Chapter 115: His Majesty the King in Distress II
In the Demon Realm Sabnock Plains, the master of the corrupted beasts, Sabnock, has been defeated. His emergence from the depths had incited the rampaging monsters, but they were quelled by the knights led by Marquis Cattleya. The turmoil seemed to have been suppressed for the time being.
However, the end of one disturbance heralded the onset of another.
“…So, the cause of this incident lies with Rodel, after all?”
“…It’s likely, without a doubt.”
In the Royal Capital of the Aiwood Kingdom, within the palace at its heart, King David Aiwood buried his face in his hands on the desk, overwhelmed by the reports he had received. The expression on the king’s face, who was supposed to stand at the pinnacle of the nation, was one of deep anguish and regret.
The Royal Academy held an annual event known as the Monster Hunting Festival. Suddenly, a stampede of monsters erupted, and dangerous creatures poured forth from the depths of the plains where the event was taking place. The resulting damage was significant. Twenty-three participants, including students and staff, lost their lives, while fifty-eight sustained serious injuries. Some who witnessed their comrades being devoured by monsters were so traumatized that they left the academy, their minds shattered. 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 investigation conducted by the king’s ministers revealed that the cause of the turmoil lay with the king’s third son, Rodel Aiwood.
“We were able to recover the body of the court magician assigned to Prince Rodel. Although it was ravaged by monsters, fortunately, the brain remained intact. Upon investigation, it appears that it was Prince Rodel who provoked the master of the Demon Realm, Sabnock, and the mastermind behind this is believed to be Marquis Aiger.”
“I would also like to report the findings of the knights. There are traces of the forbidden magic tool, ‘Magic Attractant,’ being imported from another country. Several intermediaries were involved, but 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 reports were delivered to the king by Albert Rosemary, the Court Mage Director, and Iljas Cattleya, the Knight Commander. Both had conducted their investigations from their respective positions and had uncovered the same individual behind the chaos. At this point, there was no doubt regarding the involvement of Rodel and Marquis Aiger.
“What were they trying to achieve…?” the king lamented, his expression one of torment.
“‘…’”
A heavy silence filled the room in response to the king’s anguished question. In the conference room deep within the palace, only six individuals were permitted entry. They included the king, his son Crown Prince Richard, and the second prince Andrew, along with Albert, Iljas, and Velios Crocus, the Chancellor. The expressions of the six seated at the table were grave, reminiscent of a funeral.
“…Father, may I speak?” Andrew, the second prince and Student Council President, stood up.
“Andrew, go ahead,” the king replied.
“Yes.”
Andrew continued, “It’s a waste of time to ponder the thoughts of my foolish younger brother. The musings 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 having monsters attack students? Wouldn’t Rodel just be held responsible in the end?”
“Perhaps they did not intend to stop at just the students. It’s possible they were hoping for Sabnock to attack the Royal Capital.”
“…!”
The master of the Demon Realm, Sabnock, had threatened the Royal Capital twenty years ago, causing significant chaos. It seemed that a similar incident was on the verge of occurring once more. Hearing his brother’s speculation, Crown Prince Richard pondered, “Hmm… So, they aimed to have Sabnock attack the Royal Capital to weaken the Royalist Faction?”
The Aiwood Kingdom was divided into several factions, with the Royalist Faction being the mainstream group supporting the king and advocating for Richard as the next king. Their goal was to stabilize the regime and maintain peaceful relations with other nations, safeguarding the kingdom without causing waves.
In contrast, Marquis Aiger belonged to the Reformist Faction, or perhaps what could be called the Queen Dowager Faction. This group did not favor Richard becoming the next king. They sought to carry on the legacy of the late Queen Dowager, who had once gathered many followers as the ruler of the nation, and they were backing Rodel, her favored candidate.
Andrew theorized that they might have plotted to attack the Royalist Faction by inciting monsters to assault the Royal Capital.
“Perhaps they were preparing to strike the palace at the same time the Royal Capital was under attack. They might have hidden ambushes within the city, targeting you and Father…”
“…Indeed, if Sabnock approached the Royal Capital, the palace would have been left vulnerable,” Richard acknowledged his brother’s reasoning with a grim expression. It made sense; while it was a stretch, it was a plausible theory. Yet, it was still a difficult thought to accept.
“Even if the Royal Capital might be destroyed, and the Aiwood Kingdom might face annihilation… they would still want to place Rodel on the throne?”
Nobles should prioritize the nation above all else. Sacrificing the country for ambition was utterly counterproductive. It was incomprehensible how one could arrive at such an extreme line of thinking.
“…Marquis Aiger was once a reasonable man,” Velios, the Chancellor, murmured heavily.
“He stood alongside the Rosemary Marquis House as a family of magical prowess, worked tirelessly for the abdication of the tyrannical former king, and played a crucial role in suppressing external forces and rebel factions seeking to exploit the chaos. Without a doubt, he was one of the heroes supporting the nation…”
“…Those who became involved with the Queen Dowager have all gone astray, just like our parents’ generation,” Albert grimaced, and Iljas nodded in agreement beside him.
Many had lost their way after coming under the influence of the Queen Dowager, who possessed an extraordinary ability to manipulate people’s hearts. However, it was also true that the Queen Dowager could not be strictly classified as ‘evil.’ She had undoubtedly been 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 said, his expression twisted in self-deprecation.
“I could not correct my son, allowed the rampage of my minister, Marquis Aiger, and failed to prevent this crisis. Looking back, my father, despite being a tyrant, may have been a more capable king.”
The former king, a tyrant, had been a wicked and selfish man, yet he had not allowed any seeds of rebellion to take root until he was rendered powerless by the Queen Dowager. 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. Maintaining balance while facing internal troubles and external threats is undoubtedly your achievement. There is little more that can be done under the current system,” the Chancellor reassured him.
“…I hope that is the case,” the king sighed deeply, like the depths of the sea.
With the tyrant king removed, centralization had crumbled. The power once held by the royal family had been dispersed among the nobles. While this had prevented the emergence of another tyrant, it had also made it impossible for the king to punish clear traitors solely by his will. Thanks to the influential figures present, the regime could be maintained, but without them, the response to Marquis Aiger would have surely lagged even further.
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 restraint. If he resists, capture him.”
“Understood!” Iljas nodded respectfully and moved to mobilize the knights 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 mysteriously vanished.
A few days later, Marquis Aiger, who held territory in the southern part of the Royal Capital, raised his banner and declared war against the royal family, using Third Prince Rodel as his standard.