Chapter 79 : False Purpose (3)

The anomaly arrived suddenly, as naturally as the sun rising again beyond the horizon after setting the day before. 

The saintess, having gathered the knights, declared that there were traitors threatening the kingdom.  

Using the knights and soldiers who believed in her, she arrested them all. 

First, she detained the nobles residing in the palace, along with their families and, if they had territories, even investigated their lands.  

The fact that all this had happened in just one day was unbelievable to Prince Jaiha. 

He couldn’t fathom what she was thinking, but he knew this could be used to put an end to the long-standing conflict.  

How reckless this move was could be seen even by the youngest, clueless nobles. 

With the monarchy intact and the king still on the throne, how could she arbitrarily declare treason?  

Of course, the people wouldn’t blindly follow such absurd proclamations, and neither would the nobles. In other words, it was nothing short of self-destruction.  

That’s what he had thought.  

Until he realized that not only the nobles of the saintess faction but even a significant number of the common people were supporting this nonsensical justification. 

Even if he gave the saintess faction nobles the benefit of the doubt,  

They had much to lose, and perhaps, after being with the saintess for so long, they had come to genuinely believe her absurd claims. 

But the fact that the majority of the common people were following her was shocking.  

‘Am I walking the wrong path? Have I, without realizing it, been consumed by evil and become a tyrant?’  

Prince Jaiha had learned from a young age, while studying the art of kingship, that believing oneself to be right and refusing to listen to others was arrogance. 

He had been taught to guard against arrogance and avoid becoming a tyrant.  

The most terrifying thing about being a tyrant is the lack of self-awareness of one’s own mistakes.  

Once that happens, one is consumed by evil and cannot turn back.  

Prince Jaiha had always believed that the path he was walking was not wrong. 

Act with common sense, and you will surely be rewarded. 

But looking at the current situation,  

Despite the absurd justification that even a young noble could see through, not a single member of the saintess faction had defected. 

Even the common people were believing and following the saintess’s words.  

Even if the nobles were one thing,  

The fact that the common people were also following her made him question his own path.  

As the heir to the throne,  

Prince Jaiha couldn’t afford to remain shaken. 

Even if their numbers were small, there were still those who followed him. 

And one of them spoke to him.  

“Your Highness, do not waver.”  

“……Theodore?”  

“Your Highness has always strived to look in the right direction and has never doubted the path you walk.”  

“Yes, and look where that has led us. Theodore, tell me honestly. Do you also think the saintess is right?”  

“I dare not answer that.”  

Theodore answered seriously. 

Of course, he believed Prince Jaiha’s choices were correct, but could he say with absolute certainty that they were 100% right in the grand scheme of things?  

No.  

Always doubt, and thus strive to choose the right path. 

After all, humans are prone to mistakes. 

That’s why we learn from history and try not to repeat the same errors.  

“But Your Highness, you constantly doubt yourself. That’s why I, no, we, believe in you. We believe you will guide us on the right path.”  

“……Yes, that’s right.”  

“Your Highness, do you have any orders?”  

“Of course, Sir Frost.”  

As if to prove that he had regained his composure, Prince Jaiha’s voice was cold and steady. 

Seeing this, Theodore smiled slightly and bowed his head.  

“Give your command.”  

“Do everything in your power to stop the saintess faction’s rampage. Gather the knights and soldiers loyal to us and restrain the saintess faction’s forces as much as possible. Protect our people at all costs.”  

“Understood.”  

How could someone who couldn’t even protect those who followed him become king and protect the nation? 

Prince Jaiha’s cold, calculating mind was still questioning whether this was the best course of action.  

He didn’t know the answer.  

But he had chosen the best path available to him at the moment.  

All he could do now was pray that he wouldn’t regret it later.  

Thanks to Prince Jaiha’s swift and decisive response, Wolfgang was able to seize the opportunity to counterattack without much difficulty upon her return. 

However, the situation wasn’t entirely favorable.  

The saintess faction had already gained a significant advantage with their unexpected preemptive strike. 

After all, who could have predicted that Saintess Jeanne would resort to such a reckless move as accusing people of treason?  

Even though Prince Jaiha had responded quickly, a considerable number of nobles from the royalist faction, as well as commoners, had already been arrested and imprisoned.  

“I can’t understand what the saintess is aiming for. Unless she plans to execute all the prisoners at once, she’s only giving us an opportunity to counterattack.”  

It seems things have begun.  

Milena, who had been listening from Wolfgang’s pocket, spoke up. 

Even without her reminder, Wolfgang could easily guess what was happening.  

Prince Jaiha and Theodore wouldn’t understand immediately. 

Arresting people so recklessly would only backfire, and they’d think the saintess was only tightening the noose around her own neck.  

But Wolfgang, having heard Milena’s explanation, understood perfectly what Saintess Jeanne and the false goddess were after. 

They were securing sacrifices for the resurrection of the Winter King.  

‘She said that sacrificing humans could resurrect a god, didn’t she?’ 

Yes, but it would require a significant number of humans.  

‘If she were thinking rationally, she’d only sacrifice those from the opposing faction. But I think differently. The people she’ll sacrifice are probably…’

Even those who believe in and follow her will be sacrificed.  

Wolfgang had dealt with many people like this. 

Most of them were the type who would discard people without a second thought for their goals, feeling no guilt whatsoever.  

Just look at Jackal. 

To overcome their fears, didn’t they do unspeakable things to their own children? 

From that perspective, the saintess’s actions were entirely predictable.  

In fact, they were even rational. 

If the Winter King were resurrected, the false goddess would also gain immense power from his influence. 

Once that happened, no one could stop her.  

Even Wolfgang herself couldn’t confidently predict victory. 

Even if the Winter King had just been resurrected, her previous victory had only been possible with the help of the Vendetta Corps.  

Without the Vendetta Corps, she wouldn’t have been able to secure victory in the end. 

The Winter King was that formidable an enemy. That’s why her actions were so swift.  

“Prince Jaiha, we must rescue them as quickly as possible.”  

“I was already considering a plan.”  

“Thinking isn’t enough. We’re already running out of time.”  

‘…It seems she has some idea of what’s going on.’

Prince Jaiha realized from Wolfgang’s intense reaction that there was some hidden circumstance at play. 

If Wolfgang Leonhardt, the war hero who had seen it all, was speaking like this,  

There was definitely something he didn’t know.  

“If it’s alright, could you tell me?”  

“I’m sorry, but not right now.”  

“So, you’re asking me to act based solely on your speculation.”  

“Yes.”  

Of course, it was an absurd request. 

No matter how much Prince Jaiha trusted his close aides, he couldn’t act without reason. 

The palace was already in chaos due to the saintess’s baseless accusations.  

If he acted recklessly, he might give the saintess faction a legitimate reason to act against him. 

So, it was only right to at least hear the reason before giving permission. 

That was the proper judgment for a prince.  

But on the other hand, he couldn’t help but doubt whether normal methods would work in this situation. 

With the saintess declaring treason, even though the king still ruled,  

Could normal methods really turn this situation around? 

Prince Jaiha’s deliberation didn’t take long. 

In such a chaotic situation, the first priority was to break the momentum.  

And in the process,  

There was no need for them to remain clean.  

If the enemy wanted a dirty fight, he would gladly oblige.