Published at 2nd of February 2021 12:34:58 PM
Chapter 78
Chapter 78 – The heir to the throne
The mansion in the Imperial Capital of Marquis Cliffdorf was in the northwestern part of Simurgh, where the mansions of the nobles were located . They were the most powerful nobles at present, and their grounds and mansion were much larger than those of other nobles . In the great hall of the mansion, a great evening feast was being held .
The guests were all nobles belonging to the Cliffdorf faction and high-ranking military men . Although it was not as grand as the banquet organized by the emperor to entertain Raul, the magnificence was on a scale that no other noble could imitate .
Jade, who attended with his father Welt, Duke Cliffdorf, was meeting with a person in another room .
Neumann Erz Root Lemmrousell . Imperial prince, third in line to the throne .
The prince was a relative of Jade and also the betrothed of Stacia, the first daughter of Duke Mavis . The nobles of the empire enjoyed martial arts that included swordsmanship, but Prince Neumann was physically plump, and the hand that held his tea was soft and fleshy .
Countess Gaunaherz, on her mother’s side, was from a noble family linked to House Cliffdorf, and although originally a viscount, the daughter of the Gaunaherz family gave birth to the emperor’s son as a concubine and elevated her title to count . Thanks to the fortune granted by the emperor due to the birth of the daughter, the Gaunaherz family now left the management of the territory to their governor and lived in the imperial capital to enjoy themselves . They were typical upstart nobles who wore the fashionable clothes of the imperial nobility and went to and from various nightclubs every night .
Prince Neumann, who had such relatives, was also a man with a strong desire to express himself . He was very proud to be a prince and took advantage of his position to do favors for his mother’s relatives and was pleased when they thanked him . He was presented with a gift that had been prepared for him and was kindly thanked for having accepted the invitation to the evening feast . After that, the conversation was continued so that Prince Neumann felt better for a while . And then, as if in the course of small talk, they began to talk .
“By the way, Your Highness, did you know that there has been a large recruitment of commoners lately, led by Prince Alfred?”
“You mean Cornelia’s servant?”
Cornelia was second in line to the throne and above Neumann in the court hierarchy, but Neumann called her casually to emphasize that she was his sister . Jade did not mention the servant, but said that more and more commoners were becoming knights .
“When His Highness Alfred becomes Emperor, His Highness Neumann will probably be relegated to vassal . Moreover, because of His Highness Alfred, who doesn’t want us nobles to become stronger, you will definitely be treated coldly after such an event happens . ”
“That’s impossible… we’re still brothers, even though we have different mothers, right?”
“It’s because you are siblings . No matter what era or what kind of ruler it is, what is most feared is a brother who shares the same blood . If you unravel history, you’ll find many precedents . ”
“Y-You’re saying I should rebel against my brother?”
“His Highness Neumann’s maternal family, the House of Countess Gaunaherz, has been gaining strength lately thanks to the Emperor’s favor . ”
“T-That’s true . And I have plenty of backing . I can’t let my brother do such things at his pleasure, can I, Jade?”
“Of course, House Cliffdorf will always be on His Highness’s side . But that is why His Highness Alfred would fear if you had the power to be the standard bearer of our nobles . Besides, my family does not agree with His Highness the Crown Prince’s policy of giving importance to mere commoners and believes that the traditional nobility should lead the people . And you, Your Highness, could be our advocate . ”
Notably, Neumann had never made his position clear as an advocate for House Cliffdorf, but Jade was already speaking as if Neumann were the head of his faction .
“If His Highness Neumann, who is our defender, is turned into a mere vassal and then punished for some crime, we will have no choice but to keep quiet . No, rather, I think there is a high possibility that His Highness will be executed as an example…”
“That’s ridiculous… ridiculous…”
Neumann’s expression turned pale, a complete turnaround from the arrogant attitude he had when he received Jade’s gift . The future Jade spoke of was a fact that could be seen everywhere in the long history of the Empire .
“But the woman who will be my wife is Miss Stacia of House Mavis, who has close ties to the Imperial family . ”
“The servant of Princess Cornelia that you mentioned earlier is a close friend of that Mavis family’s third daughter, Leticisama, and Her Imperial Highness and Leticisama also have a close relationship . It is also rumored that Leticisama herself does not get along very well with the Mavis family . As for which side the Imperial Family will take if the situation arises…”
“So, what am I supposed to do…?”
Neumann clutched his head in his hands . He still believed that his current position as prince would last forever . No, not only he, but also all his relatives still believed it . But that didn’t mean it would last forever . It was true that, as Jade said, if he was demoted to vassalage, he would lose his right to inherit the throne . Besides, Alfred, who would become emperor, would undoubtedly see Neumann, who had royal family blood, as an eyesore .
“…What the hell am I supposed to do?”
If one thought about it, there was no guarantee that Alfred would strip Neumann of his imperial title, but Neumann had fully assumed that he would be relegated to vassalage as Jade had said . Up until now, Neumann had been brought up to take it for granted that the people around him would solve any problems he had . If he wanted to, those around him would think of the problem and solve it . Now, he was faced with a difficult complication . A problem that seemed to have no way out for him . Now, in Neumann’s mind, he must have been searching for a convenient answer . Jade repaired the smile on his face and spoke a few words so she could get inside his mind .
“It is said that two men cannot be together in heaven . For His Highness to survive…”
“That’s… impossible . No, but it is…”
The color disappeared from Neumann’s face and he opened his eyes as wide as he could, as if they were about to pop out . His whole body shook violently as he gasped .
“Your Highness, those of us gathered in this residence are on your side . Yes, they are the allies of Prince Neumann, the third in line to the throne . However, if His Highness Alfred… no, if Alfred becomes Emperor and His Highness is deposed as vassal, even among his allies, there may be some who choose to go along with the flow . There will even be those who will simply follow Alfred’s example . ”
Neuman swallowed saliva .
“Now is an opportune time . We must strike Alfred before the commoners he is appointing get into positions of importance and power . ”
Neumann looked down and thought .
“B-But could I do something against my older brother…?”
Until now, he had never made important decisions on his own . If he had a problem, someone else would give him the answer . They would do it for him . That’s why Jade’s next words took root in his mind .
“Your Highness doesn’t have to worry . All you have to do is to say ‘Good luck’ . ”
Neumann had returned to the room after finishing his secret meeting with Jade . Although he was not the crown prince, Neumann was third in line to the throne . Alfred and Cornelia would have the power to make him a mere vassal, but if anything happened to them, he might have a future sitting on the imperial throne . As soon as the many nobles who had come to the feast saw him return, they immediately gathered to greet him and follow him . However, Neumann’s expression in the center of the crowd was not a good one . He looked pale and somewhat sad .
There was a woman watching Neumann .
“Jade-sama . ”
The beautifully dressed woman addressed the next heir of the House, who had returned to the hall at the same time as Neumann .
“My beloved Prince Neumann is very pale, is something on his mind troubling him?”
Her name was Stacia von Mavis .
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She was the betrothed of Prince Neumann Erz Root Lemmrousell, and also the sister of the Brave Leticia von Mavis .
“No, there’s no problem . ”
Jade bowed politely to Stacia with a smile on her neat face .
“It’s just that… his Highness has made up his mind . ”
“I see . ”
“The only obstacle left is Leticisama . ”
“I know . ”
A cold light appeared in Stacia’s eyes as she stares at Neumann .
‘Leticia, Alfred, Neumann… they should disappear . Yes, once they’re all gone, I can once again receive the praise of many . Yes, I’m the one who should receive it all… whoever can’t see it should disappear . ’
As she pictured in her mind the scene of being surrounded by many nobles and ladies once again and receiving many compliments and admiration, Stacia burned with a dark passion .
Jade was rejoicing as he stood next to Stacia in a relaxed manner .
‘I’m going to use this woman to make sure that my biggest obstacle, The Brave Leticia von Mavis, can’t stand in my way . ’
Jade gave a slight bow to Stacia, then spun on his heels and walked away . His eyes had a merciless light and his mouth twisted into the shape of a smile . He had been told that, by moving the research to the imperial capital, they had been able to obtain a large number of test subjects and had made significant progress . When the research was complete, the threat from the Kingdom of Petersia, who were cooperating with Jade and looking for an opportunity, could be eliminated by himself without using The Brave’s power .
‘Cornelia . I will use Neumann and make the poor prince take all the blame for Alfred’s murder . And then she will be mine . ’
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Then he would take Cornelia, a direct descendant of the emperor, as his consort and appeal to the legitimacy of the throne . If he did so, Wynn would come attached to Cornelia . Inevitably, he could also use The Brave’s strength .
After leaving the hall again, Jade walked alone to the back of the mansion, stopped in front of a room, and slowly opened the door to it .
The room faced south to let in more sunlight . Throughout the room there was well-kept furniture and colorful flowers arranged in vases . Every inch of the room had been cleaned, and there was not a single wrinkle in the bed sheets . However, he could not smell the scent of life in this room .
The lady in this room was no longer in this world . It had been five years since then .
Jade wiped away the smile that had been floating on his face earlier and walked towards the portrait on the wall at the back of the room with a mysterious look .
The portrait showed a beautiful woman with a magnificent smile on her face .
The same woman as the portrait that hung in Jade’s room .
But the woman in the portrait in this room was not adorned with dresses and jewels; instead of dresses, she wore gallant military attire; instead of a beautiful bouquet, she carried a rough knight’s sword; instead of a necklace or a ring, several medals hung from her broad breast; instead of the crest of a noble family, the insignia of a captain and a general glittered .
Lucrezia von Cliffdorf .
Jade’s mother, a portrait of when she was young .
Along with General Zaunas, the general who was even called the Twin Jewel of the Empire in the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance . …And a heroine with a tragic fate who was left for dead by the Empire .
‘Mother…’
The expression on Jade’s face as he gazed at his mother’s portrait was different from the irreverent expression he usually displayed and was even somewhat childish and untrustworthy .
A few days after the evening held at House Cliffdorf, at a meeting in the presence of Emperor Alexei, Crown Prince Alfred’s proposal for a goodwill visit between him and Crown Princess Cornelia was questioned by Welt von Cliffdorf, the Knight Commander of the Central Order . Welt argued that it would be problematic if both the first and second in line to the imperial throne were absent from the country, and Emperor Alexei listened to his words and decided to send only Crown Prince Alfred to the kingdom of Lyon .