episode_0097

The palace is like a jungle.

There is dazzling luxuries and gold, but there are also always wildcats that covet that wealth.

Everyone is smiling on the outside, but if you look inside, you’ll see that it’s a place full of hatred and gossip about others.

Most people worry about how they can exploit others.

Because of this, it was commonplace for yesterday’s colleagues to become today’s enemies.

Third Princess Deila has lived in this place since she was young.

Here, the reason we smile at children is not simply because they are cute, but because they are innocent and innocent.

How can I make friends so that I can later get a straw for this child? The basic calculation is like this.

She was intelligent from a young age and was able to quickly realize such intentions.

That is why the palace he resided in could not be so disgusting.

She never wanted gold. The power that made tens of thousands of people kneel before her was only uncomfortable for her. When she thought about it, she was not a person who fit the noble position of royalty.

It’s just that I was born with all of that.

Some people congratulated me. Some people looked at me with jealousy.

Sometimes, when I see children starving to death in the slums, I am reminded that I was born in a truly blessed place.

But even so, she couldn’t help but hate the palace.

Because there was no one to treat them equally, and no one to treat them sincerely.

It is literally like being alone in a crowd. The position of emperor is naturally the loneliest among them all.

When I think like this, the person in my head asks me a question.

then?

Then why do you want to become king?

‘··· well.’

Deila still hasn’t been able to give a proper answer to that.

*

However, a person who was none other than a princess began to walk the path of rebels.

Her plan wasn’t bad. After all, it’s true that she needed a group to support her. In the political world, the First Prince’s restraint was severe, so she had no choice but to gather power behind the scenes.

So, even if it’s not the best, it’s the next best. That was my assessment.

“But who is this person?”

As I was thinking that, one of the nobles pointed at me.

What was his name…? I remember he was the son of the Count Kehelin.

“He’s my ally. I can’t reveal his origins, but his skills are certain.”

“Hmm··· Can I trust you? I’m sorry to say this to your highness, but he seems like a dangerous person······.”

It seems like the author’s son doesn’t like me. Well, I guess that can’t be helped.

I kindly explained it to him.

“I’m sorry about this. I have a bit of a curse on me. I might give a bad impression.”

“Ha, is such a joke allowed in such a serious situation?”

Of course, I didn’t believe it even a little bit… but now it’s become a familiar thing.

“Don’t worry, Lowell. For now… he’s a trustworthy person. And anyway, his power is essential to carry out the plan.”

“Princess, do you not trust us? We are strong too. Although I am the third son of my family, I have trained without resting. I think I can easily deal with two or three knights.”

It felt like we had only known each other for about three minutes, but I felt like I had figured out everything about each other’s personality.

‘What a foolish hot-blooded person.’

I am easily influenced by other people’s opinions, and I am overconfident despite having no real ability of my own.

A person who only knows how to see ideals while not being able to face reality. A person who is really easy to manipulate.

Actually, I don’t like the Resistance that much, and one of the reasons is because there are a lot of people like that.

There are many young guys who have a strange romanticism about rebellion.

And a lot of those guys join this resistance group.

Thoughts about the country? Noble sacrifice? Actually, I don’t really care about that.

The only thing that matters is the illusion that you are doing something great.

Because of that, bad words started to come out of my mouth.

“Calm down. It’s good to be passionate, but you have to face reality. The more power, the better.”

Luckily, Deila had calmed me down before that.

Phew, I almost ruined the mood again. My mere presence is a problem, so I should be careful with my mouth.

“Then let’s set a date for the event.”

So we started to have a meeting. We coordinated the time and decided on the date and number of people to invade the palace. We didn’t need to select that many people.

Because we are only going to meet the Second Prince, not to go to war. I alone am enough to have the military power. The role of the resistance is to give strength to Deila’s voice.

Fortunately, this was quickly decided. We had already vaguely planned it out before we gathered here. All that was left was to finalize the plan.

The execution will take place three days later, early in the morning. The people guarding the place will be half-asleep, and the Second Prince will be awake when the operation is carried out.

“Then I’ll see you in three days, Princess.”

“Until then, stay safe.”

After ending the meeting like that, the resistance group went their separate ways.

After being left alone, I felt a little uneasy. It was good that she had worked hard to gather people.

Thanks to that, she also gained her own power. But what is worrying is that she gathered it too hastily.

‘···I’m anxious.’

People need to be filtered before they receive something. Otherwise, problems may arise.

That’s why I decided to take one small step.

‘This much should be okay.’

I used my magic to pluck out a bug. A one-eyed bug.

Now, I’ve grown attached to him and he’s become a cute guy. Since he can record video, he’ll be able to let me know if anything happens.

I quietly stuck a bug on her as she walked away.

*

“···So, the plan was to be carried out in 3 days? To rescue the 2nd prince and overthrow me?”

“Yes, yes··· That’s right. From what I’ve heard, it definitely was.”

A few hours later, the resistance’s temporary meeting ended.

Late in the morning, three people were gathered in a luxurious hotel.

Each of the first princes, Ian and his knight escorts. And one of the minor nobles who had been joining the resistance until just now.

The reason they gathered was simple: the minor noble had come to sell information to the prince.

From the date the plan was implemented, what the plan was about, who joined the resistance, etc.

“That was almost a disaster.”

After hearing the whole story, Ian let out a small sigh of relief. Of course, his expression was still expressionless. Anyway, I could have been in big trouble. If I had been careful, I could have turned my back on the few supporters I had managed to gain.

Of course, that didn’t mean his line to the throne would completely collapse, but it was clear that problems would arise.

Ian’s meeting with the whistleblower was nothing special.

To begin with, the opponent was not even part of his faction. The opponent had a poor family background and abilities, making it difficult to include them in his power.

However, I once made a subtle suggestion to the nobles. If you have any information that could be helpful to me, bring it to me. I will give you a reward.

The other person remembered that, and surprisingly, he came to him like this. Thanks to that, he was able to avoid a big disaster.

“It’s a reward.”

As Ian spoke, he handed the other man a sack full of gold coins.

The nobleman approached him timidly and picked up the bag. Although his actions were timid, he could not hide the greedy smile on his face.

Up to this point, it’s fine. The problem is that the other person crossed the line there.

“Heh, hehe··· Thank you. Um, if it’s okay, can I join Ian’s faction?”

Ian frowned when he heard that.

“Tsk, know your stuff. What do you have? You’re just a baron, and you’re the youngest, so you have no chance of inheriting the family. You have no money, and no abilities to brag about. Isn’t the reason you came to collect the reward money because you need the money when you get abandoned by your family later?”

“That, that···.”

The nobleman trembled at Ian’s irritated words. He didn’t even have the guts to tremble at a single word.

“If you understand, then get out of here.”

“Yes, I understand···.”

So the nobleman left the room, carrying a sack of gold coins.

As the other man left, Ian’s escort knight asked from the side.

“What are you going to do now?”

“···Need to be dealt with.”

Just like when she was the first princess. Ian swallowed his words.

I tried to leave it alone if possible, but this time the other person crossed the line first.

Even though it was killing a member of the same royal family, there was no particular hesitation.

After all, most of the power was already his.

If the status quo continues, you will become the emperor. If you become the emperor, the murder of the imperial family will not be a problem.

If it’s too much, they can eliminate you by accusing you of being in league with rebels.

Unlike the time of the Second Prince, when sending him to the palace was all that was possible, there are now endless ways to get rid of him.

“However, no evidence should be left behind. Go to the most remote place possible so that we can handle it.”

“Yes.”

The escort knight nodded.

The prince’s instructions were put into effect the next day.

He called his trusted aides and invaded the room where the third princess, Deila, was staying in the middle of the night. It was easy to kidnap her since there were hardly any servants and no one paid much attention to her.

After completing the task, the aquarist reported to Ian.

“The 3rd princess was safely loaded onto the carriage.”

“Good job. Were there any difficulties?”

“Yes. However, the 3rd princess’s escort knight keeps going crazy···.”

“How did you do it?”

“···Killed.”

Ian nodded. He had expected that kind of problem.

Ian looked up and briefly glanced at the old-fashioned ceiling. Then he thought.

The palace is a jungle.

It is a den of beasts that are always after power and gold.

No one hesitates to stab others in the back of the head for their own benefit.

The fact that the inside and outside of the palace are different is not something that only Deila realized.

This is a fact known not only to her, but also to Ian, and to everyone who has devoted their lives to politics.

However, even so, he does not hesitate to hit the back of someone’s head.

Therefore, gold and power are valuable.

Because everyone wants it. Because they don’t hesitate to sacrifice their relationships to get it.

In the palace, trust is worth less than gold.

Unlike Deila, his reasons for wanting to become king were quite clear.

‘To become the most valuable person.’

If power is what everyone wants, then the one at the top is naturally the emperor.

Everyone will look up to you.

Ian muttered as he thought of the third princess, Deila.

“You should have been more careful, little brother.”

You were born in the jungle, but you trusted others without thinking. That is the reason for your defeat.

*

The princess was kidnapped.

“Um··· somehow.”

It was half a day after Dayla was kidnapped that Luke learned of this fact.

“Something was strong.”

He grumbled and pulled out his sword.