After the battle of the Flag, the situation in the empire changed dramatically.
[The Battle for the Flag Stained by the Fog of Fall.]
[The Duke of Gelon is detained in the Great Temple following Imperial Law.]
[The Holy Knights search the Duke of Gelon’s residence.]
A handful of newspapers, not under the influence of Gelon, produced special articles every day.
Although it was provocatively processed, the contents of the article were all based on facts.
The news that Gelon had committed fraud came as a great shock to those who watched the grand finale of the Battle of Flag with excitement.
“Sir Carlton has been a hero in the battle of the flag for years, how could this happen….”
“After seeing the same articles for a week, I honestly doubt it. Did Sir Carlton fight cleanly before?”
“I don’t know. This year, the truth was revealed because Her Highness Grand Duchess Prause distributed wooden swords with divine power to the knights of Prause.”
A bar in the capital.
A middle-aged man who had been serving peanuts with his beer in broad daylight held a copy of <Obelir Post> and said.
“How they discovered that the knights used the Fog of Fall will appear in today’s Obelir Post, so everyone should go to the Sacred Tower.”
Shortly after it was announced that the fog of Fall was detected in the bodies of the knights belonging to the Duke of Gelon in the temple, Frey Sensing that now was a golden opportunity to dominate public opinion, called Daniel and Baron Holt.
[“We need to publish an article that says we were able to find a user of the Fog of Fall with jewels imbued with divine power and magic in a wooden sword.”]
As she guessed, the people were very positive about the Archduchess doing what other nobles couldn’t do.
There was even a faction of people who pretended otherwise and supported Grand Duchess Prause.
“It’s only Her Highness Grand Duchess Frey’s Obelir Post that reveals the truth.”
“Yes, the newspapers that used to be famous these days are a bit…”
“The newspapers sponsored by Gelon don’t deal with any of the Fog of Fall cases, so they only look at real estate for sale, right? At this point, the Obelir Post should broaden its horizons.”
The man smiled and put a handful of peanuts into his mouth.
The bartender, who saw that, burst out laughing after wiping the glass.
“Her Highness will not stay still. It has already been two days since the <Obelir Post> began to be distributed free of charge throughout the country in commemoration of the victory of the Grand Duke Prause in the battle of the flag.”
He pointed to a shop across the alley with a wink.
There was a large retail store owned by Holt Top, which was crowded with customers more than usual.
From the point of view of a merchant who runs a bar for the second generation in this alley, it was a truly great strategy.
‘People think it’s a benefit to be able to get popular information magazines that could only be obtained by going near the Sacred Tower, but….’
In fact, it was the Holt-top stores that benefited the most.
People who come to get a free newspaper don’t just walk out, they browse the store and buy what they need.
The <Obelir Post>, which was already gaining popularity as a serial novel, was about to take another leap forward.
‘Yes. It’s not just the general information newspaper’s going up.’
The bartender, who had been in the store all day, noticed an important change after the battle of flags.
Those who are deeply related to the Gelon or who have invested in projects promoted by Tahar are beginning to feel uneasy.
[“Why did His Highness, Duke of Gelon, try to kidnap the Transcendentalists?”]
[“I thought the Duke knew how to completely suppress the Grand Duchess because she is always so confident.”]
[“If you’ve been plotting behind the scenes to kidnap the Transcendents, does that mean that Tahar’s legitimacy alone makes it difficult to ascend the throne?”]
As partners and supporters, those who knew the Duke of Gelon and Crown Prince Tahar better than anyone else.
The fact that they were beginning to feel uneasy was an important indicator.
‘If we want to do business in this alley for a long time, it’s not bad to meet the employees of the Holt Top.’
The bartender didn’t show his thoughts, just wiped the glass.
* * *
“Damon, Arsene. Wanna see this?”
I held out the front page of the Obelir Post, which will be published tomorrow, to the children.
[The hero of this year’s flag battle is the Transcendentalist]
Below the bold headline was a black-and-white print.
It was the scene where Damon used this ability to subdue Jason, the fake grandfather created by Duke Gelon.
The two children set down their glass of milk and their eyes lit up.
“Hey! Both I and Frey are here!”
“I’m so short.… But I like it!”
“Now that you two are more famous as the Battle of Flag heroes than Lord Carlton, you need to brush your teeth well. Understand?”
“yes!”
“Eat all of this!”
Damon and Arsene seemed embarrassed to be treated as heroes, but in fact, they were very happy.
Frey smiled innocently as they do, but in reality, her thoughts were a little complicated.
‘They say that the children’s Grandfather who was found at the Gelon Mansion was in poor condition.’
Thanks to Luke’s trick, the Holy Knight was able to confiscate and search Duke Gelon’s residence.
After interrogating the butlers of the duke’s residence and the employees, the knights found Hound, the paternal grandfather of the children.
[“I never thought they locked him in the closet of his office… If I had found him a little later, we wouldn’t have been able to save him.”]
[“I think he’ll be fine after ten days of recuperation, so please take care of him..”]
Damon and Arsene were told that their grandfather was a little sick and was receiving treatment.
‘Actually, he’s in critical condition…’
Anyway, the Holy Knight who had achieved their top priority goal of rescuing the Hound was still searching the Duke Gelon’s residence.
A few of her own wizards have joined them since they’re searching Duke Gelon’s residence, the master of magic.
According to Vikram, evidence of the duke’s dirty work was soon to be discovered.
After snack time with the kids.
When she returned to the office, Lina said in a happy voice.
“The Holy Knight’s report just arrived.”
“Did things go well?”
“Until yesterday, the search was slow because they had to find Mr. Hound first, but they say they are trying to find something that could be the link between Gelon and the Magic Tower.”
“I’m glad they worked with enthusiasm.”
“The knights are well aware that there are not many opportunities to search the mansion of Duke Gelon, who is said to be the most stubborn in the empire.”
Well, It wasn’t a common opportunity. Even the previous emperors, whose imperial powers were stronger than my father, couldn’t do that.’
Having accomplished that difficult task was proof that the authority of the Duke of Gelon had fallen to the ground.
And, the truth that Duke Gelon was trying to cover up by killing the owner of the magic tower will be revealed sooner or later.
Frey got up from her seat and closed the papers on her desk.
“I’m going to visit the imperial palace for a while to talk to my father, and I need you to take care of the work I’ve entrusted you with.”
When she said that, Lina smiled with a confident face.
“I will prepare thoroughly, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
‘Since I have taken one step, I must take another step without standing still.’
She made up her mind and headed for the imperial palace.
* * *
While Frey looked through the newspapers and talked with the emperor about her daily life.
As if winter had already arrived, a cold wind was blowing in the empress’ palace.
This cold period began a few days ago after Duke Gelon’s loyal servant urgently sent a message to the empress’ palace.
“Your Majesty the Empress. His Highness Tahar has arrived.”
“Tell him to come in.”
Tahar came to the room of the empress, who had not been out of bed for several days due to body aches and a high fever.
He looked at his mother, who was said to be unable to move with a high fever.
“Sit down.”
The Empress seemed a little shocked at the news that Zelon’s plan had been foiled, but she was as calm as ever.
Her slightly emaciated body rather accentuated her sensitive nerves.
Instead of worrying about his mother’s health, Tahar got straight to the point.
“Do you think the Duke of Gelon will hold out?”
His tone was clean and tidy, but his voice was a bit worried.
Even Tahar himself didn’t know what to worry about.
However, the empress’ answer did not contain such concern.
“Fray did a funny trick. One of their knights must have carried the fog of Fall and put it in our knights, but the temple only keeps repeating that Prause’s knights are clean.”
“Anyway, it seems to be clean after purifying with divine power.”
Even as he spat out the words, Tahar felt like Frey was crazy.
‘I never thought she would use the wooden sword to find the user of the Fog of Fall.’
Tahar felt frustrated that his misjudgment had led to the capture of so many of Gelon’s knights.
Furthermore, no matter how quickly the butler took action, there must be evidence of being related to the Magic Tower hidden in the Duke of Gelon’s mansion
Duke Gelon was now like mice caught in a trap.
It was at that time that he was thinking about how to save the Duke of Gelon.
“Tahar. Even after the fact that Frey possesses divine power is revealed, the reason why you are supported as the legitimate successor is because you have excellent political judgment.”
“What do you mean?”
To Tahar’s question, the empress answered without changing her expression.
“Abandon the Duke of Gelon. Your position would be better if you reprimanded him instead of trying to save him.”
“….”
“As long as you inherit the blood of the Duke of Gelon, he will think of you as the emperor, ending the era of divine power and ushering in the era of magical power.”
The empress spoke without any distractions.
A long time ago.
[“She’s pregnant again…I must kill Lady Roselia.”]
Her expression and tone were very similar when she said that.
“You’d better show that lowly thing that it can’t replace you.”
However, the empress didn’t know. That Frey had made the first move before Tahar even made a plan.
* * *
