The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

[Side Story 1: Who Will Win the Retirement Battle? (2)]

With the Crown Princesses in motion, a political struggle seemed to lean toward Rufiel’s victory.

At the beginning of the Grand Council Meeting, Rufiel’s face, which had been filled with confidence in his victory, began to show signs of unease.

Others felt the same way.

The plans of the young bureaucrats enjoying their yolo lives could crumble at any moment.

Thus, everyone emerged from the duel with worried expressions and gathered in small groups to speculate on Kariel’s and the ministers’ plans.

Rufiel was no different.

“Where’s Seriel?”

“He should be here soon!”

Miriel exclaimed as she raised her arms high, prompting someone to affectionately pat her head.

“Please bring some tea.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The maids, following Rufiel’s order, swiftly left the room.

Whenever important discussions were held, Rufiel had this habit of calling for tea, and every maid exited as if they had rehearsed it.

Then, Rufiel’s serious expression returned.

“…There’s something going on with my brother.”

“What is it?”

Miriel tilted her head in confusion.

Though she had grown significantly older, Miriel was still quite young.

Even though she managed the inner affairs of the palace, politics remained one of the things she found perplexing.

“It seems like my brother is preparing something.”

With a deep sigh, Rufiel voiced his concerns.

He had no way of knowing what exactly it was, and that uncertainty made him anxious.

Although he had gained some political experience during Kariel’s absence, his brother’s presence still loomed large.

So, he couldn’t let his guard down for even a moment.

“I heard. You took a hit, huh?”

As soon as Seriel entered, he flashed a cheerful smile.

Seeing him, Rufiel sighed again.

“I have this feeling that my brother is planning something, but I just can’t figure it out. I need at least some basic intel to prepare for it…”

“Hmmm…”

Watching Rufiel fret, Seriel put on a relaxed expression.

After all, the Crown Prince was Rufiel, not himself. Even if things turned out badly, Seriel’s chances of becoming Emperor were extremely slim.

Unless Rufiel and Kariel decided to pull some strings, the likelihood of him becoming Emperor was nearly nonexistent.

“Feeling relaxed, huh?”

Rufiel narrowed his eyes and studied Seriel.

Noticing his suspicious expression, Seriel merely shrugged.

“Well, I’m not in a hurry.”

“…Did my brother reach out to you or something?”

Quick to catch on, Rufiel asked as he scrutinized Seriel.

As brothers, Rufiel was well-acquainted with Seriel’s patterns and sensed something amiss.

Especially when Seriel, known for being unable to hide his expressions, displayed such a carefree demeanor without a hint of worry.

‘Suspicious!’

Seeing Seriel overtly acting suspicious only heightened Rufiel’s alertness.

‘Has my brother taken control of the military?’

With that thought racing through his mind, he started piecing things together.

Even though Seriel seemed indifferent to politics, he was quite intelligent.

If Seriel had been drawn to something, Rufiel couldn’t fathom what bait Kariel had used to entice him.

“Are you okay?”

Miriel, concerned about Rufiel, asked as he broke into a cold sweat.

Despite her worry, Rufiel’s expression remained grim.

Kariel, supported by the ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats, had only one place to expand his influence.

The core of the Free Faction in Ignit—the military!

Thus, there was a possibility he had reached out to Seriel, who stood at the top of the military.

Knowing that, Rufiel consistently sought to grow closer to Seriel.

He aimed to unite their strength to stop Kariel’s retirement.

Every time they met, Seriel, who had been his childhood foe, was treated with forced formality as Rufiel swallowed his frustration.

But then—

“Quick-witted, aren’t you?”

As Seriel spoke with a nonchalant smile, Rufiel became convinced that Kariel had indeed recruited him.

“You… you’re going to betray me like this?”

“I can’t help it; he’s offering me a huge gift I can’t refuse…”

“Even you, Miriel?”

Rufiel was left in shock as he moved beside the adorable Miriel.

At that, Seriel, maintaining his easygoing demeanor, winced.

In that moment, Miriel, who had been listening, looked at Seriel with wide eyes of disbelief.

“Brother… have you betrayed us?”

“Umm…”

With Rufiel wielding the strong weapon that was Miriel, Seriel, who had always avoided political matters, decided to prove that he wasn’t incapable.

“Miriel, think about it. Once my brother gets married, there won’t be any need for you to work like this anymore.”

Upon hearing Seriel’s words, Miriel tilted her head.

“The moment an Empress is born, she’ll manage the palace instead of you, Miriel.”

“Ah…”

Miriel gasped in awe, nodding her head as her eyes darted toward Rufiel with a nervous glint.

Before long, she was drifting away from Rufiel’s side.

“You… you…”

Stunned by Miriel distancing herself, Rufiel struggled to form words.

Seeing his shocked expression, Miriel offered a sympathetic smile.

“Brother, hang in there!”

That was all she could offer at that moment.

Known as the kindest among the royal family, angelic Miriel had plenty of youthful desires of her own.

Though she had worked hard thus far, she longed for a break and a chance to play.

While Rufiel felt a pang of disappointment, he soon understood that Miriel’s instinct to rest outweighed her sympathy, watching as she naturally drifted away.

Amidst this, Seriel chuckled while Rufiel shed silent tears.

“It’s not over yet.”

“Well then!”

As Rufiel shot him a fiery gaze, Seriel nodded and quietly led Miriel out of the room.

Left alone in despair, Rufiel wasted no time rising to gather his own forces.

After all, they had shared moments of camaraderie during these times.

He needed to act on the valuable information he had received.

That was the only way to thwart Kariel’s retirement plans.

*

Meanwhile, while Rufiel was striving to hinder Kariel’s retirement, Kariel and the ministers were leisurely enjoying tea time.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

“Is there a reason you let Seriel speak freely?”

Curious, Talion asked, and the other ministers nodded in agreement.

“Isn’t it just sad?”

At Kariel’s remark, the ministers furrowed their brows.

Though they were in a favorable position, victory was not yet assured.

Yet this carefree attitude?

“If he’s going to be the next Emperor, he’ll suffer endlessly. We should let him do everything he can. Well… let’s call it a last act of kindness.”

As Kariel spoke, the ministers nodded as they pondered.

It made sense when they considered it.

Currently, the force led by Kariel included not only the ministers but also high-ranking bureaucrats.

If all of them retire, young bureaucrats inevitably need to fill the void.

They had endured hardships since middle age, but these young ones would continue to bear the burden until long after their retirement.

They couldn’t afford to handle their duties carelessly like in the past dark eras.

The bureaucratic culture in Ignit was already set to operate rigorously, and Kariel would also oversee things from time to time, leading them to potentially suffer until their dying breath.

“And we’ve had so much political experience over the years… Is this really the complaint we’re giving? It’s a last retirement project; it should at least have some thrill, right?”

“Indeed.”

“Ha ha! They’re still so naive.”

“Well, throwing them a bone like this would help keep things balanced.”

As the ministers began to smile with newfound confidence, Kariel, too, couldn’t help but show a deep smile.

All this time, he had struggled to find a solid way to deliver a significant blow, but now that he found it, he felt utterly confident.

‘Consider my 20 years of political experience!’

A combined total of nearly 20 years across previous and current lives.

Thus, how could he be outdone by mere rookies?

Having given himself a penalty to balance things out, Kariel and the ministers ensured that business was conducted effectively.

The Minister of Internal Affairs selected candidates for marriage, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs quickly alerted other nations.

Originally, this responsibility should have fallen to the Empress Dowager, but the two ministers handled the task flawlessly in her absence.

All the other ministers executed their responsibilities impeccably as well.

They quickly tackled tasks they had subtly delayed due to busyness, clearing mountains of pending work.

Observing this, the young bureaucrats, who typically would have been pleased, felt uneasy instead.

Why were these ministers working so hard with such a spirit of self-sacrifice?

‘They want to wrap up their responsibilities before retirement!’

Such was the mindset driving their actions.

Helping their junior colleagues, perhaps?

That might be part of it, but mostly, they intended to give no reason for others to summon them post-retirement.

“…So, the sword has been drawn.”

Watching the ministers and Kariel swiftly address the overflowing tasks during the Selection Ceremony, Rufiel’s expression darkened.

He was still oblivious to the hidden weapons Kariel possessed, while the Selection Ceremony moved forward rapidly.

If things continued this way, he would be left waiting for a surprise attack, utterly blindsided.

“Does anyone have even a single guess about any of this?”

At Rufiel’s question, the new faction led by Luther shook their heads in resignation.

“Ha… So, we must patiently wait for the sword to fly toward us?”

Sighing in despair, Rufiel felt the oppressive atmosphere weighing on the new faction.

The ministers’ recent actions had sent shockwaves through those who had once been arrogant.

What appeared to be ministers who despised being called by Kariel now suddenly began to act with verve, thus disheartening the new faction.

Whenever they seemed poised to take action, the ministers intuitively blocked them, and they shut down all routes to interrupt the Selection Ceremony as if they anticipated every move.

Moreover, it was even more demoralizing that the ministers displayed an efficiency far surpassing the new faction.

“[The Selection Ceremony for the Empress has begun!]”

“[Gathering beauties from across the continent!]”

“[The most luxurious Selection Ceremony in the continent has commenced!]”

Finally, the Selection Ceremony kicked off in earnest.

The entire crowd was enraptured by Kariel’s impending marriage.

And so were Rufiel and the new faction, who were pouring all their energy into this ceremony to buy even a little time.

As everyone focused on the ceremony, the military quietly conspired behind the scenes.

“We need specialized forces to combat the dangerous remnants of the past.”

“Are we preparing to establish a special force just for the remnants of the past?”

“Perhaps we’ll need several Above Master Class fighters?”

Amid the distractions of the Selection Ceremony, these crucial topics were being prepared discreetly.

However, they would later serve as the evidence needed to underpin Kariel’s retirement.

“Brother, it’s all set!”

“And the others? Did they agree?”

“Of course. They’re as desperate for retirement as we are; they wouldn’t refuse.”

As Kariel inquired, Seriel flashed a beaming smile.

Having met quietly under the cover of night, Seriel showcased the masters he had persuaded.

All were seasoned veterans.

Seriel had cleverly lured them, usually forced to struggle on until their dying days, with the bait of “retirement,” and he proudly presented this evidence to Kariel.

With a few signed documents in hand, Kariel grinned broadly.

“Shall we begin the project to make Rufiel Emperor?”