Chapter 199 : Chapter 199

Chapter : 199

Though ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍we were each pushing forward sinister schemes behind one another’s backs, we still could not stop what we had begun together.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍next day, the Duke of Bourgogne and I hastily brought the capital under control.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the meantime, we checked whether any documents had gone missing, gathered the officials who had vanished, and did everything we could to stabilize the administrative network.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was not the capture of a hostile lord’s castle.

We ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were in a place where we needed powerful support.

“Looting ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is absolutely forbidden.”

“Distribute food to the citizens trembling in fear.”

“Open a special tribunal and punish every man with an infamous reputation.”

“Release the soldiers and purge every criminal! Make the capital’s back alleys safe.”

So we began pouring out policies to win the public’s hearts more than ever.

Thanks to that, the capital’s ominous mood gradually settled.

The citizens regained their calm, returning to daily life as though they had never been plunged into chaos, and they began obeying the Duke of Bourgogne’s orders and mine with docile compliance.

And once things reached that point—

“Good. Then it is time we begin, little by little.”

“Yes. Bring that noble from last time. As a witness, and as an accuser, he will do splendid work.”

We moved on to the next step: the explanation for why we had marched with an army, and why we were now “protecting” the King.

-We accuse Chancellor Richeléon!

-He confined His Majesty, who is ill, and Chancellor Richeléon wielded absolute authority.

-Enraged, we raised an army to normalize the kingdom. Though the cowardly Richeléon fled with the royal seal and symbols, we will safeguard the kingdom and attend to His Majesty the King, doing our utmost from this day forward.

It was a grossly twisted fabrication, but what did it matter?

History belonged to the victor. We had not yet won complete victory, but at least here, in this place, we were the victors.

-Impossible!

-It is a lie! False information!

-The Margrave of Bellua and the Duke of Bourgogne are committing treason!

We could crush the protests of nobles and citizens like these with ease.

-Th-that is the truth!

-His Majesty the King was confined in the eastern court, toyed with by Chancellor Richeléon! I am the witness! I, the royal treasurer!

A cooperative noble we had protected separately appeared and poured out a fiery speech.

In an instant, public opinion in the capital flipped.

Chancellor Richeléon, once the King’s right hand who had guarded the kingdom, became, in a heartbeat, a traitor steeped in greed.

And we went even further.

“How could Chancellor Richeléon do this alone!”

“Behind Chancellor Richeléon stands Crown Prince Charles I! We learned it and could not contain our fury.”

“To confine his own father, the King, and seize power for himself!”

“We cannot recognize such a greedy Crown Prince. We strip Charles I of all authority as Crown Prince!”

We were determined to shatter Crown Prince Charles I into ruin as well. And this scheme worked exactly as intended.

“Execute him!”

“That is right! That is right!”

“Drag down the Crown Prince! Punish the traitor! Long live the Duke of Bourgogne! Long live the Margrave of Bellua!”

The capital’s public sentiment boiled over in an instant.

‘Good. Perfect.’

I smiled as I watched the enraged citizens of the capital.

I truly was sorry to Charles I.

But this kingdom—

I had no intention of handing it over intact.

---

-The Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua join hands to subjugate the peasant rebels-!

When he first heard the news, Crown Prince Charles I had no particular thoughts.

Ah, so those great nobles had finally lifted their heavy backsides and hurried into action—was about all he felt.

The great nobles who had watched from across the river had reacted late, now that he had achieved tremendous success in suppressing the peasant rebels.

And that was not entirely wrong.

In truth, the reason the Margrave of Bellua had moved was because Crown Prince Charles I was amassing overwhelming fame through the suppression campaign.

“Those insolent nobles are only now deigning to lend a hand. They have no shame!”

“What shall we do, Your Highness?”

“Should we probe them with some light pressure? Or perhaps drive the peasant rebels toward them?”

“No. Enough. Must we commit something so dishonorable? Besides, if they finally mean to subjugate them, I lose nothing.”

So Crown Prince Charles I took no special measures and focused only on his own work.

For someone unaware of the conspiracy beneath it all, it was the natural choice.

But as more and more reports arrived, Crown Prince Charles I began to feel that something was turning in a strange direction.

-Peasant rebels in the south and east suffer a crushing defeat!

-Remnants fleeing to the center! The armies of the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua are pursuing them. They are advancing into the central region, Your Highness.

Something… felt wrong.

To pursue the defeated rebels to the end? Very well—one could concede it was for restoring order. But to go beyond their own lands?

And the central region was his father’s sphere of influence—the King of the Elang Kingdom’s domain.

‘Something is wrong.’

In that instant, an ominous premonition brushed through Crown Prince Charles I’s mind.

He did not know exactly what it was, but it was a sticky, unpleasant foreboding—something like instinct.

“Dispatch scouts at once and confirm the movements of the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua. Determine precisely where they are heading and report.”

Crown Prince Charles I issued the order quickly.

Surely they would not do anything strange… and yet, who could be certain?

Trying to convince himself he was merely being over-sensitive, Crown Prince Charles I attempted to refocus on suppressing the peasant rebels—

until the news that truly stunned him arrived.

“Your Highness! Report from the scouts. The armies of the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua have crossed beyond the central region and are heading toward the capital. They claim it is to stop the peasant rebels’ tyranny and protect the capital. And Count Blois has joined them from the north.”

Crown Prince Charles I jolted in shock.

They were marching toward the capital under such a pretext?

And Count Blois had joined them as well?

“My father—what does my father say? Has any edict come down?”

His wise father, the King of the Elang Kingdom, would surely respond to this.

Suppressing his confusion, Crown Prince Charles I asked, but the answer only left him more unsettled.

“T-there has been no word from the royal castle yet.”

“What?!”

“I heard His Majesty the King is currently ill, and that only Chancellor Richeléon is handling state affairs in full, Your Highness.”

“……!”

It was even more shocking—more absurd.

His father was ill? And Chancellor Richeléon was handling state affairs?

“Since when?”

“Um… by the reports, it has been over a month, Your Highness.”

“Then why have you not told me until now?”

“T-to ease Your Highness’s burdens while you were busy at the front….”

“Enough.”

What was the point of saying more? It was obviously the work of Chancellor Richeléon.

And with that, Crown Prince Charles I realized he was facing the worst possible situation.

‘The capital is in danger.’

He did not know how, but it seemed the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua had learned of his father’s seclusion and were moving because of it.

To turn back a great noble marching under such a justification required only one thing: a direct order from the King, the ruler of the Elang Kingdom—not from Chancellor Richeléon, who was merely acting in his place.

“Prepare the army at once! We withdraw! To the capital!”

Crown Prince Charles I shouted urgently.

Even now, he had to lead his army toward the capital—before the Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua did something insane.

“P-pardon? What do you mean?”

“To withdraw now?”

“The subjugation is nearly in its final stage. If you leave them and return….”

His vassals cried out as one.

And it was natural. It was almost finished.

They needed to put a final seal on it here so those damned peasant rebels would be extinguished in the west and south.

If they left now, the rebels would soon recover their strength and rise again.

But Crown Prince Charles I could not focus on that alone.

“I know.”

“But still…?”

There was something more important.

“We do not have time for this. Prepare the army—no, gather the knights and cavalry first. I will depart with them immediately.”

“What?!”

“Now….”

The throne.

“I am going to the capital at once. The Duke of Bourgogne and the Margrave of Bellua are dreaming of treason!”

His throne was in danger.

---

“Truly remarkable.”

“We nearly faced disaster. The Crown Prince is sharp indeed.”

Inside the council chamber, we all let out a breath of relief.

A messenger had just delivered news.

-The Crown Prince’s army is advancing north. He is moving first with 2,000 of his knights.

If our entry into the capital had been even slightly delayed, we might have been forced into a difficult battle against the Crown Prince’s army.

But the capital was already in our grasp. And we had finished manipulating public opinion.

“There will not be any major variables now.”

“We only need to prevent him from meeting Richeléon… but do you have a method?”

“Send troops to intercept. Richeléon’s escape route will not have been reported yet. Block the roads leading to the western region with an army.”

“That is good!”

Now that the situation was neatly arranged, the decision was easy.

We would block the passage to the west with 5,000 soldiers, and we would give 3,000 cavalry to Lord Charles, the eldest, to intercept the Crown Prince.

At the same time, we sent messengers to spread the trials and the public sentiment that had been manufactured in the capital to nobles across every region.

So by the time Crown Prince Charles I arrived in a headlong rush to the vicinity of the capital, everything was already over.

“H-heh….”

-Hiiiiiing!

From atop his horse, Crown Prince Charles I could only stare toward the capital and let out a hollow laugh.

“Your Highness! Those traitors—!”

“Give the order at once. We will crush them and restore Your Highness’s honor!”

The knights under him raged, but it was useless.

The balance of power had tipped.

Staying here would bring the Crown Prince—bring him—nothing.

Even if fury surged and sorrow cut deep, now was the time to withdraw.

“R-retreat….”

And so Crown Prince—no, Crown Prince claimant—Charles I turned his horse and gave the order weakly.

And with that decision just made,

the era of contending regents had begun.

All authority collapsed, and the dreadful age arrived where every powerful man declared himself king.

The firm, strong Elang Kingdom would now fall into endless fragmentation.