Chapter 87
* * *
Raising the Nabel Empire’s flag high in the Karnan Empire was a pleasant thing. With the imperial capital right in front of them, Jeremiah had them check the flag’s condition again and gave the order for it to flutter proudly.
‘That arrogant bastard Kasselard had better bite the bait… Just thinking about how wronged he’ll feel later is already making me feel good.’
Ibella, who had now become his younger sister, was dressed so beautifully that even Jeremiah’s eyes couldn’t help but admire her. With eyes watching all around, Jeremiah personally escorted Ibella and helped her into the carriage.
As befit a Guide, she was wearing gloves, so there was no unfortunate accident of guiding happening with him. She thanked him and settled into a seat inside the carriage.
Jeremiah hopped up into the carriage. Unlike when they had arrived at this village, the Guide who was his mistress or concubine did not ride in the same carriage.
“Depart!”
Their goal was to use Kasselard to close the rifts. The best outcome was that he would die while closing a rift… and even if he survived, they planned to shove Ibella onto him and take away his A-Class Guide, that woman.
Considering the damage to their homeland, they had to hurry. Even if they couldn’t show it in front of those Karnan bastards.
As the delegation’s long procession began to move, it was clear the entire village was coming outside to watch them. It was only natural, since a delegation sent by the imperial family didn’t come and go every day. Jeremiah snorted at their awe and fixed his gaze on the city that looked like a tiny dot.
‘It’s quite a shame I wasn’t born as Karnan’s Crown Prince. With an Emperor that soft and foolish, the day will come when this land becomes the Nabel Empire’s.’
In the sharp wind blowing in, the Nabel Empire’s flag snapped, and the enormous presence of the city, which had looked small, revealed itself.
Besides them, there were many others entering the capital of the Karnan Empire. Many merchants and travelers were going through the North Gate in time with the soldiers’ shouted inspections.
Jeremiah watched them with indifferent eyes and thought they were clearing people out so their procession wouldn’t get in the way.
But as the North Gate drew closer, something bewildering happened. The soldiers glanced at the head of the delegation, then hurried inside.
And the massive gate of the North Gate was slowly… starting to… close!
“What?”
Jeremiah, who had been leisurely gazing at the capital’s northern wall, sprang up from the chair back as if bouncing off it. He pressed himself to the window and shouted.
“Why is the gate closing? Can’t they see this flag?”
“I, I don’t know, Your Highness!”
The knight commander answered, but that wasn’t the answer Jeremiah wanted. He flew into a rage and yelled.
“Do you think that’s the answer I wanted! Go find out right now!!”
* * *
At the place he was led to, Crown Prince Kasselard, dressed in ceremonial robes, was waiting for him. Kasselard had been checking his cufflinks, and when he saw High Priest Ghileste enter the room, he eased the stiff expression on his face.
Ghileste, once again admiring the Crown Prince’s beauty, gave proper greetings. His pure white hair and jewel-bright blue eyes matched his pure white ceremonial attire, making him look like a new groom.
‘Wait… a new groom?’
A foreboding feeling rose. Ghileste hurriedly checked the garden visible through the window. There, he could glimpse what was clearly a wedding venue, arranged by the palace attendants’ hands.
There were no guests, but the decorations of pure white silk and lace, and flowers, made it look like a wedding hall.
“Your Highness. Th, that, what is that? Is there some event in the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“That’s why I called you. There’s something you must do for me.”
Ghileste, as the High Priest of the capital, was not completely ignorant of political issues. The delegation from the Nabel Empire was due to arrive soon, and it was no secret that there was a strong possibility of a political marriage between the Crown Prince here and the Princess of that nation.
There was little to no chance that this event involved Agnes, another S-Class Guide. Even so, since the Crown Prince had rejected the Guide who had a high match rate with him, there were those who believed there was a possibility with this side, whose bloodline was certain.
However, as High Priest, Ghileste intended to simply watch things flow without lending strength to either side. He was a man of the Temple, and as long as the SS-Class Transcendent Crown Prince did not rampage, he was in a position to welcome either outcome.
But this matter was different. If he followed the Crown Prince’s will rashly and incurred the Emperor’s wrath, it would cause great damage to the Temple.
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