**Chapter 115: His Majesty the King Suffers II**
In the Demon Territory of the Subnock Plains, the leader of the Corruption Beasts, Subnock, has been defeated. The rampaging monsters that had been stirred into chaos by Subnock’s emergence from the depths were also eradicated by the knightly order led by Marquis Cattleya. The disturbance had, for the time being, been quelled.
However, the end of one turmoil heralds the onset of another.
“…So, the cause of this incident lies with Rodel, after all?”
“…It is likely, without a doubt.”
In the Royal Capital of the Aiwood Kingdom, within the palace at its heart, King Darvit Aiwood buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the report he had just received. The expression on the king’s face, who should stand at the pinnacle of the nation, was one of deep anguish and regret.
The Royal Academy hosts an annual event known as the Magic Hunt Festival. During this event, a sudden stampede of monsters erupted, unleashing dangerous creatures from the depths of the plains where the festivities were held. The resulting damage was significant. Twenty-three participants, including students and staff, lost their lives, while fifty-eight others sustained serious injuries. Some were so traumatized by witnessing their comrades devoured by monsters that they left the academy, mentally scarred. This event was meant to nurture the next generation of talent to support the Aiwood Kingdom, yet it resulted in the loss of many promising individuals.
A week had passed since the incident. The report from the king’s ministers revealed that the cause of the turmoil was linked to the king’s third son, Rodel Aiwood.
“We managed to recover the body of the Court Magician who had been attached to His Highness Rodel. Although it was ravaged by monsters, fortunately, the brain appears to be intact. Upon investigation, it seems that it was His Highness Rodel who provoked the Lord of the Demon Territory, Subnock, and the mastermind behind it is believed to be Marquis Aiger.”
“I would also like to report the findings of the knightly order. There are traces of a prohibited magical tool known as ‘Magic Lure’ being imported from another country, with several intermediaries involved… The buyer is suspected to be Marquis Aiger. We have placed surveillance on his mansion in the Royal Capital, so we can apprehend him at any time.”
The two who reported to the king were Chief Court Magician Albert Rosemary and Knight Commander Iljas Cattleya. Both had conducted their investigations from their respective positions and had arrived at the same conclusion regarding the same individual. At this point, there was no doubt about the involvement of Rodel and Marquis Aiger.
“What could they possibly want…?”
““““…………””””
The king’s anguished question was met with a heavy silence in the room. In the conference room deep within the palace, only six individuals were permitted entry: the king, his son Crown Prince Richard, and Second Prince Andrew, along with Albert, Iljas, and the Chancellor, Velios Crocus. The expressions of the six seated around the table were grave, resembling those at a funeral.
“…Father, may I speak?”
“Andrew, go ahead.”
“Yes.”
The Second Prince, who also served as the Student Council President of the academy, stood up.
“Considering my foolish brother’s mindset is a waste of time. The thoughts of a fool are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.”
“…………”
“However… it is clear that Marquis Aiger supports Rodel and wishes to see him as the next king. Therefore, this scheme may very well be part of that agenda.”
“What benefit would there be in unleashing monsters upon students? Wouldn’t Rodel simply bear the blame in the end?”
“Perhaps they did not intend to stop at just the students. It’s possible they were hoping for Subnock to attack the Royal Capital.”
“…………!”
The Lord of the Demon Territory, Subnock, had approached the Royal Capital twenty years ago, causing considerable chaos. It was nearly the same scenario again. Upon hearing his brother’s speculation, Crown Prince Richard murmured, “Hmm…”
“…So, they aimed to provoke Subnock to attack the Royal Capital, thereby weakening the Royal Faction?”
The Aiwood Kingdom was divided into several factions, with the Royal Faction being the mainstream group that supported the king and sought to establish Richard as the next monarch. Their goal was political stability and peaceful relations with other nations, striving to protect the kingdom without causing waves.
In contrast, Marquis Aiger belonged to the Reform Faction, or perhaps what could be called the Queen Dowager Faction. This group was not in favor of Richard becoming the next king. They sought to carry on the legacy of the former queen dowager, who had once gathered many followers as the ruler of the nation, and were backing Rodel, her favored candidate.
Andrew’s theory was that they aimed to topple the Royal Faction by inciting monsters to attack the Royal Capital.
“It’s also possible they were preparing to assault the palace at the same time the Royal Capital was under attack. They might have hidden ambushes within the city, targeting you and our brother…”
“…Indeed, if Subnock were to approach the Royal Capital, the palace would likely be left vulnerable.”
Richard grimly acknowledged his brother’s reasoning. It made sense. Though it was a forceful theory, it was coherent… yet it remained an unsettling thought.
“Even if the Royal Capital were to be destroyed, even if the Aiwood Kingdom faced annihilation… they would still want to place Rodel on the throne?”
Nobles should prioritize the nation above all else. Sacrificing the kingdom for personal ambition was utterly absurd. It was incomprehensible how one could arrive at such an extreme line of thinking.
“…Marquis Aiger was once a reasonable man.”
The Chancellor, Velios, muttered heavily.
“He stood alongside the Rosemary family as a renowned magical house, worked tirelessly for the abdication of the tyrant king, and played a crucial role in suppressing external forces and rebellious elements seeking to exploit the chaos. Without a doubt, he was one of the heroes supporting the nation…”
“…Anyone who became involved with the Queen Dowager has ended up twisted, just like our parents’ generation.”
Albert grimaced as he spoke, and Iljas nodded in agreement beside him.
Many who had come under the influence of the Queen Dowager, known for her extraordinary manipulation of public sentiment, had become unhinged. However, it was also true that the Queen Dowager could not be strictly classified as ‘evil.’ She was undoubtedly a key figure in overthrowing the tyrant and establishing the current peace.
“Reflecting on this, I realize… I truly am an incompetent king.”
The king’s self-deprecating expression twisted in pain.
“I could not correct my son, nor could I prevent the rampage of my minister, Marquis Aiger… and I failed to stop this incident from occurring. In hindsight, my father, though a tyrant, may have been a more competent king.”
The former king, a tyrant, was a wicked and selfish man, yet before being rendered powerless by the Queen Dowager, he had not allowed any seeds of rebellion to take root. While there may have been personal issues, his governance skills likely surpassed those of the current king.
“I do not believe His Majesty is at fault. Balancing internal strife and external threats is undeniably your achievement. There is little more that can be done under the current system.”
“…I hope that is true.”
The king let out a deep sigh, as heavy as the depths of the sea, in response to the Chancellor’s words.
With the tyrant king’s removal, central authority had collapsed. The power once held by the royal family had been dispersed among the nobility. While this had prevented the rise of another tyrant, it had also made it impossible for the king to punish clear traitors with his will alone. Thanks to the influential figures present, the regime could be maintained… but without them, the response to Marquis Aiger would have surely fallen further behind.
There was little that could be done. Still… for the sake of peace, they had to continue with symptomatic treatments.
“…Bring Marquis Aiger to the palace. With this much evidence gathered, there is no need for hesitation. If he resists, capture him.”
“Understood!”
Iljas nodded respectfully and mobilized the knightly order to apprehend Marquis Aiger.
However, when they arrived at the mansion of Marquis Aiger in the Royal Capital, they found only his family present. The marquis himself had vanished without a trace.
A few days later, Marquis Aiger, who held territory in the southern part of the Royal Capital, raised an army and declared war on the royal family, rallying behind the banner of Third Prince Rodel.