Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Chapter 18: Founding Festival (7)
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The air in the room hung heavy.
Only the emperor, who knew everything, and Martin, who had grasped the situation beforehand, remained calm. Everyone else was unable to hide their shock.
The heads of the three great noble houses had cursed the emperor—how could they accept such a fact easily?
“...Did you truly curse His Majesty the Emperor, Werner?”
“Still throwing meaningless questions my way, Karl. If I said no here, if I claimed it was all Martin Adalbert’s scheme, would you believe me?”
“I simply wanted you to admit it yourself.”
Karl replied in a cold tone to Werner von Klaus’s retort.
From the start, the only one capable of casting magic on a 10th Circle emperor was another 10th Circle mage, and there was only one such person in the empire.
“If you want to hear it that badly, then yes. It was I who planted the curse in His Majesty’s body.”
“Then the incurable disease never existed in the first place. It was all your curse...”
“Ah, don’t jump to conclusions like that. It’s true that His Majesty contracted an incurable disease. Even I can’t cast a curse on an equal. The disease created an opening in His Majesty, and I exploited that gap to implant the curse. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
Werner’s gaze turned to the emperor.
A sinister smile playing on his lips.
“Werner von Klaus!”
Hendrick von Maiyas spat in fury at the insolence, gripping the hilt of his sword.
“Enough.”
That was when the emperor spoke.
Hendrick ground his teeth but released the hilt.
With an imperial command issued, obedience was the only proper response.
Having restrained Hendrick, the emperor looked at Werner and continued.
“Before the curse took hold, I had already fallen ill with the incurable disease. Neither the power of the 10th Circle nor any unique ability related to healing could cure it. I intended to investigate gradually over time... but I didn’t expect you to act so boldly, Duke Klaus. I suppose your desire for independence runs that deep.”
“Hasn’t a thousand years been enough? No nation on the scale of the Alteria Empire has ever lasted this long in the history of the Crasian Continent. Trying to prolong it further is nothing but futile greed.”
“Isn’t it the duty of descendants to carry on the legacy of our great ancestors?”
“Doesn’t Your Majesty know? You’ve only escaped the curse’s threat for now—your life could end at any moment. With so little time left, wouldn’t it be better to live out your days in peace rather than clinging to empty duties?”
“What nonsense is this, Duke!”
Richard, who had been listening, shouted.
He had thought everything would be resolved once the emperor was freed from the curse, but that wasn’t the case.
The shock was inevitable.
“Why so surprised, First Prince? The Adalbert family head’s proxy only removed the curse. Of course the incurable disease remains. Or did you actually believe it could be cured?”
Mockery dripped from Werner’s tone.
Richard gnashed his teeth in rage.
“And even if a cure were found, it’s far too late. His Majesty’s body has long been ravaged by both disease and curse. He’s only regained consciousness—closing his eyes tomorrow wouldn’t be strange at all.”
“No... it can’t be...”
Claudia, listening to the exchange, let out a distraught sigh.
Theodore’s expression grew grave as well.
In contrast, the emperor remained composed.
“There’s one thing I don’t understand, Duke Klaus. If you wanted me dead enough to curse me, why did you allow the Adalbert family head’s proxy to remove it?”
“With Karl here holding the fort, plus several 9th Circle mages, how could I pull any tricks?”
“Well, that’s certainly part of it. But to my eyes, it looks different. You didn’t stop it because you believed the Klaus family’s grand undertaking wouldn’t falter even if I awoke.”
“I think that’s a fair interpretation, Your Majesty.”
The smile on Werner’s lips deepened.
“I can’t listen to any more of this.”
Seeing it, Karl clenched his fist tightly.
As if ready to lunge at any moment.
Yet Werner showed no trace of fear.
“If you and I fought, more than half the people here would lose their lives. His Majesty would certainly perish. Still planning to fight?”
“...Scheming to the bitter end, as always.”
“Mages have always been like that, haven’t we? Scheming with our brains to shape the board in our favor. In that vein, Adalbert family head’s proxy.”
Even with an enraged Karl before him, Werner leisurely turned his head.
And fixed his gaze on Martin.
“If you’d studied magic, you would have reached the 10th Circle.”
“Hmm. I appreciate the compliment, but... it’s hard to take it in good spirits.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t care about others’ feelings. As a final piece of advice for your sake.”
“You’ll say it even if I refuse, won’t you?”
“Of course. You have the talent to reach the 10th Circle, and the qualities to be an excellent monarch of a nation. So don’t get hung up on a crumbling empire. As I said before you came, you have the ability to fulfill the founding family head’s wish. Don’t waste it.”
Martin fell silent.
Werner, as if not expecting a reply, turned back to the emperor.
“As I said earlier, a thousand years was too long, Your Majesty. The hollow title of duke, all the regulations to keep us in check—I’m sick of it all. And so, I declare here and now: from this moment, House Klaus and the southern territories secede from the Alteria Empire.”
“You’ve prepared thoroughly, I see, Duke Klaus. You call it independence, but to me, it’s rebellion. The imperial family, along with House Ferdinand and House Adalbert, will naturally move against House Klaus. Knowing that, yet pushing for independence to the end—doesn’t that mean you have the strength to withstand all three houses?”
“I’d like you to see for yourself with your own eyes. Assuming, of course, Your Majesty has the time left.”
“Quite cold to someone who could die any moment.”
“Secrets are most fun when uncovered with one’s own hands. Congratulations on regaining your senses, Your Majesty. With that, I’ll take my leave.”
Flash!
Light bloomed from Werner and the Klaus family executives who had accompanied him.
They shattered into dozens, hundreds of particles, then vanished entirely.
As if they had never been there.
Martin stared blankly at the empty space.
‘The flow of the civil war has changed.’
In his previous life, House Klaus had never declared independence.
They were too busy fighting the elves.
But by rescuing the high elf Solen, everything had shifted, and what he thought would happen much later had arrived right away.
‘The problem is the empire’s succession.’
The emperor had collapsed without naming an official heir.
That’s why the princes and princesses were vying for power.
But now that the emperor had regained consciousness, he could designate one.
Who would it be?
Martin felt a strange mix of tension and curiosity.
* * *
The room remained shrouded in silence, until the emperor broke it.
“I have much I’d like to say, but first things first. Richard, Theodore, Claudia.”
The emperor’s gaze turned to his children.
One was absent, which gnawed at him, but he didn’t show it.
Catering to a child without succession rights could plunge the empire into even greater chaos.
That, he absolutely had to prevent.
“While I was down, you protected the imperial family and the empire. First, thank you.”
“It was nothing, Your Majesty. I merely fulfilled my duty as a member of the imperial family.”
Richard answered on their behalf, but the emperor shook his head.
“Ambition for the throne is hard to suppress. Even with me alive, you held the final line. That deserves praise. And so, I will give you all a chance at the throne.”
Tremble.
Richard, Theodore, and Claudia shook with emotion.
They had formed factions and competed among themselves, but none had been officially recognized as crown prince or princess.
That had undermined their authority, but now the situation had changed.
“House Klaus has rebelled. The greatest civil war since the empire’s founding is upon us. But your task is simple.”
“Defeating Duke Klaus.”
“You’re right, Claudia. Of course, I won’t leave it entirely to you. There’s only one person in the empire capable of that right now.”
The emperor’s gaze shifted to Karl.
Who nodded lightly.
Signaling his intent to kill Werner von Klaus.
“Your task is straightforward. Rack up achievements in this campaign. I will bequeath the throne to whoever achieves the greatest merit. And until House Klaus is subdued, all inter-territory wars within the empire are forbidden. Violators will be treated as rebels.”
“We receive Your Majesty’s command!”
The three with succession rights responded in resounding voices.
Unlike the confident Richard and Claudia, however, Theodore’s expression darkened slightly.
No one noticed, with all eyes on the emperor.
Nodding, the emperor turned to Martin.
“Martin Adalbert.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“My thanks come late. You freed me from that limbo—truly, thank you. I heard everything around me, but couldn’t move. It was frustrating beyond words.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
“You’ve awakened your unique ability, and now only inheriting House Adalbert remains. How that immense power will play out in this civil war, even I can’t predict. But whatever choice you make, I won’t interfere. Just as Duke Klaus said, I lack the capacity. However, I will repay this debt in full.”
Hum.
No sooner had he finished than the emperor’s body floated into the air.
He had activated his unique ability to levitate.
But as if proving the disease remained uncured, he groaned.
“Urk!”
“Your Majesty, you need rest now.”
Theodore called out, but the emperor shook his head.
“This much won’t kill me, so don’t fuss. Martin Adalbert, follow me. Marquis Maiyas, you stay behind.”
“...I receive Your Majesty’s command.”
Hendrick sighed inwardly and replied.
Nodding, the emperor exited the room.
“Hmm. I’ll be back.”
Martin said that to the others and followed.
No matter how weakened, the man was the pinnacle of the thousand-year empire.
‘How will he repay the favor?’
It would be a lie to say his heart didn’t race.
Martin was genuinely looking forward to it.