Chapter 297

Where Chris gets a chilling order and we see what various characters are up to.

This chapter is dedicated to Roxanae ! Thank you for your support and kind words!

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Episode 297. About Two Months (5)

The situation was now on the verge of a decisive turning point.

Kyle examined Nick's body - which he had painstakingly worked to reconstruct – then took one last look at his face before stepping out of the building.

Chris, who felt that Nick’s complexion had improved somewhat compared to when he first arrived, let out a sigh of relief and followed His Highness out.

His Liege cherished the lives of his subordinates above all else. That was why so many soldiers and knights entrusted themselves to him after spending time with him on the battlefield.

Chris, Nick and Walter had also joined the Phoenix Knights right after experiencing their first battle alongside His Highness.

He was a commander who prioritized the lives of his subordinates in every plan and operation he devised.

That was something that not only Chris, but also every subordinate under him, couldn’t have ever imagined before meeting His Highness.

If it weren't for him, Nick would have died long ago. Chris knew he should tell him to stop, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. Instead, he could only pray silently in his heart, 'Please, Your Highness, do everything you can to save that chatterbox.'

"I will save him without fail. Don't worry." His Master said firmly, as if he had read his mind.

Chris felt a rush of relief as he watched his Master’s broad back in front of him.

The night was pitch-black.

After surveying the area around the vagrant camp, the Second Prince climbed a hill overlooking the camp — or more accurately, surveyed the Principality of Ga'an border checkpoint that was clearly visible in the distance and stared silently straight ahead.

Chris quietly approached His Lord, then immediately took a step back.

It had likely begun the day the Second Aide had been arrested. His Lord no longer concealed the killing intent he normally kept hidden.

From that moment on, a faint murderous aura had radiated from his body, his gaze had grown more glacial, and the casual conversations he used to occasionally engage in had vanished entirely.

"I heard that Allen has been using Baron Philippe’s journals to rally the Imperialist faction. He is currently on standby, Your Highness. Now that the Foundation day festivities have passed, he asked if he should proceed with the preparations for the next scheduled operation."

Chris had crossed the Principality's border last night for a quick visit before returning to the Empire to deliver his Master's orders and meet with Andrei.

"Very well. Since the schedule has been altered, there will likely be no allied knights gathered near the Capital. The gates leading out of the Capital will also be locked. That will give us the opportunity to apprehend anyone trying to escape through them. We must maintain control of the gates after the operation. Ask the Emperor to issue an order bearing his seal."

“Yes, Your Highness. I will return and prepare according to the plan.”.

The operation was originally planned to take place when the Emperor was being transferred to Tandra Mansion, once the regency began. However, they’d been unable to deploy that day.

Subsequently, the knights who had been standing nearby in preparation had been dispersed on Joseph's orders. However, Kyle had then ordered them into hiding in small groups in various designated locations.

The next chosen date after that had been the day of the Foundation Festival, but that operation had also been delayed.

“What about the Knights?”

He was asking about the Phoenix Knights, who had been scattered in all directions.

"As per your previous orders, they are waiting in a building provided by the Black Society in the Capital. Since the entire district belongs to Master Andrei, it hasn’t been difficult to keep them hidden."

"I see. So, I understand that Elias Head’s son broke both of his legs?"

"Yes. He broke them at a very convenient time. He's currently being cared for at the Ga’an Royal Hospital. That's why he didn't join the protests. I heard he's been branded a traitor by the protest leaders. Apparently, just one week into the Regency all of the nobles who survived the protests and their entire families were each given preeminent positions in the government."

"I see. If any of the surviving protesters or mercenaries go to Andrei, tell him to do a screening interview. Tell him the signal will be the first firework just before the coronation ceremony. Be careful not to expose the villagers' locations."

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The corner of His Lord’s mouth lifted slightly, but his gaze remained cold.

"Sort out which villagers have credible testimonies. Do the same for all of the witnesses who have come forward so far, as well. Capture my brothers, and that ‘rat’ alive."

‘That rat' referred to Hans Button, who had returned in triumph to the position of Consul. As he turned to head back to his quarters, His Lord briefly paused then issued another order.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"If capturing him alive proves too difficult, just kill him."

Chris swallowed hard and asked for clarification.

"Does that include the Third Prince as well as the rat?"

"Yes. If we don't act now, he will surely survive, like a poisonous mushroom, and become a future threat."

Chris replied solemnly with a determined look on his face.

"I will bear that in mind, Your Highness."

***

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace’s Grand Banquet Hall.

The Foundation Festival banquet was in full swing.

Taylor, a retainer of the Toulouse family and currently Hans's bodyguard, reported immediately to Hans, who was already in the banquet hall.

"We are still searching, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The ones who suppressed the villages at the time were all members of the Phoenix Knights, and the security forces were only tasked with cleaning up the villages. They weren't responsible for transporting the surviving Black Crown villagers, so they don't know."

"Have you searched the Security Department's safe houses for him?"

"Yes. We've checked all the safe houses within the Empire recorded in the official records, but he hasn't been found yet. Just in case, we're also searching the military outposts."

"Right, right. Since the Second Prince also served as head of the military, he could be hidden in a military unit. Hehe. By the way, have you found the body yet? Hehe. It would be a sight to behold if we were to display that bastard’s head during the coronation ceremony. Hehe."

Perhaps due to the side effects of the hallucinogens, Hans had, at some point, begun to let out little 'hehe' sounds whenever he was in a more relaxed setting. Taylor kept a straight face in order to avoid reacting to the habit, pretending not to hear the sounds when they occurred.

"Weapons, discarded shoes and torn armor were found, but not a single body was discovered. As the Consul predicted, since a river lies at the bottom of the gorge, it's highly likely they were swept downstream. Furthermore, it is difficult to rule out the possibility that they were carried out to sea since the lower reaches of that river meet the North Sea alongside the Principality of Ga’an. It is said that, on occasion, people who have gone missing in the gorge wash up on the coast a year later."

"I see... No matter how skilled a knight is, no one has ever survived a fall from there. Still... Hehe. That bastard was a Sword Master, yet he fell so easily after being struck by a blade... It's just..."

"That's why we set the trap beforehand. We drove them into the gorge. The number of knights and mercenaries lying in wait was staggering. They moved with barely twenty knights, so they were helpless to defend themselves. My sword deeply pierced his side. He was bleeding profusely when he fell, so it's unlikely he survived given the state he was in."

"That's strange. He was traveling with only twenty knights? Even if the rest of the Phoenix Knights took a different route... Hehe. Isn't it suspicious that the Empire's Second Prince would travel that way?"

"The Second Prince was the kind of man who personally led his troops into battle. There have been countless instances where he traveled with only a small force during surprise attacks. The story of how he led a small group of five knights to raid a Skandoan outpost during the Battle of Skandoa six years ago and wiped out the entire garrison is very famous."

Hans snorted derisively at Taylor’s words, which were laced with respect for the prince.

“You respect him as a knight, is that it? Even so, he’s proven himself to be a foolish warrior in the end, a knight who trusted his own abilities too much, failed to anticipate a surprise attack, and died a meaningless death. Now, hehe. History belongs to the winners. Hehehe. Find the bodies by any means necessary. Anyone who stands against the Third Prince will—hehe — end up just like the Second Prince. We’ll turn this into a warning for the entire Empire, so don’t stop the search....”

“Yes, sir.”

As the bodyguard, Taylor, saluted and left, Hans pulled a small, folded piece of paper from his inner pocket.

The white powder melted into the glass full of water like snow.

"... Once the coronation is over, hehe. I'll have to designate this as a national project. Hehehe."

Resolving to raze all the farms on the outskirts of the Capital and build as many facilities as possible to mass-produce this damn powder, Hans lifted his glass and downed the contents in one big gulp.

The sensation spread through his entire body immediately. His vision blurred in the blink of an eye. As expected, it was wonderful.

***

Everyone was having a good time.

The Duke of Toulouse would soon ascend the throne of the Principality of Ga'an. His vassals would assume key positions in the Principality under his leadership. As for the new Noble Faction that followed the Third Prince and Hans - all of them enjoyed the banquet to their hearts' content, also dreaming of a rosy future.

Except for one person.

Empress Vivian, the soon to be Empress dowager, was not enjoying herself.

Although she sat in the Empress's seat, slightly removed from the throne, she was only accompanied by two ladies-in-waiting.

[Do not worry, Mother. Why would I kill my brother? He would be useless if he died, so there is no reason to go out of my way to do so.]

[.......]

[..… Hehe. You should behave yourself. Only then will the highest seat in the Inner Palace remain yours, Mother.]

Just then, as she turned her gaze away from Joseph, who was laughing heartily, she saw her older brother, the Duke of Toulouse, engaged in a deep conversation with his retainers. She recalled the similar conversation they had shared before the banquet.

[Vivian. Aren’t both Franz and Joseph your children? Whichever one ascends the throne, our family will remain strong. So why are you so wary of Joseph?]

Her brother had never once called her ‘Vivian’ since she’d entered the Palace to become Empress. She’d glared at him and spoken the words slowly in order to maintain the dignity befitting an Empress.

[Franz is a boy who acts according to our wishes, but Joseph will eradicate us. Just wait and see, Brother. Joseph is the sort who, when things turn against him, will not hesitate to destroy his own mother—me. If he thinks this of his mother, why would he think any differently about you?].

[…He is your son, Vivian. Try treating Joseph the way you treat Franz. Children are always thirsty for their mother’s love. Joseph is, after all, a Prince who has inherited your blood. So, if you acknowledge Joseph as the next Emperor from now on, he will become an Emperor who will satisfy our wishes. As your brother, I will do my utmost to help. So, Vivian, devote yourself to Joseph.]

[.......]

Leaving her speechless, the Duke left the room. Sensing that persuading him was futile, Vivian clenched her fists so tightly, her nails dug into her palms.

"Brother. Had you heard what Joseph said while looking into my eyes, you would never have spoken that way. That gaze. That smile. That tone of voice. Joseph, who has spent all those long years suppressing his desire for revenge—he’s the kind of man who would put his own profit above his desire for my affection. So, I will do whatever it takes to get Franz out of that prison and find a way to escape Joseph’s clutches. No matter what…

***

The next morning. Tandra Manor.

I walked closely behind Bernard dressed as a Tandra Manor maid.

I headed up to the fourth floor of the manor carrying a breakfast tray.

I had expected the manor to be empty unlike when I had visited during the Hunting Competition, but there were actually quite a few servants around. Even though he’d become a toothless tiger, he was still the Emperor.

Hmm. Even so, weren't there a few too many people?

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