The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement-Chapter 83

Chapter 83
Megarex sat silently, staring at his treasured sword set atop the table.
Today was the day of the plan, and even the time for his involvement was drawing near.
Was it right for someone who had been granted a title by the Imperial family to plot treason?
'The chancellor is a wise and benevolent man. The third princess may be somewhat audacious, but she is sociable enough.'
Megarex had still not made his decision. The chancellor had asked him directly, and he had some modest ties to the third princess. This time, he would have to discern right from wrong not as a Sword Saint but as a citizen of the Empire.
'I will not question what the emperor has done all this time. But... I cannot accept this.'
Megarex had never had much interest in the state affairs of the Imperial family, but he could not overlook this particular declaration.
The idea of marrying Brillie Illenat, the second daughter of Duke Illenat.
How could someone use authority to take away a woman whose partner had already been decided?
'I personally saved Alter Radiant, yet am I now to just stand by and watch him suffer misfortune?'
Megarex had slain the Frost Witch solely for the sake of saving Alter Radiant.
That's why, when Alter lay bedridden, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility, and after Alter recovered, he had been quite pleased.
Yet now, the emperor himself was about to undermine all the efforts Megarex had made.
'... Uriel Astille.'
Megarex repeated that name and soon let out a hollow laugh.
She had boldly stood in his way and saved the innocent.
Even after that, she pestered him several times, but he had never taken it too seriously.
After all, she had already made his heart waver.
'I see your reflection in your son. That's why I can't ignore it.'
After hesitating for a while, megarex reluctantly reached out.
His left hand grasped his treasured sword, while his right hand was filled with determined resolve.
He could not let go of the fate that had followed him since the past.
'If Uriel's child turned out like that, that must mean she lived happily. If it had been a daughter... I really would have been troubled.'
Megarex fastened the sword to his belt and quietly began to walk.
The moment he entered the imperial palace, he would become a traitor.
Since he had decided to act, he would not end things vaguely.
'I can't let myself waver twice. Just how much are you trying to torment me, Uriel.'
Megarex had felt some relief upon discovering that Alter Radiant was a man.
If it had been the daughter of the grand duke's house, if she had been a beautiful maiden, he would have been plagued by even deeper torment.
Even at his age, he could not allow himself to be swayed by such intense emotion.
'If I had met a good woman and gotten married, maybe I would have been able to forget— but it's not so easy. Really...'
* * *
Alter quietly slipped out of the mansion following Duke Illenat. The night sky had darkened completely; not even a starlight could be found tonight.
Only the faint moonlight illuminated himself and the soldiers.
'If he managed to influence both the guard and the security force, he must be something like the army commander.'
Alter roughly guessed the inner structure of his allies.
The third princess and the chancellor, along with the two ducal houses, formed the core of the rebel forces.
The third princess would have contacted key figures inside the Imperial family, while the chancellor mediated among them.
The two dukes would likely mobilize their noble private soldiers to pressure the imperial palace.
'Since even the imperial palace guard is cooperating... was it the commander of the capital defense who moved?'
The military of the Agnes Empire operated under the command of various regional commanders.
Supreme Commander of the Empire, commander of the Northern Army, commander of the Eastern Army, commander of Capital Defense, and other corps commanders.
While the capital defense commander was subordinate to the supreme general, he had the ability to give direct orders to certain units.
Likely, the supreme commander was entirely excluded, allowing the capital defense commander to temporarily lead the imperial army within the capital.
'If it's the third princess's uncle, it shouldn't be difficult. With the chancellor involved, the palace side must also be under control.'
If even the palace guard had been breached, the emperor would find himself completely surrounded.
Until he escaped the palace, he could not call for reinforcements and would only be able to use the imperial knights.
Of course, if dawn broke, there would still be hope, but by then, it would likely devolve into outright war.
'We have to end this before the Supreme Commander gets involved. Or... maybe they've already eliminated him ahead of time.'
If it were the third princess, she would surely have prepared meticulously to ensure the success of the rebellion.
As the Supreme Commander supported the current emperor, if he were left alone, he would only become an obstacle.
Any other disruptive element would also need to be removed one way or another.
'Fighting the imperial knights is extremely dangerous. That's why they want Brillie and me out of the fray.'
Naturally, while the numbers disadvantage the imperial knights, their overall might could not be underestimated.
Even if all the rebels charged at them, many casualties would be inevitable.
Above all, the third princess would still need to use the imperial knights after becoming emperor, so eradicating them all was not an option.
'It would be easy if we could just kill the knight commander... but how is anyone supposed to handle a fighter equal to a Sword Saint?'
If they pressed their advantage recklessly, they could subdue the imperial knights, but the knight commander was a different matter.
A moment's carelessness could result in even the best knights falling. That necessitated powerful figures to confront the knight commander.
'If Brillie or I get injured, that in itself could become a huge problem.'
Ultimately, he and Brillie would have to cooperate to bring down the knight commander.
The other knights might assist, but not enough to be relied upon.
Furthermore, the soldiers would witness the fight, and defeat would be a blow to their morale.
'I'll have to fight with the intent to kill. I can't afford to die myself...'
* * *
Cadeon greeted the third princess with a polite bow as soon as they met. She responded with a composed nod, glancing over Cadeon's assembled forces.
As befitted the head of a ducal house, a considerable number of private soldiers followed behind.
"We gathered them in haste, so we may lack in some areas. Would these numbers be sufficient for you?"
"This should be more than enough, don't you think? And... Duke Illenat has reliable people on his side, doesn't he?"
Yuria spotted the pair and gave a faint smile. The Great Mage's disciple, and the Sword Saint. Both were worthy of admiration and strong enough to serve as trump cards.
"I am honored. I will do my utmost for your highness,"
Cadeon replied.
"I feel reassured hearing that. All right, let's get going then."
Yuria took the lead, heading toward the imperial palace. The assembled soldiers followed behind her. It was likely that the entire capital garrison, under the command of the capital defense commander, had been mobilized.
"Uncle, how is the situation in the palace?"
"It was settled just moments ago. They are standing by, awaiting your highness's arrival."
"What about the imperial knights?"
"By now, they should have figured out what's happening. But even if they respond quickly, the palace guard will buy us enough time. You needn't worry."
"Why would I worry? This is a fight we can't lose."
Yuria was being swept along by the currents of her era.
The current emperor had committed a series of foolish blunders, incurring the condemnation of both bureaucrats and nobles.
That was why so many had united their will to enthrone her as emperor.
'I was complicit in plenty myself... but this was too much. Why in the world did he pick a fight with those two?'
Even Yuria had thought she must bring them over to her side at all costs.
The grand duke of the north, Duke Illenat, Duke Eiliche, marquis of the East.
All of them hailed from prestigious noble families and possessed immense influences.
Yet the current emperor had antagonized two of them, and finally, even Duke Eiliche had joined the rebellion.
'So much greed, so little thought. Just because you're the emperor doesn't mean you can have everything.'
Not even the Agnes Empire was founded by the first emperor alone.
Many founding contributors had worked together, and only through immense sacrifice was the nation solidified.
The first emperor rewarded those contributors with noble status, granting them power and privileges, and now the ninth emperor had trampled on that tradition and history.
'This is why the throne must not be given to just anyone. Once it wavers, it is near impossible to set right again.'
At the main gates of the palace, Yuria stopped and gazed up beyond them.
The gates stood wide open, and the palace guard soldiers surrounded the area.
With the approach now blocked, the emperor would not be able to call for help.
"Oh! Palace Guard Captain greets the third princess!"
"You've worked hard. What's the situation inside?"
"Our troops have completely blockaded the palace. The imperial knights caught on and have formed a defensive line."
"Have the imperial knights tried to attack?"
"There was a brief skirmish, but our blockade was not breached."
"You executed your orders well. Now we shall be the ones to break through."
"Yes! I will escort you."
Yuria, following the palace guard captain, soon arrived at the audience chamber.
The palace guard had surrounded the area, but the imperial knights remained stalwart, refusing to back down an inch.
Yet, with the addition of Yuria's rebel force, even the imperial knights could not remain entirely unshaken.
"Hmm... I suppose we should just press forward?"
"Perhaps we ought to offer them a chance to surrender before attacking?"
"Do you think they would really surrender?"
Yuria, deep in thought, watched the imperial knights.
No matter how controversial the emperor had become, his status remained intact.
Thus, the imperial knights were prepared to risk their lives for their duty.
"I will try speaking with them," said the capital defense commander.
"It's better than not trying. You have my permission."
The capital defense commander cleared his throat and confronted the palace guard's front lines, then raised his voice with a stern glare.
"Do you see these soldiers? If a battle breaks out, you will be massacred. You don't want to die for a foolish emperor, do you?"
"......."
"Surrender now and your lives will be spared. Her Highness the third princess will show you mercy."
"......."
But the imperial knights simply maintained their defensive stance, unfazed by the threat.
The knight commander was still guarding the emperor, and the knights had yet to suffer any losses.
If they could just hold on, reinforcements would come before long.
"As expected, it won't work. We should prepare to attack..."
"Your highness, may I try persuading them myself?"