SAML 50

Chapter : 50

He was insane. Stout was undeniably mad. The monster, which had shown signs even in his childhood, had grown into a colossal being. And yet, Stout smiled faintly.

Adelhart staggered backward, unable to believe it. Could a human really be this cruel?

“Brother… since when have you—”

“Since when, you ask?”

Stout lifted his glass and emptied it in one gulp.

“Since the day Father appointed me Crown Prince. That was the day I realized how heavy the burden of becoming Emperor truly is. And I thought… how I could become a truly great Emperor. I am not one to be lukewarm like Father.”

He set the empty glass on the table.

“Father is weak. He is led by the nobles and relies on heroes like Kaisa. But I will be different. I will be a true Emperor, and I will control Luikaron and this world with my own hands.”

“Do you… really think that is the role of an Emperor?”

“Of course.”

Stout’s gaze burned with madness.

“The strong rule. That is the law of this world. Kaisa was strong? Then he should have survived. But he lost to the Kraken. He lost to me. That’s all there is to it.”

Adelhart shook his head, confused and simultaneously terrified. Stout would not hesitate to eliminate Adelhart if necessary. He realized that his own survival depended on his choice to become a knight.

“You… you are mistaken, brother. An Emperor is not the strongest, but one who serves the people.”

“Innocent,” Stout sneered.

“With such ideals, you cannot protect the Empire. You need power, Adelhart. Absolute power.”

“Is that why you manipulated Poseidon? How could you do such a thing! Poseidon is a machine that protects the entire Empire! If misused, Luikaron itself could have been endangered!”

“Don’t worry. It was temporary. I drained the energy and then restored it. My cute monster hates that device. I needed to buy time to summon the Kraken.”

Stout spoke calmly.

“Of course, I had to calculate the timing so the Kraken would move south during that brief period. We were lucky—it appeared exactly as the Blue Pigeon passed. Our little darling timed it perfectly.”

Stout was beyond reasoning. Adelhart realized that nothing he could say would reach him now.

“And recently, I used our little darling to pressure Siern. I had to confirm its presence there.”

“Impossible…”

“I drove the Bardanoses into Siern’s waters. They cannot defy the Kraken. See, Adelhart? I also rule the seas. Think carefully again—what power is, and what an Emperor must be.”

He stepped closer to Adelhart.

Stout grabbed Adelhart’s wrist—the one with the watch.

“You still wear this watch, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you remember our promise?”

“I do.”

‘As long as you do not surpass me, I will always be kind to you, Adelhart. I will live as your brother. Always.’

Stout smiled faintly.

“I am glad you still wear this watch. Adelhart, I feel you understand me. You are still my younger brother, aren’t you?”

“…Always.”

Adelhart swallowed and said with his eyes tightly shut:

“I will always be your brother.”

“Good boy.”

Stout let him go. Adelhart’s shadow stretched long as he staggered out of the palace. Only the stars in the night sky watched him.

He covered his face.

“Ha.”

The truth he faced was terrifying.

The next day, back in Zenemia’s office.

Adelhart recounted the previous night’s conversation to Roela and the others. Their faces turned pale. The Crown Prince was revealed as the mastermind behind everything. There was no turning back now.

Stopping Stout would require the strength of everyone together.

“The Crown Prince… really…”

Zenemia’s voice trembled.

“Yes. There is no doubt.”

Adelhart nodded. Miles spoke cautiously:

“But the Crown Prince is surely watching us already. We must be careful. And I think we all need to be honest with each other. If we are facing a dangerous fight, we must at least be able to trust one another.”

Miles looked toward Zenemia. She smiled awkwardly. He continued:

“You mean…? I—”

“…The portable Poseidon. I heard a massive ship has been built. It is a top-secret project of the Lorensia Grand Duke, still hidden from us?”

Zenemia froze for a moment.

Roela looked at him in surprise. Just when she thought nothing could shock her anymore, new revelations kept coming. The deeper they dug, the deeper the pit became.

“Zenemia… what do you mean?”

“I….”

Zenemia opened his mouth, then closed it. His gaze wavered. Miles placed several documents on the desk.

“This is a highly classified project by the Lorensia Grand Duke. A large ship equipped with portable Poseidon. Its name… is Atlas.”

Zenemia exhaled a long sigh. He seemed drained.

“How did you find out?”

“That is not important,” Miles replied calmly.

“The question is why it was hidden from us. I thought we were fighting for the same goal together.”

“I apologize,” Zenemia bowed his head.

“But this was… the Lorensia family’s top secret. It could not be revealed lightly. Even the Grand Duke’s permission was not obtained.”

“Tell us now. Has it succeeded?”

Roela spoke gently but firmly. Zenemia remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

“The Atlas project… has been prepared by the Grand Duke’s house for the past ten years. After many failures… yes, it has succeeded. A ship equipped with portable Poseidon is ready. The portable Poseidon differs from the fixed version. Once charged, it can operate for about three months. However, it is not fully charged now, so it can cross the Monster Sea only once. If the Grand Duke is not in Siern, we cannot return.”

Zenemia continued:

“The Atlas can carry more than 500 people, with sufficient food and weapons. The Grand Duke called this the future of Luikaron.”

“Why was such a great thing hidden?”

Miles’s gaze met Adelhart’s. Adelhart looked away. He did not need to hear the answer to understand.

“If the royal family knew, they would seize it.”

Roela’s eyes sparkled. That was not the important part. What mattered was that the ship could sail—right now if needed.

“So, does this mean we can reach Siern?”

“Theoretically, yes.”

Roela’s face lit up with joy. If they could reach Siern by any means, and meet Milena there!

“Your Highness, then did the Crown Prince have confirmation that the Grand Duke is in Siern?”

Adelhart nodded in response to Zenemia’s question.

“…The Bardanoses’ attack was orchestrated by your brother. And Duke Kaisa saved Siern from them. So he must be there.”