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Side Story Chapter 280

“You… want the empire to fall?” she repeated, her eyes wide.

“That’s right,” Arash affirmed with a nod.

“Ho-Hold on, let me get this straight. If that’s your goal, why would you work so hard to harass other countries?”

Swallow would fall even if Arash did nothing. Grand Duke Lucifer used to hold absolute power in Swallow, but he was gone, along with the imperial line. All Arash had to do was let the nobles fight for power among themselves.

“Swallow was formed from a multitude of tribes who used to live on this land. Would the empire really fall just because one man, however powerful, was gone?”

“Well…” Anna trailed off.

“Probably not. The tribes would be glad to have more power, and once one of the tribes wins the power struggle, they’ll be able to make the empire bigger and stronger. Swallow’s history proves that.”

Only Swallow, whose history was filled with plundering, conquering, and colonizing, could boast of such things.

“What you’re saying is…” Anna swallowed.

“I have two choices: either I have to travel back to the faraway past and break the tribes’ solidarity before the empire is built, or… I have to become the real Arash bel Grace.”

“...By becoming a real member of the Imperial Family, you’ll have the entire empire under your control.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“Did the imperial family do something to you?”

“No. I’m not sure you’ll believe me, but I just hope that no country on Igrant will harass other countries anymore,” Arash answered with a grin.

“If you don’t want to tell me, just forget I said anything,” Anna told her, certain that there was more to Arash’s story. “I can see that your and my goals aren’t really different.”

“I’m glad to hear that my answer sufficed.”

“Anyhow, based on what you said, my biggest enemy seems to be the Killian family. I don’t know what Aaron’s endgame is, but I can tell that he isn’t supportive of this empire.”

“Although I’m sure you have noticed already, Duke Killian is resentful of your father, Draxia bel Grace. There were already too many eyes on the Killian Family, but your father’s deeds meant that the family had a son-in-law who was judged for high treason.”

The former Duke Killian had made Draxia his son-in-law for one clear goal: to elevate the Killian family even further by becoming one with the imperial family. However, the choice had dragged the Killians into the aftermath of Draxia’s treason.

“Using Draxia as a justification, Grand Duke Lucifer took many women of the Killian family to the palace as hostages.”

If that’s all it took for the entire family to hate Father, they’re awfully petty. The fate of a prince who fails to claim the throne is obvious; they should have blamed themselves for their poor judgment,” Anna grumbled. She couldn’t help but side with her father—after all, blood is thicker than water.

“Have you ever wondered why Duke Killian is trying so hard to win over Thran?” Arash suddenly asked.

“Huh?”

“To put it simply, it’s because he wants to achieve the most benefits with the minimum amount of casualties.”

Anna frowned. “You know, I’m not as good at scheming as you, so can you explain this in a way I can understand?”

“The Flame Emperor used to be called the Knight of Red Flame when he was just a knight, but then he became the king of Thran.”

“So?”

“Perhaps Duke Killian thinks that he has a chance in such an open-minded country even though he’s a duke from a foreign country.”

“Wait a minute…” Anna’s lip trembled. She knew Aaron del Killian was meticulous, but this was much more than Anna had expected.

“Swallow is the evil empire that executed Thran’s beloved king, so once Duke Killian drives out the empire and helps Thran gain independence before building an entirely new government…”

“...Not only does he have a chance of seizing the throne, but he’ll also be able to unite Thran and Swallow, just as the empire wanted for a long time.”

“Yes! An entirely new country will be built. If the one who sits on the throne avenged the Flame Emperor, the people of Thran will surely be—”

“If you saw all that coming, why did you poison the Flame Emperor!?”

“…I made a promise with the Flame Emperor before his death. The truth is, he was the one who asked me to poison him.”

Anna\'s eyes widened in shock. “...Why would Ulabis ask for that?”

“He sacrificed himself for Thran,” Arash responded.

“What are you talking about?”

“He sacrificed himself to become the flame to guide the people of Thran. The Flame Emperor indeed.” Her voice took on a bitter tinge as she reminisced. “…He may have been from a different country, but I have to admit that he was a remarkable man.”

Anna got the impression that there was more to Ulabis’s death.

‘If this is true, I don’t need to take revenge on Kireua’s behalf…’

“We’ve spent quite a long time here. Why don’t you continue the work on the golems?” Arash suggested.

“…Huh?”

“It’s the worst possible scenario, but there is a chance that these golems may not respond to your blood.”

Anna flinched and turned nervously toward the golems.

*

Duke Voltaire and some other nobles were standing near the entrance of the palace’s secret vault.

“How long do we have to wait here?!” the duke shouted when his nerves boiled over. If it wasn’t for the damned rules, Voltaire would have marched into the vault long ago. He bit his lip. “It’s already been three hours. Did something happen? I’ll just go in and check—”

“Wh-Why don’t you calm down, Your Grace? Only a bel Grace can enter the vault, and it’s unwise to do something right now that Duke Killian could find fault in.”

“Are you asking me to kiss up and walk on eggshells around him?!” Voltaire roared.

“No… We’re just worried. All of us know how much you sacrifice for the empire, so we don’t want to give anyone an excuse to interpret your sincerity in another way.”

Volaire’s closest allies knew exactly how to handle him.

“Besides… you know that it’ll be difficult to take on the Killian Family without the Vaikals,” one of Voltaire’s allies whispered to him.

“Fuck.” Voltaire gritted his teeth. “I don’t know how strong those Vaikals are, but if they can’t meet my expectations…”

“Even if they can’t, our only choice right now is to hope. We can think of a solution afterward.”

Kireua chuckled. Despite the distance, he could hear their entire conversation thanks to his razor sharp senses.

However, it got on Voltaire’s nerves.

“…Hey, what’s so funny?”

“Do people need permission to laugh in Swallow?”

“You’re a prince from another country, so why are you here in the first place!?”

“I have your empress’s permission. Do you have a problem with that?” Kireua scoffed.

Voltaire was ready to unleash his murderous energy when he abruptly stopped, the end of his mouth curling into a smirk for some reason.

“They say the Martial God has everything, but I can’t help but pity him. Children turn out the way their parents least expect them to, but you…”

“What?”

“His country could fall any day now, but his son is busy with women in another country… He must be frustrated as hell right now.”

“...Busy with women?” he repeated. Kireua’s eyes turned cold because Voltaire’s insult was directed not only at him but also at his entire family.

“Why? Did I hit home?” Voltaire grinned.

The nearby nobles covered their mouths so as not to burst into laughter. However, Kireua wasn’t an easy opponent. He quickly regained his composure and struck back.

“…Well… I guess chasing women is better than being a dog with his tail between his legs; at least I’m still human.”

“A dog?”

“You couldn’t handle your problems on your own, so you had to go find a new owner and show your belly to get her to clean up your messes.”

“You son of a—!”

The moment Voltaire was about to blow his top, two women slowly walked out of the vault.

“What?” Anna tilted her head. “Are you guys fighting?”

Everyone’s heads swiveled toward them.

“Yo-Your Majesty! And Fox Master!” Voltaire stammered.

“…Anna,” Kireua quietly said.

Anna walked toward Kireua without so much as a glance toward the other people. “Were you worried about me?”

“…Not really.”

“Try to be more honest.” Anna smiled and jokingly pinched Kireua’s cheek.

Kireua frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Stop fighting. Let’s go; we don’t have time to waste here.”

“...Where are we going?”

Anna gave Kireua the last answer he expected.

“Avalon.”

“What?” Kireua gaped at her.

“You’re worried about your country, aren’t you?”

Kireua came to his senses.

“But you—no, Your Majesty, but you are—”

“You can talk like you used to.” Anna giggled. “What you want to say is that I have to focus on sorting out my internal affairs and take care of Hubalt, yes?”

When Kireua nodded, Anna grinned. She raised her voice as if she wanted everyone to hear her.

“No emperor in the world actually goes out to a battlefield. It’s all done by their generals and subjects! Ah, your father is an exception—he’s very unique.”

Anna’s remark was contradictory because the most active battlefield of the continent right now was at Avalon.

“S-So you’re going to Avalon with me?”

Anna glanced at Voltaire, who was about to burst into anger, and cheerfully answered, “Of course.”