Owner of the Throne

“The merchant group was completely empty!”

Yuliana furrowed her brow.

“Empty? Where did they disappear to?”

“We’re searching now, but it’s difficult to find traces.”

“What?”

“I’ve attached the kingdom’s best trackers. If you give me a little time, I’ll find the merchant group’s whereabouts.”

“What on earth…”

Yuliana was so dumbfounded that words failed her.

After hearing that Pernok burst into the royal capital, she rushed to command them to capture the merchant group first.

If she’d been together from the start when taking over the royal capital, they would have forged trust to go together to the end.

But Pernok ignored her letter and conquered the royal capital alone.

Judging he might harbor other schemes seeing the throne, she intended to take the merchant group Pernok introduced as hostages to seat him at the negotiation table.

It was a judgment made the moment news of Pernok’s royal capital conquest was heard.

Though Yuliana swiftly deployed forces, the merchant group already fled as if somehow noticing.

The problem was that all mansions given to the merchant group were under her surveillance network.

She received reports of their movements daily, so how could they flee from her surveillance network?

“…They couldn’t have gone far. Search again starting from around the mansion.”

“The trackers…”

“Is the military now proudly crying that skills are inferior to mere trackers?”

When Yuliana glared, the adjutant bowed his head.

“I apologize. I’ll dispatch forces again.”

“Don’t miss even trivial tracks including nearby mountains. At least dozens disappeared. A procession of that scale inevitably leaves traces no matter how much they want to hide. Go back and bring results I’ll be satisfied with.”

“Yes!”

The adjutant rushed out of the tent, and Marquis Morfo entered.

Yuliana straightened her expression and welcomed him.

“Welcome, Marquis.”

“Have you been well?”

“Not as good as expected.”

“Though I heard about the ongoing situation. It’s hard to believe but I can’t deny each one.”

“How much can Tyr support?”

Yuliana was assuming the worst situation.

The moment Pernok placed Phillena on the execution platform and proclaimed divine mandate for the throne.

She couldn’t even enter alone to assert the competition hadn’t ended.

Because Illumina where Pernok became king would be a perfect death ground.

If Pernok betrayed his promise with her and put forward the worst, Yuliana too needed power to strike back.

The only place she could lean on was Tyr.

“Tyr opened its airways.”

“Did the front-line situation flow favorably?”

“Perhaps because of talk that Duke Chris appeared in Illumina, the 13th Lord pressing the front line withdrew. His Highness Jan also recovered his body to be able to return to the battlefield again. The front line’s recovery is proceeding again.”

“Then bring Jan here…”

“However, His Majesty is deeply concerned.”

Morfo, like a guardian, made a rigid expression.

Since she was seeing him this rigid for the first time, Yuliana’s heart seemed to drop.

“Prince Pernok backed the royal army and Duke Flemyr, and now concluded solid alliances even with Rezhen, the Mage Association, and the Holy Kingdom. Is there a method to reverse with Tyr alone?”

If they stirred up Pernok, they might incur the Holy Kingdom’s wrath.

Moreover, since the Mage Association that Tyr treated coldly attached to Pernok, if the Holy Kingdom and Mage Association united, a war larger than Rakis’s invasion could break out.

If asked whether there was a method to challenge the throne after breaking through this predicament, nine out of ten would say impossible.

But Yuliana too had a method she’d thought of.

“It might be difficult with Tyr alone. But if we draw Border Garrison Commander Conta to our side, it’s a fight worth trying.”

“Conta? You mean that general stationed at the wall above?”

“Pernok is punishing all royals and nobles. Conta is Vans’s confidant, surely his treatment is also a candle before wind. If he could, he’d want to flee.”

“You’re saying to change fear of Pernok to loyalty toward us?”

“Yes. The border garrison reaches fully 100,000. If Jan and Tyr’s great army add there, we can push to Illumina’s royal capital before the Holy Kingdom dispatches forces.”

“It’s a method worth trying.”

“I already sent an envoy. Conta showed a positive reaction.”

“Oh. Truly befitting Your Highness! With this scale, I can persuade His Majesty to request additional dispatch of 20,000 more of Tyr’s elite. If we add 20,000 to the 30,000 stationed here and His Highness Jan joins, even we have a fight worth trying.”

“Marquis Morfo is also here.”

“Hahaha, I’m embarrassed. Though lacking in skill, I’ll do my best for Your Highness to grasp the throne.”

“I heard the High Priest accompanies Pernok’s side. Is there a method to eliminate only the S3 Magus variable?”

“Handle it through diplomacy. We too will prepare proposals the Holy Kingdom would covet.”

Yuliana nodded with a smile.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry. Tyr will absolutely never forsake Princess Yuliana!”

Morfo’s confident-sounding voice seemed to illuminate a bright future.

Yuliana who set down concerns ground her teeth while hearing news of Pernok.

‘The mobility of blocking Duke Chris’s invasion and advancing to the royal capital is exceptional. However, forceful expedition exhausts soldiers. With those tired bodies, they can’t block this side that rested sufficiently.’

She even brought Magi of Jan and Morfo.

The moment Tyr attempted diplomacy with the Holy Kingdom.

A great army totaling 150,000—100,000 border garrisons plus 50,000 Tyr elite—would strike down Pernok.

Tyr’s King Suira struck the armrest from the throne.

“What do you mean! The supply corps was attacked!”

“I-I apologize, Your Majesty!”

“What happened! Don’t tell me! Did Rakis raid the supply corps?”

“No, Your Majesty. It’s presumed to be pirates’ doing.”

“Pirates? With 5,000 forces attached to the supply corps, how dare mere bandits aim for it! Do you think that makes sense!?”

They used ships again to send military supplies to the front line.

The Mage Association head changed anew, and with all attention focused on Illumina, he judged there was no danger of ships being attacked like before.

In a situation where Rakis might invade again, there was no better transport means than ships for swift military supply delivery.

Yet the ships sank again and thousands of forces and supplies sank into the sea.

Suira was at a loss for words.

The Association, Rezhen, Holy Kingdom, Rakis, Illumina.

Virtually all powerful forces around Tyr were concentrated on Illumina’s civil war.

No nation showed signs of raiding Tyr’s ships.

Though they sensitively collected intelligence just in case, the sea was nothing if not peaceful.

Yet, pirates?

How could a mere pirate band topple a supply fleet carrying thousands of forces?

“This… this pathetic…!”

Suira grabbed the back of his neck and buried his back in the throne.

Now there was no time to grasp who attacked. Supplies would be cut off again.

He needed to resolve first how to spend the approaching harsh winter at the front line already urgent for supplies due to Rakis’s invasion.

“Secure supplies again immediately! This time, use land routes no matter how long it takes!”

“Yes!”

While the chancellor poured cold sweat to secure supplies, he gathered all the nation’s merchants.

But even gathering all inventory, they lacked even food to add to Yuliana’s side, let alone the front line.

On a day when Suira’s worries deepened, an unexpected benefactor visited.

At the place where he requested diplomacy to repel the Holy Kingdom’s High Priest, a Blue priest and he came.

“It’s been a while. Do you remember me, Your Majesty?”

“You…!”

It was the merchant Yuliana sought, Rio.

When Suira looked at the Blue priest, he rather passed his gaze to Rio.

“Merchant Group Leader Rio is the Holy Kingdom’s proxy.”

“…!?”

“I hope you have a beneficial conversation.”

When the Blue priest smiled and vacated his seat, Suira asked Rio dumbfounded.

“How did you appear at this place representing the Holy Kingdom?”

“I knew Her Highness Yuliana’s thoughts well. You’d try striking the royal capital by gathering even the border garrisons. And fearing the High Priest’s existence, you’d consider diplomatic practicality as a method to resolve it. Isn’t the S3’s name value too high to resolve with force?”

When the vital point was struck, Suira was at a loss for words.

“Surely, you’d try negotiating with the Holy Kingdom on better terms than Illumina. But there’s a more convenient method.”

“Convenient method?”

“Join hands with us, Your Majesty.”

Suira’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“That means… as expected, you were Pernok’s close associate as Yuliana said.”

“Yes.”

“But why did you support us with food from the start? Strictly speaking, aren’t you competition opponents?”

“It’s not to rescue Her Highness Yuliana from predicament. For instance, I wanted to maintain intimate relations with Your Majesty.”

“With me?”

“Front-line construction is Tyr’s wish. And His Majesty Pernok said after punishing Phillena, he’d help His Majesty Suira’s will.”

“…!”

“I don’t know what tricks Yuliana played in between. But Illumina wishes to stay close with His Majesty Suira.”

Suira’s mind turned quickly.

He knew Illumina constructed alliance relationships with great powers, and Pernok already occupied the royal capital.

Though Yuliana devised all schemes to reverse this, nothing sounded sweeter than Rio’s proposal.

“You must have constantly thought of Her Highness Yuliana and His Highness Jan’s marriage, but His Majesty Pernok is also still unmarried.”

“…!”

“It means there’s much room to develop into a close relationship.”

Suira swallowed dry saliva.

Already confused by Rakis’s invasion, would he clash with Illumina again to create military gaps?

Or would he join hands with Pernok whose throne was decided and form a huge alliance reaching the Holy Kingdom, Rezhen, and Mage Association to oppose Rakis?

Considering all benefits to be gained in that process, supporting Yuliana wasn’t appropriate.

“As a sign of friendship, I prepared military provisions. The front line’s winter won’t be harsh at all.”

Suira’s worries disappeared.

Unless he was a fool, it was clear whose hand to hold.

“One proposal.”

“Please speak.”

“Spare Yuliana.”

“Is it because of His Highness Jan?”

“If Yuliana dies, Jan will leap into Illumina alone.”

“Illumina won’t avoid.”

“What?”

“I apologize, but we want equal relationships, not leaving future troubles while watching others’ reactions. Alliances should appropriately be concluded after all affairs are cleanly wrapped up.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine to let Yuliana live quietly!”

“She’s a heroine trying to strike Illumina by drawing in the border garrisons. How could living quietly be plausible?”

“Still, she’s blood kin, how brutal.”

“Has there ever been a throne without blood on it? Affairs that must be done should be decided resolutely with judgment. If even His Majesty Suira watches His Highness Jan’s reactions too much, how can you boast powerful royal authority?”

“Hmm…”

“I trust you’re not someone who abandons great causes swept by emotions. Then, please send one letter to Illumina as soon as you finish deciding.”

Rio lightly bowed and rose from his seat.

Suira let out a light sigh and asked.

“But how did you avoid Yuliana’s surveillance network?”

“We dug tunnels. There are many artisans with expertise in breaking through underground.”

“Underground… underground… whew.”

He felt keenly Yuliana’s mistake of only looking up and not examining below.

But the greater failure was overlooking Rio’s power in advance.

After escaping the mansion, Rio made bases everywhere to guard against supply corps moving overland.

He also commanded using floating islands and different races to handle maritime fleets together.

Since winter approached soon, it was judgment that large-scale supplies would surely continue to the front line, and the prediction hit the mark beautifully.

Suira who had great powers in mind properly got hit by Rio.

But for Suira who didn’t know that fact, he had no choice but to grasp Rio’s hand, the only salvation.

“Is King Pernok certainly unmarried? No fiancée either?”

“He’s so busy with state affairs…”

“I see. Then should I cut Yuliana’s troop support?”

“No. Proceed as is. And withdraw forces at the important moment.”

“When is the important moment?”

“The moment Her Highness Yuliana leads all forces across the border and points her sword at the royal capital.”

Treason.

There could be no more perfect execution charge than that.

“Is it King Pernok’s idea?”

Rio smiled wordlessly.

“Sigh, I understand. I’ll write a letter, so take it.”

“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”

Suira sealed a long letter with the king’s seal and handed it to Rio.

When Rio came out embracing the letter, the Blue priest asked with a smile.

“I heard they attached one excellent advisor, but I didn’t know you’d even care for the king’s marriage.”

“Marriage? Ah, did you hear the conversation inside?”

“My ears are somewhat sharp.”

Rio chuckled.

His brazen nature didn’t befit a Holy Kingdom priest.

‘If you formed an alliance with the Holy Kingdom, you could have told me in advance.’

Plan B was for Rio to appear as an envoy together with a priest when Yuliana chose diplomacy as a means to guard against the High Priest.

Therefore, it succeeded by directly facing the king and splitting Yuliana and Tyr with Pernok’s solidity.

Thanks to a priest-ranked Blue priest accompanying, work became smooth.

“It’s merely intent to inflate King Suira’s sweet dreams.”

“You’re not actually connecting them?”

“His Majesty Pernok said marriage is a powerful weapon. There’s no better method than marriage for forces coveting an unmarried young king. So he said to use it well here and there until war wraps up.”

“I felt it before too, but you’re truly skilled.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Rio smiled and left the palace.

From now on, there was no need to hide around.

The moment Tyr’s forces were delivered to Yuliana, she’d seek Pernok like a moth leaping into flames.

And she’d collapse without even spreading her wings.

Pernok examined the letter that arrived from Rio.

The negotiation ended safely.

Yuliana will crawl into the death ground.

Beside it was King Suira’s sealed letter together.

After appropriately reading subtle questions about alliance and marriage, Pernok rose from his seat.

And he lifted the crown.

The throne selection method passed down wrongly from the third generation returned to its original place now at this point.

“Your Majesty, execution ceremony preparations are complete.”

“You worked hard, Duke. And Tyr abandoned Yuliana.”

“So King Suira ultimately chose Your Majesty.”

“Are you sad?”

“She’s the last royal. Can’t you give her a chance to be buried in the countryside?”

“If you want to straighten this nation’s order from now on, always keep in mind.”

Pernok spoke to Flemyr with a rigid expression in a dry voice.

“Never leave future troubles behind.”

Flemyr squeezed his eyes shut and withdrew to the side.

Pernok wore the crown, drew the execution sword, and left the throne room.

Above the plaza where the people gathered.

On the long execution platform, all Illumina’s royals, nobles, and Phillena were presenting their necks.

Walking the path where close associates deployed strict guards, Pernok ascended the execution platform.

Porla cried out with a pale face.

“Sp-spare me! Aren’t we brothers!”

Pernok chuckled.

“I only just learned Vans stabbed you!”

“I too hold no personal grudge against you. I could end here the revenge drama to soothe the client’s resentment.”

“Th-then…”

“But can you guarantee you won’t come eyeing my throne in the future?”

Pernok raised the execution sword.

“Vermin like you who shake the nation’s foundations aren’t needed in the nation I’ll establish.”

The execution sword drew down Porla’s neck.

As blood gushed in all directions, Pernok’s solemn resonance dug into the execution platform where royals and nobles’ screams ran rampant.

“The execution begins now!”

When the people’s attention concentrated, Pernok cried out the charges of royals and nobles one by one. And the execution sword drew resolute lines and cut away the sinners’ necks.