Ch.81Chapter 81 – Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelios (1)

“Phew, finally a chance to catch my breath.”

Only after the storm of high nobles, including Duke Eldinar and others, had swept through did I finally get a brief moment of rest.

I was now standing on the balcony extending from the banquet hall.

Taking a deep breath, the fresh outside air filled my nostrils.

“Haah.”

Perhaps it was because this was a banquet commemorating the founding of the nation.

The perfume scents approaching along with the smell of flesh felt like they were piercing my head.

‘Goodness, why are these perfume smells so intense?’

Especially the perfume worn by the noble young ladies as they approached me…

‘Did they shower in undiluted perfume or something?’

It was potent. Truly potent.

Would anyone believe me if I said it was on par with the CS gas I smelled during chemical warfare training in the military?

The perfume was so strong it made my nose tingle, and I almost coughed involuntarily.

Thankfully, the tension from attending the grand banquet prevented me from actually coughing.

That could have been disastrous—nearly coughing in front of all those people.

‘Huff. Still, tasting this fresh air makes it a bit better.’

“Lord Pathos, are you resting here?”

As I was catching my breath on the balcony, a familiar voice came from behind me.

Looking to the side, I saw Etherna leaning against the balcony just like me.

“When did you arrive?”

“Just a moment ago. I just finished having a deep conversation with Miss Elena~.”

Etherna said she had been talking with Elena.

Judging by the slight drawl at the end of her sentence, things must have gone well?

“Is that so? It seems things were resolved in your favor.”

“Hmm, well, about that…”

What’s this? The way she’s trailing off suggests that perhaps things didn’t go exactly as she wanted?

“It’s nothing. Just some girl talk between us.”

“I’m glad if nothing went wrong…”

I wonder if Etherna threatened Elena or something similar.

Wasn’t it at the Beventus border command before?

They called Etherna the “Skull Crusher,” didn’t they?

How many heretics’ or insurgents’ heads must she have cracked to earn such a nickname?

I think any man who ends up with her in the future would be quite pitiful.

‘Well, she’s a saint anyway, so she probably won’t be involved with any man.’

Would a saint who has sworn chastity break her vow and cling to a man?

Moreover, if what I’ve observed so far is correct, Etherna wouldn’t need to cling to anyone.

Rather, others would be the ones clinging to her.

The position of a saint blessed by God is one that even the Pope cannot treat carelessly.

After taking a brief rest, I returned to the banquet.

The strong perfume and powder scents still stung my nose, but I seemed to have adapted somewhat and could tolerate it better.

Now then, shall I resume my networking efforts?

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Emperor Decatro IV of the Gelebrio Empire.

He had quite many children.

First son, Takitar Legion Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

Second son, Denis Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

First daughter, Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

Second daughter, Emma Legion Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

Third daughter, Nel Legion Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

Fourth daughter, Enuen Legion Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

These six children—two sons and four daughters—were Decatro IV’s offspring.

Needless to say, among them, only one could inherit the imperial throne.

Although the succession battle hadn’t officially begun yet, most people expected Takitar, the first son, to succeed the throne.

This was because the first son was born to the official empress rather than a concubine, he was the oldest child, and he was currently working under Bergen Steyler, learning how the empire functioned.

The eldest of the imperial family.

Born of the empress.

And the only imperial prince performing duties related to state affairs.

For these reasons, many people had no doubt that Takitar would be designated as crown prince and become the next emperor.

Additionally, the fact that most of his siblings showed no interest in the throne played a part.

Having frequently witnessed their father, Decatro IV, constantly suffering headaches over state affairs, they didn’t want to deal with such troublesome matters themselves.

Thus, unusually, Decatro IV’s children got along well with each other.

Since each had different interests, they didn’t encroach on each other’s domains.

“…”

However, one person harbored different thoughts.

Decatro IV’s first daughter, Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelius.

She intended to enter the succession battle.

Karen’s reason for wanting to become emperor was simple.

‘In the not-too-distant future, my eldest brother will be assassinated. And the empire will fall into chaos.’

It was because she knew that her brother Takitar, considered the next emperor, would be assassinated.

‘If I’m not prepared to succeed the throne, it will be difficult to quell the empire’s chaos quickly after my brother’s assassination. In the previous cycle, after the assassination, the empire fell into chaos, and the world ended up being destroyed.’

There was only one reason she knew this.

‘Only one chance for regression remains.’

It was because Karen was a regressor who had turned back time from the distant future to return to the past.

‘The variable in this cycle is Count Pathos Severio.’

Her gaze was fixed on Pathos, who was entering the banquet hall with Etherna.

‘The man who destroyed the demon sword…’

It was because Pathos was the one who had destroyed the corrupted holy sword, Zebario.

The destruction of the demon sword was something Karen had never experienced in any of the cycles she had gone through until now.

‘Strange, I clearly remember… in the previous cycle, he died fighting against the demon legion while living as a mercenary.’

Although she had turned back time countless times to save the world, in none of those cycles had the man named Pathos Severio ever stood out.

At best, he had died fighting against the demon legion as a mercenary captain or some guild leader.

But the one she met this time… offered an experience Karen had never had before.

‘My brother’s assassination occurred simultaneously with the theft of the corrupted holy sword Zebario. My brother eventually died from the injuries he sustained that day.’

Karen continued to stare at Pathos, the man with black hair characteristic of people from the Eastern Continent.

‘The destruction of the demon sword, which had never appeared even once until now, occurred early on. Does this mean that Pathos Severio is the central axis of this cycle?’

Her mind was filled with a theory she had been contemplating for a long time.

‘The Central Axis Theory.’

This was something Karen had finally developed after experiencing numerous trials and errors through many regressions.

What she considered the central axis was an existence necessary for the continuation of this world.

The presence or absence of the central axis determined the world’s destruction or survival.

And in this cycle, she had finally found a definitive example to complete her central axis theory.

‘Count Pathos Severio.’

The Destroyer of the Demon Sword.

“This is getting interesting.”

“Huh? Sister, what did you say?”

“…Nothing, nothing at all.”

Karen patted the head of her youngest sister, who was looking at her with an innocent face after hearing her mutter to herself.

“Sister, are you also interested in Count Severio standing over there?”

At that moment, Emma, the second imperial princess, approached and asked Karen a question.

She had seen Karen observing Pathos intently.

“What if I am?”

Karen knew very well the intention behind her sister’s question.

“Hmm… really? A man that interests my stoic sister…”

Emma had a mischievous personality and usually targeted her eldest sister Karen or the youngest, Enuen, for her pranks.

The third daughter, Nel, remained completely unresponsive to Emma’s pranks, so she had long been off Emma’s list of targets.

In the midst of this, her eldest sister, who had always seemed uninterested in anything else, showing interest in a man?

This was the perfect toy for the prank-loving Emma.

“If you’re thinking of playing pranks on Count Severio, you’d better not dream of it, Emma.”

However, Emma’s attempt at mischief was blocked by Takitar, the eldest.

“Why?”

“He’s a man that both the Chancellor and Father are paying special attention to. If you get caught playing pranks on him, it won’t end with just a reprimand.”

Takitar was well aware of how much his superior, Bergen, and his father, Decatro IV, cared about the man named Pathos.

Therefore, he was certain that if Emma played a prank on him and caused embarrassment, it wouldn’t end with just a scolding.

“I know you have a mischievous personality, but Count Pathos Severio is not someone you should mess with.”

Takitar earnestly implored Emma not to bother Pathos.

“Hmm, if my eldest brother says so…”

Emma trailed off regretfully at Takitar’s words.

Karen’s face was filled with distrust as she looked at her.

‘I should probably meet with Count Severio and take some precautions. If that troublemaker plays a prank, Father might truly become furious…’

And so Karen rose from her seat and walked toward Pathos.