The Villainess is on a Quest - Chapter 75

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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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Chapter 74
“Is it truly the case that His Majesty has approved this?”
“It cannot be. Surely His Majesty would never approve such a thing!”
Binet did not approve, but there were royalists who had pledged their loyalty to him, unable to resist the tide that had turned against them.
Though falling short of Matthias, Binet too had once gathered expectations of becoming an excellent and virtuous ruler.
And so the royalists held fast to their hopes—that while his ascension had been chaotic, once he took the throne, he would govern well.
“Do you truly not understand what it means to lift restrictions on the nobles’ private armies? Prime Minister!”
“And on top of that, to simultaneously lift tax exemptions is to give them wings!”
Yet their hopes were being thoroughly shattered.
He had granted the nobles he had once held in check tremendous benefits. The moment royal authority weakened and noble power strengthened, the kingdom would splinter.
“I must see His Majesty! Open the doors at once!”
Binet had to be stopped by any means. Driven by such loyalty, the royalists came seeking an audience.
They had to meet him and overturn his decision.
Already the people’s discontent was growing by the day. The moment these benefits became known, the public sentiment would boil over—that much was certain.
“His Majesty has said he will see no one.”
“Prime Minister!”
But as always, Linus stood in their way.
The Royal Palace’s knights had already become his private army.
“You loyal subjects—why do you insist on an audience when you know His Majesty’s health is not well?”
The royalists often retreated in fear before the sharp blades held by those palace knights, but this time was different.
They had resolved to press through, even at the cost of their lives.
“Your Majesty! It is Kalt! Kalt, your childhood mentor!!”
“Tch. Seize them all and throw them in the Underground Prison.”
“Your Majesty! Please open the door! I beg you, see us! Your Majesty!!”
But it was in vain. The door remained firmly shut, unmoved. In the end, all the loyal subjects were imprisoned.
“Is there anyone else foolish enough to speak out of turn?”
Thus the kingdom no longer had loyal subjects.
It was an age of One-Man Autocracy.
* * *
The ceremony to award the Cross Medal drew great crowds. Rather than holding it in the solemn and secure Imperial Palace, they chose the Plaza, so that many could witness Aine receiving the honor.
It was meant to display the moment of Aine’s decoration to as many people as possible.
Though it was impossible to know when Retaria might suddenly strike, the security this time was so stringent there seemed not a single gap to exploit.
“This person’s conduct has served as a model for all, and so the medal is hereby bestowed. And….”
Normally, the bestowal of the Cross Medal would have concluded the ceremony, but Odin intended to make an announcement here.
“On this occasion, I shall proclaim the Successor.”
At that single word—Successor—the Plaza fell silent as a grave in an instant.
In an atmosphere so heavy it seemed to stop breathing, all eyes were fixed upon Odin.
More than twenty years had passed since the Crown Prince’s seat had been left vacant.
Everyone was eager to learn whose name would come from his lips.
Whether it would be the man they had all hoped for, or whether it would be that man known as a wastrel, whom all prayed it would not be.
“My glorious son, First Prince Kleid Hertz, I hereby name Crown Prince!”
At those words naming Kleid as Crown Prince, the Plaza erupted in cheers so thunderous it seemed the very ground would shake.
The fears that had weighed upon them vanished, and the war hero who had commanded everyone’s hope became Crown Prince in that instant.
“Your Majesty! This cannot be done without deliberation!”
The nobles who had heard nothing of this beforehand voiced their displeasure at Odin’s unilateral decision.
They protested that he could not decide such a matter without consulting them, but Odin listened halfheartedly.
“Having already reached so many ears, how could I take back words once spoken?”
“Your Majesty!!”
For those who still supported Philip, it was a nightmare. They tried desperately to persuade Odin, but to no avail.
“Are you faithful to the Empire, or to Philip? Do you truly believe that child ascending to the throne would serve the Empire’s interests?”
Odin spoke plainly. Philip lacked the capacity to inherit imperial rule. Indeed, he was virtually without it.
Even if Kleid were to die, and all other candidates perished besides, Odin would never entertain the thought of passing the throne to Philip.
He would search out even the most distant collateral branches and entrust imperial rule to the worthiest among them.
“My position is unchanging. Let all know this.”
* * *
As the saying goes, while the iron is hot, strike. Aine and Kleid, who had become Crown Princess and Crown Prince overnight, did not yet feel the weight of it.
“Mother and Father became Crown Prince and Crown Princess?”
“Yes, that’s right. Wilhelm.”
“I offer you both my sincere congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
What had changed was perhaps only that they would soon move into the Imperial Palace and the manner in which they were addressed.
Given the gravity of the situation, the Crown Prince’s succession ceremony was postponed. Truth be told, Kleid hadn’t wanted it to happen so soon anyway, so he didn’t trouble himself overmuch about the delay.
Aine found herself lost in thought as she reviewed the dozens of congratulatory letters that arrived each day.
“Mane, could you look after the children for a moment?”
“Of course, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
“Mother?”
“I’m sorry, but there’s something I need to discuss with Kleid. Would you spare us a little time?”
Wilhelm tilted his head in confusion but obediently took Mane’s hand and withdrew from the room.
Soneolopi did the same. Only when the two of them were alone did Aine finally turn to Kleid with her question.
“Do you think the Second Prince will accept this peacefully?”
Her real concern was Philip. Would he truly concede without resistance and fade away, or would imperial ambition blind him into fighting to the end?
Kleid handed her a newspaper from the day of the medal ceremony.
“From what I can see, I doubt it.”
The paper still carried Philip’s statements questioning whether Aine had deserved the Cross Medal at all.
Moreover, it went further—insisting that they could not possibly allow an Orion Kingdom woman to become the nation’s empress mother.
“A cornered rat will bite the cat, as they say. I’ve no idea what he might attempt.”
Unable to predict what moves Philip might make, Kleid swallowed a sigh.
It irritated him somewhat that Aine was anxious because of Philip’s existence.
Part of him wanted to completely purge that faction so she wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore, but Kleid set the thought aside.
“Philip’s faction will crumble within the season. Already, since I was named Crown Prince, defectors have been slipping away from his camp.”
That approach didn’t seem like something Aine would favor. Beyond that, it hardly seemed worth the effort.
“The Emperor has already completely denied Philip’s right to imperial succession altogether. Because of that, his faction is now hemorrhaging supporters—right and left, everyone is abandoning him.”
Kleid shared everything he knew to ease Aine’s worries.
There was barely anything left that could be called a faction anymore. All that remained was his imperial blood.
‘The only real concern is Retaria.’
For some reason, no matter how much they pressed, he and his interrogators had never revealed his base, the key figures involved—nor even that Retaria was connected to it all.
They said there were those who held to their convictions even unto death, but it was unlikely that all fifty of them were such paragons of loyalty.
Just as Kleid was pondering why they remained so steadfastly silent, one of his subordinates appeared at the door.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince! I bring urgent news!”
“What is it?”
The subordinate’s face was tight with tension. Recognizing this was no trivial matter, Kleid ordered him to speak at once.
“The Imperial Palace Underground Prison has been breached!”
The moment they heard the news, both Kleid’s and Aine’s expressions froze.
That revelation could only mean one thing—the Imperial Palace itself was under attack.

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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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