Ch.3030. Leaving the Palace

I am currently residing in the Imperial Palace.

Since I had stayed there as a training partner for the Hero during my knight days, it wasn’t an unfamiliar experience.

However, I couldn’t deny that this was a special situation. Somehow, I had ended up serving as the Emperor’s wisdom pouch.

‘If I can earn even a little of the Emperor’s trust through this matter, it would be beneficial.’

Although the Empire’s face had been greatly damaged because of the Prince, the Emperor was still the Emperor.

While the Emperor didn’t control everything in the Empire, he definitely had a firm grip on military power and wealth.

Currently, two of the Empire’s knight orders followed only the Emperor’s commands: the Royal Order and the Black Iron Knights. If not for their existence, each territory would have been struggling to maintain hundreds to thousands of standing troops.

In addition, the vast resources produced from his extensive direct territories served as the foundation that secured imperial authority. It wasn’t for nothing that the Prince had been able to move hundreds of billions in funds.

However, I wasn’t doing this just to gain the Emperor’s trust.

In fact, there was one more important reason.

‘I also need to worry about the Demon Lord’s forces running rampant.’

The current Demon Lord was relatively restrained. Though he launched attacks from time to time, he wasn’t the type to lead thousands of troops in a full-scale conquest. He was more the type to let the Tetrad do whatever they wanted.

But I wondered if he would really remain idle after seeing humanity’s current state.

The Hero had fleeced the nobles and disappeared, and on top of that, the Papal State was on the verge of collapse. No matter what, he was still the Demon Lord—he must be itching to act.

Since I had already received the imperial order, I wanted to help stabilize the chaotic atmosphere in the imperial capital.

For this purpose, I had been carefully observing public opinion in the capital since the market opened.

“The situation at the Academy is very serious. Many students are in difficult circumstances, unable to continue their studies.”

“There are over 200 people blankly staring at the sky in front of the exchange. Just now, a professor placed an order at less than half the market price, and afterward, everyone seemed to have given up. Several people are sitting on the ground crying.”

“If someone were to recruit a suicide squad to capture and kill the Prince right now, about 100 people would volunteer. Probably half Academy students and half middle-aged nobles.”

After observing for several hours, I could easily reach a conclusion.

‘Ordinary measures won’t work.’

The targets of their anger were naturally the Prince and the Hero.

And surprisingly, the atmosphere was more hostile toward the Prince than the Hero. While the Hero was the original issuer of Cordana, it was the Prince who brought his statements into noble society.

Anyway, the Prince was the only material I could utilize right now.

The Emperor had sent people to capture the Hero hiding in the resort city, but I doubted Gwon Heejin would be sitting there quietly.

‘So then…’

How should I deal with this Prince to prevent the anger of those sitting in front of the exchange from exploding?

As I racked my brain, a method did come to mind.

However, to implement it, I needed the Emperor’s permission. After all, I was here as the Emperor’s wisdom pouch.

Having made up my mind, I immediately headed to the Emperor’s office.

“…Your Majesty. The Cordana price has just plummeted to 3,000. Although the decline itself has stopped since orders have completely ceased, Cordana is already in a state where assessing its value is meaningless.”

“I heard the investors are quieter than expected.”

“Quiet anger is more frightening. Right now, most people probably lack even the energy to be angry due to their overwhelming sense of loss… But that anger can be triggered in an instant. It will explode with just one small catalyst.”

The Emperor frowned momentarily at these words. He was probably worried about rebellion or something similar when I mentioned “exploding.”

“Are you saying they might rebel?”

“More likely, they’ll engage in self-destructive behaviors. Everyone has experienced too great a failure. That alone will be a major blow to the Empire.”

“So?”

“We need to help them release at least some of their anger.”

The Emperor nodded at my logic.

Honestly, he didn’t seem to emotionally empathize. Not because the Emperor was obtuse, but because Cordana itself was an unprecedented situation that felt unfamiliar. How could he understand the feelings of people who had lost decades of accumulated wealth in one go?

However, the Emperor had one virtue: at least he kept his ears open.

“So you’re suggesting we sacrifice that fellow.”

“Yes. If we don’t, I guarantee that within three days, rumors will spread that Prince has fled to a safe area and is enjoying a luxurious life. It’s better to clearly show his downfall.”

“……”

After pondering briefly, the Emperor put forward just one condition.

He wanted me to find a way for the Prince to at least preserve his life. It wasn’t an excessive concern. Considering the hatred directed at him now, it wouldn’t be surprising if assassins visited him every night.

I had no intention of threatening the Prince’s life either.

***

The Prince, or rather the former Prince, “Matthias,” was gripped by fear as he faced his departure from the palace.

‘Where will I be sent?’

Would he be confined to some mansion in the direct territories? How many servants would he be allowed? Since many nobles would be angry, he’d surely be assigned guards at minimum. Ideally, he’d prefer several Expert-class knights.

The very fact that he had to worry about such petty matters was unbelievable.

Despite having earned the hatred of nobles and the Papal State, he was still of imperial blood. True, he had acted in ways that invited misunderstanding, but it didn’t feel real that he should worry about the number of servants. The concern about assassination seemed even more absurd.

“Sigh. This is maddening. How did I end up in this situation?”

As he was shaking his head and pondering, suddenly someone burst through the door.

A tall figure with short hair and a somewhat irritable expression.

It was Erick Wellesley.

Matthias glared at him with wide eyes. He believed it was because of this man’s cunning behavior that all responsibility had fallen on him. He didn’t know why Erick was in the palace, but he felt like slapping him a few times…

“Your Highness, it’s time for your departure.”

“Why are you the one telling me this?”

Matthias gave him a suspicious look, but Erick didn’t seem inclined to answer.

A moment later, the words that came from his mouth were utterly grim.

“His Majesty originally intended to send Your Highness to the Barony of Enekia. It’s a territory on the eastern coast with no heir or potential successor, so His Majesty dispatched a territory administrator. It’s essentially a direct territory.”

A rural backwater. Could he really be sent there?

The mere thought made his vision darken.

Yet, even in the midst of this, he felt a glimmer of hope. The fact that he was being sent to a territory without an heir suggested that after a few years, when the capital calmed down, there was a possibility he might be given a new family name and ennobled as a baron.

A baron of a rural territory. For someone who had almost become Emperor, it was an extremely humble life, but still better than confinement.

‘Yes. I can accept that much for now. Later, I can somehow meet with the Hero and create an opportunity for a reversal.’

Matthias looked at Erick’s mouth with distaste, expecting some arrogant remark like “You’ll need to stay quiet there.”

However, what came from Erick’s mouth wasn’t any kind of admonition.

“But you see, the investors’ discontent can’t be appeased to that extent. If we proceed like this, you will certainly face physical threats.”

“Then will I be provided with security personnel…?”

“That’s unlikely… Instead, His Majesty has stated that he will have Your Highness reside elsewhere. In a way that will both appease the nobles and repair the diplomatic relations damaged by this incident.”

By this point, even Matthias noticed that the situation was taking a strange turn. No matter how sleep-deprived he was, he still had enough sense to realize that.

A labor camp? Or perhaps a penal battalion in a border territory?

All sorts of gloomy prospects flashed through his mind, but reality was even more dreadful.

“You will be going to the Papal State.”

“……”

“We just reached an agreement to return the ‘Holy Grail’ in three months on the condition that you are kept physically intact. It might actually be safer than being confined in some territory. If the nobles hear you’ve gone to the Papal State, they won’t feel the need for revenge.”

“Wait.”

Exchanged for the Holy Grail and sent to the Papal State?

Of course, there was the condition of keeping him “physically intact,” but that wasn’t particularly reassuring. It sounded like they would turn a blind eye to anything as long as his limbs remained attached.

“Don’t worry. Someone who will safely escort Your Highness to the Papal State is already here. This person will also be responsible for your protection after you arrive.”

Soon after, a person appeared.

His appearance was completely out of place in the Imperial Palace.

An old priest with a head shaved as messily as if rats had gnawed at it, wearing a robe that looked like a sack.

It wasn’t just his appearance that was shabby. His ears and cheeks were swollen as if he had been beaten, yet strangely, only his eyes gleamed.

What was most disturbing was that Matthias knew who he was.

“…Cardinal?”

It was the same cardinal who had wailed hysterically in the chapel during the investigation. How had he ended up in such a state in just two days?

The cardinal himself provided the answer.

“I’ve decided to step down from my positions as the capital’s diocesan bishop and cardinal, taking responsibility for this incident… From now on, I plan to serve in the lowest places of the Papal State as an ordinary priest until I depart this world. And Matthias, you will be staying with me.”

“Wait, this kind of revenge…”

“It’s not revenge.”

Let’s atone together, Matthias. The cardinal smiled brightly as he extended his hand, as if saying he was glad to have Matthias with him in this gloomy situation.

“No…!”

Matthias jumped up, shouting that he would see his father, but unfortunately, no audience was granted.

Erick urged him, saying, “It’s almost closing time, so you need to go.”

Why did he have to leave the palace at closing time? Matthias looked bewildered, but Erick simply continued to hurry him.

“Let’s go now.”

Everyone is waiting.