Chapter 52………………………………..
“Haah… What is the reason?”
“If both His Majesty the Emperor and the Crown Prince die at the same time, who would benefit the most?”
“Are you saying the one who poisoned His Majesty’s and my wine is Stephanos?!”
“That is correct.”
“That’s nonsense! So you want me to arrest the prince based only on speculation? My own brother? Ridiculous.”
“While Your Highness was unconscious, evidence was already discovered.”
“Evidence?”
“Poison from a Lobiana winter scorpion was found in Prince Stephanos’s room. As you know, it is an extremely rare poison.”
Shnugel replied with a regretful expression.
“…Damn it.”
Why did it have to show up there?
Pantheon clenched his teeth tightly.
“You must arrest the Second Prince immediately.”
Damn it!
Stephan was now suspected of poisoning the Emperor’s wine. If Pantheon sided with Stephan here, he himself could also be suspected of attempting to assassinate the Emperor.
And of all poisons, it had to be something so difficult to obtain… No, precisely because it was so rare, it must have been chosen.
Since last winter, Stephan had been responsible for the regular trade with the Kingdom of Lobiana.
He had stubbornly refused the role, saying he lacked the ability, but Pantheon had forced the duty upon him.
‘There’s too much internal administration work. Help me.’
At that one sentence, his younger brother had pouted but still accepted the difficult responsibility.
Regular trade with Lobiana happened only four times a year. However, an unimaginable amount of smuggling occurred secretly at night.
In truth, the Francis imperial family—more specifically, His Majesty the Emperor—had been quietly turning a blind eye to the smuggling.
Because the primary smuggled goods were Lobiana diamonds.
‘Isn’t that her birthstone?’
Turning a blind eye to smuggling just to obtain diamonds for his mistress.
If he wanted to love someone, he should have done it alone. Why drag everyone else into suffering?
Pantheon clicked his tongue briefly and bit his dry lips.
“And His Majesty…?”
“He has not yet regained consciousness.”
“…First, arrest the Second Prince.”
“Yes, Prince Panteunos.”
“You must investigate thoroughly.”
“Of course.”
“You may leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please get some rest.”
Pantheon shook his head as he watched Shnugel salute with a faint smile.
At that time, Pantheon still believed Stephan would soon be released.
But things did not go as expected.
Not only could they not find the real culprit, they also could not find any plausible suspect besides Stephan.
Everyone who seemed suspicious had a solid alibi.
“What is the Second Prince doing?”
“He is in the underground prison. He has not confessed yet, but he will soon reveal the truth.”
“Even with evidence, you locked the Second Prince in the underground prison?!”
Pantheon struck his chest in frustration.
Stephan was not someone capable of harming others.
He was so gentle that even palace maids called him “the kind but slightly foolish prince.”
“Three days have already passed. This won’t do. Stephanos must be released immediately—”
Just as Pantheon was about to order Stephan’s release—
“Prince Panteunos. A message has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
Pantheon received an official document bearing the imperial seal.
It contained an imperial order demanding the immediate execution of Prince Stephanos, the one accused of poisoning the Emperor’s wine.
“This cannot be His Majesty’s will. I must see him immediately.”
Pantheon hurried toward the Imperial Palace.
“You cannot enter.”
“Move aside. How dare you block me?!”
Pantheon shouted angrily as he pushed away the chief chamberlain.
“His Majesty ordered that no one be admitted.”
“I must see His Majesty immediately.”
“Prince Panteunos.”
The chamberlain stepped in front of Pantheon again as he reached for the door.
“…Your Highness. In truth… the Duchess is currently with His Majesty.”
“…What?”
“Please return to the Crown Prince’s palace.”
At the chamberlain’s signal, knights grabbed Pantheon’s arms.
“No! Let go! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your second son—the Second Prince of the Empire—is imprisoned in the underground dungeon! Can you hear me?! Your Majesty, why did you order me to harm Stephanos?!”
Half-dragged away by the knights, Pantheon suddenly laughed.
“Ha… hahaha…”
He bent forward as laughter mixed with tears.
The first person the Emperor sought after waking up… was his mistress.
Your Majesty—while you are wrapped in your mistress’s skirts, do you know what suffering your son is enduring?
Swallowing his boiling rage, Pantheon forced his reluctant steps toward the underground prison where his brother had been held for three days.
“Confess your crime already! You poisoned His Majesty’s and the First Prince’s wine with your own hands!”
“AAAH!”
“Will you only admit your wrongdoing after losing those wicked hands?!”
“Stop! Stop—AAH!”
As Pantheon entered the dungeon, the first thing he heard was Shnugel’s loud voice interrogating a prisoner.
Then came a scream that seemed to pierce the heavens.
It was his brother.
“Stephanos!”
Pantheon ran forward.
And there he saw his brother—his entire body covered in blood, suspended helplessly in chains.
“What are you doing?! Sir Shnugel!”
“I am interrogating a traitor. Ah, but there is an imperial order. Would Your Highness like to execute the punishment yourself?”
Stephan’s body was full of torture marks.
Blood from his right arm had soaked the dungeon floor.
“Ugh… b-brother…”
Seeing Stephan lift his head weakly at the sound of his voice, Pantheon let out a roar and drew his sword.
“How dare you! The Empire’s Second Prince—!”
“What the—?!”
Pantheon drove his sword into Shnugel’s abdomen.
Shnugel stumbled backward, clutching his stomach.
Pantheon ignored him and quickly began chanting a spell to summon Sylph.
“Sylph! Cut the chains!”
“…Brother…”
“Don’t speak. Let’s get you treated first.”
As soon as Stephan collapsed to the ground, Pantheon hoisted him over his shoulder.
Suppressing the rage surging to the top of his head, he quickly moved toward the exit.
But the moment they left the dungeon, a group surrounded them.
Silver armor. A golden lion crest engraved at the center.
The Imperial Knights of Francis.
“What… what are you doing?!”
“Imprison the First Prince Panteunos and the Second Prince Stephanos in the underground prison for treason.”
Shnugel, wearing blood-stained armor, issued the command.
“Let go! How dare you lay hands on me!”
Pantheon’s body shook under the knights’ powerful grip.
Looking at Stephan unconscious on the ground, Pantheon bit his lip.
Something was wrong.
Even if he stabbed a knight, an imperial decree couldn’t come down this quickly.
And treason?
Pantheon had no reason for that.
He was the First Prince of the Empire, the man destined to become Emperor someday.
Only then did Pantheon realize—
The order commanding him to kill Stephan had not come from the Emperor.
“The imperial order was forged! Let me go! We must find the culprit immediately!”
“What are you waiting for? Make him kneel.”
“Ghk—!”
Brutal kicks followed.
Pantheon’s right ankle twisted completely as he was forced to his knees.
Even so, he kept insisting on his innocence.
“Wake up, all of you! Someone is playing with the Emperor’s seal! That must be investigated first!”
But no one listened.
Has the palace already been completely seized? Who could have done this?!
“Things are rather noisy, Sir Shnugel.”
The one who appeared before the shocked Pantheon was Duke Kref and his wife.
“Ah, Your Grace.”
Shnugel bowed to him with the respect due to an emperor.
“You bastard! How dare you—!”
Shnugel kicked Pantheon in the stomach.
Pantheon gasped for breath.
Duke Kref slowly approached him and lifted his chin with a finger.
“Your Highness, why were you in such a hurry? His Majesty the Emperor is still perfectly healthy. Yet you conspired with your brother to seize the imperial crown.”
Duke Kref Dandion spoke with a false expression of pity.
“Sob… I’m so frightened, Your Grace.”
Behind him, hiding and laughing through fake tears, was Duchess Kref Jinya.
They were not human.
They were monsters wearing human skin.
“It was you… You’re the one who planned all this!”
Pantheon ground his teeth.
Duke Kref frowned.
“What are you waiting for? These princes committed treason and violated filial duty. Take them to the dungeon.”
“You bastard! Kref Dandion!”
At that moment, violent wind surrounded Pantheon and Stephan.
It was Sylph’s power.
“Sylph! Bring fire!”
The moment Pantheon finished speaking, raging air spread everywhere.
Soon shouts of “Fire!” echoed throughout the palace.
Amid the chaos, Pantheon fled the imperial palace like a dog with its tail on fire—dragging his broken right foot and holding onto Stephan, who had fainted from severe wounds.
Gray smoke rose into the sky, covering the noon sun.
It was the first day of July.
“Brother! Brother!”
“Ghk—!”
Pantheon woke up, gasping for breath.
“Ah… Stephan…”
“You seemed to be having a nightmare, so I woke you.”
Seeing his brother shaking him, Pantheon sighed in relief.
“Did you return from practice?”
“Yes.”
“How is Lady Privetina’s skill?”
“It improves day by day.”
Stephan smiled brightly like a fool.
He had volunteered to spar with her and evaluate her swordsmanship.
“That’s enough. Don’t waste too much of your time.”
“No. Didn’t we decide to bring Lady Privetina into our plan? It would be good if she became stronger. And… it helps me too. I’m still clumsy.”
Stephan smiled while touching his left arm.
Pantheon had been the one who cut off his right arm—the arm of the Empire’s greatest spear swordsman.
Stephan had developed a fever and abnormal swelling due to torture-induced infection.
To save his brother, Pantheon had severed the arm and vowed he would never forgive those monsters.
“It’s late. Go rest.”
“Yes.”
Pantheon knew why his brother had come to his room at this hour.
That kind fool was worried about him—someone who still couldn’t escape from nightmares.
“Stop worrying and return to your room.”
After forcing Stephan out, Pantheon quietly sat in his chair.
Through the open window, autumn insects chirped.
The cool breeze gently stirred his sweat-damp hair.
Pantheon tucked his overgrown bangs behind his ear.
“Should I read while waiting?”
Pressing his aching temples, he slowly reached for the book on the table in front of him.
Crack.
Pantheon heard the sound just as he turned a page.
