Mess 164

164.

‘Control’ was his only pleasure.

As the legitimate heir of the imperial family, and moreover the very firstborn, he could control everything to his will. Even when his authority met with limitations, the fact that he was the empire’s first prince offered great consolation.

Someday, he would stand at the pinnacle of the Empire.

He would become the sun of his nation.

For him, control was an unquestionable right and ability. It was the only light shining upon his tedious life.

His obsession with control grew naturally, and he found anyone who escaped his grasp or threatened him deeply unpleasant.

‘If something displeases you, remove it.’

So he did.

He thought he heard the noise of someone wailing over a dead sibling, but it did not matter. In the end, he had obtained what he wanted.

He was betrothed to the daughter of a family that would support him when he ascended to the throne, and his only remaining younger brother bowed to him of his own accord; he was, in his own way, satisfied.

Even the strongest powers in the empire stood behind him. The crown prince was certain that, at this rate, he would become emperor.

‘I was so sure…’

Where had it all gone wrong?

“Y-Your Highness…!”

Dragged along by her wrist, Peonia strained to free herself.

The harder she tried, the tighter the crown prince’s grip became, as if to say it was impossible. Behind him, he could hear Peonia’s groans of pain.

But even that failed to reach him.

‘What went wrong?’

He paid no heed to the murmured voices and the gazes centered upon him. It was as though he had forgotten anyone else was present.

The crown prince stood alone, in another place.

Day after day, more and more slipped beyond his control, plans fell into ruin, and as his power waned, once-loyal factions clung to his heels, threatening his very footing.

The flawless future that once lay before him became ever more clouded, and the crown prince grew increasingly unhinged.

So, he decided to eliminate.

The recent conversation with Count Loria circled endlessly in his mind.

‘Indeed, it’s troublesome.’

‘It’s a pity to discard them, but if they refuse my will, it’s better to remove them.’

‘Then who will you remove?’

‘…….’

That was the problem.

Whom should he eliminate?

The most galling was the Countess Validus. But she had grown too formidable for even him to touch so carelessly, making her removal impossible.

Moreover, killing her was utterly unworkable, what with the divine relic she always kept on her person.

Who then remained?

“…….”

Decision made, the crown prince finally halted his steps. Peonia, who had been dragged along, stopped as well.

“Your Highness! What on earth are you—?”

“Peonia Felikia.”

The opulent ballroom was wrapped in silence.

“You know your sins well.”

The crown prince chose to cast aside a now useless card.

---

Seraphie, having stepped off the balcony, searched for Peonia and Lilia. The look in the crown prince’s eyes, as Runi had described, continued to unsettle her.

“We need to meet with His Highness anyway, so we’ll look over there,” Orchis said, departing with Karl.

Seraphie, left with Runi, scanned the banquet hall, searching for the pair.

“Where could they possibly be?”

Runi grumbled, glancing about.

“If we find Penny, we’ll find Lily too…”

“Don’t talk about Lady Alveolos like she’s some sort of side note,” Seraphie chided lightly, though she shared the same thought.

“Honestly, isn’t she?”

Runi could never understand Lily’s devotion to Peonia, half-convinced Peonia had used some memory-altering magic.

“Penny’s impressive, so it’s just natural to admire and follow her.”

“Oh dear—speaking as her future sister-in-law, are we?”

“You remember that if you marry Karl, Penny becomes your sister-in-law, right?”

“I’d rather forget! The thought of having to call Penny ‘Miss’ forever…”

It was in the midst of Runi’s shuddering that a familiar voice echoed from afar.

“Your Highness!”

“What on earth do you think you’re doing?!”

Another familiar voice quickly followed.

Seraphie and Runi exchanged a quick look, then hurried in the direction of the commotion.

No, no…! Seraphie bit her lip anxiously.

After all I went through to get here!

With such hardship, she had worked to change the strained relationship between Peonia and Lilia, and now that wretched crown prince seemed set to display his tyranny, just as in the original tale.

Come to think of it, it was always the same.

No matter how hard she tried, the world always flowed as the original story dictated.

“Peonia Felikia.”

And this time was no different.

Seraphie and Runi, pushing through the crowd to the front, were left speechless. Runi, looking pale as if she would faint, could scarcely stand.

A dazzling ballroom.

The delicately wrought crystal chandeliers sparkled above the quiet, still chamber.

“You know your sins well.”

The crown prince spoke with strength, deliberately for all to hear.

“…….”

And Peonia, standing before him, wore a blank expression.

“Oh dear…” Runi trembled visibly.

“She’s furious now…”

“She does seem that way,” Seraphie replied, thinking that Peonia’s silent rage was more frightening than the crown prince’s theatrics.

She had never seen Peonia so subdued—and was grateful for it.

“What is happening now?”

“Isn’t that His Highness the Crown Prince with Lady Felikia?”

“They wouldn’t possibly fight here at the banquet, would they?”

The murmuring grew steadily louder. Even the emperor and empress, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Felikia, were still present.

Seraphie quickly searched for Orchis, who—unfortunately—was across the hall with Karl, and beside them, X.

“…….”

Orchis, with a vacant expression, met Seraphie’s gaze.

His face was thunderous, as though he might storm the center of the hall and cut down the crown prince at any moment. Seraphie frantically shook her head, warning him not to intervene.

At last, Orchis stepped back, his expression sullen.

Karl gripped Orchis’s shoulder and murmured something, seeming to understand Seraphie’s intent and urging restraint.

“Incredible,” someone sighed behind Seraphie.

“Marquis Castane?”

“Count, what does that look like to you?”

The marquis’s voice was heavy with disappointment.

“The heir of a nation, showing such disrespect to a family so vital to the Empire…!”

Marquis Castane and the other elders wore expressions of deep offense at the scene.

Seraphie wholeheartedly agreed.

Something is off—

The crown prince Seraphie knew was not one to make such foolish blunders.

“…….”

Seraphie’s eyes widened as she deliberated for a moment.

No—that’s not it.

She clapped a hand over her mouth.

That bastard’s even more desperate than I thought!

That’s why he’s doing this.

In the original story, by the time he cast aside Peonia, he had already amassed all the wealth, military might, and power he needed for the throne. He no longer required Felikia.

But now, the opposite is true.

Even with Peonia at his side, he realized he could not control Felikia—so he resorted to this outrageous act.

I’m the one who made Felikia strong!

Wealth amassed from jointly mining the divine relics, connections through the Validus family, honor gained from recently quelling the Iris rebellion.

Alongside Seraphie, Felikia had become far stronger than in the original tale.

He could no longer control Peonia to command Felikia, so he had chosen Lilia instead, who seemed easier to sway.

He’s no fool.

At the crown prince’s machination, Seraphie felt a chill.

Even now, he was plotting.

Rumors may have spread of Peonia’s and Lilia’s closeness, but very few had actually witnessed it.

The crown prince had found a crack to exploit.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t the white magician waiting on tables earlier?”

“Maybe Lady Felikia took the white magician as her apprentice just to order her around.”

“But weren’t those two supposed to be close?”

“You think that’s possible, vying for the same man?”

Indeed, whispers doubting their relationship grew a little louder.

If Peonia lost her temper and confronted the crown prince, and a frightened Lilia fell silent, the situation would turn completely against them.

“Your Highness!”

Just then, Lilia rushed into the center. Beneath the ballroom’s dazzling lights, her golden curls shimmered like honey.

Placing herself in front of Peonia, Lilia cried out, her eyes already brimming with tears.

“Why are you doing this? She’s guilty of nothing!”

“Lilia.”

He caressed her cheek affectionately.

“Why are you always so kind?”

“It’s all a misunderstanding! My lady, she never—”

“Don’t worry.”

The crown prince was perfectly willing to take Lilia as his own.

“You were merely swayed by that woman.”

“Your Highness…”

“You only pretend you’re fine because you’re afraid of that wicked woman, but you’re not fine at all.”

“…….”

There. You see.

He smiled, the beauty of it like a masterwork, filling Lilia’s eyes. Hesitating, she lowered her head and gave a small and tentative nod.

With her head bowed, Lilia murmured faintly.

“So that’s how it is…”

Unaware of her words, the crown prince gently embraced the now-docile Lilia and signaled to his attendants nearby.

Three of them appeared at once, closing ranks around Lilia like bars around a caged bird.

What a madman.

Seraphie, watching, could only click her tongue. It was almost admirable to see a person driven so far mad.

But even more frightening—

Those eyes.

It was the burning, unyielding gaze of Orchis from across the room—sharp, forbidding, relentless. Seraphie did her utmost to ignore those persistent violet eyes, turning back to the crown prince’s madness.

Then—

“Your Highness.”