Book 7: Chapter 29


    Castell, are you going to help us or not?


    Castell stood at the door feeling a little awkward. He had put on his overcoat and nned to head out, but Alice blocked him off at the doorway. He hasnt wanted to see Alice thest few days. Alice had already made her stance clear. She wanted to harm his majesty. She wanted to at least punish his majesty. Castell himself didnt want to, but he knew he couldnt turn against the Valkyries so he didnt want to see Alice.


    Am I not already helping you? I did not tell his majesty and her majesty about you buying metal. I have helped you keep it under wraps already. I have helped you with something so serious already, how else do you want me to help you?


    Alice frowned, folded her arms, looked up at Castell and in an annoyed tone said: Thats not the help Im talking about! Your indecisive stance is really getting on my nerves! Wererades, arent we? We have worked so hard by her majestys side for so many years. Are you going to continue maintaining your indecisive stance at this most crucial point in time? Do you still respect and love her majesty? Wheres your loyalty?! Are you telling me that time has erased her loyalty and courage?


    Thats not what this is about! Ive given up everything for her majesty, you know that very well, Alice!


    Castell scrubbed his head with irritation and then looked at her enraged. Castell was insistent on never letting his loyalty to the empress be questioned. Questioning his loyalty to the empress was the equivalent of questioning his entire life to him.


    If youre still loyal to her majesty, why are you not participating in this?! You know full-well how ambitious his majesty is! He raised his own army, produced his own weapons and now has his own city. Hes just one step away from having his own private military! I dont know what sort of sorcery he used to bewitch the empress into the way she is now, but you should be able to tell that the greatest threat to the empire at present is this prince!


    Alice got angrier and angrier as she spoke, almost smashing Castells expensive door to bits with one punch. Castells heart ached when he saw the crack on his precious door. He let out a heavy sigh and replied: Alice, are you absolutely certain that his majesty has an evil ambition? If his majesty wanted the throne, hed just have to mention it and her majesty will pass it to him for sure given how much she loves him. Why would he need to go through all that trouble?


    Doesnt that make it scarier?! Alice looked at Castell aggressively. The empresss throne was the most sensitive topic to Alice and a topic you dont want to cross her about. It wasnt just the Valkyries responsibility, but more because she witnessed in the flesh how hard Elizabeth worked. She witnessed Elizabeth first raise a nation in ruins and the tears she shed. She witnessed Elizabeth wear her military attire and smash her own throne without reserve. She witnessed Elizabeth fighting right at the forefront when she was wounded all over


    She witnessed everything. She witnessed the empresss beginnings with nothing to her rise to be an individual who could shake the continent and strike fear into her foes. She was always by Elizabeths side.


    Only such a talented individual was worthy of the majestic title of sovereign. Only someone like that had the right to sit on the rulers throne of gold and blood. What right did that man have? Did he ever go through a world of bloodshed and warfare? He hasnt ever held a sword even. What right did he have to earn the favour of the most perfect, noble and outstanding ruler? What right did he have to be the emperor?


    Alice is an orphan. She doesnt know what a ruler needs. She doesnt know what sort of person can be a ruler. But she saw Elizabeth. Her admiration and respect for Elizabeth knew no bounds. In her heart, Elizabeth was the only ruler of this world. That man, that kid, what right did he have to seed the throne? He just happened to be a lucky brat that was born as Elizabeths son. He didnt have a shred of Elizabeths heroic spirit!


    That sort of man wasnt worthy of being Elizabeths sessor! He wasnt worthy of having the empire that Elizabeth gave so much to establish just like that! If he threatened Elizabeths rule, she would give her everything away to bring Elizabeth to her senses and save the empire!


    Elizabeth gave away her everything to establish this empire. Alice witnessed every step Elizabeth took and everything she sacrificed to establish this empire. There was no way she was going to let anyone destroy her. If they wanted to destroy what Elizabeth worked so hard for, they were going to have to destroy her first.


    Alice, lets calm down and think about this properly.


    Castell pressed his hands on Alices shoulders, but she smacked his hands away and turned her head away somewhat angry. Castell chuckled awkwardly and then made an open hand gesture. He said, We both serve her majesty. You want to eliminate his majesty for her majestys sake, right? In that case, shouldnt we ask for her majestys opinion first since its got to do with her majesty? His majesty is her majestys current only child and her most beloved child. What happens if her majesty falls into despair because we killed him and offs herself?


    H- Her majesty has been bewitched by his majesty! If the prince dies, I think her majesty wille back to her senses!


    Whenever did you see his majesty proactively trying to ingratiate himself with her majesty? Hes not the sort of person who wishes her majesty to promote him. He has been to the inner court fewer times than we have been in a single day. As opposed to saying that his majesty is bewitching her majesty, it would be more urate to say that her majesty is the one who is clinging to his majesty.


    Alice clenched her teeth while looking at Castell. Though Castell said things that attacked her majesty, she had no counterargument because Castell spoke the truth.


    Hence, we cannot do something that would anger her majesty. Her majesty wants to have a family. Her majesty left after giving birth to his majesty. I think she must be feeling guilty toward his majesty. If we harm his majesty now, we really will be attacking her majesty herself.


    Castell chuckled and looked at Alice who had no counterargument. He continued exining: Everything that I do is for her majesty. Her majesty loves her child and his majesty is not vying for the throne right now. Even if we act against him now, it would only be considered an uncalled for attack. Let us focus on gathering power for now. If his majesty shows any behaviour that crosses the line, we will report it to her majesty. Only once her majesty gives her approval can we touch his majesty.


    What if his majesty has gathered enough power too?! Look at his majesty right now. Everything that hes doing is to grow and expand his power!


    I think her majesty would be very happy if his majesty could grow his power to equal ours. Plus, he would have what it takes to be an emperor by then, wouldnt he?


    Castell smiled then looked at Alice. He wiped his smile away and continued, Alice, I am loyal to her majesty, not you Valkyries. Therefore, I will not support everything you choose to do. Alice, you are being too rash this time. Do not do something that will make her majesty unhappy. Do not do something her majesty does not want to do. Do you still not understand this?


    Alice clenched her teeth and kept silent for a moment. She then spun around and left him with Ille find you again when the timees before quickly leaving.


    Castell revealed a smile when he saw Alices tiny yet determined silhouette. He then let out a long sigh, adjusted his cor and took out a gold coin to look at the empresss face-print on it.


    He softly muttered to himself: Your majesty, you have a sad fate. You have to die if you be strong, but you will also die if you do not How will you cross this single-log bridge? I am most fascinated. However, as Elizabeths child, you should be fine, right?