire, commit rape within the palace?”
“That’s not it! It’s a misunderstanding!”
“Ha, so you’re saying my eyes are deceiving me?”
Cecile’s fury was as cold and sharp as a winter sea. Each word she threw out, tightly packed with her suppressed excitement, froze the knights in place.
The nauseating smell of semen made her stomach churn. Rocco’s image reflected back at her, reminding her of a past she desperately wanted to forget.
‘There’s no way I can keep this under wraps.’
‘Killing the woman the Crown Prince of the Berka Empire cherishes most… Shouldn’t I show a bit more sincerity?’
‘Kneel and crawl between my legs. If you suck me off with that pretty mouth of yours, I might consider it.’
Cecile swallowed hard, forcing herself to erase the horrific memories. She clenched her fists tightly and glared at Rocco, who was still sprawled on the floor.
“Get up. Fix your clothes right now.”
“…….”
“Can’t you hear me telling you to get up?”
The body that had been curled up like a sinner trembled and rose to its knees. Rocco picked up the clothes lying on the floor, unable to even wipe his tears.
Cecile could no longer stay in this filthy, stinking place. She turned on her heel and left the changing room. The trainees began to part like the Red Sea to clear her path.
Once outside the lodging, she walked straight ahead. With her eyes reddened, Cecile searched for Claude. She spotted a man talking with the deputy commander from a distance.
“Let’s talk.”
As she barged into their conversation, both Claude and the deputy commander looked at Cecile with bewildered expressions. They were startled by the fury on her face and then by the broken bottle neck in her hand.
“What… is the matter?”
“Did you know?”
“What exactly are you talking about?”
“Are you aware that Rocco Maxwell is being sexually abused by the knights?”
Claude’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. He seemed to think it was impossible.
“Did you see it yourself?”
“Do you think I’m just babbling nonsense right now?”
Cecile threw the bottle neck she had been holding onto the ground. Clang! The remaining shards of glass shattered upon impact.
“Is it even possible for a commander of the knights to be unaware of what his knights are doing?”
“Calm down and let’s discuss this in detail,”
“Get your hands off me! How dare you try to touch me with those filthy hands!”
At her stern warning, Claude withdrew his hand, which had been reaching toward her. He sighed deeply and firmly placed his hands on his hips. He couldn’t seem to calm Cecile, who was excessively agitated.
“I will look into it. However, this matter is one that I, as the commander of the knights, must handle. Lady Cecile… please calm down and return.”
“Handle it properly.”
“I will do so.”
Cecile glared at Claude fiercely before leaving, while the deputy commander surveyed the wreckage around them and clicked his tongue softly. He then cautiously nudged the glass shards with the tip of his boot.
“Howard, do you know anything?”
“I’m hearing about this for the first time as well. But… recently, Maxwell has seemed a bit down.”
“I need to see it with my own eyes.”
Claude clenched his jaw and immediately headed toward the knights’ lodging. He needed to find out who had dared to tarnish the name of the knights.
As soon as Cecile returned to the Peridot Palace, she sank into the bathtub.
She dismissed all the attendants and washed herself. The vigorous scrubbing with soap made her skin sting, but she kept scrubbing, as if venting her frustrations.
“Lady Cecile… are you alright?”
Two hours had passed before she finally heard voices of concern from outside, but the person submerged in the tub remained silent for a long time.
More time passed, and as the water grew cold enough to make her shiver, Cecile finally tilted her head back and struggled to speak.
“Leo, are you there?”
“Yes, Lady Cecile. How may I assist you?”
“I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll go to bed early.”
“Shall I call for a physician?”
“No, just bring me some sleeping pills.”
Cecile slowly wiped her wet face. Her mind was so noisy that she felt she needed to force herself to sleep.
“Well then, I won’t be going to the Saint’s Palace today…”
“I’m not going.”
“I’ll send someone to inform them.”
Sighing heavily, Cecile felt a mix of emotions.
“There’s no need. Even if I don’t go, no one will care.”
Cecile couldn’t confide in anyone about why she was feeling so troubled. Especially not in front of Alexis.