Choi Hyun-seok wandered the streets aimlessly after leaving the palace.

He was walking to organize his thoughts.

Suddenly when he looked around, he found himself in a deserted alley, and as if she had been waiting, Rachel appeared.

“Hero!”

Rachel shouted while putting her hands on her hips.

“Why are you angry again.”

“Rachel is disappointed! I knew hero was a pervert, but this crosses the line!”

Choi Hyun-seok heaved a deep sigh.

“Rachel. I knew you were stupid, but this crosses the line. How can you say such things when you’ve been with me all day!”

There’s a limit to how stupid one can be.

To believe such an absurd testimony after being with him for 24 hours straight.

“Do I look like someone who would do such things in the first place!? Am I the kind of person who would do such perverted things!?”

“Yes!”

Rachel nodded firmly with a resolute expression.

Choi Hyun-seok quickly reached out and grabbed Rachel’s collar.

“Eeek! The pervert caught the fairy!”

“You little rascal!”

“Everyone! There’s a molester! A molester!”

After shaking Rachel’s collar for who knows how long.

Choi Hyun-seok sat down on a wooden bench with a tired expression.

“Sigh, what’s the point of talking with you.”

“Ughh… The world is spinning…”

Rachel was also completely exhausted, lying sprawled on the bench.

“Hero…”

“What.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean what am I going to do?”

“You were kicked out of the palace. Isn’t this a big problem?”

“It’s not a big deal. Rather, it’s better this way.”

Choi Hyun-seok continued speaking calmly.

“The fact that they would use such dirty tricks to get rid of me means something is definitely going to happen at that party.”

He was suspicious from the start, but now he is 100 percent certain.

On the day of the party.

Whether it’s Ian or Gatren, they’re planning to cause some incident at the palace.

“That’s why I deliberately left while showing more anger. I needed to show them that I had definitely left the palace.”

“That’s what it was?”

“Of course. If they knew I stayed, they would be more cautious, right?”

Leaving the palace without explaining himself.

And not only that but causing a scene by even spitting in front of the palace – there was calculation behind these actions.

Rachel’s eyes sparkled as if seeing him in a new light.

“I’m sorry. I just thought you were angry because they hit a sore spot.”

“You’re really going to die.”

“Just kidding, kidding. Hehe.”

Rachel smiled and rolled away from the bench to escape.

Choi Hyun-seok heaved a deep sigh and got up from the bench.

“Where are you going?”

“First I need to completely leave the capital. They probably have surveillance on me. They’ll at least want to confirm whether I’ve left the capital city Chersilton.”

To reassure them, he needed to show that he had completely left this city.

“Once we’re outside the capital, I’ll need to contact someone right away.”

“Are you going to contact the Drason Empire?”

Drason had already helped Choi Hyun-seok create a fake identity before.

If he asked for help, they would probably solve the problem in a similar way this time too.

But Choi Hyun-seok shook his head.

“No. I won’t contact the Drason Empire.”

“Why not?”

“Because things could go wrong. It’s better if Drason doesn’t know about this.”

This incident involves nobles from the Kingdom of Chersi.

And half of those nobles were connected to the Drason Empire.

“Would Drason just stand by and watch if nobles who support them get hurt? They’ll definitely make some kind of move. If that happens, the situation could become more complicated.”

They couldn’t ignore the possibility that things could go in the wrong direction.

“This needs to be handled quietly without Drason knowing.”

“Then who are you going to contact?”

“A reliable supporter.”

Drason Empire isn’t Choi Hyun-seok’s only supporter.

In fact, there exists a much more trustworthy and reliable supporter than Drason.

He took out a communication crystal from his inventory and started contacting someone.

***

At the same time.

Ian Del Chersi was having a conversation with his close aides in his office.

“So it ended up like that.”

He heard the palace was in an uproar since morning, and now they say Dugal Polkil had left.

“A terrible scandal broke out. They say he even harassed the first priestess of the Deusis faith.”

“Hahaha! That’s interesting.”

Ian laughed until tears formed in his eyes as if it was truly amusing.

The aide spoke with a rather serious expression.

“This is no laughing matter. The princess could be in danger…”

“No. This is clearly someone’s false accusation.”

“What…?”

“Though we haven’t known each other long, Sir Dugal didn’t seem like someone who would do such things.”

Ian recalled Dugal Polkil’s appearance.

The man who had stared at her in a daze.

To put it more directly, he was someone whose face showed everything like a fool.

Could someone who could barely speak properly due to nervousness harass women in the palace?

It was impossible.

“It must be a false accusation. Though it’s obvious who did it.”

Her younger brother, Kian Del Chersi.

It was clearly his doing.

Since they even mobilized a priest from the Deusis faith, it was 99 percent certain.

Since Kian had close ties with Gatren.

Getting a priest involved wouldn’t have been too difficult.

“Anyway, though I feel sorry for Sir Dugal. This worked out well for us.”

Ian smiled gently.

From her perspective, this incident had no downsides.

No, rather, it was a welcome situation.

In any case, Dugal Polkil was an unstable variable.

Moreover, he was a variable with enough power to twist all their plans.

Having such a person remain in the palace wasn’t a good situation.

But since Kian took care of driving him out, it was clearly good news.

“The question is why Kian went to such lengths to remove Lord Dugal…”

However, one question remains.

Why did Kian drive out Dugal Polkil by falsely accusing him?

Kian and Dugal Polkil had no particular connection.

They weren’t even in a position to have any grudges.

“Could he have noticed our plans?”

“That’s impossible. We moved so carefully… Even if he had noticed, there’s no causal relationship with driving out Lord Dugal.”

Though she pondered for a while, no answer came to mind.

Ian sighed and stood up from her seat.

“Anyway, the operation will proceed as planned.”

She had no intention of backing down just because something felt off.

She would carry out the planned operation as scheduled.

“With the continent’s attention focused now, this is our chance to shake off the clutches of the two empires. It’s a golden opportunity that won’t come again.”

The trapped king said.

That he would make the Kingdom of Chersi a peaceful neutral kingdom.

The idea is good, but it’s unrealistic.

Chersi can never stand alone.

Not in the current situation where the empires’ influence runs deep.

“I will make this kingdom truly independent.”

Ian’s eyes held firm resolve.

***

“Hahaha! As expected of Lord Delosi!”

“Madam Dorn. How does your skin keep getting more beautiful?”

Time passed and finally, it was the day of the party.

The palace banquet hall was filled with nobles.

It was a large-scale banquet with over 200 people.

All nobles with any significant influence in the Kingdom of Chersi were gathered.

Ian was looking down at the banquet hall from the royal family’s elevated position.

“Your Majesty.”

She called to King Mollin who was beside her.

Her gaze still fixed on the banquet hall below.

“What is it?”

“I wonder how many of them have ties with the empire.”

The king’s expression subtly hardened at the sudden question.

“Why do you ask such a thing?”

“Just curious.”

“Today is a joyous day. Let’s discuss such matters another time.”

King Mollin tried to avoid the conversation.

However, Ian ignored his intention and continued her words.

“At least half.”

“…”

“Any lord of a large territory must have connections with the empire.”

“Stop it.”

“Even if Kian or Logan becomes the next king, the situation won’t change. No, rather, the empire’s influence will only grow deeper.”

“Ian, enough!”

The king’s voice rose as he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“…”

Silence fell over the party.

Everyone was looking at the king and Ian.

Ian calmly stood up from her seat.

“I had to make a decision. Because at this rate, Chersi’s future is crystal clear.”

That’s when the commotion started.

The banquet hall doors opened and armed royal knights rushed in.

The surprised nobles’ murmuring grew louder.

Ian clapped her hands to gather attention.

“Everyone. I apologize, but I need your cooperation for a moment.”

“Princess! What are you doing!”

“Your Majesty! Please say something! Armed knights in the banquet hall! This cannot be!”

The king didn’t say anything.

He just stared at Ian with a complex expression.

Finally, some nobles got up from their seats.

“Damn! I need to get out of here.”

“Move aside! The party is over!”

The nobles tried to push past the royal knights, but they didn’t budge.

“It’s useless. None of you can leave this place until dawn.”

At Ian’s signal, the knights began binding the nobles one by one.

The nobles resisted, but it was futile.

The royal knights were the kingdom’s finest elite.

They were far beyond what nobles softened by comfortable lives could handle with mere strength.

“From now on, I will cast mind control magic on all of you. There might be side effects since I need to place strong suggestions, but I promise you won’t lose your lives.”

“Mind control! What kind of mind control are you talking about!”

“It’s simple. I’ll leave a strong suggestion to follow Ian Del Chersi.”

Ian, who had no support base, had no choice but to do this to ascend to the throne.

Naturally, resistance erupted from all around.

“Princess! Do you think you’ll be safe after doing this!”

“The Gatren Empire won’t stand idle!”

“The Drason Empire will be the same!”

“It’s not too late! Release us and apologize immediately!”

Ian bit her lip hard.

“Empire! Empire! That damned empire!”

“…”

“There’s really nothing in your heads except the empires! Why can’t you see that this rotten thinking is eating away at the Kingdom of Chersi!?”

Ian shouted as if venting her frustration.

The nobles kept their mouths shut tight.

A moment of silence passed.

Ian gave orders to the royal knights.

“Bring Kian.”

At Ian’s command, the knights seized the first prince Kian Del Chersi.

Kian frowned and pushed away the knight.

“Take your filthy hands off me. I’ll walk on my own.”

The knight bowed and guided Kian forward.

Finally, looking at her brother standing before her, Ian wore a sad expression.

“I’m sorry, Kian. The brainwashing process won’t be too painful, so please bear with it a little.”

Kian snorted.

“Ha, do you think this kingdom can survive without the empires?”

“Why do you think it can’t?”

“Sister, you’re just a dreamer. You don’t realize what terrible disasters your arrogance will bring.”

“No matter what you say, my mind won’t change.”

“Can you handle it? You’ll regret this.”

Ian turned around and muttered.

“I’ve already had enough regrets…”

She spoke to the royal magician who was standing by.

“Let’s begin. We need to move quickly to cast mind control magic on everyone before dawn.”

“Yes.”

The magician extended his staff.

As magical power gathered, bright light burst forth from the staff.

Just before the staff touched Kian’s head.

Slash-!

A sword flying from somewhere cut off the magician’s arm.

“Arghh!”

The magician writhed in pain.

Blood sprayed from the severed surface of the arm.

Amid the chaos with screams echoing from all directions.

“What’s happening!?”

“Enemies!”

The doors opened and masked assailants rushed in.

They instantly surrounded the royal knights and attacked.

“Aaaagh!”

“You bastards!”

Blood and screams filled the banquet hall.

The banquet hall was engulfed in chaos.

While everyone was shocked.

Only Kian smiled leisurely.

“I told you you’d regret it.”

“How…!?”

Ian’s eyes widened.

By now, she had no choice but to realize.

‘Information leaked…’

The assailants who rushed in as if they had been waiting.

They must have been prepared already.

Despite being so careful about maintaining secrecy.

In the end, the information had leaked out.

“Ah, no…!”

Swoosh-!

The battle went one-sidedly.

The royal knights were overwhelmingly outnumbered.

Just thirty royal knights couldn’t stop the assailants.

Their identity was assassins secretly dispatched by the Gatren Empire.

Their individual combat ability rivaled that of the royal knights.

And since they were overwhelmed in numbers, there was no hope for the royal knights.

“Noble ladies and gentlemen of the Kingdom of Chersi. Do not worry. All matters have been resolved.”

Kian said while looking around.

By now, all the royal knights were dead.

Only the masked assailants surrounded the area.

The nobles rushed to praise Kian.

“As expected of Prince Kian!”

“You already knew about Princess Ian’s plot and prepared for it! Amazing!”

Kian nodded and picked up a wine bottle.

He gulped down the wine straight from the bottle and said.

“Kuhh! I merely did what had to be done. As royalty, it’s natural duty to protect the nobles who are like pillars of the kingdom.”

The nobles’ praise grew even stronger at Kian’s words.

“How can he be so wise!”

“Hahaha! The future of the Kingdom of Chersi is bright. If Prince Kian becomes king, Chersi will surely achieve unprecedented wealth and military power…”

As one noble’s shower of praise continued.

Suddenly Kian struck the noble’s head with the wine bottle.

Crash!

A sharp noise rang out as the bottle shattered.

The noble collapsed on the floor with his head soaked in what might have been blood or wine.

“…”

In the chilling silence, Kian gave a cold laugh.

“How amusing. A fool who tied himself to the Drason Empire dares to say such things now.”

He picked up another wine bottle and said.

“Clean up.”

The swords of the surrounding assailants swung toward the nobles.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking chapters. [br] Full novel is available for purchase @ /IppoTranslations. [/br]

https://ko-fi.com/ippostranslations