episode_0260

Creak—Thud—

A portly old man enters the room. His long, snow-white beard gives him a rather dignified appearance.

“…I apologize for my lateness.”

“Everyone’s just arrived. Please, have a seat.”

A long table was already filled with numerous people. All were dressed in opulent clothing and attended by servants. Among them were those possessing considerable martial strength, bringing bodyguards due to the nature of the meeting and the inherent risks.

Thump—

The old man sat down. The square room wasn’t particularly bright; a magic spell prevented light from entering through the windows. The flickering candlelight cast a soft glow throughout the room.

“Since everyone’s short on time, let’s get straight to the point. Count Hansen has been apprehended.”

“…That’s already common knowledge. But that’s not the important part, is it?”

“Right. No matter how tightly Count Hansen controls the black market, something has occurred that will reduce his standing to…nothing.”

GulP—

A collective sound of swallowing echoed through the room. Everyone knew that even if the current ecosystem seemed perfect, it could crumble at any moment.

“An external force… The Fifth Princess has interfered.”

That new enemies could appear at any time.

However, no one expected it to happen in the current situation. Everything had been going smoothly. They had expanded their influence, amassed wealth, and all they had to do was wait for Prince Fruin Velasquez Nifrantz, the First Prince, to ascend the throne.

Of course, there were risks. The biggest was King Ulysses Pertus Nifrantz, whom they had failed to secure. Even at over fifty years old, he remained healthy and firmly held onto his throne. He consistently avoided any discussions regarding succession, remaining silent.

While not exactly fortunate, the King didn’t favor any of his children. The First Prince handled legal matters, the Second Prince military affairs, the Third Prince politics—each fulfilling their designated roles. The same applied to the others. He gave everyone equal opportunity and treated them fairly, especially ensuring that their individual strengths were utilized effectively.

At least outwardly.

‘The Second Prince is no match. He can’t properly assert his will. The Third Prince and the rest are the same. They’re all merely flashy with no real accomplishments.’

Marquis Verga, the last to arrive at the meeting, was certain. The First Prince, the one they had aligned themselves with, was the most likely successor. He strengthened the monarchy by creating new laws related to taxes and trade. Simultaneously, he secretly expanded his influence and gained the unwavering support of the nobles.

Secretly meaning, of course, in the underworld of the nobility. He created loopholes to cleverly circumvent the law and even created an environment where the nobles could act with impunity.

Parasites feeding on the leaves always appear. Thus, instead of eradication, the strategy was to completely dominate, seizing both light and darkness.

He was a strategist who couldn’t be resisted. That’s why Marquis Verga, and everyone gathered here, supported the First Prince. Once the King relinquished his throne, the First Prince would undoubtedly succeed him; thus, no one had paid attention to other threats. They were all lapping up the broth before the upcoming feast.

Now, with the Fifth Princess crashing the party, the atmosphere had plummeted, transforming from a celebratory gathering into a somber wake.

“There are many strange aspects to this. Wasn’t the Fifth Princess known for her idle lifestyle?”

“Exactly. I heard she was hosting tea parties in the castle just recently.”

“I have absolutely no idea what possessed her to attack Count Hansen. It seems to go far beyond childish mischief. She’s touched the head of the market. The backlash will be significant.”

Everyone murmured, sharing their thoughts. Most dismissed the Fifth Princess as inconsequential. A protruding rock will be worn away by the wind and rain. She would soon be swept away by the powerful tide, nothing more than a fleeting bubble.

“Am I the only one who doesn’t think it was such an impulsive act…? ”

As the discussion began to wane, a man at the end of the table spoke up.

Duke Velasquez. The host and leader of this meeting. His sister is the Second Queen Consort and the current kingdom’s second most powerful figure, and also the First Prince’s mother. The House Velasquez was related to the royal family by marriage.

Despite contrasting with public opinion, the weight of the Duke’s words was considerable. Everyone listened intently.

“Perhaps everyone’s memory is hazy since it wasn’t the First Prince’s faction, but this isn’t the first time the Fifth Princess acted in this manner. ”

“…Are you referring to Marquis Carsen?”

“Indeed. Wasn’t he similar to Count Hansen? There are rumors that it started with a maid, but the outcome saw the Fifth Princess tearing into Marquis Carsen.”

A murmur rippled through the room. No one was unfamiliar with Marquis Carsen. While not part of the same faction, he was equally a denizen of the underworld.

However, Marquis Carsen had exceptionally long reach. He had been acting too boldly, using the power of the empire without restraint, even causing problems in neighboring small countries. When it was covered up, it remained a secret, but after the royal family directly investigated, the actions were so brazen it became a public spectacle.

“Even if we generously excuse the previous incident as childish playfulness, something feels off to me. Isn’t the incident at Nifrantz Academy similar?”

“It was clearly a raid orchestrated by some strange organization. It was handled by…”

“…The Fifth Princess?”

“Come to think of it—that was also the Fifth Princess…!!”

The conversation shifted according to Duke Velasquez’s lead; it was hardly surprising, given his position. Words imbued with power can sway people.

“Reflect on the Fifth Princess’s formative years. The swordsmanship instructor, the trainee knights, and the Carmoer Knight Commander. They are the core members of the current Second Knights.”

“The Second Knights also resolved the academy incident… This is no coincidence. It’s safe to consider them a large force…!!”

“My good sir, the Second Knights are nothing more than a defense force. Considering their strength and size, they are no match for the First Knights.”

“The point my lord is making isn’t about the size of their power. It’s that the Fifth Princess has begun acting with clear resolve and power.”

Although the narratives were guided by the Duke and shaped by his pronouncements , the attendees were not fools. They harmonized their opinions to reach the conclusion the Duke intended.

“We haven’t received detailed information yet. We’ll soon uncover every detail about Count Hansen’s arrest, but we may not be able to fully grasp the Fifth Princess’s intentions. Ensure your safety until we receive more information.”

Marquis Verga was concerned by Duke Velasquez’s unusually passive demeanor. Perhaps because of the critical situation, he was taking precautions to prevent setbacks.

However, the mood was too heavy. Marquis Verga, second in command, rose from his seat to bolster everyone’s resolve.

“We don’t need to be so timid. She’s just a young girl. Even if she’s a princess, if we shrink back before a fight, our names will be disgraced.”

“…It’s not necessarily that simple. Caution is wise. But this certainly doesn’t mean abandoning everything and fleeing. We, our master… will win.”

“Let’s end this here. Each of you must have your own business to attend to. Be wary of the fallout from Count Hansen, and let’s await the next meeting.”

Rattle—

From spirited young nobles onwards, people began to leave. The paths back home were secret passages spanning the entire kingdom. The entrances were concealed within commonly used areas frequented by high society. Gathering like this provided no grounds for suspicion.

As the seats began to empty, Marquis Verga stood. Like always, he gestured to the Duke before leaving.

Duke Velasquez’s gaze followed the Marquis’s shadow. The room was dark, so the shadow was indistinct.

However, a darker shadow lurking beneath the table wriggled. That pitch-black darkness slithered across the floor like a snake and merged with Verga’s. The Marquis’s shadow grew considerably darker and more defined.

“…….”

Duke Velasquez remained silent until everyone else left. Once only he and Verga remained, a black mist emanated from the Duke’s body.

“I did as you instructed, master.”

“Kheee-hee-Good dog! But…your head is a bit high, isn’t it?”

“I…I’m sorry…!!”

Duke Velasquez immediately rose from his chair, bowing his head to the dark mist. This was the second time his forehead had touched the ground.

The first time was just yesterday, when his master changed after brutal mental torture. The dark spirit, which suddenly appeared, forced the Duke to endure endless nightmares of his own death until his submission.

A beautiful woman emerged from the black mist, taking on human form.

“You did well, so I’ll give you a reward!”

“…….”

“…Your response?”

“T-Thank you, master!!”

With Nyx’s mischievous laughter, the Duke’s body began to be enveloped by the black mist. He would dream. A dream of a slightly painful death. The lack of total absence of pain was merciful.

It was certainly preferable to being alive and having one’s body devoured by insects.