A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles — Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Glug,⁠ glug!

Beneath‍ the imperial throne,‌⁠ in the regent’s‌⁠ seat, the second prince Cedric was‌‌⁠ downing a bottle of wine.

Without⁠‌ even pausing for⁠ breath, he emptied‍‌ the bottle in⁠‍ one go and‍⁠⁠ then threw the‍⁠ empty container aside.‍⁠‌

Crash!‌

Even‌ though the bottle⁠‌ shattered with a loud crash, no‌‍ one came running.‌‍ He had given⁠ the order that,‍‍ for one hour,⁠⁠ no one was to approach the‍⁠ audience chamber.

Cedric,‌‍ silently seated below‌ the throne, looked⁠ up at the ceiling and muttered.‍

“The⁠⁠ alcohol’s not hitting me.”

Saying‍‍ that to himself,‍‍‌ he reached for‌⁠‍ another bottle.

However,⁠ before he could grab it, a thin line emerged‌‍⁠ from the dark‍ shadow and lightly‌‍‌ pushed the bottle⁠⁠ aside.

Cedric’s⁠ hand closed on‌‌ nothing but air.‌⁠

“…What⁠ the hell are‌ you doing?”

— Drinking that much⁠‍‌ in one go⁠‍⁠ isn’t good for‍ your health. I understand your mood,‌⁠‌ but take care‍‌ of your body.⁠‍

“Ha…⁠⁠‍ you understand?”

Cedric let out a disbelieving laugh at‌‌ the voice coming from the shadows.‍⁠‌

He⁠‍ leaned forward, laughing as if he⁠⁠ couldn’t hold it‌‌‍ in, then raised‍ his gaze with‌⁠ sharp eyes.

“If you really understand,‍‍⁠ then say it.‍ How do you‌ think I feel‍ right now?”

— …

“The⁠ Empire, which felt‌‍‍ like it was⁠‍ right within my‌ grasp, slipped through⁠ my fingers like‍‍ sand. The court‍⁠‌ nobles, who seemed ready to hand⁠‌ me their liver‍ and gallbladder, now‍⁠ won’t even be seen near me.‌⁠ And all around,⁠ ambitious fools are⁠‍⁠ acting like the‍‌‌ world is already‍ theirs.”

— It’s not over⁠ yet.

“Yeah,⁠‍ right. It’s not‌⁠ over.”

Cedric‍‍ still had opportunities.‍ No matter how much noise the‌ rebellious elements made, Tibron was already under his control.‌⁠

If‍ he rallied supporters‌ with the capital‍⁠⁠ as his base⁠ and restored peace‌‌‍ to the Empire,‍ no one could⁠ object.

“But⁠ why the hell‌ should I be⁠ the one to‌‌ do it?!”

Crash!‍⁠‍

With‌ a twisted expression‍ like a demon’s,‍‌ Cedric hurled a wine bottle at‌‌ the throne.

The‌⁠‌ seat where generations of emperors had sat was now‌‍ stained with dark‍‍‍ red wine.

After‌‍ panting for a while, Cedric even‍⁠‍ overturned the nearby‍ table and shouted⁠ furiously.

“It⁠‍ was mine from⁠ the beginning! I was the rightful‍⁠ ruler of this‌⁠ Empire! And now⁠⁠ they expect me,‌‍ the emperor, to‍⁠ sit at the‌ same table as some meritless bastards‍‍⁠ and fight for‌‍ power?!”

— …

“Even‌‍‍ if I win,⁠⁠ all I’ve done⁠ is take back⁠ what was already⁠‍‍ mine! But those‍ thieves—whether they win⁠‌‍ or lose—get to split the Empire‌ like it belongs⁠ to them! What‍ kind of cursed gamble is that?!”‌

Crash,‍‍ bang, clang!

After‌‍ toppling, smashing, and‍⁠ destroying everything in⁠ sight, Cedric was‍‌⁠ breathing heavily.

He‍ knew his behavior⁠ was irrational, but‍‍‍ he couldn’t contain⁠‍ himself.

He‍‌‌ had already occupied⁠⁠ the throne long‍ ago—he only needed⁠‍‌ to sit on‌ it, and that‌‍‍ was it. And now, even dedicating⁠ his whole life,⁠⁠ he didn’t know‌⁠ if he’d ever‍‍‌ get it back.‍

It had all started‍ with a single‌‌‍ messenger from the⁠⁠ north.

“Lucian! Bernhardt! Those damned‌‍ bastards! Even tearing⁠‍ them apart and‌‌ feeding them to⁠‍ dogs wouldn’t be⁠ enough…”

With his face flushed‍ from uncontainable rage,‍ Cedric trembled.

The‌‍⁠ disaster had begun‍ with Lucian, who‍‌⁠ questioned his lineage,⁠ but it was‌⁠⁠ Bernhardt who escalated‌‌‍ the issue out⁠⁠‍ of control.

He‍ took the controversy‌ that Lucian had⁠ sparked, added all‍⁠ kinds of theories,⁠‌ organized them in‌‌⁠ detail, and spread⁠‌⁠ them across the‍⁠ Empire.

The‍‌ nobles—who were already‍⁠⁠ suspicious—turned their backs on Cedric completely‌‌ after reading Bernhardt’s‌ widely circulated documents.‍

To Cedric, Bernhardt was⁠⁠‍ as much of‍‌‍ a mortal enemy as Lucian.

“What‌ the hell does some damn magical‍ artifact matter to‍ cause all this‌ chaos?! It’s a relic from a thousand years ago!‍‍ Of course it’s⁠ bound to have⁠ flaws!”

— The documents circulating are nothing more than forced theories⁠‍ from traitors. If‍ the magical theory⁠‌ were as solid⁠⁠ as before, they⁠⁠⁠ wouldn’t have pulled⁠⁠ off such a cheap trick.

“Exactly!‍ I never imagined‍‌ they’d so cleverly‍‍ exploit the lack of information!”

Cedric‍⁠ was telling himself that, trying to‍‍ rationalize the situation.‌ It was just‍⁠ a well-constructed rumor, spread by taking‍ advantage of an‍⁠⁠ information vacuum.

He‍‍ was, without a doubt, the legitimate⁠⁠ son of the‌ previous emperor—and the‌ rightful emperor of‌ the Empire.

After‌ muttering for a while, a sigh‍‍ escaped him.

“…At what point did⁠ everything start going‌‌ wrong?”

Was⁠ it a mistake‌ not to kill‍⁠ the first prince‌ Claude earlier and‍‍ instead try to⁠‌ use him a bit longer? Or⁠‌ was it a mistake to provoke‌‌ a tiger like⁠‍⁠ Lucian? Or perhaps‌⁠ it had all‍ gone wrong from‌ the start—by challenging‍ his father’s will and aspiring to⁠‌ the throne?

Bang,‌⁠⁠ bang, bang!

“Y-Your‍‍ Highness! Prince Cedric!‍⁠⁠ Something terrible has⁠‌‌ happened!”

Lost⁠ in thought, Cedric‍‍⁠ frowned at the‌ loud banging on the audience chamber⁠‌‍ door.

He‌‌ had said several‌ times he’d kill‍ anyone who approached—and yet they were‌⁠ making such a ruckus.

Without⁠ bothering to respond,⁠ Cedric gestured to‍‍‍ the shadow, silently‌‌ ordering the intruder’s‍⁠ execution.

“The‍ traitors have kidnapped‌‍ Prince Claude and⁠‌‌ are fleeing! You must come immediately!”⁠

“Tch.”‌

Upon‍ hearing the voice‍ from outside, Cedric‌⁠‍ halted the execution‍ order.

It⁠ was information important‍‌ enough to justify‌‍ disobeying a direct‌ command.

Even‍⁠ so, since he‌ had already anticipated Claude’s escape, he‍‍ shouted back without‌ changing his expression.

“Let‍ them go.”

“Y-Yes,‌‍ sir?”

“I’ve‌‌ already taken measures.‌‌ Even if they‌ flee beyond the‍‌ White Wall, they won’t get far.‌‌ They’ll be caught‍ soon enough.”

How‍‍ could there not‍ be those who,‌‌ doubting Cedric’s bloodline,⁠‌ would want to‌‌ side with Claude?‌

From‍ those who’d openly‍ join his cause‍‌‍ to those who’d‌‌ look the other‌ way and later‌ claim credit.

Thinking‍‍⁠ that, Cedric had‌‌ decided he couldn’t‍ completely prevent an⁠ escape, so he⁠ had secretly deployed‍⁠ a net around‍‌‌ the White Wall.

“They’re probably moving in‌ a small group.‌ They’ll bring them‌‍ back in no⁠‌⁠ time.”

“E-Emperor…‌‌⁠ I’m sorry, but⁠‌‍ the traitors aren’t⁠‌ heading beyond the White Wall.”

“What?‌‍‌ What do you‍⁠ mean? If they’re‌‍‍ not going outside‍‍ the wall, where‍ the hell are‌ they going?”

To‌‌ escape, they would‌⁠‌ have to leave‍ the wall—whether by⁠ land or air.‍

While Cedric pondered what⁠ the hell this‍⁠ meant, the servant’s‌ next words left‍‍⁠ him frozen.

“We⁠⁠ don’t know why,‌⁠ but the traitors‌⁠ are heading toward‌ Prince Claude’s former residence.”

“…!”‌⁠

If‌⁠ those fleeing were⁠ moving inward rather‌ than outward, there was only one⁠‍ explanation.

There‌‌‍ had to be a faster escape‌‍ method hidden there—whether‍‍ a secret passage⁠ or something similar.‌‍

Realizing⁠ this, Cedric shouted, his face pale.⁠‌

“Stop⁠‌ them immediately! They’re⁠ planning to escape⁠‌ using a hidden‍ magical artifact!”

***⁠‌

Whoosh!‍⁠‌

“Huff,‌ huff!”

After‍ wiping out the⁠‍‍ entire guard and⁠‍ finally reaching Claude’s⁠ room, Rihardt was‍ panting heavily.

Of‍ the knights who had taken part‍‌⁠ in the operation‍ with him, most⁠⁠ had long since⁠ become corpses, and‌ the few who‌‌ remained were on‍ the verge of‍ collapsing from exhaustion.

It‍⁠‌ was no surprise—they hadn’t taken a prearranged escape route, but instead had‌‌ plunged deep into⁠ the heart of‌‌⁠ the imperial palace,⁠⁠ where guards were‌ deployed everywhere.

“Tsk,‌ tsk… Just fighting‌ your way here has left you‍‍ in this state?‍⁠ I trusted you,‍⁠ and this is⁠⁠ the level of‍ skill you show‍ me?”

Rihardt, swallowing down bitterness,⁠⁠ flinched when he⁠⁠ heard Claude’s voice⁠ behind him.

He⁠⁠ hadn’t expected Claude⁠⁠‌ to take the⁠ lead or intimidate‌‌ the enemy with‌ his presence, but⁠‌⁠ he could at‌ least have shown‌ some respect to‍ those who had‍ died fighting for‍ him.

Not‍ even a token‍‍ word—he openly treated‍‍ them as useless.

The‌ protest rose in‍ Rihardt’s throat, but‍ he couldn’t afford‌‌ to anger Claude‌ at this crucial‍⁠ moment.

“…Forgive⁠‌ me, Your Highness.”‍

“Forget it. I didn’t‌‍ expect much from⁠ you in the‍ first place.”

Clunk.⁠‍

Without⁠ listening to the‌ apology, Claude entered‍⁠ the room where‍‍ he used to stay long ago.‌

Soon‌ after, he lightly‌ tapped a part‍ of the wall,‍‍⁠ and a small⁠ hidden compartment was⁠⁠ revealed.

In‍‍‍ a space barely‍⁠⁠ large enough to⁠ store a few‍‌‍ jewels, there was⁠ a ring and‍‌ a necklace.

“Hmph,‌‍ looks like that‍‍ guy didn’t make it here either. Honestly, he thinks he’s the only‌ one who prepares⁠ for things. Did‍ he think the‍ rest of us‍ just live unprepared?”⁠

“Your‌⁠ Highness, we must‍ hurry. Reinforcements are⁠‌ approaching.”

Hearing⁠⁠ the hurried footsteps‍ outside, Rihardt urged‍‍‍ Claude.

Claude frowned in irritation‌‍ for a moment,⁠ then slipped the‌‍‍ ring onto his‌ finger.

Immediately,‍‌ the ring glowed‍ red, and the‍⁠ empty space began⁠ to ripple.

Whoosh!‌‌

“Oh…‍ this is an imperial artifact…!”

Rihardt‍ couldn’t help but‌‍ marvel as a dimensional portal opened‍⁠ in midair, where‌‍‍ nothing had been⁠ before.

Once‍ they crossed that threshold, they would‌‍ be completely free‍ from Cedric’s grasp.‌

Just⁠ as Rihardt and the knights stepped‌‌ toward the portal—‌‍

Thud!‌⁠

“Kh!?”‌‍

Rihardt‍ recoiled as if‌‍‌ he’d hit an invisible wall. Confused,‌‍ he looked around,⁠ and Claude burst‌‍⁠ into laughter.

“Idiot.‌‍ You’re not coming‌‍ with me.”

“Eh?”⁠

“I‌‍ activated a barrier‍ using a magic‌⁠ artifact to keep you out. What‍ do you think?‌⁠⁠ You didn’t even notice it triggered,‌‌ did you?”

“Your⁠ Highness! What does‍‍ this mean?!”

Claude’s‍‍ sudden action left‍‍ Rihardt stunned.

After‌⁠‍ coming all this‍ way, he couldn’t⁠ understand why Claude‌⁠ was doing this.‍‌ Claude looked at‌‌‍ him with disdain.‍

“Stupid. You thought I was a fool?‌‍ In the end, you served Cedric, and when it‍‌ suited you, you‍‍ switched sides to⁠ me. Your goal was power, wasn’t‍ it?”

“Your⁠ Highness!”

“You‌ were going to‍ go to Lucian‌ and act like‌‌ my personal guard,‌ right? Like, ‘if‌‌‍ you want to‌‌ speak to the‍‌ prince, you’ll have⁠⁠ to go through‌ me.’ I don’t⁠‍ even need to‌‍ see it to‌ know.”

“…”⁠

Faced‌ with Claude, who‌⁠‌ spoke as if‍‍ he already knew‍ everything, Rihardt was⁠‌ speechless.

It‌⁠ was true—he had⁠⁠ ambition for power,‌‍ and he had‌‌ decided to switch⁠‍‌ sides before being⁠ labeled a traitor for backing the‌ second prince.

He⁠‍ had also assumed‌ that, in Asagrim,⁠ Lucian’s central territory,⁠ Claude would have‍ no choice but‌ to rely on⁠‍⁠ them.

Even‍‌ so, Claude’s stupidity‍ surpassed anything Rihardt⁠‍‍ could’ve imagined.

“…Your Highness, allow me‌ just one question.‌⁠‍ If you go to Asagrim alone,‌ do you truly⁠ believe Duke Lucian‍‍⁠ will serve you loyally and hand⁠ over everything?”

Even if Claude crossed‍‍‍ alone to the‍‌ north, what could⁠ he possibly do?⁠ ‘Loyalty’ in chaotic⁠ times was just⁠ a sandcastle built‌⁠ atop filthy interests.‌‍

Legitimacy?‌‌‌ Without a single‍⁠ soldier or even‌‌‌ a crumb of⁠‌ bread, legitimacy was⁠ just a stamp‌⁠ for making excuses.‌‍

Countless‌ kings in history⁠⁠ hadn’t tolerated abuse from their guards‍‌ because they were⁠‍ fools, but because‌⁠ without power to‍ amplify their voice,⁠ they couldn’t do⁠⁠ as they pleased.⁠

But‌ Claude seemed to‌ ignore even such‌ a basic truth‍⁠ and simply shrugged with a smile.‍

“At⁠‍⁠ least they’ll hear‍‍ my voice directly.⁠ Not orders distorted‍ by a lackey‍ like you, but‌‌ commands I give⁠‌ myself.”

“Ha.”‌

At⁠‌ such a delusional‍‌ response, Rihardt let‌ out a hollow‌ laugh.

Claude⁠ still believed that‍ just giving orders‌⁠‌ in front of‌ people would solve⁠ everything.

Dialogue⁠ and respect only‍ existed when both sides had at‌ least some degree of strength, some‍‍ claws to cling⁠‍ with.

That fool had thrown‌⁠ it all away.⁠

“You⁠‍ always thought the⁠⁠ whole world was‍⁠‍ yours, and now⁠‌⁠ you won’t even‍ be able to‌ drink a drop‌‌ of water without⁠⁠ someone’s permission. It’s all a result⁠‍ of your own⁠‌ actions, so if⁠‌ you’re going to⁠ hate someone, hate‍ your own foolishness.”⁠‍

“What‍‍ the hell are‌ you saying? Have‌ you gone mad?”‍‌

At‌‍ the sudden switch⁠⁠ to informal speech,‍‍‍ Claude’s face twisted‌⁠ in rage.

He‍ had never suffered such insolence before—but Rihardt, with a dim gaze, only‍‌ awaited the death‌⁠ that was surely⁠‌‍ coming.

After⁠ glaring at him⁠⁠ for a moment,‍⁠ Claude clicked his‍‌ tongue.

‘I’d like to rip‍ out that insolent‌ tongue, but it’s not necessary. Cedric⁠ will take care⁠ of him.’

Knowing‌‍ Cedric’s twisted nature, it was clear‍ he wouldn’t grant‌‌ a merciful death‌ once he grasped⁠ the situation.

Letting‌‍ go of all⁠ attachments, Claude leapt‌ immediately to the‍‍ other side of⁠ the dimensional portal, without the slightest‍‌ trace of remorse‌⁠ for abandoning those‍⁠ who had saved‍ him.

Boom!‍

The‌ moment Claude crossed‍ through, the door⁠⁠ burst apart and⁠⁠ knights stormed into‍ the room.

Behind⁠ them, Cedric shouted⁠ as he saw⁠ the back of‍ Claude’s head disappear through the portal.‍‌‌

“Stop‍‍ him!”

Claude‌⁠ turned slightly at⁠ the sound of⁠⁠ the voice.

Beyond⁠⁠‌ the portal, now‌‌ shrinking to the‌ size of a palm, only his eyes could still⁠‌ be seen—but Cedric‍⁠ clearly saw them,‌‌ those eyes slightly raised in mockery.‍‌⁠

Whoosh!‌⁠

“…”‌⁠

“…”

When the portal fully⁠ closed, a heavy⁠ silence fell over‌ the room.

Though‍⁠‍ no one yet⁠⁠ understood all the‌ details, everyone knew‍ they had let⁠⁠ Claude escape.

After trembling with rage⁠‌‍ for a long‌‍ while, Cedric fixed‍ his gaze on⁠ Rihardt, who had led the escape,‌ and spoke.

“Don’t‍‍ expect an easy death, you damned traitors.”

Faced‍ with Cedric’s murderous intent, Rihardt and⁠‌ the remaining knights⁠⁠ trembled in silence.⁠‍⁠