I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 23

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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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Episode 23
Bangcadium had escaped from prison.
The news swept beyond the walls of Iztail in an instant, spreading across the entire empire.
“Insane? How could he escape from a dungeon—?!”
“Could he use magic there? As far as I knew, magic was supposed to be impossible inside Iztail…….”
“What in blazes is going on here?”
Even for Bangcadium, a prison escape crossed far more than a line.
“He murdered the Crown Prince and fled!”
“Your Majesty, that arrogant Bangcadium must be captured at once! If things continue like this, the Foundation Oath—!”
Not just nobles, but commoners too raised their voices in unison.
Bangcadium had murdered the Crown Prince and escaped, so he absolutely had to be punished.
Extinguishing the seed of that arrogant dragon was merely the bonus point.
A clan several times stronger than others was at once the people’s idol, their yearning—and the object of their fear and dread.
Those who had followed Bangcadium bowed their heads in silence, while the opposing faction lifted their chins as proudly as newly sprouted seedlings.
The dragon’s enormous power, prestige, and wealth—maintained for a thousand years.
Those delighted at the thought of reducing it all to nothing cried out.
“Your Majesty, please decide!”
Two days after Bangcadium’s prison escape.
The Emperor, who had worn a hardened expression throughout the council, finally drew a deep sigh.
“There is no help for it.”
When so many people cried out with such unified voice.
How could he pretend not to know and sit idle? So he bowed his head.
“I too wished to trust Bangcadium to the very end, but now that matters have come to this, there is no other way.”
“Your Majesty…….”
At those words about trusting the traitors to the end, gasps arose from various quarters.
Of course, Bangcadium’s inner circle had to strain themselves not to spit on the spot.
“Bangcadium’s atrocities are known to all by now. He dared to slay my son, the Crown Prince of the empire, and as if that were not enough, he brought down Iztail’s prison.
And on top of it all, he fled.
He utterly destroyed half of Iztail itself.
A considerable number of prisoners inside perished as well.
“This is a matter that cannot be ignored, I believe.”
“Agreed!”
“Please render your judgment at once!”
Like-minded nobles bellowed roughly.
The Emperor closed his eyes deeply as if deliberating one final moment, then opened them.
“From this hour forward, the Duchy of Bangcadium is placed under complete Blockade.
Furthermore,
“He shall be held accountable for violating the Foundation Oath, stripped of his ducal title, and eternally banished from imperial society.”
……Thunderous cheers!
The moment the Emperor’s words ceased.
Acclamation erupted throughout the Grand Council Chamber. Yet the feeling was not altogether satisfying.
The Blockade was cause for joy, but there was something wanting about it—such was the tone of their celebration.
…….
At that same moment.
A Court Attendant who had listened to every word of the Emperor’s proclamation quietly withdrew.
While most reveled in Bangcadium’s downfall, he began to whistle softly, then snapped his fingers.
A sphere of Blue Mana, gathered in a tight sphere, swiftly transformed into a small lark.
The bird that scurried toward the wide-open window soon flew out with a chirp.
Having successfully sent the signal, the Court Attendant narrowed his eyes to slits.
‘There is indeed something afoot, Duke.’
The Emperor’s movements were suspicious.
* * *
[The Emperor issues a Blockade and Wanted Decree. The Duke’s rank is stripped and eternal banishment from the empire imposed.]
In the Western Mountains of the Brosia Empire.
Bishan Fortress, a place called the land of death and silence.
“……Ahhhhh.”
Hyacinth, the capable retainer and intermediate mage of Duke Bangcadium, pressed his forehead.
Blockade.
Wanted Decree.
Title revoked.
Eternal banishment.
These punishments looked truly terrible laid out this way, yet Hyacinth felt somewhat relieved.
The outcome was better than he had anticipated.
At the same time, he could deduce one thing more.
That the Emperor had something up his sleeve.
‘It doesn’t make sense.’
This was no simple crime.
Not assault against the royal family, nor insult.
But the Imperial Murder Crime itself.
A grave offense deserving of summary execution.
Yet the Emperor had not judged Bangcadium immediately from the start, but instead transferred him to Iztail.
From that point on, Hyacinth—and likely all of Bangcadium’s circle—had grasped it.
That the Emperor surely had some reason for not instantly condemning the very man who had slain his own son.
And just today.
The suspicion proved exactly right.
‘He hasn’t even requested aid from the neutral Magic Tower.’
The Magic Tower.
A select group where imperial mages gathered, and they had maintained neutrality for ages—whether toward nobility or the royal family.
Yet they too were subjects of the empire.
If the Emperor invoked the Foundation Oath and issued an order, the Magic Tower would ultimately have no choice but to move.
But he had done no such thing.
For everything to be handled swiftly in such circumstances meant one thing.
‘He is merely expelling Bangcadium from society.’
For now, he could not lay a direct hand on him.
Thinking about it rationally.
Killing the Crown Prince was tantamount to raising arms against the royal house—a situation that a greedy old man would never sit idle for.
‘I cannot fathom his further intent.’
At least they had succeeded in pinning false charges on him.
Whether the Emperor meant to drive the entire house to ruin.
Or whether he was plotting something else entirely, Hyacinth could not tell.
The one consolation was,
‘He will arrive soon enough.’
The Bangcadium house had multiple main residences.
Most of them, of course, were decoys.
The true seat, a thousand years old, stood apart.
This false headquarters where Hyacinth now dwelt was even protected by Illusion Magic, appearing to outsiders as nothing more than a massive mountain, utterly undetected.
The very location the Emperor’s Blockade had targeted was but one of the decoy mansions, was it not?
So once the Duke returned, they would need to hold a serious discussion about what lay ahead…….
“H-Hyacinth, sir!”
“!”
Has he finally arrived?!
Hyacinth’s eyes flashed at the Aide’s call.
“Has he come?!”
“Y-yes! That is to say……!”
“Come on, then. Is he in the hall? The parlor? The bath? The bedchamber? The dining room? Did that fool of an Emperor rankle him so badly he went to the training grounds?”
“W-well, he is heading toward the parlor, but……. Wait, no—hold on!”
Hyacinth bounded down the stairs, leaving the Aide’s desperate pleas in his wake.
He was a mage who had devoted his entire life to Bangcadium’s service.
Of course he was prepared to greet his lord with tears streaming down his face, having finally returned after such long hardship…….
“Our little one. From now on, you’ll live here with your sister. Isn’t it pretty?”
To ask if he was well, to express his relief that he had returned like this at all…….
“Oh goodness. My little one. Shall we share a room with your sister like we did in prison?”
“Tsk.”
This Hyacinth was ready to declare how longingly he had awaited his lord…….
“That would exhaust you, sir!”
“Sir, you have returned!”
……What?

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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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