Chapter 195 : Chapter 195

Chapter : 195

Crown ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Prince Charles I of the Elang Kingdom.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the game [Pangea Universalise], he was one of the rulers who displayed truly astonishing ability.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍excelled in warfare, domestic administration, and diplomacy alike—a complete, well-rounded ruler who possessed all three in perfect balance.

During ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the reign of Charles I, the kingdom defeated the Kingdom of Anjou and the Kingdom of Aragon, brought down the Duchy of Burgundy, and forged a unified Elang Kingdom.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a great leader who ushered in the golden age of Elang. Under normal circumstances, the King of Elang would have lived at least ten more years, making Charles I someone I did not particularly need to worry about.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that was no longer the case.

The altered worldline had accelerated Charles I’s ascension to power—worse still, in a state where his popularity had already soared thanks to successful subjugation campaigns.

That was why I wanted to prevent Charles I from inheriting the throne in perfect condition.

At the very least, I wanted him weakened—stripped of his pieces—or, ideally, disqualified from succession altogether.

And to do that?

‘Destroy the royal family.’

I needed to shatter the Crown Prince’s legitimacy and provoke the scattered royal claimants into asserting their own rights to the throne.

A kind of “Interregnum.”

If the kingdom lost its legitimacy and fractured into pieces, I would gain priceless time to stabilize my newly expanded domain.

“Good.”

Having organized my thoughts, I rose from my seat. I needed someone to carry this out immediately.

Someone who always handled my unsavory cleanup with care.

“Summon Viscount Avignon at once.”

“Yes, at once.”

The attendant was startled by my urgency but quickly rushed out. Moments later, Viscount Avignon entered with a grave expression.

“You called for me?”

“Yes. I have something for you to do.”

“What would that be? I heard it was urgent. Is this related to the King, my lord?”

Sharp as ever, Viscount Avignon had already guessed most of it.

That made things much easier. Very good.

“As I understand it, the information you brought—that the King is in danger—has not yet spread widely. Is that correct?”

“That is correct. It has been two days—no, three now, since today has passed. Of course, other factions will learn soon enough. They all have their own channels.”

“That is welcome news.”

Information gained value the rarer it was. Even if the Duke of Burgundy already knew, it would not derail what I was about to propose—but still.

I nodded and continued.

“Do you know the current location of Duke Gertman?”

“He is still on the eastern front. Why do you ask? Are you planning to support him further?”

Viscount Avignon tilted his head in confusion.

Duke Gertman had already received support once, and additional aid would hardly make a difference. By now, he was competently leading his own forces and suppressing peasant rebels in the east.

“Of course not. Why? Did Duke Gertman request help? That would be unlike him. Asking for more at this point would be shameless.”

“N-no, my lord. I merely asked, just in case.”

“Then all the better.”

At my answer, Viscount Avignon’s curiosity only deepened. If not that, then what?

Ignoring his unspoken question, I said,

“There is something urgent I must tell him. Summon him immediately. Send someone to say I will come in person—no, tell him I am coming right now.”

What mattered now was not explanation, but speed.

---

“It has been a long time, Margrave.”

“Indeed. It has been a while, Duke Gertman. I heard you have been roaming battlefields—looks like you have shed all traces of bureaucratic softness. Ha.”

The Duke Gertman I met again looked nothing like the scholar he once was. He had become a knight through and through.

The battlefield must have been harsh indeed. Who would have thought he would change so much in such a short time?

“It has been more difficult than I expected. I truly respect how you endured battlefield after battlefield, Margrave of Bellua.”

“Spare me the exaggeration. You have even learned flattery now. It suits you.”

“Is that so? Thank you. Ha ha.”

“You have gained thick skin as well.”

Though the sudden visit could have annoyed him, Duke Gertman welcomed me warmly.

Considering how much my involvement had contributed to where he now stood, such hospitality was only natural.

After gathering my thoughts, I looked at him directly.

“Were you aware that the King’s condition is dire?”

“Hm? Is that so? I have not heard anything yet.”

“I see. The Duke of Burgundy likely already knows. It will not be long before the information reaches you as well.”

I said this while watching Duke Gertman frown slightly.

Most likely, the information had already arrived—but his elder brother, Duke Charles, had blocked it.

It was hardly comforting, but thinking of Charles I, Duke Gertman asked,

“I understand. Thank you for telling me. Is that why you came in such haste?”

I shook my head.

If that were all, I would not have come like this.

“No. I urgently need to see your father—the Duke of Burgundy.”

“My father?”

“Yes. I have something to say to him. A proposal, to be precise. A secret proposal that must not be exposed to the outside.”

“Hm….”

Duke Gertman’s expression stiffened. He was clearly wondering what kind of proposal required a clandestine meeting through him.

But he had matured.

“If we move together, it will allow you to travel discreetly without attracting attention, is that why?”

He prioritized the importance of the matter over his own curiosity.

Impressed, I nodded.

“Exactly. And if I move through you, I can reach the duchy without obstruction. Time is critical.”

“Very well. You would not bring me a proposal that harms my house. That is why you came to me.”

“Correct.”

“Then let us return to the ducal territory tomorrow. I must settle matters here today.”

I wanted to leave immediately, but even I could not demand that without conscience.

“Oh, but are you not curious why I am doing this?”

“Were you planning to tell me?”

He tilted his head, surprised. He must have thought I would keep such a secret from him.

I chuckled.

“Of course. You and I are, in a sense, partners. There is no need for secrets between partners. Especially when I need your cooperation.”

“Oh…?”

He looked genuinely moved.

Words were cheap—but effective.

“If you wish, I will tell you.”

“Then please do. Why do you need to meet my father? I can guess it involves the King, but….”

“It does involve the King. More precisely, it involves the royal family.”

“?”

A question mark practically floated over his head.

Why involve the Duke of Burgundy in a royal matter?

My next words left him stunned.

“I intend to propose that your father march his army toward the royal capital—under the pretext of protecting a destabilized and critically ill royal house.”

“???????????”

---

Under normal circumstances, marching troops toward the royal capital was unthinkable.

It was an act of rebellion.

But what if the circumstances were no longer normal?

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Hardly, Your Grace. I am perfectly sane.”

“Then how can you make such a proposal?”

The Duke of Burgundy stared at me coldly.

That I had arrived secretly through his second son was one thing. Bringing information about the King’s condition, and even a proposal, was acceptable.

But marching on the capital? It was a mad suggestion that could turn him into an enemy of the realm.

“And yet, by doing so, Your Grace would gain control of the royal house. You could enthrone a puppet king—and even achieve the independence of your duchy, if you so desire.”

“Hmmm….”

“Moreover, public opinion of the royal family is abysmal right now. If Richeléon is concealing the King’s death, the nobles will instead justify your decisive action.”

“…….”

The Duke of Burgundy fell silent.

The young man before him spoke with alarming cunning.

The problem was that the proposal was too sweet to ignore. If executed well, it truly seemed possible to seize the royal family and achieve everything he wanted.

Was there only one heir to the throne?

Look closely, and even he himself was a claimant. The King’s brothers also ruled lands near the capital.

With the right justification, swallowing the royal house whole and declaring independence was possible.

If only that justification existed.

Carefully, the Duke of Burgundy spoke.

“Marching an army on the capital carries too great a risk. Most nobles will oppose it.”

As expected.

And precisely the answer I wanted.

Had he reacted violently, I would have taken it as rejection. But this response meant something else entirely.

‘Good.’

I smiled inwardly.

His ambition—to free Burgundy—had been properly stirred.

In [Pangea Universalise], the Ironblood Duke always pursued independence, only to fall in war and die.

“Justification is easy to create.”

“Easy?”

“Yes. Look around. Peasant rebels infest the land. The central army has long since followed the Crown Prince to the southwest. The capital stands empty. We need only move to protect it.”

“But the region around the capital is safe from peasant rebels.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

“?”

Had this man not always been a ruler skilled in insidious schemes?

Surely he could not have missed this.

And indeed, realization dawned late. His eyes widened.

“Do you mean…?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Simply drive the peasant rebels toward the central region. Duke Gertman is already suppressing them in the east. If we form an encirclement together and press them in, the rebels will inevitably flee toward the capital.”

And then, the justification would be complete.

To protect the capital.

The central army is far away in the southwest, so ‘by chance,’ we—the nearest forces—must advance.

If the King were healthy, he would stop it.

But the King was, in truth, already dead.

Richeléon would have neither the justification—

Nor the strength—to stop it.