Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 91 – Conspiracy
“Dead?”
Count Luther’s face was full of shock. Just yesterday, he’d had an argument with Count Terry — and today the man was gone?!
No need to ask. It was obviously the work of the Third Prince’s men in the shadows.
The thought that the Third Prince could eliminate an enemy so swiftly sent a chill down Luther’s spine, and he felt secretly glad he had chosen the right side.
Now that Count Terry, leader of the First Prince’s faction, was dead, all those fence-sitters would inevitably flock to the Third Prince.
With that, there would be no obstacles left on the Third Prince’s road to becoming the new king.
“Congratulations, Your Hi… no! Your Majesty.”
Luther said with a sycophantic smile, offering his congratulations early.
White savored the sound of being addressed as “Your Majesty.”
The next matter to consider was how to deal with the First Prince, who was still in the Red Sand Fortress and completely unaware of what had happened in the capital. Given the First Prince’s personality, he would never accept White as the next king.
After a moment’s thought, Count Luther spoke.
“Your Majesty, I have a plan to rid us of this troublesome First Prince.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Because the heavy snow has blocked the roads and news travels slowly, we can hire someone to forge Count Terry’s handwriting and send a letter by fast horse to Red Sand Fortress, telling the First Prince that the late king has passed away and urging him to return quickly to vie for the throne.”
Here Luther’s expression turned sly.
“Then, we set up an ambush on the road back to the capital, attack in the wilderness, and execute him. That way there will be no future trouble.”
White said nothing, just kept listening.
“As long as the First Prince is dead, you will be the sole heir to the throne, and all the nobles will have no choice but to acknowledge you as the new king.”
“Your plan is indeed solid.”
White remarked.
“Then I will see to it at once. Please allow me to take my leave.”
Hearing this, Luther thought the Third Prince had accepted his plan and was even willing to take the job himself to earn trust.
“Wait.”
Luther had just started to rise when White’s voice stopped him.
“I never said I would do it your way.”
A little startled, Luther sat back down.
“Does Your Majesty have a better plan?”
“I intend to write the letter myself, telling my royal brother about Father’s passing and the will, and ask him to return after the thaw. If he complies completely, I will make him a duke and grant him the territory around Red Sand Fortress.”
“Absolutely not, Your Majesty!”
Luther grew anxious. Why would the Third Prince try to persuade the First Prince in such a way? This was unlike the ruthless man who had secretly eliminated Count Terry.
“The First Prince will never acknowledge you as the rightful heir. He will surely rally his supporters and raise an army to rebel!”
White gave a cold laugh.
Of course, he had already thought of that.
“I’m deliberately letting him attack me. This way, I can execute him openly for treason.”
“If the goal is to kill the First Prince, isn’t my plan better?”
Luther asked, still puzzled.
“If my royal brother dies in an ‘ambush’ on the way back to the capital, everyone will see that I ordered the hit.”
“And isn’t that perfectly normal for a fight over the throne?”
As soon as he said this, Luther suddenly realized something — could it be the Third Prince cared about his reputation?
From a young age, the Third Prince had been intelligent, far more capable than the First Prince, who only liked practicing martial arts. While there were some rumors about his indulgence in women, such stories didn’t harm his image — in fact, they added points among the nobility, who enjoyed such pleasures themselves.
Luther, for example, had his own particular tastes — especially the “high-class goods” the capital’s underground black market somehow procured.
Cautious about making the wrong guess, Luther asked tentatively,
“Your Majesty… do you wish to avoid the stigma of fratricide?”
“Yes. I don’t want that kind of reputation.”
In truth, White didn’t care — but it was convenient to agree.
“Besides, I have a way to defeat the First Prince on the battlefield while also intimidating the nobles, making them understand the new king is not to be trifled with.”
“Oh?”
Luther’s interest was piqued.
“What is your plan, Your Majesty?”
“Come closer.”
White beckoned with a finger.
Luther leaned forward and put his ear close. White whispered a few words.
When he finished, Luther’s face lit up in sudden understanding, then twisted into a scheming grin.
“In that case, we will follow Your Majesty’s will.”
Knowing the plan, Luther left in good spirits.
White picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and narrowed his eyes.
There was another important reason he hadn’t told Luther — this was also a test of the nobles’ loyalties.
Any noble who showed the slightest inclination toward the First Prince would be purged after White’s victory.
As mentioned before, his nature was like this — he trusted no one.
Since those nobles had chosen to side with the First Prince, White saw no need to show them any courtesy. He would uproot them all and promote only those loyal to himself.
In this way, he could ensure that the vast majority of the nobility remained faithful to him, thereby keeping the entire kingdom firmly in his grasp.
Everything was under his control. The feeling was intoxicating, and White could not help but revel in it.
…
By now, two-thirds of winter had passed, and the fighting at Red Sand Fortress was growing ever more intense.
In the most recent large-scale assault by the undead monsters, their numbers had swelled to five thousand. The humans could only make a bitter defense from atop the city walls.
It was at this time that Legovis finally learned the news from the capital.
— The First Prince’s chambers —
Legovis clenched his right hand into a fist and slammed it heavily onto the table. Bang! A few objects on it toppled over from the impact.
“Father has passed away? Left a will naming White as the next king? And I’m to return after the snow melts to receive my title? What kind of joke is this!”
The veins stood out on his forehead — clear proof of his fury.
Only now did he realize how serious the situation was. No wonder Count Terry had been urging him to return earlier. He had been careless! He’d assumed his father was merely ill and that Count Terry was making a fuss over nothing.
He tossed the letter into the nearby fireplace. Under the searing heat of the magic stones, the parchment quickly caught fire, burning to ash and releasing a faint acrid smell.
Suppressing his rage, Legovis forced himself to think calmly — unpleasant as it was.
This time, the sender was none other than White himself. His father had died over a month ago, yet the letter only arrived now. Without question, White had delayed it deliberately.
Why hadn’t Count Terry sent an urgent messenger when something so momentous had happened? Had he failed to stop White? Or… had he already fallen victim to White’s schemes?
If that were true, then Junhui City was likely already in White’s hands, and returning to the capital rashly would be unwise.
As things stood, Legovis could no longer remain at Red Sand Fortress. He needed to contact the nobles who supported him across the realm.
He rose from his seat at once and left his room.
On the way, he happened to run into Yafen, who was just returning.
“Eh? Your Highness, where are you going?”
Yafen asked in surprise.
“To Commander Banjel’s residence!”
Without slowing his pace, Legovis strode toward Zeus’ home.
Sensing something was amiss, Yafen hurried after him, only to be turned away.
“Yafen, you needn’t follow me. What happens next has nothing to do with you Temple Knights.”
“Eh?”
Stopped short by the First Prince’s tone, Yafen stood there scratching the back of his head, unsure what to do.
Because the visitor was the First Prince himself, the gate guards did not dare to block his way. Legovis entered Hughes’ residence with ease.
The moment he stepped into the main hall, he called out.
“Commander Banjel! I have urgent business with you — come out at once!”
“Your Highness, you are a prince of this kingdom. Please mind your image and manners.”
Announced by his retinue, Zeus hurried to meet him.
“Commander Banjel, do you know of my father’s passing?”
“What did you say?”
Hearing the news, Zeus first froze in shock, then said sorrowfully.
“I am deeply grieved by His Majesty’s death.”
“Not only that — Father left a will naming White as the next king. There’s no way this is right! It must be one of White’s tricks!”
At the mention of White, Legovis ground his teeth in fury, longing to drag him from the throne that very instant.
Zeus, however, remained composed in the face of the First Prince’s anger.
“Then, Your Highness, what do you intend to do next? Will you return to the capital to fight for the throne?”
“No.”
Legovis shook his head.
“I’ve lost contact with Count Terry — he may already be dead. The capital is likely under White’s control. I can’t return rashly. That’s why I need your support, Zeus Banjel. Lend me the Red Sand Fortress troops.”
“As I thought… ah—”
With a sigh, Zeus said apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Since its founding, Red Sand Fortress has abided by one oath — never to meddle in the struggle for the throne. We fight only the undead monsters in the north, and we will give our lives for the Dawn Kingdom in that duty. That is our mission.”
“I understand.”
Legovis was reasonable enough not to issue a prince’s order. Instead, he simply turned and left.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
Zeus called after him.
“Fengsui City.”
If he could not gain the support of Red Sand Fortress, Legovis would have to head south to Fengsui.
The lord there, Count Marcus, was also one of his supporters. From there, Legovis would contact more nobles loyal to him, gather an army, march on the capital, and reclaim the throne that was rightfully his.
“Wait, Your Highness — the roads to Fengsui City are treacherous with snow and rife with dangers. Please allow me to assign soldiers to escort you. It’s the least I can do for you as commander.”
In any case, an assault on the capital would have to wait until the spring thaw. There was no rush.
After a moment’s thought, Legovis nodded.
“Then make it quick, Commander Banjel.”