The Prince Wants to Retire

---

The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

7. Things Are Getting Bigger? (2)

The Emperor’s heart is gradually drifting away from the Emperor Faction.

Confirming this, the Chancellor became anxious.

“How did it come to this…?”

Muttering like that, the Chancellor glared towards the Imperial Palace.

The current Chancellor was someone who acquired his title by manipulating an Emperor who had no real ability, despite his emphasis on balance.

He believed in the Emperor, who was obsessed with balance to the point of elevating him, a mere Lower Noble, to a Marquis, a High Noble.

“…I was too complacent.”

The Chancellor painfully reflected on his mistake.

With the Crown Prince bedridden, he had paid no heed, only to discover that he was the most dangerous of the royal family.

More dangerous even than the Second Prince, a genius Mage, and the Third Prince, likely to become a Sword Master.

That was none other than the current Crown Prince.

“I won’t be able to easily get rid of the Emperor Faction.”

Mussolini, having caught on to Kariel’s intentions, headed coldly towards the Chancellor’s office.

Given the crisis, they needed to gather all the Emperor Faction members to deal with it.

More than anything, he had one weapon left.

Just earlier, he had subtly revealed his weapon to the Emperor, but now, he was determined to wield it, not just use it as a simple threat.

While the Chancellor was busy moving about, Kariel leisurely returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace, enjoying tea and snacks.

“Try the cake. It’s delicious.”

“Ugh….”

Kariel’s sly suggestion of cake made Miriel, who seemed terrified, whimper.

“Older Brother, don’t come near Miriel.”

“Tsk tsk!”

At the words of the Second Prince and Third Prince, who were protecting Miriel, Kariel’s expression twisted.

“When did you two get so close?”

“Who knows~.”

The Second Prince looked at Kariel with a mischievous expression.

The Third Prince also remarked with a playful face, “That’s why she’s scared of you.”

As he clicked his tongue at the Third Prince’s remark, Kariel hastily adjusted his expression.

But it was already too late.

Seeing Miriel, who was even more terrified of him, Kariel could only sigh, feeling envy towards his two younger brothers holding her.

Kariel looked at Miriel, who was munching on cake in the Second Prince’s arms, and the Third Prince cautiously asked, “Is the Emperor Faction… going to be okay?”

Hearing the Third Prince’s question, the Second Prince, who was still looking at Miriel, briefly glanced at Kariel.

“It’s fine.”

“The Chancellor is not someone to be underestimated.”

“I know. He’s a cunning fox of a man.”

Kariel replied with a sigh, looking bored.

Then the Third Prince tilted his head.

“But can we really afford to be this relaxed?”

“There’s not much more that can be done in this situation. Plus, I think I know what the Chancellor is hiding.”

As Kariel smiled brightly, the Second Prince and Third Prince looked surprised.

“Really?”

“Really, so trust and wait.”

Though Kariel replied like that, the Second Prince still had a skeptical expression.

The same went for the Third Prince.

But looking at Kariel’s expression, they had no choice but to believe.

Kariel got up, having never experienced a single failure.

‘He knows what the Chancellor will do… How terrifying he is.’

‘A monster, in a different sense from me.’

The Second Prince and Third Prince thought inwardly, staring intently at Kariel.

“What is it? Why are you staring so hard?”

Seeing Kariel with a sulky expression made both princes share a common thought.

‘With skills like that, why is he giving up the throne?’

As such thoughts came to mind, a bit of doubt sprouted in the hearts of the two princes.

‘Is something wrong?’

A brief moment of suspicion.

But being young and only a petty doubt, it was quickly brushed away.

And in its place, a prank to tease Kariel was filling their minds.

Thus, the royals, leisurely playing with Miriel.

Though initially awkward, the two princes regularly visited the Crown Prince’s Palace now, always bringing Miriel along.

It was hard to believe that just recently, they hadn’t even seen each other’s faces, and now they gathered together for light conversation whenever they had the chance.

“It seems you’ve been meeting with the princes often lately.”

“Well, yeah.”

In response to Talion’s remark, Kariel focused on something.

“I could never have imagined this before… It’s truly nice to see.”

“They just needed a catalyst; we were on good terms originally.”

Saying that, Kariel momentarily recalled the past.

When he was very young, before the memories of his previous life fully returned, he had fond memories of being close with the two princes.

Now that he knew their mothers, including the Empress, were not involved in his mother’s death, there was no need to be at odds with them.

On the contrary, he should get along with them.

Although it was uncertain which of the two would become Emperor, he needed to ensure they would take good care of him later.

“It’s really nice to see.”

“Stop with the nonsense and deliver this to the Chief Inspector.”

Kariel handed a letter to the grinning Talion.

“This is…?”

“The Chancellor is going to reveal his hidden cards at the Grand Council Meeting. So we need to be prepared too.”

At Kariel’s words, Talion lowered his head with a heavy expression.

Once, Kariel’s room had been filled with Mana and ancient books, but now, it was brimming with papers filled with valuable information.

All crucial intel.

Because Talion ran an information organization, along with data sent directly from the Chief Inspector, it could yield tremendous benefits if utilized well.

The problem was that Kariel intended to use this information not for trading but as a weapon to destroy the parties involved.

‘Something big is about to blow up.’

After glancing at the information Kariel was studying, Talion swallowed hard.

「The flow of funds for the Emperor Faction and its connection to the Temple」

After Talion left, Kariel threw the papers he had been studying aside and looked out the window.

Even just before wiping out one of the factions that had ruined the Empire, he maintained a colder rationality rather than excitement.

He knew it was the most crucial moment since his regression.

“Time surely drags on.”

Kariel grumbled, feeling as if time was crawling while waiting for the Grand Council Meeting to start.

No matter how much Kariel urged, time flowed precisely, and at last, the day of the Grand Council Meeting arrived.

*

“There are so many here.”

Kariel observed the nobles flocking at the entrance of the Grand Council Meeting hall.

Normally, they seldom participated, but this time, they were all present without exception.

Some Lower Nobles desperately attempted to step into the Imperial Palace to catch a glimpse of the Grand Council Meeting from afar.

There were so many nobles gathered at the Imperial Palace.

“Let’s go.”

At Kariel’s command, Talion and the attendants slowly followed behind.

Then, the nobles huddled at the entrance promptly parted ways.

“We greet Your Highness!”

As all the nobles bowed their heads in unison, Kariel waved his hands lightly and entered.

Then, the attendant standing in front of the Great Hall boomed.

“Crown Prince Your Highness has arrived.”

Once Kariel entered the Great Hall, all the nobles bowed their heads and greeted him.

Then Kariel, unlike his previous actions outside the Great Hall, returned the greetings politely.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived. All stand at attention.”

At the attendant’s voice, everyone bowed their heads lower.

Everyone practiced a formality far superior to what they displayed when Kariel entered, not standing upright until the Emperor sat upon the Throne.

As soon as the Emperor settled on the Throne, the Grand Council Meeting commenced.

“First, regarding the southern trade routes…”

As the Minister of Internal Affairs attempted to speak, Duke Welch raised his hand.

“Your Majesty.”

“…Speak.”

The Emperor’s expression hardened as he looked at Duke Welch.

It was evident what he was about to say.

“Shall we address the most urgent matter first?”

“I think so too.”

As Duke Welch’s words were supported by Duke Devir, the Chancellor’s expression crumpled.

“I share the same sentiment.”

Even the Chief Inspector, a leader of the Neutral Faction, stepped forward, prompting the nobles who had been merely observing to insistently bow towards the Emperor, urging him to address the urgent matters first.

The only two who did not bow were Crown Prince Kariel and the Emperor Faction.

“Very well, let’s proceed.”

Once the Emperor granted permission, the two dukes simultaneously pressured the Minister of Internal Affairs with their gazes.

The Minister of Internal Affairs began to read out the agenda with trembling hands.

“We have the case concerning Princess Miriel’s misconduct and military corruption. We are combining both issues as officials of the Imperial Palace are involved in them. We shall now begin the meeting regarding this agenda.”

At the Minister’s words, the Emperor Faction nobles shut their eyes tightly.

On the contrary, the Chancellor’s eyes were still ablaze.

‘It’s not over yet.’

Reading the Chancellor’s determination, Kariel couldn’t help but smirk.

At his smile, the expressions of the nobles observing Kariel turned stiff.

Even though it was their first time attending a Grand Council Meeting, his relaxed demeanor, and the laughter that seemed to mock the Chancellor made everyone sense something was amiss.

‘Is the rumor true?’

‘The Crown Prince is indeed an extraordinary person.’

‘This is dangerous. Very dangerous!’

The nobles all had varying evaluations of Kariel.

Though one could feel burdened by the attention of so many, Kariel merely continued to gaze calmly at the ongoing meeting.

The two dukes and the Chancellor were leading, while the Chief Inspector maintained an objective stance as the meeting started to heat up.

Attack – Aristocratic Faction.

Defense – Emperor Faction.

Judgment – Neutral Faction.

That was how things typically proceeded, but due to the gravity of the situation, even the Neutral Faction was lending strength to the Aristocratic Faction, causing the Chancellor to start to be overwhelmed.

“All those involved must be identified and held accountable for their serious crimes.”

“It’s a major issue connected to foreign nations. This is not something that can end with just the Ministry of Internal Affairs!”

Under the strong declarations from the two dukes, the Chief Inspector added, “Evidence has been found of drugs being smuggled into the Imperial Palace.”

At the Chief Inspector’s statement, nobles began to murmur.

A few Emperor Faction members closed their eyes, as if they had already given up.

It was just then that the Chancellor stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, while this matter is indeed severe, we should refrain from proceeding to arrest and interrogate those involved.”

The two dukes and the Chief Inspector frowned at the Chancellor’s words.

This was the move he had been preparing for.

“Why is that?”

“There has been a protest letter from the Holy Nation and the Southern Alliance.”

At the Chancellor’s words, the Grand Council fell silent.

“A protest letter?”

“Yes. Recently, they sent a protest letter regarding the issue of spies.”

At the Chancellor’s words, the Emperor slammed the Throne with a furious expression.

“How dare! To send spies and then send a protest!”

Despite the Emperor’s fury, the Chancellor remained calm, bowing his head, and when the Emperor’s anger subsided, he spoke again.

“Your Majesty, among those caught and labeled spies by Crown Prince Your Highness, they claim that there are agents from the Southern Alliance and the Holy Nation who have been fabricated.”

“What did you say?”

With the Chancellor’s words, the Emperor frowned and looked at the Crown Prince.

“Moreover, it appears that the Holy Nation has suffered greatly due to the smuggling of drugs. One of the Imperial Nobles was the orchestrator, and to clear up the misunderstanding, they have sent a messenger to resolve this matter as well.”

As the Chancellor spoke, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stepped forward, delivering the secret correspondence from the Southern Alliance and the Holy Nation to the Emperor.

“The letter states that some Northern Nobles were implicated, and that many merchant-born nobles were involved in the smuggling routes on the Southern Alliance side.”

As the Chancellor finished speaking, he knelt before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, while the issues regarding the princess are indeed severe, how about resolving the conflict with foreign nations first and then proceeding with a proper investigation?”

At the Chancellor’s suggestion, the Neutral Faction nobles fell into silence.

The dukes, as well, found themselves unable to respond to the Chancellor’s strong move, and turned their gazes towards the Crown Prince.

Though they were aware that the Chancellor had a hidden move ready, Kariel had instructed them not to make any movements.

As a stifling silence enveloped the Grand Council, Kariel, who had remained quiet the entire time, stepped forward.