Chapter 353

The civil war was over.

The Imperial City was filled with hope for a new era of peace and stability, as the coronation of the new emperor, who had ended the bloody conflict, approached. However, not everyone shared this sentiment.

Marquis Safia and the western lords who followed him were not among them.

“It’s truly an eyesore! Did they end the civil war with their own strength alone?”

“Exactly! The way they strut around with their heads held high is a disgrace. They’re just flies clinging to the lion’s back, pretending to be lions themselves. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“We made the most sacrifices! How can this be fair? I’m so frustrated and angry that I can’t even sleep!”

The western lords vented their frustrations before Marquis Safia.

They were filled with resentment for being pushed aside despite their sacrifices.

Many lords had died in the civil war, leaving their territories vacant.

Moreover, the princess wouldn’t let the opposing lords off the hook.

She would punish them by confiscating their territories, either partially or entirely.

This meant,

That the upcoming distribution of rewards would be unprecedented.

And the western lords were furious that they were about to be left with only scraps while the Celtrine faction took all the sweet fruits.

“Marquis Safia, please tell us what we should do!”

Marquis Safia opened his eyes.

And then he said, “Remain calm for now.”

“How can you be so passive…?”

“Do you know the princess’s true intentions?”

Marquis Safia’s voice hardened.

“The princess has no intention of siding with just one faction. She knows what the consequences would be. So don’t act rashly and make unnecessary mistakes. Just remain calm and wait. Are you going to take responsibility if something happens and the princess’s options are limited?”

“W-Well, that’s not what we meant…”

“We’re just anxious because we’re not sure what the princess is planning…”

“Don’t you realize that acting anxious will only make us look weak in their eyes? We have to appear calm and composed. Do you understand?”

“…”

“Then go back and remember what I said. It’s not a good look for us to be seen gathering like this.”

Marquis Safia closed his eyes again.

It was a clear dismissal.

The western lords reluctantly got up and left.

The room fell silent.

Marquis Safia clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, they need to calm down at a time like this.”

The Celtrine faction had the achievements and the justification.

They also had the larger force.

It was pointless for the western lords to act up when they had nothing to show for themselves.

It was wiser to remain calm and support the princess.

That way, she might give them something in return.

“They’re blinded by greed. They don’t even realize that it’s not their food.”

Emily, who had been watching silently, spoke up.

Her expression was grim.

“The scales have already tipped. It’s time to let go of our greed. We have to think long-term, even if it means settling for the bare minimum.”

The only ones who had benefited from the final battle were the Celtrine faction.

Marquis Safia had only suffered losses.

Even the princess couldn’t do much in this situation.

There was a limit to how much they could rely on her.

“I see.”

Marquis Safia nodded.

“The princess doesn’t have many options right now either. But it won’t stay this way forever. The situation will change eventually. We have to bide our time and build up our strength.”

He seemed to have decided to wait for the right opportunity.

It was a calm and rational decision, coming from someone who had lost the most in the winning faction.

It showed that he was a worthy leader, a true nobleman.

“You’re right. But I’m worried about something.”

“What is it?”

“I’m worried that those who are blinded by greed might do something reckless.”

Emily frowned.

A reckless move by one of his subordinates would reflect badly on him.

“Didn’t I warn them?”

“They didn’t look convinced.”

“Hmm.”

Marquis Safia rested his chin on his hand.

He thought for a moment.

And then he said, “I doubt anything will happen. They don’t have the guts.”

“I hope you’re right, but…”

Emily still looked uneasy.

It was then that,

The door burst open.

“That bastard Max has been discharged from the hospital and is on his way to the Imperial City!”

Ethan reported urgently.

“Finally.”

Marquis Safia clenched his fist, as if he had been expecting this.

* * *

“Did you hear? That bastard Max is on his way to the Imperial City.”

“Tsk, it would have been better if he had just died there.”

“Damn it, we should have done something before he came back!”

“Exactly! We should have hastened the coronation and the distribution of rewards! Then we would have gotten more!”

“You’re right. But the Marquis is just dawdling.”

“Tsk, he wasn’t like this before. He’s been completely broken after being defeated by that young brat.”

The western lords grumbled.

They were anxious because Max’s return meant that their time was running out.

Max was the center of the Celtrine faction.

And without him, the Celtrine faction was in disarray.

The western lords had been planning to take advantage of the situation.

But now Max was coming back.

They had to act fast.

“We can’t wait any longer. We have to do something.”

Someone said.

It triggered a chain reaction.

“Y-You’re right! This is our last chance! We won’t have another opportunity once he arrives at the Imperial City!”

“Exactly!”

“We have to see the princess and tell her what we want!”

They were all blinded by greed.

They were willing to do anything to get what they wanted.

“Let’s gather our thoughts and go see the princess!”

The western lords started moving.

* * *

The princess’s expression was as usual as she received the western lords.

“What brings you here?”

But the western lords looked determined.

As if they knew that this was their last chance.

“We have come to offer you some advice, Your Highness.”

“Advice?”

The princess tilted her head.

“Alright. Let’s hear it.”

The western lords exchanged glances.

The lord at the front spoke cautiously.

“We humbly request that you dismiss everyone else. This is a sensitive matter.”

“Dismiss everyone?”

The princess narrowed her eyes.

It was an unusual request.

It could even be considered disrespectful.

But she agreed.

She was curious.

“Alright. Everyone, leave.”

The room was cleared.

The lord at the front spoke again.

“Your Highness, do you know that a hunting dog becomes useless once the rabbit is caught and killed?”

It seemed like an irrelevant saying, but the princess understood.

It was a metaphor for the idiom “Kill the donkey after it has ground the mill.”

They were telling her to get rid of Max, the hunting dog, now that he was no longer useful.

A strange smile appeared on her lips.

“I don’t. Why?”

The western lords were taken aback by her unexpected answer.

They had assumed that she would understand.

“I-Is that so?”

“Why don’t you explain it to me?”

Her voice was still gentle.

The western lords didn’t realize that she was just pretending to be clueless.

“A-Alright.”

*Gulp*

The lord at the front swallowed nervously and chose his words carefully.

He realized that there was no point in being subtle, so he decided to be direct.

“We just wanted to remind you of the basic dynamics of power, Your Highness.”

“Go on.”

“Empowering a war hero, especially one who made such a significant contribution, is the same as giving them absolute power. We humbly request that you reconsider…”

“Hehe, I see. I see.”

The princess chuckled.

The western lords’ faces brightened.

They thought they had gotten their message across.

But,

“But why are you worried about that?”

She asked casually.

“Huh?”

“It’s my problem, isn’t it? Why are you worried about it?”

“W-We’re just concerned about the empire and Your Highness…”

“You’re such loyal subjects.”

The western lords’ faces hardened.

It was obvious that she was being sarcastic.

It was the first time they had ever been mocked by the gentle princess.

They couldn’t help but be flustered.

It seemed like they had displeased her.

“Y-Your Highness, that’s not what we meant…”

“Listen carefully.”

The princess smiled sweetly.

“It’s my decision whether I want to boil the hunting dog or feed it meat. So don’t cause any trouble and just focus on your own duties. Do you understand?”

“…”

Despite her smile, an oppressive aura emanated from her.

The western lords’ faces turned pale.

“Do you understand?”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

They stammered.

Their voices were trembling.

“Then you may leave.”

The audience had been a failure. They had gained nothing and had only managed to displease the princess.

The western lords bowed their heads and left, their faces grim.

But they could be considered victims, in a way.

It was the princess who had initiated the attempts to weaken Max’s power.

So the princess they knew wouldn’t have reacted this way.

She would have tried to use them to her advantage.

The fact that she hadn’t meant,

That she was conflicted.

That she hadn’t made up her mind yet.

It was a rare occurrence.

For someone with her personality.

“There are many people in this world who don’t want to live long.”

She muttered.

Her voice was trembling slightly.

She was suppressing an urge.

An urge to kill.

She always felt an urge to kill when she saw people like them, but it was stronger than usual today.

She felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

No, she knew what it was.

They had dared to talk about Max like that?

It was an unpleasant sight.

Max was on a different level from them.

And…

“Let’s meet and decide.”

She had made up her mind.

* * *

The Imperial City was in sight.

The most dangerous place in the world right now.

“Let’s go.”

Max finally set foot in the Imperial City.