Chapter 118

In the study, the young woman standing before the earl was not the same one he had known in the past.

A beauty with naturally blended azure hair and eyes stood gracefully before him now.

That very beauty gazed at Dike, who had been ushered into the study, with an unwavering stare.

“Your divine aura is clear as day.”

Her voice was firm, as if her core were deeply embedded.

It didn’t fit well with a light tone, somehow. Despite no malice or discomfort in her attitude or voice…

The moment she spoke, it felt like the surrounding air froze.

“Looks like you’ve changed quite a bit yourself.”

She spoke with undeniable confidence.

However, that alone wasn’t enough to shake Dike.

He was the knight of reversals, having endured countless adversities abroad.

Among the descendants of heroes, only Imperial Princess Ellie could possibly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

He had always aimed to become the kind of man worthy of her.

…To surpass even Carriel’s stronghold, every step he took was by his own will.

Nevertheless, upon reuniting, the blue-haired beauty with piercing blue eyes seemed to have grown into a full-fledged woman. She had risen to become the head of the prestigious Eschina household.

With their territory intact, the Eschina family’s influence remained formidable. They had long held a steadfast position among the court nobles.

Moreover, though she hadn’t ascended to the ranks of the nine heroes, she had supported them from behind, walking side-by-side as a warrior and hero, whose father himself was one of those nine.

This was why the Eschina family could openly defy both the Hero Emperor and the Knights of Glory. It was also why they led the faction opposing the emperor among the nobility.

Above all, the Eschina family secured their power through wealth and rights instead of land.

However…

With more than half of their interests absorbed by the royal court, it was evident the Eschina family’s influence had significantly waned compared to before.

Even the information gathered en route hinted at this.

Most shockingly, Sylas had become the right-hand man to the princess.

…There was some reasoning behind it, which wasn’t hard to guess.

“So, out of all places, you rushed to find me first. Is it really because of El?”

“…Considering how much you hated El to call him by such a casual nickname, I can’t help but marvel at the impermanence of the world.”

“Enough with the chatter.”

“Still, after years apart, isn’t this treatment a bit too cold for an old childhood friend?”

“Would it even be possible for someone like you, a follower of El, to get close to me?”

“By now, aren’t we both in the same boat?”

“…I’m no follower. This is purely a political alliance.”

“Isn’t that just semantics?”

“Our words don’t align.”

Her casual attire, modest yet strikingly deep blue, accentuated her figure beautifully. Her hair, longer than when last seen, enhanced her mature allure.

“I do wonder about El, but what intrigues me more is the story regarding Carriel.”

“…If it’s something worth your hearing, then it must already be over, right? Or are you implying you’ve established some footing in foreign lands?”

“I did make my mark. Just securing the Legacy of the Great Demon King alone—second only to El—makes my value pretty self-evident, doesn’t it?”

“That overconfident audacity of yours hasn’t changed. It’s annoying precisely because you’re not just bragging.”

Sylas lightly bit her lip, though only in jest.

“When you earned the right to claim that prize, Uncle Bariel was so proud…”

“My father?”

“He openly expressed pride, though he didn’t show it to you, did he?”

“Last time I saw him, it was like he’d been gone for mere days.”

“It’s probably due to his dignity as a father. He’s always been like that, hasn’t he?”

“That’s… true.”

Dike chuckled faintly.

“Do you know the current head of the noble faction is your father?”

“What?”

Did he hear that right?

“Officially, anyway. With the current overwhelming dominance of the emperor’s faction, anything that opposes or needs to watch their moves has little place in the court. Baron Bariel mediates these situations to make them useful.”

“…Didn’t the former Earl Eschina handle this role?”

“Grandfather is now enjoying a peaceful retirement. Considering the times back then, it was a miracle he survived.”

“Wow.”

“Have you heard about Alesius being sent to guard the northeastern border?”

“I’ve heard bits and pieces.”

“It’s not just a demotion. It’s far more sinister.”

Certainly, a shocking event. While the public knew it as Alesius making a fatal mistake in internal strife…

Now, through Sylas, Dike finally grasped part of the deeper truth.

“Grandfather not only fell out of favor but is practically under house arrest. And… Era suffered excommunication and banishment. Essentially, our family received a devastating blow.”

“You’re safe because you pledged loyalty to the royal court, right? Whether you wanted it or not, there was no other option. Did His Majesty extend some consideration?”

“More accurately… During discussions on the relationship between El and Carriel, a compromise was reached. Thanks to that, we received leniency. Otherwise… Well, who knows what might have happened.”

“…You’re still spouting cryptic nonsense.”

Sylas’ feelings for Carriel were something he’d known since childhood. The problem was that her rival turned out to be Ellie.

Thus, from the start, it was clear that her fight was bound to fail.

Yet she chose to fight anyway.

The fundamental reason she disliked Ellie likely stemmed from this.

After all, rivals are like that, aren’t they? Just as she once viewed Carriel.

“Frankly speaking, thanks to Ellie stepping back, things seem unnecessarily messy now.”

“Could you explain it in a way I can understand?”

“Sure.”

To summarize: Originally, after Carriel returned from pilgrimage, a marriage between the two would solidify their bond. Using this as leverage, all past grievances would be brought up, leading to a large-scale purge and punishment. Through this, the imperial court’s power structure would be entirely renewed, shifting all authority directly to the emperor. This grand plan was none other than Ellie’s doing.

On the surface, it was exaggeratedly credited to the Hero Emperor.

“The problem is Carriel never returned. Worse, rumors started circulating that he conspired with the Demon King.”

And one more thing:

“This is a secret, so keep it to yourself. I’m telling you because it’s you. If it leaks, the suspect will be obvious, so be prepared.”

“…Thanks, I guess.”

Are you trying to rope me into this? You’ve gotten shady since becoming the head.

But it was too late to back out now.

Partially driven by an insatiable curiosity that couldn’t be ignored.

“Don’t mock me. Anyway… Lord Melinos had a prophetic dream, and what he saw and heard was unsettling.”

The bigger issue was:

“Apparently, the Demon King, specifically the Golden Beast, sealed his memories for a while.”

“…You mean stories like that have reached your ears?”

“El told me. Without her, I wouldn’t have known anything.”

The problem was…

“…We secretly planned to secure Carriel, but somewhere along the line, information leaked. Combined with news that he fled abroad, things got complicated.”

“Because of this, events began moving rapidly, much faster than expected.”

One misstep could have resulted in the warriors’ reputation and authority collapsing entirely due to shielding Carriel’s secrets. Political losses and disadvantages would pale in comparison.

Especially considering that the former head of the noble faction, Sylas’ grandfather, publicly berated the emperor upon realizing the situation, it was easy to imagine how severe the matter was.

“At this point, Ellie seized the opportunity to bring up those who had previously plotted against and isolated Carriel, bringing the topic back to the forefront.”

This would implicate all noble heirs involved or complicit. However, Ellie had already taken measures to ensure some confessed and bowed to the royal court, creating an atmosphere of repentance.

Thanks to this, Earl Eschina couldn’t resist and plummeted. Meanwhile, Alecius, their greatest shield, was personally sent away by the emperor to the frontier defense, rendering any protest futile.

If it were merely exile, there would be room for argument. But it was the perilous northeastern border contested by demons and enemy states.

Thus, demanding further punishment would essentially mean executing golden-blooded royalty, which would equate to treason.

“Our grandfather appears to have led the isolation of Carriel.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes. Moreover… Grandfather forced Era to choose: either stay with Carriel or side with Alecius.”

Apparently, Era had such an opportunity at the time, though Sylas herself was unaware.

But Era never truly had a choice, only following her grandfather’s wishes.

Even the young sisters, Sylas and Era, feared their grandfather’s wrath and punishments.

Had Sylas realized this earlier, perhaps she could have resisted or rebelled?

But grandfather was cunning, cutting off even that possibility.

By the time she found out, it was far too late to undo anything.

Thinking about it now still sends shivers down her spine.

After the supposed hero failed to return and died, grandfather completely changed as a person. All that remained were the two daughters left behind by his son.

Had he returned alive from the final battle, he could have had everything.

“After learning that he died protecting his mother, it became worse.”

Though not a hero herself, his mother was respected by all nine heroes, indicating her significant influence. No one truly knew why.

Grandfather always kept silent, and thus neither Sylas nor her sister dared to ask others.

Only after grandfather deteriorated to this state could they consult the empress.

“…Enough about me. In short, the power structure completely shifted.”

The establishment of absolute imperial authority.

Previously, while dominant, the emperor faced criticism for lacking decisive action despite advocating for benevolence and unity. Yet during the turmoil, this conciliatory approach effectively united the vast empire.

Of course, showing weakness and excessive mercy would invite contempt and ridicule.

The Hero Emperor, however, was merciless when needed, proven repeatedly during wars and confrontations with the Demon King’s forces and allied nations.

As an example, he utterly destroyed and razed an entire country that aligned with the Demon King, leaving nothing but ashes and rubble.

At such moments, he was less a hero and more a tyrannical conqueror.

Yet thanks to his resolute decisions, many nations began refusing or hesitating to cooperate with the Demon King’s demands.

A single decisive move spared humanity’s alliance from enduring numerous prolonged conflicts.

“First, he sacrificed his own son, the crown prince, by demoting and stripping him of succession rights, setting an example. Now, co-conspirators could also be held accountable.”

Their shields were removed, leaving them exposed.

The crimes cited by the royal court were especially heinous.

Collaboration with demons.

Heresy and rebellion.

Organizing secret cults aiming to resurrect the Demon King.

Accusations piled up like floodwaters breaking through a dam.

With papal inquisitors added to the mix, virtually no one escaped unscathed under the relentless scrutiny of the emperor and the church.

Clearly, the emperor had been meticulously planning this for a long time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. How else could he act so swiftly and decisively?

Those deemed guilty received harsh punishments: public executions. Entire families were wiped out due to collective responsibility, with branch families unexpectedly ascending to main house status.

These newly appointed heads quickly pledged loyalty to the royal court and zealously purged remnants of the previous main families to prove their allegiance. All this occurred within barely thirty days.

Moreover, fear and hatred toward the royal court spread among the populace. By meticulously detailing every crime and broadcasting these reasons extensively, the emperor framed the purges as acts of justice.

Here, inconvenient truths held little meaning.

Some truths were exaggerated, minor offenses inflated into capital crimes. Above all, this was portrayed as the Hero Emperor’s painful but necessary decision.

The emperor, who had consistently endured hardships for the people, had treated even the nobility as common subjects and extended kindness. Yet they brazenly committed such atrocities, proudly claiming their blue-blood superiority!

Finally drawing his sword after enduring so much, the Hero Emperor unleashed all his pent-up righteous anger and severity.

Thus, the people wholeheartedly supported the emperor’s noble decisions.

“At the time, jubilation swept across Rutania. Finally, the greedy and corrupt blue-bloods were getting their comeuppance.”

This was likely due to the emperor’s longstanding policies prioritizing the common people. The nobility’s self-serving actions contrary to the people’s welfare had been subtly propagated among the masses and intellectuals for years.

For a long time—even those criticizing the emperor’s apparent leniency toward the nobility understood the significance of his sudden decisiveness now.

“If only I could have witnessed it firsthand.”

As the great chaos subsided, the surviving nobles came to realize:

Nothing the emperor had done was without purpose.

He had never feared or felt threatened by them.

Ultimately, he had sown seeds appropriate for both the people and the nobility, patiently waiting for the harvest.

Upon recognizing this, everything made perfect sense. By the time they noticed, they were already neck-deep in the mire.

Too late. Yet were there none willing to desperately resist, even if belatedly?

Indeed, there were—but those who attempted resistance despite knowing better met even more tragic fates.

These individuals, knowing full well the consequences, saw their entire houses erased, main and branch alike.

“The current swift and unified functioning of the empire stems entirely from these reasons.”

Thanks to this, the empire was rapidly developing. Even the lowest-ranking central nobles possessed considerable wealth and resources.

Seizing these assets, redistributing them, appointing new talents, and pushing long-delayed policies—all advanced at unprecedented speed, injecting vitality throughout the empire.

Truly, the empire had entered its golden age.

When politics functioned properly, its power to strengthen and invigorate a nation was remarkable. Progress was visible daily.

“No wonder everyone seems so energetic lately.”

From Dike’s perspective, the empire remained the empire, and the heartland of Rutania was no exception. Yet traveling through and observing internally revealed a vitality surpassing before.

Most notably, the cleanliness of Rutania and the improved clothing and demeanor of its citizens compared to just a few years ago were unmistakable. New buildings and facilities had proliferated.

…Only…

“As mentioned earlier, the one thing not going according to plan is related to Carriel.”

At this, Sylas sighed softly.

“Because of that, El is currently arguing with His Majesty about temporarily leaving Rutania.”

“Huh?”

“And now, without me needing to nag, you surely know who you need to persuade next, right?”

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