episode_0219

“What????”

Vivian who conveyed that Alexis Saint-Pierre’s death was related to Antoine De Sell Aubléan, At those words, Eugene’s eyes widened suddenly. ‘It’s not that I didn’t think something like that at all. From what I heard, the power struggle between Louis XVI and the forces trying to make Alexis emperor was significant. Archduke Antoine was also a very influential figure at the time. At that point, it’s obvious that all sorts of political maneuvering would have gone on in reality, right?’ After Eugene accepted Vivian into his harem, he tried to know and understand her more properly. So he diligently learned and found out about the political backgrounds of that time in his own way. Logically, if you consider that Vivian could harbor resentment towards Jeanne, you can keep in mind the possibility that Alexis and Antoine had a serious conflict over those political issues. ‘But as far as I know, Archduke Antoine was maintaining neutrality as a candidate for the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, Kaiser. Among that, just looking at their closeness, he was close to Alexis Saint-Pierre. Of course, as long as he was part of the Imperial Knights, it was essential to have ties with the direct lineage of the Imperial family as well.’ About 20 years ago, after Antoine became a Sword Seeker, his sword skills were in full bloom, and his influence within the Imperial Knights was growing strong. And that era was the time when political struggles over the next emperor began to erupt little by little. So naturally, Antoine’s actions were also in a situation where they couldn’t help but receive attention, In that situation, after participating in the noble council, Antoine made a direct declaration. That he, possessing so-called military power, would maintain neutrality in the power struggle for succession to the throne. And by actually showing such actions, he gained the trust of the noble council and obtained great momentum to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, Kaiser, in the future. “Yes, I know. Archduke Antoine declared neutrality at the noble council at that time. And he is still revered for those actions.” At Eugene’s appearance, whose eyes suddenly widened and then darted slightly back and forth, Vivian grasped what he was thinking and mentioned it. Although she was young, Vivian was a child who was very interested in her father’s affairs, so she knew the situation at the time quite well. Even in her memories of that time, Antoine was seen maintaining neutrality. So she considered it unexpected and thought it was great. Certainly, the fact that he maintained neutrality when her father, Alexis, was a strong candidate for the next emperor and they were close friends. If Antoine had sided with Alexis, they would have easily seized hegemony, and the two would have achieved great synergy together. However, Antoine who gave that up, Vivian thought of him as a true martial artist at the time. “But I heard it directly from Archduke Antoine after my father passed away. That he killed my father.” That thought was mercilessly shattered not long after Alexis’s death. ‘Directly from the Archduke…?’ There’s no reason for Vivian to lie to him. Unless she knew he was the Archduke’s adopted son from the very beginning, she just found out, and what she is saying now is what she had already prepared to say. Because of that, Eugene thought that if Vivian said something like that, she would present it with some basis of her own. But Vivian said that she directly heard from Antoine that he killed her father. Her shocking confession, to the extent that Eugene Schneider’s mind went blank. “It’s my fault.” Alexis was with his advisors. And he blamed himself for being pushed out of the succession to the throne and moreover, for a great crisis coming upon his political position. “In a power struggle, there is certainly no sentiment, but I entrusted the great cause to friendship. Antoine De Sell Aubléan, I trusted him too much.” He had received information that Antoine De Sell Aubléan, whom he thought of as a friend and political comrade, had stood on the side of Prince Louis and poured his strength into helping him succeed to the throne. Alexis was betrayed by Antoine. “But this is too much no matter what. Was Duke Antoine that kind of person? How could he do such a cowardly thing?” The advisors vented their anger. Antoine and Alexis got along well. Alexis was a politically progressive figure, and Antoine was a progressive figure as a swordsman, and as an Imperial Knight. However, in the early days, Alexis’s reputation was overwhelmingly high. So Alexis created a foundation for Antoine to spread his wings in order to bring a new wind into the Imperial Knights. In fact, Alexis was Antoine’s patron. ‘The feeling of disappointment is unavoidable. I just thought I did my best, valuing his abilities highly. My heart aches in this situation.’ He was a friend and a patron, but the price was betrayal. Antoine’s betrayal was cunning. Antoine even directly told Alexis his position and thoughts. That the Imperial Knights had always exercised influence in the struggle for succession to the throne, and that had brought about the politicization of the Imperial Knights, leading to excessive secularization within. Therefore, he had been saying that he would properly show himself maintaining neutrality, being mentioned as the next Kaiser, and break that chain. Alexis needed Antoine’s support, but since what Antoine had asserted ultimately aligned with Alexis’s own motto, he made the decision to actively accept it. As a result, Antoine was able to communicate secretly with Prince Louis’s side while completely off Alexis’s radar. “They say it’s a fait accompli that Duke Antoine will rise to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, Kaiser. Furthermore, an organization that will be directly connected to the Imperial family is even planned to be created within the Imperial Knights.” Even after that, information about the ongoing struggle for succession to the throne continued to come in, and after Louis XVI’s ascension to the throne, Antoine’s wild actions became prominent. In fact, Louis XVI was no different from something Antoine had created. This is because he leaked the information that the overwhelming potential military power was attached to Prince Louis’s side to key nobles who were quick with information, which caused the balance to tip rapidly. Moreover, it was Antoine who actively created that atmosphere. ‘If it’s this much, you have to see it as Antoine having prepared for a very long time and having made up his mind. It’s dangerous. Being pushed out of the succession to the throne isn’t the end. From now on, the situation is even more dangerous.’ A planned move, not a simple change of heart or political choice, Alexis sensed a great sense of crisis. But “Duke Alexis’s movements to reorganize his troops were something that could never be overlooked.” Alexis’s response was too late. Antoine’s sword came in first. “Crafty, Antoine… In the end, was this also your trap…” Raphael, Alexis’s closest aide, stabbed by Antoine’s sword, glared at Antoine and said. Leaking the situation of Antoine’s betrayal after Louis XVI’s ascension, That was exactly what Antoine’s side did. So that Alexis’s side, feeling a sense of crisis, would show military movements. Thus, if military movements were detected, the plan was to use that as an excuse to sweep away Alexis’s side. And that happened in an instant. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s quite standard in eliminating an opponent. Make them create their own excuse. In fact, I learned this from Duke Alexis. From him, who had proficient abilities as a merchant.” Although he was pushed out of the imperial succession, as long as Alexis existed, Louis XVI couldn’t help but feel a great burden. That’s because Alexis was that capable and highly respected, and still many people followed him. Antoine De Sell Aubléan, a former close friend of Alexis who knew that better than anyone, eliminated Alexis without hesitation. “Why… Why did you betray Duke Alexis! That world you were talking about, Louis XVI is nowhere near it. Duke Alexis was the right person. Was it selfish ambition for power, Antoine.” It can be calculated in the head. But it cannot be understood in the heart. The Antoine he knew before and the Antoine now, a thorough man of power, seemed like different people. “Ambition for power, well. To me, power is simply a means. However, Alexis is too smart and has a righteous dream to use that power as a means.” The hypertrophy of the Imperial Knights, That was the picture Antoine had drawn. And that was Antoine’s kingdom that could be created when the emperor was Prince Louis, not Alexis. Because to Alexis, Antoine was just an assistant, but to Prince Louis, he would be like the creator who made him the emperor. “Please, just don’t kill the young lady. You also cared for the young lady, didn’t you. Please, I beg you like this.” They were completely defeated. To the point of getting goosebumps. In the end, Raphael, whose eyes gleamed with hostility, knelt down. Begging that at least the sprout named Vivian not be cut down in the wasteland swept through by the disaster named Antoine. “Well, that will depend on what the child does.” —Swoooooosh!! Antoine cut down Raphael with a face showing no sentiment whatsoever. “You killed your father, Vivian.” Appearing before Vivian, what Antoine did was truly cruel. “Duke Antoine uncle, my father…?” Looking at Antoine’s face, which was expressionless but somehow felt like a sneer, Vivian’s pupils shook violently. “You’ve already heard some of it, haven’t you? All of that is true. I betrayed your father, and killed him.” Antoine shattered Vivian’s psyche. Antoine did not kill everyone around Alexis. He only killed those who were thoroughly loyal to Alexis and persuaded those who could be persuaded. Through those who were persuaded, he subtly made Vivian aware of the truth of the incident. And by appearing directly like this, he finished the job. “Ugh… Ugh… Ughhhhh…” Vivian’s body stiffened with a pale face. She was consumed by terror beyond fear. After her father passed away, she spent her time in sorrow. And the enemy who created that sorrow was telling her that it was his doing right in front of her, but she couldn’t do anything. “Do you want to live? Yes, that is natural human nature. Do not forget that fear. The moment you forget it, your neck will fly off.” Smirk…! Swish,,,! Meeting Vivian’s eyes, who was trembling with terror and unable to speak, with a smiling face, Antoine truly hammered a chilling remark into her mind. That way, Antoine eliminated the sun of the Pierre family who inherited the blood of the imperial family, and trampled the sprout, leaving her crippled. “Vivian unnie! It’s been too long, I’m really happy to see you!” After that incident, Vivian came face to face with Jeanne. ‘Evil spirit, that’s an evil spirit.’ It was Jeanne’s appearance, so lovely and cheerful. But to Vivian, it was different. To her, Jeanne looked like an evil spirit who inherited the blood of the demon Antoine.