Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Conference
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“I have to wait here.”
In front of the conference hall, Felix yawned as she spoke.
“The inner imperial palace conference halls don’t allow anyone inside unless they’re ‘imperial family’ or an ‘invited guest.’”
“⋯⋯You sent me on an errand, but didn’t invite the Cardinal?”
“That’s usually how it goes for people who don’t know the situation. I’m used to it.”
“⋯⋯.”
Hm.
Felix was putting up with this outrage without a peep.
It really drove home just how much twisted power the prince and princess wielded.
That’s probably why they could get away with saying things like that.
“Carlyle Bellfast.”
“Yes?”
“Keep your wits about you.”
Felix warned him with a serious expression.
“⋯⋯These are sly foxes who run the entire empire. No one knows what cards they’ve prepared.”
“Yes. I’m fully on my gua—”
“No. Don’t just stay on guard.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t let them sway you. No matter what those bastards say.”
Her firm advice kept coming.
“Don’t make a choice you’ll regret. Got it?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Never lose yourself. Believe in yourself.”
Carlyle met Felix’s eyes.
Felix stared back quietly, as if she’d said everything she needed to.
Her gaze was half worry, half expectation.
⋯⋯What he needed to say in response was obvious.
“There’s no way that’ll happen.”
It must’ve been the right answer.
Felix looked satisfied as she smiled.
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Theodore Alban Reinhardt. The Empire’s 1st Prince.
Bellatrix Ordo Reinhardt. The Empire’s 2nd Princess.
These two were the empire’s top powerhouses, currently splitting the imperial throne succession rights between them.
They were also arch-enemies who viewed each other as mortal foes.
“Oppa! Your face has gotten all skinny since I last saw you! You need to eat more!”
“Little sis. Your skin looks so dry. Are you getting enough sleep?”
⋯⋯And yet, their reunion looked—at first glance—like two close family members happily catching up.
Not in the least like the sly foxes who waged endless underhanded plots and backroom intrigues.
Inside the conference hall, they’d been fussing over each other’s well-being like this for dozens of minutes now.
And that vibe showed plainly on their faces.
“Looks weird?”
Bellatrix asked with a smile.
“Your faces look strange, Kali-Kali.”
“⋯⋯I can’t deny it.”
“Oh, really? So what kind of image did we have in Kali’s head?”
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯Like blood enemies trying to kill each other?
Too awkward to say outright.
“You two weren’t at each other’s throats, desperate to kill one another?”
As expected of the Hero.
Watching her casually say what no one else could even dream of brought a surge of respect.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“⋯⋯.”
But the response was just as unhinged as Gray’s level.
“We’re competing for the throne, sure, but there’s no need to hate each other that emotionally, right?”
“Exactly, sis. If I die in this throne race, getting taken out by you would be the best way to go.”
“Same here, Oppa!”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle stared at them in horror, but the bizarre conversation dragged on.
“So, just like we promised before, whoever becomes emperor, let’s die without any grudges.”
“You got it! No limits on methods, but we’ll minimize killing off talented people. Losing manpower if you go down.”
“Fair and square, purely—just one of us dies.”
“Oppa always gets me.”
⋯⋯Correction.
These two were definitely not your average crazies.
What kind of family could calmly discuss slicing each other’s throats while minimizing pastoral damage?
“Well, that’s why we called you here.”
As those thoughts crossed his mind, Theodore turned to Carlyle and spoke.
“We agreed to fairly persuade any standout talent we both want.”
Prince or princess—either was fine.
But no cutting in line.
“Bellatrix and I made that promise for times like this, when we both spot someone we covet.”
“⋯⋯And I’m the one both of you are interested in.”
“Exactly. That’s why we rushed to set up this meeting. You need to hear our intentions quickly so you can think it over, right?”
Theodore spoke in a calm voice.
“We promise. Whichever you choose, we won’t harm you or anyone close to you.”
“Our top priority is the ‘empire’s peace’!”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle nodded slowly.
Everything they’d said so far seemed credible enough.
From what he’d seen before, the trust that people near the prince and princess directed this way was genuine.
It carried an air of ‘respect’ that only the consistently honorable could possess.
He wasn’t sure how far to trust them, but they definitely didn’t seem intent on ruining the empire—at least not right now.
Still.
“⋯⋯Then, may I ask one question?”
“Sure! Shoot.”
“Why didn’t you act sooner when the Black Whale was about to attack the empire?”
He still remembered it clearly.
Before suppressing the Black Whale, they’d deliberately let the damage ramp up—raising the stakes to gain more from portraying it as a greater threat.
And these were the guys who cared about the empire’s peace?
“Kari.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you remember the Black Whale’s path to Cradle back then?”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“Ever seen any civilians hurt by the Black Whale? Or even heard any news?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯?”
None.
He’d vaguely assumed it was true but never verified it himself.
Which made their response all the more ridiculous.
“Probably zero. We dispatched imperial special forces ahead of time and evacuated every civilian along the route. We compensated all property damage too. Oh, this is supposed to be a secret? Info’s controlled anyway—no one would believe it.”
“⋯⋯.”
What⋯⋯?
The exact opposite of what he knew⋯⋯?
“But even if Kali calls us out on it, we won’t argue back. We did intentionally spread the ‘rumor’ that we let it happen.”
“A ‘rumor’⋯⋯ you say?”
“Putting out a message that we want the throne so badly we’d resort to ruthless means? It helps.”
Theodore nodded as he continued.
“Just the rumor that Bellatrix and I are that insane makes some preemptively cower and submit. It’s been quite useful. We’ve successfully built that image so far.”
“Yeah—we take the hate. But it sharply cuts down on troublemakers. Needless deaths drop by more than half.”
“⋯⋯.”
The more he heard.
The more Carlyle’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
‘⋯⋯Hero.’
[Yeah.]
‘⋯⋯⋯⋯Why the hell are these bastards so damn normal⋯⋯⋯⋯?’
Every word and action kept massively distorting the image he had of the prince and princess.
No—had they really planned all this with such upright intentions?
Were these really the infamous lunatics who’d later wreck the entire nation?
[⋯⋯So, what’re you gonna do? Swear loyalty to one of them right here?]
‘⋯⋯That’s the issue.’
But still.
‘I don’t want to pick either of them.’
That was his only thought.
Even if the vibe felt consistently ‘okay’ from the start.
When he considered how catastrophically messy things could get with them.
‘That much is set in stone.’
In every loop so far, not a single one where they hadn’t ruined the country.
How to put it.
‘⋯⋯Even if not now, it’s a future that’s already locked in.’
They seemed fine at the moment, but who knew when they’d snap.
He could feel his own guard dropping, but unless he found that ‘decisive’ trigger that would corrupt them, he couldn’t fully relax.
‘But running off right now would be awkward⋯⋯’
Still, he doubted they’d let him go easily.
Hadn’t they shown him inexplicable favor all along? If he rejected both and said he’d stay with the Hero—what would their reaction be?
“Also, even if you choose neither of us and stay with the Hero, we’d accept it.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle blinked as he looked at Theodore.
“If you want, we can provide mana artifacts for binding restrictions right now. This is a promise on my honor and trust. Bellatrix feels the same.”
“Everything said in this meeting is recorded anyway—no worries about credibility!”
What the hell were these guys?
Were they practicing how to exceed every expectation?
Their words and actions kept drifting light-years away from his image of ruthless schemers.
‘⋯⋯I can’t read them at all.’
[Agreed.]
Their true intentions were a total mystery.
If they were just going to make soft pitches like this, why bother dragging Carlyle here in such a rush?
Above all, why had they brought Princess Ilia here and made her sit?
Just for show?
‘⋯⋯They’ve been weirdly obsessed with Her Highness.’
No direct mentions, but he remembered they’d kept insisting she come along whenever he visited the palace.
Dragging her into this conference hall too.
He had zero clue why.
“But proposals like ours need one thing verified to be valid.”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“If Kali does just one thing for us, we’ll honor every word we’ve said. But we need some basic safeguards too.”
Fortunately, answers to his questions seemed imminent.
“And what would that be⋯⋯?”
“From now on, kill Princess Ilia sitting right next to you.”
⋯⋯In a completely unimaginable way.
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