Chapter 1072 942: Fuse · Assassination

Two months later.

Sea Origin Calendar Year 220, September 23rd, Sak Empire's capital, Pézenas.

The city's bustling crowds have subsided, and the night lights are beginning to shine.

The grand coronation ceremony of the Emperor of the Empire concluded yesterday, and many dignitaries from other nations who attended the ceremony have already departed.

Today, the new Emperor François II and Empress Salma's city tour of the capital was completed, and according to tradition, the evening is reserved for the royal family's private banquet.

The members of the royal family banquet include Prince Clement, Princess Diana and her spouse, the former Emperor Henry IV, who is Clement's nephew, the new Emperor François II, Empress Salma, and their only son Peter I.

This is the entirety of the living direct members of the Sak Imperial Family, like most royal families, they are few in number.

However, there is an interesting tidbit regarding the Sak Imperial Family.

Especially now, with radios and wireless broadcasts being quite common, this widely circulated curiosity is indeed a great topic for conversation among citizens of other countries.

The story is called: "How can there be a Crown Prince for 60 years?"

The protagonist is not the new Emperor François II, but Henry IV, who just retired and still seems somewhat melancholic.

Prince Clement's elder brother, Henry III, became a father at fifteen before advancing to an Official Knight, and soon ascended to the throne.

This meant Henry IV was designated as the crown prince of the Empire while still in swaddling clothes.

He sat in the position of Crown Prince for over fifty years, waiting until he was almost at the brink of retiring, before finally seeing the former sovereign abdicate.

Though he barely warmed his seat, the throne was dutifully handed to his son François II under the Church's pressure.

Henry IV thus set the record in Sak Empire for being the longest serving Crown Prince, and having the shortest normal reign.

No wonder, on this joyful day, a hint of displeasure was still apparent on his face.

Currently, Henry III has long passed away due to being overburdened with state affairs and being of low Extraordinary level.

However, Prince Clement, once a playboy who never took his duties seriously, is still healthy to this day after formally marrying his princess, Diana.

Although he is actually over eighty years old.

Due to long-term use of the "Biological Enzyme Preparation" from Sekhmet Biomedical Company, designed to court the elite, this eldest member of the Sak Empire's imperial family looks at most sixty years old.

With the strength of a Peak Official Knight, a muscular and perfect physique, he possesses an unrestrained male charm, becoming quite popular as a lady's friend.

Casually striking a pose is enough to make young girls squeal.

At this moment, he casually pats Henry IV on the shoulder and shares his secrets on maintaining health and charms from his youth.

Helping his sixty-five-year-old nephew adapt to his new identity.

However, perhaps because there are so few direct members of the royal family, the banquet was rather harmonious.

Ding!

"Cheers, for the future of the Empire!"

"For the prosperity of the Sak royal family!"

"For the healthy growth of Little Peter!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the mature yet beautifully serene Princess Diana, sitting among the most esteemed individuals of the Sak Empire, appeared unfazed.

Wearing a black, stately evening gown and elegantly adorned, years of experience have transformed her into a gracious and poised noblewoman.

Yet, the allure she possessed, as tangible as if encapsulated, was as enticing as the "Frenzy Potion," with her exquisite silhouette provoking a frenzy. Even the just-enthroned Emperor could not help but glance twice.

During the banquet, the princess suddenly felt moved.

"Your Majesty, excuse me, I shall step away for a moment."

Her slightly hoarse voice, akin to the lazy purr of a cat, tempted like a fine wine.

"Princess, please do."

With an assuring look towards her husband, Diana performed perfect court etiquette and gracefully departed from the small banquet hall void of anyone but royal family members.

Soon after.

In a bathroom with gilded walls and polished marble floors, she used her shadow as a medium to delve into the "Magic Pocket" in her hand, her expression shifting.

"There are other factions' spies within the palace! Of course, it might also be Golden Palm."

She knew very well that since becoming a Black Wizard, she could never escape the wizard name "Phanes" of the "Curse School."

She had intended to delay as long as possible and confront Prince Clement for help from the Dawn Church after the coronation.

As for whether her husband would turn against her, she had no fears at all.

She chuckled self-deprecatingly:

"For someone like me to find pure love? Eros must have made a mistake.

Yet, that old man who seems clever unto death is just a fool who believes whatever I say."

However, it appears that the plan encountered a slight unexpected effect now.

"The 'Curse School' or the forces behind the school have a far deeper presence in the Sak Empire than I had imagined."

Although I have climbed to the highest position within the empire's power system, the infiltrators or agents within the core should be far more than just myself.

"Moreover, the directive states to strike now while the guards are outside... No, given my understanding of the school, the arrangements made beforehand should be far more than just me."

Even with two 'Titled Knights' guarding the palace, they might not be able to fend off the dark methods of the Black Wizards."

Diana grabbed the [Magic Pocket], intending to rush into the sewers and hurry back to warn her husband.

However...

The years of indulgence and luxurious lifestyle had long made this former Black Wizard, now a noble lady, forget the power and... cruelty of a Tier 4 'Crowned Wizard.'

Just as she raised her hand, a muffled groan escaped her lips, and her body suddenly stiffened.

Whoosh!

The shadow beneath her feet jumped up like asphalt and enveloped her entirely.

A few breaths later, the stunningly beautiful noble lady had transformed into a typical Hilus person with striking red hair.

Skillfully, she retrieved two... newly issued Tulip 77 rifles from the [Magic Pocket]!

...

Two minutes later, the door to the banquet hall reopened.

The Imperial Family members, still chatting and laughing without a hint of suspicion, awaited the return not of Diana but of a fierce barrage of fiery gunfire like a torrential rain.

Bang! Bang! Bang!...

The modified rifle barrels were engraved with techniques for silencing, so the gunshots were extremely quiet.

The other Imperial Family members dodged meaninglessly, yet within seconds, the rapidly firing 77s picked them off one by one.

Even though, apart from the children, the weakest among them was an Official Knight.

Under the powerful rapid-fire mode of the 77, their performance was not much better than ordinary people, and the movements of several knights were noticeably delayed.

Surprisingly enough,

Prince Clement, sitting by the door, not only did not dodge but angrily lunged at the "assassin" immediately.

Even when his chest was subsequently pierced through, in his dying moments, he exerted all his strength to clasp the "assassin's" feet, mumbling unconsciously:

"Diana, run, run! Hurry..."

Clearly, he did not think about how to save himself at the first moment and instead, risked his life to warn his wife who had just left, giving her a chance to flee.

Then, a cold gun muzzle pressed against his forehead.

"Don't, don't! I beg you, Chief, I beg you!"

Her body being controlled, Diana's eyes brimmed, tears of blood spilling as she desperately prayed to the one who had manipulated her body.

Bang!

"No—!!!"

With a heartrending scream from the depths of her soul, Diana's eyes instantly dimmed, feeling as if with this gunshot, the meaning of her life was also lost.

Rolling black aura began to dissipate from her body...

Then.

That night, at least a hundred imperial guards in the palace witnessed.

A red-haired Hilus person, using the Tulip Alliance's standard equipment, assassinated all direct members of the Imperial Family.

Instead of fleeing, she lost control and became a terrifying deformed monster wreaking havoc in the palace.

Only to be incinerated into ashes by the 'Titled Knights' who arrived late.

But... the powder keg had already been ignited.

...

Across the sea, in the serene and cozy [Wizard Secret Realm: Central Courtyard].

Wearing a braid tied with azure ribbons, giving off a youthful vibe, Olivia curled up barefoot on an oversized lounge chair under the wisteria tree.

The silky white dress wrapped around her shapely body; due to someone's antics, a slender silver strap accidentally slipped from her smooth, fair shoulder.

Pushed lightly at her husband's head resting on her belly.

"Pfft! It tickles, shoo shoo; do you, a [God of All Things Fertile], have to press your ear to it to hear anything?"

"Hehehe..."

With a silly grin, Aiven, after being pushed away, instinctively held his wife's graceful, straight leg in his arms, gently massaging it in preparation for childbirth.

Despite appearing as a youthful girl, Olivia now felt blissful yet a bit troubled, tenderly caressing her slightly bulging belly:

"You say, it's been three years already; when will this baby come out!"