“I will judge.”
Hearing the voice of the Supreme Court Justice, Archduke Carlos raised his head.
The place where he now stood was the strict judge of the empire.
People from the imperial family, including the emperor, and nobles from the grand duchy gathered together to watch the trial.
‘Raunel…!’
Archduke Carlos, who would normally have been relaxed, glared at Launel with lights in his eyes.
Prince Launel.
He found conclusive evidence in the north that would tie him together.
Lich Damon’s Tower.
There, the grand duchess discovered numerous corpses that had been dedicated to ‘gongyang’.
If only the corpse had been found, he would not have thought of tying Archduke Carlos together.
The biggest problem was the mana training method.
Mana performance by human sacrifice. The biggest problem was that it was the same as the mana training method that the knights of the grand duchy learned.
The reason why there were so many sword masters among the knights of the grand duchy was precisely because of the seniority method.
However, Launel found the tower hidden in secret and intertwined it with himself.
But that alone isn’t enough.
It’s okay if you say no.
‘I turned my back. nobles. the knights. vassals.’
The connection with the grand duke’s mana practice method was because the people involved betrayed him.
The whistleblower had no choice but to come out as the evidence was intruded and intimidated.
I can’t believe that Prince Raunel, who is supposed to be innocent again, would do such a thing.
He never dreamed that major knights and retainers would succumb to such a threat.
Is it because Launel successfully completed the peace treaty in the north?
‘no.’
Of course, it’s not without impact, but it’s not decisive.
The decisive figure was different.
‘Reinhardt…’
Reinhardt.
It must have been because he was afraid of his changes and movements.
His ability to instantly deal with the corrupt nobles, led by the Dragon Knights, was also excellent.
No seasoned politician can move so quickly with this level of determination.
unless you know everything in advance.
Launel’s change was also brought about by Reinhardt. Launel is now moderately honest and knows how to threaten others while holding on to their weaknesses.
‘But you won’t be able to execute me.’
Six out of ten judges are already grand dukes.
Even if the Supreme Court judges made a decision, the judges’ will could not be ignored.
Is it only
Executing yourself is a civil war.
No matter how much the prestige of the imperial family changed, Archduke Carlos’ power was enough to surpass the empire.
Would an emperor who likes peace and prosperity really want a civil war?
“The crime of making human sacrifices and enjoying black magic. The crime of dealing with the devil’s cult and dealing with prohibited drugs. Distributing prohibited drugs to soldiers. The crime of plundering the people. The crime of insulting the imperial family by spreading false rumors. The punishment for the other 47 sins can never be light.”
A Supreme Court Justice cannot execute himself.
Even if the emperor directly moved him, it was the same.
In the first place, the emperor did not want a civil war, so how could he execute himself as a grand duke?
nonsense. It is nonsense.
So, Archduke Carlos smiled.
They may not be able to escape some degree of punishment, but if they have their lives attached, they can recover. If you are properly locked up, you will be noticed and pardoned.
Even though I have to concede many things in the process…
‘Take it off and start over. Because my influence is absolute.’
The empire cannot abandon itself or the grand duchy.
If the empire lost the grand duchy, the civil war would be a civil war, but the war would break out externally as well.
There were many kingdoms who didn’t like the hegemony of the empire.
Unite with them and the empire will fall.
Knowing that, would you dare to execute him?
“I will judge the defendant, Archduke Carlos. execution.”
“…?”
for a moment.
Archduke Carlos’ forehead wrinkled.
The judge’s mood cooled.
The people of the Grand Duke’s family also stopped for a while after hearing the results.
“What is this…?”
“chancellor. Say it again. Who are you going to put to death?”
The knights of the Grand Duke’s family, who had been listening quietly, stood up.
However, the confusion was quickly subdued.
As if they knew that, the knights of the royal family, including Croft, aimed their swords at the necks of the knights of the grand duchy.
The judge was quiet again.
Archduke Carlos looked at the Supreme Court Justice, Raunel, and the Emperor.
“… will you put me to death?”
“Repay with death.”
Emperor Deus said.
pay with death what?
“There will be a civil war. You must know that the power of the imperial family can never exceed that of the grand duke, right?”
Archduke Carlos said quietly.
There was no longer any respect for the emperor.
However, Emperor Deus did not answer. It seems that the dead body has nothing to do with it.
‘The emperor alone cannot make such a decision. Unless someone helps.’
Who can stand against the Grand Duke Carlos?
Who can deal with the Grand Duke as an enemy?
does not exist.
among humans.
Among non-humans, there was only one person to choose from.
“… Persephone?”
oh
Only then did Archduke Carlos shudder.
Prince Persephone. If the dark elf had joined the imperial family, it would be possible.
However, Grand Duke Persephone has never intervened in central politics for hundreds of years. An unconditional neutral who did not take the side of the imperial family, nor did he take the side of Archduke Carlos.
If the giant sided with the imperial family, this decision would be possible.
“Persephone. The guy is stuck. It was Persephone’s influence that turned their backs on nobles and vassals. Since when······?”
Now the puzzle is put together.
Neither the emperor nor Raunel can turn their backs on Archduke Carlos, who has absolute influence.
There was only Persephone.
But since when?
Since when did he side with the imperial family?
‘I heard that he gave Prince Reinhardt a Dark Elf knight as a gift.’
Could it be that Reinhardt was also involved in this decision?
‘Reinhardt. Reinhardt. Reinhardt…!’
What’s even more annoying is that he’s not here.
It was exerting such an influence on a subject that it did not even exist.
It was changed so that the cowardly emperor could make decisions, and Launel, who was only good and innocent, was changed so that he could do tricks.
Reinhardt played a big role in changing the entire empire.
However, Archduke Carlos could not admit it.
‘My eyes are clear. Reinhardt wasn’t such a vessel.’
I couldn’t have looked at it wrong.
The plan to hold the empire in his hands by presenting him as a puppet was in vain.
If that’s the case, you’ve been fooled from the beginning.
First of all, did you have that kind of insight from when you were young?
Did you completely fool yourself while acting?
······ It was in the palm of his hand from start to finish.
Fast!
Archduke Carlos gnashed his teeth.
Blood dripped from his teeth and hands.
“I can not admit it! I can’t admit it…!!!”
*
“Thank you, Grand Duke Persephone.”
“Don’t worry. I just did what I had to do.”
after the execution is over.
Looking at Archduke Carlos, who had disappeared into the dew of history by the guillotine, Launel lowered his head from the top of the garden.
Then Archduke Persephone burst out laughing.
The execution of Archduke Carlos was possible thanks to Archduke Persephone.
‘I wouldn’t have accomplished anything if he hadn’t helped me.’
Launel recalled the past.
Wandering the north, he was holding evidence against Archduke Carlos.
The peace treaty has been completed, but with the thought that it is just the beginning.
I finally found the hidden tower, but there was no link to connect it to Archduke Carlos.
All of those rings were provided by Archduke Persephone.
Even after the work was over, it was Archduke Persephone who took over the Archduke Carlos family to prevent them from moving hastily.
“Why did you help me… the imperial family? never······.”
“I have never helped the imperial family. over the past hundred years.”
“But why…?”
“It is the same this time. I was only helping the crown prince, not the imperial family.”
“You mean Crown Prince Reinhard?”
Archduke Persephone nodded.
But Launel couldn’t help but tilt his head.
Are Reinhardt and Archduke Persephone really close?
I don’t know how long it took for the Archduke Persephone to be roasted and boiled.
“A lot is changing. I thought that only Crown Prince Reinhardt could lead this change. He is the only one who can make the empire stronger.”
“······ Yes. I totally agree.”
Launel felt the bitterness in his mouth, but it made sense.
It is Reinhardt who must lead the empire.
No matter how much he opposes it, it will eventually happen.
The empire, the great whirlwind of fate, wanted him.
Raunel also abandoned his desire to become emperor in place of Reinhardt.
He was embarrassed when Reinhardt said he would give up the position to him, but not anymore. As time passed, Reinhardt’s void only grew larger.
“But the prince said this about Prince Launel.”
“Did you say something about me?”
“Yes. It means that Prince Launel can create the world I truly want, not myself.”
“If this is the world that Grand Duke Persephone wants… of the Dark Elves?”
Archduke Persephone shook his head.
And then he kept saying.
“Also, it is said that Launel-nim can make the empire even greater.”
“…”
Launel shut his mouth.
I never thought Reinhardt would have said such a thing to Archduke Persephone.
Since he is so reticent, I thought he would be stingy with compliments.
When Reinhardt becomes emperor, the empire will become stronger.
But you cannot make the empire greater.
The challenge is that only Launel can do it.
‘Did you think of me like that…’
It’s overrated.
A man who would make the empire great.
I’ve never thought of it like that.
Shaking his head, Launel looked up at the sky.
As soon as he looked at the end of the horizon, he furrowed his eyebrows.
“By the way… do you see that?”
“You mean that?”
“Can’t you see it approaching from the end of the sky?”
“Well······?”
Grand Duke Persephone, who followed Launel’s words and looked at the horizon, was immediately startled.
A black wave was approaching from the edge of the sky.
But it wasn’t just a dark cloud.
“Crow······?”
Look closely, it was a crow.
But where did the crows enough to color the sky come from?
Archduke Persephone shouted with amazement in his eyes.
“I am the crow saint. Called the worst of the Holy Church! ”
“Saint Crow? Could it be because of Cardinal Amir and Saint Jasmine, who were imprisoned earlier?”
Archduke Persephone shook his head.
“The crow saint only moves when causing mass slaughter in the kingdom. It must have never appeared to the world in the last 300 years…!”
“Why is the crow saint approaching the empire?”
“It will be for an attack. Aren’t you sent for peace? And… it seems that it’s not just the crow saint.”
What was hidden between the crows was soon visible.
A gigantic, terrifying being that scatters mana.
Seeing this, Launel stiffened.
“······ dragon.”
A huge black dragon was approaching the empire.
＜ Last feat (1) ＞ End