Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 326
C326
“I apologize.”
Thump.
As soon as Baros completed his salutation, he bowed his head and struck it against the ground in a gesture of remorse.
There was no necessity for lengthy clarifications.
Pathetic justifications were one of the things the Emperor detested the most; a direct apology was the most appropriate action.
“Do you comprehend why you were summoned?”
“Yes. I have tarnished Your Majesty’s authority due to my own greed. Please, penalize me.”
Thump. Thump.
While Baros continued to hit his forehead against the floor, blood swiftly began to mark his brow. Nevertheless, even with this extreme demonstration of self-punishment, the somber atmosphere in the throne room remained unaltered.
“…Numerous incidents have occurred recently. Nonetheless, your transformation has been remarkably surprising in many aspects.”
Baros swallowed nervously at the Emperor’s words, which sounded optimistic yet tinged with despair.
“Violating taboos can be counterbalanced by subjugating the enemies of those taboos; however, you cannot justify encroaching on the Emperor’s authority.”
Upon hearing the Emperor’s ongoing comments, Baros turned pale, just as a human head rolled across the floor with a dull thud.
Beneath the ordinary brown hair, he observed lifeless brown eyes, which sent chills down Baros’s spine.
“You recognize who it is, do you not?”
Certainly, he had to recognize.
The instructor of the Imperial Special Surveillance Department, the one who had manipulated orders at Baros’s request.
Could this truly signify my demise?
His heart raced, and his vision blurred.
Yet he did not overlook what he had to accomplish now.
Thump.
Baros again brought his forehead to the ground.
“I apologize. I repent.”
Requesting forgiveness would only enrage the Emperor.
Baros desired only one thing: to secure his destiny.
Dum-dum.
Just as Baros’s heart felt like it would burst from its pounding.
“…I will grant you one opportunity.”
Baros’s expression turned bewildered at the Emperor’s sudden statement.
Clap.
A report was placed before him by an unfamiliar attacker.
As he lifted his bloodied brow to peruse the contents, astonishment flooded his features.
Though it was an excessively verbose diplomatic document, one particular sentence immediately caught his attention.
“Representative of the imperial family?”
“Honorary Cardinal?”
At that moment, Baros’s eyes trembled.
“As you suggested, it appears the Black Serpent has effectively overtaken the Holy Kingdom.”
Hoo.
‘To demonstrate results, indeed.’
A silent groan escaped him, and realizing he had not intended to make that noise, the Emperor continued in a composed tone.
“Go to the Holy Kingdom. Represent the Empire’s intentions there. I will factor your accomplishments in the line of succession to the throne.”
How could he possibly decline this opportunity presented to him?
“Your Majesty is exceedingly kind.”
Thump.
Once again, Baros bowed his head to the floor, rejoicing in the fact that he had survived and remained a contender for the throne.
The pain from his forehead bore no importance.
“What are your thoughts?”
In the vacant courtroom where Baros had exited, only the Emperor’s voice softly echoed.
Ultimately, a response returned as if it were the most evident thing in the world.
– No conflict has been reported from the Holy Kingdom yet.
“That indicates peril.”
– Yes, indeed. We cannot ascertain how far their sorcery has extended.
“Indeed… Until investigations conclude, all other royal family members except Baros are to remain in the palace. Particularly that Klid.”
– Yes, I will relay that. But what of the Second Prince…?
“I selected this piece. Whether it blossoms as a flower or withers away, I will assume responsibility. Utilize the Holy Kingdom as a vantage point to the adversary, but keep it under continuous surveillance. Relevant matters will be handled confidentially for the time being.”
– Yes, understood. But what about the qualifications for the heir?
“….If the Emperor of the Empire can also serve as the Pope of the Holy Kingdom, it will evolve into an enduring flower piece. For now, we shall wait and see.”
– … Yes. Everything is as Your Majesty desires.
* * *
“Baros is journeying to the Holy Kingdom?”
A large young man with a square jaw grimaced, his deep voice reverberating.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What about the punishment for looting the spirits?”
“…It seems there was none.”
The young man, the First Prince Klid Van Ares, grew even sterner at those words.
“What in the world does our father…?”
His voice, muttered almost as an afterthought, reverberated with profound doubts and anxieties.
The recorder, Clumbel, who had been reporting before him, mirrored the unease in his expression.
“Could it be that the Emperor has already made up his mind…?”
A cross-shaped scar running from his brow to his lip twitched, revealing his growing concern.
“…No, he wouldn’t.”
Was it an expectation or a conviction?
The one who uttered it lacked any real confidence in the claim.
– Your Highness, there’s a message from the Emperor.
From outside the door, a guard shouted.
Suddenly, a chill coursed through him.
“Enter.”
Klid struggled to suppress his ominous premonition as he beckoned the soldier inside.
“The Emperor commanded that until further notice, all royals must remain within the palace. Especially, Your Highness.”
Hearing this, Klid’s expression hardened further.
“So Baros is dispatched to the Holy Kingdom, yet I am under involuntary house arrest?”
A mix of trepidation and anger threatened to seep into his voice.
As the most formidable of the princes, Klid pressed down upon the reporting knight.
“…I don’t know the specifics. Your Highness, please forgive…”
Just barely managing to withstand the overwhelming pressure, the palace knight gasped, and only then did Klid realize his misstep.
“I understand. You may depart.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you, Your Highness.”
After the knight hastily departed, Klid let out a deep sigh as he leaned against the wall beside him.
“…What could this signify?”
Yet questioning the significance brought no assurance to Clumbel’s silence.
Given the present circumstances, it was impossible to view the situation positively.
“It seems Baros has committed some act…”
Klid remembered the countenance of his half-brother, who had returned after vanishing for a while.
He seemed to be someone who pretended to care for his surroundings while regarding everyone as mere pawns.
No, in times of distress, he would sever connections and shift blame like a lizard losing its tail.
Upon hearing Baros’s true feelings exposed, Klid had endured yet another shock.
He assumed his rival had merely grown, which was never a welcome thought.
In this dreadful competition awaiting the vanquished, the ascent of a rival was anything but heartening.
And the current situation felt like that apprehension had become a pressing reality.
“…I would recommend against premature assumptions, Your Highness. Let’s gather more information regarding the circumstance first.”
“Agreed. Nonetheless, if the Emperor instructs us to keep silent, what am I to do…?”
“Isn’t Dongik Wang present? He has recently been with Prince Baros, and perhaps he might give you a little hint.”
“…He also happens to be Baros’s uncle.”
“Dongik Wang wouldn’t be someone to fixate on bloodlines. As long as you are likely to become an Emperor, he’ll wish to maintain at least a tenuous connection.”
“…Yeah, that seems plausible.”
The mere notion of owing a debt to a person with whom he shared no resemblance or kinship only served to heighten Klid’s displeasure.
False familiarity—someone who always pretended to be close while smiling broadly.
In the past, it felt as though he had deluded himself into believing he was tolerated among royal kin. Now, he clearly comprehended.
Among the refuse linked to the royal family, Dongik Wang was unquestionably the least reliable.
Yet presently, there were no alternatives.
“Connect to Dongik Wang, then. No, directly to Dongik Wang himself. Do so discreetly, without others knowing.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
* * *
[Heh. I grasp your requirements; nevertheless, this is a rather delicate topic, you know?]
Dongik Wang, Gerard von Aserian, bore a sly grin that remained disconcerting.
Yet Klid, concealing his unease, inclined his head as impassively as usual.
“Please furnish me with at least what you can disclose. I will not forget your kindness.”
[Ha-ha, the esteemed First Prince bowing his head? Hmm… I suppose there’s no evading it. Therefore, I can divulge a bit to you.]
As he caught the gleam in Dongik Wang’s turquoise eyes, Klid felt a surge of foreboding wash over him.
Such expressions always heralded unfavorable outcomes.
‘I must discern cautiously.’
With that determination, he was prepared for the next phase of interaction.
“Even if you’ve stated that much, do not present me with hollow words.”
[Hmm. I’m uncertain I’ll be able to confirm anything, but…]
Dongik Wang’s expression shifted, his voice lowering to a near whisper as he leaned closer.
[I suspect the Emperor has selected the Second Prince Baros as his heir.]
Klid could hear a crackle beneath his feet with that assertion.
The sound reverberated in the depths of his emotions. He clenched his jaw, tightly repressing the rage surging forth.
“The Emperor would never…”
“Emperors do whatever is necessary for the Empire. You know that as well as anyone, right? While he confines you within the palace and dispatches Baros to the Holy Kingdom to make his mark, every moment lost equates to your competition drawing near.”
Dongik Wang’s words trailed off, yet Klid could not succumb to any of it.
“…The Emperor cannot possibly follow such a course of action.”
“The Emperor does whatever benefits the Empire—surely you understand? As you remain restrained in the palace, if Baros attains success in the Holy Kingdom and proves himself, it might jeopardize the competitive nature of succession.”
Though Dongik Wang’s tone remained mischievous, Klid was slowly losing his grasp.
“That’s absolute nonsense! The Emperor is still constrained by the rules governing the succession battle!”
His fury ignited the air around them. Klid felt himself losing control over the situation and began to articulate the weight of his concerns.
“Is my father genuinely the sort to act without consideration?”
[You could say that. In truth, what the Emperor seeks is—]
At that moment, the connection abruptly terminated, pulling Klid from his maelstrom of anger.
Dongik Wang’s words vanished the moment he was torn from rationale.
“What foolishness?”
They were the inexplicable musings of folly that crushed his trust.
In all honesty, Klid doubted any of it.
Yet, knowing this alone meant he couldn’t merely sit idly by, with further contemplations—
“Nevertheless, if I do nothing while Baros endeavors to ingratiate himself to the Emperor, my chances of survival will diminish.”
Even while driving away distractions from before, the ebbs of his thoughts still lingered, returning like a tide.
Nothing else could grant him reliability, yet all he would do is attempt to stave off the impending demise that loomed ahead.
“Everything must revolve around this urgency. I cannot risk losing my opportunity.”
Taking a deep breath, Klid began to devise a plan.
“Collaborate with Dongik Wang. Ensure we seize any opportunity. We shall plunge headfirst into the fray.”
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