Chapter 76 – Arcadia (1)
Prince of Arcadia Empire, Edwin.
He wasn’t in a very good mood today. It was because I had heard that his younger sister, Iris, who was thirty years younger than him, had entered the palace this morning.
Even with that Duke of Chepes.
With him as a lover.
“Damn it…”
It wasn’t a word a prince of the empire would say, but since no one was listening, Edwin had no hesitation in spitting out swear words.
Grinding his teeth and rolling his eyes nervously, he sent his younger brother Aaron, who could be said to be his secret confidante.
“Duke of Chepes is very vigilant, older brother… Sorry.”
In the end, he only confirmed and killed the fact that Edwin had nothing good to say about the fact that Duke Chepes was rather cheating on Iris.
I wondered if Duke Chepesch was pretending to be her lover for some reason, without feeling much for Iris… , It didn’t seem like that either.
“Tsk…”
“Uh, what should I do, bro?”
Seeing Edwin nervously clicking his tongue, Aaron cautiously asked. He, too, was anxious.
No matter how much Iris came up, he believed that Edwin, who had held his position as crown prince for decades, had a chance to win, so he bet everything on Edwin, but the duke’s intrusion made it impossible for the game to turn over.
Besides, Edwin…
“For now, don’t be reckless and stay. There’s nothing good about hurting the duke’s heart.”
Of the seven dukes, three are directly supporting the crown prince.
Even though he was at risk because he did not have the qualities of an Aura Master, Edwin was able to become crown prince thanks to the help of the now Duke of Chepes, who had newly inherited the dukeship thirty years ago.
‘But why come now… !’
Support from three dukes?
A tacit support within the palace?
It is the three generations of Chepesch, Friedrich, and Kroychev that can overturn all of that.
In the first place, except for Iris, isn’t it the current generation that doesn’t even have the qualities of a master?
Friedrich is not interested in the right of succession. Kroychev only obeys the emperor’s will, but he does not interfere with the succession.
So, in order to keep the crown prince’s position without the qualities of a master, he needed Chepesch’s support.
“… I’ll take care of it, just go back. Don’t tell anyone about the fact that we met.”
“Yes. Don’t worry, brother.”
He’s good at living, so he’ll take care of it and do it well.
Edwin stared at Aaron’s back, then grabbed his head, which was pounding with stress.
“Whoa.”
It’s getting late, so I’m going to sleep for now. Edwin walked towards his bedroom.
‘It should be like a rat dead now…’
There is nothing more meaningless than keeping Duke Chepes in check. So, after Iris and the duke went back, then he gathered the forces supporting him and took the strand to devise a countermeasure.
So, I pushed the bedroom door open with both hands.
“——Huh!”
Edwin couldn’t help but flinch when he saw the letters engraved in black ink on his pillow.
“The crow is watching you.”
Flutter.
Black feathers flying.
Edwin’s legs gave out for a moment, and he collapsed on the spot.
Far from being a master, he had no martial arts qualities at all, and since Edwin was infinitely close to an ordinary person, he felt chills run down his spine all the more.
‘In the imperial palace, without any hesitation… !’
He entrusted all his safety to the imperial palace guards. Edwin, who had no means of self-protection, was pierced by the guards of the imperial palace and allowed even to his bedroom, but the fear Edwin felt was beyond imagination.
Who had ever dared to break into the prince’s bedroom and scribble something close to a threatening phrase on the pillow?
“Hu-wook, whoo-wook—”
Breathing stopped for a moment in extreme fear.
Belatedly, his chest tightened, and his forcedly open mouth inhaled the air. Cold sweat broke out, and Edwin’s pupils trembled wildly.
“Mmm, crazy man. No matter how it is, threaten the crown prince… ?!”
Treason. Without a second word.
If the Emperor were informed of this, Duke Tzepes would become a traitor.
But.
‘Oh, Father, will you take my side… ?’
If you think about it with common sense, what father would not take the side when his son was threatened.
Isn’t there just one case in a million?
Even Edwin thought, the odds that the Emperor would not side with him seemed at least greater than one in ten thousand.
In moderation, if it was a small mistake, it would be treason. Because he broke into the prince’s bedroom and threatened him.
So that was the problem.
To be accused of treason and punished, Duke Chepes was too big a deal.
“Ouch… !”
In Edwin’s opinion, if it was his father, there was a good chance he would leave after burying the case.
Besides, aren’t the father and the Duke of Chepes close to each other privately?
“To be able to covet a 20-year-old human girl at the age of 120… ! A man with no conscience… !”
With the situation like that, all Edwin could do was helplessly curse Scarlett.
It was a truly humiliating night.
“Let’s wait, let’s wait… ! Iris… !”
Even as Edwin felt unbearable anger, he turned the arrow towards his sister.
The thought of living as if the mouse had already died was nowhere to be found.
It is said that a cornered mouse bites a cat.
The endless fear he felt for Duke Chepes has turned into a burning rage towards Iris.
Chepesch did not dare to do anything, so he turned an arrow at his easy-going younger brother.
‘This is all because of that girl Iris.’
However, Edwin was confident. She didn’t think her attitude was wrong or cowardly. Isn’t it natural that humans become weak against strong opponents and become strong against weak opponents?
Even with such a small-person appearance, Edwin was ultimately disproving that an Auror Master did not have the qualifications to become the emperor of an empire, but he did not think that far.
If that bitch is untouchable because of the support of the Duke of Chepes, shouldn’t we make her withdraw her support?
Bonamana would have sold herself to gain the favor of the Duke of Chepes.
Then, in order to reap the favor of Duke Tzepes, shouldn’t the Duke feel that Iris is no longer attractive?
Edwin laughed sinisterly.
The idea that he had to buy a body had long since disappeared. Even if it rots, Edwin was the crown prince of the empire. There was no evidence. And Edwin had a pawn named Aaron.
Unless there was solid evidence, even the Duke of Chepes wouldn’t be able to accuse Edwin without evidence.
Edwin sincerely thought that holding the position of crown prince for the past thirty years had been nothing but shady politics, and that the current situation was truly appropriate to save his organs.
First of all, after the duke of Chepes and Iris had already lost Chuck, the Duke of Chepes had to do something about it someday.
It won’t be easy, but Edwin could do it. No, I had to. Otherwise, in the end, Edwin won’t be able to keep his place.
There was a way that just came to mind. If you follow this method, you will be able to get rid of both Iris and Duke Chepes.
Although it can only be seen as an extremely subjective judgment as to whether it is really possible.
Next day.
Inside the palace, rumors slowly began to circulate.
Content of the rumor.
‘His Highness Iris seduced the Duke of Chepes for the right of succession.’
It was something like that.
*
“It’s bullshit.”
“Brother…”
“I don’t believe it. Don’t worry, Iris.”
Edwin must have been in a hurry too. He would have given advice through the crow, but he couldn’t stand a day.
Still, he must have been aware that he had to buy himself to some extent, although he did it through his helper, Aaron.
The people of the imperial palace, who did not know that Aaron was Edwin’s boss, could not reach Edwin no matter how much they tried to find out who was behind this rumor.
Even if he had a heart attack, he couldn’t put pressure on the crown prince of the empire with his heart attack alone.
No matter what country
Aaron had to see it as a discarded hand.
Since there is no physical evidence left, I can’t use it because it’s just a feeling, but once I found out about the connection between myself and Aaron.
Even Aaron wouldn’t know that she was a discard card.
“Her head was pretty rolled.”
If there is one thing that is surprising, it is that the rumors do not shoot at me, but incite the people inside the palace.
According to his personality, I thought Iris would spread rumors saying that Iris is actually a promiscuous personality.
That’s also the best way to separate me and Iris.
“Oh, no way.”
“Why are you like that?”
No way.
“You don’t think this will put a strain on us.”
“That, well… ?”
Is it true?
Hmm.
Than that.
“Iris, when are you going to talk?”
“From that older brother…”
“Try it, brother.”
“Really! You’ve done it a few times already!”
“Stop being respectful.”
“Ugh… !”
It was Iris who was bickering as if she liked rumors. I whispered playfully.
“When I didn’t tell you to speak casually, you did it sometimes?”
“That… !”
“Do you call that anti-respect? I was excited.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really.”
“… Excited?”
Ah. I pretended to be asking a question.
Like this cute girl
I pretended not to know and decided to enjoy it a little more.
“Ah. Well. It’s been so long since I’ve heard—”
“Bah, you just did that.”
“Yes? Did you? Didn’t you hear?”
“Bad… !”
Be cute
I grabbed both of his wrists as he struggled. He pressed his lips against Iris’s sulky face.
In an instant, her face turned red and calmed down.
“Brother, try it.”
“… Brother…”
“From now on, call me brother.”
“I don’t know. I’m embarrassed.”
While subtly using the anti-respect belt, he glanced at me.
This time I didn’t pretend not to notice and gently stroked Iris’s cheek.
“It’s extraordinary.”
“Are you special?”
With a cold face, I’m the only one who knows how to put on such a cute face. Thinking that way made me a little goofy.
For the sake of Iris, let’s get rid of those who will get in the way later.
I don’t know about the rat that hid behind it, but for now, it’s just one of its henchmen.
Patting Iris’ cheek, I quietly began to plan.
