Chapter 101

The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and even the Fourth Prince—

The three princes who had been scheming in secret all withdrew their plans at once. The entire Prince’s Palace was thrown into turmoil.

“…Did Your Highness say a complete withdrawal? We’ve already made all preparations and were merely waiting for the right moment to act. And yet now, at this stage, a full withdrawal? Please, reconsider this, Your Highness.”

Even Duke Baros, the Second Prince’s right-hand man, could not sway his master’s heart. The resolve of the Second Prince, Arencar, was firm.

“Duke, it’s all over now. Father… no, His Majesty the Emperor, already knows everything we’ve been plotting.”

At those words, Duke Baros’s complexion turned deathly pale.

“His… His Majesty knows? He knows everything?”

The Second Prince silently nodded.

“Yes. That was why His Majesty summoned me last night. But do you know what’s amusing? The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince—those two were also playing their own little games. In the end, all three of us got crushed together. Hah.”

The Second Prince burst into laughter, sounding almost deranged—whether from despair or disbelief, no one could tell. Then came Duke Baros’s calm but heavy response, his voice laden with the weight of resignation.

“…I understand. Then this is the end. It has been an honor to serve Your Highness.”

His composed tone barely concealed the resolve of a man prepared for death.

A single word—that the Emperor knew everything—had been enough for the Duke to grasp his fate.

Just then, the Second Prince stopped laughing and offered a faint consolation.

“Still, don’t worry too much. It seems His Majesty doesn’t intend to spill any blood.”

“What… what do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“Think about it, Duke. It’s high treason—rebellion, conspiracy against the throne. That’s the name of our crime. We should have been executed on the spot last night, our heads rolling on the floor. And yet, look at me now—still alive and well, aren’t I?”

“…Now that Your Highness says it, that’s true. May I ask, then, what reply His Majesty gave?”

“His Majesty granted us one final chance. All of us—the princes who were involved in this plot—are to erase the matter entirely, as though it never existed. Well, I’m now bound for the South to slay beasts for the rest of my life, but that seems a small price to pay for survival.”

“Hahaha… His Majesty has shown great mercy indeed.”

“Of course. So, Duke—let’s help each other survive. This will probably be the last task we share.”

At this point, it was no longer just the Second Prince’s life on the line.

Everyone who had taken part in his scheme, including Duke Baros, now stood with their fates hanging by a thread.

Reading the situation quickly, the Duke answered with firm resolve.

“Yes… Then I shall take full responsibility and erase all traces of this matter—as though it never existed.”

And it wasn’t only the Second Prince’s palace.

Around the same time, the same scene was unfolding elsewhere, only with different faces—in the residences of the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince.

The Emperor’s announcement of the imperial succession drew closer with each passing day. And the three princes continued their desperate struggle to survive.

That evening.

In the slums on the outskirts of the Capital.

Three Ravens who had been tracking Marcellus stood before a derelict house at the end of a deserted alley.

“…You’re sure about this?”

“I’m sure. That guy doesn’t have the kind of face you’d see every day—especially not in a place like this.”

“Alright, then… we’ll stay here for now. Let’s hide and make sure this really is his hideout before we call for backup.”

“Agreed. Let’s do that.”

According to their intel, Marcellus’s current dwelling was indeed the ruined house before them.

From early evening until past midnight, they waited in silence for the right moment.

Then—two in the morning.

‘…Still not here?’

The long wait should have worn on them, yet the Ravens’ sharp gazes remained as keen as when the ambush began.

Their patience was rewarded fifteen minutes later—at precisely two fifteen—when their target finally appeared.

‘Oh…! There! It’s him!’

Marcellus appeared!

Even with his hood pulled low, his massive frame was unmistakable. No robe could conceal that enormous body.

All three pairs of eyes gleamed at once. Then, barely moving their lips, they exchanged whispers so faint that not even someone standing a few paces away could hear—let alone Marcellus, who stood at least thirty meters distant.

“Shh. It’s him.”

“What do we do? Should we pull back, get reinforcements, and make sure we take him down tomorrow?”

“No one seems to be around. Maybe we should finish it here and now.”

At that moment, a chilling voice—neither distinctly male nor female—slipped through the darkness and struck their ears.

“Oh? So we have guests?”

“…!”

Marcellus’s gaze was fixed directly on them.

He had sensed the Ravens’ presence—something that should have been impossible.

‘That bastard…! How?!’

The Ravens, startled by Marcellus’s calm tone, exchanged quick glances.

‘We’ve been found. What now?’

‘Should we kill him here?’

‘Yeah. Let’s do it.’

Their eyes gleamed with murderous resolve, three wills unified in deadly intent.

As each gripped their weapon and prepared to strike, Marcellus spoke again.

“Silent types, huh? Wherever you trained, you were taught well.”

Though their words had given them away, their silent agreement now made Marcellus’s taunt all the more provoking. Still, the Ravens remained unfazed, focusing solely on eliminating their target.

They finished their preparations, exchanged one final glance, and—almost as if by instinct—nodded together.

‘Go!’

That nod was the signal for the all-out assault. All three lunged toward Marcellus at once.

Whoosh—!

The three men charged forward, but only a single sound was heard.

Through the thick darkness, a black gale surged, engulfing Marcellus.

Swish—!

The daggers in the hands of the three men hurtled toward Marcellus.

‘Got him! Even if he moves now, there’s no way he can dodge this.’

One of the Raven operatives allowed himself a faint smile, certain of their success.

Clang—!

“…!”

But that confidence shattered in an instant as three unidentified figures suddenly appeared.

Their perfectly timed strike at the enemy’s opening had been rendered useless, blocked by another set of weapons.

‘These guys…!’

No one could tell whether they had fallen from the sky or risen from the ground. The aura they exuded was anything but ordinary.

‘They’re the ones my senior mentioned… These aren’t just any foes!’

They hadn’t even realized these men existed until now—proof enough that their adversaries were formidable.

The fact that they had stayed completely undetected until this moment spoke volumes of their skill.

While the Ravens faltered at the sudden appearance of the newcomers, Marcellus spoke in a low, calm voice.

“Subdue them. But don’t kill them. I have much to ask.”

At his command, his subordinates gave a brief nod in acknowledgment.

“Bring them in alive, then.”

That was the last thing Marcellus said before he turned away, leaving his subordinates and the Ravens behind as he strode leisurely into the darkness.

His calm retreat amidst the chaos seemed almost like mockery to those who remained.

One of the Ravens shouted in anger, unable to contain himself.

“You bastard…! Where do you think you’re going!”

Marcellus didn’t even look back. He simply continued walking at an unhurried pace. The reply came not from him, but from a voice much closer.

“…You dare lose focus in the middle of a fight? It seems you underestimate us quite a bit.”

Right in front of him stood one of Marcellus’s subordinates, gripping the hilt of his sword, his sharp gaze piercing through the slit of his black mask.

“I’ll teach you a lesson, brat.”

Cloaked in black garments that blended seamlessly with the night and masked to conceal their identities, the two similar yet opposing groups—those who served different masters—finally clashed in the same darkness.

Two days later, in Yuwon’s office.

Hastings and Gillian stood before him side by side. Their report on the latest mission had just concluded.

“I am ashamed, Your Highness….”

“….”

They had gained nothing and only suffered losses.

Gillian stared at the floor, guilt written across his face.

“It’s fine. There’s no need to apologize to me. What concerns me are those who’ve gone missing. I can only hope they’re all safe….”

“Even if circumstances forced them to cut contact, I’m sure they’re still alive and well. They’re comrades capable of handling themselves anywhere.”

Though Gillian sounded confident, Yuwon viewed the situation with grim realism.

‘…When I lost contact with Hastings, I felt the same. But this time, it’s different—too clear. They must have crossed paths with Marcellus. The chances that they’re still alive are slim.’

Both Hastings and Gillian stood silently before Yuwon, lost in their own thoughts. After a brief pause, Yuwon finally spoke again.

“This was my responsibility from the start. I’ve burdened you both with too much.”

At that, Gillian quickly waved his hands.

“N-No, Your Highness. Your wish is our wish.”

Even in such uncertain times, with their comrades possibly dead, Gillian looked flustered just to hear Yuwon’s words. Yuwon gave a faint, bitter smile.

‘The Ravens… They may not all be like Gillian, but they’re just as loyal. To risk their lives for a single command of mine….’

Yuwon felt the full weight of responsibility for the Ravens who had gone missing. That sense of duty hastened his resolve.

“Yuwon, Hastings, and Gillian.”

“…?”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

At the sound of their names, both men perked up.

“And add Terrien and Bernid to that. The five of us will move together. Our goal is to rescue the captured comrades.”

Though Yuwon believed the chances of survival were low, he chose his words carefully—there was no need to dampen morale when he had already decided to lead them himself.

“Your Highness…!”

‘As expected… His Highness will act personally.’

Gillian’s eyes widened in surprise at Yuwon’s sudden declaration, while Hastings, who had already anticipated this, smiled faintly at his side.

“Your Highness, I appreciate your concern, but please reconsider. If the enemy is lying in wait, this could mean walking straight into a trap.”

Unaware of Yuwon’s true strength, Gillian tried to dissuade him, but Yuwon’s mind was already set.

“This is how it should have been from the start. Don’t try to stop me, Gillian. My decision is final.”

Yuwon’s voice and gaze were unwavering. Gillian, flustered, turned to Hastings, silently pleading for help.

‘Hey, do something! Talk him out of this!’

His eyes said it all—but Hastings refused without hesitation.

“I’ll inform Terrien and Bernid, then. We move tonight. Tell them both to be fully prepared.”

Yuwon’s decisive words left Gillian no room for argument.

“…Understood, Your Highness.”

“Good. See you later, then.”

Yuwon soon departed to find Terrien and Bernid. As soon as he left, Gillian rounded on Hastings.

“What are you thinking, Hastings?! His Highness is walking straight into danger, and you’re just going to stand by and let him?! And you call yourself a Raven?”

This wasn’t mock anger—it was genuine fury. Hastings, however, answered in a calm tone.

“Senior, you know that His Highness defeated the Sword Saint Karniel, right?”

“Of course I do. Everyone’s heard the rumors. But a knight’s duel and our way of fighting—where the only goal is to kill—are completely different. You know that as well as I do! What if His Highness gets hit by a stray arrow during the mission?”

Whether he understood the concern or not, Hastings merely smiled.

“That won’t happen. From what I’ve seen, His Highness is actually closer to our kind than to the knights.”

“What…? What do you mean, our kind? Are you saying His Highness is one of us?”

At Gillian’s incredulous question, Hastings recalled their past sparring match—the one and only time they had crossed blades after Hastings returned to Yuwon’s side.

“Yes. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and even experienced it myself. His Highness went easy on me, though.”

“…He went easy on you?”

“Senior.”

Hastings called softly, pausing for a moment before continuing.

“The strongest person I’ve ever met is the Master. That hasn’t changed. But the second strongest… that changed recently.”

“No way…!”

Gillian turned instinctively toward the empty spot where Yuwon had just stood, unable to believe the name that came to mind. Hastings confirmed it with a quiet certainty.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s His Highness.”

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