Phi-Fic Chapter 166 : Workers of the World, Fight (6)
Chapter 166 : Workers of the World, Fight (6)
Chapter 166: Workers of the World, Fight (6)
“…….”
“I think I’ve already shown you more than enough consideration with this offer. What do you think, Head of the Family?”
At Edel’s audacious proposal, Edgar’s face stiffened pale.
‘No matter which option I choose, this is basically a death sentence.’
But thinking about it rationally, it was also practically the only method to resolve the issue peacefully without bloodshed.
No matter how influential Edel Ribenia was, if she wanted to absorb Bernhardt into her side, she needed a convincing reason to present to the citizens.
‘If I have to choose one… the first option is still better.’
Above all else, he absolutely had to avoid the outcome where Michel became the next Head of the Family.
Thus, Edgar cautiously asked,
“…Do you truly understand what it means to appoint Michel as Head of the Family?”
Without even blinking, Edel calmly listed her reasoning one by one.
“She’s effectively the only direct bloodline member who remained untouched by controversy despite all those exposures.”
“That is….”
“Her personal abilities have been proven countless times since childhood, and while serving as Karbenna’s Chairwoman, she also demonstrated that the risk of owner-related scandals is low.”
“…….”
“I think entrusting Bernhardt to her is the most rational decision in every aspect.”
“But Michel killed my father….”
“Your father? You mean Johann Bernhardt?”
The moment he realized his mistake, Edgar tightly shut his mouth.
Crossing her arms with a triumphant smile, Edel continued,
“Give me a clear reason why Michel cannot become Head of the Family. Then I’ll reconsider.”
“That is….”
Seeing his hesitation, Edel asked in a tone suggesting she already knew everything.
“It seems you’re still hiding quite a lot, Head Edgar.”
“…She lacks the qualifications to lead Bernhardt. That’s all I can say.”
“Then negotiations are over.”
Edel lightly snapped her fingers as she rose from her seat.
At the same time, the locking spell on the door was released.
Creeeak—
“Use the little time remaining in your grace period to think carefully.”
“…I never expected that Your Highness had no desire for the Emperor’s throne.”
Watching Edgar rise while speaking sarcastically, Edel smiled.
“I already obtained something greater than that position.”
“…….”
Without saying another word, Edgar quietly left the room.
And almost as though replacing him, Lea entered inside.
Not even bothering with formal farewells, Lea peeked toward Edgar’s departing figure before shutting the door.
“…The negotiations failed, right?”
“Yeah.”
“……Haa.”
Watching Lea sigh in relief, Edel let out a quiet chuckle.
“What? Were you worried I couldn’t even tell right from wrong?”
“N-No! It’s not that… I was just worried about what would happen if the citizens really rose up….”
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”
Although she reassured Lea like that, the risks still hadn’t completely disappeared.
The reason she had even considered cooperating with Bernhardt in the first place was because of the wealth and military strength they possessed.
If she couldn’t utilize those at all, and the elite forces of the Dawn Society along with the Citizen Army stormed the Imperial Palace simultaneously, their chances of victory wouldn’t be very high.
‘…We need some kind of variable.’
The force leading the movements of the Citizen Army would undoubtedly be Greenwhistle.
If it became known that they too had plenty to hide compared to Bernhardt, public opinion could shift dramatically.
And for that to happen, someone would inevitably need to infiltrate them and uncover their weaknesses.
‘…I should’ve forced my way into the Dawn Society back then somehow.’
No, that was only hindsight speaking.
If she had joined the Dawn Society, the current incidents probably never would have occurred in the first place.
As Edel touched the corner of her mouth in regret, a certain girl’s face suddenly surfaced in her mind.
The descendant of the Sword Saint.
The successor of Phantom Swordsmanship and Aura Blade.
The exorcist swordswoman capable of severing even the curses engraved into Codes—
Francia Brida.
---
“Is that really true?”
“Y-Yes! I saw it clearly with my own eyes! Edgar Bernhardt leaving Princess Edel’s residence!”
“…Understood. Leave.”
After sending away the servant who reported with his head deeply lowered in disbelief, Abel crouched in the corner of his private room and cursed viciously.
“…Fuck.”
Why am I the only one getting treated like this?
I’m the Crown Prince.
I’m the top figure in the Imperial Household.
Then why doesn’t anyone kneel before me?
Why doesn’t anyone bow and scrape before me?
The bastard leading the Ribenia Orthodox Church—the state religion—doesn’t care at all about what happens to his organization and just keeps partying.
And the bastard leading the number one family, Bernhardt, couldn’t even manage internal discipline, causing this entire disaster, and now instead of fixing it, he’s only thinking about surviving by clinging to whoever he can.
“This is all because of that bitch….”
Edel Ribenia.
What exactly was there to gain by someone from the Imperial Household standing on the citizens’ side?
Even now, look.
Those fools who don’t know their place are happily running around acting like they can now challenge even the glorious Imperial Household just because they managed to screw over one noble family.
Even the Imperial Correction Bureau, which should’ve moved in to suppress them, was hesitating.
Everything’s gone to hell because I’m the only proper person left in the Imperial Household, damn it.
As Abel muttered curses under his breath, his true feelings suddenly slipped out.
“If I were Emperor… none of this would’ve happened.”
The unforgivable desire he had buried deep in his heart for countless years—
It was then.
“Then all you need to do is kill the Emperor.”
At the unfamiliar woman’s voice flowing into his ears, Abel reflexively drew his sword.
“Who are you?!”
The small-framed woman leaning lightly against the window bent one knee and greeted him.
“My name is Charlotte Platina, Crown Prince Abel.”
“I asked who you are! How did you get in here?!”
“…….”
“Intruder! There’s an intruder! Is nobody outside?!”
“They can’t hear you. Since this is an important discussion, I temporarily applied soundproofing.”
Yet there wasn’t a single magical tool in her hand.
A sudden sense of danger overwhelmed him, and Abel desperately pushed and pulled at the door, but it wouldn’t budge at all.
Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, he ground his teeth.
“…What do you want?”
“You’re quite impatient.”
As though completely familiar with the place, Charlotte casually sat on the central sofa and crossed her legs.
“To answer your earlier question first….”
She revealed the back of her left hand, where a dark brand was engraved.
The symbol of the Platinum Dawn Society—
Three triangles.
“I serve as the leader of the secret society known as the Platinum Dawn Society. Does that explain enough?”
.
.
.
Even the reckless Abel knew very well what kind of organization the Platinum Dawn Society was, causing him to become even more cautious.
“So the leader of those trash scum dreaming of overthrowing the Empire came all the way here personally. You’ve got some nerve. Do you really think you’ll leave this place alive?”
At the obvious bluff whose intentions were painfully transparent, Charlotte responded with ridicule.
“You’ll need to let me leave. Otherwise, you’ll be the only one losing out.”
“Hmph. You think I’ll be swayed by the words of a rebel trying to destroy the Empire?”
“It seems many people misunderstood us over the years. I simply never had the opportunity to correct them… but we no longer seek the Empire’s destruction. There’s no longer any need for it.”
“…And you expect me to believe that?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Whether you believe me or not. I merely came here with a proposal.”
At the word “proposal,” Abel’s sharp gaze softened slightly.
Charlotte instantly caught that and continued speaking.
“The organization beneath us was the one that led the Bernhardt exposure. Since they were the greatest force blocking your eyes and ears, we had no choice but to bring their past sins into the light.”
“…….”
“We wish for you, once you become Emperor, to proclaim one truth through an Imperial decree.”
The story of a national hero that was never recorded in the Empire’s history.
---
The story Charlotte told afterward was so absurd that Abel could only feel bewildered.
“So… this ‘Divine Archer’ was a national hero who founded the Empire together with Founder Ribenia, but the noble factions of the time erased that fact? For their own benefit?”
“Yes.”
“But why? You said he was a national hero. Couldn’t he have just cooperated with the nobles?”
“It’s true he helped establish the Empire… but the direction he pursued differed from Ribenia’s, Lord Olivier.”
“…So the nobles sided with our founder instead.”
Watching her silently nod, Abel waved his hand incredulously.
“And you maintained a secret society all this time over something like that? Just to resolve some ancient grudge?”
“It’s true that for around sixty years after our founding, we sought the collapse of the Empire and the Imperial Household.”
But after that, our stance changed significantly.
“By the time it reached my generation, that mission no longer existed. How much suffering would the people endure because of it? Regardless of our affiliations or ideologies, we too cherish humanity. We have no intention of achieving our goals while accepting such sacrifices.”
“Hmm….”
With a sorrowful expression, Charlotte clasped both hands together as though pleading.
“We simply wish to honor our forgotten hero once more—the one whose very existence was unjustly erased from history. Together with the Empire’s honorable citizens.”
“……I understand what you’re trying to say, at least.”
Crossing his arms and leaning against the sofa, Abel asked,
“Why me? Why not Rachel or Edel?”
“Because you’re ranked first.”
“…….”
“Of course, if you had refused, I would’ve gone to the second or third ranked as well.”
“…I see.”
Though the situation was bewildering, Abel could clearly tell that this proposal was an enormous opportunity.
Bernhardt and the Ribenia Orthodox Church were people he would eventually have needed to cut ties with anyway.
If he accepted the proposal, Charlotte would use her subordinate organizations to mediate and prevent the citizens from launching a coup, meaning he wouldn’t have to worry about the Imperial Palace being seized.
And if, as a result, he safely ascended the throne as Emperor, even Rachel and Edel would have no choice but to give up.
However—
“…Even if I’m ranked first, I can’t proclaim myself Emperor while Father is still alive. Nobody in the Empire would ever agree to something like that.”
As though she had been waiting for those exact words, Charlotte smiled.
“What if the Emperor were to pass away?”
“…What?”
At that instant, red cross-shaped pupils appeared within Charlotte’s eyes.
The moment Abel looked directly into them, his consciousness rapidly began fading.
“You kill the Emperor yourself and make the announcement.”
“…….”
“That the Emperor, who had been in a vegetative state, finally passed away.”
“The Emperor… died….”
“Then you can become the next Emperor.”
“The next… Emperor…?”
Charlotte smiled faintly.
“The Emperor of the Ribenia Empire, a position even Ruel Ribenia could never attain. Now it’s your turn to claim that seat, Abel Ribenia.”