Chapter 15 – The Fall of the Imperial Family (Part 3)

The current seal of Musen Trade was a magical seal purchased from a wizard. After seeing Tartenon use a magical seal, Reubellina had a wizard craft a new one.

The seal on this document was from before the new one was made, meaning it was the old, discarded seal.

‘But how did they get that?’

It was proof that there was a spy within Musen Trade whom Reubellina was unaware of. She bit her lip behind her fan. To prove the document was a fake, she needed the real seal, which was in the North.

Though Tartenon had claimed Musen Trade belonged to the North, bringing the seal would take too long. The imperial family would not sit idly by in the meantime.

‘What should I do?’

“Do you acknowledge it now?”

“I cannot acknowledge a crime that doesn’t exist.”

Tartenon, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward. He confidently addressed Monterno, who was scoffing.

“There is a witness who can resolve this matter.”

“A witness? Who is it?”

Monterno frowned at Tartenon. The interrogation had been based solely on Bellaruse’s testimony, without any witnesses or evidence. But now, there was a witness?

“If you permit, I will call the witness.”

“What will you do if the witness fails to clarify the matter?”

Monterno’s eyes gleamed coldly. Unfazed by his demeanor, Tartenon responded.

“If the witness comes and this issue remains unresolved, the North will quietly accept His Majesty’s judgment.”

It was an unexpected statement.

Monterno saw no loss in it. He couldn’t predict who the witness might be, but he calculated that no one could definitively resolve the situation.

“Very well.”

“May I call the witness?”

Monterno hesitated briefly, but the Emperor nodded, urging him to accept. After all, there was no real witness to this matter. Bellaruse was the only witness, and she consistently claimed that Reubellina had ordered her.

The Emperor, concluding that he could strip the Grand Duke title from Tartenon or seize the Asillious family’s wealth by implicating Reubellina, smiled triumphantly. Tartenon, seeing this, spoke.

“I will bring in the witness.”

“Wait…!”

Monterno tried to intervene, but Tartenon walked directly to the banquet hall’s door and opened it. The nobles, curious about the witness, craned their necks to see. Someone among the nobles recognized the face of the witness standing at the door.

The witness, looking weary, was supported by Heather as they slowly entered the banquet hall. Monterno’s face turned pale as if he had seen a ghost. The Emperor, seated on the throne, nearly fell off.

It was Inferno.

***

“Is this the right place?”

“It seems so.”

Heather and Hemil looked around. The place they had emerged from was a small hole in the palace wall. It was so remote and covered with long weeds that it was hard to tell there was a hole there.

“How did His Grace find this place?”

“It’s amazing. It feels like the heavens keep giving more to those who already have everything.”

“What nonsense.”

Heather gave Hemil a light punch on the shoulder.

“Unfold the map.”

At Heather’s words, Hemil took out the map and examined the paths.

“Where did His Grace tell us to wait?”

“Here. The garden of the detached palace.”

For this mission, Heather and Hemil were dressed like noble youths. Moving cautiously, they acted like attendees of the banquet as they approached the detached palace. The palace was bustling with servants and guarded by knights with stern expressions.

Hiding behind a curtain, Heather and Hemil realized that something significant was about to happen in the palace, judging by the tense atmosphere among the knights and servants.

“It feels like something big is about to happen.”

“Let’s hope it’s not something happening to His Grace.”

“It might happen to me.”

Startled by the voice behind them, Heather and Hemil turned around with wide eyes. It was Tartenon.

“Shh, keep quiet.”

“Why are you here? What about the Grand Duchess?”

“Just follow me.”

Though Heather bombarded Tartenon with urgent questions, escaping the area took priority. When Tartenon entered a hidden passage, Heather and Hemil followed. A knight, sensing something amiss with the fluttering curtain, pulled it aside, but they were already gone.

As they walked through the damp stone passage, Heather asked,

“Your Grace, what happened? What about the Grand Duchess?”

“First, look at this.”

Tartenon handed Heather a note. When she unfolded it, Hemil also peered over.

[2 = scheduled to die, Duke captured.]

The hurriedly scribbled note indicated the urgency of the situation. In the narrow secret passage, Heather and Hemil read the note with serious expressions. Heather spoke first.

“The ‘Duke’s mentioned here isn’t Her Grace father, is it…?”

“It’s the Duke Asillious.”

“They captured the Grand Duchess’s father?”

“Yes.”

Heather’s eyes flashed as she frowned deeply. Hemil nudged her with an elbow, but Heather’s expression remained stern. Even after Tartenon pulled out another map, Heather’s expression was grave.

“Is it fair to involve family?”

Heather’s grumbling was met with a stern command from Tartenon as he handed her the map.

“Find the Duke Asillious.”

“Understood.”

Heather, seemingly waiting for that very order, unfolded the map and dashed off. As she disappeared, Tartenon turned to Hemil. The determination in Tartenon’s stride was palpable, causing Hemil to hold his breath.

Due to the banquet, the servants of the detached palace were all gathered near the banquet hall. The second and third floors of the detached palace were fortunately empty. This meant that no one would hear them even if they made noise in the secret passage.

At that moment, Tartenon revealed their destination to Hemil.

“We’re heading to the Second Prince’s palace right now.”

“Do you really think they’re going to try to kill the Second Prince?”

“The imperials I know are more than capable of it.”

“…….”

Hemil, who often bickered with Heather, still cared deeply for her. Thus, he couldn’t comprehend the actions of Monterno and the Emperor.

After all, they were family. If one didn’t protect their blood relatives, what was the point of the family? Even the coldest family head would genuinely protect their family. Hemil’s face hardened as he spoke to Tartenon about the news of the imperial family attempting to kill their kin.

“So, we just need to stop them?”

“We need to stop them and persuade them.”

“Persuade them?”

“What do you think they’ll do with the pretext of the Second Prince’s death?”

Hemil’s mouth slowly opened in realization. Unable to hide his surprise, he followed Tartenon, who was already ahead.

“Are they trying to expel the North?”

“Not just the North. Think about the captured Duke Asillious. Do you think the Duke family will be safe?”

Tartenon, who had anticipated everything, led the way through the winding path, with Hemil following closely. The secret passages of the palace were quite complex, making it impossible to navigate recklessly. If not for the map he had secretly obtained, Tartenon wouldn’t have been able to move freely.

The map of the imperial family’s secret passage was only held by direct descendants. The map Tartenon had was a copy of Selena’s. He had contacted Selena in advance and requested the map of the secret passages. She was initially reluctant to give it to him, but he promised to create a new passage for her.

After some deliberation, she decided that holding the crown was better than being married off to just anyone like a pawn.

‘So, she will protect Reubellina in my absence.’

The princess couldn’t be unaware of how the Asillious family’s money would influence her ascent to the throne. Thus, Tartenon felt assured in leaving the banquet hall.

When they arrived at the Second Prince’s palace and opened a wall, a chilling breeze blew through. The cold, damp air carried a faintly metallic scent.

“We need to hurry.”

“Understood.”

Sure enough, some of the knights guarding the Second Prince were lying on the ground. Following the trail of fallen knights, they reached the Second Prince’s bedroom. Tartenon drew a hidden dagger and moved forward.

‘Judging by the footprints, there are at least three enemies.’

Hemil, who had entered from outside, drew his sword. Moving cautiously, he heard a stifled groan and quickly approached. Five knights surrounded Inferno’s bed, carrying out their task. Tartenon threw his dagger at them, and Hemil swung his sword without hesitation.

The surprise attack from behind was successful. Inferno, who had been gasping for breath, came to his senses and witnessed the scene before him. As he tensed his body, blood began to seep from his abdomen again. The pain forced Inferno to open his eyes and survey his surroundings.

“What… what is happening…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Someone tried to kill you, and I saved your life.”

As Inferno slowly checked the faces of the dead knights, Tartenon waited patiently. Among them was Phailus, a loyal servant of Monterno. Phailus, who had persistently targeted Tartenon, couldn’t avoid the dagger and died on the spot.

“Did my brother… order my death?”

“Do you remember what happened before you ended up here?”

“…I remember.”

Inferno blinked repeatedly, lost in thought.

“The Crown Prince and the Emperor plan to use your death as a pretext to accuse the North and the Asillious family of treason.”

“…What does that have to do with me?”

“Are you going to support those who would use their own family members’ lives? If we hadn’t intervened, you would have truly died.”

Inferno closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again at Tartenon’s cold, low voice.

“How long will you continue to ignore this?”

“…Ignore what?”

“You can ignore others, but not Reubellina. She has done so much for you.”

Tartenon’s voice carried a deep emotion.

“She has helped the poor in the back alleys and consistently donated in your name. Everyone here knows that the Asillious family has given a substantial amount of money to the imperial family.”

Inferno closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again, looking at Tartenon. He knew well what she had done for him and its impact.

“You’ve always been on the receiving end. It’s time to give back.”

With that, Tartenon fell silent. He noticed the turmoil in Inferno’s eyes and waited. Inferno clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

“Even if I step forward, nothing will change. My brother will become the Emperor and…”

“No. If you step forward, the Crown Prince won’t be able to retain his position.”

“Really…?”

A glimmer of hope flashed in Inferno’s eyes. Tartenon nodded. Inferno, moved by Tartenon’s serious gaze, opened his lips.

“What should I do?”

Inferno was struggling even to breathe. Standing made the stab wound in his abdomen ache continuously.