NOVEL WEB Chapter 122
Chapter 122: Founding Festival (7)
The air in the room grew thick with tension.
Only the emperor, who knew the entire situation, and Martin, who had anticipated it, remained composed, while the others could not hide their shock.
How could they easily accept that the head of one of the three great noble families had cursed the emperor?
“…Did you truly curse His Majesty, Werner?”
“Still asking meaningless questions, I see, Karl. If I say no here, and claim it was all Martin Adalbert’s manipulation, would you believe me?”
“I only wanted you to admit it yourself.”
Karl replied in a cold tone to Werner von Klaus’ retort.
After all, only someone of the 10th circle could cast a spell on a 10th-circle emperor, and there was only one such person in the Empire.
“If you’re that eager to hear it, I’ll say it. Yes, I planted the curse on His Majesty’s body.”
“Then, that so-called incurable disease never existed from the start… It was all your curse…?”
“Aah, let’s not jump to conclusions so rashly. His Majesty’s illness was indeed real. Not even I could cast a curse on an equal being. It was only because His Majesty’s illness left him vulnerable that I could implant the curse. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
Werner turned his gaze to the emperor, a sly smile on his lips.
“Werner von Klaus!”
Outraged by Werner’s insolent words, Hendrik von Maiyas gripped his sword hilt tightly.
“Enough.”
At that moment, the emperor spoke.
Hendrik gritted his teeth but released his grip, as it was his duty to heed the emperor’s command.
The emperor, who had restrained Hendrik, looked at Werner and continued.
“Before I was cursed, I had indeed fallen ill with an incurable disease. It couldn’t be healed by even 10th-circle power or innate healing abilities. I intended to investigate it over time… but I didn’t expect you to act, Duke Klaus. I suppose your desire for independence is that strong.”
“Is a thousand years not enough? No other nation on the Cracian continent has endured as long as the Altarian Empire. Trying to extend it further is nothing but empty ambition.”
“Continuing the legacy of great ancestors is the duty of descendants, is it not?”
“Your Majesty knows, though, that you’ve only escaped the threat of the curse. Your life is still on the brink. With what little time you have left, wouldn’t it be better to live in peace rather than cling to an empty duty?”
“What are you saying, Duke?”
Richard’s shout cut through the conversation.
He had believed everything would be resolved once the curse was lifted, but now he was being told otherwise.
The shock was immense.
“What are you so surprised about, First Prince? The Adalbert Deputy Head removed only the curse. Naturally, the disease remains. Or did you truly think it would be cured?”
Werner’s tone was laced with mockery.
Richard gritted his teeth in anger.
“Even if a cure were found, it’s already too late. His Majesty’s body has long been ravaged by disease and the curse. Regaining consciousness is one thing, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he passed away tomorrow.”
“No…”
Claudia, who had been listening, let out a pained sigh, her face filled with despair.
Theodore’s expression grew grave as well.
In contrast, the emperor remained calm.
“There’s one thing I don’t understand, Duke Klaus. If you cursed me in the hope I’d die, why didn’t you stop the Adalbert Deputy Head from removing the curse?”
“Karl is here, not to mention a few 9th-circle individuals. Even if I wanted to interfere, I couldn’t.”
“Hmm. That may be part of it, but it seems to me that you let it proceed because you believed your plans wouldn’t be shaken by something as trivial as my awakening.”
“That’s a reasonable assumption, Your Majesty.”
The smile on Werner’s face grew even wider.
“I can’t listen to this anymore.”
Karl clenched his fists tightly, as if ready to attack at any moment.
But Werner showed no hint of fear.
“If you and I fight, more than half the people here would die. His Majesty would surely perish as well. Do you still want to fight?”
“…You’re despicable to the end.”
“Isn’t that the nature of a mage? We constantly calculate and maneuver to control the game. On that note, Deputy Head Adalbert…”
Even in front of an enraged Karl, Werner calmly turned to Martin.
“If you’d learned magic, you’d have reached the 10th circle.”
“Thank you for the compliment… but it’s hard to take it as such.”
“That doesn’t matter. I don’t care about the feelings of others. I’ll give you one last piece of advice, for your sake.”
“You’ll tell me regardless, won’t you?”
“Of course. You not only have the talent to reach the 10th circle but also the qualities to become an excellent ruler. So don’t get entangled in a crumbling empire. As I mentioned before, you have the ability to fulfill the aspirations of the first head of your house. Don’t waste what you’ve been given.”
Martin remained silent.
Werner, seemingly expecting no response, turned back to the emperor.
“As I said earlier, a thousand years is too long, Your Majesty. I’m sick of the hollow title of duke and the endless restrictions meant to keep me in check. Thus, I declare here and now: from this moment, the Klaus family and the southern region are independent from the Altarian Empire.”
“You’ve prepared well, haven’t you, Duke Klaus? You may call it independence, but to me, it’s treason. Naturally, the royal family, along with the Ferdinand and Adalbert families, will move to attack. Knowing that, you still intend to pursue independence, which suggests you have the strength to withstand all three forces.”
“I invite you to see for yourself. Though, I wonder if you’ll live long enough for that, Your Majesty.”
“You’re awfully cold to someone who may die at any moment.”
“Some secrets are best uncovered personally. Congratulations on regaining consciousness, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now.”
Flash!
A glow surrounded Werner and the Klaus family’s young lord who had accompanied him.
In an instant, they dispersed into countless particles and vanished, as if they’d never been there.
Martin stared at the empty space where they’d stood.
“The tide of civil war is shifting.”
Before his return, the Klaus family hadn’t declared independence.
They had been preoccupied with fighting the elves.
But since he had saved High Elf Solenne, everything had changed, and now a crisis he’d expected to happen far in the future had come crashing down.
“The question is, who will be the empire’s heir?”
The emperor had collapsed without formally naming a successor.
That’s why the princes and princesses were vying for power.
But now that the emperor was awake, he could name his heir.
Who would it be?
Martin felt a strange thrill of anticipation.
* * *
The silence in the room remained, but the emperor broke it.
“There’s much I’d like to discuss, but we’ll start with the important matters. Richard, Theodore, Claudia.”
The emperor’s gaze turned to his children.
He noted the absence of one, but didn’t show it.
If he involved a child without succession rights, the empire would fall into greater chaos.
That was something he had to prevent.
“First, I want to thank you all for protecting the royal family and the empire while I was incapacitated.”
“It was our duty as members of the royal family, Your Majesty.”
Richard replied on behalf of his siblings, but the emperor shook his head.
“Ambition for the throne is hard to restrain, but even so, you all observed the final line. This is truly commendable. Therefore, I intend to give each of you a chance at the throne.”
Tremble.
Richard, Theodore, and Claudia all quivered with emotion.
They had formed factions and fought among themselves, but none had been officially recognized as the crown prince or princess.
This had weakened their authority, but now, everything was about to change.
“The Klaus family has committed treason. This will be the largest civil war since the founding of the empire. But the task at hand is simple.”
“To bring down Duke Klaus.”
“You’re correct, Claudia. But I won’t entrust this task to you three. Only one in the empire can do it.”
The emperor looked at Karl.
Karl nodded, conveying his intention to kill Werner von Klaus.
“All you need to do is contribute to this campaign. The one who achieves the greatest merit will inherit the throne. Until the Klaus family is subdued, no territorial conflicts will be permitted in the empire. Anyone who violates this will be treated as a traitor.”
“We obey Your Majesty’s command!”
The three successors responded in strong voices.
While Richard and Claudia exuded confidence, Theodore’s expression remained slightly dark.
Yet no one noticed, as all eyes were on the emperor.
The emperor, satisfied, turned his attention to Martin.
“Martin Adalbert.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I apologize for the delay in expressing my gratitude. Thank you for rescuing me from that nightmare. There were countless times I could hear everything around me but couldn’t move. It was agonizing.”
“I’m truly glad to have been of help.”
“You’ve manifested your unique ability, and now all that remains is for you to inherit everything from the Adalbert family. How that great power will be wielded in this civil war, I cannot predict. However, I will not interfere with any decision you make. As Duke Klaus mentioned, I lack the luxury
to do so. But I will repay your kindness in full.”
Whirrr.
As he finished speaking, the emperor’s body floated in the air.
He was using his unique ability to levitate.
Yet he groaned, proving that the disease had not been cured.
“Urgh!”
“Your Majesty, you must rest now.”
At Theodore’s plea, the emperor shook his head.
“I won’t die from this, so don’t fuss. Now then, Martin Adalbert, follow me. Marquis Maiyas, you are not to join.”
“…I obey Your Majesty’s command.”
Hendrik sighed inwardly as he replied.
With a nod, the emperor headed out of the room.
“Alright then, I’ll be back soon.”
Martin addressed the others before following the emperor.
Though the emperor was weakened, he remained the pinnacle of the thousand-year empire.
“How will he repay the favor?”
To say Martin wasn’t excited would be a lie.
He felt genuine anticipation.