Two-Faced Princess

“Your Majesty, the demons there reproduce excessively, and their size and appearance change rapidly, making it difficult to assess. It is risky for the Duke himself to go.” Another voice spoke, but the Emperor only lowered his head, silent. They were nobles who supported Caelion. However, they couldn’t exert enough influence in the capital because their soldiers were stationed near the border. Many local nobles who supported Caelion but couldn’t attend the meeting were in the same situation. The meeting room was filled with various nobles, most of whom resided in the capital. The nobles were hastily summoned without prior notice to discuss the giant monsters appearing near Bamel Mountain, located on the northern border of the capital. The creature known as Croadin, a giant monster resembling a crocodile, was more like a reptile living in the sea rather than the mountain. They preyed on anything that came their way but rarely encountered humans, so apart from their ferocity, little was known about their habits or how to defeat them. Successful hunters of Croadin were extremely rare, and those who managed to capture an adult specimen rather than a hatch-ling were almost considered legendary.

“Just yesterday, three people in the capital died because of the monster that appeared during the hunt in Bamel Mountain. Is there anyone else capable of handling this urgent matter?” the Emperor said, his gaze fixed on  Caelion. “What about you, Duke? You have countless experiences of fighting and defeating monsters. The situation is urgent, so it may be difficult to bring troops from the capital, but your soldiers who have fought together in the war are still in the capital and can adequately support you. In addition, the Imperial Knights will assist you,” said the Emperor, with a hint of a smile. Caelion inwardly sneered. The situation seemed too convenient. The monster’s attack that allegedly occurred the day before was orchestrated by the Emperor. Whether the monster was tempted to come to the capital or if someone was ordered to kill the people and make it appear to be the work of the monster, it was too obvious that the Emperor wanted to send Caelion to the monster’s lair, making it difficult for him to refuse and ensuring that there wouldn’t be enough time for the troops to arrive in the capital. Caelion considered refusing. He was no longer the naive child of the past. The fact that the Emperor was targeting his life was known to everyone among the nobles, and even if he refused and angered the Emperor, some supporters would stand by his side. The reason the Emperor called for the meeting was probably for this purpose. Except for the two people who spoke earlier, most of the attendees were close associates of the Emperor, and some influential individuals were pushing to burden Caelion.

“What is there to fear in the face of the deaths of the people? Of course, the person to resolve this crisis is none other than Duke  Caelion,” exclaimed Amon, and several other nobles joined him in voicing their support. Louise Repear, the Emperor’s consort, remained silent as usual, but her mere presence emanated a strong aura, lending strength to Amon’s words.

“What do you think, Viscount Trion?” the Emperor asked Trion, who was sitting in a corner of the meeting room. Bamel Mountain belonged to Trion’s territory, and he was the one suffering the most from the monsters. While yesterday was the first time people in the capital had died, many casualties had already occurred within his territory. Not long ago, he had sent knights to Bamel Mountain with his younger brother at the forefront. However, the result was that one-third of the deployed troops were devoured by monsters, and the Viscount’s brother lost one of his legs. Caelion was aware of this fact as well.

“It’s my fault for not properly managing the territory,” he said weakly, his tired eyes blinking.

“If anyone helps… the House of Trion will not forget this favor,” He said, turning his head slightly towards  Caelion. Caelion’s expression momentarily brightened. While other nobles may have seen it as a simple agreement with the Emperor’s words, Viscount Trion was sending a sign to Caelion. He was saying that if Caelion resolved this crisis, as a neutral party, he would support him. He would defect from the Emperor and bring his strongest troops to the capital’s border. Caelion rubbed his temples. His dilemma deepened a little more. The reason it was difficult to refuse this mission was precisely because the support of a powerful neutral noble was at stake. Caelion looked up and once again scanned the Emperor’s face and gestures. He appeared to be full of arrogance and at ease on the surface, but it was a facade. The unusually fixed stare, as if frozen, proved that. The current situation was crucial not only for Caelion but also for the Emperor. This operation was also a gamble for the Emperor. If Caelion succeeded again this time, it was not as if he was unaware that a neutral faction centered around Viscount Trion could lean towards him. If things went wrong, in other words, if Caelion completed the mission and returned alive, even the Emperor’s position could become unstable. With the people’s discontent at its peak, it wouldn’t be difficult to find reasons to oppose an Emperor who didn’t even share their bloodline.”A kind of gamble,” Caelion sneered inwardly. Engaging in this level of adventure meant that the Emperor and Petra’s anxiety had grown considerably.