Chapter 155

“Shut up, damn viper.”

The first prince, Claude, glared daggers at Cedric like a wild beast as he muttered under his breath.

If he had not been shackled at both hands and feet, it looked as though he would have lunged straight for his throat without hesitation.

“As the sovereign of the empire, I order you. Release those shackles at once and kneel. This is your last chance to be forgiven.”

“Well now, that last chance shows up quite often. Would this be the seventh last one, perhaps?”

“Don’t toy with words and just give thanks! Thanks to my change of heart, your chances have increased as well!”

“Then I’ll have to refuse again. No, thank you. Stay locked up here just as you are.”

At Cedric’s mockery, Claude clenched his teeth until they creaked.

It had already been more than half a year since he had been wearing shackles on his arms and legs, yet his anger showed no signs of fading.

Some might call it an unbreakable will, but in Cedric’s eyes it was not determination.

‘It’s arrogance. The arrogance of believing that no one can touch him.’

Even though the situation was lost and all hope extinguished, that gaze was still convinced that he alone was the absolute owner of the throne.

Every time Cedric saw it, an unbearable fatigue washed over him. Talking to a wall would have been less frustrating than dealing with Claude.

Not noticing, or not caring, what Cedric was thinking, Claude repeated the same refrain as always.

“Don’t forget. I gave you chances again and again. When they cut off your head and hang it on the wall, you’ll regret what you’re saying today.”

“Brother, I ask you sincerely. Where does that confidence come from? Everything is already over. There isn’t the slightest chance that you’ll rise again.”

“Chance? How ridiculous. I am the firstborn of His Majesty the former emperor and the legitimate heir of the empire. From the beginning there was no other option. What chances are you talking about?”

Cedric pressed his fingers against his forehead to calm the sharp pain in his head.

He wasn’t speaking out of simple bluster; Claude truly believed every word he said.

“Then, according to you, if the current situation came to light, the vassals would immediately overthrow me and seat you on the throne?”

“This is an empire with a thousand years of history. Even if some corrupt nobles support you out of ambition, do you think there won’t be a single vassal left who knows his duty?”

“Wake up already. Marquis Bernhardt supports me now as well. Who exactly is this vassal who knows his duty supposed to be?”

“W-what!? The marquis? For what reason…?”

For the first time, Claude’s certainty cracked, and his eyes flew wide open. He seemed unable to understand why he had been abandoned.

“What kind of scheme has this viper pulled now?”

“A scheme? None. He simply got fed up with you. If you had shown even a shred of consideration toward the marquis, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Stop beating around the bush and speak plainly!”

“…You can’t even understand something that simple. That’s why you have not the slightest aptitude to sit on the throne.”

Had the marquis really supported Claude out of genuine loyalty?

Of course not. He supported him because, compared to Cedric, he was dumber and easier to control.

But after ignoring his warnings during the suppression of the rebellion and nearly causing everyone’s death, it was only natural that he would reach his limit.

‘If only he were stupid but easy to manipulate—but he can’t tell allies from enemies and starts swinging his sword like a madman. Even the marquis finally gave up.’

Cedric decided not to continue speaking. If he went on, his irritation would only grow, and besides, he hadn’t come to trade insults.

“Let’s leave that aside. Let’s talk about the main issue. Do you intend to cooperate with me?”

“Cooperate? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Duke Lucian is asking about your condition, whether you’re alive or dead. He says he’ll send a messenger. I just need you to come out and say a few words, to say that I’m treating you well.”

“Ridiculous. Do you think I’ll do something like that?”

“If you cooperate, I’ll remove the shackles. I could even assign you some women to attend to you, if you wish…”

Before Cedric could finish the sentence, a “Puh!” sounded and a glob of spit flew through the air.

Cedric flinched, but barely managed to dodge it. Hearing Claude click his tongue in frustration, Cedric’s face twisted in rage.

“…Very well. If you like the shackles so much, keep them. I won’t ask for your cooperation again.”

“And I won’t give you another chance at redemption either.”

Bang!

With that raspy voice scraping his nerves to the very end, Cedric slammed the door shut and walked away.

At the same time, he swore over and over in his heart that one day he would stain that face with fear and tears.

***

Lucian did not hesitate for even an instant when the agreed date arrived and dispatched the envoy.

For such turbulent times, he was accompanied by only a handful of escort soldiers, but the risk of an attack was practically nonexistent.

The entire empire was watching every step of the envoy’s journey.

‘Is he insane? The moment the envoy reaches the capital, there will be no turning back.’

‘And why is the second prince so quiet? He should at least come up with some believable excuse!’

‘It looks like neither of them has anything to lose… At this rate, a real war is going to break out.’

The nobles whose territories lay between the imperial capital and the north swallowed hard.

These were no ordinary forces—it was none other than the imperial family and the king of the north.

If war broke out, they would be the shrimp crushed between whales. In the worst case, even the fate of their houses could be decided.

However, there was someone even more tense than all those nobles combined.

“Fuuu…”

Fritz, Lucian’s envoy, let out a deep sigh as he rubbed his eyelids over and over.

Each time his fingers passed, he felt the cold sweat that had pooled between the wrinkles. Seeing him like that, Marius, who was traveling as an escort, opened his mouth.

“Are you nervous?”

“…I’ve made a pitiful display. An envoy should never show his emotions, no matter what happens.”

“It can’t be helped. You’re on your way to shatter an empire with a thousand years of history. If you understand that weight, it’s natural to be tense.”

Fritz nodded silently.

Wagering his own life was nothing new to him, but this time it wasn’t just his head at stake.

A few words spoken in the imperial palace would be enough to bring down the empire and plunge the entire continent into war.

The weight of changing an entire era with his own tongue was too much even for Fritz.

“Seen that way, it’s almost ridiculous. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to save my own life, and yet I’m worried about the whole world.”

“Don’t worry about that. You’ll come out of there without a single scratch. That’s why my disciples and I are going with you.”

“Yes. It’s far too generous a deal for this old man.”

To protect Fritz, Lucian had mobilized none other than Marius, Colin, and Helen.

Considering the nearly three hundred years of persecution against mages, they were extraordinary talents.

Losing even one of them would have been a tremendous blow, yet Lucian did not show the slightest hesitation.

— No matter what happens, bring Fritz back alive. If you think you can’t save him, die in his place. That is your first order.

Recalling Lucian giving that order, Fritz’s chest trembled once more.

Perhaps it was also a way of imposing discipline on Marius, but Fritz knew those words were sincere.

“I’ve received treatment that far exceeds my own abilities. Even if it costs me my life, I must live up to the duke’s expectations. Even feeling nervous is a luxury for me.”

“It’s the same for me. If I fail to save you, I won’t have any chance left. Just as His Excellency said, even if I have to die in your place, I’ll save you.”

“Hearing that is truly reassuring.”

Fritz replied with a smile, though a strange doubt arose within him.

What had this mage done to earn Lucian’s anger?

He had enough ability that minor flaws could be overlooked.

Fritz could not imagine the reason, but one thing was clear—if Marius could not save him, no one else could.

***

Fritz’s group left the north and soon entered the imperial sphere of influence.

The moment that happened, the imperial family immediately sent an order of knights to escort them to Tibron.

Officially, it was to protect the imperial guests and demonstrate that there was no ill will toward Lucian; in practice, it was surveillance.

‘Are they trying to prevent forces dissatisfied with the second prince from making contact with us?’

Fritz understood the second prince’s concerns, but he could not help feeling a certain pity.

They were looking in the wrong direction when the real problem lay elsewhere.

In any case, Fritz had no intention of contacting anyone else either, so he accepted the escort without objection.

Arriving safely in Tibron, the group immediately met with the second prince, Cedric.

Seated in the regent’s chair beneath the throne, Cedric received Fritz with a smile, as if he had already forgotten that he had sent an imperial inspector to prison.

“Welcome to Tibron, the jewel of the empire, envoy. It must have been a long and exhausting journey.”

“I appreciate the hospitality of the second prince. I am Fritz, envoy of Asagrim.”

“If you are the duke’s envoy, I assume you bring good news. There is no one in the empire who is unaware of his loyalty.”

At Cedric’s words, heavy with irony, Fritz merely inclined his head calmly. At his age, he was not about to be unsettled by such a mild jab.

“If that is what you expected, I fear you will be disappointed. What I bring are His Excellency the duke’s doubts.”

“Doubts? The duke has doubts about the imperial family?”

“We have not been able to see the first prince, the legitimate heir to the throne, for quite some time. As a vassal, how could he not wonder about his lord’s whereabouts?”

“It’s nothing serious. My brother simply fell ill. The blow of our father’s death was too great.”

“To the point that he cannot even show his face?”

“That is correct. If he does not observe absolute rest, his condition could become irreversible.”

Using a serious illness as an excuse to prevent a meeting.

It was a classic method, but an effective one.

Forcing a visit to someone who required absolute rest would be an unforgivable discourtesy.

Normally, anyone would have withdrawn, even while understanding the other’s intention.

But Fritz had a weapon capable of shattering any such intention.

After letting out a deep sigh, Fritz took that weapon from his clothes and displayed it.

“If it is a serious illness, there is nothing to be done. In that case, I ask that you deliver this to the first prince.”

“And what is that?”

“A magical artifact that the former emperor gifted to the duke. It allows two-way communication, but only the emperor could initiate the connection.”

“Then the duke understands that it is no longer of any use to him and has decided to return it to the imperial family.”

“That is correct. It now belongs to the first prince, who will soon ascend the throne.”

Cedric frowned slightly and gestured to the servant at his side.

The servant stepped forward, carefully took the red stone from Fritz’s hands, and handed it to Cedric.

Cedric turned it between his fingers with an interested expression and clicked his tongue.

“I have no idea how to use it. What a real shame. If the former emperor had properly explained how it works, it would have been very useful.”

Fritz’s eyes flew wide open. Cedric was merely trying to justify in advance why he could not use the artifact, in order to avoid later questions.

However, that political calculation now turned into a knife aimed straight at him.

Seizing the perfect moment, Fritz carried out Lucian’s order.

“How strange. Aren’t imperial magical artifacts supposed to be usable even by a baby, as long as they are of direct imperial blood? If someone inherited the former emperor’s blood, the artifact should react immediately.”

“…What?”

“Then why does Your Highness request instructions on how to use it? And even though you have touched it yourself, why does the artifact show no reaction at all?”

Cedric blinked in shock, as if he could not comprehend what he was hearing.

He seemed incapable of connecting Fritz’s doubts to the possibility of his own lineage, something he had never questioned even in his dreams.

Staring straight at him, Fritz spoke the phrase that could bring down the entire empire.

“Second prince… are you certain that you truly inherit the blood of the former emperor?”