Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Beginning of the Turbulent Times (2)
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“Hah…… hah……”
Richard panted heavily.
The moment Theodore and Marquis Nicholas declared their support for the independence of House Klaus, he had warped via magic circle to a territory near House Royce.
From there, he pushed spatial movement to its limits and finally arrived at the main seat of House Royce.
Staring up at the walls, he bellowed.
“Come out at once, Theodore Alteria!”
His voice, infused with mana, shattered the silence of the deep night.
But Richard paid no mind and kept shouting at the top of his lungs.
As if rewarding his persistence, Theodore soon appeared atop the walls with a few knights.
“Wow. You really are quick to act, brother. I didn’t expect you to come see me just hours after the official announcement.”
“How could you, of all people, support House Klaus? His Majesty—our father—suffered under Duke Klaus’s curse and has yet to regain consciousness for years!”
It had been less than a week since the emperor had awakened.
How could he support his father’s enemy?
Even knowing it was blatant treason.
“Are you that desperate for the throne? Enough to betray His Majesty and your own siblings?”
“Yes. My body itches to crush you, brother, and claim the throne. But with His Majesty openly backing you, what choice did I have? I had to find another way, and fortunately, our interests aligned with Duke Klaus.”
Unlike Richard, whose brows furrowed in rage, Theodore was smiling.
If you ignored the murderous intent radiating from him.
“Ever since I came of age, I’ve lived in your shadow, always compared to you. No matter how hard I trained, grinding my bones to dust, I could never surpass you. So this time, I’m trying a different approach—just once, to beat you.”
“Do you even realize there’s no turning back if you keep this up? You’ll be forcing your siblings to kill each other!”
“I have no intention of turning back, brother. Do you think I’d support Duke Klaus without that resolve?”
“……You’ve truly lost your mind. Completely.”
“I don’t expect your understanding, brother. How could someone who’s walked the path of victory his whole life ever empathize with me?”
Richard fell silent at Theodore’s words.
Undeterred, Theodore pressed on.
“The gossips say you have the qualities to be a fine emperor. Every time I heard it, I thought it was absurd. What’s the point of debating qualities? Simply claiming the throne proves you have the power to become emperor.”
“Hoo. You really are hopeless. I’d sooner trust Claudia.”
“Why is that?”
“I can’t acknowledge you. A true emperor must present a grand vision and lead those who believe in it. But you? You’re driven only by greed for the throne. You offer no future to the empire’s subjects. If you sat on it, you’d bring nothing but ruin.”
“Oh? Then what do you see in Claudia? The girl who tried to seduce the deputy head of House Adalbert to swallow up their forces, only to lose face instead? Is there anything worth noting there?”
“She has her shortcomings, it’s true, but she’s still better than you, who flaunts nothing but naked ambition. Why do you think the contest between you and me fell apart? Because she has the包容力 to reach out to all factions under the banner of imperial stability.”
Richard advocated a strong imperial house to build a wealthy, powerful state.
Theodore promised vast rewards to the nobles who aided him if he took the throne.
Claudia succeeded in drawing in those who belonged to neither side, forging her own faction. Even organizations formed by commoners had joined her.
Their weight was minor, but still.
“I may not believe it helps end these chaotic times, but she deserves credit for putting forth her own vision.”
“That’s just half-baked包容力 at best. If she really wanted to embrace all factions, wouldn’t she have to reach out to the commoners like our little sister Muller?”
“Muller…… Honestly, she went too far. Radical ideals are always rejected.”
“That’s your problem, brother. Acting like you see through everything on your own. Do you have any idea how arrogant that sounds? How repulsive it is to others?”
Theodore bared his honest feelings.
He had resolved himself long ago.
If it meant claiming the throne, he’d cut down his siblings—even his father.
“Ah, for this, at least, you can thank me. I’ll take down Martin Adalbert in your stead. Relieving your worries like this—there’s no better brother than me.”
“You’re a fool, Theodore. After all that, you still think you can beat the deputy head of House Adalbert?”
“……This time is different from before. I’m staking everything on this. He can’t handle me.”
“Nothing’s more dangerous than baseless confidence. Humans repeat the same mistakes, so it’s no surprise you believe that.”
“All units, prepare to attack.”
Theodore’s face was ice-cold as he gave the order.
The instant he finished, the soldiers on the walls aimed their mana rifles and mana cannons in unison.
Of course, neither Richard, under fire, nor Theodore, issuing the command, saw this as a real threat.
It was merely a gesture to solidify their break.
“We’ll meet again after I pacify the north. Farewell, brother. Commence attack.”
Boom! Bwoom!
Bang! Rat-tat-tat!
Massive beams of light poured from the mana cannons, while spheres of light shot from the mana rifles.
“Hoo.”
With a sigh, Richard activated his gravity manipulation, forming a black sphere in his right hand.
He tossed it forward lightly, and the sphere’s immense suction drew in every attack.
KABOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, but Richard emerged unscathed, outside the blast radius.
Biting his lip, he hurled his final words.
“……Mark my words—you’ll regret this decision one day.”
“That won’t happen. Watching you or Claudia take the throne would be far more horrific for me.”
Theodore didn’t yield an inch.
Richard shook his head and activated spatial movement.
‘I’ve broken my promise to His Majesty.’
The emperor’s plea to spare his children’s lives still burned fresh in his mind.
But while he might spare Claudia, Theodore was beyond saving.
How could he forgive someone who sided openly with Duke Klaus, who had so brazenly wronged the emperor?
‘I’ll have to ask the deputy head of House Adalbert.’
Crushing Theodore’s forces and House Royce was Martin and Claudia’s job.
Which meant he had no choice but to ask Martin to capture Theodore alive.
It was only right for one of royal blood to execute a traitorous prince.
Hum.
As Richard vanished into spatial movement, exhaustion was plain on his face.
Not physical fatigue, but mental drain.
* * *
After ordering the assembly of his key vassals, Martin headed straight to his office.
He sent a communication to Claudia.
She picked up as if she’d been waiting.
“Sorry for the late contact. I was in training and only just heard the news.”
-Don’t worry about it. We only got word ourselves a short while ago.-
“Have you assessed the situation?”
-The nobles backing my little brother have all headed to House Royce or nearby territories. They’ve left minimal forces in their own lands.-
“They’re openly marching on the north…… I can feel their burning desire to crush me.”
-I agree. Not that I can avoid the fight either.-
“Of course. To reach the north, they’ll have to pass through territories loyal to Your Highness—and even the free city of Akella.”
-Thanks to the deputy head’s consideration, my man was appointed as Akella’s mayor. I’ll defend the city no matter what. I’ve already ordered my vassals to gather their troops.-
Claudia’s expression was resolute.
Joining the war with House Klaus outright would just make her Richard’s sidekick.
No matter how renowned House Minert was in the west as a martial house, it paled against House Ferdinand.
‘Better to aid the deputy head of House Adalbert and take down brother Theodore.’
But she couldn’t decide alone.
Her own forces alone couldn’t beat them.
To fight alongside House Adalbert, it had to be in the north—their domain.
As if reading her thoughts, Martin spoke.
“Then leave the free city of Akella to Your Highness.”
-Entrust it to me. Though this shouldn’t happen…… What if Akella falls?-
“Then join up with the northern territories. I’ll tell the northern lords to cooperate with Your Highness.”
-……Thank you for your consideration, deputy head.-
“No problem. We’re allies, aren’t we? This is when we combine our strength.”
Martin smiled at Claudia on the screen.
‘I don’t need their help, but no reason to fight alone.’
Even if Theodore and Nicholas pooled their entire faction’s might, it would barely exceed forty percent of the west’s total forces.
The west held a slight edge over the north overall, but against the north in full, they were at a clear disadvantage.
They knew that and still came.
‘They just need to kill me.’
Of course, he acknowledged Nicholas’s strength.
In the last territorial war, he hadn’t worried about the enemy charging in without a plan—thanks to Nicholas.
But things were different now.
Very different.
‘With the elves of Altaire Village and the dwarves of Ranens Village.’
The elves’ aid was a sure thing in particular.
After the high elf Solen incident, they were furious at House Klaus and the southern lords.
So they’d naturally be hostile to House Royce and Theodore, who allied with Klaus.
That made Nicholas best left to the elder of Altaire Village, Barthez, if possible.
Though killing Nicholas himself was Martin’s job.
‘Best if Her Highness’s side burns through as much of their strength as possible.’
With 10th Circle absolute beings on the move, Nicholas and Theodore were off the radar.
If Werner von Klaus won, fine—but if Richard and Ferdinand prevailed, he’d face them next.
For the future, he needed to conserve strength now, so he planned to let Claudia’s forces take the brunt.
That way, she’d rely on him even more.
“As Your Highness knows, this war is just a prelude for me. If House Ferdinand and First Prince Richard win, I’ll face a crisis unlike any before.”
-……You’re right.-
“That’s why I intend to win decisively here. To prove why House Adalbert leads the north—and prepare for that greater battle.”
-I understand your intent fully, deputy head. Let’s both do our best.-
“Understood.”
Claudia nodded at Martin’s reply.
She hid it well, but relief showed on her face.
Watching her, Martin vowed inwardly.
‘In return, I’ll make sure you rack up plenty of achievements, Your Highness.’
That much was sincere.
After all, her ascending the throne was the most convenient outcome for him.