episode_0181

“What… … ?”

Piviola Academy was an educational institution where Jennad, one of the men she had a connection with, was the dean.

And, the person currently in command of the imperial army is… … It was his younger brother, Sidmead.

What that fact meant was very simple.

‘no way… … !!’

Something that can never be undone has happened.

* * *

“Wow… … Heo Eok.”

Serpina was rushing towards the mansion where Sidmid lived.

‘It is a lie… … !’

It’s a lie.

No matter how greedy the second brother is for the emperor position… … In fact, there was no way he would have committed an action that amounted to massacring civilians.

Just because a man who has not yet expressed any opinion or support is ‘pro-Algoth’, it is not just about singling out and eliminating him-

The crazy act of massacring all innocent students and professors at the academy he manages really happened?

I couldn’t believe it. No, to be exact, I never wanted to believe such a thing.

There must be something wrong, so I kept running with that vain hope, and when I came to my senses, I found myself standing in front of the gate of the mansion.

Rattling!

He threw open the door and started wandering around the mansion looking for Sidmid.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it didn’t take long to find him.

“Brother Sidmead!”

“… … what. Serpina. What’s the matter?”

Shiny blonde hair, dark eyes.

The man who was drinking alcohol helplessly with a large pile of liquor bottles on the table in his office was Sidmid von Eyngart, the protagonist who rebelled against Algoth’s reign.

If I hadn’t been drinking, I would have looked like a nobleman… … Right now he was only giving a vague impression.

“That… … Is it true?”

“What.”

“Piviola Academy… … No way, my real brother… … !”

“… … .”

Sidmead poured himself a glass of wine and drank it to the end without saying a word.

Jump, jump.

Then he set the wine glass down on the table and said,

“Did you come to me just to talk about that?”

“That’s just it… … that… … !”

“I also wondered if he was finally acknowledging the trend and saying he wanted to stick to my side. Well, sticking around won’t help much. If you have nothing to say, just leave. If you don’t want to see it in trouble.”

“Brother, please answer my question! Piviola Academy… … !”

“Yes!”

bang!

The powerful sound of a fist hitting the table made Serpina speechless for a moment.

“I did it. Why?”

“That can’t be possible… … !”

An attack by the imperial army, no, it’s just an attack, it’s a one-sided massacre.

“Don’t you know very well what kind of bastard that old dean is? Even though everyone recognized me, I was a pathetic old man who was behind the times and clinging to old-fashioned traditions.”

Sidmeade continued to pour out the story as if it were a flood of words.

It was as if he had decided not to give Serpina a chance to talk.

“Everyone is following me! In this situation, why can’t Brother Algot take care of his share? Most of the influential nobles support me! In the meantime, isn’t it natural to get rid of the idiots who are spreading nonsense like ‘the academy must remain neutral’? Plus, I like what I say, so I’m neutral. Considering that damn old man’s tendencies, it wouldn’t be surprising if he came here to put a knife in his mouth!”

The biggest condition that Sidmid, who is not the eldest son and lacks justification, can face against Algot.

That was the full support of influential nobles.

The fact that he was given the authority to command the imperial army in the first place was also due to the support of the nobles located in each territory.

Algot was a rational person. He was a man who was strict about personal punishment, and had been preaching the importance of strengthening the imperial power ever since his father was alive.

For him, ‘influential families’ were an obstacle to royal power. He was a hardliner who insisted that any meritorious family should kneel at the feet of the imperial family.

In comparison, Sidmid was a relatively conciliatory figure. It would be an accurate assessment to say that he is a much more political figure than his brother.

He rationally recognized most of the nobles’ titles and rights, and this was the biggest driving force behind many nobles supporting his second son, Sidmid, rather than his eldest son, Algoth, in a situation where a successor was not determined. Except for Serpina, who was quite a bit older in age, the younger siblings tended to follow Sidmid rather than Algoth, who was somewhat tight-lipped.

“There isn’t much left anyway! For this empire… … It means that a decision has been made! It’s not a matter to argue about someone like you who has no responsibilities or rights!”

Hehehe, hehehe… …

To Sidmid, who was making a passionate argument as if he was making a strong excuse to someone and was breathing heavily without being able to control himself, Serpina looked at him with an expression that looked like he was about to cry and cried out.

“Brother. why… … Why did you do that?! What did the people there do wrong-”

Let’s say you can make a hundred concessions and kill the dean of the academy. Of course, that should never happen, but whatever.

But wouldn’t organizing all the students and professors attending the academy be as crazy as the sentence says?

There was also a nobleman’s restraint there. Of course, even if we assume that there is a possibility that the influence of the pro-Algot Fine dean can reach them… … What reason would there be to die unjustly without even being able to express one’s opinion?

but.

Sidmid shouted as if nothing was his fault.

“Noisy! This is the only way! In order to prevent that stupid Argot from inheriting the throne like this, we need to get rid of the forces that will cause unrest as soon as possible!”

“But… … !”

at that time.

Sidmid stood up and walked towards Serpina.

and-

slap!

―He slapped Serpina hard on the cheek as she tried to tell him what to do.

“… … Don’t say anything off topic. Do you understand?”

“Brother… … !!!”

“Do you think anything will change if I do this? you’re welcome. Everyone is on my side. I have the military authority, and I also have the favor of many nobles. I will never see the entire empire taken away by my older brother, who has no merit other than being born early!”

“That… … .”

“I have nothing more to say to you, so it would be best to get out of the way now. Out of consideration for the affection of my flesh and blood, I will spare your life. I don’t need any help from you. It would be better to live as quietly as possible.”

Serpina swallowed tears that threatened to flow.

It was okay to be right. Wounds heal over time.

but… … What saddened her more than anything was that now there was absolutely no turning back.

Countless people died.

Now that lives were gone, it could never be resolved through dialogue.

‘why… … !’

Why did it become like this?

I tried so hard, but why couldn’t I solve anything?

Do you have no strength? Because there is no political base? Or is it just because I’m incompetent?

No, before that-

How on earth did Brother Sidmead learn of the intentions of the Dean of Piviola Academy?

The dean would never have said such a thing publicly. It was normal for him to at least be aware of the issue related to the crown prince.

at that time.

“… … !!!”

On the way out of the residence, I ran into Stadel and Lilyrose.

And as soon as I saw Stadel’s face… … It occurred to me that he was in a position to oversee the Imperial Academy.

“Stadel Brother… … no way… … ?”

“… … I have nothing to say to you.”

“Is this what your brother told you? The Dean said that-”

at that time.

Instead of Stadel, who hesitated and turned his head, the person whose voice cut him off was Lilyrose, Serphina’s only older sister.

“Go back, Serpina. The empire needs transformation. Brother Argot’s methods will only accelerate division. We both share the same thoughts as Brother Sidmead.”

“Sister… … !!”

“… … Let’s go.”

As I watched the backs of Stadel and Lilyrose’s heads moving away, I collapsed on the spot, feeling weak.

One thing is certain –

There was nothing she could do in this situation.

* * *

As Sidmead had boasted, the massacre became a hot topic at first, but it quickly became a topic that was talked about.

Even though several families were exterminated, nothing much happened. Even though it was a famous family, it was only a very weak entity compared to the people who really exerted influence on central politics.

Among the nobility, Vito sentiment against Algot was much stronger than expected. If the cause wasn’t protecting him, he would have been pushed aside by Sidmid a long time ago.

Meanwhile, Serpina… … I was alone in my bedroom.

Because of the despair of not being able to change anything, I couldn’t muster up the energy to do anything bravely.

How many days has passed like that?

“Princess Serpina… … Prince Algot is looking for you.”

“… … .”

Why are you looking for me now?

If he said something like ‘please be on my side’ one more time, I was going to reject him outright and go back into the room.

but.

The words that came out of Algot’s mouth were… … It was so shocking that I couldn’t believe it.

“The throne… … Do you want to pass it on?”

“Okay. The crown prince’s position… … I plan to hand it over to Sidmead.”

“Brother… … .”

Algot lowered his head to the floor with a bitter smile and muttered.

“People around me are dying one by one just because they follow me. There is nothing I can do as the crown prince. The nobles despise me, and since they can only use the capital defense force and private troops, I cannot respond properly. If I keep standing here like a scarecrow… … More people will die.”

“So, I will give up. In a broad sense, Sidmid is also a member of the Eingart family. Even if he becomes the next emperor… … The empire can be maintained.”

“… … .”

“Serpina. You go and tell it. I’m going to hold a succession ceremony for the crown prince, so please stop now.”

Serpina couldn’t say anything to Algot, who was muttering in resignation.

That expression looks so sad… … I couldn’t even ask how he felt when he made that decision.

“Really?! Is that true?”

Contrary to Algoth, who was completely dispirited, Sidmid became angry after hearing the news and said:

“I guess it’s finally time to stop being stubborn and relying on just cause. i get it. Let’s set a date right away. I guess we can finally take action against ungrateful people like Orlando and Walnut.”

If Sidmid becomes emperor, is that really okay?

He was the culprit behind the brutal massacre.

If the person who will become the emperor of the empire commits such an act and is passed over simply because it is a ‘secret struggle for the position of crown prince,’ then what is the reason for this empire to continue?

―One day, I was spending time imagining things that were too outrageous for a member of the royal family.

Serpina, who had come to Argot’s call, tilted her head and asked.

“Are you asking me to bring your uncle?”

“Okay. A letter arrived from Uncle Kyle, who had been hiding. He said he would like to attend the coronation ceremony, and that it would be nice if he came to Hale Castle to meet him.”

“You can come visit us in person… … .”

“Don’t you know that your uncle has a strange stubbornness?”

“That’s right… … .”

Kyle von Eyngart.

As his father’s younger brother, he was a person who had been quietly spending his time in hiding until recently, not getting involved in the series of battles between the crown prince and the crown prince.

From the beginning, when his father was alive, he was a man who lived far away from power and only spent time killing people – but in this situation, if he had only taken Algot’s side, it was clear that the blood price alone would have been a great help.

“So, it would be nice if you could bring me some.”

“Then it may be late until the coronation ceremony… … .”

“If you use a carriage, you will be able to get there in one day.”

Hale Castle was a quiet place located not far from the bridge of Eyngart Castle.

anyway… … It occurred to me that it might be of great help to ask my uncle what to do next.

“Okay.”

So we got in the carriage and left for Hale Castle that way.

It certainly didn’t take that long.

but.

The problem was something else.

“Are you talking about Kyle? I’ve never seen it before… … .”

“What?”

“Yes… … If you came to the castle, weren’t you supposed to tell me you came? Kyle did not come here.”

“I heard that you sent a letter to Brother Argot.”

“Sorry, but this is my first time, princess. How could I lie to the princess?”

Serpina was lost in thought, leaving behind the castle lord who was bowing down in embarrassment.

‘what? Did you send a letter when your uncle actually didn’t come? why? He may be a no-nonsense person, but he is not the type of person to do such useless things. If not… … .”

If Kyle didn’t do it, there is only one answer.

‘… … Brother Algot lied… … ?’

Serpina was lost in thought with her hand on her chin.

‘Why tell such a lie… … ?’

There was always a reason for telling a lie, especially for such a troublesome lie.

What can Brother Algot gain from this lie? Of course there wasn’t.

Well, all I could say was that I went outside of Eingart Castle.

And, the very moment I thought about it-

Boom, boom!

‘no way… … ‘Is the very purpose of me coming out of Eingart Castle?’

Suddenly my heart started beating rapidly.

The driving force is the obvious anxiety that surrounds her.

Serpina immediately ran to the carriage and headed back to Eingart Castle.

*

And, meeting Serpina like that was――

‘… … !!!!’

――It was the sight of the Eingart family mansion burning brightly, embracing the rise and fall of the imperial family.