Chapter 50: Prince’s Rebellion

The collapse of such a cherished relationship was truly a simple yet instantaneous event.

The imperial scandal—rumors spread that the emperor and his favored maid had conceived a child.

No matter how much they tried to hide it, in the imperial palace where countless eyes watched, the truth would inevitably come to light.

At some point, as Agnes’s belly gradually swelled, Kaela intuitively realized that the subject of the rumors was her own maid.

She, too, seemed quite startled. 

And no matter how many times Agnes bowed her head in apology, comforting her was far more difficult than Kaela had imagined.

Though she didn’t fully understand, Kaela didn’t dwell on it deeply.

Even if their relationship grew distant, she believed they would still remain together within the imperial palace. 

After all, Agnes had even promised to stay by her side!

But that was a naive thought.

The phrase “close yet distant,” something she had only read about in storybooks and never truly grasped, became painfully clear to her through her relationship with Agnes.

And it wasn’t just Kaela who noticed the change—soon after, Agnes was formally appointed as the emperor’s concubine.

“Your Highness, I sincerely hope you become a great ruler loved by all. That is my truest wish… And if, in the future, you ever find the time—”

The rest of her words were drowned out by the commotion around them.

Their roles had reversed. 

Though Kaela might have held a higher status by blood, Agnes’s new position as a concubine placed her above Kaela in rank, making it impossible for her to remain by Kaela’s side.

And so, Agnes moved to her new residence—the Second Concubine’s Palace.

“That filthy vixen—I had a feeling she’d stab us in the back like this!”

Her mother’s reaction was particularly violent, leaving Kaela trembling, forced to silently observe the situation.

Though the atmosphere had grown somewhat freer, the constant whispers that the person she once adored was now a new threat were drilled into her mind.

“What the hell is this damn succession right doing to me?”

Whether directly or indirectly, the succession right she never asked for had always tormented her.

Her mother suffocated her with talk of qualifications for succession, the imperial family left her education to the concubines, and the courtiers schemed and sowed discord. 

And now, even her relationship with Agnes had been torn apart.

She had no grand ambitions for the throne.

How much time had passed since then? 

Up until the day Agnes died, the two never faced each other, never spoke, never laughed together again.

And the truth only came to light after her mother, Loberia, died—when Kaela was finally free from her grasp.

*

“Agnes—no, the Second Concubine—even after that, she tried to reach out to me. But I was too young to understand. And with my mother’s control growing stronger, it became impossible.”

As she recounted the past, she took a sip of tea.

The bittersweet taste of the tea and the sweet dessert seemed to mirror her memories.

“Looking back now, all I feel is regret. There must have been some way for us to talk at least once, but I was just a helpless child with no independence.”

Her gaze flickered toward Erka, who stood guard beside me.

“That’s why I was so surprised. I couldn’t understand why you went out of your way to help a child from the Bow Tribe. After that day, I had people look into the other tribes. I heard the Shield Tribe—her people—had bad relations with everyone except the Staff Tribe.”

She added that if it had been an envoy from the Shield Tribe—or even the Staff Tribe—she would have helped despite the backlash.

Even if it meant angering her retainers. 

It was her way of expressing her lingering feelings for Agnes.

“I had my own reasons.”

Though “reasons” was an understatement—there were far more complicated circumstances behind it.

Whether she knew that or not, Erka, sitting beside me, yawned loudly in the middle of this serious conversation.

Her childish demeanor unknowingly made Kaela smile.

Of course, if she knew Erka’s age far surpassed hers, her expression would stiffen—but that could remain a secret.

Perhaps to lighten the mood, Kaela’s smile faded as she turned her serious gaze back to me.

“I don’t know what you think of me, but the moment I saw this document, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. There are only two seals in this world that symbolize me. The one I currently use, and—”

She pulled a small gem from her coat pocket.

Even I, nominally a prince, recognized it immediately.

“The seal I gave her as a gift when I was young.”

By all rights, she should have taken it back the moment they grew apart.

But she didn’t—because she wanted to hold onto the bond they once shared.

Even as a child, this was her choice.

She wanted to take responsibility for her decisions.

At some point, the trace of her gift had vanished—likely after the Second Concubine’s assassination.

Not only was it a precious memory, but it also threatened her present safety and future ambitions.

For now, confronting the First Prince’s faction took priority, but one day, she would settle this score.

In her name—and Agnes’s.

“But right now, I have no way to prove I wasn’t involved. So I’ll take responsibility. I’ll comply with all your demands.”

“Y-Your Highness?!”

Count Dave, who had been silently observing, was stunned by her unexpected decision.

But her resolute gaze silenced any objections.

Right. This was why, across countless regressions, I could trust and follow her.

Not that I ever intended to hold her accountable—but if things unfolded this way, all the better.

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Yes.”

A firm, unwavering answer.

Without hesitation, I laid out my conditions.

The only difference from before was that my goal was no longer just preparing for the otherworlders’ invasion.

“If a power struggle with the First Prince arises, grant me full authority.”

Now, I had a clear objective.

“Full authority? Do you even hear yourself?”

A battle for supremacy over the empire—a conflict of immense sKaela.

Handing such a critical responsibility to an outsider?

Even if Princess Kaela accepted it, her followers would struggle to agree.

Despite Count Dave’s protests, the princess simply nodded calmly.

“…Just to be sure—was the Second Concubine’s death, the chaos among the otherworlders, and even this scheme all the work of the First Prince’s faction?”

It was her own deduction.

She must have assumed that Kenneth had his own reasons for stepping forward despite the risks.

Agreeing outright would simplify things, but I didn’t want to lie to her.

“I can’t say for certain. But the culprit is among the imperial family.”

“…The imperial family? I’m part of the imperial family too. Why do you trust me?”

A genuine question—not out of ignorance, but as if she wanted to hear a specific answer.

“…Because my mother told me to tell you she was sorry.”

And those words struck her heart.

“…Fine. I’ll grant you full authority. Do your best.”

Without hesitation, she agreed to my request.

Things had gone smoother than expected.

With full authority, I could suppress the First Prince and place Kaela on the throne—freeing myself from the fear of death that had haunted me.

In high spirits, I raised my teacup to savor its aroma—

“Disaster! The First Prince, Kaela, has launched a rebellion!”

Tch.

Of course. Things never go this smoothly.

Trouble always comes in waves.

“W-What?! The emperor’s body is still intact! So the First Prince has finally made his move?!”

Count Dave’s panicked voice echoed through the office at the messenger’s report.

The First Prince had acted rashly, plunging the capital into chaos.

Honestly, I was just as shocked as Count Dave.

Everyone in the room likely felt the same.

Had someone provoked him?

The Kaela I knew was never a man of swift decisions.

Even in past regressions, despite favorable conditions, he never acted until the emperor’s death, only growling at Kaela from a distance.

Who could have pushed him to attack now?

Most of the capital’s guards were neutral.

If he moved despite their presence, he must have had some assurance.

According to Kaela, the imperial guard captain seemed subtly aligned with Kaela.

Either way, fleeing was the priority now.

With full authority just granted, all eyes turned to me.

Fighting the otherworlders’ irregular units was one thing, but the imperial army was my specialty.

Which was why I knew—no matter how well I strategized, victory here was impossible.

“We must abandon the capital and retreat immediately.”

“Not even considering battle and going straight to retreat? What’s your reasoning?”

Despite the sudden crisis, Kaela had faith in her faction’s strength.

A preemptive strike might have merit, but in a prolonged war, she believed they wouldn’t lose.

But that was a grave miscalculation.

If my assumptions were correct, Kaela’s forces were likely the same as before.

“I have some information. His forces are probably entirely heavy infantry.”

Rather than a diverse army, an elite force clad in heavy armor.

Unlike previous regressions, I hadn’t prepared countermeasures.

In a city like the capital, her faction would be at a severe disadvantage.

And if the chimera and gargoyles from the northern black mages joined them?

We’d be wiped out in an instant.

“Given the urgency, we’ll discuss the source of your information later.”

She signaled she would follow my judgment.

With the highest authority’s quick decision, no one objected.

Kaela’s faction was concentrated in the southern noble district.

Meanwhile, Kaela’s commercial district stronghold was in the north.

Before a full-s Kaela battle, Kaela’s forces would likely seize either the eastern or western districts first.

…!

“Get down!”

Erka, who had been lounging behind me, suddenly drew her greatsword and lunged toward the window.

Clang!

Arrows shattered against her blade as she deflected them midair, sending them clattering to the floor.

Everyone’s startled gaze turned to the window.

Had they already reached the northern district?

Without hesitation, I grabbed a shield from a knight’s decorative armor and stepped in front of Kaela.

“We need to move. Now.”

Things were progressing far faster than I’d thought.