Chapter 219
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: The Cardinal's Execution
Two days later, with the nobles of the royal castle in attendance, the cardinal's head rolled.
The charges were treason and regicide.
Honestly, it was absurd.
No matter what, you couldn't just casually execute one of the kingdom's great nobles and its highest religious leader.
It was a grave matter that could prompt not only the kingdom's clergy but also foreign powers—especially the Holy Empire that had appointed the cardinal—to demand a full investigation and dispatch an inquiry team.
In other words, under normal circumstances, pronouncing a death sentence on the cardinal and carrying it out lightning-fast was utterly impossible.
Yet it happened.
Because for the royal castle nobles, the terror barreling down on them right now outweighed any vague fears from a distant, unrealized future.
The noble alliance and Count Winslon. And the subjugation army and Count Hartres, who had marched out to crush them.
The moment word spread that the king had been slain by an undead monster created by the court mage, both factions would obviously storm the capital.
And those charging nobles wouldn't just laugh it off with a wave.
- Oh dear? Such a tragedy! You've all had it rough.
There was zero chance of that.
Armed men proclaiming themselves king—they'd hack away at any house they despised on sight, starting with those, all the way to nobles with even the slightest ties to the cardinal.
For nobles who wanted to live long and prosper, popping mana crystals daily until they were shitting themselves against the walls, their only option was to execute the cardinal fast.
Of course, offing just the cardinal would look too suspicious, so they sent several high priests and holy knights who'd been particularly close to him in life to join God as well.
Once those eight heads fell, they publicly announced what had transpired in the capital.
Chaos erupted.
Not just anyone—the two pillars of power in Kailer Kingdom, the king and the cardinal, both gone.
Naturally, the turmoil spread like wildfire through the areas around the capital, plunging Kailer Kingdom into what could only be called an "all-time" level of disorder.
But amid that chaos's origin and heart—the royal castle—one spot remained utterly leisurely and serene.
* * *
“Just looking at it fills my belly. I could starve for a good while.”
Mirian rolled around inside a chest brimming with gold coins, three skewers clutched in his hands.
Who'd mistake that for a water spirit?
To Eugene, the guy was nothing but a blue pig.
“Stuffing your face nonstop since breakfast and you say that—aren't you ashamed?”
“No shame. This body's got a separate stomach for gold and jewels.”
“Isn't that your regular snack gut?”
“Ung! That's separate too!”
“…….”
He'd been baffling from the start, but post-evolution, the spirit had devolved into something utterly beyond comprehension.
The door swung open then, admitting Prince Rokarof's entourage along with Princess Lilisein.
“Covenant-holder and spirit alike—you two look blessed with damn good luck, Duke. Some of us are hounded day and night by these nobles till we feel half-dead.”
And indeed, Vizark's face, as he spoke, had grown noticeably haggard over the past few days.
With the king and cardinal vanished, the Roman Empire's royalty was the only credible backer left for the royal nobles—and all sorts had been hounding them nonstop to curry favor.
“I'm done with my business here. And anyway—how long you planning to keep up this farce?”
“Wh-what do you mean? Farce...?”
Eugene's gaze lingered not on the flinching Vizark, but on Prince Rokarof, standing a couple paces behind him.
“Here, the prince needs to take center stage. Step up front and throw your weight around with Kailer Kingdom and its new king. Keep propping up the fake, and you might regret it later.”
“……!!!”
“How did you...! As expected of one who walks by day. Seeing right through Your Highness's flawless disguise?”
“…….”
Eugene could only stare in disbelief at the startled prince and his attendant.
Seriously—that shoddy disguise, and they still thought it fooled anyone?
“Wh-when did you figure it out?”
Eugene shrugged at Prince Rokarof, who had finally pulled himself together.
“First time I laid eyes on you?”
“……!”
“Why the shock? You lot were blabbing away in imperial tongue the whole time. Plus, this 'prince' keeps asking his attendant's opinion—only an idiot wouldn't notice.”
“Thought it was airtight. Still, lucky. Seems most haven't caught on yet...”
Princess Lilisein spoke to the prince, who muttered in dismay.
“You're mistaken. This knight knew a couple months back.”
“Huh!?”
They'd really believed no one saw through that amateur act. Where the hell did that groundless confidence come from?
“Not just Princess Lilisein—our knights, hell, most of the nobles here have sniffed it out. They're just playing along. They know the real prince is the one hearing everything and calling the shots.”
“I... see.”
“So drop the childish charade and have the prince step up.”
“Step up... You mean meddle in picking the new king?”
“No need that heavy. Just show up whenever the nobles debate and decide on something. That's what they want anyway, isn't it?”
“Hm.”
Right. All the royal castle nobles craved was the Roman Empire's golden blood as their banner.
Deliberate and decree in the prince's presence, and at least Counts Winslon and Hartres couldn't openly swing swords when they arrived later.
“And it'd probably extend the prince's lifespan a bit.”
“Duke Bartla, Your Excellency! Such insolence...!”
Eugene flicked his gaze to the outraged Vizark. The man flinched under those emotionless red eyes.
“For a servant, seems way more insolent if your lord screams his last.”
“Th-that's...”
“Wasn't coming to me all about clinging to a longer lifeline? I'm handing you the path right now. Right, Your Highness?”
“…….”
Prince Rokarof could only clamp his mouth shut against those bone-deep truths.
“Even rushing back to the empire now, the prince's options would be limited, no? Someone's bound to try assassinating you plenty. The empire's nobles have mostly picked sides already—no help there.”
“N-no, that's not... His Highness...”
“This guy's a real moron.”
“B-bastard...?”
“Yeah, you bastard. Anything I said off-base? Then why'd your master bail on the empire? No patrons left, so he dragged ass to this backwater Brantia, right? And now the servant's spouting bullshit—isn't that just brain-dead? Yeah?”
“Ugh...”
Vizark's face twisted like he'd eaten shit under Eugene's brutal tirade.
But it all rang true—he had no comeback.
“Enough.”
“B-but, Your Highness.”
“The Duke's spot-on. Pushing forward more would just tarnish my own name.”
“……Understood.”
Vizark withdrew, face flushed beet-red, and Prince Rokarof let out a light sigh before speaking.
“So in the end, you're saying I need to make my presence felt in Kailer Kingdom?”
“Exactly. Secures your safety. An imperial prince wielding influence in a neighbor's chaos? Beats showing up empty-handed at the empire with just me in tow, doesn't it?”
“……I'll give it my all.”
Prince Rokarof rose, no further calculations needed.
* * *
From that day on, Prince Rokarof began properly observing royal castle proceedings.
Observation only, not involvement—but the ripples were fierce.
The now-leaderless royal nobles leaned hard on the prince's name outright, while holy knights invoked God's name at every turn to meddle in meetings.
The clergy, whose clout had cratered without their cardinal anchor, dithered between factions, stoking the chaos further.
Eugene and Maren's knights had little left to do, yet no one dared belittle them or meet their eyes carelessly.
Their mere presence alone checked the local lords around the capital from acting rashly.
Then, days later, fresh word arrived from the front.
After a few clashes, the subjugation army and noble alliance had dramatically agreed to a truce—and were marching on the capital together.
It was expected, but news of the kingdom's two mightiest factions incoming had the royal nobles quaking.
In the end, those desperate for safety guarantees from the powerhouse counts wore paths to Eugene's quarters.
Naturally, none came empty-handed.
Gifts piled high, many earmarked for the spirit or the princess.
Stick around the capital, and their lordships' largesse could buy a few territories outright.
But.
“Puuueeeeeeng!”
A grotesque wail exploded from the quarters housing the knightly hero who'd saved the capital—a sound utterly out of place.
“Shiroshiro! Staying here forever! King God General Emperor NeoRevolution Mirian loves the royal castle! Me! I'm still hungry! Kkiek!”
The greed-maddened spirit's tantrum ended with one finger-flick.
The prince, though by now he should have been numb to it, still eyed the avarice demon sidelong with dread as he spoke.
“Sir. Then I'll head back to Maren with you?”
“Better. Lingering would only drag Your Highness down.”
“Drag me down?”
“Count Winslon's no ordinary sort. The royal nobles are all useless, but not him. He'll clock your standing in the empire quick.”
“Hm.”
Prince Rokarof's face darkened as the implication sank in.
“You mean he'll cut separate deals back home.”
“Yep. Empire'll send someone for sure, and you'll get hauled off like baggage.”
“Got it.”
Vizark beamed with pride at the prince's unhesitating nod.
‘First time ever? His Highness as the star...’
Cheerful by nature, Prince Rokarof had been forced into the shadows in the empire's frozen court.
Yet these past days, ringed by royal nobles, he'd blazed like the sun.
His imperial bloodline amplified by native talent—like a fish to water, he'd dived into affairs with surging confidence.
Nobles' regard for him soared, of course, leaving longtime retainer Vizark thrilled beyond words.
And both prince and Vizark knew exactly who made it possible.
‘Wasn't planning to lean just on muscle...’
The scheme to leverage the day-walker's enigmatic power—Marekasio—as a return ticket was scrapped entirely.
Positions had flipped too.
No longer the prince choosing Yan Eugene Bartla; now they had to keep scraping to ensure Eugene didn't ditch him.
Against someone who scorned rank and power, leaning on those got you nowhere.
‘Hell, try pulling that on Marekasio, and you'd face a world of hurt.’
Vizark still couldn't shake the image of Eugene's gaze on the severed heads of the cardinal—executed in two days flat, procedures be damned—and that Yung-whatever holy knight.
He resolved then.
Never cross Eugene.
“Anyway, once we leave, the subjugation commander and noble alliance will rejoice. Civil war wraps up—they can crown whatever king they fancy.”
Eugene smirked at Vizark's words.
“Dunno if it'll play out that smooth.”
“Pardon?”
“Eh, things happen.”
He recalled yesterday's chat with the highest-ranking holy knights.
- The new king should be pious to the core, someone who'd champion your cause hard. To ensure no repeat of this tragic evil, right?
That was that.
Rekindled zealots would rampage heedless of Counts Hartres or Winslon.
That would spark Kailer Kingdom's true civil war.
“Sir Eugene! All set!”
“Good work. Let's move.”
Outwardly Kailer Kingdom's savior, in truth the one who'd sown irreparable discord—Eugene returned to Maren with light steps.
Trailed by ten wagons of gold and treasures as reward and gifts.
Entering Maren City in grand style, the mayor and guildmasters dropped to one knee and chorused as one.
“We beseech you—become our king! Sir Eugene!”
(To be continued)