Ch. 9
Perdiccas II looked at the Third Prince.
The eldest son, Cesare, went missing on an iceberg. Even the First Prince who followed him is unknown.
'Tsk. I haven't thought about choosing a Crown Prince yet...'
When the death of the First Prince became almost certain, public sentiment was shaken, and the borders were in jeopardy.
Therefore, even if the Third Prince did not catch his eye, he could no longer hesitate.
"Of course, Father!"
Juan hurriedly agreed.
"If you entrust it to me, I will never betray Father's expectations."
His pupils flickered as if the flames were burning again, as if they were burning again.
'God gave me another chance!'
The First Prince's Cesare, which was like a huge mountain that could never be climbed, finally collapsed.
That alone made him very happy, but the slopes overlapped one after another.
Juan couldn't bear the rising joy.
'No, maybe my luck was blocked by Cesare, that damn bastard.'
As soon as he heard the news that Cesare was dead, he saw that his path was so clear.
Juan struggled to press down on the corner of his mouth that was about to tear apart.
His eyes suppressed his joy raised his head to find someone.
'Mother.'
He made eye contact with his mother, who was watching him from a distance.
Shortly after the disappearance of the First Prince, Cesare was announced, and Perdiccas II allowed the Western Empress to come out of the tower.
It was under the calculation that if he wanted to push Juan, he could not keep his mother as a sinner again.
In the appearance of the Western Empress who managed to be freed from the tower, the arrogance and elegance of her prime were nowhere to be seen.
'Don't worry. I will repay all the misery and insults my mother suffered.'
'Take care of yourself.'
Western Empress nodded slightly, as if she understood the message her son was conveying through his eyes.
In her son's eyes, he also discerned resentment toward the father who treated all his sons as mere pawns in a game.
'Don't worry. I also know how heartless the prosperity is.'
Juan also had no intention of being caught.
She hid her disturbed gaze, returned to her filial son, and bowed his head in front of Perdiccas II.
"Then it seems that the order is to hold the funeral of His Royal Highness the First Prince before the coronation. Everyone has no objection."
People sighed.
As the saying goes, life and death are separated in an instant.
Who would have thought that the First Prince, who was in high spirits, would have a funeral, and the Third Prince, who had been upset and the situation had turned upside down, would be resurrected and hold a coronation ceremony for the Crown Prince.
It was then.
Bam!
The door opened in both directions.
The shadow of the man with his back to the sun continued for a long time.
"How can you call me a ghost when I'm alive and well?"
The man with his back to the sun was exuding a vicious momentum, as if he had returned alive from hell.
It seemed that he could even see a vision of a blizzard rushing behind him.
Everyone's mouths were open.
"Your Highness, 1st Prince!"
"Uh... how!"
"I thought you were alive!"
Mixed with joy and astonishment, rumors erupted here and there.
"Juan, what a pity. This brother has come back and taken away your only chance."
Cesare grinned.
The face and voice that were not sorry at all made Juan even more angry.
"...What happened?"
The Emperor asked when he faced his eldest son, who had returned alive. Cesare shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
"Who were there, one or two people who were aiming for my life? As you know, it was a crude masterpiece that was no different from usual. But this time it was a little more poisonous."
Cesare's meaningful gaze turned towards the Western Emperor.
The cold air, as if the blade was brushing against the nape of her neck, made Western Empress tremble.
"You know."
The wizard who stabbed him in the back was her person.
"..."
Perdiccas II stared at his eldest son.
A somewhat confused color mixed with joy and contempt appeared in his faded eyes.
He felt a strange and complex emotion.
At first, he was relieved.
He was happy that Cesare, the most outstanding of his children, who would make Katzen the loser of the continent, miraculously came back alive after crossing the threshold of death.
But at the same time, he was afraid of the tough vitality that survived the extreme situation.
'He was born with a life as tough as I was.'
The moment he confirmed its tenacious vitality, anxiety raised its head.
In the end, the twisted personality popped out again.
The Marquis of Leniard added as if he had been waiting. His face brightened when he confirmed that Cesare was alive.
"Your Majesty, the person behind this incident is definitely a person inside the imperial palace. A thorough investigation is required."
"Your Majesty, please give me some advice."
The vassals of the 1st Prince tightened their heads together.
The Facade's master and the wide-eyed wizard bowed their heads behind him.
From the disciples of the Mage Tower to the head of the mercenary group, they were pressuring the Emperor only for Cesare.
A mixture of anger and jealousy shot up from Perdiccas II's chest.
He did not easily believe their words. No, he guessed he didn't want to believe it.
"Anyway, didn't you come back alive? That's enough."
Perdiccas II said coldly.
In those words, he contained the characteristic indifference and coldness he had shown Chesare all his life.
He did not even allow the formation of a fact-finding team.
Indeed, it was a casual and cold reaction that was no different from the first time he heard the news of his son's disappearance.
It was also an expression of his will to leave the 3rd Prince and the Western Empress as they were.
"Your Majesty, how can you... this!"
"It's noisy! How much more turmoil is he trying to cause in my empire? If he hadn't set foot on the ice wall in the first place, it wouldn't have happened. Do you know how many state affairs have been delayed and manpower and resources have been consumed because of his disappearance?"
The Emperor scolded.
The court was as quiet as if frozen.
Has the Emperor's boundary for his eldest son reached this point?
They unknowingly looked at the First Prince.
Who wouldn't collapse when they saw a father who didn't care about his son's life or death, and even wrapped up the person who tried to kill him?
"..."
Contrary to expectations, Cesare remained expressionless without wavering.
However, he could not erase the deep resignation that had sunk into his golden eyes.
It was the moment when the goal of misunderstanding was about to get out of control.
"If you do, I dare to ask, Your Majesty."
It was low as if it was exhausted, but it was a clear voice..
It was Medea who was quietly hiding her presence next to Cesare.
Perdiccas II frowned and stared at her.
It was not an easy journey, but she looked more relaxed than the last time he saw her.
However, she remained calm despite her pale face.
"If this incident was beyond targeting the Crown Prince and attempted to assassinate even the imperial grandson, the enemy of the imperial family...
Medea asked slowly, caressing her belly.
"Could the situation be a little different?"
***
The 1st Princess made a bomb declaration.
"Your, Your Highness. What, what do you say..."
Everyone's eyes were on her reach. The rumbling grew louder and louder, and finally they heard hiccups from time to time.
The same was true for Perdiccas II.
"Well, what did you mean by that?"
His beard trembled slightly.
Medea lowered her eyes slightly and nodded somewhat.
"Bring the doctor! Quickly! Where is the doctor's palace!?"
The Emperor shouted loudly. His eyes were full of blood.
Eventually, the palace doctor, who was urgently called to examine Medea, nodded vigorously
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! The 1st Princess is with a child."
Perdiccas II's eyes widened.
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