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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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The destruction of the monorail caused the trains to stop one after another.
As a result, they had to endure the inconvenience of traveling by hastily procured carriages.
“I’ll take the next carriage. Sister and Young Master, please go ahead.”
“What?”
Alexis stepped back with a bright smile.
What on earth does he mean?
I expressed my confusion at the prince’s sudden courtesy.
Soon after, I realized why Alexis had declined to ride together.
It seemed Ludmilla had the same realization as her snow-white face instantly turned apple-red.
“What are you saying…! It’s a misunderstanding!”
“You don’t need to be so surprised. I’m already fifteen, after all. Though I may not be as wise as my sisters, I can now discern things.”
In response to his sister’s flustered reaction, the younger brother showed the appearance of a humble understanding.
It seemed he misunderstood that Ludmilla and I were in that relationship.
Hmm.
It’s not unreasonable to think that way.
The scandal with the Second Imperial Princess must have been widely known even in the Holy Kingdom.
If he had heard about the scandal, it was natural for him to consider Ludmilla and me as lovers.
Of course, it was a misunderstanding caused by fake news.
“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”
“Understood.”
Knight Commander Malbert brought a new carriage.
Alexis waved his hand at that and boarded the newly procured carriage with the knight commander.
“……”
“……”
Ludmilla and I were frozen in place by the actions of the unnecessarily perceptive crown prince.
We couldn’t agree,
Nor could we deny it.
We even hesitated to make eye contact.
We couldn’t even move our feet.
If we boarded the carriage with Ludmilla like this, it would prove the crown prince’s misunderstanding to be true.
Ludmilla must have been hesitating because she knew this as well.
“So the rumors were true after all.”
“Ahem, let’s quietly support the princess.”
To make matters worse, numerous people were present at the scene.
About 10 maids attending to Ludmilla.
Even the troops gathered to investigate the monorail bomb terror and escort the princess.
Even the railway department staff summoned to the platform were watching the situation.
I wish there was a mouse hole I could crawl into.
It felt like hundreds of people were watching an intense confession scene.
But we couldn’t delay the schedule any longer.
We needed to hurry and board the carriage to make up for the delayed schedule as much as possible.
Ultimately, I reluctantly gathered my courage and decided to board the carriage with the princess.
I instinctively felt the gazes of numerous people focusing on us.
Still, I moved my feet while trying hard to endure it.
“I-I’m sorry… Alex unnecessarily ran his mouth.”
“It’s alright.”
Ludmilla, sitting opposite me, spoke in a crawling voice.
I shrugged with a bitter smile in response.
“……”
“……”
With a jolt, the carriage began to move.
Ludmilla and I didn’t exchange any conversation.
Only an awkward silence flowed.
Since even making eye contact was burdensome, we looked out the window.
With no dating experience, the inexperienced blockheads only watched each other’s reactions while eagerly hoping to arrive as soon as possible.
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The monorail carrying the imperial princess and crown prince had been cut off.
Subsequently, disastrous events occurred, such as mysterious fires breaking out in the directly governed territories managed by the Valtarian Imperial Family.
It was clearly the work of subversive forces.
The Valtarian Empire first pointed to cult followers as the culprits.
Hadn’t they committed the treasonous crime of invading the imperial city and burning the streets of the capital?
Upon receiving the report that Ludmilla and Alexis, traveling to the capital by train, had nearly been in danger, Emperor Barbarossa declared a state of emergency while raging furiously.
“How dare those worms!!”
Hadn’t they completely annihilated the cult followers who had previously invaded the Empire?
Yet the believers who worshiped forgotten gods showed their malice again like persistent venom.
Come as much as you want.
I’ll make a sea of blood and mountains of corpses out of you.
The rough-tempered emperor did not yield at all to the successive attacks.
Instead, he revealed his desire for revenge, saying he would repay this humiliation as severely as possible.
“By the grace of the Earth Mother, the casualties involved in the disaster are minor.”
“Hmm, you think so?”
Although multiple disastrous events had co-occurred, the damage was minor.
Barbarossa found this suspicious.
This was because whenever cult forces caused disasters, they were always followed by much bloodshed.
It must be the work of cowards with no guts.
After pondering for a while, the emperor suspected the subversive elements within the Empire that had been quiet for a long time.
There was a high possibility it was sabotage, taking advantage of the turbulent situation caused by the rampant cult forces.
“Your Majesty, what shall we do about the nobles gathered in the imperial city? They must have surely heard the bad news as well.”
“There will be no cancellation. We will proceed as planned.”
Numerous nobles had gathered to attend the regular hunting and banquet held by the emperor.
The total number was about 50 people.
They were all great nobles of the central region who had achieved numerous merits.
There was fear that a disaster might occur if they forcibly held the event.
However, Barbarossa intended to proceed as planned, saying he would not show weakness to the cowards plotting and whispering in the background.
It was a decision befitting the emperor, famous for his stubbornness.
“Your Majesty, Crown Prince Alexis and Princess Ludmilla have arrived.”
“Tell them to come in at once!”
Alexis and Ludmilla, whose arrival in the capital had been slightly delayed, entered the imperial palace.
At that, Barbarossa brightened up and granted them an audience.
“Have you been well, Father?”
“At last, our crown prince has returned!”
His son, who had entered the theological college in the Holy Kingdom, had returned after half a year.
The emperor welcomed the much-matured crown prince with open arms.
There was no greater doting parent than this.
Just as he treated his daughters especially, he was the same as his only son.
Ludmilla, who had entered together, watched the scene with a warm smile.
“You! You’ve come in too!”
“…I have arrived in the capital at Your Majesty’s summons.”
Holding Alexis like a newborn baby, Barbarossa made eye contact with Edanant, who had entered with Ludmilla.
An awkward situation unfolded.
The emperor showed signs of embarrassment and put the crown prince down.
Why was he upset when he was the one who called me?
Perhaps he’s bipolar.
Edanant inwardly complained at the sight of Barbarossa openly being wary of him.
“Didn’t Father summon Young Master Edanant to the imperial city?”
“Ahem, that’s right…”
When his second daughter stepped forward to defend the damn thief, Barbarossa felt disappointed.
It seemed Ludmilla no longer intended to hide her inner feelings, as she immediately showed favoritism by shielding him.
A sense of dejection washed over him.
To think she would change drastically as soon as she found a man she loved.
The daughter who had been devoted to her father no longer existed.
Barbarossa, who had suddenly been pushed to second place, glared at Edanant with an even more ferocious gaze.
“You will accompany the nobles on the hunt! The young master of the Hohenberc family shall attend to me!”
“I will serve Your Majesty with all my heart.”
Is he trying to find fault?
Or perhaps he intends to humiliate me in front of the nobles…
That must be his intention.
Edanant was suspicious of the emperor’s actions in trying to take him on the hunting grounds.
He couldn’t understand at all why he would deliberately bring along the thief who had stolen his beloved daughters.
“Then I shall accompany you as well.”
“No, it’s a turbulent time now, so the crown prince should protect the imperial palace.”
Alexis, who had been listening quietly, requested to join.
At that, Barbarossa shook his head while expressing concern for his son’s safety.
The playboy who had stolen his daughters, whom he had raised like precious jewels, could die right now for all he cared.
But his son, who would inherit the Empire, was more precious than anything, so he prioritized his safety.
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Crown Prince Alexis, who had left for the Holy Kingdom, had finally returned home.
The curtain rose on the stage.
It was the perfect opportunity to eliminate the Empire’s emperor and crown prince at once.
The group of subversives had threatened the Valtarian Imperial Family, and heightened tensions gathered at their hideout.
In a dark space blocked by thick curtains, numerous people engaged in sinister secret talks.
“It seems that the damn emperor will proceed with the hunt as planned after all.”
“Indeed, his arrogance knows no bounds.”
Even though death’s hand was reaching for his neck.
Yet the emperor intended to go ahead with the hunt and banquet.
How arrogant.
Does he think he’s an immortal being?
The tyrant who had sacrificed countless lives was indeed an arrogant fellow.
“Let’s eliminate the emperor at the hunting grounds! The nobles who promised to join us are participating in the hunt, aren’t they?”
“The Red Dragon of the Empire won’t stand idle. There have been numerous attempts so far, but haven’t they all failed because of the Red Dragon?”
The Red Dragon of the Empire.
Ludmilla Dreg Valtaria.
How many nobles had been discovered by her and executed?
The Red Dragon had to be eliminated first.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the success or failure of the coup depended on it.
“But Princess Ludmilla is one of the Seven Strongest in the Empire! How can we eliminate a monster on par with the hero Maximilian?!”
Were the numerous nobles executed for treason simply too stupid to succeed?
No,
It was because they couldn’t do anything about Ludmilla.
Despite employing numerous schemes, they couldn’t deceive the guardian dragon of the Valtarian Imperial Family.
Instead, their treasonous intentions were seen through, and the tragedy of being executed was repeated.
That’s why the groups planning rebellion first thought of strategies to eliminate Ludmilla.
“They said they have a way to eliminate the Red Dragon. It seems they plan to trap her in a barrier. If Ludmilla disappears, even the Seven Swords of Valtaria, who are subordinates of the Red Dragon, will lose their power!!”
An elderly man who had concealed his identity with a black curtain opened his mouth.
They-
At those words, everyone swallowed dry saliva.
It was to punish the Valtarian Imperial Family that had repeatedly carried out bloodshed and purges.
However, the option of bringing in groups that worshiped forgotten gods was too extreme.
That’s why, even though the event planned as a coup was right around the corner, they still couldn’t make a final decision.
“What are you hesitating for? You who have resolved for this great cause have lost your loved ones to the tyrannical emperor! Yet you still care about means and methods?!”
It’s ridiculous.
Is conscience still more important than revenge?
The elderly man severely rebuked the indecisive aspects of those planning the rebellion.
And he expressed his determination to join hands even with the devils of hell if it meant bringing down the cruel emperor.
“Th-That’s right! I’ll join as well!”
“If we can only kill the butcher emperor…! If I can avenge my father…!!”
They shed tears of vengeance.
And they spewed out voices filled with hatred and anger.
Kill the emperor.
Let’s put an end to the Valtarian Imperial Family.
Our desire is the realization of revenge. Nothing else matters.
Whether groups worshiping forgotten gods swallow up the Empire or greedy nobles, raise armies and tear the Empire apart.
“Meiros, who has received the blessing of the Disaster God, has agreed to cooperate!”
The Disaster God is an evil deity contrasted with the Earth Mother Gael, who belongs to the Creator Gods.
It gains power through death and chaos.
That’s why the Meiros who worshiped the Disaster God boasted overwhelming power.
It’s on an entirely different level from the Meiros who attacked Princess Elizaveta.
If it was a Meiros who had received the blessing of the Disaster God, it would indeed resolve their long-cherished wish.
“But if they betray us…”
“I’ll accept it even if that happens! As long as we can kill the emperor!!”
Excessive desire for revenge always brings about extreme notions.
Such were the traitors of the Empire, hiding in darkness and blindly calling for revenge.
They would unleash the divine status of the Disaster God in the imperial city.
They accepted the proposal of the cult forces who hated the Valtarian Empire just like themselves.
It was to kill the emperor.
The vengeful spirits of the Empire thought it was a decision made by their own resolute will.
But they had been manipulated by the Meiros, who worshiped the Disaster God even before they became vengeful spirits.
That’s why these pitiful and foolish vengeful spirits agreed to a plan that would destroy even themselves.
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A Hunt among Hunts…