I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 27

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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 27
The Oath of Foundation.
It was a promise made when the Brosia Empire was first founded—an agreement between the First Emperor, Bancadium, the Mage Tower, and the Temple to coexist mutually.
It was a blood oath, sworn so that those who possessed great power would never threaten or attack one another.
‘In essence, they staked their lives on it.’
Moreover, it was bound by ancient magic from ages past, and in all the generations since, that oath had never once been broken.
‘More precisely.’
It couldn’t be broken.
The Imperial Family and Bancadium.
And the Mage Tower and the Temple.
Each possessed such formidable power that none dared touch the others. They simply left each other alone.
Even now, though the Temple has declined considerably, it remains symbolically significant.
And there’s an enormous price for breaking the oath, or so they say.
Thus, the oath has held to this day. Besides, only direct family members know the true nature of the Oath of Foundation.
Others know of it, certainly, but they think of it merely as an emperor’s pledge to uphold the empire.
Only those select few know the details.
‘I had no idea myself.’
I learned the truth in the past, when the Mage Tower Master and the Temple went to war. That’s when the Oath of Foundation was broken—
‘The Mage Tower Master died.’
Had that not occurred, I would never have known.
“Don’t worry, Your Grace. I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“…….”
“If you’re still concerned, you can even place a geas on me!”
When I said either way was fine, the Duke’s expression twisted oddly. He looked utterly bewildered by what I might be thinking.
But I had my reasons.
“As for how I know this, it’s difficult to explain right now, but……”
The truth was, even if I told him, whether he believed me was his affair. I could only help clear his name; I couldn’t do more than that.
“So you’re saying I need to verify whether the Oath of Foundation in the Imperial Palace remains intact or has been broken?”
“Yes, exactly!”
If the Duke had truly attacked the Crown Prince,
“The oath would be broken.”
But if, conversely, the oath remained unbroken, then neither the Duke nor the Imperial Family had attacked each other—which would prove Bancadium innocent.
‘This would be the most certain method.’
Decisive proof that Bancadium had been falsely accused.
But.
“If we show the Oath of Foundation as you suggest, we can certainly prove Bancadium’s innocence.”
“…….”
“The fact that the Emperor confined the punishment to a Blockade Order and Exile Order, without requesting aid from the Mage Tower—that’s all because the oath wasn’t broken.”
If he’d attacked or suppressed Bancadium and broken it first, he’d have inadvertently proven their innocence himself.
“While the Oath of Foundation would be decisive evidence, would the Emperor agree if we simply demanded to see it? Even the Mage Tower Master and the High Priest know I’m not the culprit, yet they remain silent.”
Those who knew the Oath of Foundation—the direct family members—couldn’t help but know that the Crown Prince hadn’t died by Bancadium’s hand.
Yet both the Temple and the Mage Tower stayed quiet.
The Duke was pointing out exactly that.
“I don’t know why the others keep their mouths shut, but people are slow to admit guilt, and those with much to lose even more so.”
It’s a kind of self-preservation.
The Duke added quietly,
“If you go and demand it now, the Emperor will flatly deny it. Unless there’s clear evidence.”
Rash action could only hand him a pretext to move against me.
“Clearing your name would be for nothing if that’s where it ends……”
“There are witnesses.”
“!”
“And evidence, of course.”
At my words, the Duke fell silent for a moment, then his tightly pressed lips moved.
“Evidence and witnesses?”
“Yes.”
I understood.
The Oath of Foundation alone wouldn’t be enough to pressure the current Emperor. The Duke was right.
But that applies only when there’s no other evidence.
“Why do you think His Majesty issued the Blockade Order against Bancadium?”
“?”
At the sudden question, the Duke’s brow furrowed.
“Surely to pressure Bancadium—to cut off their contact with the Capital. Or to prevent their escape.”
I nodded slowly. But that was only the surface reason.
“It wasn’t just to prevent you from leaving, Your Grace.”
“Then what exactly——”
The Duke, who’d been countering, suddenly creased his brow. I smiled faintly.
“A Blockade Order prevents people from leaving, yes.”
But conversely.
“It also prevents them from entering.”
Which meant,
“The evidence must never reach Bancadium.”
* * *
“Huff, huff!”
The woman who’d bolted through the alley gasped for breath.
Clutching a small bundle to her chest, she glanced back once before pushing forward with all her strength.
There was no time to look anywhere else. She had to find a safe place and hide, no matter what.
If only she could leave the Capital immediately—but for the past two months, security had been drastically tightened.
To leave the Capital, one had to pass through the gates, and every one of them was under strict inspection.
There was only one reason the security had suddenly been reinforced.
‘They’re looking for me.’
She had been the Crown Prince’s attendant, the only eyewitness at the scene. Her fellow attendants were already dead, all of them vanished.
Only because she’d hidden in the wardrobe had she barely escaped with her life. Yet even crawling out to avoid the assassins had been a nightmare.
‘……Char, Charlotte.’
‘Kyaaaah……?!’
The maid clasped her hand over her mouth in shock, lowering her head.
Impossibly, the Crown Prince—the Blue Sword of Bancadium lodged in his chest—was still alive.
He was still struggling to survive.
‘Your, Your Highness. Are you alright? Please…… a physician……’
‘No.’
Sensing that time was running out, the Crown Prince shook his head firmly. Breathing in ragged gasps, he pulled the sword that had pierced his chest from his body.
‘Take this. Open my drawer at once, Charlotte.’
‘And.’
‘Find Bancadium. You must go out there.’
By any means necessary,
‘It has to be Bancadium. Go directly, no matter what.’
Those were his only words.
The Crown Prince, wringing out the last shred of strength, expired where he lay.
It was inevitable. No one could endure such a wound.
The maid, drowning in panic, forced her crumbling mind to hold together.
To fulfill the Crown Prince’s dying wish.
Soon after, as Charlotte rummaged through the drawer, she discovered something.
‘An Image Stone?’

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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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