I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 205

Arnold’s question was met with silence from the councilors, who remembered all too well the bloody storm he had once stirred up.

In truth, how could they speak? As Herix’s infamy grew, so too did the number of those who feared him, and along with that fear, came admiration. Songs even spread among the common folk, calling him a hero, praising him for wiping out not only the nuisances threatening the Sortenic Empire but also the monsters that had been interfering with agriculture.

And that wasn’t all, was it?

‘The public now scorns the Emperor, who has locked himself away in the Imperial Palace and does nothing.’

‘There are also those who despise the Emperor, calling him a madman for his past tyrannies.’

‘And yet, does His Majesty remain completely unaware of this?’

As the Emperor’s authority continued to decline, it became clear that the people, at the very least, revered the Crown Prince and sought to form a closer bond with him. If, by any chance, there was any dissent against the Emperor, the Crown Prince would not hesitate to seize the opportunity.

‘Then, as someone known to be loyal to the Emperor…’

‘Our family is finished.’

The councilors exchanged quick glances. One of them would have to take the lead and inform the Emperor of these matters.

But the moment they did, their heads would undoubtedly be on the line. As the councilors hesitated, the Pope, who sat to Arnold’s right, quietly spoke up.

“I also believe that the birthday banquet should be held on a grand scale.”

Not only did the Pope take it for granted that the banquet should be held, but he also insisted it be more extravagant than usual. A flash of betrayal crossed Arnold’s gaze.

‘What is he thinking?’

In Arnold’s mind, the Pope had always been firmly on his side. He wasn’t just someone who disliked Herix—he was desperate to turn Herix’s death to his advantage.

‘He was the one who suggested we disguise it as the work of the dragons from the Grand Old Ones Mountains…’

And now, suddenly, he was pushing for a grand celebration of the Crown Prince’s birthday. What was the Pope’s true game? Doubt crept into Arnold’s eyes.

Meanwhile, the Pope’s thoughts were quite simple.

‘It’s time to remove the Emperor.’

Having placed Arnold as a puppet Emperor to expand his influence over the temple, the Pope was now planning to weaken the imperial family’s power.

What he ultimately desired wasn’t merely to remain in the shadows, but to become the new god of this world. He no longer had any need for pawns that threatened his authority. And if his opponent was someone so incapable of even killing his own child, then all the better.

In short, Arnold’s role was finished.

‘I will use the Crown Prince to weaken Arnold’s influence. Once the Crown Prince and Emperor are aligned, they will destroy each other.’

Countless battles had been fought to bring the Crown Prince to power, but that had only resulted in creating a monstrous force in Herix.

‘However, no matter how strong the Crown Prince is, he won’t be able to overcome all the knights in the Imperial Palace.’

Herix would lose. And this would lead to another defeat for Arnold. After Herix obliterated the knights of the Imperial Palace, the Pope would lead the Holy Order to purify the palace.

“Everything is under the will of God.”

The Pope got up from his seat first, even before Arnold could call the meeting to a close. Yet, no one questioned him. Not even Arnold, who, after seeing the Pope rise, quietly ended the meeting himself.

The nobles, who began to leave in small groups, thought to themselves:

‘Who is the Emperor, really?’

The weakening of power had already begun.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The grand celebration for Crown Prince Herix Glacian Questiago’s twentieth birthday was a lavish affair, but it was a rather lonely time for the guest of honor.

He sat alone, surrounded by well-wishers, but their congratulations lacked sincerity. Those who admired Herix were mostly lower-ranking nobles and commoners, so it was no surprise that even at his own birthday celebration, he found himself alone.

‘Did Johann not make it in?’

What bothered him the most was that the celebration had no regard for him. Johann, who had shared both life and death with Herix, wasn’t even allowed to attend the banquet due to his lack of noble status. He couldn’t even step foot in the palace.

‘I need to grant him noble status soon.’

Herix hadn’t expected such a day to come, and the celebration, which seemed to be for someone else, only gave him a new perspective on his life. Beyond that, it held no other significance for him.

‘And then there’s Ivonne…’

Despite being the Countess, Ivonne hadn’t even received an invitation. It was said to be because, after Blitzen’s death and the storm passing, the vassal meeting had confirmed that the Ulfest family title would pass to the collateral member. Even though Ivonne was still technically the Countess, she was already being treated as a commoner.

‘Johann is excluded because of his lack of status, and Ivonne is excluded because even though she has status, she will soon be considered a commoner…’

The nobles’ actions felt like a farce. After enduring the tedious hours, Herix stood up, deciding there was no reason to remain.

“Where are you going, Your Highness?”

“Shouldn’t you stay a little longer? Aren’t we gathered here to celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday?”

“Everyone is celebrating Your Highness’s coming-of-age.”

A few nobles tried to engage him, but since they weren’t genuinely congratulating him, Herix ignored them. The nobles ground their teeth in frustration, but Herix didn’t pay them any mind.

‘I need to go see Ivonne.’

Leaving the banquet hall, Herix made his way toward the two-story house on the hill.