Chapter 50 : Death row convict! I’m back! (2)

The Clash Between the Royal Guard and Wolfgang Leonhardt.

Despite the commotion, there were no changes to the social event hosted by the palace. 

Perhaps they were trying to conceal the disturbance, showing their resilience to everyone.

The Crown Prince, Jaiha, let out a deep sigh. Nobles’ heads were not mere decorations. 

Of course, there were some whose brains seemed more like ornaments, but at least those with a functioning mind had already received information and were calculating in their heads. Theodore and Wolfgang Leonhardt. 

No, the banished villainess from ten years ago—Lana Frost’s return.

Anyone not a fool could understand what that meant. 

After all, she had been exiled unfairly a decade ago. 

Everyone would assume she returned for revenge.

For Jaiha, it was fortunate. 

With Theodore’s betrayal, his position as a commander had already been significantly weakened.

But somehow, Theodore had managed to convince Wolfgang Leonhardt—or rather, Lana Frost—to return to the kingdom. 

This could mean an opportunity for retaliation.

To seize that opportunity, contacting the Frost Duchy was essential. 

The problem was that since that day—the clash between Lana Frost and the Saint—the palace’s security had grown strict.

Officially, it was for maintaining public order and preparing for any emergencies, but Jaiha immediately recognized that the true purpose was to prevent contact with Lana Frost.

It was a brilliant move. 

So now, the task was to break through the harsh security and contact 

Theodore and Lana Frost. 

They would likely be aware of this too, so it would be interesting to see how they planned to make contact.

Lost in thought, Jaiha realized the time to attend the social gathering had arrived. 

He sighed again. This event was going to be troublesome.

The social scene wasn’t just a frivolous gathering of the nobles’ wealth. 

It was a battlefield where knives were hidden behind smiles, and everyone eyed each other carefully. 

It was a place where numerous schemes began, where allies and enemies were redefined. Nobles who fell out of favor here would soon lose their positions in politics as well. 

In other words, every action had to be carefully considered.

And Jaiha, as both a royal and the Crown Prince, was no exception. 

Especially now, since Theodore, his close confidant, had betrayed him. 

He knew that attacks would soon follow.

However, Jaiha slapped his palm against his face to snap out of his thoughts. 

He had expected this, and it was exactly why he had chosen to appoint Theodore in the first place.

“Then, the only thing I have to do is take responsibility as a lord.”

If—just if—Theodore had betrayed the kingdom and sided with the Empire, Jaiha would take responsibility as a lord and either relinquish his position as Crown Prince or even take his own life. 

However, Jaiha could not imagine Theodore betraying the kingdom. It was not loyalty to the kingdom that he believed in, but Theodore’s personal integrity that he had witnessed.

Even if it were something related to his younger sister, Theodore would never betray him or side with the Empire. 

In fact, Theodore had returned to the kingdom alongside Lana Frost.

“Theodore has already done enough for his part. So I, too, must fulfill my responsibility as Crown Prince.”

With the confidence of a victorious general, Jaiha entered the social event without hesitation. 

And in less than ten minutes, he was reduced to a ragged mess. 

Though he looked presentable, the real problem was his mental state. 

His dazed expression with his mouth slightly open at such a public event was a clear sign of how much mental energy he had expended. 

And indeed, it was the case.

[I heard that Count Frost betrayed us.]

[Isn’t the kingdom going to fall apart at this rate?]

[Oh my, did something really happen? It sounds dangerous…]

He had expected this, but the flood of questions came rushing in from the very start. 

He had barely started defending against the onslaught when he was already exhausted. They must have prepared for this in advance.

“Clever… It’s as if they had prepared a questionnaire in advance.”

Every question was a subtle attack on the royal authority, and Jaiha was forced to answer each one. 

This drained him mentally from the start.

The overall mood of the gathering mirrored this. 

Every conversation was about Theodore’s shocking betrayal, with some nobles subtly using it to target or counter the royal faction.

Judging that the royal faction had been sufficiently suppressed, Saint Jeanne made her appearance. 

With her beautiful, shimmering white hair and dazzling golden eyes, her appearance was so angelic it was almost overwhelming.

Jaiha, though a political rival to the Saint, had to admit her beauty, though it made him uncomfortable. 

But humans were drawn to beauty, and she received much admiration from those present. 

She entered the hall with her partner, her brother, displaying her radiant white dress.

“A perfect match, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they make a beautiful couple.”

Jaiha thought, How ridiculous. 

To me, they look more like a frog being eaten by a snake. 

But he couldn’t say that aloud and simply kept his mouth shut. 

In the eyes of the court, the royal faction had already lost to Saint Jeanne’s faction.

In other words, it meant they could openly mock and criticize the royal faction without any consequences. 

Saint Jeanne knew this well and had used the public sentiment to silence the royal faction.

At this moment, Saint Jeanne made an announcement she thought was the right time to reveal a certain truth to everyone.

“Everyone, there’s some news that you all need to know.”

“Really? What news?”

Just then, before she could continue, a voice interrupted her. 

Saint Jeanne turned around, startled, and all the nobles did the same.

It was a woman, just like Saint Jeanne, with white hair and golden eyes. 

But unlike the Saint in her glamorous dress, this woman wore the uniform and cap of the Empire’s military.

She had the presence of a warrior, her fierce aura completely reversing the atmosphere of the gathering.

Jaiha realized at once. 

The nobles who had been chattering in front of the royal faction are now silent in front of her. 

She is the real deal.

The Empire had suffered from war for the past century, while the kingdom had remained relatively peaceful. 

So how could the nobles, who had lived in a time of peace, possibly speak confidently in front of a true war hero?

This was why Saint Jeanne had to intervene.

“I never expected this. How did you get in here?”

“I walked in on my own.”

“Where are the knights? Did you kill them all to enter?”

“Of course not. There’s no need for bloodshed at such a joyous event.”

Saint Jeanne’s relaxed demeanor was slowly fading, while the newcomer’s face remained confident. 

It was obvious to everyone watching that Saint Jeanne was losing ground.

“Enough with the nonsense. Imperial General, I don’t know how you entered, but if you don’t explain why you’re here, I will punish you in the name of the kingdom.”

At that, Jeanne’s brother stepped forward, unable to stand by and watch. 

And as soon as he spoke, the knights who had been guarding the area immediately surrounded the woman.

“How dare you! Leave this place at once!”

Just as it seemed like the social event was about to erupt into chaos, someone unexpected stepped forward—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young girl.

At first, the knights tried to surround her, but as soon as they saw her face, they all froze in shock. 

It was none other than Mirina von Frost.

The genius knight of the Frost Duchy, and the third successor to the Duke’s title.

She stood next to Wolfgang Leonhardt, and Jeanne’s eyes widened in disbelief. 

She had known Theodore betrayed the kingdom, but she hadn’t expected the Frost Duchy to side with them.

“I didn’t think you’d be so bold to ally with them.”

“Unlike some, I didn’t commit any crimes, so I think it’s fine to be a little bold.”

Jeanne’s question was nothing short of asking whether they planned to betray the kingdom and join the Empire. 

And everyone present understood what it meant.

Mirina grinned.

“Empire? Where do you see an Imperial soldier here?”

“What nonsense—wait…”

“It’s already too late.”

Before Jeanne could stop her, Mirina shouted at the top of her lungs. 

Despite her small frame, her voice was powerful enough to shake the palace.

“Ten years ago! My blood relative, Lana Frost, was wrongfully exiled! She has returned to the kingdom!”

Jaiha trembled as he watched.

If nothing else changed, it seemed that the social gathering would end in Saint Jeanne’s victory.

However, unexpectedly, the tide of events turned.