Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 166

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

“Everyone! Let’s push through to the end!”
According to the setlist, this was the final song, but there was still an encore performance and a fan talk session ahead. Still, Sera rallied us with a shout and a fighting spirit.
“Phew…”
We had the advantage of superior physical capabilities that exceeded human standards, so we managed well enough, but Seian Crowell was struggling considerably. Despite being fed so well normally, he’d lost eight kilograms during this tour, which had me anxious about when this dark-furred weasel might suddenly collapse.
“Tell me if it’s too hard. You can rest whenever you need to.”
“Forget it. I’m going to finish this tour and collect every last coin.”
That’s exactly why I worry. He doesn’t even realize he’s pushing his body too hard, and if he completely exhausts himself, he’ll just collapse suddenly.
“I’ll give you the money. I’m more concerned about your health.”
“Hey, where would you get that kind of money?”
“I’m a baron.”
Besides, I was receiving a salary from Cecilia and merchandise profits were rolling in nicely. The Heart of Ice sold far better than the Heart of Emptiness. As I rattled off these facts, Seian Crowell let out a jealous wail about how nice it must be to have so much money and stormed off. I suppose when someone you thought was in the same situation as you suddenly starts doing well, it triggers those buttons of envy and inferiority. Our Seian Crowell’s consistency was endearing, really. I watched his departing figure with a wry smile before heading out to sing the final song. As the encores continued without end, the previous Margrave Brandenburg arrived in person, holding a telegram.
“Your Highness, His Majesty…”
Sera, who had been greeting Eugene’s father warmly, stiffened and hurriedly left the waiting room. Sunbird, upon hearing the news, wore an equally grave expression and informed us.
“His Majesty has passed away. Your Highness Seian Crowell, we must depart.”
This was shocking news indeed. The Emperor, who had been perfectly fine just moments ago, suddenly dead? Was it assassination?
“W-what?”
Seian Crowell, clearly in shock, pressed his forehead and staggered. Fearing he might collapse, I wrapped my arm around his waist, and he leaned against me.
“I’m fine. I’m okay.”
Sure you are. I told Sunbird to go ahead while Seian Crowell and I would follow. He seemed to have no objections, gripping my shoulder as support.
“Brandenburg will handle the cleanup. Just rest.”
“Right, you all go ahead with Eugene. Seian Crowell and I will inform them that we’re stopping the performance and catch up.”
Seian Crowell and I made our way to Brandenburg Castle with the help of the Margrave’s retainers. Even outside the concert hall, I could hear the mournful cry of the Dragon King. He certainly had impressive vocal power.
The Dragon King and Seian headed to Brandenburg Castle with the help of Brandenburg vassals. The sorrowful cry of the Dragon King could be heard even outside the Concert Hall. He certainly has a good voice.

◇ ◆ ◇

On the train heading from the Northern Region to the Capital, I encountered all manner of news. Articles speculated endlessly about whether the Emperor had died of natural causes, illness, suicide, or murder. The tabloids were rife with conjecture—had the Crown Princess killed him, or the Third Princess? While such hastily printed gossip could hardly be trusted, the thought of who truly benefited from the Emperor’s death gave me a headache.
If the Emperor died, the Crown Princess would naturally inherit the throne. But the timing of his death, precisely when Sera had entered the succession struggle, allowed for multiple interpretations.
Perhaps the Crown Princess had killed her father to seize the throne quickly. Or perhaps the Third Princess Faction had orchestrated his death to cast suspicion on the Crown Princess and remove her from power. This conflict would take considerable time to resolve.
“Hey, Transparent Crown Prince—why are you reading that? Don’t concern yourself with it.”
Reina Letem deftly snatched the article from Seian Crowell’s hands. It was less tabloid than outright conspiracy theory—or perhaps urban legend would be more apt. The piece claimed it was suspicious that Seian’s biological mother had died on his birthday, and now his biological father, the Emperor, had also died around the same time. Truly, it was drivel not worth Seian’s attention.
“If I’m not concerned, then who cares about such things?”
I took his hand since I was sitting beside him anyway. Seian’s hand, reluctantly clasping mine, trembled faintly—but he clearly wasn’t concerned about it. I decided to trust him on that point.
“Reina, Eugene—I’m entrusting Seian to you. I need to see Cecilia.”
“Huh?”
In that instant, Seian gripped my hand tightly. His expression asked why I was going there, but unfortunately, I still belonged to Cecilia’s faction.
“Oh, the Ice Heart rejected by all, you needn’t be so defensive. The Transparent Crown Prince will remain untouched as long as he stays transparent.”
“Perhaps. But Cecilia could easily make a person without a presence disappear in this chaos.”
If she had me taken away and announced my death, the truth would never surface unless Sera became Emperor. As I spoke these words, Seian shuddered visibly.
“Hey, how could you—why would you say such a thing?”
“Can you say it’s impossible?”
He knew better than anyone. When I pressed him, Seian clamped his mouth shut and fell silent. He couldn’t deny it.
“Next time we meet, we might fight.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll go easy on you so you don’t get hurt.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“Damn it, you bastard—deny it, will you? Stop grinning like that, you unlucky fool.”
After entrusting Seian to the two of them, we parted ways immediately at the Train Station.
As I hurried to enter the Palace, the Main Palace was swarming with nobility. That place was in complete chaos. Sera’s faction was likely no different, and the only quiet place would be the Crown Princess Palace. No one dared to act presumptuously before Cecilia.
As I stepped into the darkly austere Crown Princess Palace, an eerie silence fell. The attendants moved about expressionlessly as always, while the child Seian Mark Two and Three bustled about busily. Venturing deeper, the Bachelor appeared as usual and tossed clothes at me.
The garments he threw were what the Bachelor and Cecilia’s subordinates typically wore. I had finally obtained these clothes. I was about to bring up the couple outfit joke again, but the Bachelor beat me to it.
“Your recruitment of the Hashashin has become a liability instead.”
Now that he mentioned it, that was indeed how it looked. The moment I recruited the Hashashin—the nation’s elite assassination organization—the Emperor died. It was perfect fodder for rumors that Cecilia had drawn in the Hashashin to assassinate the Emperor.
“Did the Emperor simply die, or was he murdered?”
“Someone killed him. But no evidence was left at the scene.”
The method of assassination only reinforced suspicion of the Hashashin. They were so skilled that rumors circulated they could kill without spilling a single drop of blood.
“Where is Cecilia?”
“In the Flower Garden.”
“Ah, perfect weather for flower viewing.”
“Indeed it is.”
The Bachelor chuckled. Despite all the talk of liability, his laughter suggested Cecilia’s position remained unshakably secure.
I had thought the entire world was thorns, but the summer garden arranged for Cecilia bloomed with roses. Though they were late-season blooms, mostly thorny bushes with only a few flowers remaining, they were still beautiful. Most striking was how perfectly Cecilia suited this garden where roses bloomed abundantly yet not a single bee dared approach. The fragrance was lovely, the flowers exquisite, yet devoid of insects and untouched by wind—she resembled a vampire rose that fed on the life force of all living things.
“I’m not a bloodsucking rose.”
“What a shame. I thought you were a rose that drained vitality.”
At my elaborate verbal drift, the Bachelor drove his fist into my jaw. In the past, it might have felt like a proper hit, but now that I’d undergone such a transformation, it barely itched. It was merely the sensation of a fist rubbing against me. The Bachelor seemed to notice the odd impact too, staring at his own knuckles, but he couldn’t speak freely before Cecilia, so he remained silent.
“What do you think?”
“I think nothing at all.”
“How about you take a beating until you remember?”
“I’m not sure who benefits from this situation.”
“One thing is certain, though.”
Cecilia snipped a rose with her scissors and tucked it neatly into my hair. Was I really going to spend the rest of the day walking around like some lovesick fool with a flower behind my ear?
“Those who placed me on the throne will strut about claiming they’ve done their part.”
Ah, so that’s how it works. If I had waited quietly and inherited the throne officially, the Crown Princess Faction nobility would simply be on the winning side—a simple victory. But if Cecilia ascends after this kind of incident, they all become heroes. They can claim they helped ensure a smooth succession and meddle in state affairs accordingly.
“It seems someone from Sera’s faction orchestrated this.”
“Not Sera herself?”
“You know as well as I do.”
That’s true. Sera isn’t the type to kill her father just to become Emperor. Maybe Seian Crowell during his throne-fighting days, but not her. Anyway, I heard no evidence surfaced—does Cecilia really believe a rival did this? If a rival had committed the act, wouldn’t they usually try to pin it on Cecilia instead?
“Isn’t there simply a lot of people who harbor resentment toward the Emperor?”
“If we’re counting those, there’s no end to it.”
Cecilia seemed tired of speaking and gestured to the Bachelor instead. He proceeded to recount the Emperor’s achievements over the years.
“There could be royalty and nobility from countries that became colonies through invasive wars, or independence movements from those nations, families of siblings he eliminated to become Emperor, clans stripped of their titles when mana stones were discovered in their territories, and more recently, women who lost their children and were cast out of the Palace, among others.”
“Quite the resume.”
“It’s almost laughable that he was trying to enjoy a peaceful retirement.”
If it were me, I’d never sleep wondering when someone might stab me in the back. The man has nerves of steel. As I clicked my tongue, the Bachelor seemed amazed that I could say something so human. No, I think you’re the surprising one here—understanding emotions like that.
The Bachelor and I locked hands in an arm-wrestling match over who was stranger, while Cecilia watched us with wide, attentive eyes. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

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