Chapter 16. The Unfaithful Coronation

The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling reflected light so harshly it seemed to tear at the retinas.

At their most splendid, the flowers, bent and broken, died beautifully here and there, while the crimson banners embroidered with the kingdom’s emblem soared sharply like spears aimed to pierce an opponent.

Lively music played, yet the banquet hall was filled with an oddly solemn tension.

In fact, every noble attending the birthday banquet felt it.

“Today, Her Majesty the Queen has made up her mind.”

“Something is definitely going to happen.”

King Ferat had been bedridden from illness for years and had not appeared at official events.

With the queen regent holding actual power, the king’s existence was reduced to merely postponing the succession.

Recently, Princess Celestid had been deposed, and strange rumors about the royal family and throne were spreading, so it was no surprise that a political incident could erupt at any time.

True to her role as a schemer controlling the situation, Queen Raviosa sat high on the throne and surveyed the banquet hall with indifferent eyes.

Noble lords formed groups of two or three in a long procession before her, offering congratulations to the birthday queen.

“Your Majesty, the Queen, who upholds the kingdom’s prosperity and peace like a pillar, I sincerely congratulate you on your fortieth birthday. May you live long and continue to care for the royal family and kingdom.”

“Thank you, Marquis Alfionel. As you say, I will strive to continue my reign for a long time.”

“We congratulate Her Majesty, the most noble in the kingdom. May God watch over Your Majesty, the royal family, and the kingdom.”

“Count Copern’s faith remains unwavering. Though I am an atheist, I hope your prayers bear fruit. Thank you anyway.”

“To the highest in Vinchester...”

As the formalities droned on tediously, two figures arrived and injected tension into the banquet hall.

“His Highness Prince Hadeil Rusben Vinchester enters!”

“His Highness Prince Ligares Ezentel Vinchester enters!”

The congratulatory procession swiftly parted left and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ right, clearing a path for the two platinum-haired princes to approach Queen Raviosa.

Though unrelated and with a considerable age gap, the half-brothers entered shoulder to shoulder, their footsteps on the carpet accompanied by a fierce whispered exchange audible only to them.

Hadeil started.

“Why don’t you walk slower? You’re not a kid running to Mom.”

“Why? Jealous because you don’t have a mom to run to?”

“You worthless bastard.”

“Stupid bastard who knows that and still provokes me.”

Their blue eyes clashed as if ready to devour one another. Hadeil was the first to end the exhausting standoff.

“Go to your mom.”

“I was going to anyway.”

After mock spitting at each other, Ligares stood before Queen Raviosa.

“Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

“You seem to have been troubled lately, but I’m glad to see you composed, Liga.”

“Just a minor concern. More importantly, I have a gift for Your Majesty.”

Opening the box revealed a beautiful, ornate necklace.

“Your existence is my greatest gift, but thank you. Come closer so I may place it myself.”

Ligares ascended the steps toward the throne.

Leaving the modest necklace she always wore untouched, he layered the new one over it.

The exchange of gifts provided a chance for a whispered conversation.

“The Black Prophet is being tracked. His whereabouts are so obscure that even the royal search party cannot find him. It’s certainly no ordinary case.”

“I see.”

The prisoner Ligares had poisoned and locked in the underground prison had brazenly escaped right before Queen Raviosa’s eyes.

He had even dared to speak disrespectfully and act rebelliously toward her, making it impossible to forgive him.

“Do not worry. I will be the one to find that insolent man’s corpse and sever his head, I swear.”

Ligares promised thorough revenge, reassuring his mother. However, it seemed that did not align with Queen Raviosa’s true intentions.

“No.”

“...”

“Bring him back alive. Absolutely alive.”

“...Your Majesty?”

The queen’s habitual impulse slipped out unconsciously again. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Clutching the pendant on her necklace delicately, Queen Raviosa recalled the private meeting with the young man named Reid in the underground prison.

His body, unharmed despite ingesting deadly poison; his indifferent attitude despite posing a clear threat to her; the expressionless face bearing wounds but showing no sign of pain or anger.

Everything about him was suspicious from start to finish. No, what was more suspicious was what happened after their meeting.

‘The pendant.’

After Reid left and the queen had gathered herself, she briefly saw the pendant on the wooden table glow red.

That pendant, which she still wore around her neck, was an artifact that detected blood kinship and already contained Queen Raviosa’s own blood.

Since her parents had long passed, no matter how much she dug up graves, she could not obtain blood.

Therefore, those who could make the pendant glow red in this world were extremely limited.

‘My son.’

One such person was before her now. But even a maid’s inquiry revealed that Ligares had not suffered so much as a scratch recently.

And above all, the first place the pendant glowed was... and the one who bled then was...

“Your Majesty, why do you do this?”

Ligares’ puzzled question brought Queen Raviosa back from her chaotic thoughts.

“It means don’t push yourself too hard tracking him; it could be dangerous.”

“Ah, yes. I will keep that in mind.”

“Good. My beloved Liga, you’re so kind.”

Pleased by the praise, Ligares kissed the back of his mother’s hand.

“Once again, happy birthday.”

“Thank you. Your mother will repay you soon, so look forward to it.”

Queen Raviosa smiled tenderly, stroking Ligares’ platinum hair as if caressing something precious—a warm and even affectionate mother-son moment.

But this warmth did not last long.

As Ligares turned and descended the dais, Hadeil stood at the designated place for the audience.

Both Ligares, passing by Hadeil, and Queen Raviosa, watching from the throne, wore drained expressions. The atmosphere chilled once more.

The banquet hall, silent as if even murmurs had died, felt almost unreal given the many people present. The cold stares of Queen Raviosa and Hadeil locked fiercely.

“...”

“...”

Despite the silence, the nobles sensed an unusual discomfort.

As dry swallowing echoed here and there, Hadeil cleared his throat loudly and spoke so all could hear.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty. I pray you remain vigorous and well for a long time to come.”

Though harboring a dagger in his heart, his tongue spat blessings instead of curses smoothly.

“Thank you, Prince Hadeil.”

“I have prepared a gift as well, Your Majesty.”

“A gift from the prince?”

“Am I not your son? The younger son prepared one too, but I, the elder son, cannot be indifferent.”

“...Is that so.”

Queen Raviosa’s eyes flashed white as Hadeil opened a small box.

The moment the lid was lifted, a light nearly as brilliant as the chandeliers seemed to burst forth.

“Th-that is...!”

Inside the box was a splendid potion bottle.

Those with keen eyes recognized the precious item and gasped, raising the surrounding expectations. Buoyed by this, Hadeil proudly introduced his gift.

“This is a special potion produced only once a year by the Rodel Potion Company. It is renowned for its remarkable effects in restoring youth and health, and is called the potion closest to an elixir.”

“Oh, that rare?”

“Indeed, Prince Hadeil shows proper decorum even in silence.”

“For the harmony of the royal family, the next king must be...”

Whether anyone was still deceived, or if this was planted by Hadeil’s supporters, was unclear.

However, the precious gift unfortunately failed to move Queen Raviosa.

Still expressionless, she said,

“Prince Hadeil.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You too are my son, so I shall speak frankly. I have a request.”

“A request...?”

“Not that potion, but something else I want. Will you give it to me?”

Sensing the queen’s unusually low voice and demeanor, Hadeil felt a foreboding unease. But he had no choice now.

“What is it you ask?”

At his reluctant question, Queen Raviosa’s pale eyes flashed sharply.

“Your neck, Hadeil.”

“...!”

At the banquet hall entrance, armed soldiers suddenly burst in. They were the queen’s personal guards.

“W-what is this!”

They immediately crossed the hall and tried to surround Hadeil. As the sudden incident turned Hadeil pale and the nobles into chaos,

Someone moved to oppose it.

“Stop!”

An orange-haired female knight drew her twin swords to protect Hadeil. She was Aura Master, Marchioness Romina Lecandro.

She was loyal to the royal family. Though she had stayed out of political strife, she could not stand by and watch baseless purges right before her eyes.

With Lecandro protecting Hadeil, she turned to Queen Raviosa.

“Even as regent, Your Majesty, you cannot do this.”

“Y-yes! As Marchioness Lecandro says!”

Backed by the Aura Master’s might, able to destroy a legion single-handedly, Hadeil seized the chance.

“Your Majesty! How can you do this to me?! To unjustly strike down the rightful heir! This is... this is blatant treason!”

At this moment, Hadeil made a bold move to sweep away Queen Raviosa and Ligares.

Queen Raviosa laughed scornfully.

“Well said, Hadeil. To slander and remove the rightful heir is treason, then you yourself are the traitor.”

“...What?”

“Put away that stupid look.”

After years of rotting inside, the queen’s anger erupted into a furious roar.

“Hadeil Rusben Vinchester. For the crime of abducting and murdering Reminic thirteen years ago, you will be executed here and now!”

“W-what! The evidence...!”

“Yes, evidence! I’ve wasted these thirteen years rotting here looking for it. Here are sworn testimonies and records, clear as day. Look with your own eyes!”

“...!”