Chapter 249

Chapter 249
Chapter 249: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

The Imperial Palace was experiencing the most chaotic days since the Emperor’s enthronement.

As expected, the Archbishop was the cause.

It was so remarkable how the Archbishop managed to stir up trouble that I wondered why he hadn’t interfered with the Imperial Family until now.

He officially announced it.

And at the state council, no less.

“The Imperial Family disappearance incident is related to the Demon Race.”

“And coincidentally, most of the missing individuals are confirmed to have disappeared from the Empress’s Palace garden.”

He put on a kind face and spoke as if a great disaster had occurred.

“Did you hear? From the Empress’s Palace…”

“Speaking of which, didn’t that maid disappear recently too?”

“Heavens above…”

The nobles, whose various relationships were intertwined, tried to keep quiet even after hearing the news, but the Imperial Palace servants and maids were different.

While the Central Nobles might be safe, we have to come here directly!

It was only natural for fear to spread among them.

“…If we say the wrong thing, we die, and if we’re unlucky, we die too.”

“Sob, I’m so scared…”

“I’m the pillar of my family, and if something goes wrong, my entire family might be ruined.”

Realistic fear spreads faster.

“We can’t just stay here.”

“I… I want to live!”

The servants in charge of the Empress’s Palace submitted their resignations or requested vacations, citing various reasons.

Naturally, the famously opulent Empress’s Palace rapidly crumbled.

The garden, once filled with an intensely beautiful floral scent, began to emit a musty odor of decay as it fell into disrepair, and as the maids who attended to the Empress’s clothing and grooming disappeared, the Empress’s attire became more modest.

Given the situation, not even the Emperor’s Palace or the First Prince’s Palace could spare any personnel.

No, it was closer to the truth that they did not send anyone because their own safety was more important.

“The situation is not good, Empress.”

Count Nord Lepicent, the leader of the Central Nobles who had grasped the situation, visited his daughter’s room directly.

He did not hide his disappointment in his daughter.

Under his gaze, which was different from his usual calm demeanor, the Empress clutched her dress hem beneath the table.

“…I am sorry, Father.”

“You should be sorry.”

“…”

“The current events have shattered the alliance of the Central Nobles, and many have switched their allegiance to the Second Prince’s faction. Do you know what that means?”

Anger slowly rose in Count Nord’s voice.

“It means my Lepicent family’s position has been weakened.”

His voice grew louder, and his hands trembled as if he wanted to raise them at any moment.

The Empress, observing all of this, tried her best not to lower her head.

Because doing so would only provoke her father further.

“Hooouuu…”

Count Nord let out a deep sigh and then spoke decisively.

“However, keep in mind that the Empress will not collapse because of this.

The servants will return, and it will be revealed that the Empress is not involved.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know what it means, Empress.”

The Count replied, running his hand over his wrinkled face.

“Abandon the First Prince.”

“As a mother, how can I abandon my son?”

The Empress covered her mouth with her hand as she said this.

Her expression was that of a deeply saddened mother, but the corners of her mouth peeking out from beside her small hand formed a smile.

In fact, she had expected things to unfold this way.

The position of Empress, as the eldest daughter of the core of the Central Nobles, the Lepicent family, is not so easily shattered.

However, what she worried about was…

‘I was worried that my aged father might make a rash decision.’

She was anxious that he might choose the First Prince, simply because he was young and held the title of First Prince.

If that were the case, it would be a hundred times better to sacrifice the First Prince and fall under the Second Prince to protect herself.

Of course, the Empress was not entirely without maternal love.

“What in the world have you done!”

“My position has become unstable because of you, Mother.”

“Please appeal to Count Nord to resolve this, or at least minimize the damage.”

“Damn it, so much has happened while I was confined!”

As soon as the Archbishop’s words spread, the First Prince, who had rushed to her and was causing a scene, was the first to do so. Seeing him, her remaining affection completely vanished.

He lacked the intelligence to understand that if she abandoned him, the First Prince would become like a kite without a string, a lost bird.

‘How can he resemble the Emperor even in that?’

The Empress suppressed the smile that crept onto her lips, lowered her hand, and replied as if deep in thought.

“However, your words are more important to me, Father… I need time to consider.”

“One day should suffice.”

“I will give you an answer as soon as possible, Father.”

“Very well. And…”

Count Nord stood up and said decisively.

“I have no connection to the Demon Race. Your daughter is also not involved.”

“That is stating the obvious. This is all a frame-up.”

“There will be no second time.”

It was a warning that if a similar incident occurred again, she would be discarded without hesitation.

“I will keep that in mind.”

It was a rather harsh thing to say between family members, but the Empress accepted it naturally.

After all, this was the kind of family she had always known.

It was simply about aligning with whoever offered her the most benefit.

“Travel safely.”

Count Nord left without lingering, and the Empress felt relieved.

And…

—

“…Alas. You must be heartbroken.”

The Archbishop stood in the dark corridor of the Empress’s Palace, looking at the foolish individual before him.

The First Prince.

Unfortunately, he had overheard the entire conversation.

“Archbishop. How dare you speak so loudly…”

“Lower your voice.”

The Archbishop smiled kindly and reached out to cover the First Prince’s mouth.

“Especially now, shouldn’t you be more careful? You have no one to rely on.”

At his gentle words, the First Prince shivered.

When the Archbishop removed his hand, the First Prince hastily defended himself in a much smaller voice than before.

“I, I am not behind this. I know nothing about any disappearances. You know that, I am already unable to leave the Prince’s Palace…”

“However, Your Highness the First Prince.”

The Archbishop lowered his eyebrows as if in regret.

“Was it not you who cursed His Highness the Second Prince?”

“That…”

“That alone is sufficient evidence.”

“What… what must I do.”

To the First Prince’s question, the Archbishop shook his head.

As if it were unnecessary.

No, it was as if he already knew everything.

The First Prince got goosebumps from his demeanor.

Until now, the Archbishop had shown no interest in politics.

Furthermore, he had learned that the scale of the temple had significantly shrunk due to 50 years of peace.

Therefore, he had unknowingly considered the Archbishop to be an “inoffensive individual.”

But, that was not the case.

Those eyes.

‘These are not the eyes an Archbishop should have.’

The First Prince lacked ability.

However, he possessed a unique, instinctive talent for quickly reading the greed of the strong when faced with them, like prey.

“Ah.”

The Archbishop, feigning ignorance of what the First Prince had realized, uttered an exclamation as if a trivial thought had occurred to him, and hinted.

“I have no immediate desires… but if things proceed like this, Your Highness the First Prince will be extremely anxious.”

“Y-yes. So, anything.”

After all, as his first servant, one should not cause suffering to others.

“Then, shall we make a very small deal?”

—

Island.

Of course, there were countless islands in ‘In the World’.

However, there was only one island that could be found if one looked for it.

Commonly known as ‘Mermaid Island’.

The place where the mermaid kingdom once existed…

‘It was an event map.’

Before ‘In the World’ replaced all events with ‘Hotel Easter’ due to issues like reward inflation.

The early summer events, held during a time of innocent festivities, were hosted on ‘Mermaid Island’.

* A place that could only be reached by going to a specific location on a specific date.
* A space where mystical mermaids resided.
* In the past, all sorts of treasures collected by mermaids lay buried beneath a sunken pirate ship.

…That was the content, I believe.

Of course, Lion went too.

He participated in treasure hunt events and maze escape events.

The problem was.

“How do I actually get there?”

Before possession, it was a single click, but now he had to find it by physically traveling.

Even the NPCs knew nothing about Mermaid Island.

“There’s no useful information…”

* Uh? Are you hallucinating from fever?
* Where are you going!

Lion pondered more deeply.

Speaking of which…

There was one way, wasn’t there?

Lion tried to recall more precisely the time he moved to the event map… no, Mermaid Island.

He remembered clicking on a puddle in a certain cave…

“Hmmmm.”

He remembered it was a specific map in the southern region.

‘I just need to find that much.’

If the Saintess and the Main Character had found that place, they would have definitely left something behind.

Then, it might be possible to move to Mermaid Island just by getting close.

Like the Labyrinth.

‘Then, first, I need to find out information about the Saintess and the southern region.’

For the Saintess, he decided to ask Rixschel.

As for the southern region…

Just as Lion was about to continue his thoughts.

『A penalty will be imposed.』

“…Huh?”

Only the notification about the penalty appeared, with no further explanation.

And Lion’s body…

“…”

Was perfectly fine.

Lion alternately looked at the notification window and his own body.

He also checked his inventory, thinking it might be a penalty related to an item, but it was also fine.

Moreover, the map had somehow entered a ‘Recursive Return’ state and was quietly settled in a corner of his inventory.

In other words, nothing had happened at all.

‘…The fact that nothing happened makes it even scarier.’

Lion absently rubbed his arm.

Although nothing was happening right now, the notification about the penalty had not disappeared and was occupying a corner of his vision.

It would likely disappear when the ‘real’ penalty was imposed.

‘The map… I’ll have to check that later.’

At this point, even Lion felt he needed to be more cautious.

Besides, separate from the penalty, he had a bit of a headache.

* Are you finally thinking of resting?
* Let’s rest quickly. Let’s get out of here! Let’s go to the room and hug that drooling monster to sleep!

“Yes. I should do that.”

Lion stealthily got up from the dilapidated recovery room and returned to his room.

Elvia, Grandfather, and even his younger sibling had not yet returned from the Imperial Palace, so he needed to take care of himself during this time.

Thump.

Lion lay down on the bed.

Pus scurried over and settled beside Lion’s flank, and Nature chirped at his head.

They probably knew to some extent what had happened.

* Yes! Scold him more. He needs to be thoroughly taught a lesson!
* He’s so young, and he’s overexerting himself?
* If you’re going to do that, give me your body! I’ll use it carefully.

‘These nagging remarks…’

Lion let out a wry chuckle as Tiamatrak babbled and recounted all of this to Nature, then slowly closed his eyes.

And a few more ordinary days passed.

Lion finally realized what the penalty was.

“Eeeeng??”

…It was quite absurd!