Chapter 22
“Have you come to see His Holiness the Holy Emperor?”
“Uh-huh, yeees.”
But Killian’s shamelessness was no less than this prince’s. Even with the prince’s sudden appearance, he faced him without a flicker of emotion.
And that, while standing in front of a bleeding woman.
‘At least the worst is avoided for now?’
Killian must not harm that woman here. Although the process differed slightly from the original story, the outcome was the same—Killian used his divine power.
‘Originally, that woman gives false testimony about this situation later, but now that the prince has shown up, she won’t be able to—awkward for her.’
The woman’s complexion turned even paler at the prince’s arrival as she tried to retreat. The quick-witted prince swiftly reached out and grabbed her.
“Huh? But is that person okay? She looks hurt!”
The woman who had been sneaking away flinched and froze in place.
‘Yes! That’s it! Good job, Cotton Candy!’
Hidden in the bushes, Elshunaine cheered silently.
At the prince’s words, Killian looked down at the ground. The woman, who had been slowly retreating, shrank back with a gasp.
BOOM!
FWOOOOSH!
At that moment, a bright red light burst in the sky with a loud pop like fireworks. Seeing the light, both Killian and the young prince’s expressions changed.
In the palace, lights exploding into the sky were almost always bad news.
Especially red—it signaled that the Holy Emperor’s life was in danger.
“Seize the one who attempted to assassinate His Holiness!”
As if waiting for that signal, soldiers stormed into the garden.
Killian was instantly surrounded.
* * *
“Hahaha! White Mask actually said that?”
The Crown Prince of the Holy Empire laughed heartily. A noble who had been buttering him up eagerly responded.
“Yes, indeed! White Mask said he wanted to meet Your Highness at all costs!”
The Crown Prince smiled joyfully on the outside, but his thoughts were cold as ice.
‘Fool. Making up stories like that.’
There’s a proper way to flatter someone. Playing along with an obvious lie was just annoying.
Crown Prince Seamus suppressed his rising irritation and thought about the incident that was about to unfold. A sly smile crept across his lips.
The noble misread the smile and chuckled, trying to flatter him further, but Seamus let it pass in one ear and out the other.
Since the Holy Emperor collapsed, the empire was practically within Seamus’s grasp.
So it was only natural that nobles were lining up to gain his favor.
‘But that man…’
Even though everything seemed to be going his way, there was one variable.
Killian Haunbert—the head of the prestigious House of Haunbert and the guardian who saved the continent from the demons eight years ago.
‘If only that guy didn’t exist…’
Seamus clenched his teeth, though no one could see. Even if rage was boiling inside him, he could still smile benevolently on the outside. He commended himself for it while smoothly engaging with the nobles.
‘He’s the problem.’
The Aetherna Holy Empire was currently divided into two major factions—the noble faction supporting Seamus, and the church faction supporting Killian.
As a Holy Empire, the church’s power was immense.
‘Damn it. If it weren’t for the Saintess, I would’ve defeated the demons! Then the church would’ve backed me!’
In the Holy Empire, being royalty didn’t guarantee succession.
The next Holy Emperor had to have the church’s support.
Until now, the imperial family had always received that support without issue, but Seamus was the exception.
When the continent was on the brink of ruin, it was saved by the Saintess and the Guardians—Elshunaine of Purification, Ashurey the Silver Mage, and Peridot the Divine Archer.
The power of the Five Stars was strong enough to easily push aside the Crown Prince, who had done nothing.
At the time, Seamus had hoped to be appointed as a Holy Priest in place of the Saintess, but his wish didn’t come true.
The divine chose the Saintess.
‘Thankfully, she died…’
Killian drew the holy sword and vanished with the Saintess. People still believed she was alive, as no new Saintess or Holy Priest had been chosen yet.
‘She’s definitely dead. Hmph.’
But Seamus was sure she had died.
Just before the continent was fully overrun by demons, Seamus had been at the ancient castle where the holy sword lay dormant.
‘The Saintess sacrificed herself… and Elshunaine left Killian.’
He was one of the few who had seen that scene firsthand.
After Elshunaine disappeared, it was Seamus who clung to Killian’s pants, begging him to defeat the demons.
At that moment, he just wanted to survive.
And the next thing he remembered…
‘Pure white.’
When his vision went entirely white, he felt the hand of God.
It was a sensation felt by every living being on the continent simultaneously.
A miracle.
After that white moment, the demons vanished in an instant.
People were filled with indescribable reverence—and the object of that reverence was Killian.
So even if Killian went mad after Elshunaine’s departure, people still respected him. But Seamus couldn’t.
‘Why must someone who doesn’t even want the throne…!’
Seamus resented the fact that this had to happen during his time.
He couldn’t stand that the one threatening his succession was a former illegitimate child of House Haunbert—someone he once looked down on.
So he orchestrated this day.
BOOM!
FWOOOOSH!
“Kyaaa!”
“Gasp! Wh-What is happening?!”
Suddenly, a red light flashed in the sky outside the window. At the same time, soldiers burst into the banquet hall, as if on cue.
“Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!”
They quickly surrounded Seamus, forming a protective formation.
Seamus raised his voice in a stern tone.
“What are you doing?! His Holiness’s life is in danger! Don’t protect me—go!”
His voice came out sounding more authoritative than he expected. He smirked inwardly, pleased.
“S-Sorry, sir!”
“Don’t worry about me. Go to the Holy Palace! And bring the Chief Court Mage!”
Even amid the chaos, the surrounding nobles looked at him in admiration. Seamus enjoyed their gazes and busied himself with pretending to give urgent orders.
“We’ve captured the one who tried to assassinate His Holiness!”
Everything was going according to plan.
The red light in the sky caused a stir even among the citizens who had gathered for the New Year Festival outside the palace.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh my god! I heard from someone I know in the palace…!”
“And?”
“They say the Guardian tried to kill His Holiness!”
“What! Is that true?”
“I’m telling you, yes!”
Seamus’s planted informants rushed around, spreading the story like wildfire.
It was all a lie, of course—but that didn’t stop it.
“That can’t be true!”
“The Guardian would never!”
“Exactly!”
Most citizens refused to believe the claim. But then someone added:
“Apparently, His Holiness… cherished Elshunaine…!”
“……!”
Everyone in the empire knew how much Killian treasured Elshunaine.
Seamus’s plan was simple:
If Killian used his divine power to save a woman disguised as Elshunaine, Seamus would capture him and then secretly kill the woman. He would frame Killian for trying to kill the Holy Emperor out of rage over Elshunaine’s death.
Watching the people’s confusion, Seamus smiled in satisfaction.
‘No doubt he ran away in panic.’
Even Killian couldn’t do anything in this situation.
Seamus used the Court Mage’s amplification to make his voice heard all the way to the crowds outside the palace.
“This is a tragic incident! But in times like this, we must stay strong!”
He took a deep breath and continued.
“Knights of the palace, go immediately and capture the criminal Killian Haunbert! Bring him before me!”
Everyone knew the knights couldn’t possibly defeat Killian, but Seamus said it deliberately.
“If he still cares about this empire, even a little, he’ll surrender!”
Knowing Killian’s uncompromising nature, Seamus was sure he wouldn’t.
He raised his hand with a smirk, basking in the crowd’s gaze from the imperial terrace where the Holy Emperor usually stood.
Taking a deep breath, he shouted:
“In the name of Crown Prince Seamus, I command—!”
“Waaah!”
A baby’s whiny cry suddenly echoed loudly.
Seamus couldn’t hide his twisted expression. His majestic moment had just been drowned out by a toddler.
‘What the hell!’
Suppressing a curse, he looked down. There stood a very familiar child looking up at him.
It was Prince Chiran.
“Chiran…? What are you doing here, Prince? This is no place for you! And you brought a maid?”
Seamus glanced at the brown-haired maid standing behind Chiran. She had entered the banquet earlier with him.
‘A maid I’ve never seen before.’
Seamus’s magically amplified voice was echoing throughout the palace.
The young prince’s voice rang just as clearly.
“We don’t need to look for the Guardian!”
“What?”
“He’s right here!”
At those words, the noisy area fell into complete silence. Just as he said, Killian walked in from behind the terrace with steady footsteps.
The woman Seamus had planted followed, shoulders hunched.
Seamus’s pupils shook violently.
‘What… what is going on?!’
