When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 192

Episode 192

“I refuse your proposal.”

After hearing King Ramses’ proposal, Jez’s strained smile only lasted a moment. Immediately regaining his composure, he steeled himself. He looked straight into the king’s eyes and calmly delivered his refusal. 

At that exact moment, something flew past Jez’s cheek and struck the wall behind him, causing the wall of the office to collapse with a thunderous noise. Bl00d trickled down Jez’s cheek, but he stood there unfazed, while King Ramses observed him with a calm expression.

From outside the office, the Commander of the Royal Guard, Ilyas Valenkov, and his troops rushed in. But Prime Minister Saylor gestured for them to halt. Sensing the tense atmosphere inside the room, the guards stopped in their tracks. Ignoring all the commotion around them, the king and the civil servant (legion commander/admiral) faced each other.

“Did I mishear? It sounded like you said you were refusing our proposal.”

“Yes, I said I refuse.”

King Ramses had subtly implied that Jez had one more chance to reconsider, but Jez firmly reiterated his refusal. Though the guards didn’t know the details, they could tell that Jez Norman had somehow provoked the king’s wrath. The atmosphere in the office became increasingly charged, with both King Ramses and Jez appearing relaxed. But those who knew them well could see they were ready to move at any moment.

The tension continued to build, reaching its peak when suddenly—

“It’s awfully noisy in here. What is going on?”

The person who entered the now-damaged office was Queen Raya Tashman, King Ramses’ wife and the mother of Leo and René. Though she usually stayed out of public affairs and military matters, rarely showing herself, the explosion had clearly drawn her attention.

After assessing the situation and glancing between King Ramses and Jez, Queen Raya turned to Prime Minister Saylor to inquire about the situation. She listened quietly to the explanation. When he finished, her figure blurred for a moment as she seemed to vanish, only to reappear instantly in front of King Ramses. From close range, she struck him in the stomach with the hilt of the sword she had been holding.

King Ramses collapsed in agony, his face a picture of bewilderment. Queen Raya, watching him, sighed in exasperation before speaking.

“You truly are an idiot, aren’t you? That proposal is highly disrespectful to both Lady Erin and Lord Norman. And it’s equally insulting to René.”

After addressing the king, she turned to look at William.

“William, you too? How could you allow this situation to happen? It’s true that some people might criticize the matter between Jez and Erin, as you worried. However,” she continued while approaching William with a soft smile, “There’s no need to worry about such people.”

Then, in a natural motion, she struck William in the stomach with the sword hilt as well. As he too collapsed, clutching his stomach in pain and wearing a bewildered expression, Queen Raya sighed and continued.

“Where do you think we are? Who do you think we are?”

Her voice, though quiet, carried an undeniable intensity as she tapped the floor with the scabbard of her sword.

“We are in the Kingdom of Tashman. We are the guardians of humanity’s frontline, bound by nothing. Remember this: in our kingdom, strength is everything. Those who dare to criticize can simply be silenced.”

Her overwhelming presence filled the room—this was the true power of Queen Raya, the matriarch of the nation. Though she rarely appeared in public, her capabilities and attitude earned the deep respect of many citizens.

“Ramses, William, you overthought this because it involved your daughters. You wouldn’t have acted like this otherwise… It’s because you tried to use parts of your brain that you usually don’t that things got so complicated.”

Normally, Ramses and William were both more than capable rulers. In fact, considering their achievements in strengthening the kingdom, managing relations with other nations, and leading military campaigns, they were among the most successful leaders in the kingdom’s history. However, when it came to their daughters, their judgment tended to falter. Jez often found himself caught in the crossfire, much to his frustration.

“And Jez Norman. I commend you for refusing Ramses’ proposal and clearly stating your position… But your usual behavior is the problem. A man who gives false hopes to everyone deserves to die a thousand times over.”

Then, with a movement so natural it seemed effortless, Queen Raya nonchalantly approached Jez. In a similarly natural motion, she attempted to thrust the hilt of her sword into Jez’s stomach. 

Cross Block.

“Oh my, I see you’ve learned well from Gerald.”

With a loud crash that seemed far too intense for mere contact between a sword hilt and a human body, Jez somehow managed to block Queen Raya’s strike. Her movements had been so fluid that even though Jez’s eyes saw them, his mind struggled to register them—a hallmark of a true martial arts master.

If not for the recent training sessions he had endured with the human whirlwind–Gerald, Jez might have found himself crumpled on the floor in humiliation. 

Queen Raya Tashman—wife of the current King Ramses, and the biological mother of First Prince Leo and Third Princess René. It was from her that René inherited her overwhelming martial talent. Raya herself was once known as Raya Oleika, the former Commander of the 6th Legion. In her youth, she had demonstrated unparalleled martial skill to the world, earning the title of Sword Saint at an unusually young age and briefly serving as a legion commander.

While in wide-scale battles against monsters, where overwhelming destructive power and mobility were key, Gerald Norman reigned supreme and held the title of humanity’s strongest. But in pure martial arts and swordsmanship, especially in person-to-person combat, Raya Oleika was his equal.

It’s been about 30 years since she entered the royal family at a young age and quickly withdrew from public life to raise Leo and René, passing on her martial knowledge. Raya was René’s swordsmanship teacher. Though she showed no interest in politics or military matters, she continued her martial training without fail. Even so, she was aware of the current state of affairs, but precisely because of that awareness…

As she observed Jez Norman, who had managed to block her strike, she smiled with a hint of satisfaction. Patting him on the shoulder, she turned to leave, her voice trailing behind her.

“It doesn’t matter what the Norman family or the Saylor family does. Rebellion or whatever they fancy—let them do as they please. I’ll crush them all. …So, Jez Norman, live as you wish. Don’t be bound by unnecessary ties—follow the path you believe in.”

Turning to address Ramses, Saylor, and the guards, she added, 

“No matter what happens, the Tashman royal family will not be shaken. Make sure those who are unnecessarily worried understand that. And Ramses, stop worrying so much about René. She’ll be fine—just watch over her quietly.”

Having said all she needed to, Queen Raya nodded in satisfaction. And with a mischievous smile eerily similar to René’s, she waved a hand and departed, her sword still in hand.

“And one more thing, Ramses—let’s have a little chat tonight.”

Hearing her voice echo from the hallway, King Ramses turned pale.