Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 145

After Richt’s words, a deep silence fell.Only Matthias, who had not been able to properly grasp the situation, widened his eyes and looked around.

“Artifact? What do you mean? Does it really exist…?”

“If it’s just a legend, that means there’s no record of what it is or where it is. Is that right?”

When Laius spoke, the prince nodded his head in bewilderment.

“That, that’s right… It’s just written briefly in a corner of the records handed down to the royal family. It says that it was accidentally obtained during the war, but it must be returned someday, something like that…”

If it’s war, it probably refers to a great war that took place in the past, so it meant something from the time of Emperor Khan.

Arthur rubbed the back of his neck as if his head was hurting.

“It’s definitely something they would want. Why have they been so quiet lately?”

“What do you mean, you have to give it back?”

At that moment, when Arendt, who had been silent, suddenly asked a question, Matthias answered vaguely.

“I don’t know that either… There is a story that the record itself is a diary left by the first king, but there are differing opinions on whether it is true or fake…”

“Okay, then let’s assume that it’s true.”

As the apprentice knight brought the topic back, everyone’s attention naturally turned to him, and as he led the conversation, the outline of the incident began to gradually emerge.

“That guy named Lexion came to see Crown Prince Alois before the meeting. It was probably around the time when His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Victor were discussing whether or not to have a meeting.”

“…”

“It is still unknown whether he went to see His Highness Alois after hearing the news of the meeting, or whether the two met first. Let’s skip that part for now.”

“Is that what you’re saying? The guy who entered the palace rendered the King unconscious and then invited Crown Prince Alois to attend the meeting?”

“Yes, he would have gone and asked them to kill someone. In exchange for Crown Prince Alois carrying out the assassination, Lexion would incapacitate His Majesty the King… There may have been a deal like that.”

Arendt nodded as Cantares accepted.

“So, putting the Crown Prince and His Majesty the King aside… He would have expected that either the Princess or the Prince would follow the Crown Prince.”

“There was no way that the subjects could treat the Crown Prince’s friend carelessly. They probably wouldn’t meddle in whatever he does while walking around the palace.”

Although it was just a series of conjectures, it was a story that made a lot of sense.

As the relationship between the front and the back became clearer, Prince Matthias’ face also became as blank as a sheet of paper.

But Arendt still looked uncomfortable.

“…What are you dissatisfied with?”

“No, just.”

He couldn’t pinpoint a clear reason, but there was a point that kept bothering him.

He felt like he was missing something.

‘That’s not like them.’

Rather than controlling people from behind like this, it would be more appropriate to openly control people and show off destructive power by borrowing the power of God.

It was the same before, the more he dug, the more uncomfortable he felt.

It was as if a well-made performance script had been forcibly modified.

Cantares, who had been looking at the pensive apprentice knight, opened his mouth again.

“Now two things are clear. There is trouble in the Nephele Kingdom, and the Crown Prince may have some other purpose.”

“…First, let’s do something about His Highness Alois.”

Arendt remained silent for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.

Since this scenario was almost ruined anyway, from now on, he had no choice but to abuse ad-lib depending on the actors’ abilities.

“It can’t end this simply, and there’s definitely something more to it, so let’s sort this out as quickly as possible.”

Fortunately, they still had some time to spare, as they had used the attack on the Crown Prince as an excuse.

Matthias, who had been listening blankly, quickly stepped forward.

“Now, please wait a moment. What should we do with the empty palace now?”

“If it being empty is the problem, we can fill it temporarily. Even if it’s just a way to buy time.”

But Arendt responded indifferently.

“Your Highness, can you contact the Princess?”

“Uh, uh, I brought the communication device, but…”

“Then, tell the princess in advance that a friend will be visiting soon.”

“A friend?”

When Matthias blinked at the unexpected remark, Arendt smiled faintly.

“I think it would be a good idea to become friends with him this time. He’s a bit of a bother, but…”

“You, surely…”

Arthur sensed something suspicious in his tone and asked uneasily.

“I contacted him a while ago, and he said he was not far away.”

This made it clear who Arendt was referring to.

Cantares smiled awkwardly.

“Prince Llewellyn is having a hard time too. He seems quite satisfied, though.”

In the past, and in the future, that guy would be the only knight who could command the prince of a country at his fingertips.

“Then what will the Crown Prince do?”

“Well, what should I do?”

Alois must already be feeling cornered. However, this side also only had a suspicion and had not secured enough evidence to completely corner him.

After a brief pause, Arendt chuckled.

“It seems like he’s been having everything go his way in life. Wouldn’t it be okay to throw a little hardship into that smooth life?”

“It seems like there’s already enough hardship.”

Richt muttered softly, but of course, it was ignored.

Others thought the same thing.

How would he feel if he tried to kill an apprentice knight and ended up provoking the empire?

But Arendt’s thoughts were a little different.

‘It’s still a long way off.’

He glanced at Matthias.

“Prince Matthias, if you have any lingering feelings for His Highness the Crown Prince Alois, please let me know in advance.”

“Uh, uh uh…?”

“I plan to throw that reckless Crown Prince into the abyss from now on. If you try to interfere, I won’t stay still.”

“…?!”

Matthias looked at Arendt blankly, dumbfounded.

He had sensed that the atmosphere was strange from earlier. Even though the Crown Prince of the Empire was there, it was this young knight who was leading the conversation.

But it was ridiculous to say such things to the prince of an empire.

He turned his head slightly and looked at Cantares, but there was no reaction.

That meant that he agreed with that knight.

Golden eyes that he could not read any emotion from scanned the fragile prince.

“I am giving you one last chance, Prince Matthais. Do you truly wish to see a future where that tyrant becomes the king of the Nephele Kingdom?”

“…”

“He is a man who kills, harms, and even attacks the king if he doesn’t like something. It would be better to get rid of him before he causes a bigger problem.”

The prince found himself listening intently to the quiet but unusually clear voice.

“But it would be difficult to fight the Crown Prince with just your power, so you can use this.”

Only with those last words did Matthias come to a realization of reality.

In fact, there was no other choice now.

From the moment he joined hands with the villain and harmed the king, Alois was effectively stripped of his right to lead a country.

A dry voice came out of Matthias’ mouth, which had been opening and closing.

“…Help, I will help.”

Once he opened his mouth, the rest wasn’t difficult.

Slowly closing and opening his eyes, Matthias calmed his breathing, raised his head, and looked straight at Arendt.

“I won’t interfere. No, let me help too. This is royal business, so I can’t stay still.”

“I’ll tell you in advance, I’ll use every means possible.”

“I and the royal family will never hold the Empire responsible for this. I will also tell His Majesty the King. I am sure my sister will agree with me.”

The prince’s eyes, which were pouring out words in a completely different tone from the trembling voice he had been uttering just now, gradually began to fill with venom.

‘Okay.’

This was enough to use.

Arendt, smiling contentedly, realized that the knights and Cantares were looking at him with disgust.

It seemed like the sight of a prince of a country being roasted and eaten by a savage was not pleasing to the eye.

With a natural shrug, Arendt handed the final choice over to Cantares.

“Your Highness, what do you think we should do?”

“You’ve already said enough, so don’t ask me now.”

Cantares, who had been grumbling irritably, soon nodded his head coolly.

“Prince, I will say this again. I swear that I will never use this incident as an excuse to harm the Nephele Kingdom. From this moment on, the prince and I… yes.”

The Crown Prince, who had been hesitating to find a suitable word, smiled faintly.

“You are an accomplice. Do you understand?”

“An accomplice…”

Matthias, who had been rolling the unfamiliar word around in his mouth, also nodded vigorously.

“I understand.”

They were accomplices… or actors, gathered for the sole purpose of bringing down Alois, regardless of their country or social status.

As the story settled down, Arendt brought up the topic again.

“Since they failed to take out their target, they will probably come at us again, waiting for their chance. That’s when they’re waiting.”

“But the palace security has been tightened, so it won’t be easy to move.”

When Richt pointed that out, Arthur intervened.

“…I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.”

“What?”

“The only area where security has been tightened is near His Highness the Crown Prince and the other distinguished guests’ quarters. And…”

There was no one who could not guess who that person was.

Everyone’s gaze, except for Matthias, naturally turned to Arendt.

As if that was exactly it, the apprentice knight smiled faintly.

“Why is Senior Arthur using all his brain?”

“Do you really want to die?”

Arthur growled in annoyance, but was also ignored.

A leisurely reply came from beyond the communication port.

– Oh, you got hit after all.

“As expected, what does that mean? I never ordered them to attack the Crown Prince. I just told them to bring that apprentice knight you mentioned…!”

Rather than killing him on the spot, he planned to kidnap him, take him hostage, and summon Laius de Winfried.

If there was one weakness of Laius, who had the pinnacle of swordsmanship, it was that he was unusually soft on his own people.

But before the plan could be put into action, things went in a strange direction.

– The assassins probably didn’t attack the Crown Prince. They were probably targeting Arendt von Eckhart as planned.

“But why did it turn out like this?”

– Calm down, Your Highness. That’s the way he is. He staged the scene as if His Highness the Crown Prince had been attacked by the corpses of the assassins.

“What?”

Alois asked in a panic, but he soon regained his composure by pressing his temples.

“…Yeah, there’s no way they would have disobeyed my orders. It would make more sense to say that it was done by that crazy kid.”

It would be safe to assume that the Crown Prince and the other knights agreed with him. If that were true, they would have been a truly absurd group.

– Anyway, Your Highness, it seems that you are in a bit of a predicament. What are your plans from now on? I have no intention of backing out of the deal. Please kill Arendt von Eckhart.

“…”

There was a clear sense of laughter in the voice coming from the other end of the communication port, but Alois couldn’t let his usual anger show.

Because it was clear that he had made a mistake.

He was getting more and more anxious.

He thought it would be a simple task, but when things turned out this way, he had no choice but to admit that he had fallen for his own tricks.

– The ones who suffered this time were the people of the lower class, right? Aren’t there still things left that I lent you?

“…Right, there is still one more chance.”

– That’s it. This is the last time, so please don’t make a mistake this time, Your Highness.

A giggle could be heard from beyond the communication port.

The moment Alois, unable to contain his irritation, was about to say something.

Tak.

The communication was abruptly cut off by the sound of someone knocking on the door.

Tsk, Alois clicked his tongue and carelessly shoved the crystal ball inside.

“Come in.”

“Yes, brother.”

Click, the door opened and it was none other than Matthias who came in. Alois furrowed his brows slightly as his younger brother stood hesitatingly in the doorway.

“What? Why are you just standing there?”

“That, brother. It’s none other than…”

“Stop mumbling and speak up!”

The Crown Prince, who was already very irritated, suddenly shouted.

The Third Prince, who was timid, began to feel his heart pound and skip beats as he stood before the Crown Prince whom he had feared his entire life.

But Matthias slowly took a deep breath and calmed his mind.

‘I have to do it right.’

It was a blow to his pride to entrust the royal family’s fate to the people of the Empire, so he had to fulfill his responsibilities to some extent.

Matthias, using great effort to steady his trembling hands, spoke slowly and clearly.

“…Was it really you, brother, who sent an assassin to His Highness Cantares?”

It was the first line of the prologue of a play written just for Alois.