Chapter 82: Pebble

Chapter 82: Pebble

The Prime Minister, who was awakened from his sleep, sighed as he heard about the assassination attempt on Cleo.

His Highness Linus was too impatient.

Disposing the small fry known as Cleo before confronting Calvin, his nemesis.

That was most likely what he was planning to do.

However, the results were devastating.

Not only had the assassination attempt failed, Linus received a fierce backlash.

Linus was a capable man in his own right and had done well in controlling his faction.

Nevertheless, although he wasnt a buffoon, Linuss future was set in stone due to this episode.

With the milk spilt, he had lost his chance of becoming the Crown Prince.

Rather than that, the Prime Minister was worried for another reason.

Who moved the Sword Saint?

There were four Sword Saints recognized by the current empire, and one of them had been dispatched to assassinate Cleo.

Of course, the Prime Minister had nothing to do with it.

Although the Sword Saint might have cooperated in the assassination of Cleo for honor and prestige, it was unlikely for a swordsman who sought strength above anything else to display interest in authority to that extent.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

The report stated that the Sword Saint executed the assassination at his own discretion, but it was highly likely that there was a mastermind behind him.

After reading the report, the Prime Minister smiled.

Even so, I didnt think he was this strong.

Liam had come out on top after clashing with one of the Sword Saints recognized by the empire.

Such a person was acting as Cleos greatest supporter, and he had wielded his sword to protect the prince.

The Prime Minister got changed.

When he lightly tapped on his wristwatch, his sleepwear was instantly swapped with his work clothes.

Busy days are ahead.

The palace was in a tumultuous situation, not because of the assassination attempt on Cleo, but rather because of the Second Prince Linuss blunder.

-The Day after the Incident-

Its already past noon, but Im still stuck inside the palace.

Since last night, Ive been undergoing an interrogation.

The location is inside a conference room.

As an upcoming Duke and a current Count, I am being received in a luxurious room.

The interrogation is being conducted while Im sitting on a puffy chair and drinking tea made by a maid.

Not only am I surrounded by high-ranking officials, countless knights and soldiers that work for the palace are around me.

I cant relax like this.

Hey, is lunch ready yet? Im at the palace, so Im expecting a full course.

On a separate note, its pathetic how theres only one maid here.

If you wish to keep me here, at least bring a dozen beautiful women over!

Ill have you know that Im a Count!

One of the high-ranking officials, a senior administrator per say, expresses frustration against my attitude.

Count Banfield, are you aware of what happened yesterday night?

A member of the Royal Family was the target of an assassination attempt inside the palace.

Out of context, it sounds like a critical matter, but in this world where blood is exchanged on a daily basis, such an event is nothing mindboggling.

In the first place, although its called a palace it encompasses an entire continent.

That being the case, some accidents are bound to happen every day.

Whats with all the fuss? Theres nothing special about it.

Do you have any inkling of an idea as to how big of an incident this is!?

I sip tea gracefully in front of the senior administrator who tries to make me understand the gravity of the situation.

Hmm, arent the identities of these officials and military personnel gathered to investigate me a bit low? Where are the big shots?

Im offended, so I dont feel motivated enough to cooperate with their work.

Haa I have to attend a lecture later in the day. Id appreciate it if we can finish this before then.

The senior administrator grabs his head because of my uncaring attitude.

His Highness the Second Princes future is at stake here. Please be more serious about this.

That is quite worrisome indeed.

Or so you say.

My thoughts are genuine.

No, really. Im also worried for His Highness Linus.

Hes a pitiful person who made the mistake of picking the wrong fight.

Im glad that he was someone whos quick to anger.

Even though it was slightly troublesome, he came at us in a straightforward manner.

I was ready to invest a long time struggling over the succession rights, but thanks to Linus, we have one less rival to worry about.

This is the result of Linuss own actions.

For the guys in front of me, this may be a pressing concern.

I, on the other hand, consider this a done deal.

The fate of His Highness Linus the Second Prince is already sealed.

Hes no longer my opponent.

Truth is, from the very beginning, there was no possibility of me losing.

What I did is no different from kicking a pebble on the road out of my way.

Regardless of what happens at this point, my victory is all but assured.

You can say that Im going easy on them.

Im just playing along with these palace officials.

By the way.

Is that so? No, maybe youre right.

Although his emotions dont appear clogged up, he is clearly under the weather.

Will he be alright?

This is why kind people are no good.

They get depressed over the deaths of those that tried to kill them first.

Why cant they just dismiss things?

His Highness Cleo opens his mouth to speak before I do.

Ive made few memories with my brother, Linus, but Ive heard some things from a servant he sent as a spy.

What have you heard?

He held me in contempt, but he was sympathetic to me as well. If I had lain low, I think my brother would not have tried to remove me.

How kind of him.

Unfortunately, theres no meaning to kindness in this world.

I have experienced terrible betrayals in my previous life.

At the time, I convinced myself that I was partially in the wrong and bore with the unreasonable treatments.

As a result, I became the laughing stock of the villains.

It was His Highness Linus who ignited this conflict. Thats why Your Highness need not feel guilty about his passing. Please remember that a similar fate will befall on Your Highness if you were to lose. To avoid that, Your Highness must fight back.

His Highness Cleo looks at me.

Count, you are a strong man So strong, in fact, that you fail to understand the feelings of the weak.

I can sense some toxicity mixed in with his words.

However, let me tell you one thing.

I do understand the feelings of the weak.

After all, I was a weak person in my past life.

A weak person whose only purpose was to be exploited by the villains.

Im repulsed by my past self.

I understand the feelings of the weak better than anyone else. Even if youre weak, when youre presented the opportunity to rob others, you should do so instead of having yourself robbed. Your Highness regards weakness as a virtue, but weakness is a sin by itself.

His Highness Cleo stares at me with squinted eyes.

Do you? You think a man who was born strong can understand the feelings of the weak?

At least I do more than you.

Tia enters our conversation the moment I drop the honorifics.

She has a report for me.

Ill pour new cups of teas. Also, Brian-dono wishes to speak with you, Lord Liam.

She hints at us to take a break.

I stand up from my seat.

To request my presence so casually. If he wasnt Brian, Id have executed him.

I leave the room in this manner.

Cleo, who had his conversation interrupted, turned to address Tia.

I was rude to the Count. Ill apologize when he returns.

Cleo knew of Tias reverence towards Liam and believed that she would be angry at him.

Contrary to his expectations, Tia giggled.

Did I say something strange?

Tia gazed at the door that Liam used to leave the room.

How much does Your Highness Cleo know about the Banfield Family?

I heard that ever since he was a child, Liam-dono has been improving the state of his territory which was managed poorly by the previous generation. Did he manage to secure a planet with an abundance of rare materials?

That was the extent of the publics evaluation of Liam.

They were only interested in Liams current prestige and military prowess.

Aside from that, they assumed that the territory was being rapidly developed thanks to the rare metals.

What Im about to say is something I read from the records. Lord Liam apparently became the Count at the age of five.

Ive heard rumors about aristocrats pushing their territories onto their children. To think that the rumors were true

Cleo, who remained oblivious to most occurrences outside the palace, was shocked by the validity of the rumors.

In his defense, he had only recently begun to interact with the other nobles.

Furthermore, despite their scary appearances, the aristocrats that made up his faction were lords that had serious personalities.

As such, they didnt intend on burdening their children with their territories.

The condition of the Banfields territory was at its all-time low. The previous lord had demanded so much tax and labor from his citizens that they were at their breaking points. He even borrowed money from other places to satisfy his vanity. I was stunned when I read the materials. I wondered whether people can actually stoop so low.

What a cruel story. I often hear similar tales about other territories. Are these stories true?

They are. Its unthinkable considering the present state of Lord Liams territory. Despite so, there are countless people in the empire that are suffering on their planets.

Tias heart ached when she imagined what Liam must have felt when he saw his territory in such shambles.

Witnessing the state of his territory, what did the noble Lord Liam think? What did he do? Even though his life wasnt easy, he endured for decades on end. The young Lord Liam must have been very dashing indeed! He must have been cuter and more precious than he is now yet Lord Liam persevered through his difficult life and spared no effort in bettering his territory! He trained himself to the point where he obtained the strength to defeat a Sword Saint! Ah crap, the drool wont stop!

She imagined Liam as a child and thought, If I was by your side at that time!

Cleo took his eyes off Tia out of courtesy and respect.

(The Count has some weird knights serving under him.)

Tia was competent alright, but she was a disappointing knight.

Cleos gaze returned to Tia when her delusion ended.

Tia apologized.

Please excuse me. What I wanted to tell Your Highness is that there was a time when Lord Liam wasnt as powerful. As a matter of fact, he was in a worse position than Cleo-sama.

Cleo hung his head down.

I see. Ive been impolite to the Count.

(He had a tougher life than I thought. I guess thats why he was incensed by my remarks.)

Cleo who had reflected apologized to Liam when he came back.