Chapter 54
“W-What is this nonsense?!”
Philios Regalo’s bedchamber.
Having just regained consciousness after being unconscious for nearly a full day, Philios was horrified as he read the newspaper the servant had brought him.
[Lady Catrin Elemoer! Showcases outstanding skill by slaying a black bear…]
The sides of the newspaper, clenched tightly in his hands, were crumpled beyond recognition.
Catrin Elemoer?
She caught a bear at the hunting festival?
“T-That’s absolutely ridiculous!”
He’d heard she could shoot a bow to some extent, sure—but slaying a black bear, outshining skilled knights? No way.
Yet the headline was clear.
It stated that although Prince Etias had officially won the hunt, it was Lady Catrin who felled the black bear and had received great praise from the Emperor for her feat.
It was likely an article distributed from the Emperor’s faction, minimizing Etias’s victory while lavishly celebrating the achievements of Catrin Elemoer, who was aligned with the Imperial camp.
[By order of His Majesty the Emperor—Lady Catrin Elemoer scheduled to inherit her noble title.]
“That damned Etias must’ve teamed up with her. They’re in it together!”
He could feel it in his bones. Why couldn’t these fools writing such articles see what was really going on?
Even back when he’d been throttled at Etias’s residence—or stomped unconscious by Systina—he knew.
Something was going on between Etias and Catrin.
Philios, flushed with rage, stopped when his eyes caught another headline below.
[Philios Regalo eliminated mid-hunt—discovered unconscious and half-naked…]
A small article, but the headline was humiliating.
“Damn it all!”
Gripping his head, he let out a snort of frustration.
He began recalling the moments before he fainted.
He had been searching for Catrin.
Why? Naturally, to kill her.
With his collapsing household on the brink of ruin, the only way to rise again was to seize her wealth.
Even the teary-eyed apology he had forced himself to offer her had been just a ruse—to lower her guard.
But sharp-witted Catrin had not fallen for it for a second.
Then, just after Prince Etias had passed by him, an overwhelming number of wolves suddenly began to chase him.
Had he not been wearing several layers of thickly padded protective gear, he would’ve been torn to shreds.
He kept running, endlessly pursued, until he finally collapsed near the hunting grounds’ entrance.
The last thing he remembered was a few noble ladies gathered in the distance, screaming when they saw him nearly naked.
“…!”
Philios suddenly clutched at his chest as if to shield himself.
His face twisted, his voice rising to a whimpering rage.
“Damn it, could that have been part of their scheme too? Etias and that woman?!”
Just as he began to piece together the threads of truth, grinding his teeth in frustration, the bedroom door burst open and several people rushed in.
Startled by the official uniforms, Philios flinched.
One stern-looking man gave the order:
“Philios Regalo. By order of His Majesty, you are under arrest for stealing an imperial possession.”
“W-What?! Wha…?”
Philios froze, barely able to comprehend the words.
“His Majesty’s wolf lure was stolen during the hunt. It was found in your possession. The Emperor is furious.”
“…Wolf lure? You’re saying someone put it on me?! That’s why the wolves—!”
“How many crimes have you committed lately? Do you really think such excuses will work now?”
At that, a swarm of imperial guards pushed forward, forcefully restraining Philios by both arms.
“Wait! I didn’t steal it—it was planted on me! The real culprit—someone else did it!”
But his screams were in vain.
Philios Regalo was dragged away like a common criminal.
***
A shadow lingered over Etias’s face as he approached the imperial training grounds under heavy guard.
He stopped just outside the imperial arena.
Today was the day of the sparring match, hastily organized under the Emperor’s name to bolster his image.
Due to the Emperor’s tight schedule, the match was conveniently scheduled for the day right after the hunting festival.
It was an obvious ploy to deny Etias any chance to rest after running around the vast hunting grounds all day.
Etias’s role today was clear…
“Urgh…”
To drag his wounded body into the arena, wield a sword unsteadily, and lose to the Emperor.
He recalled being fifteen, topping every subject at the academy and earning a headline in the papers.
Back then, too, the Emperor had staged one of these matches as a supposed “congratulatory” gesture.
Even then, he had been drugged before the duel.
His vision had tripled, and he couldn’t even swing his sword properly.
“I heard you’re smart with books, but your swordsmanship is laughable—ha ha ha!”
The Emperor wanted his nephew—who would have been heir to the throne if he hadn’t usurped it—to be mocked by the people.
This was all to prove, through these humiliating duels, that he was the rightful ruler.
And of course, always by the most underhanded, one-sided means.
Still, Etias could not defy a royal command.
Not yet. For now, he could only keep his head down and endure the beating.
“Kgh…”
Just before entering, a wave of dizziness and a pounding headache hit him.
The soldier had handed him a drink, saying it was a gift from the Emperor. The effects of the drug were now fully kicking in.
He could feel it—it was twice as strong as last time.
Etias barely held himself together and staggered into the waiting room.
He couldn’t collapse before he even stepped into the arena.
Some soldiers glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, their expressions laced with mockery.
One of them brought him a set of old, flimsy armor.
Once he put it on, Etias looked like less than a vagabond mercenary.
Still, his strikingly handsome face made him stand out more than anyone else.
From outside, the deafening drumbeat signaled the start of the duel.
Etias wiped the cold sweat from his brow and began walking slowly toward the door that led to the arena.
Just as he was about to step in front of the crowd—
He felt a hand grab his arm.
“…?”
Etias turned, scowling from the effort.
His gaze flickered.
“Your Highness.”
The one holding him was none other than Catrin Elemoer.
Facing her awkward smile, Etias’s blue eyes wavered.
“…Haa.”
Catrin sighed softly, her expression composed.
“You should’ve found a way to refuse this match. Don’t let your pride get in the way.”
At her words, the corner of Etias’s mouth curled faintly.
Why was he smiling while drugged?
Startled by how dazzling he looked even under these circumstances, Catrin quickly composed herself and spoke again.
“This match is too boring to watch, so take this as a favor. Sure, His Majesty will win anyway—but at least make it dramatic.”
In her hand was an antidote—hurriedly made through Elma Pharmaceuticals.
It was a detoxifier for paralysis, meant to help him regain some condition.
But Etias simply grasped her hand—the one holding the vial—and gently pushed it away.
Catrin stared at him in disbelief.
“It’s not some strange medicine. Please, just—”
“Catrin.”
But then Etias bowed his head and rested his forehead lightly against her shoulder.
Startled, Catrin flinched and froze.
His cool scent tickled her nose.
“I can’t.”
His soft baritone voice pierced right into her chest.
Like a gentle warning, it stopped her hand in place again.
Slowly, Etias raised his head and met her eyes.
“You don’t want to get caught, do you?”
“…!”
Unlike the shaded hunting grounds, this arena was filled with watchful eyes.
If Etias suddenly appeared clear-headed and ready to fight, it would be obvious someone had helped him—and the Emperor would quickly suspect who.
His low, piercing voice shook her violet eyes.
Etias offered her a faint smile.
Then, staggering slightly, he turned and walked away.
Catrin’s heart pounded uncontrollably.
“Waaaahhhhhh!”
As Etias stepped into the arena alone, the soldiers’ shouts echoed across the field.
Even though Catrin’s dazed gaze lingered on him from behind, he never looked back.
Ela está sendo bem burrinha pra quem não quer ser pega pelo imperador
Kkkkk verdade! Ela está arriscando demais 😅