Chapter 14 – A New Beginning (Part 2)

Before her, now deluded, sat Monterno. Between the two, separated by bars, stood several knights.

“Bellaruse Zeraon.”

“…….”

“You attempted to harm a blood member of the imperial family.”

“It wasn’t me!”

Bellaruse’s voice grew louder. There were no other prisoners, so her voice echoed through the eerie imperial prison. As her voice filled the prison, Monterno frowned.

Barely hiding his irritation, Monterno asked,

“Then who did it? All the palace servants present witnessed you stabbing Inferno. Not just them, but the knights also saw it. Are you still going to deny what you did?”

“I did it, but it wasn’t my fault! It’s all because of Reubellina!”

“Reubellina? The Grand Duchess of the North?”

Monterno’s eyes gleamed. He had thought there was nothing to extract from Bellaruse during the interrogation, but now she had given him something. It was a perfect opportunity to implicate Reubellina and Tartenon in this matter.

“It’s all her fault! I did it because of her!”

“Did the Grand Duchess of the North incite you to do this?”

Monterno’s decisive question aimed at Bellaruse. Biting her lip, Bellaruse nodded. She knew nothing would change for her. Having stabbed a imperial, she knew she wouldn’t leave here unharmed.

‘So you should suffer as much as I did. I can’t stand to see you happy after stealing my happiness.’

Bellaruse gritted her teeth.

Meanwhile, having obtained the desired response from Bellaruse, Monterno left the imperial prison. Seeing the numerous knights following him, Princess Selena’s maid hurried away.

Reaching the Emperor’s office, Monterno relayed Bellaruse’s words.

“Is that true?”

“Bellaruse Zeraon said it herself.”

“But the issue is whether the nobles will accept this as truth.”

All the nobles knew about the poor relationship between Reubellina and Bellaruse. Thus, the Emperor couldn’t easily take Bellaruse’s words as a confession. He didn’t want to be seen as a foolish emperor swayed by Bellaruse’s words.

Any noble who had observed the situation would know that Bellaruse maliciously framed Reubellina.

Monterno suggested to the pondering Emperor,

“It doesn’t matter whether the nobles accept it. What matters is that we can seize the power of the North immediately.”

“Seize the power of the North?”

“The Grand Duchess Reubellina is behind the one who attempted to kill a imperial. Regardless, it’s a confession from Bellaruse’s mouth, so we can use it to our advantage.”

“But it’s an attempt to kill a imperial, not a successful assassination.”

“Then we just need to kill him.”

“Boy!”

The Emperor was appalled by Monterno’s cold words. Despite Inferno’s many foolish actions, he was still his son. The Emperor felt pity for the inadequate Inferno, who couldn’t thrive under his brother’s shadow.

That’s why he didn’t cast Inferno out even when he tarnished the imperial family’s honor. Even when Inferno foolishly clung to Bellaruse, he only scolded him rather than forcibly separating them. He thought having someone by his side would help him improve.

“Look at what Inferno has done so far, Father.”

It was the first time the Crown Prince Monterno called him ‘Father’ in the chamber. The Emperor looked at him in surprise, but Monterno continued without concern.

“Beyond the honor of the imperial family, we lost the great benefit that the Duke of Asillious could have brought. Do you know what’s happening in the North right now?”

Not expecting an answer, Monterno continued.

“Money is circulating in the North. The very thing you feared is happening. The Duke of Asillious’s money is flowing into the North. Moreover, a new specialty product is emerging. It’s a stone called Stella stone. They sell it for money. Where do you think all that money goes?”

Monterno played on the Emperor’s fears. The Emperor wasn’t the only one afraid of the North’s growing power. The same was true for Monterno, the next Emperor. He had worked hard to control the North’s military power, only for everything to be ruined by the foolish Inferno.

Using Viverna in such a way was not the right thing to do, as the Emperor had said. However, Inferno’s rash actions had heightened the North’s vigilance, resulting in Viverna’s expulsion. The losses incurred were immeasurable. The whereabouts of the red diamond sent to her were unknown.

‘That alone is worth billions of rubles!’

The money spent supporting Viverna couldn’t be recovered. Hearing that the North’s coffers were filling while the imperial treasury was empty was infuriating.

“Are you saying all that money will go into buying weapons and training knights?”

“Of course.”

The North couldn’t survive without training knights. The borders were always filled with monsters, and barbarians attacked whenever it was least expected. The growth of knights was Tartenon’s strength and the North’s strength. If they didn’t guard the borders, where would their swords point?

Their swords could aim at the capital. The Emperor and Monterno’s anxiety stemmed from there.

It was also unsettling that Tartenon, as the Grand Duke of the North, held the title of akin of a king. Northern nobles couldn’t escape the influence of the Speraum Grand Duchy. Only the Speraum had the right to strip Northern nobles of their titles, not the Emperor.

Speraum was always on the brink of death. When monsters or barbarians invaded, they first surrounded Speraum’s castle.

To acknowledge their efforts, the first Emperor of the Freynante Empire granted significant authority to the North. Without such authority, no one would go to the North. When his brother voluntarily gave up his claim to the throne and left for the North, the capital’s nobles cheered. None of them wanted to settle in the barren North.

Forgetting why their ancestors granted such authority to the North, the Emperor and Monterno looked at each other. The outcome was already decided.

“When do you plan to reveal this?”

“There’s a banquet hosted by Selena at the imperial palace.”

“That girl keeps organizing unnecessary events.”

The Emperor frowned, thinking about the considerable expense Selena incurred for her banquets and tea parties. However, Monterno smiled and replied.

“Knights can’t bring swords into the palace banquets. It’s the perfect time to capture her.”

“Are you suggesting causing a scene at the banquet?”

“Yes.”

“When is this banquet?”

“In exactly three days.”

The Emperor sighed at Monterno’s sly smile.

“So Inferno has three days left to live.”

“You must make a decision.”

Emperor lightly nodded at Monterno, who had no qualms about suggesting a ruthless course of action.

The Emperor’s expression was filled with sorrow, but Monterno calmly bowed and left the chamebr, thinking that Inferno would consider it an honor to die for the imperial family anyway.

***

Each day passed quietly, which only heightened Reubellina’s anxiety.

The capital was abuzz with news of a banquet to be held at the imperial palace.

Though it was known in whispers that Inferno had suffered a terrible fate, the imperial family hadn’t officially addressed the incident. With the imperial family keeping silent, no noble dared to openly discuss it, so they only gossiped in secret.

“How strange. It shouldn’t be this quiet.”

She tried to stir up the rumors in the capital again, but it wasn’t wise to step forward in the current situation. So, instead of spreading rumors about Inferno, Reubellina inflated stories about Princess Selena. She spread tales of the beautiful and kind princess saving a child from being hit by a carriage and compassionately taking the child to the palace.

Whether the child was happy in the palace was unknown. Reubellina only flaunted Selena’s good deeds. Unlike the Crown Prince or the princes, Princess Selena showed interest in the empire’s lowest people. That was how Reubellina portrayed Selena.

“This is the current rumor circulating in the capital.”

Teryn reported, handing Reubellina a document. Reading it slowly, Reubellina meticulously reviewed the capital’s rumors. Most were praises for Princess Selena.

“Is there a reason to be so considerate of a member of the imperial family?”

“There is no need.”

Reubellina’s cold voice directed at Teryn.

Teryn’s eyes were filled with confusion and curiosity. It was understandable. The Duke of Asillious and the North shared a destiny, and thus, the imperial family was now practically an enemy.

“But if that person is to become the Emperor, it’s a different story.”

“…….”

Teryn’s eyes widened. However, he did not inquire further.

Realizing what Reubellina meant, Teryn remained silent. Knowing too much could be more burdensome, and now was such a time. Teryn knew well that it was easiest to follow orders silently.

Attempting to change the designated heir of the imperial family was akin to treason, given that there was no disqualification for the current Crown Prince. But Teryn trusted Reubellina. He trusted the time spent with her and the abilities she had shown so far. Thus, he displayed his loyalty through silence.

Reubellina smiled at Teryn’s attitude. He deserved a reward for passing what was almost like a final test.

“Teryn.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“How about becoming the head of Musen Trade?”

Though she spoke casually while handing over the document, Reubellina’s words carried great weight. It was almost like giving Teryn control over the money she held tightly. Reubellina had never handed over the position of trade head to anyone else.

“Do you trust me?”

Teryn’s deep voice echoed in the office. Reubellina only looked at him without answering. Words were unnecessary.

“Understood.”

“Good. Then, as soon as the situation is settled, you’ll be appointed as the trade head.”

“Yes.”