As the Emperor said, a competition for the Crown Prince position was held shortly thereafter. He invited a total of ten families to the event. Including the Emperor, there were eleven judges in total.
“I advocate severing diplomatic relations with Benia.”
Damon stood up first and expressed his opinion.
“Furthermore, I advocate war against them.”
It was a face that was already confident that he would win. It wasn't an entirely unfounded confidence, as Wyatt's antipathy toward Benia was sky-high.
“Duke Felice of Benia said that it was an act of personal revenge and anger that he could not overcome. But who here thinks that way?”
Damon's confident voice seemed to pierce the ceiling of the hall. Some people nodded their heads subtly at Damon's words.
“Before Benia shot and killed Brother Aster, he had been involved in several conflicts in the border area.”
He harassed those who were coming and going through the proper procedures and even drove out ordinary people who were selling herbs nearby. He also killed Count Casper, a nobleman from Wyatt, on the land.
He sold the island with the gold veins for a pittance. He knew that it must have been painful for him, so Wyatt tried to understand as much as possible.
“If this is not their true intention, then what is it?”
Then, they ended up killing the Crown Prince. Before they could even discuss forgiveness, the line had already been crossed.
Moreover, there were many suspicious points in Duke Felice's excuses. No matter how you looked at it, many felt that Benia was trying to move on from the tail-cutting.
“So, we must pierce the heart of Crown Prince Benia in the same way, avenge Brother Aster, and respond to their rudeness.”
Damon looked up at the Emperor with a proud face as he spoke, and talked about the advantages and status they would gain through the war with Benia.
“...”
The Emperor neither praised nor criticized Damon's opinion. In some ways, the Emperor sympathized with Damon's opinion. No, in fact, he sympathized with Damon's opinion. He wanted to destroy and crush the country that killed his son.
“Eden. It’s your turn this time.”
But he was the Emperor. Remembering that fact, the Emperor did not show his emotions rashly. His decision could easily determine the final outcome.
"I am..."
Eden, who had been sitting still, opened his mouth calmly. It was completely different from Damon's voice which had been resonating throughout the room until just now, but it caught attention for a different reason.
“I am on the side of maintaining diplomatic relations with Venice.”
A low voice, a consistently serious expression, and an indifferent, somewhat arrogant attitude that was a perfect replica of the Emperor in his younger days. Even Eden still didn't rise from his seat.
“Of course, I want to avenge my brother more than anyone else.”
But that didn't mean he was actually indifferent. There was a spark burning inside him that had been ignited by his brother's death.
“But, brother, His Highness the Crown Prince has already passed away. And Wyatt...”
But he couldn't reveal it.
“There is still so much life left.”
When he thought of the countless lives that would be destroyed by his actions and orders, it was right not to do so. Eden looked at the Emperor's gaze that was silently staring at him and was convinced that his answer was correct.
“Is it right to drag innocent people to the battlefield for the sake of avenging one person?”
Eden asked. The room was quiet.
“Why do you say it’s just one person? The Crown Princess has passed away, and we have lost her successor as well.”
Damon, who had been looking around, stood up and refuted. It was because he was anxious that he might be pushed out if he didn't. The Emperor always leaned toward Eden. He didn't trust his father.
“And the lives of those three people are of a different weight than those of three commoners. It is the same for those who live on the land of this empire!”
Damon raised his voice. To him, commoners, nobles, and royalty were as far apart as heaven and earth.
“Of course, the weight of their existence and ours is different, Damon.”
“...”
“But since when did that mean that the lives of commoners are not precious?”
When Eden asked, Damon paused.
“Everything we eat, wear, and enjoy comes from their labor. If half of them die and disappear, how will they be replenished?”
Damon couldn't answer Eden's question.
“Just because we say we won’t maintain diplomatic relations doesn’t mean we won’t protest.”
“...”
“It just means that we shouldn’t be biased towards the four senses.”
Eden watched the scene, then clasped his hands together on his thighs and explained kindly.
“We must take Duke Felice’s life and demand a proper price from Benia for killing the Crown Prince.”
In a way, trying to cut off the tail by making Duke Felice a scapegoat was an act of changing the roles of the perpetrator and the victim. If Wyatt, who was indignant at Benia's behavior, had announced the war first, they could pretend that they had no ill intentions and go to war.
“The Benia Imperial Family did not order the assassination of the Crown Prince, but they said they would take moral responsibility for the act committed by a noble of their country.”
They couldn't just ignore that.
“So demand a formal apology and the removal of all taxes on trade between the countries, including taxes on wheat, textiles, and trade brokerage.”
War? It might feel refreshing at the moment. But Eden couldn't find a reason to see innocent blood right now.
“If we want to avoid an all-out war with the four countries that have signed the peace treaty, we will have to sign it.”
Anyway, Benia was the aggressor. They couldn't start a war first. But they couldn't afford to fight four countries at the same time.
“Of course, it will take quite some time for their infrastructure industry to collapse.”
Eden straightened his back and looked at the people sitting across from him. Everyone tense up at the sight of his eyes, which were so cold that it was hard to imagine that he was the Second Prince, who was known to be always kind and gentle.
“But they will never recover again.”
A subtle guess floated through the silence.
Kindness, gentleness, affection. In fact, wasn't that just a play to cover up his arrogance and cruelty?
“I advocate severing diplomatic relations with Benia.”
Damon stood up first and expressed his opinion.
“Furthermore, I advocate war against them.”
It was a face that was already confident that he would win. It wasn't an entirely unfounded confidence, as Wyatt's antipathy toward Benia was sky-high.
“Duke Felice of Benia said that it was an act of personal revenge and anger that he could not overcome. But who here thinks that way?”
Damon's confident voice seemed to pierce the ceiling of the hall. Some people nodded their heads subtly at Damon's words.
“Before Benia shot and killed Brother Aster, he had been involved in several conflicts in the border area.”
He harassed those who were coming and going through the proper procedures and even drove out ordinary people who were selling herbs nearby. He also killed Count Casper, a nobleman from Wyatt, on the land.
He sold the island with the gold veins for a pittance. He knew that it must have been painful for him, so Wyatt tried to understand as much as possible.
“If this is not their true intention, then what is it?”
Then, they ended up killing the Crown Prince. Before they could even discuss forgiveness, the line had already been crossed.
Moreover, there were many suspicious points in Duke Felice's excuses. No matter how you looked at it, many felt that Benia was trying to move on from the tail-cutting.
“So, we must pierce the heart of Crown Prince Benia in the same way, avenge Brother Aster, and respond to their rudeness.”
Damon looked up at the Emperor with a proud face as he spoke, and talked about the advantages and status they would gain through the war with Benia.
“...”
The Emperor neither praised nor criticized Damon's opinion. In some ways, the Emperor sympathized with Damon's opinion. No, in fact, he sympathized with Damon's opinion. He wanted to destroy and crush the country that killed his son.
“Eden. It’s your turn this time.”
But he was the Emperor. Remembering that fact, the Emperor did not show his emotions rashly. His decision could easily determine the final outcome.
"I am..."
Eden, who had been sitting still, opened his mouth calmly. It was completely different from Damon's voice which had been resonating throughout the room until just now, but it caught attention for a different reason.
“I am on the side of maintaining diplomatic relations with Venice.”
A low voice, a consistently serious expression, and an indifferent, somewhat arrogant attitude that was a perfect replica of the Emperor in his younger days. Even Eden still didn't rise from his seat.
“Of course, I want to avenge my brother more than anyone else.”
But that didn't mean he was actually indifferent. There was a spark burning inside him that had been ignited by his brother's death.
“But, brother, His Highness the Crown Prince has already passed away. And Wyatt...”
But he couldn't reveal it.
“There is still so much life left.”
When he thought of the countless lives that would be destroyed by his actions and orders, it was right not to do so. Eden looked at the Emperor's gaze that was silently staring at him and was convinced that his answer was correct.
“Is it right to drag innocent people to the battlefield for the sake of avenging one person?”
Eden asked. The room was quiet.
“Why do you say it’s just one person? The Crown Princess has passed away, and we have lost her successor as well.”
Damon, who had been looking around, stood up and refuted. It was because he was anxious that he might be pushed out if he didn't. The Emperor always leaned toward Eden. He didn't trust his father.
“And the lives of those three people are of a different weight than those of three commoners. It is the same for those who live on the land of this empire!”
Damon raised his voice. To him, commoners, nobles, and royalty were as far apart as heaven and earth.
“Of course, the weight of their existence and ours is different, Damon.”
“...”
“But since when did that mean that the lives of commoners are not precious?”
When Eden asked, Damon paused.
“Everything we eat, wear, and enjoy comes from their labor. If half of them die and disappear, how will they be replenished?”
Damon couldn't answer Eden's question.
“Just because we say we won’t maintain diplomatic relations doesn’t mean we won’t protest.”
“...”
“It just means that we shouldn’t be biased towards the four senses.”
Eden watched the scene, then clasped his hands together on his thighs and explained kindly.
“We must take Duke Felice’s life and demand a proper price from Benia for killing the Crown Prince.”
In a way, trying to cut off the tail by making Duke Felice a scapegoat was an act of changing the roles of the perpetrator and the victim. If Wyatt, who was indignant at Benia's behavior, had announced the war first, they could pretend that they had no ill intentions and go to war.
“The Benia Imperial Family did not order the assassination of the Crown Prince, but they said they would take moral responsibility for the act committed by a noble of their country.”
They couldn't just ignore that.
“So demand a formal apology and the removal of all taxes on trade between the countries, including taxes on wheat, textiles, and trade brokerage.”
War? It might feel refreshing at the moment. But Eden couldn't find a reason to see innocent blood right now.
“If we want to avoid an all-out war with the four countries that have signed the peace treaty, we will have to sign it.”
Anyway, Benia was the aggressor. They couldn't start a war first. But they couldn't afford to fight four countries at the same time.
“Of course, it will take quite some time for their infrastructure industry to collapse.”
Eden straightened his back and looked at the people sitting across from him. Everyone tense up at the sight of his eyes, which were so cold that it was hard to imagine that he was the Second Prince, who was known to be always kind and gentle.
“But they will never recover again.”
A subtle guess floated through the silence.
Kindness, gentleness, affection. In fact, wasn't that just a play to cover up his arrogance and cruelty?
***
Eden would win. She couldn't attend, but she was sure of it. He had done it before. Cecilia had a rough idea of the outcome.
And after checking the documents Diego had handed over, she handed them back to him. It was a contract that had been signed by Diana. Of course, the composer Ash Dunnington's signature was still there.
“What makes you believe in him and want to hire him?”
Diego asked. Cecilia thought back to her past life, Ash Dunnington. Ash Dunnington. He was going to be the most famous of Wyatt's songwriters.
During his difficult youth, he despaired because no one recognized the music he had created with all his heart. However, in the end, his music opened up new artistic horizons and received praise from everyone.
But he could not enjoy his glory for long and died because of an illness he contracted from a hard life.
'You want to put my music on stage? I, I would be honored, of course.'
It was before that happened. Ash, who was struggling financially, happily accepted Cecilia's offer.
“Contact the people I mentioned and organize a play. Use the most famous story as the subject. Spread the word around that you are restarting the play.”
“Isn’t this a bit of a ragtag group?”
Diego asked with an ambiguous expression. It seemed difficult to guess what Cecilia meant. It was only natural since he didn't know that this seemingly haphazard combination would definitely work.
“Thanks to that, it will attract a lot of people’s attention.”
“That’s true.”
But Diego had no doubt that he would receive attention from many people at least from the start.
“Who knows? That passionate interest could lead to a lot of money.”
In particular, it would attract the ardent attention of the Third Prince Damon. Cecilia was sure of it. The moment the theater troupe reopened, Damon would definitely move to find and punish the troupe leader who had tarnished his mother's honor.
Because of that thought, she never used extremes again after using them once, but this time she needed Damon's attention.
“You didn’t like making money, did you? Now you’ll have three mouths.”
To give him a chance to win the competition.
Of course, it wasn't just Damon's contract that she wanted. There was a reason why he was trying to take over the business by stealing other people's opportunities.
“I like it, but...”
Diego answered indifferently. Cecilia pretended not to know his worries. In fact, it was none of her business.
“I just felt strange because Your Highness didn’t seem to be the type of person who needed money.”
Liene thought she had prevented the misfortune, but Aster and Isabella died. So did the child. So now she had to always keep that one possibility in mind.
There is a chance that Eden will become the Crown Prince.
“That’s prejudice.”
And by some chance, there is a possibility that he will become Emperor.
When such a situation arises, money that does not belong to the family will at least provide enough funds to run away and use.
“Abby and Madam Monte will be back soon. There’s no time for small talk. As soon as I get back...”
And after checking the documents Diego had handed over, she handed them back to him. It was a contract that had been signed by Diana. Of course, the composer Ash Dunnington's signature was still there.
“What makes you believe in him and want to hire him?”
Diego asked. Cecilia thought back to her past life, Ash Dunnington. Ash Dunnington. He was going to be the most famous of Wyatt's songwriters.
During his difficult youth, he despaired because no one recognized the music he had created with all his heart. However, in the end, his music opened up new artistic horizons and received praise from everyone.
But he could not enjoy his glory for long and died because of an illness he contracted from a hard life.
'You want to put my music on stage? I, I would be honored, of course.'
It was before that happened. Ash, who was struggling financially, happily accepted Cecilia's offer.
“Contact the people I mentioned and organize a play. Use the most famous story as the subject. Spread the word around that you are restarting the play.”
“Isn’t this a bit of a ragtag group?”
Diego asked with an ambiguous expression. It seemed difficult to guess what Cecilia meant. It was only natural since he didn't know that this seemingly haphazard combination would definitely work.
“Thanks to that, it will attract a lot of people’s attention.”
“That’s true.”
But Diego had no doubt that he would receive attention from many people at least from the start.
“Who knows? That passionate interest could lead to a lot of money.”
In particular, it would attract the ardent attention of the Third Prince Damon. Cecilia was sure of it. The moment the theater troupe reopened, Damon would definitely move to find and punish the troupe leader who had tarnished his mother's honor.
Because of that thought, she never used extremes again after using them once, but this time she needed Damon's attention.
“You didn’t like making money, did you? Now you’ll have three mouths.”
To give him a chance to win the competition.
Of course, it wasn't just Damon's contract that she wanted. There was a reason why he was trying to take over the business by stealing other people's opportunities.
“I like it, but...”
Diego answered indifferently. Cecilia pretended not to know his worries. In fact, it was none of her business.
“I just felt strange because Your Highness didn’t seem to be the type of person who needed money.”
Liene thought she had prevented the misfortune, but Aster and Isabella died. So did the child. So now she had to always keep that one possibility in mind.
There is a chance that Eden will become the Crown Prince.
“That’s prejudice.”
And by some chance, there is a possibility that he will become Emperor.
When such a situation arises, money that does not belong to the family will at least provide enough funds to run away and use.
“Abby and Madam Monte will be back soon. There’s no time for small talk. As soon as I get back...”
Thank you for the chapters!💋
ReplyDeleteDear Translator, thanks for your hard work for this wonderful novel, I beg you to translate the side stories as well!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏There are 26 of them! Please, I beg of you!!!!
ReplyDelete