~Chapter 110~
Piaje stared at Johannes with a blank face, ignoring his answer.
“You always seem to have it easy, brother. Is it because you’re the firstborn?”
“That’s just your victim mentality. Think about it— even that stiff Duke Huat is planning to pass his house to the second son because the first is too much of a wastrel.”
“…”
“Well, he’s your friend, so you’d know better than me. You don’t actually think Kasen will inherit just because he’s the eldest, do you?”
Piaje shrugged.
“I was joking. I didn’t expect such a serious reply.”
“Why don’t you tell that joke in front of His Majesty? He’d love it—laugh out loud.”
“You never let a single word go, do you.”
“Hm. I’ve always hated losing to anyone.”
“Unfortunately, I’m the same.”
Before Piaje even finished, Johannes walked past him, deciding there was no need to keep talking.
“Your recent moves are unusual. Didn’t you dislike Father?”
“Sigh… Piaje. Since when did you know my heart so well? And lately Father keeps calling me— I’m not the one going to him.”
“Brothers share similarities. I can guess how you feel.”
“What are you saying? I’m better than you.”
“How irritating. How long can you keep acting so confident?”
“Piaje.”
“If you stay arrogant like that, the day will come when you lose someone precious.”
“Do you even know what you’re babbling about? Why keep picking fights?”
“Your cheap way of speaking—unfit for a royal—will cause trouble someday.”
“I’ve always talked like this. So far, no trouble.”
“Will you still talk like that after you lose someone important?”
Johannes frowned. Piaje looked furious; that’s why he’d come here for a childish argument.
Johannes wanted to tell him to spend this time on something useful, but he wasn’t kind enough to advise an enemy.
Even so, he couldn’t completely ignore Piaje’s next words.
“What if someone precious gets hurt because of you?”
“Before that happens, I won’t spare you.”
“Will you, though?”
Johannes’ face hardened. He might look easygoing, but he was the Crown Prince of an empire. He understood exactly what Piaje was implying.
‘He’s threatening me.’
And he instantly knew who Piaje was targeting.
Johannes had survived many unfavorable situations—he was sharper than most.
He walked away without reacting.
Letting the enemy know you’d seen through him would be foolish. It was time to make countermeasures, not trade useless barbs.
‘I’ve already made it clear everywhere that I care about Delphina…’
He didn’t mind being targeted himself.
‘But aiming for our gentle, kind Delphina?’
Then he would never let it pass. Johannes’ eyes turned cold.
Piaje scowled as Johannes ignored him and left. He went straight to Yuria.
“Mother, we’re really past the point of no return. At this rate, His Majesty might declare my brother the Crown Prince.”
Yuria’s face had grown gaunt. Even their relationship was no longer what it used to be.
Because everything kept going wrong, Piaje had begun to resent her.
They looked at each other with eyes that had lost trust.
‘If only Mother hadn’t told me to stop giving support…!’
Things wouldn’t have gotten this bad. But Yuria also blamed Piaje.
‘How did this fool manage to lose both ducal houses?’
Piaje spoke.
“His Majesty has been calling my brother often lately, discussing state affairs. It’s completely different from how distant he used to be.”
“You’ve noticed too, haven’t you? After the former Empress died, we did use it on His Majesty as well.”
What frustrated Yuria even more was the Emperor’s strange behavior lately.
‘He’s acting as if the black magic has completely worn off.’
The Emperor sometimes even called Johannes for friendly chats.
If their black magic was holding, that should never happen.
Now Piaje and Yuria were cornered.
“Mother, how much black magic do we have left?”
“Not much. We must be careful. At most… one or two more uses.”
“…”
“At the hunting competition, we’ll look for a new person to use it on.”
The Emperor planned to make the event very grand— to honor the Northern Grand Duke’s house for clearing the Monster Forest.
‘Even delegations from other countries are coming.’
It was that impressive an achievement. Piaje said to Yuria:
“I heard people who break free from black magic are hard to ensnare again.”
“That’s generally true. But it’s not like it never works.”
“Even so, the effect drops a lot. Using it again on those who’ve already been caught is foolish.”
Yuria nodded with a dark expression. He was right—bewitching someone a second time wasn’t easy.
Piaje spoke with certainty.
“Give me one last chance. I have the perfect use for it.”
“A use?”
“The target who’ll be most affected by black magic.”
Yuria tilted her head.
“I’m going to use it on my brother.”
Piaje explained what he intended to do.
Yuria covered her mouth in shock. Even for her own son, it was a vicious plan.
In a way, it resembled the methods she had used in the past to eliminate political enemies—
which, in truth, pleased her.
“Fine, Piaje. To become Emperor, one must make decisions like that.”
Elcayan stood with a displeased face. Preparing for the hunting competition was a hassle.
In the North, there were no knight uniforms with fancy decorations. In real battle, beauty and refinement meant nothing.
But that was only how he and his knights thought— the staff from the North felt differently.
Delphina murmured in amazement, “The teleport gate is incredible. We’re here already.”
The most enthusiastic helpers for the preparations were Sestia and Sana.
“Sirs of the Grand Duke’s order have to shine the most!”
“Right. The knights beside Lady Delphina can’t look plain.”
Sana’s cheeks were flushed; the convenience of the teleport gate had thrilled her.
“Wow. Money is the best.”
Sestia added, “Power is the best too. Without power, you can’t use a teleport gate no matter how much money you have.”
“That’s true.”
“Money and power… exhilarating.”
Ahin, standing beside them, only shook his head helplessly.
Sana asked Elcayan carefully, “Your Grace, can I do that thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“From here to here— give me everything. This.”
Delphina answered for him.
“Sana, you don’t need to ask His Grace about that.”
“Lady Delphina?”
“I can cover it with my own money now.”
With that, Delphina handed Sana a blank check.
Sana stared at her, stunned.
