Chapter 41

At night, in the living room, I was linking the four bodies—Leviathan, Rutiya, Fuwawa, and Behemoth—to my armor ring and having them engage in a mock battle.

Leviathan was still the strongest, with Rutiya and Behemoth being about the same, and Fuwawa lagging slightly behind.

After a few rounds, just as I was thinking that their levels might be about to rise, there was a knock on the door, and the maid Cecily came in.

"Sorry to disturb you so late. A woman wishes to see you, sir."

"A woman? What's her name?"

"She calls herself Olivia Coil."

"Olivia Coil."

I rolled the name Cecily had given me around on my tongue.

It was a name I didn't recognize; I had never met a woman with that name.

But her visit at this late hour was intriguing.

If she were just anyone, Cecily, whom Evelyn had raised and whom I had chosen to handle guests, would have turned her away at the door.

The fact that she came to me at this hour suggests that she must be of some standing.

"Alright, let her in."

"Yes, sir."

Cecily left, and after a while, a woman entered.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, a strikingly beautiful woman.

Olivia Coil stood before me and bowed according to proper etiquette.

"Olivia, what brings you here at this hour?"

"I have come to inform you of a conspiracy."

"..."

I maintained a calm demeanor.

Conspiracy.

The moment I heard that word, a very bad feeling and a series of grim thoughts raced through my mind.

I tried not to show it and asked again.

"What kind of conspiracy?"

"Prince Albert is planning a coup tonight and intends to force the emperor to abdicate."

"---!"

I couldn't remain calm.

So it finally happened.

But wait, it's not confirmed yet.

I glared at Olivia and asked again.

"How do you know this?"

"I am the daughter of Gilbert's butler, Coil."

"Butler Coil!"

I remembered.

Coil, who had been the butler at Gilbert's mansion for years, whom I would see every time I visited.

His daughter—

"Are you a servant's child?"

"Yes."

Olivia nodded.

A servant's child. As the term suggests, a child born to servants of the prince.

It's not uncommon for a lord to arrange marriages for his subordinates, and to strengthen bonds, it's common to marry servants to each other.

Children born to married servants are servants from birth, making it easier for them to swear absolute loyalty to the royal family, as they are raised in such an environment.

"I know the story. The thirteenth prince tried to save Gilbert, but Albert—"

Olivia stopped there and bit her lower lip.

She was biting it so hard that blood was seeping through.

I hadn't received a report, but I understood that Coil must have known about it at the time.

"I vowed to take revenge. Fortunately, the crown prince took a liking to me, so I infiltrated his inner circle."

"A woman's weapon, I see."

"Yes. He hasn't grown tired of me yet, so recently, the frequency has increased, and I am the only one. That's where I heard it."

Olivia took a deep breath and continued with a more serious expression.

"The official decree of disinheritance hasn't been issued yet, but it will be too late once it is. Even now, the crown prince can use his power to mobilize enough troops to seize the palace."

"What does he plan to do with the emperor?"

"Force him to abdicate and become a retired emperor."

"..."

Indeed, Albert.

He should have understood from the way the eunuchs were "secretly" dealt with.

The emperor doesn't want to cause a commotion, and he wants to spare your life.

Yet, you're planning a coup...

"I beg you!"

Olivia knelt down and prostrated herself before me.

"I'll do anything! Anything I can do, I'll do. My body, my life! Use them as you see fit. Please! The head of the crown prince—Albert!"

"..."

I sighed and gently helped Olivia up.

"Anything is fine. What did you do at Gilbert's place?"

"I was a butler's apprentice under my father."

"Do the same here. I'll pay you a similar salary."

"Why such generous treatment..."

"You tried to avenge your lord, showing loyalty even after his death. I value that."

"..."

Olivia looked at me with gratitude.

At the same time, the status that always appears in the corner of my vision changed.

----------------

Name: Noah Ararat

Minister of the Law Prince

Gender: Male

Level: 3/∞

HP E+F Fire F+A

MP F+F Water E+S

Strength E+E Wind F+F

Stamina F+F Earth F+F

Intelligence F+E Light F+C

Spirit F+F Darkness F+F

Speed F+F

Dexterity F+F

Luck F+F

----------------

Darkness gained a "+".

This was proof that Olivia had submitted to me, acknowledging me in her heart.

☆

I left the mansion with Olivia and headed to the Ministry of Military Affairs in the eastern part of the city.

Next to the ministry was a barracks where 1,000 soldiers were always stationed.

Due to their permanent presence, they are trained to follow the orders of any commanding officer without hesitation.

Since the decree of disinheritance hasn't been made public, the crown prince, who is almost an emperor, can easily mobilize them.

When we arrived, the soldiers were already assembled and lined up in the courtyard of the barracks, with Crown Prince Albert and a few subordinates in charge.

"Brother!"

"Noah? What are you doing here?"

"Stop, brother, it's not too late."

"..."

Albert, being who he is, understood everything from a brief exchange.

"Such matters are irrelevant, brother. Taking that step will lead to your downfall."

"Are you telling me to sit and die?"

"The emperor doesn't want to kill you; he is pained by the thought of executing his son."

"So you're telling me to accept being a prince!"

"..."

To accept.

That one word spoke volumes about the difference in values, a gap that couldn't be bridged.

To the common people, a prince is already a lofty and revered figure.

But for Albert, the crown prince, being "demoted" to a prince is tantamount to death.

"Are you determined to stop me?"

"Yes."

"Understood—seize Noah! He is a traitor!"

Albert ordered the soldiers.

The 1,000 soldiers moved towards me without hesitation.

I quickly pulled out Leviathan from my armband.

1,000 people... can I defeat them all?

I don't know, but I have to try!

'Leave it to me. Call my name.'

A voice echoed in my head.

A familiar voice, but clearer than before.

And a name I hadn't thought of before surfaced in my mind.

Without hesitation, I called out that name.

"Do it, Rutiya—no, Bahamut!!"

Instantly, a silhouette appeared behind me.

A black dragon with massive wings, enveloped in flames.

----------------

Name: Noah Ararat

Minister of the Law Prince

Gender: Male

Level: 3/∞

HP E+F Fire F+A

MP F+F Water E+S

Strength E+E Wind F+F

Stamina F+F Earth F+F

Intelligence F+E Light F+C

Spirit F+F Darkness F+F

Speed F+F

Dexterity F+F

Luck F+F

----------------

At the same time, Fire became even stronger.

The black dragon Bahamut = Rutiya spewed flames from its mouth.

The flames engulfed the soldiers, quickly setting them ablaze.

The soldiers writhed in pain, dropping their weapons and rolling on the ground.

"That's enough, don't kill them."

'Understood.'

The flames disappeared as Bahamut answered.

The smoky air and the ring of Rutiya, now glowing brighter than ever, told the story of what had just happened.

The relationship between Rutiya and Bahamut, and probably the one I heard before with Leviathan, but I didn't have time to delve into it now.

I turned to Albert, who was in shock.

"It's over."

"Are you going to kill me, you?"

"No."

I shook my head.

"I won't kill you; it would sadden the emperor. He is already pained by the thought of executing his son, and he would surely be saddened by a fight. Therefore—"

I took a small vial from my pocket.

"---Poison?"

"Yes. Drink this and commit suicide. If you do, your family and subordinates won't be implicated. Your eldest son can continue to lead the family."

"Are you kidding me! I can't do that!"

"If I act, your family will be destroyed."

"That won't happen! Foster! Howard! Seize this traitor!"

Albert shouted, ordering the two subordinates next to him.

They were strong, I could tell at a glance.

I wondered if I could win—then, in the next moment—

The two men grabbed Albert from both sides!

"What are you doing, you fools!"

"We can't follow you anymore."

"Noah still cares about your family and subordinates. What about you?"

"What are you talking about! Don't listen to his lies!"

"Shut up!"

One of the men who had grabbed Albert shouted.

"Do you remember the 120 people sacrificed to unseal Leviathan when you first got it?"

120 people... the number rang a bell.

Albert had said that 120 people were sacrificed just to obtain Leviathan.

"My brother was among them! My childhood friend too!"

"My father was there too!"

Foster and Howard shouted at Albert, their voices filled with rage.

"We can't follow you anymore!"

"Noah."

I couldn't tell which one it was, but one of them called out to me with a determined voice, though slightly calmer.

"Crown Prince Albert has decided to commit suicide."

"Understood. Olivia."

"Yes."

Olivia, whom I had brought and who had been hiding in the shadows, stepped forward.

"You do it."

"Thank you!"

Olivia bowed to me with tears in her eyes, took the vial, and approached Albert.

"Are you kidding, you traitor! Have you forgotten the kindness I showed you!"

Albert shouted, but Olivia was unfazed.

She moved closer, and Foster and Howard forced Albert's mouth open.

The three of them worked together to force the poison I had brought into Albert's mouth.

Albert resisted for a while, but soon his resistance turned into convulsions, and he rolled his eyes, foaming and bleeding at the mouth.

Eventually, he lost strength, and the two men laid Albert's body on the ground.

"Noah."

"Prince Albert has committed suicide."

"Yes."

I summarized the plan I had formulated while forcing the poison down Albert's throat.

"Brother tried to stage a coup, but a servant's tip-off led to his failure. Fearing exposure, he committed suicide. According to imperial law, the informant will be rewarded, and the other servants will not be punished. I will advise the emperor to allow your eldest son to inherit the family, as I mentioned earlier."

"Thank you, thank you!"

Howard and Foster knelt before me, bowing their heads.

----------------

Name: Noah Ararat

Minister of the Law Prince

Gender: Male

Level: 3/∞

HP E+E Fire F+A

MP F+E Water E+S

Strength E+E Wind F+F

Stamina F+E Earth F+F

Intelligence F+E Light F+C

Spirit F+E Darkness F+F

Speed F+E

Dexterity F+E

Luck F+E

----------------

The "+" in my abilities increased, and all my base abilities went from F to E.

The two men were indeed quite strong.

Albert, who had been abandoned by them...

Indeed... people are treasures.

Albert, who had disrespected his people, would never have succeeded in a coup.

Thus, Gilbert and Albert, who had coveted the throne and were willing to assassinate the emperor to obtain it, were gone.

The emperor's reign entered a new chapter, a new story.