Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Eclipse Gambit
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Shun Rak Oran was lost in thought.
'Is Kyle wrong?'
Perhaps he was.
Traditionally, the king followed either the calendar priests' predictions or those of the observatory.
That was because past kings had lacked the time to devote to astronomy.
But the clever Kyle had calculated it himself, which might have led to an error.
'Even if Kyle was wrong, he wouldn't have been unaware of it.'
Shun knew his younger brother well.
In fact, he might have seen through his true nature even faster than their eldest brother, Basen.
That was why Shun had entered the priesthood of the Night Sky Church at a younger age than most.
'And perhaps...'
Shun considered it unlikely, but he kept another possibility in mind.
The calendar priests and the observatory had produced their results through numerous scholars.
Even someone as brilliant as Kyle might struggle to arrive at the correct answer alone.
'But what if Kyle alone got it right?'
If the eclipse ritual's timing was off, there would be punishment—but Shun had already made up his mind.
He knew it would be brushed under the rug anyway, as royalty.
'Abuse of power? So what. Haven't I essentially taken the blame for someone else?'
Shun decided to hold the eclipse ritual at the time Kyle had predicted.
And that decision brought chaos to the palace.
The day of the eclipse ritual.
Two hours before the calendar priests and observatory's predicted eclipse time. Six hours before Kyle's prediction.
In one corner of the palace, the ministers were holding an urgent meeting.
"Observatory Minister, speak. Are you certain of those calculations?"
At Administrative Minister Salushin Oe's urging, the Observatory Minister nodded vigorously.
"Our officials have verified it multiple times. It's certain."
The ministers' expressions remained unpersuaded, so the Observatory Minister added,
"We even cross-checked with the Night Sky Church's calendar priests. It can't be wrong."
"Are you certain?"
"Pardon?"
Salushin glared at the Observatory Minister.
But his gaze seemed to pierce beyond, targeting someone farther away.
"At the first audience council, that dwarf outshone you in knowledge. And His Majesty is sharp enough to distinguish right from wrong. Yet you claim certainty?"
"That is..."
"Choose your words carefully. Our fates may hang on them."
The astronomer hesitated several times before steeling himself and speaking.
"I am right."
Salushin read not political calculation, but a scholar's confidence in the man's eyes.
"Good. Then we must act swiftly."
Shun Rak Oran hadn't fully grasped Kyle's intentions.
But Salushin was different.
Salushin judged that Kyle had deliberately announced a different eclipse time from the calendar priests and observatory officials, pursuing one of two motives.
One was extremely unlikely.
'No matter how brilliant His Majesty is, he alone can't be right when all this great nation's scholars are wrong.'
So Salushin saw only one possibility.
'This is... a battle of wills.'
The political strife between king and ministers had continued endlessly since Rakrak's death.
Salushin suspected even Rakrak had played such games.
'If a figure like the Thunder Dragon King arbitrarily declared an eclipse time, the ministers would doubt themselves, prepare the ritual at his time, and follow suit.'
Then, if the ritual failed to align with the actual eclipse, it wouldn't be solely the king's fault.
The Night Sky Church oversaw the ritual, but ministers including the Observatory Minister were involved.
The king might escape blame, but the ministers could not.
It would give grounds to invoke the law and punish them for failing to prepare properly.
'But His Majesty is no Thunder Dragon King.'
Kyle lacked Rakrak's strength, achievements, or reverence.
His ascension over elder brother Basen Rak Oran was noteworthy, but now it seemed less Kyle's brilliance than Basen's inadequacy as heir.
At least, that's how Salushin saw it.
'You can't punish us, Your Majesty.'
Salushin, the Observatory Minister, and the other ministers went to Kyle.
They insisted the ritual be held four hours earlier than Kyle's prediction.
Kyle said,
"...I understand your point. If that's your will, so be it. It won't be too late, will it?"
Salushin took this as Kyle yielding easily.
"Yes. We've dissolved the council and prepared since early morning, so we can hold it on schedule."
"Hah, very well. Then Administrative Minister, prepare the ritual with the Observatory Minister."
Salushin hid his smile and stepped forward.
"Four hours earlier than before? At the time set by the calendar priests and observatory officials?"
When Shun asked, Salushin nodded.
Shun assumed Kyle had his reasons and completed preparations four hours ahead as Salushin advised.
One hour before the ritual, in front of Oran Palace.
Instruments played as Night Sky Church priests and Shun recited prescribed prayers, beginning the rite.
Salushin stood with the other ministers.
Their position perfectly faced the dais where the king would ascend at the eclipse's moment.
'You schemed hard, but alas, I win.'
The tedious ceremony tested him, but Salushin suppressed a grin.
The prince was known for intellect and sharpness, but at fifteen, he couldn't escape childish limits.
'Like the previous sovereign, this will pass easily too.'
And at the predicted precise moment.
Kyle ascended the dais.
He scanned the ministers and people, his gaze lingering on Salushin last.
Salushin met Kyle's eyes.
'You hide your expression well. But with your insides boiling, what will you do?'
Salushin averted his gaze repeatedly to stifle a smirk.
Then, a strange thought struck him.
'What?'
The people looked skyward, murmuring.
Salushin looked up too.
Clouds veiled the sky, but the sun shone clear.
No eclipse.
On the dais, Kyle paced boredly, hands behind his back, then sighed.
"No eclipse. Is the lead priest here?"
Shun approached the dais.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"It seems the timing was wrong. Investigate again. Cancel this ritual for now."
"Understood."
The Observatory Minister rushed forward, kowtowing.
"Your Majesty! Punish this lowly one!"
"What happened?"
"It seems our observatory miscalculated the eclipse time."
"How so?"
The Observatory Minister lifted his head slightly.
"I don't... I don't know."
"Then I shall tell you."
Kyle declared from the dais.
"The calendar priests and observatory officials all relied on outdated arithmetic and astronomical texts. I overlooked it too, but a dwarf named Lump discovered and informed me. Ashamed of my own shortcomings, I didn't share it with the other ministers—nor did I expect you to share the same flaw."
The Observatory Minister stammered,
"B-but Your Majesty! The Thunder Dragon King's own writings state 'The heavens do not change.'"
Thunder Dragon King Rakrak.
The mere name evoked awe among Heukrin's people.
But not for Kyle.
"Fool. Aren't those old texts? Why can't you accept even great ones can err? They had no prior books. But we have their legacy plus countless others. Have you read the calendar texts from distant Mangul? The heavens' motions shift over time. Didn't I already give you the hint?"
The Observatory Minister trembled; Salushin felt struck.
'That damned dwarf! Mentioning foreign texts...'
The Observatory Minister said,
"However, Your Majesty... Heukrin is a great nation, while Mangul is but a petty state... Do we need such knowledge...?"
"No matter how great Heukrin, does it rival the entire continent's might? Or its knowledge?"
Kyle turned away.
"Punish those responsible per the law. Lead priest, reprepare for the coming eclipse."
The eclipse occurred four hours later.
As Basen Rak Oran boarded the ship, Oran Harbor came into view from the deck.
'I'll be back, Kyle.'
Basen knew Kyle was aware of his love for adventure.
And pioneering beyond the eastern mountains was indeed necessary.
'As is my leaving the palace.'
Three years ago, when he'd decided to yield the crown prince position to Kyle, Basen had contemplated worst-case scenarios.
This adventure was tame by comparison.
'Peaceful enough to leave Oran gladly.'
No resentment would be a lie, but from the moment he boarded the merchant ship Pirate's Shame, Basen brimmed with exploratory zeal.
Nominally, as leader of the Eastern Mountains Expedition, Basen had authority over 150 soldiers split across three warships.
'But I won't board those warships.'
Basen's vessel was the merchant ship Pirate's Shame.
Employed by Heukrin and long trading with the palace, she belonged to the Etimo family.
Basen chose the merchantman as flagship over cramped warships unfit for royal dignity.
'That's just the excuse. Someone boards to ensure I don't misuse the troops.'
He didn't yet know who the overseer was.
But Basen had obtained the passenger list for Pirate's Shame in advance and narrowed candidates.
'Top candidate...'
A woman with reddish hair tied back approached Basen.
"Pleased to meet you. Captain Tione Etimo."
"Likewise. Basen Rak Oran. An elf, I see."
Tione's ears twitched.
"First to spot it at a glance. Usually, lizardmen just grumble they can't tell humans, elves, nixies, or halflings apart."
"Halflings? Even the tallest barely reach half my waist."
"Some mix up dwarves and elves, though."
"Hm. Gotta cut humans slack. They have dwarf-like and halfling-like folk too."
"Still, mistaking me should be hard."
Basen nodded.
Tione Etimo had unusually long limbs even for an elf.
"Anyway, we'll see much of each other. Here's to a good voyage."
"Agreed. But first, a word."
"Speak."
Tione cleared her throat.
"No matter how noble, on my ship, you follow my orders. If not, disembark and find another."
Basen pondered briefly, then nodded.
"So long as your orders aren't unreasonable. I can accept that."
Tione flashed brief surprise at his ready agreement.
She quickly composed herself and nodded.
"Good. As expedition leader and my passenger, I'll accommodate you otherwise."
"Thanks. My luggage hasn't arrived?"
"Ah, Hyesa will bring it. No worries."
"Hyesa? Pretty name."
Tione shrugged.
"Name? Never called it that, but it's how we address it, so think of it as one."
Basen stared blankly.
Tione turned.
"Just in time..."
Basen followed her gaze: a majestic 3-meter ogre approached.
"Who called for top-tier Hyesa?"