Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil

Chapter 119



Chapter 119 As the Emperor had promised, a huge budget was set for the crown prince’s ceremonies.Many of the estates were closed due to the monsters, making it difficult to deliver the supplies, but the Empress did not tolerate any neglect.More than a thousand people were mobilized to prepare for the ceremony, and endless carriages of food, wine, flowers, and jewelry were brought in and out of the palace.Ironically, however, the number of guests attending the ceremony was smaller than ever before.Most of the nobility had boycotted the ceremony in protest.“It’s not advisable to hold the crown prince ceremony in a situation where the entire Empire is suffering from monsters. Your Majesty.”“You’re right. and it will only exacerbate the food shortage, especially when there are so many people suffering from hunger, and they can’t afford to buy food.”The backlash from the nobility was intense, and petitions poured in from all over.The Emperor’s aide, Count Grenier, also persuaded him day and night, but the Emperor did not withdraw his decision. rather,“What are you talking about when you say that we’re going to hold a ceremony for the Crown Prince? Aren’t you unhappy that Frederick became Crown Prince?”The Emperor was furious, and he labeled those who opposed him as impure.Furthermore, he started to kick out the nobleman he did not like, one by one, using the crowning ceremony as an excuse.Count Turner’s close association with Helios and the nobles who had cooperated with the Duke of Eaton’s investigation were among those to be removed.“He has also asked Count Grenier to resign.”“I don’t know how far it will go.”Countess Walford held out the letter she was holding.Grand Duchess Crawford looked down again, reading the letter from the Count Grenier with a puzzled eye.The letter, hidden under the invitation to the ceremony, contained details of what was going on in the Imperial Palace.The Grand Duchess sighed deeply, as she was checking the verses mixed with concern that if she didn’t stop him now, there would be no turning back.“People will be in a mess.”“The atmosphere is serious about it from what I hear.”“Of course, it is. Not one or two people have died, but the imperial palace is preparing banquets.”“Are you going to do the ceremony?”“Tell them, I’m not feeling well.”“Are you sure you won’t mind if you don’t go?”Countess Walford asked with concern.If you do not attend the ceremonies of the crown prince and your nephew will be caught forever. But the Grand Duchess was not concerned.“It’s Your Majesty who has me immobilized, and if you don’t like the sight of it, I must obey his orders.”“Shouldn’t the Grand Duchess stop Your Majesty? If something really big happens…”“The big thing has already happened. They wouldn’t have come all the way here if it was something that could be resolved by me.”The Grand Duchess, who answered firmly, crumpled up the invitation.The Emperor had crossed the line of tolerance. At this rate, the empire would soon be doomed.Even though he was her brother, she was not about to let an incompetent Emperor ruin the Empire.“What do you plan to do? Even Duke Anthemion went to the western border on His Majesty’s orders, so maybe there’s someone who can do something right away….”Countess Walford trailed off worriedly.Grand Duchess Crawford’s gaze turned to the knights still guarding the mansion.There are many ways to correct it.She is the Grand Duchess of the Duchy and Princess of the Empire, and a daughter of the former Emperor of the Kingdom. If she informs the kingdom and estates of the situation and asks for help, the Emperor will not be able to handle it.But no matter how broken the Empire was, it was my country. I did not want to attract other countries yet.“For now, we should hope that Duke Anthemion returns safely.” ***** The western border was hell.Not a bird could be heard, and the tranquil estates were covered in the shadows of death.At the disastrous mixture of corpses of monsters and human beings, the weak knights muttered.The sight was enough to make even the normally emotionless Helios frown.“This is… worse than I thought.”The knight commander, who was walking alongside Helios, muttered.He was visibly terrified, having never seen anything like this in his life, having only ever escorted the Emperor.Helios, saddling his horse, led the knights into the estate.The dust of the sand fluttering in the strong wind was dark red. Helios scanned the crowd and gave Dustin instructions.“See if you can find anyone alive.”“Yes, Duke.”While Dustin summoned a few knights to search the estate, Helios looked around.Almost all the houses were in a state of disrepair. Through the broken door that looked like it had been forcibly ripped off, a mess of furniture was visible.‘It’s the monster’s work.’It seemed that they had come into the house to loot food. I looked around at a few more houses that hadn’t been destroyed, but most were the same.‘Are they all dead?’Since it is a place where the damage of monsters is high, there is little chance that there will be any survivors. Even if they were lucky enough to survive, they would have already evacuated to another city.Still, a scream could be heard in Helios, who was looking for traces.“Aahh!”Helios reflexively grabbed his sword and ran toward the sound.Four or five demons surrounded the Imperial Knights. Unlike the knights of Helios, who prepared the blood of dragons, the Imperial Knights were defenseless.“Do-don’t come!”“Kurre!”Excited by the prey they had not seen in a long time, the monsters roared with their fangs exposed.“Ca-calm down! We are His Majesty’s knights!”The knight commander drew his sword and encouraged the knights, but the monsters were no match for those they had only seen on the hunting grounds.Overwhelmed by the monster size that was larger than a horse, the knights couldn’t even hold their swords straight.“Come on, attack!”At the urging of the Knights Commander, the knights rushed in with their swords. However, it collided with the dull black monster’s skin and bounced back.Helios sighed as he watched the frightened, fumbling swings of their sword, then coated his blade in dragon blood and rushed towards the monster.By then, more than half of the soldiers were in a state of being attacked by monsters. The knight commander was struggling alone, but it was not enough.“Everyone get off your horse! It is more dangerous to be at the same eye level!”Helios shouted, stabbing his sword into the back of the closest monster. The sword, coated in dragon blood, easily pierced the monster’s flesh.“Duke!”Dustin, who returned late, grasped the situation and joined. He had been training against monsters since entering the Duchy of Antemion, so it wasn’t difficult to deal with.As he watched the demons fall, one by one, he heard a dull grinding sound.“Ugh!”The knight commander who was wrestling with the monster fell off his horse and moaned. The monster’s hand flew in aiming at his head.He hastily raised his sword to block the attack of the monster, and the second attack flew in. The moment a large hand was about to hit the commander’s head.“Urghh!”The monster convulsed with a scream of death. Helios without hesitation pulled out the sword that was attached to the monster’s back.Slurp, thump. A large body fell to the floor.“Are you okay?”Helios reached out toward the knight commander.“Oh, thank you. Duke.”He took Helios’ hand and barely got up. Helios said quietly as he wiped his face, which had been splashed with blue fluid.“There is a high possibility that this place was surrounded on all sides, so we’d better get somewhere safe.”Helios beckoned to Dustin, who was taking care of the dead knights.“Dustin, let’s pull back.”“Yes.”  ***** The knights unpacked their luggage in a nearby village.Even in the villages adjacent to the western border, there were few people left, so there were enough places to stay.Helios, lying in an empty inn with only dusty bedding, as if he had escaped in a hurry, could not sleep easily.The people he’d encountered on the way here were the worst.Rumors spread that the imperial family was spending a lot of money to prepare for the crown prince ceremony.Disappointed at the news that the Emperor had refused to support troops and only strengthened the capital’s defenses, the people were angry that the price of food had skyrocketed, using up their scarce supplies.The atmosphere was ripe for a riot, but the emperor seemed oblivious.‘The imperial family is the imperial family after all…’What Helios was really worried about was Lenia. In his absence, the fear that the Emperor might touch Lenia and Escal did not leave his mind.“…….”He thought of her while fiddling with the pouch Lenia had made.It was not an easy way to go, but the situation was worse than I expected.There were too many monsters, and there were not enough people to deal with them, not to mention the dwindling food supply and the lack of dragon blood.Even after all the monsters were destroyed, he had no idea how long it would take to restore the city.‘I have to go back soon.’Helios washed his face dry, feeling impatient.Feeling like he was wasting his time, he picked up the sword he had released and left room.Just when he was about to open the inn door and go out.“Who are you?”A sword came out of the darkness.


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