Whispers in the Imperial Palace
“A beastkin again... and so suddenly at that.”
Second Empress Cartia murmured as she stroked her long silver hair. The gesture, which would normally have seemed natural, was trembling faintly. The middle-aged knight standing beside her gently took her hand and shook his head.
“The preparations are perfect. Even if it's moved up by a day, it should be fine. In fact, it's good that they'll handle that troublesome emperor for us over there. And with the holy relic taken care of too, we don't even need to lift a finger.”
Cartia, still seated, looked up at the knight holding her hand. Far from reproaching his impertinence, she gripped his hand in return, her eyes filled with nothing but trust.
“The emperor...? A man who became emperor solely because he's the eldest son, despite his pathetic personal strength. You find him troublesome? You, the captain of the imperial knights?”
“It's not the emperor himself. The problem is their schemes—and the Blue Blood Archmage still in the palace, along with the mages loyal to him.”
“True enough. And we can't forget the imperial assassins. Those monsters...”
“That's just rumor...”
As Griwell dismissed the empress's worry with a shake of his head—
“How many times do I have to tell you! My family was destroyed by those bastards!!”
A sharp voice erupted, as if pent-up emotions had finally exploded.
“I saw it! With my own two eyes! I watched my parents, my brothers and sisters die at the hands of the 'Shadows'!!”
“...”
Before that blazing fury, Griwell could only bow his head.
Her anger somewhat assuaged by his reaction, Cartia rose and cupped Griwell's cheek. Staring straight into his green eyes—so like her own—she planted a light kiss on his lips.
“Remember, Griwell—all of that happened because the emperor lusted after me! You know why I'm doing this, don't you? At least you have to understand. No, you know better than anyone, right?”
“...I understand.”
Before those mad eyes, Griwell couldn't muster a counterargument.
“Yes. The next few days will decide our fate. If it goes well, 'our child' becomes emperor. If it fails, we're all finished. You know that, right?”
“...Of course.”
At her words, flames began to flicker in Griwell's eyes. Seize the empire's power—or lose everything. Eyes burning with vengeance and desire, the palace night deepened.
“They've started moving? That woman?”
The crown prince asked in surprise, and Iksiran hurriedly continued his report.
“Griwell gathered the imperial knights' close aides and announced the plan change. To the day before the wedding, not the day itself. If we'd only trusted the Dragon's Eye, we would've been in big trouble.”
“...Iksiran, that's great work on your part. What's the name of that junior of yours there?”
“Ternan, Your Highness.”
“Right. I won't forget that name.”
“I consider it an honor.”
The crown prince nodded calmly but soon let out a sigh.
“Still, if they're targeting the rehearsal... that's a problem. What about Father?”
“The 'collaborators' said they'd handle it themselves.”
The crown prince couldn't help but chuckle wryly. Leaving aside whether the knights even knew those collaborators were demon worshippers...
“Do you think the demon worshippers can take down Father without inside help, Iksiran?”
“I doubt it.”
Of the two archmages in the imperial magic tower, the Ice Flame Archmage had left to suppress the rebellion, but the Blue Blood Archmage remained. The emperor's younger brother—a direct descendant of Aslan who had risen above even the archmages, known as the Blue Blood Archmage. And he was said to be even stronger than the Ice Flame Archmage.
“Yes, with Uncle there. Sigh... this is troubling.”
“Shall we stop it in advance?”
The crown prince pondered long with a furrowed brow but could only give the inevitable answer.
“If that's all there is to it, we have to. I can't let innocent siblings die.”
His goal was to remove the lecherous emperor from the empire—not bathe in his brothers' blood.
But.
“...Valentia reports a 7th Circle black mage among the demon worshippers. Surely you're not forgetting that...”
“Didn't Sir Tiny and the Kraken handle him?”
“There's no guarantee that was the only one. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so confident about taking down His Majesty.”
Iksiran pointed out what the crown prince had overlooked.
“Sigh...”
“Everyone knows black mages are stronger in combat than regular mages of the same circle.”
“True... you're right.”
Silence fell once more as his anguish deepened. Iksiran stood quietly behind him.
Father...
Memories flooded the crown prince's mind. His father's towering greatness in childhood. The contradictions revealed as he grew. The betrayal upon learning of Father's desperate attempts to delay even his crown prince investiture. The ugly struggles to cling to power at every succession step. And just recently, the outburst during his audience with Cloi.
How did you come to this...?
The father he once saw as steadfast was gone. No emperor preparing for retirement should act this way. The current emperor was a massive threat entrenched deep in the palace, bound to cause trouble if left alone.
We can't leave Father as he is.
The crown prince reached his conclusion.
“...Send word to Valentia. Tell them to come to Kreim Palace the day before the rehearsal. I'll speak to Father-in-law myself.”
“Pardon? But...”
“If something happens in the rehearsal hall without Father there, there's no need to hide it.”
“Even so...”
“We'll announce we've uncovered the plot. The moment the barrier falters, Valentia knights charge into Kreim Palace. Of course, all in utmost secrecy.”
“Ah...!”
Iksiran finally understood, letting out an exclamation.
“If we warn him ahead, Father-in-law can hold them off alone until we arrive. Barriers mean nothing to him anyway. And we'll have you and my knights too.”
“...Understood, Your Highness.”
“Demon-possessed trash getting their one chance to contribute to the world... Ha, amusing! They'll have to do well.”
The crown prince's eyes no longer wavered, his resolve firm.
At the same time, deeper in the palace, a waning power broker received a similar report.
— They've changed the plan. The incident will happen the day before the wedding.
Second Empress altered the inner palace barrier stone access date.
Confirmed she took a small sample of blood from Second Prince, who has authorization.
The emperor's face twisted slightly as he prepared for bed, the voice echoing in the air.
“The second prince has nothing to do with it, right?”
High probability. She claimed it was for an elixir suited to his constitution and asked for blood—he reacted poorly.
“That rigid boy wouldn't act, so that's a relief. But the day before? No one's targeting the rehearsal since I won't be there?”
The emperor asked puzzled, and the bodiless voice replied easily.
Yes. We presume they'll strike here separately.
“You don't know exactly what?”
The plants we had in their midst were all purged recently. No precise intel. Apologies.
“...Whatever. Demon-possessed rabble—what decent plan could they have?”
...Word from Carun of a superhuman black mage.
“I heard. But slim chance it's true?”
Yes. Common speculation: Legendary beast appeared, so they overhyped the culprit too. Reports say he's already dead, but...
“Still bothers you?”
Just an old woman's worry. Pay it no mind.
“I appreciate the loyalty. But worry not. Even if true and that dead man returns, it's meaningless. Inside the palace, Ludwig is invincible.”
Was the voice watching the emperor's confident smile?
...Understood.
It seemed about to say more but backed off.
“Of course, with you by my side, I'm at ease.”
You overpraise me.
“The issue is dealing with Eschard, that arrogant bastard... Can those rabble really take down an Aura User?”
Doubtful. Even with intact barriers, superhuman mana can't be frozen. The plan assumed voluntary barrier breach.
They'll target Your Majesty and the imperial family over Duke Valentia anyway.
“Right. Send the shadows there?”
My subordinates' plan hinges on me stepping in...
“Won't work, then.”
Yes... but to elevate Your Majesty's authority, do we even need to eliminate Duke Valentia? Some imperial sacrifices would...
“Hm... tricky. I wanted to clean him out now.”
The Shadow Leader offered pragmatic advice, but the emperor paid it little heed.
“Monitor the day's events hourly and report. If my safety's assured, you and Ludwig can go finish Eschard.”
Even if it thinned his own guard. Words revealing emotions far beyond the Shadow Leader's guesses.
“Anyway, it's good news.”
Pardon?
“Means I don't risk myself at the incident's heart. Good thing.”
Yes.
“Prepare to strip the crown prince's power once it's over.”
Understood.
“Any other reports?”
A dismissal to let him rest. But a hesitant voice came half a beat late.
...Karina has already been dealt with.
“Karina?”
One of the three territories the demon worshippers schemed in—the one dumped on Valentia.
“Ah! The one carrying the holy relic...? But he survived and cleaned up Karina?”
Recalling his prior order, the emperor's face contorted viciously.
“What the hell have you been doing!?”
The gentle tone vanished; fury exploded.
The Shadow Leader hurriedly continued.
Arriving in Karina in three days defies logic—we're re-investigating his identity. We've committed a sure card to intercept him on return, so no worries. Report soon. Also, odd things at Karina Castle...
“You think I'm upset over some country castle or one knight's whereabouts!?”
The emperor bellowed, cutting off the Shadow Leader. An emperor mentioning a rural fort or a single knight was odd indeed.
But.
You said handle him on the way back...
The aggrieved leader stayed silent. The emperor clicked his tongue irritably.
“Means Valentia pulled it off without losing a drop of strength! Voices praising that loathsome bastard will grow louder again!”
Pre-great task jitters? His Majesty's inferiority complex shows too often.
It had surged since Duke Valentia's win over the Weapon Master. But.
Nothing I can do.
Long devoted to his role, the Shadow Leader sighed inwardly and held his tongue.
At the same time, somewhere in the palace.
[...Thus, we change the operation to the day before. Cooperate, please.]
“Impossible.”
The figure in the 'Blue Fox' mask quietly shook their head.