Chapter 250
Chapter 250
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: 96. Great Escape (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Three days after Sidhurst joined.
A strange event unfolded across the entire continent.
Atop every mage tower scattered throughout the world, illusion magic activated simultaneously. An elderly man with a martial appearance and short-cropped gray hair appeared as a massive figure, introducing himself.
With those words, he passionately argued that the empire was already corrupted by black magic, and the dark powers they wielded were a scourge that should not exist in the world.
His voice carried a deep resonance, instilling trust in all who heard it.
A massive uproar followed.
With even the Mage Tower aligning with Yuri Brioll's claims, people could no longer dismiss black magic as mere slander.
Some demanded the emperor's official stance on black magic, while others insisted the Mage Tower's master had been co-opted by anti-empire forces.
The entire continent plunged into chaos.
And at the heart of it all, in the imperial palace, the emperor and his children gathered for a long-overdue meeting.
"Father. You seem to have regained your health."
Ekaterina's words drew a rebuke from Yugen.
"Ekaterina. What kind of manners are those? You should call him Your Imperial Majesty. Or at least 'Sire'."
Ekaterina ignored him completely. Ivar burst into laughter.
"What's the harm? My daughter calling me 'Father'—what's wrong with that?"
"It's disrespectful."
"No need for formalities among family."
"Still..."
"Enough."
After years in seclusion, Ivar had emerged and summoned his children.
Yugen and Georg stood before him, along with Ekaterina.
Ekaterina spoke again.
"You look cheerful today. Have you fully recovered?"
"Yes, indeed. Everything's better now. My body, my mind—I'm more vibrant than ever."
Ivar sat upon the throne, his eyes gleaming with an almost otherworldly light.
"I feel fantastic. It's been so long. Good thing I took that rest."
Ivar swirled the wine glass in his hand. The red liquid inside rippled.
"But while I was recuperating, the outside world's been in an uproar, they say. Everyone's making such a racket. Hahaha. Black magic? What nonsense..."
Georg spoke up.
"I'll make them shut their mouths. They're getting bold because we've been too quiet. We need to demonstrate our power."
"Is that really necessary?"
"You've been too merciful all this time, Your Majesty."
"Have I?"
Ivar chuckled.
"Yugen, my son. Tell me your thoughts. What should we do?"
"I..."
Yugen trailed off, lost in thought. Ivar watched him intently, awaiting his response.
Ekaterina found the scene oddly theatrical.
It felt like a scripted flow, designed to lead into whatever Yugen would say next.
She drew a line in her mind.
If Yugen proposed some absurd plan and their father accepted it without question, she would no longer trust Ivar.
Rumors had swirled within the palace that something strange was happening to him.
Some servants even whispered in fear that he had become something other than human.
Yet here he was, more vigorous than before.
This might be the worst possible scenario.
"My thoughts are..."
Yugen finally spoke.
"No matter what they say outside, it's not worth our response. The truth hasn't changed. But there is one thing we must be cautious of: enemies within."
"Enemies within?"
"Why not use this opportunity to root out those who sympathize with the enemy and undermine Your Majesty's authority? If the empire unites as one, we can reduce that insolent Brioll and the rest to ashes effortlessly."
"Heavens. Are there such traitors in my empire? Who dares insult me?"
"I wouldn't presume to mention names without Your Majesty's permission, but..."
Ekaterina blinked.
A sense of déjà vu washed over her. She tried to recall something, but it eluded her.
Memories of her past life were like faded, colorless static—nothing clear.
Yet this felt familiar, as if it had happened before.
An image flashed in her mind: a procession of ants marching in line.
In her past life, she had seen the empire as an anthill.
Like ants responding to pheromones, moving as one, the empire's people followed the emperor's lead blindly. They killed neighbors, hung corpses, and sometimes sacrificed themselves, as if entranced.
Watching that, she had fallen into despair.
Probably.
As she mulled over those distant memories, a specific scene surfaced.
She let out a sound without realizing it.
"Ah."
It was a moment from her past life. She stood atop a spire, gazing down at the imperial castle.
The empire's citizens were all controlled by some unknown force. Bereft of will, they obeyed the emperor like living corpses.
She wanted to flee this suffocating empire immediately, but she was trapped in the spire.
Unable to leave, she could only yearn endlessly for someone and sigh deeply.
There had been days like that.
"Ah..."
She murmured, but Ivar and Yugen were too engrossed in their conversation to notice.
Georg, standing beside her, whispered softly.
"What's wrong? Are you unwell?"
Known as a ruthless prince without pity, he was always tender with his only sister.
"No, it's nothing."
But she couldn't trust even Georg. Black magic could manipulate minds. Who knew if his was already tainted?
Ivar soon spoke.
"You're right, Yugen. When did you grow so wise? I thought you still had far to go before inheriting my empire, but you're ready now. You could ascend the throne this instant."
"What are you saying? I'm merely here to assist you, Father."
"You only call me 'Father' in moments like this. Hahaha..."
Ivar refilled his wine glass with the red liquid and tilted it to his lips.
He had always savored wine slowly, but now he gulped it down like a parched man.
Ekaterina found the sight voracious.
"Yugen, you're correct. We'll do as you say."
"Thank you."
"I'll issue the decree. Declare a state of emergency across the empire."
Lost in thought, Ekaterina hadn't followed their exchange. She widened her eyes in surprise.
Ivar rose abruptly from his seat.
"Establish reeducation camps and round up the insolent. Until order is restored, we'll rule the empire with an iron fist. Detain all foreigners residing here—especially those from Brioll—and investigate them thoroughly for any suspicious activity!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yugen bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Ekaterina followed Georg's lead a beat later, thinking to herself.
I need to get out of here.
Ekaterina had foreseen a moment like this. Though her past life's memories were hazy, the conviction that she shouldn't linger in the palace was etched in her mind.
She had begged her father for a mansion outside the palace and steadily smuggled assets overseas through various means.
But she hadn't expected to leave so abruptly.
For now, she summoned the one person she could trust to her residence.
"That's me?"
"Yes."
"I'm barely an acquaintance, and I'm your only ally? Princess, do you not have many friends? Haha..."
Ireine joked as she always did with those around her.
But Ekaterina was no ordinary person.
Ekaterina lowered her eyes demurely, her expression poignant.
"Is that strange...?"
Ireine immediately bowed her head.
"No. My apologies."
Her transcendent beauty made even a hint of sadness evoke guilt in anyone who saw it.
Ekaterina leaned in close to the bowed Ireine.
"Did I do something wrong...? Is it my fault...?"
"No, not at all. Please, stop."
"Okay."
Ireine finally raised her head with effort.
Ekaterina shrugged nonchalantly, her usual haughty demeanor returned as if nothing had happened. If her past-life lover was anything like this in expressions alone, Yuri Brioll must have been her spitting image.
"It's not my fault. The world's wrong, right?"
"Exactly."
"They'll start harassing Brioll people as early as tomorrow. So you need to leave with me, Ireine."
"Yes. But..."
Ireine sighed.
"Leaving all the other Brioll folks behind..."
"More sentimental than I thought?"
"'More'?"
"Running a huge merchant guild makes you seem like a cold-blooded profiteer."
"What I trade isn't just goods. It's trust. And trust comes from people's hearts. So my business is essentially people-trading."
"Human trafficking's illegal, though?"
"Wow, you're just like that guy in this..."
"Really?"
"Don't look so pleased."
"Don't worry too much. They won't kill us right away."
"I hope not..."
Standing before the wardrobe, Ekaterina suddenly shed her dress.
Her slender neck and straight shoulders came into view.
Ireine averted her eyes in surprise, and Ekaterina laughed.
"What's this between girls?"
"Reflex..."
Ireine cleared her throat awkwardly. Contrary to her reaction, Ekaterina wore a camisole and long undergarments beneath.
"Leaving right now?"
"If not now, no chance. Better to slip away when no one expects it, don't you think?"
"Ah..."
"Decisions must be swift. Ireine."
Donning pre-prepared clothes, Ekaterina transformed into a traveler's guise. Her slim figure required multiple layers to fill out the curves.
She then used an artifact to change her eye and hair color, donned a mask, and pulled up a hood to obscure her features.
"This should do it."
"Yes."
"Good."
She smiled and lifted her head. Her gently folding eyes peeked out—enough to draw attention on their own.
Ireine tugged the hood lower.
"Keep your head down."
"It's stuffy..."
Too much was as bad as too little; that beauty was a hindrance to escape.
"How do you plan to get out of the mansion? We don't even know who's leaking info."
"Leave that to me. Say I'm tired and not to be disturbed—no one will enter. I'll pretend to be part of your entourage. No one will notice until morning."
"I came alone."
"Don't worry. I'll insist."
"Pardon?"
"I prepared for this by throwing tantrums in advance."
"Hmm..."
Ireine nodded.
From what she'd seen, Ekaterina wasn't that difficult, but the mansion staff seemed oddly wary of her.
Ekaterina waved it off.
"You know how exhausting fake anger is? I dropped the attitude entirely."
"Yes..."
"Slapping hurts your own hand more, you know?"
"I didn't."
"Don't give me that look. I took good care of them behind the scenes. I care about welfare. That's why they keep working."
"Yes."
Urged by Ekaterina, Ireine packed her things.
"I'm ready. We just go like this?"
"Yes."
Ekaterina banged loudly on the door from inside.
A maid's voice soon came from outside.
"Did you call, Your Highness?"
"Ireine and her staff are leaving. Escort them both out. I'm tired now—don't let anyone in. Don't come calling either. Got it?"
"Yes. But I thought Ireine came alone..."
"I said I'm tired."
"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes. As you wish."
Bang!
"Do it right."
"My apologies! Rest well, Your Highness."
After slamming the door, Ekaterina clutched her hand in pain.
"Ow..."
"Why hit it?"
"To look fierce."
The two composed themselves briefly before opening the door and stepping out side by side.
The maid, oblivious that the suspicious figure beside Ireine was Ekaterina, doubted her own memory and escorted them out of the mansion.
Once outside, Ekaterina stretched.
"I knew this day would come, so I got a place outside the palace. Smart, right?"
"Very."
"Wanted a secret underground passage, but that was too hard. Anyway, now..."
Ekaterina linked arms with Ireine.
"Shall we begin the great escape?"