Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: That Night
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Gail's palace, darkened to receive the intruder. In contrast, Marib's space was as brightly lit as ever. That night was no exception. The only difference was that he, who would normally be seated at his desk, was lying on the sofa, merely counting the hours.
Creak.
"Your Highness. Aren't you sleeping again tonight?"
Marib's aide, Paal, asked cautiously. It had been days now—he'd lost count. His superior had never gotten enough sleep even before, but lately, it was excessive. He was growing increasingly sensitive and sharp, spending more time lost in a daze.
"...I caught some shut-eye during the day."
"It was just a brief nap. Your judgment will be impaired."
"You're right. It feels that way. I want to kick you out right now."
A feeble chuckle escaped him, devoid of any energy. He merely gestured toward the cold teacup with his chin, and Paal sat across from him, pulling out an awakening agent.
"If something happens like this, you won't be able to respond properly."
"My patience is at its limit. Just report and be done with it."
"...All the lights in Second Prince Gail's residence have gone out."
"...All of them?"
"Yes. Not a single one left lit."
Fatigue that had been creeping in vanished at the aide's report. Marib popped the awakening agent into his mouth and tied his hair up. A chill ran down his nape.
"Anywhere else, maybe, but not in Gail's palace. Any movements?"
"None."
The Haiman family had completed their magic armor, and the troop movements of nobles who had contacted Gail were suspicious. Days filled with tension, as if they could strike each other at any moment. Gail must have been as cautious of the night as Marib was—yet he had extinguished every light?
"...You can't dodge a flying blade with your eyes closed. You won't even know who threw it. Issue the mobilization order."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
Paal didn't move despite the command. It was just the lights going out in the residence. Acting rashly could put Marib in a difficult position. It was like a signal flare—must move faster than anyone if it was one, but charging ahead prematurely would be a false start. Besides, his superior's judgment was impaired from sleep deprivation.
"What if it's a trap set by Second Prince Gail?"
"Even if it is a trap, would it leave such a massive gap that everyone in the palace is exposed?"
The chamberlain, sensing the presence, approached to straighten his dignity. Marib willingly accepted the assistance, murmuring as his gaze toward Paal grew increasingly menacing. A silent urging to carry out the order.
"If departure is delayed because of you, will you take responsibility?"
"...My apologies."
Clatter clatter!
The aide had no choice but to rush outside to rally the forces.
The now-silent office. Marib gazed into his own eyes in the mirror, thinking of Gail. No resemblance whatsoever, yet this proved they were brothers.
'Gail. So this day has finally come.'
He couldn't remember when it started. An enmity inherited from their mothers, a fate embedded from the womb.
Marib felt his heart pounding. Was it the awakening agent, excitement at the chance to end Gail, or tension before the great deed?
But what mattered was that this emotion wasn't so bad.
"Your Highness, everyone inside the palace has gathered around Minister Taiha. The external nobles will enter the palace as soon as word reaches them."
Receiving Paal's report, Marib stepped outside. The moon still shone brightly. Those who had endured the night at his command had assembled and were waiting in front of the palace.
Taiha, Minister of Imperial Defense, approached Marib and whispered.
"There was an intruder in Second Prince Gail's residence."
Taiha, who had often clashed with Wesley. Reappointment seemed impossible, yet after the New Year's address meeting, he had miraculously secured it again. Because the next Imperial Defense Minister was particularly close to Wesley.
"I knew it."
Extinguishing all the palace lights must have been to welcome the intruder. A sinister smile curled on Marib's lips.
"They said they would handle the intruder on our side, but it was refused at first."
"What's there to interrogate? They'll invoke my name. It's Gail's self-staged act. Minister Taiha, focus on securing the intruder's person. Seal off Gail's palace under the pretext of security."
"But there's something odd."
Marib's brows furrowed, urging him to speak quickly.
"Second Prince Gail's condition is dire. Severe bleeding—he was carried to the medical office, and all the on-duty physicians are tending to him to staunch the blood."
Marib's brisk steps halted. By any account, it was clearly Gail fabricating an incident to gain justification. But his condition was that bad?
"Is that confirmed?"
"My subordinate reported it directly."
Marib stopped and looked up at the fluttering banner. The situation seemed clear enough. Something must have gone wrong in the process. Suddenly, he thought of a certain boy.
'Ian.'
A boy whose moves couldn't be predicted even an inch. He had ordered him to kill Gail, but never expected blind obedience.
In fact, from the moment he failed to finish Gail on the judgment stand. Marib had felt Ian not as a pawn on the chessboard, but as a fellow player seated beside him.
'Did Ian do it? Used the self-staged act as bait to approach and try to eliminate Gail?'
"Prince Marib. What should we do?"
His lord, who should hurry, stood still, so Paal asked worriedly. At that moment, a cold wind whooshed in. Marib's long hair whipped about, and his tangled thoughts scattered with it.
"Follow me."
Step.
Paal and Minister Taiha, high-ranking officials from each department, knights, and soldiers—all followed swiftly behind Marib at the lead. The torches they held multiplied one by one.
A massive river of light cutting through the imperial palace.
A wave that would change history.
"To His Imperial Majesty's residence."
"To His Imperial Majesty's residence!"
"Seal Gail's palace and prohibit the Haiman family's entry to the imperial palace."
With each command from Marib, the subordinates flanking him split left and right, while the regular guards floundered, unsure, clearing the path. Something extraordinary was happening, but they seemed clueless as to what.
Step.
"Prince Marib. What is the meaning of this?"
Marib arrived at the Emperor's palace. Blocking him was Beols, one of the captains of the Imperial Palace Guard. Normally, he wouldn't interfere with Marib's movements, but the atmosphere was too hostile. What were all those gathered behind him, and what was that sword firmly at Marib's waist?
"I've come to see His Imperial Majesty."
"Impossible. It's too late at night, and in this situation, I absolutely cannot allow it."
Resolute. Protecting the Emperor's safety was his duty. Marib murmured, watching his rising anger.
"Beols. If you don't let me see His Imperial Majesty now, His Majesty's safety will truly be in peril."
"What do you...?"
The seal symbolizing the Emperor's authority, deciding all matters great and small in Bariel.
If he couldn't obtain it before sunrise—before the intruder and Marib were officially linked—Marib would have no choice but to resort to extreme measures.
"Beols. Step aside."
"Good heavens, Riama!"
A woman emerged from behind Marib. Riama, one of the Three Great Commanders. At the sudden appearance of an ally, Beols reflexively gripped his sword hilt.
"Prince Marib is not here to harm His Imperial Majesty. He just has business. If you block him now, we'll have no choice but to sever your head."
"...We? Did you say 'we'?"
"Step aside. There's no harm to His Imperial Majesty. I guarantee it. Prince Marib, please say the word."
Everyone in the palace knew the might of the Three Great Commanders. Jeyrat, who clashed with Berik, Beols, and Riama. No one could face these three individually.
"I swear it. A son has come to see his father. If you wish, you may accompany us, of course."
Marib smiled brightly, raising both hands. It showed he could be resisted but would be broken if necessary. The damage if captains crossed swords was unimaginable.
'Above all, with Jeyrat absent, if I'm gone too...'
It would leave no one to guard His Imperial Majesty right beside him. Beols released his sword hilt slowly after calculating.
"Prince Marib, please disarm before entering."
"Very well. If you promise not to harm me."
"Look at the situation, Your Highness. Who is harming whom?"
Marib signaled everyone to wait and brushed past Beols. Beols glared at Riama before immediately following the prince.
Clatter clatter!
The two vanished into the darkness. Marib's forces squinted up at the brilliantly lit sky. Morning had come, when new history would be written.
* * *
"His Imperial Majesty handed the seal to Prince Marib? Preposterous!"
"Why not? The evidence is right here."
"You know what it means to hand over the seal!"
"I am currently His Imperial Majesty's sole heir. His health has deteriorated, rendering him unable to attend to state affairs. Regrettable, but I shall wield the seal in his stead—what right have you to raise your voice like this?"
"Prince Marib!"
The council hall was chaos. No wonder—one night, and Marib had secured the Emperor's seal, claiming its authority. Officials shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Grant us an audience with His Imperial Majesty!"
"Denied. His health is extremely precarious."
"Is that truly the case? Your Highness, right now—"
"Are you saying I have imprisoned my father?"
One official couldn't finish at Marib's words. It would be branded as insulting royalty, an undeniable loss. Murmurs spread; they were flustered, unsure how to proceed.
"An intruder entered Gail's residence overnight. His Majesty collapsed—this is a crisis unprecedented in Bariel history, save once. Those inciting chaos should prepare themselves."
The atmosphere gradually settled at Marib's words.
A coup. Undeniably treason, a plot against the throne. Marib proudly caressed the seal and called for Ian.
"Does the Magic Department Minister agree?"
"Your Highness."
"The palace access and security fall under the Magic Department—how did an intruder enter Gail's residence? Surely the Minister has a report on this."
Explain the intruder. That was the meaning.
Ian stared at the gleaming golden seal, his head throbbing.
Everything else aside...
'As expected, it's not the seal I know.'
Definitely different from the one used during his time as Emperor. He had noticed when receiving the lord appointment document from the border, but the seal before and after 100 years was clearly different.
'Why?'
Marib tapped the seal, urging Ian's response.
It was then.
Boom—!
A roar from outside. Everyone flinched and turned.
Gail entered the hall, sword in hand.
His hands covered in blood—whoever's it was.