Chapter 43
The Crown Prince Aios commits evil acts beneath the surface until the story reaches its midpoint.
Then he’s caught by Carlos, the commander of the 3rd Knights Division, and his misdeeds are finally brought to light, triggering the beginning of the final showdown.
The Crown Prince tries to overthrow the Empire with the heretics, and Carlos fights to stop him, side by side with the Saintess.
Elia, who had become the wife of the second son of Count Melason, is also dealt with during that process.
“Ugh.”
Just remembering Elia’s fate as written in the original story sent chills down my spine.
I tried to shake off the narrative of the original and focused on observing the Crown Prince.
The golden-haired, golden-eyed prince was stunningly handsome.
He looked just like a high-end model—but this man was the mastermind behind everything?
It was frustrating not being able to expose or deal with the Crown Prince right away.
“Everyone, please be seated.”
The Emperor, having taken his seat at the head of the room, commanded everyone in the audience hall.
The Crown Prince sat beside the Emperor, and the ministers and other officials also took their seats.
“Today, we will discuss the second subjugation operation of the 3rd Knights Division.”
The Emperor began speaking, and the preliminary briefing for the operation commenced.
It went smoothly—because Carlos was excellent at his job and articulate to boot.
Carlos, always the main character!
“…And so, with Your Majesty’s approval, we would like to proceed.”
Carlos finished his report and turned toward the Emperor.
A flicker of complex emotion briefly passed through his brown eyes as he looked at the Emperor.
The Crown Prince looked at Carlos with an intrigued expression.
That was within expectations—this was around the time, even in the original, when Carlos and the Crown Prince began to notice and challenge each other.
What worried me most was the Saintess.
‘What are the odds Carlos could win against the Crown Prince without imprinting with the Saintess?’
Should I force that relationship to happen?
I was glaring at the Crown Prince, caught up in those thoughts, when—
“……!”
Our eyes met.
I quickly averted my gaze, pretending to study the painting behind him on the wall.
The Crown Prince nonchalantly looked away as well.
Phew. That nearly gave me a heart attack.
“Then the second subjugation will proceed to the Masunt Mountains with thirty elite knights from the 3rd Division.”
The meeting was reaching its end.
“May fortune be with you in the second subjugation.”
Just as the Emperor was about to conclude the meeting—
“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”
The Crown Prince, who had remained silent until now, raised his right hand to interject.
“What is it, Aios?”
“I have a question about the participants in the second subjugation.”
“A question?”
The Emperor tilted his head, puzzled.
Which was fair—Carlos’s personnel allocation was practically perfect.
“I acknowledge Sir Ivach’s effort.”
The Crown Prince wasn’t trying to discredit Carlos.
“But I question the role assigned to Sir Elia.”
Huh? Why is he picking on me all of a sudden?
I looked at the Crown Prince in shock, and he winked at me.
…What the hell is he doing? Is this a joke?
I glared at him in disbelief, and he winked with the other eye.
Seriously, what is his problem?
“What about my role, exactly?”
I asked, trying not to break etiquette.
“As everyone knows, Sir Elia can no longer wield a sword. Of course, she’s still better than most, but she’s not exactly fit to fight heretics, is she?”
This jerk—did he come here just to piss me off?
“Sir Elia, I had no intention of offending you.”
The Crown Prince picked up on my anger, but his tone was far too casual to be sincere.
“What’s the point of bringing this up?”
The Emperor, perhaps sensing the need for mediation, intervened.
“Because I want to help Sir Elia.”
That caught even the Emperor by surprise—one of his eyebrows shot up.
I was just as shocked.
What kind of help are you trying to offer me?
“It is a knight’s duty to serve and protect a lady. Before I am a Crown Prince, I am a knight—and I wish to aid Sir Elia. I propose to accompany the subjugation to protect her.”
The room stirred as the Crown Prince openly referred to me as a lady and declared his intent to join the subjugation mission.
I was too stunned to speak, and even the Emperor seemed at a loss, looking between us.
“Heretic subjugation is normally—”
“I know. It’s the 3rd Division’s duty. But those who deny the divine and commit atrocities are enemies of us all, are they not?”
The Crown Prince spoke smoothly.
“So I don’t think it’s against reason for the royal family to lend a hand.”
The ministers looked at each other and began nodding.
After all, the 3rd Division only took on the heretic hunts because no one else wanted to.
“My request is made with pure intentions—to support the 3rd Division, and Sir Elia. And also, because I wish to protect the Empire from those heretics.”
He placed a hand on his chest, golden eyes gleaming.
“A commendable spirit.”
“Indeed, the heretics are enemies of the entire Empire.”
At this point, it seemed inevitable that the Crown Prince would join the subjugation mission.
What should I do?
I’m the only one who knows the Crown Prince is on the heretics’ side.
And this diverges way too much from the original storyline.
I have to stop it… but how?
His logic was sound—duty, justice, and royal support were hard to argue against.
And rejecting his help might be seen as not taking the threat seriously.
This is such a mess.
Just as I thought that—
“I appreciate Your Highness’s words, but I must decline the request to accompany us.”
Carlos’s voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned to look at him in shock, even the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
“Do you know what you’re saying, Carlos?”
The Crown Prince asked, clearly incredulous.
“Yes. But may I ask—do you understand what just happened?”
The Crown Prince’s expression hardened.
“What a disrespectful—”
“Your Highness has just insulted my commander.”
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Even the Crown Prince mirrored the Emperor’s raised eyebrow in surprise.
Carlos remained calm and firm, staring directly at the Crown Prince.
“Sir Elia is a fine knight who needs no protection.”
* * *
I don’t remember much of the meeting after that.
All I recall was the intense attention Carlos drew, and the Crown Prince trying to argue with him a few more times.
Everything else was a blur.
The only thing that stuck with me was…
“Sir Elia is a fine knight who needs no protection.”
So much had happened since I became her.
Many people praised me and admired my transformation.
But no compliment, no recognition had ever felt as sincere as Carlos’s single sentence.
And none had made me feel as proud.
“Whew.”
After exiting the chamber, I asked to be alone and entered the garden maze, crouching near the ground and sighing.
Carlos… he really…
Does this mean I’ve avoided the biggest death flag?
Relief, joy, and pride welled up together.
I stayed curled up in the maze for a while, until I calmed down and finally stood to leave.
That was when—
“Sir Elia, I’d like to have a word.”
The Crown Prince blocked my path.
