Chapter 86………………………
: The Emperor’s Scheme
“Your Highness Mikrok, this side is almost finished. You should take a rest now.”
“Alright. Let’s watch the 1st Knights depart and then take a break ourselves.”
William, clad in armor splattered with monster blood, looked at the blood-soaked Mikrok with concern.
After receiving reports that children were disappearing one by one in border villages of Pritan, Mikrok and the knights quickly moved from District 4 in the southwest, bordering the Haren Empire, to District 11 in the south.
The number of monsters that had begun preying on humans had increased rapidly, making it impossible to eliminate them all.
In the end, Mikrok and the knights gradually drove them north, while the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Knight Orders at each point moved the monsters into special zones managed by the Kingdom of Pritan.
When Mikrok confirmed that the 1st Knight Order had formed a perfect encirclement, pushing the monsters toward the north where the 2nd Knight Order waited, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Your Highness Mikrok, would you like a drink?”
While resting at a temporary lodging, William arrived, carrying liquor and cups.
“Hmm? No snacks?”
“Of course there are.”
William smiled faintly, and Ralph entered, carrying a large plate piled high with roasted vegetables and meat, as if waiting for this exact moment.
“Is this a drinking party or a meal?”
Seeing the enormous plate of snacks, Mikrok laughed heartily.
“You haven’t had a proper meal today. Consider this a meal and the drink as a side.”
At Ralph’s words, William frowned in displeasure.
“What do you mean? I was planning to drink heavily tonight.”
“Ugh!”
Soon, the three of them sat side by side, quietly raising their cups. Even Ralph, who had prepared the snacks himself, only drank without touching the food.
“Do you remember what the child we rescued today said?”
William spoke seriously. Mikrok silently nodded.
“They said they saw a friend following a certain knight up the mountain. They said they went along excitedly, thinking it was a good place.”
“And when that friend didn’t return, they went to look for them out of worry.”
Ralph downed his drink with a somber expression.
“A red helmet with a red feather? I’ve never heard of a knight dressed so flamboyantly. What kind of insane knight would wear such an outfit?”
“They must be confident that the witness won’t see them twice.”
Mikrok filled his cup expressionlessly.
“The child couldn’t have known to hide and observe. And they certainly wouldn’t have expected us to rescue the child.”
“Your Highness Mikrok, do you have any idea who they might be?”
“I’ve seen it in the records left by the late king.”
William and Ralph looked up at Mikrok in surprise.
“The Shadow Guards of the Haren Imperial Family.”
“Huh??”
Mikrok glared at the cup before him with eyes blazing like fire.
“According to information from the Jackal Guild, last year the Emperor of Haren handed the Shadow Guards over to the Crown Prince.”
“So, does that mean it was the Haren Crown Prince behind this?”
“We’ll know when we investigate. Whether the monsters feasting on humans are backed by the Emperor or the Crown Prince.”
“Indeed, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Emperor or the Crown Prince. What matters is that they dared to touch Pritan.”
Seeing Mikrok’s cold, shining gaze, William and Ralph felt their resolve rise.
“Ralph, send a message to Freddy immediately. Tell him Haren’s movements are suspicious and to return at once.”
“I’ll do so.”
Thinking of Lea and Millie currently in the Haren Empire, the three men’s expressions darkened.
‘Lea, please come back safely.’
An inexplicable unease gnawed at Mikrok’s heart.
The three of them clinked their cups in silence and drank, a heavy silence settling between them.
Hailey trembled with fear as she followed the Emperor into the underground prison of Haren Palace. She thought bringing Lea was just an excuse—that in reality, he might be locking her away for playing around with the Crown Prince—and her steps gradually slowed.
Eventually, Hailey stopped completely, as if nailed to the floor. The Emperor looked back at her with a hint of curiosity.
“What is it?”
“Your Majesty, if you’ve brought Lea, why are we going to a place like this? Isn’t she meant to be your future consort?”
“Hmm…”
The Emperor smiled faintly, enigmatically, as if he were weighing her words.
“If the High Priest says that child’s talents are that special, there’s no need to make her a common Empress.”
“Excuse me…?”
“Why would I bring a mere novice to the bedroom when I have you?”
Seeing the Emperor’s teasing gaze, Hailey realized he had never trusted her words at all.
“Do you know how much I laughed inside when someone who’s never been in love is called the world’s femme fatale? The cute little trick of calling my lovers my sister’s lovers.”
“….”
The sly smile turned tender as the Emperor reached out to caress her cheek. Hailey felt a chill crawl over her entire body.
Suddenly, his hand gripped her jaw tightly, applying force. Shocked, Hailey couldn’t even make a sound.
“I’ve wondered sometimes. What do you think of the Emperor of Haren? That you’d actually believe such clumsy lies?”
He whispered close to her ear.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know when you dragged the Crown Prince into the bedroom?”
Hailey gasped, stunned.
“You knew all along… why…?”
“You were getting cocky relying on your mother’s family. I was planning to deal with him soon, and you made a convenient excuse.”
Hearing the Emperor casually admit he had planned to eliminate his own son, the Crown Prince, Hailey shuddered.
She had thought she was playing at the top of the Emperor’s world, but in reality, she had been a mere pawn under his hand.
Seeing her fear, the Emperor smiled in satisfaction.
“Thanks to you, I eliminated the Crown Prince and brought back the Queen of Pritan. I won’t harm you while you’re useful, so don’t worry.”
“…What do you want me to do?”
“For now, persuade your sister carefully.”
Having said this, the Emperor turned and descended toward the underground prison. Hailey, regaining her senses, hurried after him.
“Your Majesty Queen, Your Majesty! Are you alright? Please answer me!”
From somewhere distant, Millie’s voice choked with tears reached her. The weight pressing down on her body was crushing, but she struggled to focus.
Opening her eyes slowly, she saw only darkness. She tried to move but found herself completely immobilized.
“Your Majesty Queen, are you conscious?”
Turning her head with effort, she saw Millie tied to a pillar, her voice hoarse as she looked at her.
“Millie…?”
“Sniff… Your Majesty Queen…”
Only then did she realize that her arms and legs were bound and she had been thrown to the floor. She slowly rolled toward Millie.
“What happened?”
“As soon as Sir Freddy passed away, they knocked you out and dragged you here. When I screamed and cried, they tied me to this pillar like this.”
Millie’s face twisted with sorrow and anger.
“Sir Freddy isn’t dead.”
“Huh?”
“He will survive and tell Mik everything about our situation.”
“Oh, so that’s it!!”
Millie’s tear-streaked face brightened.
“I thought it was strange, but in that brief moment…”
“Shh!”
She hushed Millie, listening for sounds outside. Millie glanced around nervously and closed her mouth.
“Where are we?”
“Judging by what the soldiers said earlier, this seems to be the Haren Palace.”
“Hailey must have done this, right?”
As Millie and she whispered, suddenly, flickering light and loud footsteps came from the prison entrance.
“Looks like she’s awake.”
“Really? Open it.”
Millie and she tensed as they saw a figure slowly approaching through the darkness. When the torchlight came close, she opened her eyes wide in shock.
“Emperor…?”
“You recognized me well enough.”
The Emperor of Haren smiled with satisfaction. How could she not recognize him? The old raccoon-like merchant who had almost become her husband!
At that moment, she noticed another person standing behind the Emperor. The Emperor, noticing her gaze, pulled the person forward.
“Hailey?”
“Long time no see, Lea.”
Her demeanor toward her was still cold, but her eyes trembled with fear.
“Can you explain what’s happening?”
“Hmph, living as a queen has made you bold, hasn’t it?”
“As you said, I am the Queen of Pritan, consort of the great King Mikrok. I hope you are prepared for the consequences of treating me like this.”
“Still arrogant, huh!”
Hailey didn’t dodge as Hailey raised her arm to strike. She was no longer a worthless daughter of a marquis family but the Queen of Pritan, determined never to back down.
Seeing her furious gaze, the Emperor grabbed Hailey’s arm.
“Queen, I told you to persuade your sister, yet all you do is fight. Disappointing.”
Hailey flinched and stepped back. The Emperor slowly approached and lifted her from the floor.
“I apologize for the rough treatment. But!”
He smirked mockingly.
“You’ll soon step down as queen, so stop acting so arrogant.”
“What… do you mean?”
“I’m officially sending divorce papers to the Pritan royal family.”
Hearing “divorce,” she nearly lost her breath.
“If the divorce is finalized, you will serve the Haren Imperial Family for life as a priestess of the Daesin Temple, following in your mother Yurahel’s footsteps.”
“My husband will never agree to this divorce.”
“Will he?”
The Emperor laughed cruelly.
“Once the divorce papers, signed by the great King of Pritan himself, arrive, then we’ll talk.”
At that moment, she was thrown to the floor with force.
“Until further instructions, no food or water is to be given.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After a while, the Emperor and Hailey disappeared, and the light vanished with them.
“Your Majesty Queen, are you alright?”
Fear washed over her in the dark, but hearing Millie’s familiar voice, she barely maintained composure.
Then, in this space where she thought they were alone, a strange voice spoke.
“You… are really Yurahel’s daughter?”
