Chapter 197 : Chapter 197

Chapter : 197

“Euh-heh-heh-heh. ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Duke of Bourgogne! It has been a long time!”

“You ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have come! Uncle. I am truly sorry I could not visit you in the meantime.”

“Sorry? ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Your lands are enormous. I understand it all.”

“Thank ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you for understanding. You are the only one who thinks of me, Uncle. It is truly reassuring.”

No ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍matter how loudly nobles howled about honor, they were never without that jackal-like greed. If anything, it might have been greed that made them cry out for honor all the more.

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that era, honor and fame were among the finest methods—and weapons—for fulfilling one’s desires.

So even though the Duke of Bourgogne and I were threatening the royal house, it was not surprising that Count Blois, the closest relative of the King of the Elang Kingdom, had joined us.

“So. Is this the famous Margrave of Bellua everyone has been talking about? You look positively blessed. I regret that I did not meet you sooner!”

“Famous, you say? Please, do not say such things. I would be afraid someone might overhear. I am honored to meet you like this, Count Blois, whom I have long respected.”

“Hm? You knew of me?”

“When I was young, my father praised you often. He said you were truly a model for all nobles.”

“Oh-ho, is that so?”

“Of course.”

“Euh-heh-heh-heh. Duke of Bourgogne, this fellow is rather good at flattery, is he not?”

If I had been stubborn, the atmosphere would have turned awkward in an instant, but I was not that sort of man.

I knew how to bend when I had to.

What was difficult about this? If I could win favor with words, I could do it hundreds of times over.

Besides, it was better that they stood out rather than I did.

Especially that Duke of Bourgogne.

No matter how smoothly what we had done might be resolved, it would be hard to avoid being pointed at later. If all eyes fixed on the Duke of Bourgogne and that good-natured count, then my burden would lighten.

In any case, thanks to my efforts, the mood inside the tent was remarkably warm.

For a while, we spent the time gilding each other with compliments.

And when, more or less, everyone had finished saying what they wanted to say—

“So, then. Is it true the King is sick?”

At last, we began to enter the real topic. Count Blois swept his gaze over us and asked cautiously.

“Rather than sick, you should consider him effectively dead.”

“That is right. I heard he is in a coma and cannot regain consciousness. It has already been a week since he collapsed, vomiting blood, and if he has not awakened by now, there is no hope.”

According to information from Viscount Avignon’s agent—still undiscovered—the palace had essentially given up on treatment.

Count Blois’s face brightened at once.

“Oh! Is that so! How fortunate. How fortunate!”

No—his expression had not merely brightened. He was practically radiant with joy, even though he was the King’s own brother.

But then, had he not come here because he had heard that the Duke of Bourgogne would be elevated as king?

Of course he would be pleased.

If things went well, he could shove aside the Crown Prince and neatly climb onto the throne himself.

The kingdom was in ruins, swept by peasant rebels, and if the Duke of Bourgogne and I guaranteed it, then seizing the capital with a half-dead king still inside was a fully plausible scenario.

Naturally, Magician Agpiel found the sight revolting.

“That man’s greed is excessive. And to have so little control over his expression, too. Tsk, tsk.”

“Come now. Smile, Magician Agpiel. Fix your face.”

“I do not have a stomach as strong as yours. If I did, I would not be wandering like this.”

“Ahem. I would be afraid someone might hear.”

Even after I said that, Magician Agpiel remained indifferent.

And truly, who could look at such a pathetic spectacle and not think the same?

Even now—look.

“Still, one never knows. Uncle, you must also join us and help ensure we can reach the capital without fail. Is it not important that an elder of the royal house stands with us?”

“Euh-heh-heh. Naturally. Just trust me.”

“Yes. I am counting on you, Uncle.”

The Duke of Bourgogne spoke with a smile, but his eyes were calm—cold, even.

In this tent, the only person whose emotions were truly bare was that greedy Count Blois.

Well, that was precisely why he had been chosen as our figurehead.

“Heh heh. Then when do you intend to march on the capital?”

He looked as though his blood was already boiling.

“Just say the word. I brought troops as well. I will lend a hand.”

He was now saying things that would make other nobles blanch, and he was doing it without hesitation. Worried he might blunder, I spoke quickly.

“It would certainly be reassuring if you did, but… form still matters, does it not? First, we intend to send another envoy.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes. Before coming here, we sent word that we would defend the capital. Now that we have arrived nearby, we must say we will soon enter the capital. Would it not be improper to go straight in without a word?”

“Oh, oh, oh, yes. That is right! Right. There must be proper form, at least. Heh heh.”

Of course, there would be no refusal.

Before anyone could refuse, we would already be pushing forward by force.

We had no time to give Chancellor Richeléon.

Only notification.

That was all there would be.

---

Chancellor Richeléon felt as though the inside of his mouth was burning dry, to the point of madness.

This place felt like a fiery hell from scripture. He blinked, desperate to deny it, but reality did not change.

“This is insane!”

The Duke of Bourgogne’s army was coming.

To this place.

To the capital he alone was guarding, with the King collapsed.

He wanted to threaten them into turning back at once, but the King who should have given that command was not conscious.

The doctors said there was no hope—so he was no different from a dead man.

‘I should not have delayed. I should have summoned Crown Prince Charles I immediately!’

He had postponed it to carry out the succession in a more perfect state—and this was the result.

No. More than that—how had they learned the King’s condition? He had sealed that information tight.

It was enough to drive him completely mad.

“Where is the Crown Prince now?”

“They say he is now a week away from the capital, Count Richeléon.”

“Still? How can that be? Is that messenger a spy of the Duke of Bourgogne? To report so late!”

“Th-that is still quite fast, Your Excellency. The Crown Prince had already advanced into the southwestern region. Would it not take time for such a large army to return?”

“Damn it!”

He knew it himself.

He merely needed someone to vent at for a moment. But even that did not go the way he wanted.

“Y-Your Excellency!”

The door burst open, and an official came running in, flustered and making a commotion.

“What is it? Do not tell me it is more bad news.”

He felt as though he could already tell without hearing it. It was written in the man’s voice and expression.

And yet the official’s answer was even more dreadful than Richeléon expected.

“They say the Duke of Bourgogne’s army has reached the vicinity of the capital.”

“What?”

“And an envoy has just arrived. They say they will march their army directly into the capital.”

“What nonsense! Impossible. That is treason!”

“H-however, they say that without an order from His Majesty the King, they have no choice but to decide in order to stop this emergency. W-what should we do? Should we speak to His Majesty even now…?”

-THUD!

Upon hearing the report, Chancellor Richeléon slammed his fist onto the table.

“Damn it!”

If he could speak to His Majesty, would he be in this situation? His anger only deepened.

The King could no longer make any decision.

‘I have to decide.’

There was no time to wait for a king who would not awaken, nor for a crown prince who had not yet arrived.

Now it was time to judge for himself.

Would he abandon the immobile king, take the scepter, the crown, and flee the capital—or would he remain and submit to the Duke of Bourgogne?

‘This is madness.’

Nothing about it was easy or agreeable.

If he chose the former and erred, he would become a traitor and lose his head. If he chose the latter, he would naturally be seized by the Duke of Bourgogne and meet a wretched end.

Why would the Duke of Bourgogne spare a political nemesis who had fought him for so long?

In the end—

‘Yes. This is it. This is the only way!’

The answer was decided.

At this point, there was only one thing he could do. If he succeeded, he was a loyal subject; if he failed, he was a traitor. But was it not worth attempting?

If he stayed here, death was right before his eyes.

The path to survive longer.

That was the choice he had to make.

“Prepare the knights.”

With his decision made, Chancellor Richeléon rose from his seat.

“We will transport the scepter, the royal seal, and the crown.”

A road from which he could never return.

He had chosen it.

---

“Waaaaaah—!”

“Charge! Kill every man who resists!”

Cheers thundered as the Duke of Bourgogne’s soldiers and mine began charging toward the capital.

Only a handful of knights and soldiers defended it.

When an army of more than ten thousand charged, it took only an instant for the scant capital defense force to collapse.

“S-stop them!”

“Do not scatter! We are the royal guard—kgh!”

A few knights stood bravely in the way, but it was hopelessly outnumbered.

-Pishuuuuuuuk!

A rain of bolts blotted out the sky and poured down upon them.

The defenders’ morale, already low, plunged so sharply it felt as though there was no bottom.

“R-run!”

“It is over!”

“Surrender! Those who surrender will all be spared!”

Thanks to that, our army crossed the capital’s walls with remarkable speed and advanced toward the royal court.

“Excellent! Incredible. A tremendous success!”

“Not yet, Your Excellency. It is not finished until we seize Chancellor Richeléon.”

“Euh-heh-heh. What does that man matter? Reports say the King is still in the palace!”

“He may have fled carrying the objects that symbolize the king.”

Count Blois startled and asked,

“What? Surely not. Would he do that?”

“Surely not?”

What was wrong with him?

We had already done what everyone would have called “surely not.” Why would a cornered Richeléon be unable to do it?

“No! Then we cannot stand around like this. Should we not stop him at once? If we do not have those, have we not truly accomplished nothing? If he reaches the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince can inherit the throne legitimately!”

My ears were ringing.

Where had all his earlier composure gone?

Still, I understood.

If we lacked the scepter that symbolized the king, the royal seal, and the crown, it would be a severe blow to Legitimacy.

And if Richeléon went to the Crown Prince and handed them over, Count Blois would become an unquestionable traitor.

I soothed the frantic count and spoke calmly.

“I anticipated it all. Richeléon will not be able to meet the Crown Prince.”

All of this had already been expected. A Richeléon driven into a corner had only one choice—was that not obvious?

If I could not prepare even for this, I would be a fool.

“I have already sent troops ahead to the route south. Richeléon will not dare to pass beyond that point.”

Of course, it was not as though Count Blois would capture Richeléon and reclaim every royal symbol.

I wanted the kingdom to be severed in a miserable, irreversible way.

Richeléon in the west. Bourgogne in the east. The Crown Prince in the center.

And I, in the south.

I intended to turn the Elang Kingdom into an age of contending warlords—

so that it could never gather its strength again.