Volume 4, Chapter 50 – The Spiderweb

As if it could no longer bear the pressure, the dense, impenetrable dark cloud slowly began to shed a fine, continuous rain. The drizzle, as fine as ox hair, had little force, but the chill of the evaporating moisture, combined with the autumn cold, was an unpleasant assault on the body. No one liked the cold, clammy feeling.

However, Prince Schain was not unhappy because of the weather. On the contrary, his heart was filled with nothing but shock, nervousness, excitement, and a thrill akin to long-awaited vengeance.

He had finally waited for this day. His dear younger brother, Yelido Alexia Florenst, was dead.

Although the servant’s words were that Yelido had only “possibly perished,” everyone knew that once one entered the Abyss, there was no return. The World Tree Continent had existed for tens of thousands of years, and apart from explorers who descended with ropes, stepping carefully down the rock walls, no one who had fallen directly into the Abyss had ever come back. The same was true even for a quasi Eighth-Rank Elf King, covered in blessings.

Even the gods and the Darkborn had been forced to move to the World Tree Continent. How could a mere quasi-Eighth-Rank contend with the Abyss?

At this thought, an irrepressible ecstasy surged within Prince Schain. He could almost see the empty throne beckoning to him. His hands trembled with excitement, and his pace quickened so much that his confidant, holding an umbrella for him, could barely keep up.

—He was on his way to the Royal Castle.

When he had left the castle this morning, his heart had been full of hesitation. He hadn’t expected that in just a few short hours, his mood would have changed so drastically. He couldn’t help but marvel at how ironic fate was.

“M-my lord, please slow down!”

Because he was walking too fast, his confidant had to plead with him. This voice suddenly reminded him that he was walking at the entrance to the Royal Castle, a place teeming with spies. He shouldn’t be so visibly excited, at least not with a smile on his face.

He feigned a thoughtful look, stroking his chin and slowing his pace, then looked up, scanning the people around him from the corner of his eye.

A few meters away, he could see those familiar southern nobles hurrying towards the castle gate, their faces grave. The worry and uncertainty on their faces already showed that they, too, had heard the news of the king’s death.

If the Eldest Princess hadn’t lost her memory, the sudden death of the King would not have been a cause for their anxiety; everything would just proceed according to protocol. But now that she had lost her memory, how much weight they held in her heart had become unknown. The bright future that had been in their grasp had suddenly become uncertain. It was only natural for them to feel uneasy.

At this thought, Prince Schain couldn’t help but feel a sense of smugness. The southern nobles had always been at odds with the northern ones. As the leader of the northern faction, he was naturally happy to see his rivals suffer.

Wait. With Dofilia having lost her memory, shouldn’t I feign illness and not show up?

Prince Schain suddenly frowned and stopped in his tracks.

The death of the king was no small matter. According to Silvar’s rules, even with an established crown heir, when the king died, the heir could not immediately hold the coronation ceremony. This was basic etiquette. At this time, the heir could exercise the king’s authority, but was not nominally the true king. And as long as the coronation had not been held, many things had room for maneuvering.

It just so happened that his dear niece had lost her memory and her foundation was unstable. If Dofilia were to act rashly and, at the risk of being condemned by posterity, detain and place him under house arrest, wouldn’t he be walking right into the wolf’s den?

Rеαԁ οn KаtReαdіոɡCаfе

A cold sweat instantly broke out on Prince Schain’s brow. He began to see the southern nobles walking past him as monsters in disguise, sent by Dofilia. If he were placed under house arrest, he had no good way out other than to have his confidant secretly lead a rescue. And once time dragged on until after her coronation, all his efforts to date would be for naught.

He had indeed amassed a considerable force, but it was not enough to stage an open rebellion and secede from Silvar. If he were to face the southern nobles on the battlefield, his chances of winning were less than thirty percent.

He felt his throat go dry and hot, as if he had a bad cold. He subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead. His confidant, seeing his pale face, asked with concern.

“My lord, what’s wrong?”

“Go back, hurry back. Just say I’m ill.”

“But we’ve already come this far… to say you’re ill now, isn’t that a bit… everyone is looking at you.”

Just as his confidant said, the nobles walking beside and behind him had all stopped because of him and were now looking at him sideways.

Like a thick, airtight barrier, it pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

The nobles’ stares felt like whips, urging him towards the gallows, forcing him to keep moving forward. No, it was just a little loss of face, a little suspicion. It was better than risking being detained. If he were placed under house arrest, even the best opportunity would be wasted.

I’ll feign illness on the spot, and use it as an excuse to go home. I’ll leave the confirmation to Lafaria and Reinhardt.

Once the decision was made, he acted immediately. In a low voice that wouldn’t be noticed, he instructed his confidant.

“Later, just say I was overcome with grief. Take me back to the residence.”

“Are you going to…”

Before the confidant could finish, Prince Schain’s legs gave way, and he collapsed onto his umbrella-holding subordinate.

In that instant, the confidant understood his meaning. He put on an extremely panicked expression, first throwing the umbrella aside and supporting the slumped prince with both hands, then shouting his name. In the process, he didn’t forget to smear rainwater on his face to make him look even more pathetic.

“My lord, my lord!”

“Hey, what’s wrong!”

Rеаd οո КаtReаԁiոɡСαfe

Several nobles who were rushing by immediately came over. Among them were nobles from his own faction, as well as a few officials who served in the capital. The confidant explained with a grief-stricken expression, out of breath.

“His Highness was overcome with grief and his strength gave out! Someone, help me get him back to his residence!”

Seeing Prince Schain clutching his chest with a pained look, several nobles, disregarding the rule against shouting at the castle gate, called for the Imperial Guard in the rain to help. However, after a while, what appeared before them was not just the guard, but also the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Erin Slate, her longsword at her waist, exuding both elegance and authority.

Looking at Prince Schain’s state, she frowned.

“What’s wrong with Prince Schain?”

Not expecting her to be nearby, the prince’s confidant swallowed, explaining guiltily.

“His Highness was overcome with grief after learning of His Majesty’s passing. I’m afraid it will be difficult for him to walk to the grand hall…”

“…” Erin Slate sighed deeply. “It can’t be helped. Prince Diego is His Majesty’s own brother; he has the right to know the whole process. Take him to the royal healer first. The healer will have a way to cure him. Right now, no one can enter the Holy Tree to confirm His Majesty’s condition, and Her Highness the Eldest Princess has lost her memory and cannot preside over the situation. With Prince Diego here, everyone in the hall will be more at ease. I’m sorry to trouble you, Prince.”

As she spoke, she bowed with an apologetic look on her face.

As if he had heard something unbelievable, Prince Schain, still clutching his chest, managed to raise his head, his pale face filled with disbelief.

“You… you said no one can enter the Holy Tree? What’s going on!”

“It’s exactly as it sounds, my lord. Since yesterday, after Her Highness made the Holy Tree bud, no one has been able to enter it, not even His Highness the Second Prince. Perhaps from that moment on, His Majesty had already…”

Erin Slate’s lips tightened, her expression pained.

“I should have followed His Majesty to the south. If I had been there, he would not have fallen into the Abyss. Dammit, what are Gwyn and his men doing!”

“Ugh—”

A sound like a sob escaped Prince Schain’s lips. The surrounding nobles, including Erin Slate, immediately rushed forward to ask with concern.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine. Help me to the grand hall. I want to know the process of how Yelido fell into the Abyss!”

Rеаd oո KаtReаԁіոgСafе

“But your body…”

“Don’t mind me, just go to the hall!”

In an almost scolding tone, the red-eyed Prince Schain urged his confidant on. The nobles and Erin Slate, like an escort, followed behind him as he walked towards the hall.

It was a god-sent opportunity.

If he weren’t pressing down hard on his chest, he would have let the joy show on his face.

Although his escape plan had been disrupted by this inflexible, clueless woman—of course he couldn’t go to the healer, or he would be exposed instantly—his heart was filled with nothing but surprise. Her words had revealed a piece of information: Dofilia had sealed the Holy Tree to prevent anyone from targeting it.

Admittedly, her statement was that “no one can enter the Holy Tree,” but even with his toes, he could figure out that this was just a lie concocted by his niece. The blessing of the Holy Tree could only be given to one person, and only those with the royal bloodline could possess it. The last person to have it was his younger brother, Yelido. If Yelido didn’t die, he could only rely on the treasure he had obtained from the Frostlands to deceive the tree’s eyes, to pretend that Yelido was dead, and thus trick it into giving him the blessing. And whether this method would work or not was a big question mark.

Now that Yelido was dead, he could obtain the tree’s unique, unparalleled blessing without having to deceive its eyes. With this, he would have the capital to fight Dofilia one-on-one. She must have seen this and put out the false information that no one could enter, to confuse outsiders.

After all, she was not yet the queen. To hastily inherit the blessing would be to be condemned by all and bear the name of being unfilial. She could only endure the temptation and wait until the day of her coronation to enter the tree. Therefore, before that, sealing the tree to prevent the blessing from being snatched was particularly important.

To think her cover-up has become so clumsy after losing her memory. Dofilia, you’re not so great after all. Isn’t this just telling me that Yelido is really dead?

If she hadn’t sealed the tree, he would not have been able to confirm whether Yelido was truly dead. Prince Schain laughed internally. In a daze, he could already see himself obtaining the blessing and fighting a decisive battle with her.

Next, he just had to avoid being placed under house arrest, and then quickly return to his residence to contact Godley and prepare. Everything was on the right track. He, Aldrich, was not an indecisive person. If he could not be decisive when it was time, even a sure thing could be messed up. A risk-free gain was always just a small profit. He had waited a hundred years, just for this moment!

His eyes filled with determination, Aldrich ordered his confidant to go back and prepare as he was about to enter the Royal Castle. Then, with the help of the Imperial Guard, he staggered into the castle.

◇

Just as he had imagined, because of Yelido’s death, the Royal Castle was in chaos. There were nobles rushing about everywhere, and there were also signs of the Imperial Guard and the magic-caster legions gathering. Prince Schain could see that these people were going to the south to rescue Yelido, and the joy in his heart immediately rose to a new level.

Of course, he still hid his inner thoughts well. He entered the grand hall safely and arrived at the audience chamber, where he saw the many nobles and ministers whispering among themselves. Among them were Dofilia, the Second Prince Kalsey, the Prime Minister, and many Royal Consorts, as well as people from the military, Count Lafaria, and other northern nobles. With the exception of a few minor nobles who didn’t count, everyone was present. The hall was filled with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

Although he was being stared at by the crowd, Prince Schain did not flinch. He glanced at the people in the hall, his eyes red, and shouted in a hoarse voice.

Rеαⅾ οո KаtRеаⅾіnɡСafе

“Tell me what on earth is going on! Weren’t Gwyn and the others protecting Yelido? Why would something like this happen! Or is the news I received false?!”

“Sit down first, Aldrich.”

His rudeness did not cause any dissatisfaction among the crowd. Everyone knew he was Yelido’s own brother. For a brother to be enraged at the loss of his sibling was only natural. Therefore, Count Lafaria just walked up to him and led him to a seat.

The already prepared Second Prince looked at the letter in his hand and clenched his fist. Although he was not wiping away tears like some of the consorts, his tightly pressed lips already showed that he was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

“I believe you all already know the reason for this emergency summons. Four days ago, Father, in order to deal with the sudden counterattack of the undead in the south, used the Seventh-Rank forbidden spell, [Lava Burst]. In the process of retreating, he was suddenly ambushed by five Sixth-Rank Nightmare Knight Commanders and fell into the Abyss with them. Although Legion Commander Gwyn immediately sent people deep into the Abyss to rescue him, they have not yet found him. It is possible that he has already…”

“I don’t believe it! Impossible! How could five Sixth-Rank Nightmare Knight Commanders possibly harm His Majesty! Someone must have misreported the information!” The Second Consort immediately refuted him. As she had a son with Yelido, her feelings for him were also the deepest among all the consorts, even if it was just a one-sided investment.

Kalsey pursed his lips and held up the letter with the clear seal.

“Mother, this is indeed a letter from the military. It also has the seals of Legion Commander Gwyn and the captain of His Majesty’s personal guard.”

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!!! Someone must have framed him! It must be like that!”

“Mother.”

Before she could finish, Kalsey frowned repeatedly. He first walked to her side to support her, then gave a look to the Imperial Guard at the wall. Two guards quickly stepped forward and escorted her out.

The Second Consort’s outburst was clearly just an interlude. No one believed her words. After the meeting quieted down, the white-haired Prime Minister said in a deep voice.

“The most urgent task now is to immediately gather people to rescue His Majesty. With his quasi Eighth-Rank strength and the blessing of the Holy Tree, he will not be so easily swallowed by the Abyss. The military should quickly gather people and set out immediately!”

“Our men are already preparing,” the representative for Godley explained. “But with General Greyan gone, we lack a decisive force. Even His Majesty, a quasi Eighth-Rank, is now of unknown status. To just send some Fifth and Sixth-Rank people down, I’m afraid it will be difficult to get any results.”

“I will depart ahead of you. I will act as the main force.”

Following the military representative, Fia, sitting in the highest seat, stated expressionlessly.

“Your Highness?!” Seeing her serious and determined eyes, the Prime Minister’s expression moved. He said a little anxiously, “I understand your urgency, but stabilizing the situation is also very important. His Majesty’s status is unknown, and you are the crown heir he established. You should stay in the capital to preside over the situation. This is something only you can do. The search for His Majesty should be left to suitable people, such as the managers of the other two Main Towers. They are also capable of being the main force.”