Chapter 239
It was the moment Ian declared the destruction of the monster. Most eyes were fixed on him, yet quite a few were anxiously watching Duke Haiman’s expression.
The duke’s troubled look was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. It was the very bottom of human despair, the kind that surfaces only in the worst of times. Haiman, who had always stood between royalty and nobility, couldn’t even hide his distress, letting out small, pained groans.
“Damn it.”
“D-Duke…”
He had already conspired with Gale to overturn the palace once before. To fix that, he had tried to push Arsen as the heir. And now, out of nowhere, this thunderbolt from a clear sky!
A monster? And one born from a curse dating back to the founding of the kingdom? It was maddening. What made it even more hopeless was that their enemy, Ian, had discovered this and eliminated it.
‘It would have been better if the monster had come back to life.’
Better to have everything die, collapse, and fall apart. That way, their sins would be lost in the chaos, unrecognizable.
Even now, even now, somehow, they had to—!
“…The second prince of Bariel, Gale Verosion, has passed away.”
Haiman, who had been nervously biting his lip, suddenly snapped his head up in shock. Those around him gasped in unison.
All the chaos to kill him before the trial had been for nothing—Gale was dead. And he had walked in to die on his own.
“Did you just hear that? Unbelievable!”
“Prince Gale has passed away.”
“He seemed off even when he was climbing the stairs earlier. Could it be he sacrificed himself for Bariel?”
“Sacrifice? No, he probably just failed while trying to seize an opportunity. He was already bound by charges of treason. If he had dealt with the monster, he might have salvaged some of his lost honor, making it easier for the Luswena faction to negotiate during exile.”
“Still, one thing’s clear—he looked ready to die.”
Voices drifted aimlessly, chaotic and frivolous. But only for a moment. Haiman’s faction, waiting for a chance to strike back, fell silent and exchanged glances.
As the mages, royal guards, and escorts rushed into the building to manage the situation, they naturally stepped back and gathered together.
“Duke, we need to devise a plan.”
“F-First, we should leave the palace. It’s best to gather our private troops and discuss. Contact your estates and assemble everyone. As for Delaina… no, it’s too complicated to worry about her right now.”
“Won’t that cause problems?”
“If we stay like this, we’re all dead anyway!”
They had supported the monster to bring down Bariel. The game was essentially over. The Magic Department had already saved the palace twice, and the prince they backed was now the empire’s sole heir.
More than that, the emperor was incapacitated, unable to fulfill his role, so it was clear Ian would become the true master of the palace.
There was no way forward. Both front and back were blocked, and the feeling of defeat was suffocating.
“Let’s leave the palace.”
No matter what happened, it was better to head to their estates than stay here. Ian didn’t look well, so this was their chance. If there was truly no other option, like Gale, they’d have to try to flee to Luswena.
Just as they were about to prepare the carriage—
“Wait.”
The prime minister, who had been conferring with the mages, suddenly raised his hand urgently. Haiman vaguely sensed what was coming. The mages began rushing toward the palace’s main gate. The prime minister cleared his throat loudly, demanding attention.
“Ahem! From now until the situation is under control, all palace entrances and exits will be sealed.”
A monster had infiltrated the palace disguised as a prince. Another prince had died because of it. There was no greater disgrace in Bariel’s history.
Because this was an incident that could not be recorded in history, the cleanup had to be flawless. Control, erasure, and manipulation for future generations. Everything had to be reset to Bariel before Arsen’s birth.
To do that, they had to lock down the palace and keep witnesses inside.
“Everyone, please follow the guides to the main building of the First Palace.”
Since there was no mention of a strategy meeting, it seemed some investigation would take place first.
They said Arsen had used mind control. It was only right to check if anyone else was infected by the monster’s influence. The mages and priests were so busy that no one knew when the investigation would happen.
“Oh, great. We were locked up like this last time too.”
“Once you enter the palace, you can’t leave, unfortunately.”
“Can’t be helped. This is a serious matter. Either way, it was a given we wouldn’t get out today. We should be grateful the monster was dealt with.”
“Please come this way! We’ll guide you!”
The nobles whispered among themselves as they boarded the carriages. One by one, they followed the royal guards’ signals and disappeared into the main building of the First Palace. Haiman and his followers, caught between options, reluctantly climbed into their carriage.
Screech!
‘The palace gates must be sealed by magic. There’s no way to break through physically.’
Haiman twisted his beard in frustration. Thinking carefully, examining the situation—how could they survive? How could they turn this crisis around?
Earlier, he had only thought about fleeing in panic, but now, calmly reflecting, that was the worst possible move. The duke arrived at the First Palace and remained silent, assessing the situation until his followers gathered.
“Duke.”
A couple of hours passed. Against the darkening sky, someone approached him.
A mage cloaked in robes, marked by veins of gold deeper than bloodlines. The one who had sent letters to Haiman on behalf of the Magic Department. He cautiously reported what had happened at the scene.
“…Arsen’s essence remains. It’s confirmed he was a monster. Ian used a sacred spell to annihilate the demon and collapsed from the backlash; he’s currently under treatment. Romandro is in the same condition. Delaina is barely clinging to life, but it seems hopeless.”
“Hmm.”
It was fortunate Ian had collapsed, but it was regrettable that Delaina’s chances were slim. Jin’s longing for his mother was deep.
This was a mistake caused by the demon’s trickery, and with his mother gone, there was no excuse for forgiveness.
“And one of the survivors said something strange. Arsen claimed Ian was of royal blood. As proof, he cited the royal family’s blessing, which is immune to mind control.”
“What?”
Haiman’s sharp question echoed loudly at the absurd claim, drawing the anxious attention of his followers. The mage, looking uncomfortable, tugged his robe tightly and disappeared.
“Duke, what did he say exactly?”
Haiman stared blankly ahead. Despite his calm face, his fingertips nervously scratched and tore at the armrest of the sofa. A way out, a chance to survive, was beginning to appear.
“…Listen carefully. This is a crossroads where life and death hang by a thread. First, we too were under Arsen’s mind control. Otherwise, how could we have supported a monster as Bariel’s heir? Right?”
“Y-Yes, that’s true.”
“Of course! The monster was manipulating us!”
Whether it was true or not didn’t matter. The Magic Department had the antidote. Truth and lies would be sorted out according to Ian’s will. The key was to establish a public justification, no matter how fragile. Even a sandcastle of a claim has meaning simply by existing.
“And—”
The biggest problem now was the bond between Ian and Jin. Ian had empowered Jin through the Magic Department, and Jin had bolstered Ian’s authority with royal legitimacy. They couldn’t face both at once.
“Arsen said Ian was royal blood. Prince Jin heard that too.”
“What? What does that mean…?”
Again, truth didn’t matter. If Ian really was royal blood, it would be a shock. The first royal mage’s honor would go to Ian, signaling the birth of a new emperor.
“What do you intend to do?”
“…What else?”
Ian was too strong to break through. So they had to shake the relatively fragile Jin. Shake that young body until he no longer recognized who stood beside him.
“It’s ridiculous to say Ian is royal blood, but… it’s an unpredictable issue. Compared to Jin, who’s young and insignificant, the Magic Department’s minister, who’s about to come of age, is a better fit for the throne.”
There was always only one seat. Not just the throne, but the heir’s position too. Once you realize your ally is your greatest threat, the relationship inevitably changes. By shaking things up, they might find a way to survive.
Someone who had been chain-smoking added awkwardly, “Um, Ian’s mother is still alive and well. I don’t think this can drag on for long.”
“A palace where princes keep dying, and you’re worried about some commoner?”
Bang!
“Get your head straight. If we don’t eat, we get eaten. Our necks are already halfway in their jaws.”
Haiman snapped, telling them to stop their foolish talk. The ashtray flew against the wall, shattering into pieces.
They were on the verge of being torn apart, and that was the problem? Haiman ground his teeth in the thick smoke.
Jin entered the grand hall, pretending to be unaffected. Nobles and officials standing in the corridor recognized him and bowed their heads.
But was it really so, judging from below? Somehow, the courtesy they showed never quite reached all the way down.
“His Highness Jin has arrived.”
“Oh, my goodness. His Highness…”
“Lord Ian is…”
Whispers scattered, unable to reach Jin directly. From their eyes, Jin sensed a faint trace of fear—the same look they had when facing the monster that bore his exact likeness.
Seeing Jin naturally brought Arsen to mind, and with it, the terror of encountering that creature for the first time. It was only natural, yet—
‘Such feelings shouldn’t be displayed so openly.’
What was this? Why did the nobles’ atmosphere feel so tense? If it wasn’t because of the resemblance, were they perhaps doubting the bloodline born from the same womb?
“His Highness Jin has arrived.”
Creak.
As the attendants slid open the doors to the council chamber, the murmurs that had been leaking out suddenly fell silent. Hundreds of eyes poured in all at once.
Without realizing it, Jin slipped his left hand into his sleeve and clenched it tightly. Ian had always held it for him before—now, it felt empty.
“Hold back your tears. His Highness is a precious person.”
“If you endure and get through this, it will never come again. Even if it does, His Highness will prevail.”
Yet, the comfort Ian had left behind was still vividly etched in Jin’s heart.
Noticing an empty seat near the Prime Minister, Jin walked toward it. Hundreds of eyes slowly followed his every move.
Tap.
Jin sat down immediately in the chair Xiao Xi pushed forward, straightening his back. Across from him sat Duke Haiman, who maintained a calm expression.
“Your Highness, are you well?” the Prime Minister asked.
Quintana’s worried gaze followed, but Jin didn’t even glance their way as he replied. He was the only one left to hold the palace together now.
As the Crown Prince, as the Crown Prince…
“Of course. Let’s begin the meeting.”
This was the first step he took without Ian by his side.