NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10
_It wasn’t that hard to escape after all._
The Count had flown away just like that, causing a significant mess in the command structure of Count’s Territory.
Moreover, the Count had moved with the demonic humans without informing anyone, and because the explosion scattered body parts everywhere, it was initially regarded as a ‘disappearance’ rather than ‘death.’ While the Count’s closest aides might have known where he had gone and what happened to him, very few could openly say it.
Consequently, it was three days after the day of the explosion, when the death of the Count was clearly confirmed, that Count’s Territory began the serious search for the culprit who killed him.
They could barely deduce anything from the shredded remains, clothes found with the body, and some parts of the Count’s facial skin.
“……”
And I was reading about that process in the newspaper.
“Quite a magnificent method you chose.”
As I expressionlessly turned the page, Lucas sitting next to me said that.
Naturally, I had changed my clothes the moment the Count died and fled the Count’s Territory.
With a larger territory comes more people living there, and thus increased productivity. The Industrial Revolution had begun a mass production era with factories sprouting up everywhere, but those factories needed many laborers to operate. Most of those laborers were residents of the territory.
No matter how rich commoners—what they called bourgeois—built factories and hired people to gather more wealth, the nobles were the starting point. Nobles who possessed both land and money from the beginning created their own companies and built factories. Even if commoners wanted to establish factories, the land to build those factories was mostly owned by nobles.
Thus, a noble like the Count, who owned vast territories, often turned out to be so wealthy that even the richest commoner couldn’t catch up to.
“Chain explosions of carriages instead of just cars? Obviously, it’s murder.”
Of course, Lucas, who said that, didn’t have a look of blame towards me. Once someone has become crazy, they don’t really care how they kill someone.
Of course, if Lucas were to kill someone, he’d almost always choose to slash with a sword.
For someone like the Count, to be murdered by someone else usually meant that even the families of Counts couldn’t mess around or doubt someone who had formidable backing.
The only ones higher than a Count are a Duke and the Emperor.
Even for Dukes, their political standing is not always better than that of a Count. The standard separating a Duke from a Count is merely whether they carry the blood of the royal family or not; in terms of territory size or actual power, a Count could be superior. Of course, ‘generally’ speaking, Dukes have far more power. It’s like how, occasionally, a Baron’s power could surpass that of a Count.
However, nevertheless, a Duke doesn’t have the social position that makes it easy to just kill a Count. After all, a Duke is also merely a noble in this country. If they were to kill without thinking of pulling people to their side amidst the sharp division between the Emperor’s faction and the nobility’s faction, it would just end up empowering the opposing faction.
Then, the only one capable of killing this Count is, ‘contextually,’ the Emperor himself.
The problem is that it’s merely ‘contextual’ and there is no concrete evidence.
Since the previous generation, the Emperor’s power has been solid. It was something that should be shown boldly as, ‘If you oppose me, there’s only death.’
Moreover, blaming the Emperor merely for the reason of ‘it seems likely’ is a stretch due to the Emperor’s faction’s firmly established position.
In truth, those who believe this are probably just a group of nobles who extremely despise the Emperor.
When the Emperor told me to eliminate the Count, he probably already had the evidence of the Count’s wrongdoing in his possession, and thus if the Count’s aides came to argue with him, the Emperor could just show that evidence. It would be a situation more disgraceful than ‘death.’ Unless they want to be in such a position, the Count Crowfield’s family will likely have to keep quiet for several years.
Even the Count’s daughter might not know the reason her father was killed.
“The boiler explosion has a different aspect from an explosion caused by a bomb. Even if there was an explosion in a car, if it was caused by a bomb, it would have been discovered quickly.”
Vehicles employing steam engines all have boilers inside them. Since they are filled with either coal mixed with magic stones or pure magic stones, there’s always a risk of explosion. In reality, explosion incidents do happen from time to time.
The car Lucas and I are riding also has such explosion risks. However, the explosions from boilers or magic stones differ significantly from the explosions of standard gunpowder bombs. Well, I don’t have expert knowledge or anything.
Feigning indifference as I responded, Lucas shrugged.
“No, well, that wasn’t what I was trying to say… whatever. Your father probably wanted something that could act as a ‘warning’. I think I understand why Jayden cherishes you. …Well, the stuff he says can be a bit concerning, though.”
As Lucas seemed to raise his hand to pat my head, I quickly swatted it away.
*
“Excellent.”
The Emperor complimented me as he looked at me.
“Even without me saying how to kill, you acted well according to my intentions. I believe that even if I told you exactly how to kill, you would follow through just the same.”
“……Thank you.”
The Emperor’s words were both true and false.
Considering my ability to keep trying until I succeeded and ultimately achieve results, theoretically, I could kill even if the Emperor told me ‘how.’ Additionally, I could probably escape safely without anyone noticing.
“Indeed, my daughter. I am proud of you.”
“……”
To give a twelve-year-old child the job of killing someone and then praise her upon her return is quite something.
Especially when I think of the character of the Emperor I saw in a game, those words must be sincere. The Emperor is not someone who bothers with lies.
“Thank you.”
So, I merely expressed my gratitude towards that remark.
“You must have had a tough journey. I will hear your detailed report once you ease your fatigue.”
“Understood.”
I bowed my head deeply once more and turned my body to leave the room with a soldier-like gait I had practiced numerous times.
Every movement was poised and elegant. The speech was always formal. The expression was unchanged. That was the ‘character’ I had chosen. In an environment full of monsters capable of reading emotions as if peering deep into one’s mind through facial expressions and gestures, this was a kind of protective measure I had constructed to protect myself as much as possible.
And while the first couple of years were overwhelming, I was convinced that I had managed quite well over the last few years.
Although the Emperor has openly killed the Count, I guess he had no intention of spreading that fact to others directly, as there wasn’t even the usual security or maids in the audience room.
Well, I wonder if there’s even anyone who could go one-on-one with the Emperor and win at this point.
So, we, who periodically entered this ‘family-only’ audience room, were used to opening and closing the door ourselves.
“Oh, let me in! I need to see Father!”
“W-wait, please calm down, Your Highness. Sylvia is currently having a private audience with the Emperor—”
“I’m his daughter! I have the right to enter, regardless of who is inside!”
“Your Majesty has commanded that no one else enters.”
“……Aah….”
Just as the door opened, that conversation was taking place.
“Your Highness.”
I gave a slight bow towards the ‘Crown Princess’ right in front of me.
And that ‘Crown Princess’ also looked a little flustered as she regarded me.
To clarify, both Lucas and I are ‘children of the Emperor’. Naturally, our official titles are Crown Princess and Crown Prince.
However, that does not mean that all those ‘children’ are treated as real Crown Princesses or Crown Princes. Even if they are officially adopted children, they do not possess the rightful claim to inherit this Empire.
The true heirs to this Empire are only the true ‘children of the Emperor,’ those with royal blood, which only applies to this real ‘Crown Princess’ standing before me now.
Children like me and Lucas are virtually the Emperor’s personal assassination squad themselves. Well, it’s not that the Emperor doesn’t think of us as true children, but it’s just a different purpose.
The hair color and eye color are completely black, with an appearance that couldn’t hint even remotely at the mixing of royal blood, unlike me. This true Crown Princess, on the other hand, had long, dazzling golden hair, styled with a bit of curl at the ends, looking undeniably noble.
Well, my looks are decent enough in the noble sense. Still, the difference is enormous compared to the Crown Princess who has been royal since birth. While I had just survived soldier training with the memories of being an adult male, this little girl radiated an undeniable aura of royalty, making it impossible to compare to me despite my efforts.
Furthermore, seeing the pale skin that looked like it had never seen sunlight and her clear, deep blue eyes, I truly thought to myself that she is indeed the Emperor’s daughter.
“……”
At any rate, the Crown Princess, Alice Fanggriffon, who is my age, was glaring at me with a look full of jealousy. And understandably so.
Even if she is the Crown Princess, she is still a child.
Even if her father showers her with love at this age, it’s justified for her to feel irked when she sees me being referred to as one of the many ‘children’ who get to spend far more time with him. If she wasn’t angry, that would be even stranger.
In fact, it is I who is abnormal by returning alive after assassinating someone at this age.
“……Can I go in now? The private audience has ended, right?”
Then, it was Alice who sharply turned her gaze to me, directly addressing me.
We’re the same age, and of the same gender. However, our behaviors are the complete opposite, and she sometimes doesn’t even listen to reprimands at all. It was ample grounds for a child to feel pretty jealous.
…And this resembled the relationship of Claire and Alice from the original story.
Hmm…
“Yes, of course.”
I said politely to Alice as I turned my body to let her pass. And while I made way for her, I opened the door for her too.
My actions seemed to have further fueled Alice’s anger. Sure enough, when you’re heated and the other party is calm, it tends to make you feel worse. It’s similar to why relaxed villains in subcultures often infuriate others.
In a sense, I might be the antagonist right now too.
So, this girl would eventually grow up and reconcile with Claire.
But that was the event when Claire died.
…
Could it be that I might also die?
“……”
Alice glared at me one last time before lifting her chin and passing by my side.
After she entered, I slowly and cautiously closed the door. I think I heard the shout of ‘Father!’ just before closing it.
“You’re too soft on her while being harsh on the other siblings, you know.”
Lucas muttered.
…You’re 22, and you’re jealous of a 12-year-old?
“It’s pitiful.”
I said simply, finding it rather tiresome to explain in detail.
“Huh…”
However Lucas interpreted my words, he let out a sound of disbelief.