The Grand Banquet (6)
"Yes, Maserin has... many legends."
"So that's why you requested the Executioners?"
Legends about dragons in Maserin? Naturally, the dragon in question here was Arbeda. Which meant there was a high chance Maserin Kingdom held information on the other Executioners as well. Even if not in Maserin itself, Mirne knew about them 100%.
The empire shoulders the maintenance costs for the Executioners, while the actual user is Mirne.
But if the empire fell and all five Executioners went to Maserin Kingdom, what ultimate gain did Mirne stand to reap?
Follow the original story to the letter? Or does something like a Demon King or black mage actually appear?
In a fantasy world, the villain archetype was bound to show up eventually. Perhaps the Executioners were essential to prepare for that.
In fact.
"E-Executioners, Your Highness?"
"Yes, the Executioners. You contacted the Second Prince to send them, didn't you? But I'm curious—what threat is Maserin Kingdom facing that made you so desperate for support?"
Mirne's face paled the instant she heard "Executioners." Was she truly bad at controlling her expressions, or just bad at faking them? There were many curiosities, but more pressing matters took precedence.
"...There are corrupt elements within Maserin that we're working hard to purge. Moreover, the west remains unstable, with factions eyeing each other's territories."
"So you called in the empire's Executioners for that?"
"I'm not well-versed in the nature of Executioners. I was simply told strong forces were needed... and that Your Highness the Second Prince would provide them."
"Ah, so you're ignorant of what Executioners even are?"
"That's correct."
I nodded at Mirne's words. Honestly, she could have played dumb indefinitely on something like this.
The problem is, to keep the empire from falling, we need the information Mirne holds.
In the original novel, the empire's downfall was a natural, inevitable flow. And the nation that would succeed it was Maserin Kingdom, the story's main backdrop. In a way, this frustration was entirely predictable.
So every time I want info on the Executioners from now on, I'll have to pressure her like this?
That wouldn't do. Extracting the empire's core secrets from a kingdom that thrived on its collapse? And not just any kingdom, but from the continent's strongest empire?
How utterly ridiculous.
Even if the empire was doomed to fall, being treated like such a pushover was unacceptable.
Thus.
Shall I test that hypothesis from earlier again?
I decided to re-experiment with the theory I'd formed when Sendra Kingdom intervened before.
"I see, I understand. But given the flow of this conversation, does that mean you're rejecting the marriage alliance?"
"E-excuse me?"
"You're dodging answers right up to the end, even though you know full well. To avoid humiliating me publicly... you've been deftly evading thus far."
I wanted a direct answer, but it seemed I didn't need one after all.
With that, I abruptly surged my mana and scanned the surroundings for presences. No one was detectable yet.
Right now, with no one to help her, what if I killed Mirne? What would really happen if she died?
I tabled those thoughts for later. Kill her first, then turn Maserin Kingdom into a vassal state on the spot—that would sort it out.
Muttering inwardly, I raised my hand in a chopping motion.
"You've accepted the empire's gifts so freely, yet rejecting the marriage alliance itself is too brazen. I can't allow it."
"C-Crown Prince?"
The instant I swung diagonally to cleave Mirne's body without hesitation.
"Mirne!"
Whoosh!
No presence had been felt anywhere. Yet suddenly, Saint Valerian burst in and seized my wrist.
This was truly astonishing. Even under Luminous's divine influence, I could still detect holy power, yet Valerian had appeared as if dropped from the sky.
"S-Saint?!"
Mirne looked genuinely shocked.
"Mirne! Are you alright?!"
Valerian, still gripping my hand.
"I-I'm fine."
"Thank goodness. I happened to pass nearby and saw you... I rushed over just in case."
They locked eyes, treating me like some heinous villain. Did they not realize whose body they were touching so freely?
They seemed oblivious, so I decided to inform them directly.
Bam!
A casual flick of my hand sent the saint staggering back, clutching his arm as if dealt a massive blow.
"Do you not grasp the rudeness of this? The Holy Kingdom is already under suspicion for aiding the northern rebellion, and now laying hands on my person... Shall I assume the Holy Kingdom mocks the empire?"
"N-no, that's not... I judged Your Highness's approach posed some danger..."
"Interpreting my intentions at will—are you now looking down on the empire's Crown Prince?"
As I pressured the saint, I recalled the moment.
There was clearly no one... but judging by how he appeared...
Male leads could be replaced by someone else if killed before their story built up. But for a female lead like Mirne, killing her seemed to end the story without substitution.
Or does it reset? Back to the beginning... regression?
One hypothesis debunked, new possibilities bubbled up.
"...I am truly sorry. My eyes were blind, committing great rudeness against Your Highness. But there was no malice. Truly, forgive me."
Even amid the pressure, Saint Valerian bowed low and apologized profusely.
"I meant only to brush off the dust clinging to you for rejecting the alliance. Was that such an issue?"
"No, it was entirely my fault. I will make amends. Please, quell your anger."
My impression at that moment was one of utter disgust.
What if this groveling figure had been the Northern Duke? The Second Prince? The Eastern Duke?
Just imagining it was revolting. And they weren't even betrothed—mere "flirting" stage by 21st-century modern standards.
Of course, that was irrelevant now.
"I wish to maintain good relations with the Holy Kingdom, yet you, Saint, are a true eyesore."
"...Including today's events, I vow the utmost recompense."
"I-I'm sorry too."
I watched the pair before me kowtow with detached calm. From my perspective, it was like watching two fools play around.
Watching further will just give me a headache.
Thus.
"..."
Without a word, I turned and left.
I'd gotten everything I needed.
Maserin Kingdom holds clues to the Executioners, and Mirne intends to exploit them.
Mirne wouldn't die. Helpers appeared from nowhere to block her death whenever it loomed. Maserin Kingdom was her nest, after all.
Even if I crushed Maserin through war, as long as Mirne survived...
She'd respawn somewhere... claiming Maserin isn't a place, or some nonsense.
With confirmation that Mirne, Maserin Kingdom's core, was unkillable, I saw fit to treat her like a golden goblin—hit her, and gold pours out.
So, what to do next.
Heading to my chambers, I reviewed my plans.
Though "plans" was generous—my top priority was singular: contact the Saintess.
If I leave things as is.
Mirne would become the Saintess without obstacle.
At first glance, what did that have to do with the empire?
But Maserin is dead set on devouring the empire.
Ultimately, it was all groundwork to swallow the empire.
I can block or hinder Mirne's path to Saintess.
We had to make our moves too.
The empire's grand banquet lasted three full days.
Perhaps due to the first day's incident, everyone eyed the empire warily, lingering in the palace before departing.
"Is the empire truly weakened? That momentum hasn't died at all."
"The knights we passed by chance had such piercing gazes... I thought war had broken out."
"The center's vigor remains, but from what I hear, the north and east are greatly shaken."
The departing guests converged on one opinion: the empire's center stood firm, but beyond that, not so much.
Indeed, rumors held that the Crown Prince had shed his naive, feeble image for something ferocious.
But that ferocity only gripped the center—it hadn't reached the north or east.
"How long can it remain the empire... truly?"
The story flowed as in the original.
Other kingdoms, sensing the weakened empire, would eye it covetously.
"Attacking the center outright is absurd. But... the east is still rebuilding, and the north pours all into holding the front..."
Not open war—just nibble away stealthily.
"Why not start by cozying up to the nearby Magic Tower?"
"The mages?"
"Yes, there's one in the east, from what I know... They're in the empire but don't act like it."
"...That's a fine idea."
No empire lasts forever. Even the mightiest decline eventually.
They'd felt it at this banquet.
A blood-soaked Crown Prince? Terrifying, immensely strong.
But just one Crown Prince.
Could a shaken empire extend safe shade everywhere?
Some attendees felt it couldn't. Perhaps the time had come.
"...Maybe it's time the empire fractures."
"Agreed."
The power structure was shifting.
And among those with similar—yet not quite—thoughts was one man.
"...Even before a beloved lover, this is the most humiliating experience I've ever had."
Saint Valerian.
"Crown Prince, I won't forget this disgrace."
He.
"...Why not invite him to the Holy Kingdom and let him taste the same joy?"
Wanted to humiliate the Crown Prince in turn.
Amid these swirling thoughts, the empire's grand banquet fully concluded.
And in that midst.
"Ha."
The Crown Prince, grasping it all, pondered how to clean up the trash while chuckling.
"There are far too many harboring such insolent thoughts."