I think it’s because he made an oath to the emperor, so even though he is the MC knight he still has to obey orders from anyone of the imperial family.
Yeah, while he has to protect and guard our mc due to the imprint however the loyalty oath to the royal blood means he cannot go against any member with even a drop of royal blood. We know he'll be able to eventually stand against the oath no problem, but until then he's stuck in this predicament that if she's not there to protect him from the other royals he'll be at their assault even if he hates it.
Yes. But even in the imperial family there is a hierarchy. If the emperor forbade him from doing something then even his master can't command him to do what the emperor forbade. If his master forbids him from something then anyone of a lower rank than his master, even if they are of the imperial family, cannot command him to do what his master forbids. PLUS! with the order I suggested ‘I order that, as your master, you are not allowed to escort or service anyone without my permission.’ he would not be explicitly defying either party 'cause all needs to do is get his master's permission first, thus leaving the decision in the 7th princess hands.
Exactly. That's why such an indefinite order like I suggested will prevent him from having to accompany just any imperial somewhere secluded.
Further, if the MC is questioned about why she placed such a restriction on him, she could easily come up with multiple excuses like she doesn't want to risk him being used against her, a homuncli's duty is first and foremost to his master after the emperor, she could even legit say that she has taken a liking to her new toy and has become a bit possessive and no one would bat an eye.
not everyone would think like you though
I THOUGHT THE EXACT SAME THING （/TДT)/
Pretty sure an indefinite order wouldn't be possible as all royals hold the power to control them. It would be nice if it worked, but I'm sure the author is hinting at that factor that she couldn't put an indefinite order like that on him. Oath's are a weird thing to play with since they can be put in many styles, but all end in absolute loyalty which they use as loyalty to protect, guard, and support the royal family.
Hmm... guess I should have phrased that better. It would be a definite order for an indefinite amount of time. Another example would be if... let's say the MC orders Mikhail to not cut his hair. Then Rosie comes and asks for a lock of his hair, well since his master ordered him to not cut his hair it would be a conflict of imperial orders that would require the people who gave the said orders to resolve it among themselves before Mikhail is obligated to carry out the order that came second. Further, when Rosie asks for his hair, he would be able to tell her to wait (waiting is not outright defiance) until he can get his master's permission to give Rosie a lock of hair. This seems like a safe bet that it would work especially in the case of Rosie because our MC, being Mikhail's master has more authority over him and being the 7th princess has more authority over Rosie who is the 8th.
??? Does it still seem improbable? Does that make sense?
I am honestly disappointed in our MC with what happened with the Rosie situation at the beginning of the chapter. As soon as she saw what happened she should have given Mikhail an indefinite order, something along the lines of ‘I order that, as your master, you are not allowed to escort or service anyone without my permission.’ Then the only person who could override that order would be the emperor. And Idk about people of higher status than our MC but I would assume the master’s orders are priority. And even if the higher princesses were able to override this order it would definitely take care of Rosie as she is the 8th princess while our MC was the 7th.
I really had high expectations for our MCs brain over here. tsk tsk tsk.