Chapter 165: The Backstab Behind the Backstab (1)

The situation in the Mineta Kingdom was gradually being brought under control.

In the meantime, Prince Rasfer visited the annex where Deborah was staying.

“I’ll make you the queen of Mineta Kingdom. What do you think?”

At the sudden proposal, Deborah’s already furrowed brow deepened even further.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“As I said — you wanted to reclaim the kingdom anyway, didn’t you?”

“You’re still saying things that make no sense….”

“Did you really think His Majesty the King would manage the kingdom’s politics properly? It’s already collapsed beyond repair. Which means it won’t be difficult.”

“So you’re saying you’ve already made your move. What kind of scheme are you plotting?”

Deborah also sensed the unrest within the royal palace. However, with the servants keeping their mouths shut, she had no information.

Rasfer’s lips curled slightly as he watched her tilt her head.

“Won’t you join hands with me? This may be your first and last chance to bring down your enemy, Harlan Mineta.”

“Aren’t you on his side?”

Deborah was dumbfounded by the situation.

Even so, Rasfer continued speaking, unbothered.

“Let’s just say we’ve been comrades moving toward the same goal.”

“Aren’t you afraid to talk to me like this? What if I go tell that man about this conversation?”

“Do you really think you could? Either way, you’re as good as dead.”

Deborah was someone who wouldn’t have been surprised to die long ago.

She was well aware of her own situation.

Even so, she didn’t want to join hands with Rasfer.

“That’s enough. Leave.”

“You’ll regret it.”

He knew full well that this was a situation she despised more than death itself.

From his point of view, there was no way out for Deborah anymore.

“There’s no such thing. Now shut up and get out!”

“Hmph… well, it’s not as if there’s absolutely no way. But the time I can give you is short. Miss your chance, and you’ll have to wager your life.”

Rasfer’s tone grew rougher.

Deborah grew angrier but held it in.

Getting emotional wouldn’t change anything.

The conversation ended there.

Rasfer left the room with a smirk, accompanied by Spessen Akraden, who had been standing by his side.

The two stepped into the corridor.

“Wasn’t that a bit too open, Your Highness?”

Even if their preparations were nearly complete, they were still in the Mineta royal capital.

There could be eyes and ears everywhere.

If news of their plan to break the alliance were to leak, they could be abandoned by their own country, even if they survived.

Under such circumstances, Rasfer’s actions felt reckless.

“Isn’t it water already spilled? And even if that woman tells the king, do you think he’d believe her?”

“With the current atmosphere in the royal palace, I suppose not.”

“The plan didn’t go exactly as intended… but it’s not bad.”

“Still, you should be careful, Your Highness.”

“Enough about me. What about the man who blocked your sword last time? Do you think he can be persuaded?”

At least a high-ranking Sword Master—perhaps even on the verge of reaching Grand Master.

The fact that such a powerful force stood beside Harlan Mineta was the biggest problem.

Considering he was both an adventurer and a mercenary, Rasfer thought there was a chance.

“The annex where they’re staying is guarded by royal troops, so an official visit would be difficult.”

“They must be worried those men might also be persuaded, given the heavy losses their forces took.”

Men who moved for profit were difficult to capture without exploiting their weaknesses.

Harlan Mineta would know that well and thus keep strict security.

“You haven’t even tried to contact them secretly?”

“We’re being watched as well. They’re keeping their distance, but if I suddenly left my post, it would draw suspicion.”

“You’re being unnecessarily cautious….”

As they conversed, the two arrived at their quarters.

No sooner had they entered than Count Militas Rusta, the leader of the diplomatic mission, approached.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived.”

“A letter?”

Rasfer took it, went into his office with them, and opened it.

As he read through the contents, his expression became peculiar.

“What does it say?”

At Count Militas’s question, Rasfer’s lips curled faintly.

“It seems we’ve just seized a clear advantage.”

“Something profitable, I assume?”

“The Black Crescent Moon. The branch leader here wants to meet with me.”

“Them?”

Even in Moratz, they knew of the Black Crescent Moon’s existence.

But there, it had been impossible to form any secret pact directly with the Moratz King.

Count Militas and Knight Commander Spessen both knew this well.

“So, they must have caught scent of something from us.”

“It could be a trap.”

“The Black Crescent Moon never moves without benefit. Their cooperation with the kingdom is for that reason alone.”

“They must believe the Mineta Kingdom is on the brink of collapse.”

After all, Harlan Mineta was a man who had stolen the throne from the rightful heir.

And since he hadn’t completely purged the former royalist nobles, his legitimacy had always been in question.

Now, having suffered an invasion by a dragon through heretical sorcery, that doubt only deepened.

“Anyone can see how it looks.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“It’s not too late to confirm their true intent first. We’ll need to arrange a secret meeting without the palace knowing.”

The palace watchers were the problem.

If word got out that Rasfer was meeting with the Black Crescent Moon, it could backfire.

It had to be handled with utmost care.

“I’ll deliver the reply.”

“Prepare it immediately.”

Rasfer pulled out parchment and swiftly wrote his reply.

He sealed it with a thick drop of molten wax, pressing it with his princely signet ring.

Since the letter had to be delivered secretly, the seal confirmed who had sent it.

Count Militas accepted the letter and stepped outside.

There, the maid from the annex who had brought the first letter was waiting.

She was a spy planted in the Mineta Royal Capital by the Black Crescent Moon.

“I’m counting on you.”

The maid tucked the letter into her bosom without hesitation and disappeared swiftly down the corridor.

Harlan Mineta stood atop the western wall of the Mineta Royal Capital.

In the distance, the envoy from the Moratz Kingdom, whom he had just seen off, was heading toward the outer gate.

“They’ve left more quietly than I expected.”

Beside him stood the Knight Commander, Luteo Candir.

“Yes, Your Majesty. They must have realized that struggling further would be useless. It’s fortunate, at least.”

“Click. But to think we still haven’t found them yet…”

“My apologies. I can’t say how, but judging by the situation, I suspect they’ve already escaped the capital.”

Harlan Mineta could only sigh at their continued incompetence.

But there was nothing to be done for now.

He even suspected that the missing nobles were already dead.

For now, the deal with the Moratz Kingdom had been sealed.

The most urgent matter at hand was the Holy Knights and the priests.

A dragon had appeared, brought forth by heretical powers—some form of response was needed.

“What are High Priestess Marianne and Sir Larsen doing?”

“If you mean them… they’re quiet. Nothing unusual has been seen at the annex.”

“The temple is being well watched, I trust?”

“We’ve stationed soldiers there in shifts. Five priests have already been caught trying to leave, but they were all executed.”

The priests hadn’t stayed idle.

They’d been caught trying to get word of Mineta Kingdom’s situation out to the outside world.

“Well done. This must never leak beyond these walls.”

“However, the people are beginning to talk. With the temple’s doors barred, rumors are spreading.”

“Foolish nonsense. Keep it sealed at all costs. Let’s go down.”

He slowly descended the wall stairs.

Then Harlan Mineta’s brow furrowed even deeper than before.

“Still no word from the lords?”

The losses from the dragon’s attack had devastated the royal capital’s forces.

He had sent royal orders to nearby territories to replenish the troops, but several days had passed with no response.

“I’ll dispatch messengers again.”

“No. Summon the lords at once. I’ve left them too quiet for too long—they must think they can test me.”

“Understood. I’ll issue the summons immediately.”

Luteo Candir departed his side.

Meanwhile, Harlan Mineta looked down the stairs at the view of the capital.

The seat he had seized through the death of his own brother—

Now, for the first time, it felt as if that throne was beginning to shake.

At least, the critical hurdle had been crossed.

An alliance with the Moratz Kingdom, and the coming war against the Boluzan Kingdom—

If handled properly, the Mineta Kingdom would expand its powerful territory and amass great wealth for generations to come.

After leaving the Mineta Royal Capital, the Moratz envoy turned north from the west and then stopped.

They weren’t resting.

Tents were being raised, and a camp was set up.

“What are they doing now?”

Deborah couldn’t understand why even her tent was being pitched.

Rasfer gave her a crooked grin.

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

“Aren’t we supposed to head straight for Moratz?”

“There’s a matter scheduled before that. Stay quiet in your tent and wait.”

Behind her, Spessen exuded a suffocating aura of intimidation.

If she didn’t comply, he looked ready to cut her down on the spot.

“Fine, fine. Don’t be so terrifying.”

Inside the tent, Deborah felt something ominous.

Spessen and the other knights were preparing something, their faces filled with murderous intent.

She couldn’t see what it was, but the air itself reeked of foreboding.

Meanwhile, after confirming Deborah had quieted down, Rasfer left the area between the tents with Spessen and continued walking.

Before long, he reached the edge of the forest path, where a middle-aged man in armor stepped out from behind a tree, flanked by his own guards.

“You arrived early, Marquis Drusar Huffo.”

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t come, Prince Rasfer. It’s been days without word.”

“As if I wouldn’t come.”

“It seems the cleanup at the capital took longer than expected.”

“There was some delay. Are your troops ready?”

“Fifty knights and one thousand soldiers from my territory alone. How much have you thinned the royal capital’s forces?”

“Just over thirty percent. Combined with the forces from other territories, we’ll have more than enough to ensure victory.”

Marquis Drusar Huffo’s expression seemed quite satisfied.

“You’ve done well.”

“There is, however, a small issue.”

“An issue? Something serious?”

“The king has imprisoned High Priestess Marianne and Sir Larsen Heights, the Captain of the Holy Knights.”

“They’re in the royal capital?!”

Those two held positions so high they were rarely seen even within the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.

Moreover, they rarely moved unless it was for official temple business.

“They were visiting the kingdom as Messengers of Grace when they helped repel the monsters attacking the capital—only to be detained afterward.”

“Well now… fate can be amusing. But you left them alive on the eve of our grand undertaking?”

“I meant to deal with them immediately, but someone unexpected appeared.”

Rasfer’s mind flashed with the image of Raion’s face.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“So, it wasn’t necessarily bad news, then.”

“In a way, one could say luck is on our side.”

As their conversation grew longer, the two moved to a more secluded spot.

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