novelraw Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149: For the Kingdom (1)
Until now, most of Evan’s motivations stemmed from self-interest or protecting those close to him.
But the most powerful driving force was, ultimately, revenge.
“Rotman Reverk, from now on, you’ll work for me. If I go to the Empire, you must follow any order. Are you prepared to follow my will?”
As Evan extended his hand, Rotman grasped it without hesitation.
“Of course. I’ll follow with my life.”
“Good. Then…”
About to discuss further plans with Rotman, Evan suddenly remembered Princess Anna’s presence.
‘Oh, I can’t decide his fate unilaterally.’
Anna stood with her lips pursed, glaring at Evan with a face full of dissatisfaction.
He immediately lowered his stance and offered a sincere apology.
“I’m sorry. My personal feelings got the better of me. The decision on how to handle someone who harmed the kingdom is yours, Your Highness.”
“I’m not interested in punishment. But.”
Anna’s discontent had another cause.
“Why are you, Evan, going to the Empire yourself? Why are you diving into such a dangerous task?”
“What?”
Her voice mixed anger and worry.
Her true reason for being upset was Evan alone.
From the moment he declared his intent to go to the Empire, Anna had been unable to hide her unease.
“This matter is something His Majesty, my father, will handle—whether by sending an official envoy to protest or informing other nations. There’s no reason for you to take such risks!”
“I know. I trust His Majesty’s wisdom to make the most rational judgment.”
“Then why…!”
“But that only works when dealing with humans.”
“Humans? Are you saying the opponent isn’t human?”
Anna frowned, unable to comprehend Evan’s words.
If the Empire’s Emperor wasn’t human, then what was he?
Her confusion was resolved by Evan’s next words.
“Yes, they’re worse than beasts. They may wear human faces, but they’re not beings you can reason with.”
“You sound like you know the Empire intimately.”
“…I can’t say more. Just know one thing: I’m not lying to you, Your Highness.”
Anna fell silent, staring at Evan.
In his eyes, she saw not only anger but also deep, profound regret.
‘Why is he so determined to handle the Empire himself? Why?’
Though she couldn’t fathom his reasons, she knew Evan wasn’t one to act lightly.
Still, she remained opposed to him going to the Empire.
“I won’t ask about your circumstances anymore. You don’t seem inclined to share. But deciding to head to the Empire is too sudden. The war just ended…”
Evan met her gaze quietly and said, “I’m not leaving right away. I plan to prepare calmly while sorting out the situation.”
“There’s no option to not go, is there?”
“I’m sorry, but no.”
Evan’s resolve was firm, and the princess’s gaze was equally steadfast.
As a tense silence hung between them, Rotman, who had been looking out the window, spoke cautiously.
“Um… something’s been flashing repeatedly from the palace. Could it be a signal related to us?”
Startled, Evan rushed to the window.
Faint, periodic lights flickered from the palace.
“Damn it!”
It was the emergency signal prearranged with Mei.
It meant either Mei, disguised as the princess, was in trouble, or the princess’s absence had been discovered.
“We can’t stay here. The palace has either noticed the princess is gone or will soon!”
“Oh no! Let’s hurry back!”
Evan and Anna moved toward the door but paused, looking at Rotman.
He quickly raised both hands, speaking calmly.
“Don’t worry. I won’t run. If you don’t trust me, you can tie me up again.”
Rotman’s eyes conveyed utmost sincerity.
After a brief hesitation, Evan nodded.
“If you’re truly serious about revenge against the Empire, you’d better stay put.”
“I understand.”
Leaving Rotman, newly bound by their shared enemy in the Empire, Evan hurriedly led Anna back toward the palace.
***
Meanwhile, just before sending the emergency signal, Mei had been lying comfortably in the princess’s bedroom, ready to sleep, when an urgent need to use the bathroom forced her to leave the room.
But the lavish inner palace made finding the bathroom a challenge.
‘Where do royals even do their business to hide it so well?’
Grumbling as she cautiously roamed the corridor, she suddenly sensed an unusual presence and swiftly hid.
Peeking from behind a pillar, she saw two figures at the corridor’s end.
‘Huh? The head maid? But who’s that other person?’
As the figure in the shadows became faintly visible, Mei’s spine chilled.
‘Advisor Jorzan…?! Why’s he with the head maid in the middle of the night, in the inner palace?’
As the royal family’s teacher, the great mage Jorzan had free access to the inner palace.
But at this late hour, and with the head maid, no less, it was undeniably suspicious.
‘Are they secretly having an affair?’
Mei’s mind jumped to an absurd conclusion, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she crept closer to observe.
Soon, she realized they weren’t having an affair or even a normal conversation.
‘Wait… that’s not a conversation.’
The head maid stood blankly, unresponsive, while Jorzan placed a hand on her forehead, muttering something.
It was clearly the act of casting magic.
‘The advisor’s either casting or undoing brainwashing on the head maid. Surely not the former…’
Soon, the head maid snapped out of it, speaking in a flustered voice.
“A-Adviser? Why am I here…?”
“Are you coming to? You were brainwashed. What’s the last thing you remember?”
“The last thing… I went to look for a missing key to the meal passage.”
“You lost a key? Did you find it?”
“No… I was checking the passage with a spare key, but I don’t remember anything after that.”
Jorzan’s expression hardened sharply.
“Then someone brainwashed you there. For this to happen in the inner palace… Unless it’s a palace advisor, no one could cast such a spell… Wait?!”
Realizing something, Jorzan turned, striding directly toward where Mei was hiding.
‘Damn it! Something’s off. I need to get back to the princess’s room and send the signal!’
Unable to delay, Mei spun around, sprinting back to the bedroom.
She hurriedly pulled out a pre-prepared luminescent spell scroll and unfurled it, desperately signaling toward the safehouse where Evan’s group was.
‘Please, notice this light! Please!’
The luminescent spell’s signal beamed through the window toward the safehouse.
As the magic began to fade,
―Bang!
The bedroom door burst open, and Jorzan entered with a cold expression.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he unleashed powerful telekinesis, restraining Mei.
“Who are you?! Where is the princess?”
Floating in midair, unable to move, Mei managed a strained response.
“Well… it’s a long story…”
***
Rushing back to the palace, Evan and Anna found, contrary to their fears, an eerily calm atmosphere.
But this calm only heightened their sense of foreboding.
“Nothing’s happened, right?”
Anna whispered anxiously, and Evan replied gravely,
“She wouldn’t send an emergency signal for something trivial. At the very least, our plan’s been exposed.”
Mei was Viper’s leader, a seasoned veteran.
For her to send an emergency signal, the princess’s absence had surely been discovered.
‘The silver lining is that this hasn’t spread through the palace yet. But we don’t have much time.’
Evan quickly gathered his thoughts and whispered to Anna,
“For now, focus on getting back to where you’re supposed to be.”
“Got it. Let’s hurry!”
They reentered the inner palace through the kitchen’s secret passage.
Thankfully, the interior was ominously quiet, and they faced no interruptions in the corridors.
But the moment they opened the princess’s bedroom door, Evan and Anna realized the situation had already spiraled out of control.
Inside, they were greeted by Advisor Jorzan’s stern expression, the head maid’s flustered look, and Mei, suspended in midair, restrained by telekinesis.
“You’re here. A bit late, though.”
Mei gave an awkward smile, waving slightly from the air.
Jorzan, however, directed a sharp question at them.
“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? Did you leave the palace with Duke Evan Lafard? And who is this woman? Brainwashing the head maid—what were you doing out there?”
Jorzan glared at Anna.
Trying to defuse the situation, she smiled calmly and responded, “I felt stifled and asked to get some air. They couldn’t refuse my request, so please don’t take it too seriously.”
But Jorzan’s expression remained cold.
“A request doesn’t justify everything. I’ll report this to His Majesty immediately.”
“No! That’ll get them punished!”
“As they should be. The war just ended, and they put you in danger?”
Jorzan’s stance was unyielding, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Then, Evan, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.
“Advisor, is this known only to you and the head maid?”
Jorzan frowned, displeased.
“Yes. There’s no need to spread such a shameful matter. But soon, His Majesty and everyone will know.”
“So, only the two of you know…”
Evan calmly closed the bedroom door.