Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Demons Descend Upon the Kingdom (1)
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"Count Beaton and the Church's delegation have clashed."
With Princess Irena's declaration, the knights guarding the royal family stepped forward.
A hush fell over the conference room at the sight.
"……."
A clash between the Count and the Church?
The king looked flustered at the princess's report. The nobles, shocked, gaped at her.
Some even seemed relieved.
It was only natural.
The nobles here were not from the noble faction but from the royalist faction supporting the crown. And Count Beaton, who had clashed with the Church's delegation, was the leader of the noble faction.
Even as fellow nobles, their positions differed.
Whatever the reason for Count Beaton's clash with the Church, it was clear this was bad news for the noble faction.
They had been growing uneasy as the noble faction's power swelled day by day, so this was a rare chance to catch their breath.
Of course, verifying the truth was crucial.
King Carendia quickly dispatched a messenger.
Unlikely to be false coming from the princess, but confirmation was necessary.
As everyone's expressions shifted in real time, someone addressed Princess Irena.
"But how did Your Highness come by this information?"
It was Marquis Robert, one of the royalist nobles.
"And what of the knights behind you? Your Highness must explain these matters."
All eyes turned back to Princess Irena at the marquis's words.
Her earlier bombshell had made them momentarily forget the knights at her back.
"Indeed, Your Highness. This is in His Majesty's presence. Summoning knights without warning is an affront!"
Another noble chimed in, agreeing with Marquis Robert.
The princess's actions could border on treason depending on the circumstances—not a light matter.
The marquis waited silently for her response.
If the Count and the Church had truly clashed, he as marquis would have known. Even granting he hadn't, how could the princess know something unknown even to His Majesty?
Something felt off to Marquis Robert.
How had she learned of the clash between the Count and the Church?
And why had knights followed her in?
A negative thought crossed the marquis's mind.
Was she truly plotting rebellion?
'No, surely not.'
He pushed the thought aside and demanded an explanation from the princess.
"Marquis, is that truly what's important right now?"
But Princess Irena did not yield easily to the marquis.
Instead, she slowly scanned the room before continuing.
"This is a clash between the kingdom's nobles and the Church. Is there anything more vital than His Majesty's safety in this situation? If it troubles you, I'll dismiss the knights at once."
It was an incident that could engulf the entire kingdom in flames if mishandled.
Thus, she had summoned the royal knights.
The knights behind her were merely to protect His Majesty—nothing more, so rest easy.
At her words, the knight commander leading the royal knights looked baffled.
The knights' command authority rested with him.
Granted by His Majesty himself. So why would they heed the princess?
Yet the knight commander held his tongue.
"No, it's fine."
With His Majesty's permission first, the commander had no room to interject.
Marquis Robert felt the same.
"Hm…."
Marquis Robert, who had first questioned her, slowly nodded and bowed.
Upon reflection, her words rang true.
This clash was detrimental to the royal family.
Problematic if Count Beaton won, problematic if the Church's delegation triumphed.
Whichever side prevailed, the backlash would soon follow.
And that backlash would first sweep over the royals.
'To think I saw her as just a child all this time….'
The marquis admired Princess Irena's swift judgment and actions.
Above all, she had used "His Majesty" instead of "Father" this time.
'Must have been a slip amid the urgency earlier.'
His wary expression softened somewhat. He even found her commendable.
'As expected of royal blood.'
The noble faction stirred conflict over the king's legitimacy.
They wanted to parade him as a puppet while seizing the kingdom's interests. Some demanded his abdication, but the marquis differed.
'Even as a collateral branch, he's still royal.'
The marquis remained loyal to the crown. And today, he witnessed a new side of Princess Irena.
"I agree with Her Highness the Princess."
The change? He now addressed her as "Her Highness the Princess," an elevation.
It showed his favorable view. Indeed, Marquis Robert wore a warm, grandfatherly smile, as if beholding a granddaughter.
But with pressing issues at hand, he quickly composed himself.
"Princess, explain the details of this incident."
The king, who had observed thus far, spoke. His stern voice demanded her account.
Messengers were sent, but reports would take time.
Every minute counted now.
Princess Irena continued her explanation to King Carendia.
"Before the clash, the Church designated Count Beaton a heretic."
"What? Is that true?!"
Marquis Robert shot to his feet at her words.
The Church labeling a kingdom noble a heretic was no simple matter.
It risked turning the entire kingdom against them—a grave affair.
"Why reveal such critical news only now…."
If the Church branded the Sail Kingdom a heretic state, it would be dire.
The kingdom might then war with every nation on the continent.
The marquis muttered in despair.
This was no time for idle chatter.
The nobles felt the heat as well.
Yet none could reproach the princess.
They knew only because she had informed them.
Amid the nobles' panic, Irena subtly smiled.
The situation she desired had formed.
Count Beaton designated a heretic?
No. Merely skeleton knights found in his mansion—no official designation.
'But by now, they're surely suspecting each other.'
The Church's delegation and Count Beaton, swords drawn in mutual distrust.
The Church to exterminate heretics.
The Count believing himself trapped.
All orchestrated by Celia and Irena.
Irena was satisfied.
The royals had long been powerless. Even the king was dragged along, unable to lead.
Princess Irena fared no better.
Nobles, maids, butlers—they all scorned her.
But now?
'With Lady Celia, it's possible!'
The kingdom moved as she willed.
Irena reveled in bending the realm to her desires.
She had contracted with Celia and prepared extensively.
One preparation: with Celia's aid, smuggling royal knights' gear to infiltrate skeleton knights.
First into the kingdom, then gradually into select noble faction nobles.
'By now, they're moving.'
Unlike the delegation invited to Count Beaton's, another group lurked.
Holy Knights from the Church who infiltrated before the official delegation.
Rat-like, but not enemies now.
'How did Lady Celia even sway the Church's Holy Knights?'
Word was, she had won over the Holy Knight vice-commander.
Of course, Vice-Commander Liana mistook the skeleton Holy Knight "Maru" for a saint and followed him—not Celia—but Irena knew nothing of that.
The one certainty: Liana would soon strike the nobles.
A long-prepared plan now bore fruit.
Her pieces took the stage one by one.
And now, it was her turn as princess to step onto it.
"So, Princess, what would you have us do?"
The king's voice lacked strength.
The situation had ballooned, giving him a headache. Time was short.
Thus, he sought the opinion of Princess Irena, who had brought the news first.
Irena had deliberately timed the revelation.
The more pressing, the less rational the judgment.
"I will resolve it myself."
As all panicked, Irena seized the moment.
"In exchange, grant me command of the royal knights."
The knights trailing her were merely armed skeleton knights, not true royals.
Possible here without Church priests.
But outside, they'd clash inevitably.
She needed the knights only this far—a tool to gain royal command.
"For the kingdom's safety, I take full responsibility."
Finally, she declared accountability for all.
Now, only the king's decision remained.
Princess Irena gazed at Carendia—her father and king.
'Father.'
The chance was there.
Even now, she could revolt using the disguised skeletons.
The easiest path to the throne.
But not for the kingdom's future.
'You still have duties to fulfill, Father.'
Once resolved, the Church would demand the kingdom's accountability. The fallout would be immense.
And then, a scapegoat would be needed.
'For the kingdom's future, you must sacrifice.'
The first would be Sail Kingdom's king.
King Carendia, ignorant of her heart, decided from his seat.
"I understand the princess's resolve. It must not have been easy, but as a royal, you must bear the responsibility."
No mere clash—the kingdom's noble branded heretic.
The royals must act decisively now.
This was no battlefield or dire combat, merely political.
A royal princess stepping forward was fitting.
No combat expected, so even if it arose, she wouldn't lead—the king didn't hesitate.
"I entrust all royal knight authority to Princess Irena! Prepare at once."
At the king's command, Irena smiled and bowed.
Her first step taken.
Under preparation pretext, she excused herself. Then headed to her chambers.
En route, she ordered her guard knight Lennon.
"Lennon, I appoint you temporary commander for this. Ready the knights immediately."
Lennon was the princess's guard but a commoner by birth.
A commoner leading royal knights might stir talk.
But with her command authority, it mattered not.
'Once this ends, all will be distracted.'
No worry over gossip amid coming events.
Lennon obeyed his liege.
"I shall serve Her Highness's command!"
He knelt in knightly fealty.
Only after seeing the princess enter her room did he depart.
'…….'
Entering her room, Irena began preparations.
But not as others might.
She retrieved a parchment hidden deep under her bed, filled with unknown script.
Next, a rat corpse, small gems, and gold.
Identical to the ritual summoning Celia first.
But Irena continued. Celia required re-ritual for additional power.
- The Great One is merciful, they say.
This ritual was for the Great One, not Celia.
And through that Great One, she met Celia.
Irena had never seen the Great One but never doubted its existence.
'All for the kingdom.'
'And for the Great One!'
Ritual prepared, she lit candles as before.
As she bit her finger for blood—
She paused.
A new thought struck.
Irena sought not mere queenship. Greater power beckoned.
"A stronger power…."
Last time, finger-prick blood sealed the Celia contract.
A few drops brought her this far.
What if she offered more?
Madness glazed her eyes.
"…A fitting sacrifice is needed."
Resolved, Irena fetched a small dagger from her drawer.
She placed her left hand on the parchment.
Her right, clutching the dagger, trembled. No time for hesitation.
Irena slashed toward her pinky finger.