Chapter 67

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Chapter 67

As he woke up early that morning, Albert sat on the desk and listened to Mercy’s frustrations.

[ That guy ordered me to gather the troops, but does he think the magic tower is still on his side? Wow, after he harassed all the mages? He doesn’t seem to be tired at all, huh. ]

Even though he could only hear her from the wand, Albert could imagine the dark circles under Mercy’s eyes from her tired voice. He smirked.

“The nightmare he was shown must have been vivid.”

The power that dragons produced during their death was enormous. Since the dragon had wished for a miserable end for Marquis Evnen, then he would have also swept Rosteratu into it since he was the marquis’ most influential backer and source of power.

[ It will be tomorrow, sire. We’ll be heading towards the tower where Your Highness is, at daybreak, 5 A.M. ]

Time had flown by, and it was finally the moment to face Rosteratu. Albert twirled the wand in his hand. He looked too relaxed for a person who’s supposedly about to have such a battle.

“The plan of coming to the tower. Did he explain what he’s going to do?”

[ No, sire. We were barely told the plan as if we weren’t trusted completely. Of course. ]

Although he was the king who’d gone mad and called in countless soldiers and nobles, he still knew how to distinguish between his enemies and his allies.

It’s said that the former lord of the magic tower was like a loyal dog to him, but now it was different.

Rosteratu was now using the mages as leverage against Mercy, but to some extent, he was still keeping a strict line between them. If he relied too much on the mages, then the damage that would come back to him would be immense if he would be betrayed in the end.

Albert nodded. This was as expected. That king had always been suspicious of others.

“So your mission is to open the tower.”

[ Yes, that’s what we’re going to do now. ]

The mages were now leaving the magic tower and were headed to the palace. This was to speed up the time they’d need tomorrow to come to the tower where Albert was.

Beyond Mercy’s words, the buzzing sound of the soldiers’ voices could also be heard. They were saying things like how they’re on their way to punish the prince, the source of evil, and they were boosting their morale by saying that they were warriors off to do their noble duty.

[ Isn’t it embarrassing that he’s taking so many soldiers? ]

“We all know he’s crazy, but this isn’t just about his fear. He’s planning to use me perfectly until the end.”

Calling in too many troops wasn’t just so they could be used to attack Albert. They would also serve as an adequate audience to the prince’s demise. The more people would see it, the greater the rumors would be and the faster they would spread.

“As expected, people don’t change that easily.”

Even when Albert was still in the palace, the current king had always been preoccupied with putting the prince down. The king was obsessed with vanity, and so he would always try to make a show out of completely crushing ‘Prince Albert’.

In any case, it’s been easy to predict Rosteratu’s next moves because of how consistently despicable he’s been throughout the years, so it’s not all bad.

[ I will have to join the fray tomorrow, sire. What should I do? ]

“He won’t come and pick me up personally. The tower is narrow, so there’s only so many soldiers he could bring in, that’s why he’ll send in mages. That’s where you’ll come in. ]

Mercy was one of Albert’s strongest retainers. If she were to show her support for him openly, she’d just be targeted by the soldiers.

However, if Mercy were to enter the tower with the excuse of dragging Albert out, then the story would change because they wouldn’t be able to see her. She’ll be the diversion in the tower to stall things, and that would give enough time for Liam to go to the palace.

“Be inconspicuous.”

[ Eyy, of course that goes without saying, Your Highness. ]

Mercy’s voice wavered a little. It seemed like she nodded.

[ Wow, I’ve always been wondering what the tower looks like, but I’m finally going to see it. ]

There was just one day left before the battle that Albert had been preparing for since the day he entered the tower, but it seemed like Mercy wasn’t nervous about it either. Albert narrowed his eyes.

“What of the illusion spell.”

[ We’ve prepared it and put it in place~ ]

Mercy replied with a delighted tone. Unlike the dragon’s nightmare, this kind of illusion magic to astonish people was Mercy’s specialty.

Mages tended to specialize in one area of magic according to their respective milieu and talents.

Anyway, Albert was firmly rooted here at the tower so that Rosteratu wouldn’t care about the royal palace.

The king was going to bring with him to the tower countless soldiers and the Order of the Eagle, which was the highest of the three chivalric orders serving the royal family. The other two chivalric orders were firmly guarding the palace.

The previous king had been a wise king, and so Rosteratu was benefiting greatly from that. The power of each chivalric order, which the previous king had established, was formidable.

Liam’s secret forces had outstanding talent, but they were greatly outnumbered. They had asked the other nobles to cooperate and send their forces as well, but they demanded to see Albert, who was still trapped in the tower, face-to-face first before aiding in the resistance.

In the end, it’s become a battle between speed and wits. Albert gave Liam intel on the palace’s underground passages.

Small numbers complimented covert military operations.

The mages, Liam and Schubert would hit the palace. Except for Mercy, the two mages who would assist Liam would be Icy and Fiery. Icy was the most brilliant mage in the magic tower when it came to frost magic, while Fiery was the best in flame magic.

In other words, the only people who would face Rosteratu and his 30,000 soldiers here at the tower were Mercy and Albert.

[ I just have to watch from the side, right? ]

Rosé had voiced her apprehension about the tower being surrounded by armed troops, but that was almost inconsequential.

There were two things that were important in any coup d’état.

First, occupy the palace.

Second, lop off the king’s head.

The second requirement needed a good reason behind it before it should be done. That’s why Albert revealed his past so that he could counter the rumors that Rosteratu had already sown before.

The rumors that Albert released outside had yet to reach the capital. So it must not have reached Rosteratu’s ears yet.

[ Miss Artius and I will watch from the tower, Your Highness. It’s been a while since I last saw you in action with your magic. ]

Albert smiled tilting his head to the side as he heard Mercy’s words. As he crossed his arms, there was not a single hint of fear in his countenance.

“You should work, too, you know.”

[ Your Highness can handle it all by yourself anyway. ]

“I don’t want to take the lives of those who are afraid.”

The moment he’d show his overwhelming power and kill Rosteratu, the other nobles wouldn’t dare stand against him.

No, even at the event that he’d be confronted, he was still confident about succeeding the throne. However, he didn’t want to take the innocent lives of those who were afraid.

He knew that a lot of blood would be spilt, but he still wanted to reduce the casualties as best as he could. Albert was a benevolent ruler.

[ Yes, I understand. ]

Mercy replied somewhat reluctantly. Her illusion magic could cripple many people at once.

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[ What about Miss Artius? ]

“The safest place she could be is with you at the tower.”

[ Please send us a sign once we can come out. ]

“Yes, you also have to speak after all. About how Rosé had been a great support to me while I was trapped in the tower.”

The first person Mercy would be meeting inside the tower wasn’t Albert, but Rosé.

Many people would be gathered here. Albert intended to take this opportunity to use the crowd as witnesses for Rosé.

The plan was smooth, and so there was nothing to worry about.

[ It’s amazing how things are going so smoothly. ]

The rebellion within the magic tower hadn’t been this smooth either. There was a traitor in the middle, and the battle that decided things had been brutal.

…But she had a hunch that, despite this coup being bigger than the one she had been in, it’s going to end up as just a one-sided pummeling.

And it was all because of just one person.

“We’ve prepared enough.”

Albert rested his chin on one hand and let out a slow exhale.

This, too, was the scariest thing about Albert Grey.

“Seems like our conversation can stop here.”

After hearing the necessary reports, Albert was about to end the call, but Mercy added one last thing as though it was an afterthought.

[ Ah, after everything’s settled, I’ll have to go back to the dungeon. ]

Mercy muttered with determination. She was talking about her imprisoned father.

To be more precise, the man… who had once been her father, but not anymore. He had already abandoned all his morals as a man and lived like a dog following Rosteratu’s every command. He had forgotten his dignity as a mage. And, because he couldn’t bear his daughter’s disgusted gaze towards him, he kept beating that child.

[ It’s time to burn bridges. ]

Ever since she became the lord of the magic tower, her disposition towards the former lord had become unyielding. However, she’d delayed meeting him so far. Mercy herself was surprised by this as well.

She thought she had gotten rid of all emotions tied to that man, but she still felt the vague emotions of love and hate surging within her. Because it was still true that he had once given her affection.

Mercy was in a dilemma. She wondered if she would even be able to slash the man’s neck.

Albert was giving her enough chances and enough time to do it, so Mercy was just waiting for the right time.

And here, it finally was. She realized it now. People wouldn’t change so easily, and neither would that man. If he would survive through this coup, he would just seek a chance to cut her own head off.

That’s why she would have her perfect revenge.

She would tell her father about how the corrupt world, which he was protecting so much, had collapsed.

She’d tell him how the coup had succeeded, that Albert had escaped from the tower his own father had trapped him in, and that he killed Rosteratu.

And, that the king her father used to serve was no more.

[ Still though, I guess it’d be better to kill him outright. ]

“Cutting off his head would bring him to death the soonest. Or, well, it doesn’t have to be like that. If you want him to be in pain, break his ribs one at a time.”

[ If I think about what kind of treatment he’s given me before, I’d love to do that… ]

They were talking about family, but these two people were indifferent. This kind of conversation was natural for them.

But then, Albert suddenly remembered Rosé.

“Family… how pointless.”

Rosé had talked about the time when she lost her family, as though it pained her so.

Because he couldn’t understand this feeling, perhaps that’s also why he couldn’t understand why she became a dragon’s contractor.

[ Sire? ]

As she didn’t understand what Albert was talking about, Mercy asked. But he answered calmly, narrowing his eyes.

“It seems like it’s also possible for one’s existence to be precious to someone else.”

His long eyelashes fluttered. After thinking about Rosé for a moment, he then recalled what he was supposed to ask.

“And the black magic Marquis Evnen had done?”

[ Ah, right. I got there at the right time, so I had the chance to search the mansion thoroughly. But how did Your Highness know? It was pretty well-hidden. ]

“Report.”

With no intention of answering her question, he just ordered her to deliver the report.

Mercy knew that Albert wouldn’t answer anyway even if she tried to ask again, so she shrugged and continued her report.

[ Marquis Evnen had offered children as sacrificial lambs in order to boost his own magical power. But it seems like after a few times, he gave up on it. ]

According to Rosteratu’s command to search the marquis’ residence, Mercy was there to search the mansion thoroughly.

She was also curious about it, since Albert hinted at it last time they met at the dungeon prison—that Marquis Evnen might have something to do with black magic.

Eventually, Mercy found an altar that had been hidden by the marquis’ magic. The sheer blood found on that altar was evidence enough that he had been in league with a dark mage.

[ But that’s all there is. It’s still unknown whether he’s hidden the rest of the evidence. ]

That’s all the proof she could find. No one knew about the involvement between Marquis Evnen and a dark mage. Or perhaps, it was more correct to say that they hadn’t been allowed to live.

Albert liked to deal with things neatly. He didn’t like how ambiguous it was now, but… if that dark mage still couldn’t be found until this day, then it was reasonable enough to think that they might not be alive anymore.

‘Then there’s nothing more to tie back to Rosé.’

The misdeeds that Marquis Evnen had spearheaded should be condemned, but it was fortunate enough how no one knew of the whereabouts of the dark mage, who might or might not be Rosé’s mentor.

As long as the truth about her being a dark mage would never be revealed, then it was fine.

Listening carefully to Mercy’s report, Albert let out a silent breath.

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Everything was going so smoothly.

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