Chapter 166

“So, you’re asking me to get to the bottom of the rumors, huh?”

“Surely you wouldn’t ask the princess to do such a thing? It’s obvious that the princess’s true value lies not in wisdom but in strength.”

No, I’m confident in both…

Leopold, this guy, isn’t he looking at me with too much prejudice?

It feels like he sees me as some kind of strong gorilla.

“The task I wish to entrust to the princess is my protection. The fact that the empress has gone to such extremes… means I can no longer rest easy about my safety.”

Well, that’s not an unwelcome request.

A lot has changed, but preventing Leopold’s assassination was the main storyline in the original.

Whether the assassination is prevented or not, he couldn’t ascend to the throne…

But that part has already changed from the original, so it’s up to me now.

“Protecting His Highness the Prince… understood. I’ll take good care of you for the time being.”

“I’m counting on you, Princess Ai-shan Gi-or.”

I smiled as I shook Leopold’s outstretched hand.

…Since it’s come to this, should I also tell Leopold about Isabella being a witch?

There’s no evidence, but at least it would make him more cautious.

—

I told Leopold about it in a roundabout way.

About the insect knights we encountered on the day we fought Claire. And Lacey’s story that only a witch could control such monsters.

Leopold was silent for a while.

He just sat in his chair with a dazed expression, repeating sounds that could either be admiration or groans.

“That’s truly shocking… Not just the reason the Sigmillus family was wiped out, but Isabella being a witch… Is that true?”

“For now, it’s just circumstantial evidence, and there’s no solid proof. But isn’t it more strange if such circumstantial evidence isn’t true?”

I’m not sure how persuasive my words were.

At least, Leopold seemed to believe it.

Seeing him cover his face and let out a deep sigh.

“A witch becoming the empress of the empire, how did the descendants of Emperor Carolus come to this…”

“Surprisingly, you seem to care about Emperor Carolus’s authority? Unlike the content of the speech you gave in Einfeld.”

“Well… in that situation, to boost the soldiers’ morale, I could say anything. If it could lift their spirits, I could say even more… But it wasn’t sincere. How could someone born into the imperial family deny their ancestors’ achievements?”

“I see. That makes sense.”

Does Leopold even realize?

That the fact he can spew lies as needed is the biggest reason I don’t fully trust him.

I’m also a human full of lies and deceit… but that’s exactly why I can’t help but feel uneasy about him.

A liar knows the dangers of a liar better than anyone.

“A witch, a witch… Then that incident must also have been her doing…”

Still not removing his hand from his face, Leopold muttered in a chewing tone.

“What are you talking about?”

“…About my mother. If my mother hadn’t passed away so suddenly, how could Isabella have become the empress?”

Leopold slightly raised his head.

His eyes were shining brightly.

Old resentments swirled in his gaze.

“Do you think it was Isabella’s doing?”

“Yes. My mother’s death was strange in many ways. She was someone who never had any illnesses, yet one day she passed away in her sleep… At first, everyone suspected poisoning, but the court doctors found no signs of poisoning. If not, what other answer is there but a witch’s curse?”

“If it was a witch’s curse, wouldn’t the priests have noticed?”

Since a witch’s power is also rooted in dark energy, the priests should have been able to detect it.

But Leopold shook his head firmly.

“Impossible. If the curse was still active, perhaps, but by the time my mother passed, the curse had already dissipated. How could they detect it then?”

“…Then, it’s the perfect ability for assassination.”

A power that can kill someone from a distance in just one night.

Without even leaving a trace… It’s a wonder Leopold is still alive.

“Fortunately… it’s not an easy power to use. Such an immediate death curse is a powerful curse that most can’t even attempt. A curse that only appears in old tales… There were opinions that my mother’s death was due to a curse, but they were dismissed as nonsense.”

As he spoke, Leopold took a sip of wine from his office.

Without even asking if I wanted any.

Well, I understand.

Last time I drank wine, I caused a huge scene.

Even if he had asked, I would have refused.

“Even if it were possible to cast, it would require a very long time of preparation…”

“We need to prepare, and the moment the curse is cast, it will unleash massive repercussions. The Church Order would notice immediately. If Isabella had been living in the Imperial Palace all along, she wouldn’t even have thought of casting a curse. Doing something like that inside the palace would get her caught right away.”

“You seem… a bit too knowledgeable about curses.”

At this point, I’d believe you’re a curse expert rather than a prince.

“Well, it was a death that made no sense. Isn’t it natural for a child to do everything they can to uncover the truth?”

Leopold answered without hesitation.

Certainly, he had enough motivation to look into curses.

Even if his standing wasn’t high, being a prince, it wouldn’t have been too difficult to access related materials.

“Hmm… I see. So, what do you plan to do now? You’re convinced that Isabella is a witch and your mother’s enemy.”

Leopold, resting his chin on his hand, closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

I waited patiently for his answer.

“…I think there are about three strategies. The most reasonable method, the fastest method, and the most dangerous method.”

Three, huh?

“Go on.”

Leopold held up three fingers and began folding them one by one.

“The most reasonable method is to wait. Wait until the electors’ votes are over and I ascend to the throne. After that, I can easily condemn Isabella, adding the charge of being a witch to her crimes. Sending her to the execution block would be much easier.”

So, instead of revealing her as a witch to bring her down, he plans to bring her down first and then reveal her as a witch.

“Winning the succession vote is the issue, but… the electors who know me well won’t believe rumors like me assassinating Matthias, so it’s entirely possible. As for the people’s suspicions, proving it was Isabella’s doing after ascending the throne would suffice.”

Certainly, people like Ludwig wouldn’t be swayed by such slander.

“The only uncertainty is that, since it takes time, there’s no telling what Isabella or Ernst might do in the meantime.”

“That is a bit unsettling.”

Leopold nodded and folded his second finger.

“The fastest method is to gather all available forces and attack the Imperial Palace. If we can break through to Isabella’s quarters and behead that witch, we’ll surely find evidence afterward. The problem is… whether we can break through even with concentrated forces. To others, it would look like I’m trying to seize the throne by force, so undoubtedly, everyone in the palace except my troops would stand against us.”

“With bad luck, it could end in our annihilation.”

“Honestly, that’s highly likely. The princess is strong, but… Marquis Valenstein is also in the palace.”

The Empire’s number one bubble?

I’m not sure if an old man on his last legs can live up to his reputation…

I’ve never met him, so I can’t be sure.

“The last method, the most dangerous path… would be to entrust it to the princess.”

“That one?”

Leopold nodded.

“In the next ten days, my father’s funeral will be held at the Exra-shapel Cathedral. Matthias’s funeral might also be held that day. All the royal family, including me, Empress Isabella, and most of the high-ranking nobles, will have to attend… so that day will be when the palace’s defenses are at their weakest.”

I get the gist.

You want me to infiltrate the palace that day.

“With the princess’s abilities, you might even be able to reach Isabella’s bedroom… Honestly, I’m not entirely confident, but if successful, it’s the most certain method. If we find proof that Isabella is a witch, we can immediately inform the Church Order, gain their support, and use my forces and the Church’s power to subdue her. No one would be able to stop us. However, if the princess is discovered…”

Leopold trailed off.

It might lead to a fate too terrible to put into words.

“As you said, it’s the most dangerous method.”

My life would end there, and Leopold would be dragged into it too.

…Or he might cut me off to avoid being implicated.

“That’s right. So, I’ll respect the princess’s decision on whether to execute this plan.”

A plan with uncertain success and a miserable end if it fails.

The choice has been handed to me.