Chapter 170 - Fill the Goblets with Blood (3)

The continent's political situation was changing rapidly.

When the Empire, the undeniable supreme ruler of the continent, first declared the subjugation of the Dotrin Kingdom, everyone accepted the destruction of the weak kingdom that had offended the great nation as an established fact.

That was how unrivaled the Empire's power and status were.

In fact, immediately after its declaration of war, the Empire showed its potential by mobilizing no fewer than twenty legions.

People had no doubt that the Imperial Army would trample over the borders of the small kingdom in a single breath.

But that was not the case.

The Empire's first subjugation attempt ended in failure. And it was not just a failure, but a horrific one.

The fortresses they had managed to capture were all collapsed by the operations of the Dotrin Kingdom's army, and even the exceptionally precious bloodlines of the Imperial House perished.

All they gained was a handful of useless wasteland.

It was an astonishing result, but nothing changed.

While paying small respects to the weak kingdom's desperate struggle, people gossiped that the only future they would eventually face was destruction.

This time, too, their predictions missed the mark spectacularly.

The 100,000-strong Imperial Army, gathered to make up for the previous crushing defeat, failed to cross the forest sea and was routed, while the Empire's regular legions that had landed in Dotrin's southern region were annihilated save for a very small number of survivors.

In a short period of less than two years, the total casualties within the Imperial Army amounted to a staggering 100,000 or more.

No matter how massive an empire had reigned as the continent's supreme ruler, it was a loss that could absolutely not be ignored.

But even so, the Empire did not give up on the subjugation of Dotrin.

News spread that the 3rd subjugation force was scheduled to march toward Dotrin via the sea route. A true army consisting of the Empire's mighty knightly orders and regular legions.

People predicted that this time, Dotrin would surely be destroyed.

Because the regular legions under the direct control of the Imperial Family were of a different quality compared to the private armies of the nobles who had suffered defeat in the past two subjugations.

But as a result, the 3rd subjugation did not even begin.

A monster that appeared suddenly devastated the southern part of the Empire. In the process, the entire 3rd subjugation force waiting to head to Dotrin evaporated.

The army of a certain ducal house, overflowing with a sense of duty, tried to subjugate the monster but was annihilated instead, and even the southern families who had luckily dodged the disaster were exterminated by the enraged monster.

And among the families exterminated like that was the family of the imperial ambassador, Marquis Montpellier.

"Shouldn't we consider the Montpellier family effectively fallen from power?"

"But His Excellency the Marquis is still the ambassador of the Empire. And behind him is the Empire."

The nobles of the Leonberk Kingdom chattered all day long about the fall of Marquis Montpellier.

"The Empire will undoubtedly dispatch a new ambassador, but the problem is when."

"My man, your news is slow. There is a rumor that His Majesty the Emperor, being merciful, deeply pitied the misfortune that befell the Montpellier family and is strengthening his authority as ambassador so he can make up for what he lost."

From their mansions in The Capital, the kingdom's center, they unhesitatingly praised the Empire's emperor and gossiped about the possibility of his Ambassador Plenipotentiary effectively becoming a governor-general.

It was a shameless sight, devoid of the pride or awareness they should rightfully possess as nobles of the kingdom.

Furthermore, none of them were viewing the Empire's crisis as a major issue.

They seemed to believe that both the Dotrin Kingdom's elusive army sweeping through the eastern part of the Empire and the horrific monster nestled in the south would ultimately kneel before the great nation's power.

Perhaps because of that, their interest was focused on whether Marquis Montpellier would fall from power and a new imperial ambassador would arrive, or whether, as rumors said, Marquis Montpellier would take office as the governor-general of the Leonberk Kingdom region.

Only by properly grasping the rapidly changing political situation and lining up correctly could their own families enjoy the same glory as they did now.

In the midst of this, the kingdom's monarch issued an uncompromising summons that applied equally to the East, West, South, and North.

Though a summons issued by the head of a royal family that had lost all its teeth and claws was hardly frightening, they could not just ignore it since there were rumors that the reason for the gathering was related to the throne.

Even if it was a royal family in name only, the royal family was still the royal family.

On top of that, when the imperial ambassador even urged them to come to The Capital as soon as possible to discuss future matters, the heavy-bottomed nobles ultimately had no choice but to leave their territory's castles and head for The Capital.

Those whose bodies were unwell or old rode carriages, and the able-bodied ones rode horses.

Thus, all the nobles of the kingdom gathered in The Capital.

"Finally, His Highness the Second Prince Maximilian will ascend to the throne."

"He is a person with a gentle disposition, so the future of the kingdom is truly bright."

"Honestly, His Majesty the King has a slightly sensitive side, which was baffling at times. But I believe that if it is His Highness the Second Prince, he will listen more attentively to the loyal advice of us nobles."

They had no doubt that the Second Prince, known as the reincarnation of the Founding King, would inherit the throne.

"Then what will happen to His Highness the First Prince?"

The moment one tactless noble mentioned the eldest son of the royal family, the nobles' expressions stiffened.

"Still, he has the merit of ending the war in the North, and his relationship with His Excellency Marquis Montpellier is close. Above all, isn't he the eldest son of the royal family?"

Just as he said, the name of the First Prince that had echoed throughout the kingdom over the past few years was by no means light.

"How long ago was that?"

But that was only the story up until exactly a year ago.

The First Prince, who once caused incidents and accidents without missing a single day, had already not shown his face for over a year.

Regarding this, some nobles said the King had personally confined the prince, holding him guilty for forgetting the delegation's mission, humiliating the Imperial Knights, and damaging the peace between the two nations, while other nobles said the prince had completely left for the North, where his foundation lay, unable to overcome his father's checks.

"True, he has merits, but the First Prince's disposition is a bit... isn't it?"

"His Highness the First Prince was never able to shake off the past and antagonized us to the end. In the end, he should have realized that we are the ones who uphold the royal family."

"Since it was brought up, did we treat His Highness the Prince like that for no reason? Wasn't there a reason for all of it? But he only resents us without even remembering the things he did, so it is truly unfair."

Once the floodgates opened, the nobles unhesitatingly condemned the First Prince.

As if the kingdom would immediately be destroyed if he succeeded the throne.

"Well, they aren't wrong. If His Highness inherits the throne, the kingdom might be fine, but their families won't be able to avoid destruction."

Marquis Bielefeld, who had heard of the nobles' movements from Count Kirgayen, answered in a nonchalant tone.

"The nobles seemed to firmly believe that His Highness the Second Prince will inherit the throne."

"Those with dark eyes tend to only see what they want to see in everything. Thanks to that, His Majesty the King also managed to fool them without putting in much effort, so it is a fortunate thing for us."

A mischievous look appeared on the old marquis's face as he said that.

"You look pleased."

"Me? Do I look like it?"

Marquis Bielefeld asked back with a beaming smile.

"What about you?"

"I am honestly afraid. Because the path His Highness walks is the path of a supreme ruler, I am terribly afraid of the blood that will flow in the process."

"You speak eloquently, but in the end, you are probably just worried that your precious daughter might get hurt."

Count Kirgayen put on a straight face.

"Absolutely not. As a noble worrying about the future of the kingdom..."

"Right. Let's say that's the case."

At the old marquis's dry response, the count mouthed silently before letting out a sigh.

"Put aside your worries about your daughter or the kingdom, and have a drink today."

Marquis Bielefeld raised his glass filled with red wine.

"For the future of the kingdom."

"May God's protection be upon the future of the kingdom."

Count Kirgayen said as he raised his glass to meet it.

CLINK!

The glasses clinked, and a clear sound rang out.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Right then, an urgent bell rang.

The marquis and the count, who had just put their glasses to their lips, stood up from their seats at the same time.

"His Excellency the Marquis!"

And a step later, the marquis's knight ran over and reported.

"The Northern army has marched right up to The Capital!"

* * *

On the walls surrounding The Capital, Siorin Kirgayen let out a groan.

An army numbering in the thousands was lined up on the plains. Fully armed and surrounding the walls as if they would attack at any moment.

Amidst the countlessly fluttering banners of the Northern families, a banner of a crouching lion was waving right in the center.

"My word, he makes such a racket every time he does something that my heart can't take it."

Looking at the pair of riders standing beneath the banner, Siorin shook his head.

"This is why I like His Highness! There is no one in The Capital who shows such spirit!"

In contrast, Marquis Bielefeld was laughing as if he found it amusing even while looking at the thousands of troops lined up with spears and swords in hand.

The old marquis laughed so loudly that the guards on the wall, who had been staring at the Northern army with tense faces, turned to look back.

"What is this. Could it be... it can't be?"

And not far away, the nobles, dispirited before the thousands of troops, were looking out over the walls with anxious faces.

The tightly closed gates of The Capital told the fact that the current situation was not an agreed-upon matter between the prince and the royal family.

Tense guards, tightly closed gates.

A single thought popped into the nobles' minds.

Rebellion.

That the prince, unable to bear watching the throne pass to his younger brother, had come here to usurp the throne by force.

That was what they thought.

"It's the royal messenger!"

Then someone shouted. Sure enough, looking back, a knight in golden armor who had passed through the main street of The Capital was running toward the gates.

CLANK CLANK.

The knight, holding the Royal House's banner in hand, climbed up onto the wall.

"His Majesty the King has ordered His Highness the Prince to enter The Capital alone!"

And with a booming voice, he advised the prince to enter alone.

The prince spurred his horse and arrived in front of the gate.

"Open the gates!"

At the Royal Knight's command, the captain of the gate guards hurriedly opened the gates.

CREAK CREAK.

The gates opened. The prince passed through the gates.

THUD.

And the gates closed once again.

"His Majesty has issued one more command!"

The royal messenger shouted. With a voice loud enough for everyone on the wall to hear.

"All nobles and royals within The Capital are to go to the Great Hall! Immediately!"

A stern voice that paid no mind to any refusal. With stiff faces, the nobles headed to the royal palace.

"Something is not right. It seems the First Prince has harbored treasonous intentions."

"Send a dispatch to Iron Lion Castle. In the worst-case scenario, we will take His Highness the Second Prince and His Excellency Marquis Montpellier and escape."

The nobles' errand boys scattered in all directions.

In the dead of night, the previously quiet Capital began to grow noisy.

* * *

The Great Hall of the Leonberk Royal Palace.

All the nobles of the kingdom who had arrived in The Capital gathered.

They clustered in small groups and condemned the prince's radical appearance.

"If that is truly the case, why did he enter The Capital alone? Unless he's crazy."

"They say the First Prince is a Sword Master. So he must have believed no one could do anything to him."

"How foolish. Does he think the Royal Knights are just for decoration?"

As if they had already accepted the prince's treason as a foregone conclusion, honorifics and respect for the royal family's eldest son were nowhere to be found in their conversation, no matter how hard one looked.

"The rightful ruler of the Leonberk Kingdom, the legitimate bloodline of His Majesty the King Lionel Leonberk, who is nobler than anyone else, the eldest son of the Royal House of Leonberk, His Highness the First Prince Adrian Leonberk is entering! Everyone bow your heads and show proper respect!"

The moment the royal chamberlain shouted, the nobles shut their mouths and bowed their heads as if on cue.

Bending their necks aggressively, as if something terrible would happen if they made eye contact.

STEP STEP.

In the silence, only the prince's footsteps rang out.

TAP.

And the prince's footsteps stopped.

The nobles raised their heads. The prince was standing right in front of the dais where the throne was placed.

Since his back was turned, they could not observe his expression and demeanor.

Then the royal chamberlain shouted once more.

"The rightful ruler of Leonberk, His Majesty the King Lionel Leonberk, who is nobler and wiser than anyone else, is entering! Everyone show proper respect and reverence to the monarch of the kingdom!"

Without even having time to gather their thoughts, the nobles knelt and bowed their heads again.

The clanking footsteps of the Royal Knights, the sound of the King walking while dragging his cape.

"Everyone, raise your heads."

Following that, the King's voice was heard.

The nobles raised their heads.

The King, seated on the throne upon the dais, was silently looking down at the Great Hall.

The kingdom's king, who had aged remarkably over the past two years, yet a sharp light lingered in his eyes like never before.

"I will speak directly. The reason I have gathered you, who must be busy with public and private affairs, here today is to cut out the rotten parts of the kingdom."

The nobles thought the rotten part of the kingdom the King spoke of was the First Prince, and believed that today, in this very place, the royal family would bid a permanent farewell to the vicious prince.

But that was not the case.

"And I intend to entrust the long-cherished desire of cutting out the kingdom's rotten parts to the prince."

The King personally came down from the dais and handed his treasured sword to the prince.

"Can you do it?"

"Just trust me."

Unable to endure the uncomfortable atmosphere, a certain great lord stepped forward and asked the King.

"Your Majesty! Please tell us what the rotten part of the kingdom is! We also wish to be of strength to His Highness the Prince!"

The King did not answer.

He merely looked down at the Great Hall with a cold face.

At that moment, the prince turned around.

Only then were the nobles able to see the prince's face.

The prince was smiling.

It was a terribly cold and fierce smile.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, one quick-witted noble backed away toward the doors of the Great Hall without anyone noticing.

TAP.

Then, feeling something cold touch his back, he turned around.

The Royal Knights were blocking the doors, having appeared at some unknown time.

"Without His Highness's permission, no one can leave this place."

Only after hearing the Royal Knight's voice and turning their heads did the nobles realize.

Who the rotten part that needed to be cut out for the future of the kingdom referred to.

"Those who have not a single speck of shame looking up to the heavens, stay still."

The prince drew the treasured sword.

"A sword has no eyes, so I fear my blade might harm the loyal ones."

Contrary to his words, he did not show a single ounce of worry.

And yet, his face looked so very delighted.

A few weak-hearted nobles ended up wetting their pants.