Chapter 76

Let's go back a bit in time (>_<;)

The Kingdom of Marana, a little while back.

Recently, in this country, dark rumors have been rampant. It all started with an incident involving a princess from a neighboring country, an attempted poisoning of the Prince of Rubelia. Rubelia had been a friendly nation until then. However, this incident has certainly damaged the trust between them. Following this, Earl Lockbird, a distinguished noble, was exiled to a distant territory. Furthermore, it is rumored that the prince himself has been placed under house arrest and is likely to be disinherited soon. What is also suspicious is that the king, the ruler of the country, has not been seen in public for quite some time. What is truly happening in this country?

"I didn't expect it to come to this."

"Yes, but this is the reality of the country. Given our proximity, we cannot remain uninvolved."

"True. Still, it's concerning that we haven't seen the king... not just recently, but for a long time before that."

A man and a woman, dressed like commoners, blended in with the crowd. Despite the serious nature of their conversation, they held hands and smiled at each other. To anyone watching, they appeared to be a couple in love.

"So... when are you going to let go of my hand?"

"Your appearance and tone of voice are not appropriate, An."

An, the woman addressed, glared at the man as if he were something annoying. With her gray hair and black eyes, she looked like any other commoner at first glance. Normally, she served as a maid in the royal palace, but she had changed her appearance for this mission, giving her a more delicate look. To An, both personas were just disguises.

"Be mindful of time and place. Since we're alone here, it doesn't matter."

"Sure, sure."

This kind of banter was familiar to them. It was more like playful teasing. They had already confirmed that no one else was within earshot. Otherwise, she would have used a more ladylike tone.

"That's all the information we have for now. I'll take it back."

"What about me?"

"Stay here. We'll send reinforcements if needed."

"...Can I borrow a rat?"

An's eyes widened at his words. "Rat" was a code word. By asking to borrow one, he was suggesting something reckless, which made An sigh.

"Don't take unnecessary risks. Our future lord doesn't approve of us acting recklessly."

"He's quite lenient. Pawns are only useful when they are used."

"...You're quite something. Fine... Judo, I'll leave this to you."

"As you wish."

With that, An left, and Judo followed suit. He headed towards the main street leading to the castle, where many people had already gathered. Today was the day when the first princess of Marana, known for her beauty, was to be sent back to the convent. The proud Princess Karianne would not go quietly. According to their information, the carriage carrying the princess would be attacked by bandits on the way. Whether the purpose was to kill her or something else was unclear. However, it seemed that whoever planned this would not give the princess a chance to escape. Even though she was being sent to a prestigious church, a noble lady would not be treated roughly. Still, life in the convent would be vastly different from the palace, which might be why the princess was acting out.

"Still, Marana's Chancellor, Seinold Serian, is quite the remarkable figure. A commoner who rose from the military to become chancellor."

While he is despised by the nobility, his reputation among the commoners is high because he is a commoner himself. Most importantly, he advocated for and implemented the abolition of the slave trade, which had long been a problem in Marana. For those who had suffered under the slave system, this newfound freedom must be a cause for celebration. However, they are unaware of what is happening behind the scenes.

"Just abolishing the system doesn't mean it has disappeared. Only a few have been freed, while the rest are still traded in the black market. It's ridiculous that they haven't noticed. Or perhaps they are turning a blind eye."

The slave market was an important part of Marana's economy, especially for impoverished commoners. Some slaves even claimed they were treated well. The issue lies not with the system but with those who take them in and the country that forces people to rely on it. Without addressing the root cause, slavery will not disappear from Marana. The exile of Earl Lockbird, who controlled the black market, has had a significant impact on the nobility. While his son has taken over, it is unclear what kind of person he is. Will he follow in his father's footsteps or have a different approach?

Judo shook his head. It was not his role to consider such matters. This was a problem for Marana to solve. Despite his emotional involvement from working in intelligence, Judo served the Kingdom of Rubelia.

A luxurious carriage slowly came into view. Given the attempted poisoning of the Rubelia prince, it was regrettable that the princess was being sent in such a grand carriage. Although the poison was not real, the people of Marana were unaware of this. Many looked at the carriage with hostile expressions, and some even shouted insults. The guards would silence them with a glare, but it was understandable.

"How can she not feel guilty for trying to poison the prince of Rubelia... She's the worst."

"Typical of a princess. She probably thinks everyone else is just decoration."

"Maybe she thought the prince was so handsome that she wanted to use him as an accessory."

"...Really, what does she think of people?"

"I thought she was better than the prince, who just plays around all day, but I guess all royals are like that."

"Shh, the soldiers will hear you."

"It's fine if they do. The chancellor wouldn't do anything unreasonable."

"True. If only the chancellor could handle everything."

Listening to the conversations, Judo heard complaints about the royal family and trust in the chancellor. The prince had always been poorly regarded, and the princess, while more involved in state affairs, was still seen as better than the prince. The king was not even a topic of discussion.

"Could this be the chancellor's goal?"

If the attack on the princess was orchestrated by the chancellor, the remaining royals would be the king and the young prince and princess. The chancellor would undoubtedly take charge of the country during this time. But if that were the case, why target Prince Alvis of Rubelia? The chancellor could have eliminated him without causing problems in other countries. Why did he choose to involve Rubelia?

"I hope I'm overthinking this. I'll have to investigate the chancellor directly. Leader, I'm counting on you."

An... no, Judo's superior, one of the leaders of the Rubelia Kingdom's intelligence agency, received his thoughts.