Chapter 201: Now it's Your Turn

After concluding a deal with the First Princess, Ian left the Lily Palace. As he stepped outside, Fiosen approached him, his face filled with concern.

“Are you sure about this, Your Highness? At this rate, Nathan might get eaten first.”

No, it was more likely that Nathan’s impulsive nature would land him in trouble first, but Ian smirked knowingly.

“Don’t worry. He won’t be eaten alive. And neither will the opposite happen.”

“Pardon?”

“Surprisingly, my sister is a bit inexperienced in matters like this,” Ian remarked.

In his previous life, the First Princess had never settled down with a man. She had numerous fiancés, yet none had even managed to hold her hand. In other words, she had never experienced a genuine romantic relationship before her untimely death. The idea that she would suddenly make a move on Nathan was utterly absurd.

‘That’s just nonsense.’

If she had been the type to take the initiative, she would have done so long ago. Nathan wasn’t just an ordinary wandering knight; he was a man of exceptional skill and standing. The same could be said in reverse.

‘In my past life, he avoided my sister until the very end. Would he truly reach out to her now?’

If anything, Nathan would likely flee rather than make the first move. The odds of that happening were slim to none. But Fiosen didn’t know that. So, Ian decided to ease Fiosen’s concerns.

“If you think I’d give up on Sir Nathan, you’re gravely mistaken. I don’t intend to let go of anything—or anyone—that’s within my grasp.”

“But at this rate, Nathan might—”

“I’ll bring him back before anything happens. There’s no need to worry.”

Ian chuckled, his tone reassuring. In truth, his actions weren’t merely to tease Nathan. On a larger scale, this was part of his strategy to ally with the First Princess and corner Prince Leon. But there was another, more personal reason.

‘In their past lives, there was surely a special bond between the two.’

Of course, they hadn’t ended up together. The First Princess was isolated and doomed to die because of the Second Prince. After her death, Nathan had fallen alongside the Third Prince, Louis, at the hands of Duke Garcia.

‘But it’s clear there were feelings between them.’

This was evident from Nathan’s decision to side with the Third Prince after the First Princess’s death. Ian didn’t know why Nathan had distanced himself from her in the past, but he was certain that it wasn’t a choice made following his own feelings. This time, Ian intended to help him.

‘In this life, Sir Nathan, follow your heart.’

Of course, Nathan seemed unaware of his own feelings for now. As his lord, Ian felt it was his duty to guide him. His efforts to prevent any romantic entanglement between Nathan and his sister, Elaira, were just a small act of personal indulgence.

But for now, Nathan wasn’t Ian’s primary concern.

“Sir Fiosen, have you noticed something peculiar?”

“Noticed what, Your Highness?”

Ian glanced around cautiously. After ensuring they were alone, he finally spoke.

“The people in my sister’s Lily Palace. They all wear the same necklace.”

“What kind of necklace?”

“A necklace bearing the symbol of the Holy Empire.”

“Oh… You mean the church’s emblem. What’s so unusual about that?”

Fiosen looked genuinely puzzled. It made sense. Despite the recent tensions with the Holy Empire, their religion was still the dominant faith across the continent. Many, including royalty, were devout followers, and wearing such a necklace was commonplace.

But Ian’s expression turned cold.

“Faith isn’t a crime. But when too many people in one place wear the same symbol, it becomes suspicious.”

“What are you implying, Your Highness?” Fiosen asked, his confusion deepening.

“It’s suspicious that those wearing that necklace were eavesdropping on my conversation with my sister.”

Ian’s expression grew serious. Until now, none of the First Princess’s subordinates had shown much interest in her personal matters. Confident in her dislike for such behavior, Ian had acted with trust. Yet, it seemed there were subordinates acting against her wishes.

‘They must be more devoted to their faith than to the First Princess herself. And when I think of such people, a few names come to mind.’

Haverion and Cesare. Both had served as cardinals of the Holy Empire, wielding unique abilities. While Cesare had reportedly confessed his sins in prison before taking his own life, one of them remained.

‘Haverion. That man must be up to something.’

Given the influence those two once held, it was plausible they could still manipulate events from the shadows, even in confinement. King Eloin could not possibly be unaware of his scheming.

‘Is he observing from afar, gauging how far his reach extends?’

Ian, however, had no intention of waiting for the answer. He had a clear idea of where Haverion’s connections led.

‘The First Prince. He reeks of the same stench.’

With that conclusion, Ian resolved to act preemptively. He would strike before they could enact their plans. A faint smirk played on his lips.

“It seems I’ll need to hear my brother’s final words before his execution.”

But he didn’t head straight to the royal prison. With only Fiosen at his side, he had another stop to make first.

“Sister, I need to borrow Yamanta.”

“Very well,” the Second Princess replied without hesitation.

After all, Yamanta had sworn loyalty to Ian. He was merely serving as the bodyguard for the Second Princess, Bahara’s chancellor. With Yamanta, the warriors of Bahara, and the knights of Duke Lavaltor, Ian finally approached the prison. Just as they neared its gates, Ian paused.

“Hm?”

“Is something wrong, Your Highness?” Fiosen asked.

Ian shook his head slightly. “No, it’s nothing.”

But in truth, he had sensed it—a faint, familiar energy emanating from the prison.

‘This power… Could it be?’

He was certain—it was the power of one of the Seven Virtues or the Seven Sins. In the past, he hadn’t been able to perceive it clearly, but this had to be the true nature of Haverion’s abilities.

‘Interesting.’

A sly grin tugged at Ian’s lips. It seemed he might be about to gain an unexpected harvest.

***

Drip. Drip.

The prison holding Haverion resembled a damp, decrepit cave. Dirty water trickled incessantly, forming pools on the floor. Despite the grim surroundings, Haverion sat calmly, eyes closed as if in prayer.

Then, a knock interrupted the silence.

Knock. Knock.

A guard appeared at the cell door.

“Lord Haverion, everything is prepared,” he announced.

His tone, deferential and reverent, was far from that of a mere prison guard. The necklace around his neck—a symbol of the Holy Empire—and the fanatical gleam in his eyes revealed his true allegiance.

At that moment, Haverion’s eyes snapped open. They burned with a madness that mirrored the guard’s.

“Report.”

“The bombs have been planted in the plaza where the inauguration and execution will take place. They are set to detonate on your signal.”

“Simply causing chaos won’t suffice.”

“We’ve also planted bombs in the royal family’s seating area, just in case. By His will, all members of the Kaistein royal family will meet their end tomorrow.”

A sinister light flickered in Haverion’s eyes.

“You understand what comes after?”

“Yes. We will eliminate anyone who refuses the Lord’s gospel and follow you, Cardinal.”

The guard’s eyes were filled with madness. Despite speaking of his own impending death, he was unnervingly calm, as if discussing someone else’s fate. Haverion was no different.

“Good. Let us all reunite in His embrace.”

“Everything is according to His will,” the guard replied.

“According to His will.”

With those words, the guard left, and Haverion smiled inwardly.

“By tomorrow, it will all be over.”

Everyone would be caught off guard, especially his siblings, who would think they were safe, believing it was just his execution. The day would be unforgettable for them. It was inevitable.

“No matter how strong their oaths, no knight can act fast enough to counter a sudden explosion.”

Using his power, Haverion had turned the guards and attendants into devout followers. The bombs they planted were powerful enough to devastate the venue. No matter how special Ian or the Third Prince, Louis, were, it wouldn’t matter. Only someone like King Eloin or Duke Lavaltor might survive such an explosion.

The moment the execution began, all of his siblings would perish, leaving only one survivor.

“All glory will return solely to Him.”

The First Prince alone was meant to inherit everything of Kaistein. Regardless of King Eloin’s power, if all the royals were gone, there would be nothing he could do.

‘Of course, the First Princess must survive, though no one should know. That is the will of Him.’

Haverion felt a brief hesitation about killing his brothers, but the feeling quickly vanished. After all, his lord had commanded it.

[Kill the brothers.]

The voice echoed in his mind, reaffirming his resolve. He would carry out the task by any means necessary.

But at that moment—

Thud!

“Aaargh!”

A scream pierced the air.

“Who’s there? Do you have any idea where you are? This is Kaistein’s…ugh!”

It wasn’t just a scream—there were sounds of attacks and bodies collapsing. From the familiar voices, it was clear that the guards were falling.

“Is someone attacking the royal prison?”

Could it be that his lord, the First Prince, had come to rescue him? But that couldn’t be the case. His mission was unchanging, one that could only be completed through death. So, who could be invading?

“W-why are you doing this? What have we done wrong…?”

“Huh? You came with His Majesty’s permission? Then why are they… What? What do you mean by that…?”

The voices grew closer, and Haverion’s eyes snapped open, filled with a sense of dread. He quickly removed the necklace from around his neck and wrapped it around his hand, preparing for a fight.

Then—

Bang!

The prison door burst open with a violent crash, and a man appeared, a smile playing on his lips.

“My brother is here. Looks like he’s been having some fun with pranks.”

“Y-you’re…”

It was Ian. Haverion glanced past him and quickly assessed the situation.

“Again… you’re interfering with our grand plan!”

The guard who had just left was lying motionless on the ground. Not just him—every guard who had undergone Baptism and Sacrament lay helpless on the floor. It was clear that their plans had been exposed. Haverion raised his hand holding the cross.

“This time… I won’t let it slide.”

He was ready to unleash the hidden power he had been saving. If their plan had been exposed, he would at least eliminate the Seventh Prince, Ian, here and now.

But Ian didn’t just stand there.

“This time, I’ve learned a valuable lesson.”

“What?”

“The one who strikes first wins!”

With a gleam in his eyes, Ian threw the royal sword directly at Haverion. Caught off guard, Haverion had no choice but to dodge, narrowly avoiding the strike.

“This… this bastard!”

As Haverion evaded the sword, his expression darkened. He realized that unless he killed Ian here and now, all his efforts would be in vain. Determined, he unleashed every ounce of power he had.

“Everything is according to the will of my lord.”

A blinding light erupted from Haverion’s body. This was the very power he had planned to release during the execution. But now, he would use it at this very moment.

‘With this power, I can not only destroy the prison but also bury it deep underground.’

Even if he couldn’t kill all the royal successors, eliminating the Seventh Prince would make the grand plan far easier. Ian must die—no matter what. But Ian was not alone.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

Fiosen rushed in, raising his shield. A massive shield of his unwavering oath materialized in front of him, blocking the explosion.

Haverion smirked. “It’s useless. You can’t stop this explosion with just a shield.”

He was certain they would all be buried alive and meet painful deaths underground. But just then—

“Who said you could do as you please?”

Blast.

Suddenly, a hand pierced through the radiant light and grabbed Haverion by the collar.

Ian stood before him, smirking.

“Alright. Now it’s your turn.”

“Wh-what are you talking about? My turn?”

“I’m not talking to you, Haverion.”

“What? Then who…”

Haverion’s face twisted in confusion, unable to understand Ian’s words. But Ian’s expression remained steady. He could hear the voice clearly.

[I understand. Then I will begin.]

As Ian spoke, a helmet that had been hidden until now materialized above him. It was the helmet of the First King. The moment it appeared, the radiant energy emanating from Haverion began to flow toward the helmet, as if being absorbed by it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read