I fell into a trap. I was caught by Elise’s leading questions.
Even if my misdeeds were revealed, I should have denied trying to assassinate Tyllo…
“P-please spare me!”
Chalant pleaded.
“As I said earlier, I will spare you all. I told you I’m your savior. But only if you cooperate well at the noble council meeting tomorrow morning.”
“What?”
“Tomorrow morning, a proposal to appoint the Crown Prince will be submitted. Let’s meet tomorrow morning. Dimitris.”
When Elise called, Dimitris, who had been eavesdropping on this conversation from the second floor, hurriedly came down.
“Yes, Miss Elise.”
“Please make sure these people get a good rest tonight. I’d appreciate it if you could escort them to the palace tomorrow morning.”
Elise had planned this in close cooperation with Pawnshop K. She had set up the plan this far while handing over the results of the background investigation on them.
Originally, she planned to meet them one by one separately, but the emergency noble council meeting scheduled for a week later was changed to tomorrow. All because of Bennet.
“Understood, I’ll guard them well.”
Chalant looked at Vilter. Dimitris, who keenly noticed the glances exchanged between the two, muttered ‘Excuse me,’ and immediately knocked them unconscious.
And he smiled gently.
“Have a good night, you two. And the other two as well.”
Putting them to sleep was the best way to keep them quiet.
Elise became genuinely curious about what kind of place Pawnshop K really was.
****
“What meeting is this so early in the morning? And they say it’s urgent. What urgent matter is there to deal with?”
“That’s right, Sir. They didn’t even tell us the agenda. I heard it was His Highness’s fiancée who called for this urgent meeting?”
“Come on, we need to change our country’s laws. No matter if she’s a royal fiancée, she’s just a fiancée, isn’t she? It could break off anytime, yet she’s given too many benefits. The same goes for authority.”
The nobles entering the hall for the council meeting grumbled. But their complaints didn’t last long.
“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived!”
Tyllo, who had arrived before them, was sitting with a solemn expression.
And Elise was beside him.
The nobles who arrived one after another greeted Tyllo respectfully before filling the empty seats.
Chalant, Vilter, and Christopher also sat down with tense faces.
Madam Adrian couldn’t come here as she didn’t have the authority to attend the noble council. Instead, Elise believed that she had sufficiently conveyed her intentions to her husband.
Finally, Bennet appeared with Twain. Bennet frowned at the sight of Tyllo and Elise sitting side by side.
But it was only for a moment, and she sat down on Tyllo’s left with a bright smile.
“Your Majesty, a sudden urgent meeting? I was very surprised to receive the early morning notice.”
Tyllo’s heavy gaze fell on Bennet and then moved away as she indirectly expressed her disappointment at not being informed in advance.
‘What’s this? It’s so cold.’
Tyllo’s attitude was unusual. Bennet looked at Elise.
‘That woman must have plotted something. I don’t know what, but I need to be on high alert.’
Bennet’s back straightened as she tensed up.
“Today’s agenda is the appointment of the Crown Prince.”
As soon as the meeting topic was announced, the council chamber stirred. Karan’s supporters, who had been keeping quiet until now, smiled faintly, while Bennet’s subordinates frowned.
“Your Majesty, you’re in good health. Is there a need to rush the succession issue?”
Twain said.
“That’s right. That’s why I haven’t appointed a Crown Prince until now. As you all know, those with power are prone to vain thoughts.”
Tyllo, one of the Lysandro family members who seized and protected the throne by force, had been extremely reluctant to share power.
This was the basis for allowing Twain and Bennet to keep Karan in check.
“But now I’m getting tired.”
“Your Majesty, don’t speak of weakness. Five gates have opened in the past year. It’s a chaotic time. At times like this, we need to be even stronger…”
“That’s why.”
Tyllo cut off Twain mid-sentence. Twain’s mouth slowly closed.
“We recently received a message from Bedrokka. They say Ragnaros’s movements are unusual. Steam is coming out of the conquered gates. Do you know what this means?”
As people remained silent, Elise raised her hand. Tyllo nodded, permitting her to speak.
“It means Ragnaros has entered its active period.”
“That’s absurd! Scholars predicted Ragnaros’s active period to be 10 years from now. It’s an unfounded rumor. A rumor spread by unscrupulous forces trying to throw the continent into chaos.”
One of Bennet’s supporters spoke heatedly.
“The scholars’ prediction of Ragnaros’s active period being 10 years away is already over 2 years old. The situation has changed drastically in the past year. Ragnaros will appear before us as early as this winter, or at the latest by next spring. Is there any scholar who still predicts Ragnaros will wake up 10 years from now in this situation? If you know of any, please tell us.”
No one stepped forward.
‘They must have nothing to say.’
They weren’t interested in when Ragnaros would wake up. They only thought about immediate benefits.
“Not only Tetris scholars but also those from Bedrokka and the Ivory Tower have come to the same conclusion about Ragnaros’s active period. There’s no disagreement.”
“Then, Your Majesty, we will assist you in organizing an army to oppose Ragnaros.”
“That’s certainly something we must do. Bedrokka has proposed organizing a continental allied force.”
“Bedrokka, you say?”
Tyllo frowned deeply. He was irritated by the constant interruptions.
“Listen to the end. Bedrokka hopes to organize a continental allied force to oppose Ragnaros together. I agree with that opinion. They suggested placing the heirs of each country at the head of this allied force. I hear Prince David from Bedrokka and Princess Ilaria from Magnus are already preparing. Our country is the only one without an heir yet.”
The idea of organizing an allied force and forming its leadership was Elise’s suggestion to David.
“I understand the situation, but rushing to appoint a Crown Prince may cause problems.”
Twain opposed until the end. It was obvious who would be appointed Crown Prince in this situation.
Only Karan was capable of fighting and standing shoulder to shoulder with the grown heirs of other countries.
‘Cowett is too young for such a big task.’
Twain swallowed bitterly.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. As it’s an important matter, we should take time to consider it carefully before proceeding.”
Bennet, unable to hold back any longer, stepped in.
“Isn’t it already decided? I don’t want to waste time on something that’s already determined.”
Bennet bit the inside of her lip. Tyllo was being unusually forceful.
“It seems everyone has a lot to say, Your Majesty. How about giving everyone a chance to speak?”
Elise looked at Chalant, Vilter, Madam Adrian’s husband, and Christopher.
“If you’d hear our humble opinions, we’d like to add a word.”
Chalant swallowed hard before speaking.
“Speak.”
“Given the situation…”
Chalant paused briefly and looked at Bennet. Bennet was full of expectation, hoping Chalant would oppose the Crown Prince appointment.
Chalant avoided Bennet’s gaze and continued.
“I believe it’s right to hasten the appointment of the Crown Prince. And His Highness Karan, who has greatly contributed to gate conquests, should be the one.”
Crack. Elise thought she heard such a sound. From the direction where Bennet was sitting.
“I also agree with Sir Chalant’s opinion.”
Vilter spoke as if he had been waiting. Then, when Adrian’s husband and Christopher also agreed, the atmosphere of the noble council shifted towards hastening Karan’s appointment as Crown Prince.
Karan’s supporters, who had been watching the situation, added their opinions, though they were few in number.
Bennet gripped the hem of her dress tightly. Her cheeks trembled as she forced a smile.
In this situation, opposing would create an atmosphere of treason.
“Everyone seems to be of one mind. We’ll hold the Crown Prince appointment ceremony as soon as Karan returns. Given the circumstances, there’s no need for elaborate preparations.”
Tyllo declared the meeting closed and stood up. The nobles followed, all bowing their heads in unison.
Only Bennet closely followed him.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wait a moment!”
Bennet grabbed Tyllo.
“What are you doing, Bennet?”
Bennet belatedly noticed the servants glancing at her and let go of Tyllo.
Instead, she moved closer, pretending to straighten his crumpled clothes.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider appointing Karan as Crown Prince.”
“Hasn’t it already been decided? And you saw many nobles supporting it. Is there any reason I should change my decision?”
“Your Majesty, Cowett is young.”
“Do you think Karan would harm Cowett?”
“He could…He’s a Lysandro after all.”
Tyllo himself had ascended to the throne after killing his brothers. Karan, inheriting his blood, would likely be no different.
“And if Cowett becomes Crown Prince, Karan would be safe? Isn’t Cowett also a Lysandro? If I had to give up one of them, why should I choose Cowett over Karan?”
“Your Majesty! Cowett is a good child. He couldn’t even kill a fly.”
“To me, that sounds like Cowett is weak. And…Cowett truly doesn’t resemble me at all.”
Tyllo grasped Bennet’s hand that was holding his collar. He gradually increased his grip. Bennet’s face contorted.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean by…”
Tyllo took a deep breath.
