'Jason, you must go to Valdina."
That his uncle was trying to put me forward as the 1st Prince's rival and the 3rd Prince's shield.
It had been a long time since the 4th Princess, whom he had cherished, and the rest of the remaining children were all thrown out by the 1st Prince.
Faced with the overwhelming power of his eldest son, who had instantly quelled the succession, Perdiccas II, far from repenting his mistakes, sought a way to somehow suppress his son...
That was Jason.
"There is a job you must do at the Valdina Imperial Proclamation ceremony. Cesare, those damned men will try to interfere, but you must succeed."
The plan was to pit Jason and his eldest son against each other, exhaust their strength, and then easily defeat the weakened them.
The Third Prince was the Emperor's only remaining bulwark.
Jason know. If there had been any other alternative, the Emperor would never have chosen him.
Even now, the Emperor's closest confidant, the Chief Chamberlain, was accompanying Jason.
It meant that he did not trust Jason and that he should be used only as a mere tool.
If he presses the 1st Prince, he will be discarded like a hunting dog that has served its purpose.
He was disgusted by the pettiness, but he had no other choice.
'I have to do it even if it's poisonous. This is the only stepping stone I can climb up.'
Pretending not to notice the decaying desires and distrust, Jason took Perdiccas II's hand and came to Valdina.
"I had no choice either. Your Majesty, please stop being angry."
Jason, who had already anticipated the cold reaction of the banquet hall, brought out the words he had prepared.
"His Majesty the Emperor of Katzen, my lord and uncle, has appointed me as an official envoy, so I have no choice but to follow my responsibilities."
Jason was the first to present the Emperor's edict.
So that everyone can see the Emperor's seal appointing him as the representative of Katzen.
The Valdinians frowned.
The Emperor of Katzen also knows what his nephew Jason has done. He even took away his nephew's lands to pay the compensation.
But then you send that person back as an envoy to Valdina?
Doesn't this mean that we're pouring cold water on Baldina's slope?
"..."
Jason lifted his chin.
'Since the Emperor has given me full authority, they must accept me as well.'
As a new empire, they can't immediately confront Katzen from the moment they take their first steps.
Even he is the only member of the Katzen Imperial Family in this delegation. Even if he is only a shell, the value of his bloodline does not disappear.
So they can only watch, unable to kill or expel him.
Just like three years ago, Valdina had no choice but to let him live.
As Jason looked at Peleus' hardened face and the faces of the Agemas who could not contain their anger, a base satisfaction rose up inside him.
All the hardships he had endured in the North and the humiliation he had felt from being used as his uncle's puppet no longer seemed painful.
'... Where is she?'
Jason, in high spirits, unconsciously sought out the cold and heartless Princess.
He wanted to know what kind of expression she was making when she saw him right now.
However, he could not find Medea. Jason bit his lip and shook off the regret that was rising in his throat.
'This is not the time. Have I forgotten why I came here?'
He is not the only clown who will be on stage today.
Jason, who had come to his senses, nodded slightly behind him.
Those who received the signal split to either side like the sea parting, and those who had been hidden among the delegation finally revealed themselves.
"Claudio, why do you show your faces in Valdina!"
The thunderous roar of Gilliforth exploding with anger, rang out.
People soon recognized the faded silver-haired rich man standing by Jason's side.
Dozens of eyes scanned the rich man's entire body in an instant.
Samon was still the same, with gray hair and a sly look in his eyes, except he was a little thinner. But his father, Joaquin, had aged remarkably in the three years since.
Deep wrinkles covered his face and his one remaining eye twitched violently.
There was no sign of the omnipotent Duke Claudio, who was once said to be able to bring down birds from his hunched posture.
The luxurious attire he wore to show off his pride did not suit him at all and instead made him look more shabby.
"Oh my... Even though he is father is the son-in-law of Princess Katzen, how can he look like that..."
Foreigners who remembered his heyday were either surprised or clicked their tongues.
Count Raju was also with Claudio.
Still wearing his red suit and mustache, he looked more greasy and cool than before.
Catherine and Birna, who had no title or position, were not even eligible to attend the celebration.
Fortunately, Samon was able to take his place as Jason's advisor, and Joaquin was barely able to take his place as Raju's attendant.
"You dirty bastards! You're like the monsters who will go to hell!"
Another person, unable to contain his anger, poured champagne on them.
Joaquin's chest was covered in pie filling that someone had thrown.
Despite dressing up for the banquet, Samon and his party quickly became dirty.
Samon knelt before Peleus, his cloudy blue eyes shining with a sly light.
"Simon Claudio, I humbly ask your forgiveness, cousin. In a moment of foolish judgment, I have committed an unforgivable sin."
With a gloomy expression, he bowed his head deeply. The red wine that someone had poured on him soaked his faded silver hair.
The wine flowing down the haggard face looked like tears of blood.
"That, that shameless guy-!"
Even amid the Valdinians' hatred that seemed as if they were going to devour him, he did not stop. Instead, he shouted loudly so that everyone in the banquet hall could hear.
"If you accept our family back with honor, I will devote the rest of my life to the prosperity of Valdina. Your Majesty, please remember the bond of blood relations and show mercy to us."
The voice sounded serious and desperate.
To an untrained ear, Samon's words sounded like Peleus had arbitrarily banished his uncle's family.
"Ugh, Peleus, no, Your Majesty, please forgive me, your uncle. I was wrong..."
Joaquin, who had been watching, collapsed next to his son and burst into tears.
He walked on his knees, stumbling, and reached out to Peleus.
"I left my hometown where I was born and raised my whole life, and I couldn't even be there for my mother when she died. How long will I live, this old uncle? Even if I die, I want to die next to my mother. Your Majesty, I beg you, please forgive me..."
Claudio cried and made a fuss.
"You shameless bastards are babbling nonsense, forgetting the kindness that saved their lives! Don't even think about crawling into Valdina!"
The exploded Gilliforth found the hammer.
They are the worms that have been eating away at this country. I should have crushed their useless heads a long time ago!
"Samon, what are you doing? You are committing such an outrageous act in front of the royal family and the distinguished guests without even telling me...!"
Jason made a displeased sound.
But that wasn't to reprimand Samon but to draw the line that Claudio and his son's impulsive behavior had nothing to do with him.
"Take them out."
Peleus gave the order in a voice that was not high or low. It was a cold voice that seemed to have completely missed Joaquin's desperate pleas.
"Your Majesty. Am I not your uncle? The blood that flows through my body also flows through Your Majesty. Aah, how can you be so cruel... You will truly feel relieved only if I die... Keuk!"
It was at this moment that Joaquin, who was sobbing, pulled out a dagger and was about to hold it to his neck.
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