The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 267
This was four hours before Ars would unexpectedly visit the royal palace of Alphensard.
Gilbert Saleon, the head of the Saleon noble family, receives a mysterious piece of news.
“Erina? Is this really true?”
“Yes! The servant who confirmed Lady Erina’s presence has testified with certainty!”
Gilbert was happy about his daughter’s return from disappearance, but at the same time harbored doubts.
He had thought she either left the family searching for love and disappeared, or died caught in Crossing’s intrigue to eliminate Ars.
Now that Erina had returned alive, he wondered if this was someone’s scheme.
‘If Erina is alive, does that mean Ars Elaine might also be alive?’
It was already established that Ars had a close relationship with the Duke Hellian’s family. This meant Ars was also his political opponent.
‘The king particularly favored him. If he happens to meet the king, the situation could become complicated.’
Gilbert furrowed his brow.
“Where is Erina right now?”
“She is currently heading to Grancel with some of the escort guards!”
“Grancel…? Is he trying to lure me there?”
“Lord Gilbert…? What do you mean by lure?”
“We can’t stay like this. Immediately send a message to the escort guards to not go to Grancel and come to Alphensard instead!”
“Yes, sir!”
Erina, who was heading to Grancel, returned to Alphensard just three hours later.
“Father!”
“Oh! It really is you, my Erina! My precious daughter! What on earth happened?”
“Well… It’s complicated to explain in many ways.”
She decided to keep the outside world a secret for now. She couldn’t predict what kind of reaction would arise if the existence of the outside world became widely known.
That’s why she didn’t tell her father, but Gilbert misunderstood.
He speaks with a cold expression.
“Did Ars Elaine tell you not to speak?”
“Huh?”
“Did he tell you not to say what happened?”
“That is…”
Since it was true, Erina couldn’t continue her words. The more she stayed silent, the more Gilbert’s complexion darkened.
“Damn it, he was indeed alive. This is becoming a headache…”
“Fa-father?”
“Erina, from today, cut off your connection with him.”
“Yes…!?”
Naturally, Erina couldn’t accept this.
She had already formed too deep a relationship. For Erina, a future without Ars was unimaginable.
Gilbert tells her coldly.
“You’ve returned just in time. You’ll be perfectly suitable as the companion of the second prince.”
For Gilbert, sending his daughter to strengthen relations with the second prince was entirely natural. He even dreamed of more.
The second prince was in his mid-50s and had only one son and two daughters.
After Erina gives birth to the prince’s child, if she assassinates the second prince and eliminates his children, she could elevate her own child to the throne.
‘No, I might just sit on the throne myself!’
Gilbert’s eyes were dyed with desire for power.
Erina was shocked by her father’s appearance.
Although Gilbert had always been a politically ambitious person, he had always been a gentle father to her.
He had repeatedly promised never to arrange a political marriage.
Now, he was thinking about everything politically due to the power he had gained.
Erina bit her lip.
“I, I do not want that.”
“…What?”
“Lord Ars truly accepted me. I will be with him!”
“I understand. It’s true that he’s an outstanding hero. It’s natural that you would develop feelings of admiration. But Erina, this is for the family! The great cause of our Saleon family becoming royalty! Only you can do this!”
“Father…!”
“Moreover, do you think Ars Elaine would truly love you? There will be more beautiful and superior women lined up beside him. Eventually, you’ll be gradually alienated and eventually forgotten. Are you fine with that?”
“Lord Ars would never do that! He…”
“Enough. I was planning to settle this with him from the beginning, so you don’t need to worry. Just trust and follow your father.”
“Settling? Are you planning to eliminate Lord Ars?”
“If possible. However, I can’t attempt it right now because I’m uncertain how Crossing will turn out.”
When Gilbert said this, Erina’s gaze became chilling.
At the moment her father declared he would kill Ars, she decided to abandon her family and clan entirely.
“Father, I…”
At that moment.
With a bang, Gilbert’s close aide bursts through the door.
“What is it, entering without even knocking? Can’t you see I’m talking to my daughter?”
“It, it’s not the time for that! Ars Elaine has just appeared and is forcibly entering the palace, leading the royal guards towards the king’s bedchamber!”
“What!?”
Gilbert hadn’t expected Ars to act so boldly. Instantly poaching the royal guards and heading to the king’s bedroom.
“No, this is actually good! His Majesty must be on the verge of death! We can blame the prince’s death on him! Come, let’s go quickly!”
However, when he arrived at the king’s bedchamber, Ars had already driven in a wedge.
King Gareth had transferred the first-in-line succession to Ars, causing a major setback to Gilbert’s plans.
* * *
First, after recruiting the royal guards, I began the process of controlling the palace.
I completely controlled the palace’s entry and exit through the royal guards. This was to restrict Gilbert Saleon’s movements and reduce his ability to act.
‘Once done, it proves helpful.’
The experience from the Ellan Kingdom’s succession war was truly immensely helpful. Just like back then, the royal guards played the most crucial role in seizing the palace.
By bringing all the royal guards under my command, the palace was instantly controlled.
‘Now I just need to hold out until the Duke Hellian’s faction returns to the palace.’
And if possible, I hoped King Gareth would stay alive.
King Gareth miraculously awakened but was still in poor health.
He was transferring power to me, burning his last flame while sitting on the throne.
I remained by his side as his companion.
“So that’s how it was… King Parain also thought that…”
“Yes, he was also sincerely worried about the continent’s future. That’s why he wants to integrate the continent. The massacre of the Fensillon revival forces was a sad misunderstanding… But considering he ultimately decided to support me, it seems he also regrets what happened back then.”
“Hmm… I guess that’s how all old people think.”
He smiles bitterly and looks at my neck, asking,
“Will you show me the necklace you inherited from Rizna?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes.”
I pulled out the sapphire necklace that was inside my clothes.
King Gareth smiles contentedly.
“Just as I thought. Rizna was worried about your future. That’s why she passed down this necklace to protect you.”
“This necklace will protect me…?”
My mother said the exact same thing when she handed the necklace to Yumir.
That this necklace would protect me.
But I had never understood its meaning.
King Parain had recognized my identity by looking at this necklace, but he didn’t explain the details.
So I wondered if there was something magical about the necklace, but that wasn’t the case.
“Is there another meaning to this necklace?”
“The necklace itself is an ordinary object. However….”
King Gareth explained the background of this necklace. Upon hearing the details, I couldn’t help but get goosebumps.
“I see… So that’s the meaning of this necklace….”
Hearing that story, the necklace definitely had a power. A power that could perfectly protect me from external pressures, including my mother’s feelings.
“How you use this necklace depends entirely on your capabilities. I hope the story develops in a good direction.”
“I hope so too.”
“Whew…!”
King Gareth sighs as if exhausted.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… I’m okay… More than that, won’t you tell me more about the outside world? Listening to your story feels like having a pleasant dream. It feels like I’m walking in the world I’ve been dreaming of….”
“…..”
There was really not much time left.
Fortunately, Duke Hellian arrived in the kingdom without delay.
“Your Majesty! This is Regnart Hellian! I’ve rushed here upon receiving your summons!”
“Oh… Regnart. I’m truly glad to see your face before I depart. Come closer.”
The king entrusts his successor to Duke Hellian and smiles as if he has no regrets.
Hellian, understanding the meaning, gathered all the court officials in the audience hall.
In deep silence, King Gareth mutters,
“In such turbulent times, a Kingdom is but a single piece. For the people, for the future of the continent, all pieces must become one. Only in these combined pieces will peace arrive…. Ministers, remember this, do not think only of the survival of this small kingdom. What you must truly protect is the great nation that emerges when all pieces are united. So believe in Ars Elaine here. He will definitely unite all pieces and establish a great nation to bring peace….”
With those words, King Gareth slowly closed his eyes.
A king who seemed irresolute in turbulent times, but who thought of his people more than any other monarch.
His end was incredibly peaceful.
The ministers, teary-eyed, shouted without distinction,
“You have worked so hard, Your Majesty…!”
“We will follow Your Majesty’s command…!”
“For the King!”
“For the peace of the continent!”
The royal palace seemed about to collapse. The children of King Gareth and the Saleon faction could not help but have sour expressions, but this flow could no longer be reversed.
* * *
With King Gareth’ death, the Calliper Kingdom fell into mourning.
The royal palace began preparing for the funeral, and each kingdom decided to send diplomatic missions.
I was sad too, but I didn’t even have time for that.
I immediately decided to meet Duke Hellian to discuss future plans.
“It’s been a while, Duke Hellian.”
“Hmm, it’s been a while. About two years?”
“I suppose so. How have you been?”
“I suffered because of you. When rumors spread that you were killed by Crossing, I was suspected of being Crossing’s accomplice. I was severely beaten by Gilbert.”
“If it weren’t for me, things would have gone badly.”
“I survived by a miracle. Gilbert was probably trying to eliminate me after King Gareth’ death. If you had been a few days late, I would have been a dead man.”
“Whew! It was quite timely in many ways.”
“That’s right. But you….”
Hellian carefully asks, looking at Ryuna, who is burying her face in my chest.
“Is this child yours?”
“Yes. She’s just very shy, so please understand.”
As I stroke her head, Ryuna rubs her face against my chest and acts cute.
“Well, anyway. What are you planning to do next? The Saleon faction will be quiet for now, but they’ll soon devise a scheme.”
“Are you saying I should either eliminate them or win them over?”
“That’s right.”
“If possible, I want to win them over.”
“That’ll be difficult. The princes are on their side. The princes are furious that they are no longer royalty. They’ll naturally try to usurp your position.”
“I’m reluctant to kill the king’s children….”
“So am I. But power struggles are always cruel. Alright, leave it to me. I’ll arrange for them to be exiled. If we exile them to the Crossing region, that would be somewhat acceptable.”
“That’s it…. I’m not in a position to say anything to Rosa either.”
“Rosa? Who’s that?”
“She’s the queen of a foreign kingdom.”
“The queen of a foreign kingdom?”
“I’ll explain that part gradually. More importantly, won’t you tell me about the war with Tunkai?”
The war between Tunkai and Calliper. As it was showing signs of expanding into a continental war, it somehow needed to be managed.
However, Hellian shook his head with a troubled expression.
“This war is now beyond control. After all, the commander fighting the war in the Beckavia region is Altior Saleon, the duke. If we try to withdraw his troops, he’ll immediately attack us. It would lead to a military coup.”
“That’s troublesome….”
There were only two methods left.
Either use Crossing’s army to repel the Tunkai and Calliper armies.
Or make the Tunkai army achieve a nominal victory.
For that, I decided to wait for Ash’s information from the Tunkai region.
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