Chapter 153
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153
Casval was never particularly outstanding among knights when it came to martial prowess.
He would have struggled to hold his own against a single knight in a fair fight, so he stood no chance when several lunged at him at once.
Ultimately, Casval was subdued in an instant and dragged helplessly before Lucian.
“Your Grace, what is the meaning of this treatment toward an Imperial Inspector?! Do you truly intend to become a traitor?!”
“A traitor?”
At Casval’s words, Lucian let out a short laugh and jerked his chin.
At the signal, Dennis, who had been waiting by his side, stepped forward.
Dennis glared at Casval with a chilling gaze and spoke.
“A pleasure to meet you, Sir Casval. I am Dennis. As you can see, my official position is that of a mere servant.”
“Damn it! So what? I don’t know who the hell you are!”
“Of course you wouldn’t. I don’t know you either. However, I do know the lies you’ve told.”
“Lies?”
“My other role is the ‘Eye’ of the late Emperor. I was sent to the Duke as one of the late Emperor’s gifts.”
“…!?”
Casval was horrified by the unexpected confession.
A spy—and an Imperial spy at that—was revealing his identity. That act in itself was practically an insult to the Imperial family.
Soon, Casval’s bewilderment turned to rage.
To think a man claiming to serve the late Emperor would bring such shame upon his master. As a subject who served a lord himself, Casval found it utterly pathetic.
“If what you say is true, have you no shame?! If you are truly the late Emperor’s ‘Eye,’ you should have bitten your tongue to protect his honor, even if it meant death…!”
“It is as you say. Stepping into the light like this is an unpardonable sin for an ‘Eye.’ Once your treason is brought to light, I shall gladly punish myself.”
“Treason? What have you been talking about this whole time?!”
“You should know. The First Prince recently attempted to communicate with the outside world using a magical artifact. Who do you think received that transmission?”
Casval felt as if he had been struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
The Second Prince’s faction was aware that the First Prince had briefly contacted the outside world via a magical artifact.
However, they hadn't been overly concerned.
The late Emperor had shared magical artifacts with almost no one except a tiny handful of his closest confidants. They assumed the recipient would be a low-level knight or a spy; what difference would it make if such a person knew the situation in the Imperial Palace?
They believed it would have no impact unless the recipient was a lord capable of forming a faction and launching a political offensive.
‘But to think that spy was right here.’
How could their luck be this rotten?
Dennis’s voice continued toward the lamenting Casval.
“The First Prince told me: ‘It’s treason. Summon the army. Call the Duke. Tell him to help me immediately. Cedric, that bastard.’”
“…”
“There was interference, and he was so agitated that it was difficult to understand him clearly. But one fact was immediately obvious.”
The Second Prince, Cedric, had won the power struggle and imprisoned the First Prince.
For Dennis, who knew exactly whom the late Emperor intended to name as his successor, this was shocking news.
“Sir Casval, let me ask you one thing. Why does His Highness the Second Prince covet a throne that is not his?”
“Not his? He is also the son of the late Emperor! He is more than qualified for the throne!”
“That’s not what I meant. The one the late Emperor desired as his successor was the First Prince.”
“…The late Emperor left no will. Naturally, he was unable to designate a successor.”
It was common knowledge that the late Emperor wanted to place the First Prince on the throne.
Thus, Casval did not deny that fact.
However, a preference shown in words and deeds was a different matter from a firm designation of an heir. Who was to say the late Emperor’s heart hadn't changed at the very end?
It was not uncommon for a ruler to abandon a preferred successor for the sake of political stability. Perhaps the Emperor had changed his mind in favor of the Second Prince in his final moments.
“Therefore, neither I nor His Highness the Second Prince have any reason to be called traitors. As long as the Emperor did not designate an heir, he is also eligible.”
“But the Second Prince also knows the late Emperor’s true intentions, which is why he put the First Prince at the forefront, isn't it? He likely intends to steal the throne later under the pretext of a ‘voluntary abdication.’”
“Well, I cannot speak for the future. However, would it be so strange if the First Prince willingly abdicated for the future of the Empire?”
Cornered, Casval shamelessly doubled down.
Even if the truth couldn't be hidden, he clearly had no intention of yielding an inch of political justification.
“Your Grace! I do not know what this man has told you, but if you refuse the Imperial invitation based on mere speculation, the world will doubt your loyalty! Bear that in mind!”
Despite everything being exposed, Casval did not lose his nerve and instead threatened Lucian.
Then, as if he had no lingering attachment to life, he calmly bowed his head, inviting Lucian to do as he pleased.
Lucian smirked at the sight.
“So, even if you die here, you won’t let anything block your master’s path? Your mindset as a subject is admirable.”
“…”
“But at the same time, it is utterly pitiful. Because the Second Prince never had the right of succession to begin with.”
“What…?!”
“Do you remember what I told you before? About the activation requirements for magical artifacts.”
Any direct descendant of the Imperial family can activate a magical artifact.
At those words, Casval’s expression froze again.
Simultaneously, a memory flashed through his mind—the image of the Second Prince unable to use a magical artifact no matter how hard he tried.
Leaving the paralyzed Casval behind, Lucian issued an order to those around him.
“Throw this traitor into the dungeon and summon a herald! I shall demand to know the Second Prince’s true intentions!”
*
Lucian’s act of throwing an Imperial Inspector into prison spread to the surrounding territories in an instant.
The lords were horrified by an act that was practically open rebellion, but they soon heard the explanation from Lucian’s side.
“What? The Second Prince has the First Prince under house arrest and is just using his name?”
“I heard he invited the Duke under the guise of the First Prince’s orders, only to try and assassinate him.”
“So he plans to pin all the dirty work on the First Prince and then cleanly receive the abdication?”
“Good grief. To think such an incarnation of greed has been acting like a gentle lamb all this time.”
Of course, not all lords believed Lucian.
As long as the truth remained unverified, everything was merely Lucian’s one-sided claim. Some suspected that Lucian himself was trying to start a rebellion using the First Prince’s safety as an excuse.
“Who knows? Maybe the First Prince really did plan the assassination, but the Duke can’t bring himself to blame him, so he’s shifting the responsibility to the Second Prince.”
“I’m more suspicious of Duke Lucian’s intentions. He might be planning to eliminate the Second Prince and emerge as the final victor.”
“To think he would dream of becoming the master of the Empire after receiving such grace from the late Emperor?”
“Tsk, tsk. There’s not a shred of honor to be found. A cur born from a lion’s seed.”
Amidst the divided opinions, Lucian announced the dispatch of a herald to the entire Empire.
He declared that if there was truly nothing to hide, the First Prince should appear in person before the herald to explain the situation.
He added that if only the Second Prince appeared, he would have no choice but to move to rescue the First Prince.
Lucian, the Conqueror of the North and the Master of Asagrim, had spoken of war.
It was a situation that could escalate into a Great War involving the entire Empire.
In the midst of this explosive tension, Lucian gathered his retainers.
“The promised date for the dispatch is approaching. What is the public opinion within the Empire?”
“It is not good. Most lords are keeping their opinions to themselves, but there is a clear sense of distrust toward Your Grace.”
“I suppose so. For now, my claims have no evidence.”
Lucian was certain of the spy’s identity because of the Red Stone he used to communicate with the Emperor, but the other lords didn't even know such a magical artifact existed.
Even if he explained the details, they wouldn't understand; they would likely think it was just a plausible story he had cooked up.
“Your Grace, you were too hasty this time. We have enough information to trust that spy’s words, but others do not. If you cannot gain the people’s sympathy, you will only be branded a traitor.”
“Even if the truth comes out that the Second Prince is using the First Prince as a puppet?”
“I hate to say this, but the Second Prince also has the right of succession. People will think the Second Prince won the succession competition and suppressed the First Prince; they won’t consider it treason.”
Of course, it wasn't a praiseworthy act, so the image the Second Prince had built up would crumble.
However, for those in power, vice was like an unavoidable karma.
People might frown at the Second Prince’s actions, but they wouldn't doubt his qualification for the throne.
“What matters is the legitimacy of the succession. Unless a will is discovered stating that the late Emperor intended to leave the throne to the First Prince, this legitimacy cannot be shaken.”
“…Phew.”
Lucian let out a deep sigh at Raymond’s words.
It wasn't because he realized his mistake or regretted what he had done.
It was because he felt a fresh wave of tension at the thought of revealing the secret he had kept until now.
In peaceful times, the mere fact of knowing such a secret history of the Imperial family would be considered a crime. But in turbulent times like these, it could be used as a blade sharper than any sword.
After catching his breath, Lucian looked around and spoke.
“The Emperor entrusted the First Prince to me. In fact, the rights to Asagrim, the Blue Rose Knight Order, the massive army, and the unauthorized mages were all essentially the price for that.”
“That is something we all know.”
“It might be blasphemous to say this, but I could never understand the Emperor. No matter how I looked at him, the First Prince lacked the qualities of an emperor. I didn't know why he went so far as to make so many concessions just to make me the First Prince’s supporter.”
The retainers all nodded at Lucian’s words.
Even if he wanted to leave the Empire to a beloved child, there were limits.
If a ruler gives too much to a subject, the next emperor’s authority is bound to be weakened. By giving away so much to create a support base, the successor could end up being devoured by that very base.
The late Emperor was not a man who would be ignorant of such facts, yet he had clearly over-invested in Lucian.
“At first, I thought it was just the favoritism of a father blinded by love for his child. I thought even a wise ruler like the late Emperor couldn't escape human flaws.”
“Was that not it?”
“No. He had no choice. Because the Second Prince never had the right of succession from the very beginning. No matter how incompetent, he had to put the First Prince on the throne.”
“What? Is the Second Prince not a legitimate prince with the right of succession?”
“The late Emperor sent me a letter and told me.”
After a brief pause, Lucian revealed the secret he had kept hidden until now.
“That the Second Prince cannot use the magical artifacts that any direct member of the Imperial family should be able to use.”
“…!?”