Chapter 13.3
Siena, Empress Isabel’s maid, left the palace and went to find Hildeltrud.
Not all maids stay in the imperial palace.
Some work at their family’s mansions and commute.
Siena was one of them.
By day, she served Empress Isabel tea at the palace, and by night, she left to spend time at her family mansion.
Of course, some maids stayed in the palace.
If they had nowhere to go, accommodation was provided inside the palace. It was optional.
“Is Prince Edgar at Marquis Herland’s estate?”
“Yes, Lady Hildeltrud. Marquis Herland came urgently and said so.”
In the end, it seemed Edgar’s expedition had failed.
Soon, the evil dragon would come up to the capital.
Preparations had to be made.
“You’ve done well. Also, make the tea for Her Majesty a bit stronger.”
“I will.”
The tea Empress Isabel drank was very special.
It was a drug that would gradually blind her, just as she had done to Siena’s younger sister.
Siena’s younger sister, Liv, was Edgar’s secret concubine.
Edgar, having taken a liking to Liv, used her fiancé’s weakness to bring her into his secret harem.
Liv’s fiancé, Luan, was running a business, and Edgar pressured him financially.
Unable to bear Luan’s suffering, Liv entered Edgar’s harem to help him.
Edgar deceived her with sweet words, pretending to help Luan.
Eventually, Edgar grew tired of Liv and blinded her, sending her away. Liv then met her sister Siena and heard news of Luan.
Learning that Liv had become Edgar’s concubine under pressure, Luan couldn’t endure it and jumped off a cliff.
Upon hearing the news, Liv, now blind, also threw herself off a cliff.
Having lost both loved ones, Siena decided to take revenge and became a maid. Hildeltrud found her and decided to help.
Empress Isabel would lose her sight without knowing why. No one would know the cause.
Just as it happened to Liv.
Siena eagerly awaited that day.
It was soon.
* * *
The next day, Hildeltrud visited Silver Moon.
Upon arrival, she found Jackson and his companions lying around like defeated soldiers.
“It seems the operation was a success.”
Jackson answered confidently.
“No one will know we were acting.”
Hildeltrud smiled gently and looked at Kiserian, who was sitting at the desk.
Today, he was wearing a cat mask.
He seemed to be working as the master.
“Edgar is at Marquis Herland’s estate.”
Kiserian, spinning his pen, smirked.
“That’s the only place he could run. With that body, he can’t return to the palace. Isn’t it a complete disgrace?”
“This isn’t the time to be relaxed. The evil dragon will soon come up to the capital.”
“Don’t worry. Cassel’s mercenary group is waiting in the capital. As soon as the dragon arrives, I’ll move as well.”
“I hope a great scene is completed.”
“You’ll see a scene that fully satisfies you, Lady Hildeltrud. You should come watch.”
“Of course I’ll come. I can’t miss such a glorious moment. First, let’s spread the rumors.”
“Of course. We can’t hide my brother’s failure. I’ve already arranged everything.”
“You’re fast as always.”
“Oh, Lady Hildeltrud. Look at this.”
Kiserian confidently pulled out armor and a sword from subspace.
Hildeltrud was startled.
“This is Clover, isn’t it?”
“If I wear this and subjugate the evil dragon Aktus, there’s no better advertisement.”
“That’s true.”
“I’ve put Cassel and the mercenary group in this gear too. You can look forward to it, Lady Hildeltrud.”
Clover’s launch was progressing smoothly.
The building had been purchased and was under interior construction.
The interior would be finished in time for the arrival of the gear.
Marquis Herland’s store in the next building had no idea what was happening next door.
Everything was thoroughly hidden.
Even the workers were told to keep silent.
They would probably only find out on the opening day.
“The goods will arrive in about two weeks.”
Hildeltrud showed Kiserian the documents from the Dwarf Kingdom.
It stated the goods were shipped and would take about two weeks to arrive.
“It fits perfectly.”
If Kiserian’s mercenary group performed well in Clover gear, the brand’s value would rise.
“I’ll defeat the evil dragon splendidly in front of you, Lady Hildeltrud.”
If he became a hero by defeating the dragon, Kiserian’s status would soar.
On the other hand, Edgar, who failed to subjugate the dragon and fled, would be blamed and distanced from the throne.
No one would want him to become Emperor.
If he did, people would think the empire might collapse.
Naturally, Kiserian would become Crown Prince.
Inside the Solaris Palace office.
A loud noise rang out.
The Emperor had slammed his fist on the desk in anger.
“What did you just say, Chancellor?”
“Your Highness, the First Prince failed to subjugate the evil dragon, and the enraged dragon is heading north toward the capital.”
The Chancellor reported with a grave face, and the Emperor ground his teeth.
“To think he would betray my trust like this.”
The Emperor had hoped Edgar would subjugate the dragon and uphold his dignity as the eldest son. As a father, he was tired of being disappointed in Edgar.
“Call a meeting at once.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soon, an emergency meeting was held in the grand conference hall of Solaris Palace.
The Emperor addressed the assembled ministers.
“Edgar failed to subjugate the dragon, and now the dragon is heading north. Let’s discuss countermeasures.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Marquis Herland.
One minister seized the opportunity to criticize Marquis Herland.
“This all happened because Marquis Herland strongly recommended the First Prince. I believe Marquis Herland should take full responsibility for resolving this, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Kiserian spoke up.
“That’s a bit much, Lord Marshal. I also recommended my brother. Are you saying I should also be held responsible?”
Count Azel, the Lord Marshal, was startled.
“No, of course not, Your Highness the Second Prince. I was only referring to Marquis Herland, who first recommended the First Prince.”
The Emperor frowned at the ministers’ words.
“We’re here to discuss countermeasures, not to assign blame. The dragon is heading north, isn’t it?”
The Emperor looked at Count Azel, the Lord Marshal.
He was in charge of military discipline and etiquette.
He mainly oversaw military training.
Marquis Herland had nothing to say.
If Edgar had succeeded, none of this would have happened. He felt resentment but knew now was not the time to speak up.
“I’ll do it, Your Majesty.”
Kiserian looked at the Emperor.
“I was the one who recommended giving my brother a chance. I’ll take responsibility and face the dragon.”
The Emperor looked at Kiserian with a solemn face.
“Are you confident?”
“I’m afraid, but for the safety of the empire, as a member of the imperial family, I must step forward.”
“What do you think, Captain?”
“I agree with His Highness. I’ll assist him.”
The Emperor looked at the other ministers.
“Lord Marshal, lead the soldiers and fortify the capital’s defenses.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The Imperial Captain of the Knights should assist Lord Marshal.”
“I will.”
Then the Emperor looked at Marquis Herland.
“Marquis, prepare shelters for the citizens to evacuate. If the capital burns, it’s the people who will suffer.”
“I’ll obey your command.”
Marquis Herland complied without protest.
After dividing up the tasks, the military meeting began in earnest.
* * *
Edgar spent his time leisurely at Marquis Herland’s estate. He planned to stay quietly until the dragon was subjugated, then return.
He had to go back to the palace anyway.
He’d be disgraced, but that was his burden to bear.
“How annoying.”
Staying holed up in a quiet place was truly miserable.
His mother, Empress Isabel, had repeatedly warned him by letter not to cause trouble at the lord’s castle and to stay quiet.
But boredom was boredom.
Restless, Edgar wandered the inner castle, frowning at the sound of a loud alarm.
The emergency bell was ringing noisily from the outer castle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“It’s an emergency!”
Guards rushed in and reported to the Knight Captain, who immediately found Brian to report.
“Sir! The evil dragon is coming to the castle!”
“What?”
“You must evacuate at once.”
The evil dragon was not someone humans could stop.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“D*mn it, let’s hurry.”
“Sir, what about the estate’s people?”
“There’s no time to protect them as well.”
Brian’s firm words made the Knight Captain flinch.
“What are you doing? Gather the knights at once. We must protect His Highness the First Prince.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Brian hurried to find Edgar.
He found Edgar out for a walk and rushed over.
“Your Highness, there’s trouble.”
“What’s all this fuss? Has war broken out?”
“The evil dragon is coming this way.”
“What?”
“There’s no time to waste. Let’s hurry.”
Dragged by Brian, Edgar was quickly loaded into a prepared carriage.
The carriage carrying the two was escorted by knights as it left the lord’s castle.
Just then, the evil dragon arrived at the castle and began to burn it down with its breath. The estate’s people, unprepared for the sudden disaster, were exposed to the dragon’s breath and turned to black ashes.
Screams began to ring out everywhere.
But it was already too late.
The carriage carrying Edgar headed for the capital.
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