Chapter 724

Chapter 724

Dirandahi, the head of the expedition to the Eastern Continent, was secretly arrested and brought to the King's Castle.Alll latest novels at novelhall.com

"There was an accident during the expedition."

Dirandahi said calmly.

"The environment of the Eastern Continent was harsher than expected. We had considerable difficulty constructing the search base, but just before our return, a pillar of fire scorched the sky and engulfed the base."

"..."

"When we were all on the verge of death, Prince Christian heroically decided... He pushed us all through the teleport gate and stayed behind at the search base alone."

Dirandahi bowed his head to Ariel.

"Knowing his intentions, we had no choice but to escape with tears of blood."

"..."

"We are truly sorry, Princess. We were lacking..."

Ariel looked down at the tearful Dirandahi and coldly retorted.

"Don't lie, Dirandahi."

"...!"

"My brother is a selfish person. He would sacrifice his subordinates for his own goals, but he would never lay down his life for them."

It was a cold but accurate assessment.

A bitter smile briefly crossed Dirandahi's face. Ariel pressed him further.

"Confess everything in detail! What exactly happened in the Eastern Continent?"

"...Prince Christian is far too unqualified to be a king."

Wiping away the fake tears, Dirandahi spoke in a dry voice.

"I have known him for a long time and closely observed him. He should never become king."

"What did you say...?"

Dirandahi slowly raised his head and looked up at Ariel.

"And... Princess Ariel. You are truly the one who is fit to be the next monarch."

"..."

Dirandahi continued speaking to the pale-faced Ariel.

"For the thousand-year future of our Lake Kingdom, know that I, Dirandahi, orchestrated this matter with only loyalty in my heart."

"...So, what are you saying?"

Ariel, clenching her fists, spoke in a trembling voice.

"To prevent my brother from becoming the next king... you lured him with the lie of an immortality magic and abandoned him alone in the Eastern Continent?!"

"The information about the immortality magic in the Eastern Continent is not a lie. It is merely a rumor."

Dirandahi chuckled.

"And he wasn't abandoned. During the month-long search, there were no results, and just before the return, a small accident occurred... causing the prince to be isolated at the search base alone."

"You induced that situation!"

"But it was the prince's own will to go there."

To become a person worthy of the throne. Driven by the pressure to achieve overwhelming merit.

The prince clung to the nonexistent illusion of immortality magic and eventually went missing at the easternmost end of the world.

"Prince Christian will not return alive."

Dirandahi chuckled.

"And the King is gravely ill."

"You...!"

"Princess Ariel."

With an unwavering face showing no hint of regret, Dirandahi spoke.

"Ascend the throne. And continue the glory of this Lake Kingdom, which has conquered the world."

"...!"

"The only thing this unworthy subject desires is that."

Ariel, feeling dizzy, closed her eyes tightly.

'The crown, the crown, what is that worthless crown...'

Does her brother's life have to be at stake for a position she never even desired...

Gritting her teeth, Ariel shouted to the subordinate next to her.

"Send a rescue team to the Eastern Continent immediately!"

"Yes, Princess. And..."

The subordinate asked cautiously.

"How should we report this to His Majesty the King..."

"..."

Ariel bit her lip with a pale face and looked back.

There stood the false prince, Aider, looking just as flustered.

"His Majesty is ill, so we must not cause him undue concern."

Resolutely, Ariel nodded.

"Rescuing my brother is the priority. This matter will remain confidential."

"Yes."

"And, Aider."

Ariel forced a difficult smile at Aider.

"Please continue to act as the prince... just a little longer."

"...Yes, Princess."

Bowing his head, Aider simultaneously sensed it.

The ominous atmosphere.

A faint stench rising from the very foundation of the country.

***

At the same time.

Eastern Continent.

"Gasp, gasp!"

Prince Christian, covered in blood, slumped down in the ruins.

It was a building constructed by humans, proving that civilization once existed on this continent. However, it was now a complete ruin.

The king, with a sallow face, kept gasping for breath. He was already close to death.

How could he reveal the truth to the king in this state?

That the person pretending to be the prince was a fake, and the real prince had gone missing in the Eastern Continent?

Several rescue teams had been sent to the Eastern Continent. Coco the Severer, a master of teleportation magic, had led the rescue teams.

But they had found no trace of the prince and had almost been annihilated several times. The Eastern Continent was truly a land of death.

Time passed helplessly, and six months went by. Christian's death was already an established fact.

But they couldn't tell the king. It would undoubtedly worsen his already fragile condition.

"I don't want to die, Christian, Ariel..."

The gasping king spoke with difficulty.

"I conquered everything in my life, but in the end, I cannot overcome this death..."

"Father."

"But now I must accept it... Christian, where is Christian...?"

Aider, standing by the window, hurried to the bedside.

The king, fully believing the man before him to be his real son, nodded seriously with a heavy heart.

"Seeing you sober up and stand as a prince is such a relief."

"No, Father. I am still lacking."

"Yes, you are lacking. But your mindset is right, and that's enough. Ariel will make up for your deficiencies."

Both Aider and Ariel's eyes widened as they realized what the king was saying.

The king reached out and grasped Christian's hand, squeezing it with his cooling hand.

"Christian. You will rule this country from now on."

"...!"

"You will inherit the throne. Become the next king and lead the Lake Kingdom."

Frozen in place, Ariel finally managed to speak.

"Father, actually...!"

"Hmm?"

"My brother... My brother is..."

Already dead.

The person you are holding hands with is a fake, a double.

Was it right to tell this to a father on his deathbed?

But wasn't it necessary to stop the fake prince from inheriting the throne?

Not knowing what to do, Ariel was paralyzed. At that moment.

"Father."

Aider gently stroked the king's hand, smiling.

"Pass the throne to Ariel."

"...!"

"I will assist Ariel well."

The king knew Ariel was more competent but loved Christian more.

Over the past six months of acting as the fake Christian, Aider had painfully realized this. So, he had anticipated that if the king were to pass on the throne, it would be to Christian.

Thus, he had prepared these words.

"It is the right thing to do for this country. You know this better than anyone, Father."

"..."

"Please pass the throne to Ariel, Father. I beg of you."

Tears filled the king's eyes. He was moved by Christian's mature act of yielding the throne to his sister.

"Yes... As long as you two maintain this harmony, I have no worries..."

The king turned his head towards Ariel.

"Ariel."

"...Yes, Father."

"Will you lead this country from now on?"

Ah.

Swallowing her tears, Ariel bowed her head.

The guilt of lying to her father until his final moments weighed heavily on her, but she also knew this was the best course.

"Though I am lacking, I will honor the wishes of both you and my brother..."

Just as Ariel was about to pledge her commitment.

Bang!

The door to the king's bedroom burst open, and knights and soldiers rushed in urgently.

It was Baltimore, the overseer of the internal guard post, and his subordinate knights. Kneeling hastily in front of the bed, Baltimore shouted.

"Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty! I have urgent news to report!"

Ariel shouted.

"Sir Baltimore! His Majesty is in a critical condition! How dare you..."

But Ariel froze like ice at Baltimore's next words.

"Prince Christian has returned!"

"...?!"

"He has returned from the Eastern Continent! Upon verification, it is undoubtedly the real Prince Christian. He is on his way here right now, requesting to see His Majesty!"

The room's atmosphere turned icy.

"...Christian was abroad? And now he's returned?"

Blinking in confusion, the king slowly turned his head to the side.

"Then, who is this man..."

Standing there, pale-faced and trembling like a leaf, was Aider.

"Who is this man who just asked me to pass the throne to Ariel?"

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading

Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/jB26ePk9