CHAPTER 604: THE GABELLA EMPIRE’S TURMOIL 2

TL: Rui88

“Sigrid has sent word. Prince Felix and Duke Dias are preparing to make their move in a week.”

Lady Redflame…Mariana’s name within the Arcane Society…stated the intelligence she had just received with a calm expression.

She was currently in a secret room. Antonio, Aldridge, Arvis, Ambolov, Carol, nine members of the Council of Ten, and several other officials who secretly supported the second prince were all gathered here, discussing the latest situation in the imperial capital.

Except for Siegfried and MacDonald, all the core members of Second Prince Antonio’s faction were here.

Ambolov frowned and said, “As expected, as soon as Marshal MacDonald and the army left, they couldn’t hold back anymore?”

His thick beard trembled, showing his master’s agitated state.

“Your Highness, I think we should act before them. Strike first to gain the advantage, or suffer the consequences of striking later.”

An old man in a black robe advised Antonio. His name was Doherty Matt, and he was the most prestigious wizard in the Arcane Society. Among this group of spellcasters with strange powers, he was second only to Antonio as a leader. Most people had never seen Master Matt cast his spells, but no one doubted his power.

Master Matt always wore a black robe, and even indoors, he often covered his face with the hood of his robe, making it difficult for others to see his face.

The leader of the Scholars’ Tower, Aldridge, also said to Antonio, “Master Matt’s suggestion is very reasonable. Now is the time when Felix and Dias are at their most arrogant. They think they have already secured victory, not knowing that we still have a hidden force of spellcasters in the imperial capital. Your Highness, this is a small but sharp dagger. If used at the right time and in the right place, it will play a role in turning everything around.”

The others also offered their suggestions to Antonio, with everyone in favor of immediately gathering their forces to eliminate the first prince’s faction.

Just as everyone reached a consensus, the central figure here, Antonio, showed a rare expression of anxiety and restlessness.

He stood up from his seat and paced back and forth beside the table without saying a word.

“Your Highness!” Master Ordennel, the spellcaster in the Council of Ten most skilled in mental magic, slowly stood up and said, “What are you still worried about?”

“My father…”

Antonio’s voice was a little hoarse. “How should I face him?”

The room fell into silence.

Overall, Bartley Griffin was a decent ruler.

But, unfortunately, he could not cope with the terrible situation foretold in the prophecy. Moreover, it was almost impossible for a monarch who had grown up in a traditional atmosphere to recognize the legal status of spellcasters. Ŗå₦∅₿ÈṦ

But spellcasters were to be the core force of their plans for the future. They had to be able to walk openly in the sunlight, and even occupy an important position in this country and on this continent.

Aldridge said with some gravity, “I know this is a painful choice. Bartley is a good father, but he leans too much towards the role of a father. As a monarch, he should be colder.”

“Our Gabellan tradition is that the capable should rise. Your Highness, with the merits you have repeatedly earned on the battlefield, he should have long ago declared you the heir to the throne. But because of his so-called paternal love, he didn’t want to see his other son, Felix, sad and lost, so he delayed his decision on his successor.”

“This has given Felix and some of the people around him illusions, and it has also created great doubt and uncertainty for more people. This doubt and uncertainty eventually spread throughout the country. People divided into two factions, fighting and scheming against each other. The empire’s strength was wasted on such meaningless activities.”

“So, Your Highness,” Aldridge said solemnly, “I, as a Gabellan, implore you to put an end to all this. Only by first uniting the empire can we unite this continent, and only by uniting this continent can we face the great enemy in the prophecy.”

Hearing his teacher’s words, Antonio asked with a hint of pain, “And after that? What should I do with my father?”

“Let him abdicate,” Aldridge suggested. “Let him live out the rest of his life in peace as the emperor’s father. I believe that he will eventually be proud of what you will do in the future.”

Antonio said nothing.

“Hehehehe!” a hoarse laugh rang out. It was another member of the Council of Ten, Enoch Christopher, a detestable fellow who liked to deal with poisons and corpses all day.

His head was bald, without a single hair…his entire head, not even eyebrows. His cheeks and body were terrifyingly thin, as if a layer of human skin was stretched over a skeleton.

“Your Highness,” Christopher said in a mocking tone, “please forgive me for speculating about your father with the greatest malice, or rather, what I say can be seen as a conspiracy theory.”

Christopher spoke terrible words in a normal tone, “Perhaps, the reason His Majesty the Emperor has delayed announcing his successor is precisely his intention. Making you and Felix fight each other is his true purpose. You see, as an emperor, your father is still very young and energetic. He doesn’t want to see a…”

“Silence!” Master Matt and Scholar Aldridge both shouted at Christopher.

Christopher shrugged, shrank back in his chair, and said no more.

Antonio stood there quietly, his back to the crowd.

Perhaps Christopher’s words had provoked him.

“Sigh,” the second prince sighed, “this will be a life-and-death struggle.”

Carol stood up, slowly walked to his side, and placed her soft hand on Antonio’s shoulder, her eyes full of affection.

“Your Highness, we will all be by your side.”

Antonio nodded. “Alright, then let’s take action immediately.”

When he turned around, the hesitation and anxiety from before had completely vanished. In the eyes of the crowd, the imperial prince who was invincible on the battlefield had returned.

“Master Matt, Lady Redflame, secretly gather the spellcasters near the palace and be ready to assemble at any moment.”

“Yes, Your Highness, we will do it.”

“Ambolov, use your identity as captain of the guard to keep a close watch on the movements of Felix, Dias, and the others when they leave the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Ambolov stood up. He was even more excited; His Highness had finally made up his mind.

“Master Arvis,” the prince looked at the scholar, “you go and contact MacDonald and Siegfried. There are several places around the imperial capital that need attention…”

“As for my teacher, Master Aldridge, you must prepare for the public opinion response after our operation succeeds…”