Cornered Rat (12)
I thought I smelled something metal coming from somewhere, and then I heard footsteps.
There are many of them, and their footsteps are small and light, like those of trained people.
The moment I stepped back without realizing it, imperial knights poured in from all directions and surrounded us.
Chevio was not among them. The Emperor, who had figured out our purpose, had prepared his knights in advance.
"I knew from the beginning that your goal was not the Second Prince."
"..."
"You wouldn't have asked for an audience just to cure the Second Prince's headache and cough. If that's the case, there can only be one reason."
Rahon's face turned cold with discomfort.
"Are you trying to intimidate the Guardian based on mere speculation?"
"Of course, I have to protect the Guardians. But that duty only holds true if the Guardians do not pose a threat to the Empire."
"When have we ever threatened the Empire?"
"That would depend on why you lured me, the Emperor."
"Ha!"
As Rahon reacted nervously, the imperial knights tightened their siege.
The energy radiating from them is suffocating.
'I can't get out of this like this.'
In fact, I had thought that the Emperor might sense our intentions.
If you suddenly offer to heal the Second Prince without any request, anyone would be suspicious.
"Your Majesty, please hand over the knights first. There are too many ears listening."
"How did you know there were knights?"
"How could I not know when the sound of footsteps and the smell of metal vibrate from all directions?"
"Hmm..."
When the Emperor gave him a nod, the imperial knights all retreated. Only then did they feel relieved.
I sighed deeply and opened my mouth.
"In the future I saw, Your Majesty would hand over the throne to the Third Prince."
"That's a bad joke."
In my past life, I saw a future where Oslo was on the throne.
But as I am now, I have no way of knowing how the future has changed.
'I can't relax until Kalit takes the throne.'
It's not over yet.
Even though it may seem like the future has changed for now, if the Emperor makes the same choices as he did in my past life, all the efforts I have made so far will go down the drain.
"You probably won't believe it. I felt the same way as Your Majesty. That's why I asked Lord Rahon to check on Your Majesty's health."
"Are you sure you checked my health?"
"I am afraid that Your Majesty, your health may be impaired to the extent that it is clouding your judgment."
Only then did the Emperor's expression become serious.
"Then you could have just spoken frankly. Did you really have to use the Second Prince in this way?"
"If I had just told you the truth, would Your Majesty have listened to me so seriously as you did now?"
"..."
"And if it weren't for the recommendation of His Highness the Second Prince, would His Majesty have entrusted the examination to Lord Rahon?"
Under normal circumstances, the Emperor would have been offended by my words and would have refused to examine Rahon.
Because agreeing to the examination itself means questioning his judgment.
"What I thought was absolutely impossible, I have seen, is now a possible future. Please do not take it lightly."
"So you're saying that I'm handing over the throne to the Third Prince."
He muttered as if talking to himself, then he put his hands behind his back and spoke firmly.
"Kill him."
"... What did you say?"
"If by any chance I make that choice, you want me to die. Either I'm crazy or someone is imitating me.
"..."
"Isn't it obvious that neither of them is capable of ruling the empire properly? We don't need such Emperors, so get rid of them."
***
After parting ways with the Emperor, we headed toward the Great Library.
I waited until I could no longer hear the Emperor's footsteps, then asked quietly.
"Your Majesty, was there any problem?"
"He was fine."
"Yes..."
"Can't you see why the Emperor handed over the throne to the Third Prince?"
"Yes, until then..."
"I didn't ask to blame you, you know?"
"Sure."
I deliberately made my voice brighter.
"How did you know that His Highness the Second Prince suffered from insomnia?"
"Have you ever seen a weak person sleep well?"
“Ah...”
Rahon paused for a moment and rubbed his chin.
"Do you think the Emperor cares about the Second Prince?"
"I'm a little surprised. It's the first time I've heard His Majesty speak so affectionately to someone. I guess he feels a great sense of responsibility for the Second Prince's physical condition."
"Well, to me, it seemed like he was imitating his affectionate father. His actions, his speech, his gaze towards the Second Prince, it was all an act."
"...No way."
The corners of Rahon's mouth went up crookedly.
"There was a rich man who once begged me to visit him just once, saying he would give up his entire fortune. When I looked into it, I found out it was because of his son. His son was born with a deformed leg."
"I guess you don't know that even power can't do anything about something you're born with. What a shame."
"No, he knows, but he still clings to it. Maybe because he has the expectation that his child might be able to do it."
"..."
"At least that's what the parents who asked me to heal their children did."
My head felt dizzy as if I had been hit in the back of the head.
If you think about it, the Emperor gave up on the second Prince too easily.
It was the complete opposite of the affectionate behavior he had shown toward the Second Prince a moment ago.
"Then why. Hos Majesty..."
"Asking me to heal the Second Prince is no different from taking on a debt. Even if I heal him, he is not good enough to be the successor, so I guess he decided there was no reason to express his regrets to another child."
"..."
"The Emperor only thinks about the Empire. He is the kind of person who will abandon anyone who is not helpful to the Empire, even if that person is his own child."
Just thinking about the Emperor's appearance at the hunting competition was enough.
Wasn't Oslo punished only after the attendees, led by Prime Minister Hallstail, protested?
It was belatedly covered up because it seemed like the empire's reputation would fall. And it was only a 30-year prison sentence.
This also meant that he was indifferent to matters that did not affect the empire.
So, even though he knew that Oslo was trying to assassinate me, he kept quiet until now.
Why would a person like that hand over the throne to Oslo in my past life?
Did he decide that Oslo was more suited to be the Emperor of the Empire than himself?
"I don't know.'
Anyway, since I gave him a warning, all we can do is watch closely until the Great Rift ends.
As I thought about it, I realized that I was near the main library. Nadia, who had been waiting in front of the building, came running over.
"Miss, did your audience go well?"
"Yeah, were you bored?"
"Not at all. I just heard some very interesting news.
"What?"
"That's..."
Nadia lowered her voice with a secretive expression.
"Young Lady Sierra Coelho is in prison."
A few days ago, there was an article in a corner of the newspaper about a noblelady who was arrested on the terrible charge of soliciting murder.
However, it got no attention because of the Oslo article.
"However?"
"When Young Lady Coelho was taken away by the Imperial Knights, Count Coelho collapsed on the spot while trying to stop her. From what I heard, it seems like she's not in very good condition."
"With Sierra in prison, there will be no one to continue the family line."
"That's why their collateral relatives are rushing at them like hyenas, looking for something to devour. I think the Coelho family is going to be ruined."
"I see."
Nadia stopped talking and glanced at me.
"Actually. I was really worried about whether I should tell you this news or not."
"Why?"
"You know. Count Coelho used to visit you often. He even had meals with the Marquis. So I was worried that you might ask to help me. Well, it was a needless worry."
"When did that happen? I don't even remember."
The prison I was locked in in my past life was damp, stinking, and so cold that I could still smell my breath inside.
There I had to hear the sounds of my brothers being executed.
The swearing of the angry mob, the rattling! The horrible sound of the gallows platform opening and something heavy being hung.
At that time, the judge who read the charges against the criminals before their execution was none other than Count Coelho.
"Execute those brutal criminals!"
I don't know how he, who had no money and no political power, became a judge.
I didn't care what kind of deals went back and forth between Oslo and Sierra.
The only thing that matters is that he sentenced my brothers to death.
"Then that's fine. Honestly, I wish you didn't have to worry about your household affairs anymore. Are you going to the main library?"
"That's right."
"I'll bring it to you."
When Nadia grabbed my arm with a relieved face, Rahon stepped back.
"You go in first."
"Where are you going?"
"My head is complicated. I'm going to go get some fresh air."
"..."
"Let's go."
I tilted my head and walked arm-in-arm with Nadia. Nadia whispered softly.
"What happened between you and Rahon?"
"No?"
I felt Rahon's gaze on the back of my head.
It didn't disappear until I entered the Great Library.
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