Chapter 466: Crown Princess

Editor: Tseirp

After breakfast, Princess Iliaja and the Lord Protector, Kabui Somal, were having a meeting in the princess’s room.

As usual, Ryo and Abel were also at the same table, though they couldn’t quite follow the conversation.

Most of it was about the procedures for the coronation rehearsal, and since neither of them would be standing behind the princess during the actual coronation or the rehearsal, they weren’t very involved.

For some reason, they would be seated in the guest section.

“Come to think of it, Abel, you were also in the guest section during the opening ceremony for the Rain Shooter at the Port Festival.”

“That’s right, I remember that. Brings back memories.”

That was more than three years ago.

“Back then, everything seemed to shine so brightly.”

“And now, it doesn’t?”

“Now, I’m stuck guarding a wicked, ruthless, and cruel swordsman like Abel.”

“Hey, I’ve got plenty of complaints of my own.”

The two of them whispered such a conversation to each other in hushed tones.

However, since they were at the same table, Princess Iliaja and Kabui Somal could hear them.

But the two continued to discuss the procedures… showing their professionalism.

At that moment, the chamberlain appeared.

“Your Highness, an invitation has arrived from the Crown Princess for a visit to the palace.”

Princess Iliaja and Kabui Somal exchanged glances.

Both of their gazes were sharp.

It seemed the two also sensed the change in the atmosphere.

Abel’s eyes sharpened as well.

The slowest to react was Ryo.

But his muttered words showed that he wasn’t completely unaware.

“In situations like this, the primary weapon is usually poison. The second would be an attack by an assassin.”

Of course, this was speculation based on typical fantasy novel tropes and foreign drama clichés.

It wasn’t something he’d experienced firsthand.

Normally, Abel would immediately deny such a statement, but this time he didn’t.

Regardless of the source, what Ryo said was plausible…

So, Abel asked to confirm.

“Could the Crown Princess directly harm Princess Iliaja?”

Abel’s words were very direct.

Even though she understood, the princess’s face stiffened slightly.

“Abel, please be more tactful with your words!”

“Oh, sorry. But still…”

“No, Abel-san’s question is important. What do you think, Lord Protector?”

Ryo scolded Abel, but Princess Iliaja remained tense.

“Honestly, if it’s poison, it’s possible.”

“Seriously…?”

Abel muttered in response to Kabui Somal’s answer.

“If it’s a slow-acting poison, it would be perfect. Even if it becomes apparent that something consumed at the Crown Prince’s palace was the cause, they could feign ignorance. With the king absent and the crown prince gone, the highest authority in the royal family, even temporarily, is Prince Jolt and the Crown Princess. If that’s the case…”

“If the princess were to collapse, the only ones left in the royal family would be the Crown Princess and Jolt… They could definitely push their way through.”

“However, it’s difficult to decline an invitation from Crown Princess Raina. Once Princess Iliaja is crowned, things will be different, but for now, she’s still the Sixth Princess. In the meantime. The Crown Princess holds a higher rank…”

Abel and Kabui Somal were discussing the current situation, trying to determine the best course of action…

“We cannot refuse the invitation.”

Princess Iliaja spoke firmly.

“Your Highness…”

“It’s not certain that Crown Princess Raina will make any moves. We must avoid further conflict within the royal family. This afternoon, nobles from all over will begin arriving in the capital, correct? We still need them to continue supporting the royal family as they have.”

Once again, Princess Iliaja spoke resolutely.

Hearing this, no one could object further.

So, Ryo made a suggestion.

“Your Highness, perhaps you could wear an ice armor for protection, just in case of an attack?”

“Ryo-san?”

Princess Iliaja tilted her head at Ryo’s suggestion.

“.”

As Ryo cast the spell, Princess Iliaja briefly glowed from head to toe.

However, the light quickly faded… and it seemed as though nothing had changed.

“Isn’t supposed to sparkle and shine?”

“Abel, times have changed. The new version is less noticeable.”

Abel recalled a time when he’d been forced to wear Ice Armor in his office.

His comrades from the ‘Crimson Sword’ immediately noticed the glittering armor when they walked in.

Princess Iliaja touched her face and arms through her clothes.

Then, she seemed to understand.

“It’s like something very thin is clinging close to my skin? It’s so subtle that I wouldn’t notice it if I wasn’t paying attention… there’s no discomfort.”

“As expected of Your Highness. It’s an extremely thin layer of fine ice particles. It’s similar to the principle I used for the cushion on the ice chair aboard the ship. It’s applied right on top of your skin. I’ve even applied it to your palms, so if you shake hands with someone, they might feel something odd…”

“That’s alright. While sailors do have a habit of shaking hands, it’s not a custom among the royal family or nobility.”

Princess Iliaja replied with a smile.

“Ryo, will that thin layer… really be enough?”

“I understand your concern, Abel. But I realized something. if it’s not going to break, it doesn’t matter if it’s a hundred millimeters thick or just one.”

“O-Okay…”

Of course, Ryo was assuming it wouldn’t break.

If they were to be hit by something like the of the Akuma Leonor, it would break, but a regular knife wouldn’t be able to penetrate it…

In that case, a thin layer should suffice.

“That leaves us with one last option…”

“Poison, huh…”

It seemed that Abel and Kabui Somal shared the same concern.

“I’ve considered that as well… for now.”

“Huh?”

Ryo said, and Princess Iliaja looked surprised.

“Ah, that…”

Then Abel, as if he remembered something, grimaced.

Seeing this, Princess Iliaja seemed to recall something else.

“Could it be that Abel-san was the one to make the sacrifice again?”

“As expected of you, Princess. Yes, Abel became the sacrifice once again.”

“You don’t always need to make me the sacrifice.”

Abel said, shaking his head as Princess Iliaja smiled and Ryo nodded.

“The word ‘Abel’ is synonymous with ‘sacrifice’.”

“No, it’s not…”

“People with the name Abel are destined to make great sacrifices. It has always been that way.”

“Even if that’s true, I can’t accept it.”

“This is troubling…”

Not everyone is familiar with the Old Testament.

In fact, there’s no such thing as a Bible in ‘Phi’.

“Anyway, I have a plan.”

Ryo said, smiling brightly.

Inside the Crown Prince’s palace.

“Princess Iliaja, thank you for coming.”

“Lady Raina, thank you for inviting me.”

Crown Princess Reina was a beautiful woman, with an air of elegance and dignity.

Her eldest son, Jolt, was not present.

“I’m sorry, Jolt hasn’t been feeling well since this morning. I was thinking of rescheduling, but once you become queen, you’ll be even busier than before. I thought today might be the last chance.”

“Not at all…”

Crown Princess Raina and Princess Iliaja sat across from each other at a table.

Ryo and Abel stood at attention on one side of the room.

On the opposite side stood two maids serving Crown Princess Raina.

Two cups had already been prepared on the table before Iliaja entered…

“This is ‘homecoming wine’. I’d like to toast to your safe return, Princess Iliaja.”

“Lady Raina, I’m sorry. But I’m not feeling well… I don’t think I should drink alcohol…”

With an apologetic expression, Iliaja tried to decline Raina’s offer.

But…

“Don’t say that. Just one cup.”

“But…”

“I also lost my husband in this turmoil. And you, Princess, lost His Majesty and your siblings, didn’t you? From now on, it will just be Jolt, you, and me. We need to join forces and strengthen the kingdom together. This cup is a pledge for that. Please.”

“Lady Raina…”

When the Crown Princess insists to that extent, it’s hard to refuse.

After all, there was a clear difference in their positions: Crown Princess Raina and the Sixth Princess Iliaja.

The fact that Raina was the Crown Princess and Iliaja was the Sixth Princess was undeniable.

Three days from now, after the coronation, their roles would be drastically reversed, but for now…

“Then, just one cup…”

Iliaja couldn’t resist any further.

In her mind, Ryo’s words echoed: ‘I have a plan’.

“Here you go.”

Raina placed one of the cups in front of Iliaja and kept the other for herself.

Iliaja took the cup placed before her.

At that moment…

“Your Highness, excuse me.”

A voice came from the other side of the room as Ryo walked over.

He no longer carried his usual carefree attitude.

With perfect courtly manners, typical of the Central Countries, he approached Iliaja from behind.

He whispered something to her.

After a moment, Iliaja nodded and said,

“Thank you.”

Ryo gave another perfect bow and walked gracefully back to his original position.

Under normal circumstances, this behavior might have warranted reprimand.

After all, it was an intrusion between the Crown Princess and a royal princess.

However, his movements were so flawless and elegant that no one said a word…

“Lady Raina, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. Shall we toast?”

Princess Iliaja and Crown Princess Raina raised their cups and drank.

After that, they engaged in idle conversation.

Two minutes passed, then three. By the time five minutes had gone by, Raina began to feel puzzled.

(Why isn’t there any effect? I’m sure I used Shrin poison. So it should work immediately… In fact, I was more concerned about how to frame her guards while she suffered…)

She had been very careful with the tasteless, odorless poison.

She made sure not to mix up the cups, silenced her servants, and more…

(Could it be that there was no poison?)

Raina glanced at the maid standing at the side of the room.

The maid, also confused by the lack of results, gave a slight shake of her head.

(Did her guard do something when he approached earlier? But he didn’t swap the cups… Even a spell or an antidote wouldn’t work unless the poison had already entered the body. Nothing would change if they attempted to neutralize the poison before it was consumed…)

Of course, if there had been more time, using a slow-acting poison like Chirilkaril would have been ideal, allowing the poison to take effect after Princess Iliaja had left the Crown Prince’s palace.

But right now, time was of the essence.

Chirilkaril’s poison is indeed slow-acting, remaining in the body for a long time and continuing to exert its effects. However, the time it takes to begin affecting the body after ingestion varies from person to person.

And it can be extremely inconsistent.

In some cases, the poison takes effect within a day, while in others, it might take five days.

But five days would be too late!

If the poison took effect after the coronation, it would be meaningless.

If Iliaja were to ascend to the throne as queen.

And then pass away, Jolt’s claim to the throne would be severely weakened.

At that point, he would no longer be ‘the Crown Prince’s son’, but ‘the son of the former Crown Prince’.

His status would be equal to that of distant relatives with a slight royal bloodline.

What’s more troubling is that Jolt is only five years old.

Being a minor would further lower his position in the line of succession…

That cannot be allowed!

They absolutely must not let Iliaja ascend the throne.

Raina regretted her lack of foresight countless times in her heart.

Due to the rebellion of Kabui Somal…

The King, the Crown Prince, and all the princes and princesses were killed.

The only one left was the Sixth Princess. And she was not even in the capital.

And that Kabui Somal was defeated with poison.

When looking at the next candidate for the throne, her son Jolt was the only one!

Wonderful!

It was a perfect situation!

However… the Central Navy, the strongest military force, did not side with her or Jolt.

The conflict between Kabui Somal, who leads the Central Navy, and the Crown Prince’s Palace was, of course, well-known.

So, she didn’t expect the entire Central Navy to side with her.

But she thought that at least a portion of it would defect…

However, not a single ship, not a single soldier, defected.

Of course, the Crown Prince’s Palace has its own military forces.

She tried to mobilize them.

She tried…

But she couldn’t.

The Central Navy took the initiative, and by the time Raina realized it, all of her forces had been disarmed…

The commanding officers were imprisoned under the Central Navy’s control.

The Central Navy waited for their commander, their sole master, Kabui Somal, to return.

They waited for the man, who was wandering on the edge of death, poisoned.

The Central Navy took actions that they believed were most correct.

Disarming the Crown Prince’s Palace forces was one of them.

Advancing their main forces into the southern Tamako province was another.

Three months later.

Kabui Somal finally returned alive.

Upon hearing this report, Raina trembled.

She was certain that he would take her and Jolt’s lives.

But Kabui Somal left the capital.

At that time, Raina couldn’t figure out where he had gone.

A week later, he returned, and for some reason, he brought back Princess Iliaja with him.

Moreover, as soon as he returned to the capital, a notice was sent to all the nobles across the kingdom.

“One week from now, Princess Iliaja will ascend the throne as Queen.”

When Raina heard this, she was furious. She despaired. She lost her sanity.

She had to stop Princess Iliaja’s ascension at all costs, even if it meant killing her.

Fortunately, her home country, the Atinjo Grand Duchy, had pledged its full support to her.

The Grand Duchy seemed to have known about Princess Iliaja’s return and her ascension as Queen even before Raina did…

But Raina chose not to dwell on that.

Even though it was her homeland and her uncle was the Grand Duke, the Grand Duchy had its own plans.

Of course, Raina understood that not all of their intentions would be communicated to her.

In the end, she chose poison as her method.

However, she wasn’t the only one making decisions.

Yes, the Grand Duchy had its own intentions as well.

While Crown Princess Raina was panicking over the poison’s lack of effect, the event unfolded.

Three arrows flew through the open window, aiming for Princess Iliaja.

“”

The arrows were deflected by the instantly erected wall of ice.

The arrows fell to the floor.

“Princess!”

Abel immediately ran towards Princess Iliaja, drew his sword, and stood protectively behind her.

“Lady Raina! What is the meaning of this?”

“I-I don’t know…”

Princess Iliaja, with the authority of a queen, demanded answers. Crown Princess Raina, flustered, replied in confusion.

She truly had no idea what was happening.

Crown Princess Raina had given no such orders.

From Raina’s reaction, Iliaja realized that this attack was not orchestrated by her.

However, they were still in the Crown Prince’s palace.

With the Crown Prince gone, Raina was now the person in charge.

The responsibility for failing to prevent this attack, for allowing such a thing to happen in the Crown Prince’s Palace… would undoubtedly fall on Raina.

But for now, escaping was the top priority.

Ryo had originally planned to force an escape by surrounding them with an …

But four strips of paper flew in through the window, changing the situation.

“Huh? The is unraveling?”

Ryo, who had quickly moved to protect Princess Iliaja alongside Abel, muttered.

It wasn’t a matter of nullifying magic.

Nor did it seem that control over the magic had been taken away.

However, he couldn’t keep the up for long.

He could still generate ice walls.

But after five seconds, the would break apart and would leave Ryo and the others’ surroundings, eventually disappearing.

“Ryo?”

“I’m not sure what’s happening. Could it be magic from the Eastern Countries or perhaps alchemy…?”

Abel asked briefly, and Ryo answered.

Abel nodded, but further investigation would have to wait.

“It can hold for five seconds, so as long as we continuously generate it, we should be fine.”

As they were speaking, another four strips of paper flew in through the window.

“.”

Ryo immediately shot ice lances at the strips of paper.

Slip.

The didn’t hit its target!

“Impossible! .”

Slip.

The same scene played out again.

The ice lances weren’t deflected, nor did the strips of paper dodge them.

Instead, the trajectory of the lances changed just before they hit the paper.

“What is this?!”

Ryo couldn’t help but shout in frustration.

It was an entirely new experience.

“”

Sensing something was off, Ryo erected an ice wall between the strips of paper and Princess Iliaja, as well as themselves, and Crown Princess Raina.

It would only last five seconds, but there was no choice.

He just had to keep regenerating it!

Boom. Boom, boom, boom…

After the initial heavy explosion, hundreds or thousands of stone fragments were fired from the four strips of paper floating in the air.

They weren’t aimed at anyone in particular but shot out in all directions: up, down, right, and left.

“”

Ryo continuously regenerated the ice walls every five seconds.

“This is getting pretty annoying! ”

Ryo complained as he kept regenerating the ice walls.

The stone rain continued for about a minute.

“Oh no… .”

Ryo finally put up a protective wall around everyone in the room.

Even the pillars had been riddled with holes by the stone barrage.

And then, the roof collapsed.

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