Ch.229229. Rebellion

“I’ll be going now.”

Prince Rahul spoke to Elenoa with affection before heading to the battlefield, as if confessing to a woman he truly loved.

For a moment, Elenoa almost broke her fake expression, but she waved with a faint smile. After she had shared various strategies and directions for this subjugation, he had naturally developed deeper feelings for her.

“Ugh.”

Looking at the door Rahul had just exited, Elenoa gulped down water from her bottle as her stomach churned. It helped her feel somewhat calmer.

She knew he felt grateful to her for the advice she’d given, but she wished he would maintain a proper distance.

‘When will the subjugation finally happen?’

She had received word that Deus Verdi was on his way here. However, he couldn’t cross the desert freely because of the giant monster. Originally, this should have been resolved in the first subjugation, but since it had extended to a second attempt, even Deus had no choice but to wait.

“Ahhh! I miss him so much!”

How long had it been since she’d seen Deus? He had disappeared for a month and then reappeared because of the great debate. In reality, Elenoa hadn’t seen Deus since the Republic of Clark. She’d heard that feelings naturally cool when time passes and distance grows, but for Elenoa, only frustration was building. She was enduring each day by drawing Deus and Shinwoo Kim on canvas.

She also hoped that Prince Rahul would successfully subjugate the giant monster this time. Rahul knew that if he failed this time, his position would truly be in danger.

Especially since the Second Prince Rehul had recently been winning over the hearts of Zerman’s generals, which Rahul found quite threatening.

Knock knock.

A knock came from outside.

“Yes, come in.”

Elenoa composed herself before inviting the visitor in. Speak of the devil—Second Prince Rehul entered with a friendly smile.

Though she now knew that smile was completely fake, Elenoa didn’t point it out. From Rehul’s perspective, he might consider it a form of courtesy.

“I guess you’ll be able to return tomorrow?”

If the giant monster was subjugated today, Elenoa could go back. That was the meaning behind his words, but Elenoa’s expression immediately darkened.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Second Prince Rehul never missed such details. Though neither spoke explicitly, they both knew what each wanted. Elenoa deliberately put on a worried expression, and Rehul accepted it.

Though no one was watching, their conversation flowed like a dance at a ball, perfectly in sync.

“Actually… I regret telling you about the Thousand-Mile Net.”

“…”

“I saw Prince Rahul and Lerhulta practicing. But it looks difficult. They seem to lack basic proficiency in magic.”

“Really?”

“If they could prepare for several days in advance, it wouldn’t be a problem, but that’s not possible in the desert.”

They had deployed the Thousand-Mile Net decently during practice. The tools and magic circles they had used for practice were still in the palace training grounds.

But the desert was the real thing.

It would take considerable time to set everything up there, and the giant monster living in the desert wouldn’t just sit and watch.

“Actually, I tried to stop Prince Rahul until just now.”

That was a lie.

When the First Prince Rahul had visited, Elenoa had actually given him advice.

But Second Prince Rehul, who was already estranged from the First Prince, had no way of knowing that.

“I see.”

“Prince Rehul!”

With a slight sob, Elenoa called out to Rehul. Perhaps because she had royal blood, Elenoa was talented in most areas, including acting.

“You must stop Prince Rahul! If you speak to him instead of me, he might take it differently!”

“…”

After hearing Elenoa’s earnest plea, Rehul pondered for a moment. Finally, he sighed and steeled himself, thinking that the Elenoa he had known would understand him.

“Do you really think I should stop my brother?”

“…Pardon?”

“Elenoa, no, Princess Elenoa. My father has grown old. It’s time for him to step down from the throne.”

King Ramahul’s youthful passion and fiery spirit had long disappeared. Now he was just a viper sitting on the highest chair, lusting after women.

“If things continue as they are, my brother Rahul will clearly be the next to sit on the throne.”

No matter how incompetent he might be, being the eldest son carried significant weight.

“…”

Elenoa’s mouth closed. She nodded as if entranced by what he was saying.

“Princess Elenoa. Please speak without any hesitation. Does the Prince Rahul you’ve seen truly possess the dignity of a king?”

Elenoa couldn’t answer readily. As a princess of another country, she couldn’t carelessly evaluate the First Prince who was closest to the succession. But Rehul took her silence as an answer and made it easier for her to respond.

“No, my brother shouldn’t sit on the throne. Though my father is somewhat dissolute now, he was truly a great leader in his youth.”

But Rahul?

“My brother is already steeped in lust and greed. He enjoys appearances. Do you know that the woman entering his bedroom is different every night?”

“…”

Of course she knew. The First Prince visited Elenoa every day, but the scent of women’s perfume on him changed daily.

“He even brought women with him on this subjugation! He might tell you he loves you, Princess Elenoa, but he sees you as just another concubine!”

“…”

Elenoa’s expression hardened. She didn’t love him and had never given him her heart.

But she acted as if she was shocked.

In reality, Elenoa was thinking only one thing:

‘I miss Deus.’

Talking about magical girls with Deus would be much more productive than conversing with these fools.

Well, anyway.

The conversation continued.

“I hope my brother fails. And I hope you won’t lend him your brilliant wisdom.”

“…”

“From the royal Black Mage Coltman to you, everyone has said this operation will fail. My brother will prove his incompetence with his failure and move further from the throne.”

So the second subjugation would fail too. Then he would come back to Elenoa seeking wisdom.

The girl was unusually intelligent for her age.

For Second Prince Rehul, she was the only variable he couldn’t account for. After the first subjugation failed, the command for the second should have passed to him as the Second Prince, but it was Elenoa who had given it back to the First Prince.

But Elenoa’s expression turned pale.

“…The subjugation won’t fail.”

“Pardon?”

Rehul’s heart sank at Elenoa’s assertion. There was a strange weight to it.

“More precisely, it will be postponed. I told him that if preparing the Thousand-Mile Net in the desert takes too long, he should return without hesitation.”

“Ah!”

Returning without casualties? Though it wasn’t honorable, it wasn’t enough to shake the First Prince’s solid position.

It could even be considered a wise response, quickly assessing the forces and situation.

“The First Prince knows that if he fails this subjugation, his position will be in danger.”

“So that’s why you advised him that way!”

“…Yes.”

For the First Prince, the most important thing was maintaining the status quo. If nothing happened, the First Prince would naturally ascend to the throne.

Rehul felt his hair standing on end. His back tingled, and the plan he had thought perfect until just now was crumbling.

Once again.

Because of the girl in front of him.

‘Should I have recruited Princess Elenoa from the beginning!’

As Rehul regretted, Elenoa closed her mouth for a moment and then spoke with a troubled expression.

“I know the First Prince’s… conduct is not good. But he whispers his love for me every day and is so affectionate that my heart has somewhat yielded.”

Momentarily, Elenoa hated herself for saying such things. She felt like vomiting, but she had to endure for the greater cause.

“But hearing the Second Prince’s words, my heart is greatly shaken.”

“…Princess Elenoa, let’s speak honestly.”

Rehul thought this was his opportunity. Did this intelligent woman really have her heart stolen by a worm like the First Prince?

He didn’t think so.

“You helped him because if Prince Rahul sits on the throne and you become his partner, you’ll be able to greatly influence the Kingdom of Zerman, right?”

“…I won’t deny it.”

“Hah.”

Rehul sighed and extended his hand toward Elenoa.

“Leave my brother and come to me.”

“…”

“I truly admire you. Unlike my other brothers, I fell in love with your abilities, not your appearance.”

A wise woman. But still young.

“Unlike Prince Rahul, I don’t keep any woman as a lover. I only seek the one I truly love.”

Being the Second Prince was a major factor. He didn’t want to tarnish his image as a prince indulging in luxury and pleasure like his father or eldest brother, especially when he was already far from the line of succession.

But in the end, Second Prince Rehul had the same blood flowing through him. He spent nights with women while hiding his identity.

However, since Elenoa couldn’t know that, Rehul was spewing flattering lies.

“For the peace between the Kingdom of Zerman and the Kingdom of Griffin, our marriage will certainly play an important role. So lend me your wisdom.”

Elenoa looked at Rehul’s hand and closed her eyes for a moment. Though she pretended to be contemplating, she had already decided what to say.

“There is… a way.”

She said it as if squeezing it out with great difficulty, mixing her voice with hot breath.

“It’s a kind of palace coup.”

It was a dangerous statement, almost difficult to utter.

A palace coup. While a coup is typically associated with rebellion, a palace coup is slightly different.

It’s a coup carried out to strengthen existing power in places like royal courts or empires.

“Are you telling me to start a rebellion now?”

Rehul was almost disappointed. A proposal not worth listening to. There was nothing to gain by attempting such a thing without any preparation.

But Elenoa shook her head.

“No, the Second Prince isn’t the one starting the rebellion.”

“…?”

“It’s the First Prince who will.”

Rehul still didn’t understand what she was saying, but he felt something sparkling in his mind.

A brilliant move.

A brilliant move was unfolding from Elenoa’s lips.

“The First Prince won’t proceed with the subjugation and will return. He will surely realize that deploying the Thousand-Mile Net in the palace and in the desert are different.”

“Then.”

“Yes, it means the troops will return intact. And only you and I know the reason for now.”

Now Rehul felt like he could see the path. He was gradually grasping the intent behind Elenoa’s words.

“I heard that the Second Prince has recently been forming close relationships with generals and mages in the military. The First Prince was worried about that.”

“…”

“You only need to say one word. When you see the First Prince returning with his troops intact.”

The most influential.

The most credible Second Prince Rehul just needs to utter one word.

Rebellion!

He’s trying to use the soldiers recruited for monster subjugation to seize the royal court!

Whether it’s true or false doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter if the generals or soldiers realize it’s not a rebellion midway.

Anyway, they would side with the Second Prince who had listened to their stories and understood their hardships, rather than the First Prince who was rumored to be infatuated with a foreign woman like the Griffin princess.

“Ha.”

A faint smile formed on Rehul’s lips.

Though he knew he had already accepted her plan, Elenoa continued with more persuasive statements.

“Originally, the First Prince’s soldiers aren’t really trying to start a rebellion, so they’ll be easily suppressed. They’ll surrender immediately, claiming innocence.”

It’s convincing. It’s entirely possible. In fact, Rehul, who had been listening to the story, had been wondering what benefit Elenoa would gain rather than the feasibility.

There was none. Only the First Prince Rahul would be executed or exiled for treason. The Kingdom of Zerman would suffer no loss of troops, and dealing with the giant monster would just be postponed for a while.

“Hahaha!”

Rehul couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He could already envision the painful price First Prince Rahul would pay for returning with his soldiers.

This will work. He was certain of it.

* * *

Everything proceeded exactly as Princess Elenoa had said.

Though he had led the army out in the morning, First Prince Rahul returned to the royal court in the late dawn.

Seeing this, Rehul exclaimed:

“Foolish brother!”

Rehul had already conveyed the plan to his closest confidants. Under the pretext of suppressing a rebellion, they just needed to swiftly kill First Prince Rahul.

Then the soldiers would naturally become rebels.

“Ha, how amusing.”

Watching First Prince Rahul and his soldiers entering the palace to report, Second Prince Rehul found it absurd. Not a grain of sand on them, and their eyes were full of vitality. It meant they hadn’t faced any hardship outside.

“It seems they just went out to play.”

“Did they even intend to subjugate?”

The generals close to Rehul also added their comments, finding it ridiculous.

It was almost time.

Once all the soldiers entered the large garden of the palace, where information couldn’t leak outside, they would lock the gates and shout “rebellion!”

As Second Prince Rehul couldn’t hide his excited heart and slightly raised the corner of his mouth—

Whoosh!

A massive net spread across the sky.

A massive net covered the ground.

Absorbing the mana of everyone within the net except for a select few, and placing significant restrictions on their bodies.

A tactic for defeating giant monsters.

“Huh?”

The Thousand-Mile Net spread across the dawn sky.

He wondered what was happening. Having seen it practiced in the palace several times, he immediately recognized it as the Thousand-Mile Net.

“What is this…?”

In his bewilderment, Second Prince Rehul suddenly recalled conversations he had had multiple times.

Coltman Belik, the Black Mage of the Kingdom of Zerman, had said:

– It’s a method that requires a lot of preparation from the beginning. How do they expect to deploy this in the desert?

Princess Elenoa had also said:

– If they could prepare for several days in advance, it wouldn’t be a problem, but that’s not possible in the desert.

In reality, they had deployed the Thousand-Mile Net without issues during practice. The magic circles and tools were still in the palace training grounds…

“Ah…?”

Now Second Prince Rehul could understand what was happening.

As he watched First Prince Rahul Zerman, who had led the army and stood at the forefront during the return, draw his sword, Second Prince Rehul urgently shouted:

“It’s, it’s a real rebellion!”