Ch.139Genius Girl

# 1.

Why was it?

“First Imperial Princess Lactea Babylonia’s subordinate organization, Eclipse. Upon investigation, we’ve discovered evidence suggesting a plot to assassinate the Second Imperial Princess, Reina Babylonia.”

Lactea maintained her composure coolly even as absurd false accusations poured from Hallorand’s mouth.

As if…

‘…I’ve experienced this before.’

So she maintained her silence instead of hastily offering excuses.

Go ahead and talk all you want.

After you’ve finished everything, I’ll refute each point one by one.

“Just looking at Eclipse’s emblem, you can see it’s a modified version of the imperial crest, implying an intention to usurp the throne…”

Not a trace of tension arose in her since every word he uttered was a lie.

This was merely a false charge to be shrugged off.

Clearly the work of the noble faction who had grown resentful of the strengthening imperial authority.

‘This is actually fortunate.’

She would use this opportunity to root out those who were eating away at the empire and secure a better future.

“In conclusion…”

Just as Hallorand’s report seemed to end and Lactea prepared to counter—

“I will call in a witness to this incident to strengthen my claim.”

Clank!

The audience chamber door opened roughly as a man with an unseemly appearance entered.

A high and magnificent sun emblem.

A sinister symbol of a sword cutting the sun in half with a new sun engraved upon his robe.

The man, wearing garments similar yet different from the imperial crest, burst into maniacal laughter.

“Khah, puhahaha!!”

His gaze wandered chaotically.

The wandering eyes that accompanied his laughter finally settled on Lactea’s face.

“O Sun! I shall pay for my failure to fulfill my duty with my life!!”

“What are you—!!”

Before the startled Lactea could finish shouting, the man’s chest bulged outward.

Clank!

He broke free from his restraints and threw himself toward the Emperor.

“Everything for the new sun, Emperor Lactea Babylonia.”

As his body swelled as if about to explode, numerous imperial guards moved to shield the Emperor.

“Kugh, khik, kuuuahhh!!!”

A critical situation far exceeding what anyone had anticipated.

Yet Lactea remained calm.

‘This man’s power is nothing special.’

His Majesty the Emperor is protected by the Imperial Guard composed of at least A-rank to at most S-rank warriors, so surely nothing will happen.

However, in the next moment,

【<????? ?? ??> has germinated 3 times.】

【The vessel’s quality is too low.】

【<????? ?? ??> is being released.】

Crack!

The unseemly man’s body split open like a great tree being torn apart, and an ominous power burst forth.

“Wait, something’s wrong!! Everyone, get His Majesty out of the blast radius—!!!”

Whoosh.

With the captain of the guard’s dying words, the area around the Emperor was swallowed by an abyss.

In an instant it happened.

When the spherical abyss stopped expanding and vanished as if it had never existed, everyone caught within it had already been annihilated.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Silence hung over the audience chamber.

Thud.

The arm of the guard captain who had been outside the sphere fell with a dull sound, and with that small noise as a signal, chaos spread like wildfire.

“Wh-what is this—!!!”

“His Majesty the Emperor has been assassinated!!!”

“Raise the palace’s security level!!!”

Lactea saw it.

Even as everyone ran about in panic, sharp gazes—

“…It can’t be.”

“…Why would she.”

“…As expected of the power-hungry.”

—were directed at her.

Why was it?

Lactea could maintain her composure even as those gazes turned toward her.

As if,

【<Nightmare (???)> begins.】

she had experienced it all before.

# 2.

The Eclipse Emperor Assassination Incident.

A shocking event that brought only devastating results without any clarity on right and wrong.

Lactea, who had been designated as the next emperor, tried her best to resolve the situation.

“Nothing has been clarified.”

Hallorand’s report merely repeated the words of the captured Eclipse subordinate, and no further circumstances were discovered afterward.

This was natural.

It was both something that never existed from the beginning and a false accusation unjustly imposed.

No matter how capable the investigator, they could not connect Eclipse to Lactea.

Moreover, Lactea was capable.

A genius who had overwhelmed everyone from an early age, the next emperor and next hero.

Her handling of affairs was perfect, and even her explanations to dispel suspicion were flawless.

Time flowed equally as always, and the empire quickly stabilized.

Lactea thought:

In such chaotic times, she must bear all anxieties alone and endure.

If she persevered and handled things one by one, eventually everything would return to normal.

But she did not know.

On the day the Emperor was assassinated, what Hallorand and Eclipse aimed for was not a momentary chaos.

That day,

what they aimed for was—

“Isn’t this all too clean?”

The planting of a small seed of doubt.

Lactea was capable.

She had mastered all fields from an early age and overwhelmed all ordinary people.

Thus, she did not know.

That ordinary people overwhelmed by a genius accumulate envy and jealousy.

And those emotions, if even a small gap appears to bring down the genius,

“What nonsense are you speaking now?!”

“No…!! Honestly, isn’t it true!! She’s been capable from an early age, so she could easily see through our thoughts…!!”

“What…?”

“Think about it…!! The fact that everything is this clean could mean… that the First Princess is someone to be feared…!!”

“…It can’t be.”

Easily take root and sprout.

Of course, no one immediately displayed open hostility.

It just spread slowly, from mouth to mouth, from rumor to rumor.

“About the Emperor’s assassination. Actually… I heard the First Princess is the real culprit.”

“What…? There’s no evidence…!”

“My friend…!! Would that genius leave evidence after killing her own blood…!!”

“B-but…!!”

Even as Lactea solved practical problems, they were busy spreading inflated rumors rather than helping her.

Lactea was capable.

So she became aware that rumors were being inflated and gave instructions regarding them.

“Leave them be.”

They were merely anxious.

She was just the target for relieving their anxiety, and they weren’t trying to bring her down immediately.

They weren’t the kind of people who would be swayed by false rumors while neglecting external problems.

“If I lead responsibly and silently, surely the day will come when I am rewarded.”

Lactea kept her mouth shut and only helped them find stability.

Thus, Lactea was incapable.

They were anxious, and had neither time, leisure, nor strength to remain still, but now that they had no responsibilities thanks to Lactea.

“The Minister of Defense. Duke Hallorand has summoned you.”

“…Me?”

“Not just you. He’s called in most of the important personnel.”

They began to gather together in their free time to build power.

The justification was sufficient.

“Let’s uncover the truth together. For the sake of His Majesty who died unjustly.”

It was a justification built entirely on lies, but who would care?

The death of an Emperor who held strong imperial authority.

With rampant rumors that the designated successor was involved in that death, the genius girl who believed in people’s goodness rather than malice,

“You must provide a proper explanation.”

Faced overwhelming malice.

…Crack.

Despite hearing the sound of her heart breaking, Lactea calmly opened her mouth.

“You are being extremely disrespectful, Hallorand.”

Even this situation was just a small hurdle with a solution.

“However, as I understand your doubts, I will dispel your suspicions first before addressing your crimes.”

“Addressing our crimes is our—!!”

“Silence, Minister of Defense. Even if I were the culprit, the fact that I could have your head at any moment remains unchanged.”

“……”

Though her heart was slightly bent, this was not a trap difficult enough to prevent escape.

So after a moment of silence, just as Lactea opened her mouth to explain—

“Listen. I—”

“Bring her in.”

Hallorand, interrupting her words, led someone out from among the many nobles.

What appeared was a young girl.

Her eyes were red as if she had spent nights crying.

“…Reina?”

Lactea’s surprise was momentary.

Hallorand knelt on one knee before the girl and asked:

“What do you think about the rumors spreading through the palace recently?”

Anger surged within her.

Reina.

Her beloved sister.

Lactea’s most precious treasure whom she had been protecting so thoroughly.

“Second Princess?”

“I, I… my sister wouldn’t…”

The moment she realized they had used vile methods even on Reina whom she had tried to protect, Lactea lost her composure for the first time and shouted:

“Get away from her this instant—!!!”

Endlessly surging malice.

The first emotional outburst of her life, triggered by the rage that had built up.

And then,

【<Hallorand(A+)> derives only the <conclusion> while excluding the cause.】

【Result: <Voice Command – Get Away> activates.】

Hallorand’s scheme.

THUD!!

Reina thrown against the wall by the voice command,

The broken wall and bloodstains,

And—

“…You seem quite agitated, so we shall withdraw for today.”

Malice gathering so thickly there was no escape.

…Crack, crack.

The genius girl who had been well-versed in goodness began her education in evil.

.

.

.

【<Heart> is breaking.】

【1/3 deducted.】

【When fully depleted, <The Abyss> will be able to pinpoint <Lactea>’s location.】