Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Misconception (3)
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The rumors spread like wildfire.
Rumors that someone was secretly controlling the monsters attacking the capital.
The story that shadowy forces had dismantled even the barrier to assault the empire swept across the entire nation in an instant.
"Isn't this the first time the capital has been attacked since Emperor Deus ascended the throne?"
"Do you think only the capital was hit? They say even the palace took damage."
"No matter that he's called the Holy King, this time he won't let it slide easily."
"Exactly. Anyway, it must be those northern barbarians who did it, right?"
"The truce negotiations are dragging on, and now this from behind the scenes?"
"Those insolent barbarians!"
Of course, people were preemptively assuming deep down that the culprits were the 'northern barbarians.'
No one else could secretly control the monsters of the Rokari Mountains.
They pretended to negotiate a truce on the surface while pulling strings like this from the shadows.
All eyes were on what judgment the Guardian of Peace, Deus, would deliver.
The neighboring nations hunkered down in fear.
One wrong move, and they could vanish like dust.
"Who holds the sword is what's important."
"The sword? What sword?"
"Come on. After a direct attack on the imperial family, don't you think they'll form an investigation team? They'll root them out thoroughly and chop off the heads of everyone involved."
"Will the Holy King do that?"
"That's why he'll hand the sword to someone else."
"Then it'll obviously be Prince Raunel."
"No. I heard Crown Prince Reinhardt's name is also on the list of candidates."
"Then won't blood flow like a river?"
The force of the wind would depend on whom the emperor handed the sword to.
Prince Raunel would handle it by the book, but if he gave the sword to Crown Prince Reinhardt, a real bloodbath could ensue.
The capital buzzed daily with talk of the raids.
Every newspaper was plastered with imperial family stories.
― Monster Raid: Who's Behind It? One Daily
― Imperial Family Draws the Sword. Central Post
― Birth of the Road Slayer. Phoenix News
― Prince Kazan and the Magic Corps' Heroics! Guardians' Reporters
······.
···.
*
Appoint one of the three as the investigation leader.
But it wasn't a decision to be made lightly.
Even if Deus decided unilaterally, it would only divide the imperial family's power.
Thus, what was needed was 'consensus.'
An agreement to back whoever became the leader with full force.
More precisely, it was time to seek the empresses' consensus.
"Choose two out of the three and inform me. I will take your opinions into account."
It was time to unite the imperial family's strength to overcome this crisis.
Reinhardt, Raunel, Kazan.
From those three, select two and appoint the more suitable one as investigation leader.
Not only the empresses reacted to Deus's words.
The nobles began moving even more busily.
*
"Your Majesty, we must absolutely prevent Crown Prince Reinhardt from being appointed investigation leader."
A shadow fell over the 1st Empress's eyes.
Emperor Deus had announced he would appoint an investigation leader to probe thoroughly and make an example of all involved.
The candidates were Raunel, Kazan, and Reinhardt.
The nobles swarmed her, protesting as if demonstrating.
"If the crown prince wields the sword, blood will flow."
"This incident is no different from a natural disaster. It's like blaming humans for an act of nature, isn't it?"
"The positions of the nobles currently on trial will narrow even further. The judges will watch the crown prince's mood. This cannot stand."
The reason for the nobles' protests was simple.
The nobles currently detained and on trial in connection with the Special Prison.
It wasn't just one or two. Over fifty nobles entangled in long-standing corruption, most of them aligned with the 1st Empress.
The judges conducting the trials were nobles too.
Thus, they tended to grant each other some leeway.
Even if Crown Prince Reinhardt, who had no standing in the palace, issued orders, they could just turn a blind eye. A light punishment and done.
But the moment Reinhardt became investigation leader, the entire board flipped.
After organizing her thoughts, the 1st Empress spoke.
"Don't worry. If His Majesty has any sense, he won't appoint the crown prince."
Raunel was the only suitable choice.
No matter how much Reinhardt had changed, they wouldn't hand investigative authority to someone with no support base.
But what was this unease?
'I need to talk to the other empresses.'
If the empresses united, the emperor would have no choice but to appoint Raunel.
The 1st Empress convened a meeting of the empresses.
*
The four empresses gathered for tea time.
"It's been a while since we've all been together like this."
The 1st Empress opened her mouth.
Empresses meeting was a rare event. Maybe once a year, if that.
But they had no choice this time.
"I need your help on this one. We must seat Raunel as investigation leader to let this pass smoothly, don't you think?"
"······ This time, I agree."
The 2nd Empress supported her view.
Her son, 2nd Prince Kazan, was far from the type suited for investigation leader.
But Raunel at least wouldn't bring a bloodbath to the imperial family.
"Empress Josephine, Empress Ria. Do you agree with me?"
With the support of 3rd Empress Josephine and 4th Empress Ria, she could strongly push Raunel.
But their reactions were disappointingly lukewarm.
Josephine Empress was especially hostile.
"I hear Princes Carmen and Leon were excluded from the candidates due to their youth, but that hardly means I should back Prince Raunel, does it······?"
Josephine Empress had poor relations with the other empresses.
Especially the 1st and 2nd Empresses, who scorned her as a 'country bumpkin'—she loathed even breathing the same air as them.
The 1st Empress's expression hardened.
"Then you're supporting the crown prince?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"Do you really not know how severe his mania is?"
"Well, isn't that just a rumor? The crown prince I saw seemed perfectly normal."
Rather than back Raunel, son of the 1st Empress, Josephine preferred Reinhardt as leader.
Moreover, Reinhardt had saved her son Prince Carmen from his rampage.
Not that he was welcome, but as a lifesaver, he was infinitely better than the arrogant 1st Empress's son.
"You came to the palace late, so you wouldn't know."
"Must be nice to have been in the palace so long?"
"······ Empress Josephine. Are you speaking to me like that?"
Bang!
Empress Josephine shot up from her seat.
"Ha! Is that how you ask for agreement? If you're going to demand without even basic courtesy, I'll take my leave."
Having spat her piece, Empress Josephine stormed out.
Their relations were never good, but she hadn't expected such rudeness.
'That lowborn······.'
The 1st Empress suppressed her anger.
Young and lowborn, she seemed to think being an empress put her on the same level.
Too stupid to read the bigger picture.
If Raunel became investigation leader, it meant wielding the empire's sharpest sword.
The 1st Empress's influence would only grow.
Empress Josephine would regret it then, but it'd be too late.
"······ Empress Ria. I hope you'll make a wise choice."
Calming her anger, the 1st Empress addressed 4th Empress Ria.
Empress Ria asked back.
"You mean choose between Prince Raunel and Crown Prince Reinhardt?"
"Yes. That's how it is."
"What benefit do I gain from picking one?"
"You're aware of the rumors that the monster unrest and raids were the northerners' doing."
"What does that have to do with me? My ancestors were northerners a thousand years ago."
"But do others think that way?"
Empress Ria bit her lip.
It was exasperating prejudice.
A thousand years was more than enough time for northern blood to dilute.
Their blood was nearly gone; they looked no different from anyone else.
Yet people still treated her and her house as 'northern foreigners.'
Even funnier, the north called them 'traitors.'
'If I were in danger of dying, would they even glance my way?'
Even if they did, they'd just mock. Laugh uproariously, probably.
When Eternal Palace was attacked by the dragon, she was the only one who moved.
Despite the odd signs, no knights or soldiers headed there.
If not for Reinhardt, Leon would already be gone.
He sensed it and rushed in to save him.
If forced to choose, Reinhardt was better than these empresses before her.
No matter how upright Prince Raunel was, he couldn't be free of the 1st Empress's influence.
"I'm sorry, but please exclude me from this."
Politely refusing, Empress Ria also rose and left.
Her dream was a quiet life without storms.
As long as Leon grew up well, that was enough.
Thus, the 3rd and 4th Empresses had both left. A perfect 2:2 split.
Far from the 1st Empress's expectations.
'Crown Prince Reinhardt has swayed those two.'
No matter how foolish, one must distinguish public from private.
Yet they refused, meaning Reinhardt had gained some hold on their hearts.
The 3rd and 4th Empresses lacked major influence in the palace, but their houses' power was no small thing.
If they backed Reinhardt, the picture could get messy.
The 1st Empress clenched her fist, trembling.
*
Empress Josephine regretted it as she left.
'I'm screwed.'
She'd lashed out in anger, but now realized if Raunel became leader, she could plummet straight to ruin.
Should she go back and apologize?
Empress Josephine shook her head.
She'd rather bite her tongue and die.
Returning to her palace, she saw people moving luggage.
Strangers entering and exiting her palace.
The only familiar face was Izar.
Isabella's brother and heir to the Versailles countess family.
"What is this?"
"Ah, Your Majesty. Gifts from Crown Prince Reinhardt."
"What?"
Josephine wore a shocked expression.
Gifts from whom?
'No poison or monsters inside, I hope?'
Large crates.
Who knew what was in them.
"Open them. We need to check the contents."
"Yes. Open them."
At Izar's command, the workers opened the crates.
Empress Josephine's eyes shook as she inspected the contents.
"Th-this... isn't this a painting? And porcelain?"
"He said it's an apology for what was broken in the palace before."
After the demonstration, Reinhardt had entered Golden Lion Palace to heal Prince Carmen's rampage.
Porcelain and paintings had been damaged in the process.
Could this be... sent out of guilt?
"Wait. Th-this porcelain...! Isn't it Atlruyen's masterpiece 'Morning of the Lion'?"
"It was really hard to acquire."
"And this painting! 'Survival and Destruction'! How did you get pieces not even money can buy?"
"Truly, truly difficult."
As Izar said, these were nearly impossible to obtain.
Several times more valuable than what Reinhardt had broken.
But their owners weren't short on cash.
Josephine herself had tried multiple times and given up.
"Crown Prince Reinhardt... sent these to me?"
Empress Josephine steadied her chest.
"Yes. Please accept them graciously."
Reinhardt had ordered it, but Izar had procured them himself.
Empress Josephine pressed her forehead against the dizziness.
'To think Crown Prince Reinhardt has such taste.'
He knew art.
And these were sent personally as an apology.
Reinhardt wasn't a madman.
'Yes. Better Crown Prince Reinhardt than Prince Raunel.'
He probably wasn't giving them purely out of guilt.
But at least Reinhardt knew to show sincerity.
Unlike some.
Empress Josephine hardened her resolve.
*
The monster raid on the capital, Balmunk's intrusion into the imperial palace.
In the end, this was an opportunity.
Become investigation leader and gain that much power.
With the imperial family's backing, crush noble resistance and solidify position.
'A chance to restore the imperial family's power base.'
Even further, to return the empire from the nobles' to the imperial family's.
It was also the perfect chance to cut down Carlos Grand Duke's cronies.
'Starting with palace mage Generic, sever every arm and leg of Carlos Grand Duke.'
Carlos Grand Duke's hidden limbs lurked throughout the palace.
The nobles too.
Pretending loyalty to the empresses, but more truly loyal to Carlos Grand Duke.
With him distracted by northern truce talks, this chance wouldn't come again.
The justification was solid. Emperor Deus's will firm.
'No yielding.'
Deus said he'd consider the empresses' opinions.
They'd likely choose between me and Raunel.
1st and 2nd Empresses for Raunel, but 3rd and 4th could go either way.
"The empresses' opinions are sharply divided."
The imperial family gathered.
Deus stroked his chin after hearing the empresses.
Exactly 2:2.
3rd Empress Josephine and 4th Empress Ria had chosen Reinhardt over Raunel for leader.
"Reinhardt, and Raunel."
Seated on the throne, Deus looked back and forth between me and Raunel.
"The empire was attacked. At a time like this, the imperial family cannot show division. Therefore."
Deus spoke again.
"Prove it with ability. The superior one between you two will be appointed investigation leader."
······ Prove it with ability?
Did he mean for us to fight it out?
Misconception (3) End