A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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65.
Pink hair and jade-green eyes. Unmistakably, the Sixth Prince’s Wife who vanished from the wedding ceremony!
Of course, the Count himself had not orchestrated the teleportation.
However, upon discreet investigation, he discovered his daughter, the 3rd Empress, had done so.
Anticipating she would be sent to the Silverstone Territory, he had reinforced surveillance and mobilized all resources—yet she brazenly walked through the castle gates.
Count Pixis clicked his tongue and slowly withdrew his hand from his sword.
“Then shouldn’t the Siren members have been properly searched at the castle gates? Indeed, age makes lust blind the eyes.”
At the Prince’s Consort’s sarcastic remark, Count Pixis ground his teeth audibly.
The Count’s sharp gaze pierced toward the figure to Charlotte’s left—Benjamin’s ‘escort mage’.
“Jack! Why do you stand at his side!? Were you not originally Benjamin’s escort?”
“How convenient—when you despised a lowborn wretch guarding the Prince, where were your complaints then?”
“…That is…”
“I betrayed you because I dislike you. Remember that.”
Jack then raised his staff, slowly pointing it toward the bound Rosalian.
“If you value your precious grandson’s life, release the hostages at once.”
“Wait, Jack? That’s my line.”
“Ah, my apologies, Your Highness. I was merely impatient.”
Watching the two scoundrels perform what seemed like a comedy play, I felt my blood boil—yet I could not leave Benjamin as he was.
Cedric Myers himself held a blade to my own grandson.
And beside him stood Jack, Silverstone’s finest light mage.
Though born of a runaway slave and a servant, the wretch possessed exceptional magical prowess, which is why I kept him close.
“….”
Yet soon, a faint smile graced Count Pixis’s lips.
‘This works even better. If they kidnap or harm Benjamin… it justifies striking at Leonard.’
Count Pixis released a regretful sigh.
“Prince’s Consort. Are you not concerned about the consequences? This is the Sixth Prince’s Wife committing violence against her hapless younger brother without cause.”
“That is not your concern, Count. Now release Rosalian and the Siren women at once.”
Her bright smile seemed to conceal some mysterious scheme.
The Count felt uneasy but nonetheless ordered his knights to release Rosalian.
Teleported by Jack’s magic, they escaped the castle safely.
The Count watched the light magic circle fade, then turned his gaze back to Charlotte.
“Well, I’ve released the women. Now, what will it take for you to release Benjamin?”
“I know you are preparing for war with my husband. If the Prince’s life matters to you, declare before everyone that you will abandon this war.”
“…Ha ha ha!!”
Count Pixis laughed loudly, his voice shaking the chamber.
“What an absurd proposal! Truly, you are but a hothouse flower from Sincester! You understand nothing.”
“….”
“Abandon war preparations I have labored over for so long with a mere threat? That is not a decision I alone can make!”
“Benjamin Prince may die.”
Cedric Myers’s blade drew closer to Benjamin’s throat.
The knights’ breathing grew ragged, and the attendants let out screams.
Yet Count Pixis was different. Without a flicker of movement, he wore a sneer and spoke with chilling composure.
“Then kill her.”
“You….”
“I don’t care!”
His unexpected bombshell froze everyone in the room in an instant.
But one person alone—Count Pixis—raised his voice like a roiling furnace and growled.
“They say you are a jewel in the Pope’s treasure chest. Foolish Princess, how dare you meddle in the affairs of our Empire. You cannot even fathom the trials and tribulations I have endured to preserve Silverstone!”
“….”
He slowly rose to his feet and approached Charlotte.
“I was called the Phoenix and served Emperor Yukal loyally. I made Silverstone prosperous with my own hands! Yet now… it seems it will be stolen by Demian and Leonard Blake. Do you think I would stand idle and watch such a thing?”
“….”
“If she dies, I need only seat someone else and use magic to alter their appearance!”
As his fury reached its crescendo, the Count released an almost manic laugh.
Then he slowly caressed the family ring adorning his finger.
Like one who harbored stillness alone amid a tempest, he was quiet yet intensely formidable.
Charlotte gazed at him steadily and murmured.
“Have you not considered how many will die and suffer? And are you not afraid of what comes after Benjamin Prince’s death?”
“When I become Emperor of Blake, there is a divine gift I shall obtain.”
Count Pixis murmured in a dark, damp voice.
“…Lumen Regis. The Light of Kings.”
“Lumen Regis?”
“A wishing stone that even resurrects the dead, they say. Have you not heard of it?”
“What do you mean…?”
Before the bewildered Charlotte, the Count let out a derisive laugh.
“Then go ask directly. Everyone becomes Emperor for that very thing.”
“….”
“So I too do not fear my grandson’s death! It is only natural that my subordinates die for me. In this Empire, wars born of power structures are commonplace, foolish Princess.”
His merciless words fell upon the room like rain once more. The air thick with tension seemed ready to snap.
Then Charlotte drew a deep breath and spoke in a whisper.
“Once you were a sword protecting the Empire, a regent of a territory with pride…. So this story truly has been cursed by war.”
“What?”
“Benjamin Prince.”
As Charlotte spoke, Cedric Myers’s blade lowered with a soft scrape.
Benjamin stepped forward as if he had been waiting.
“Now that I have even heard Grandfather’s true heart, my resolve shall never waver again.”
“Benjamin?”
Was he not supposed to be imprisoned?
Barely had the shock registered before Benjamin’s next words left Count Pixis utterly speechless.
“I shall completely renounce my claim to the throne. Furthermore, I shall ask His Majesty the Emperor to allow me to depart with my mother, my knights, and my younger brothers to spend the remainder of my days in the Sincester Kingdom!”
“….”
“Since you said it was fine if I died, there’s no harm in speaking my mind, is there?”
The grandson’s eyes fixed upon me burned with unwavering resolve.
“Were you… in league with the Prince’s Consort from the beginning?”
“No, I wasn’t. But I wanted to hear your true feelings about this war, Grandfather.”
“….”
“I never imagined you’d say it didn’t matter if everyone, including me, died.”
His voice was small but crystalline.
Soon Benjamin surveyed the chamber and addressed the others.
“I do not wish for war. Because my life—and all of yours—matters. Don’t you agree?”
The air itself seemed to tremble.
Not only the attendants unfamiliar with warfare, but even the knights gripping their blades flickered with hesitation across their faces.
Benjamin looked directly at Count Pixis and spoke with absolute clarity.
“By the name of Blake, I renounce my claim to the throne! Furthermore, I will present evidence of your alliance with Morbian to trial and expose your crimes!”
“…Do as you wish.”
Though shock coursed through my entire being, Count Pixis barely composed himself.
He had participated in every war, walked the threshold of death countless times. It was a dire situation, but he could not allow a tower built with such painstaking effort to crumble in a single day.
‘The Myers Duchy’s blade has fallen.’
The Count’s hand moved quietly to his sword. Luminous mana was drawn into the blade.
The Count was also a descendant of the dragon race through whom mana flowed—a Mage of light.
Though perhaps not equal to Cedric Myers or Jack, he possessed enough skill to cleave everyone in this underground chamber in half.
“You’ve been raised too gently to understand the Empire’s circumstances. Clearly, you’ve fallen prey to their wicked schemes.”
“….”
“First, let us settle this place. Your grandfather will help.”
The scabbard began to gleam brilliant white. It was the moment Benjamin’s face drained of all color.
A magic circle of pure white light materialized in an instant beside him.
And from within it, someone emerged—
“Gack!”
A dagger pierced Count Pixis’s throat.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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