The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

69 – 69. Regicide (3)

The fact that the Crown Prince had fallen to regicide spread as rapidly as the fame he had shaken off for so long.

There is no way that could have happened.

Would the nobleman of the sword commit the sin of regicide against his lord…?

Many knights who had revered and respected Legnas rebelled.

The same went for the Crown Prince of the Valtaria Empire.

Alexis harbored a longing for the outside world while listening to the shining tales of the holy party. For someone like Alexis, the tragedy that had unfolded in the Pug Kingdom was an unbearable nightmare.

“Sister! There is no way that Sir Legnas would commit regicide!”

“…But judging from the circumstances, it seems to be true.”

The sword of justice shattered the silence.

He even dispatched all the nobles who had attended the banquet.

Was there never any intention to conceal his identity?

By displaying the sword of the Crown Prince, Legnas had brought about the destruction of the kingdom.

It seemed certain that he had spared Prince Erik. If he had intended to conceal his identity, he wouldn’t have made the mistake of deliberately sparing survivors.

“The royal hall of the saint discovered in the fairies’ paradise. And the sage’s ring possessed by the apostle of the holy blood. Even this time, the sword has been revealed… What on earth happened to the holy party?”

Traces of the holy party, which had not been found before, were now being revealed one after another.

A sense of foreboding crept in.

It felt like a huge storm was approaching.

Ludmilla swallowed a heavy sigh as she looked at Alexis.

“Don’t worry too much. We will thoroughly investigate the truth.”

“Yes, y-yes… Sister.”

Seeing Alexis’s pale face, Ludmilla forced a bitter smile.

It was natural for Alexis to be shocked.

He had harbored a deep admiration for the holy party since childhood.

The fact that a hero he sincerely admired had turned into a ruthless killer brought about despair. Even though the sole survivor testified to the truth, Alexis still denied it.

“First, I should consult with Edanant.”

If the war maniac who was part of the holy party along with the Crown Prince knows something.

With that thought in mind, Ludmilla comforted the distressed Alexis while recalling Edanant.

“Lady Ludmilla.”

“What is it?”

A knight clad in full armor approached Ludmilla with a troubled expression.

It seemed like something urgent had happened.

“There was a disturbance in the palace.”

“Who dared to cause a disturbance in the palace! Especially in such ominous times.”

“Well, that… It’s Master Edanant.”

“…What?”

The culprit who caused the disturbance in the palace was none other than Edanant.

Upon this shocking revelation, Ludmilla widened her eyes in confusion.

***

They received information that Prince Erik, who had survived the tragedy, was heading to the infirmary.

They rushed in to hear the detailed account from the sole survivor of the disaster.

Finding him was not difficult.

The man, who looked like a shabby parasite, was easy to spot.

“Prince Erik.”

“Who might you be?”

He faced a man with a handsome appearance, his golden hair flowing.

There were faint scars on his shabby face, probably inflicted by Legnas. It was the result of not receiving timely healing magic.

The scars on his face…

It seemed like he was returning the grudge he had suffered in his childhood.

The cursed rightful prince would now confront his scars whenever he looked into the mirror, much like Legnas did as he traced his scars, recalling his unfortunate past.

“Edanant von Hohenberg. The youngest of the Hohenberg family.”

“Hohenberg? That means…”

“He is the brother of the knight Maximilian.”

“I see.”

As Erik revealed he was Maximilian’s brother, a tension crept into his face. Despite his efforts to remain composed, his unease was palpable.

It was inevitable.

Those with a tarnished past often faced much suspicion.

Seating himself next to Erik, who was perched on the edge of the bed, Regnas adjusted his height to meet Erik’s gaze and began to address the wary prince.

“I heard you were the sole survivor in the massacre drama.”

“Hmph! That may be, but…”

“You seem curious. Why would Regnas, the one who turned the kingdom into a sea of blood, spare a survivor? Didn’t the sword entrust the truth to the prince?”

“I-I don’t understand what you’re saying!”

Was there a reason behind sparing the imperial commander who had murdered his own mother?

Something was afoot.

Regnas must have intended to convey a clue using the prince of the doomed kingdom.

But a problem arose.

Erik, who had received the sword’s truth, was hesitating and evading eye contact. The prince, cunning and fragile, was fearful of revealing Regnas’ truth.

“I am the prince of the kingdom promised hospitality by His Majesty! You are impertinent, Edanant. If you continue with this disrespect, I will formally protest to the imperial court!”

“hahahaha, is that so…”

Regnas shrugged at Erik’s enraged voice.

Quite adept at handling situations.

Using his acquaintance with the emperor as leverage to claim noble status immediately upon recognizing the emperor was a despicable act fitting for someone who had wielded petty power to oppress. Despite the kingdom’s downfall, his desperate attempt to cling to power felt mad.

“I heard from Regnas. The prince has quite a dark past.”

“W-What!”

“So speak. Before you bring shame upon the empire you barely escaped from.”

“Gah! Regnas…! How dare he!”

The prince’s face contorted grotesquely.

He feared his past misdeeds might be exposed.

Seeing Erik’s pallor, Regnas swallowed his retort.

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“T-There is nothing more! Regnas clearly said so!”

“….”

Nothing more.

Was that Regnas’ testimony?

It’s hard to understand.

Damn it. Couldn’t he just explain it a bit more simply?

“I believe it’s not a lie.”

“It’s the truth! Regnas clearly instructed me to convey it!”

Nodding at Erik’s outburst, Regnas rose to his feet.

He had obtained Regnas’ testimony.

There was no longer a reason to face the prince of the doomed kingdom.

A faint sound of footsteps retreating was heard from behind.

Regnas responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Edanant.”

“You have come, Lady Ludmilla.”

His steps to leave halted abruptly.

It was because Ludmilla was slowly approaching from the entrance.

Surely she wasn’t here to continue the argument with Prince Erik at the infirmary? Not even a scuffle had broken out, yet Ludmilla was intervening personally…

But seeing Ludmilla’s deeply furrowed brow, it seemed his speculation was on point.

“L-Lady Ludmilla…! I am honored to meet the benefactor who personally came to save the Kingdom of Pug!”

Facing the overwhelmingly imposing princess, Erik hastily rose and paid his respects.

Were they acquaintances?

They must have met during the salvation of the Kingdom of Pug.

But for some reason, Ludmilla’s expression turned menacingly sour upon facing Erik. There was no hint of her usual warmth; instead, a chilling disdain overflowed.

This was a new side of Ludmilla.

She always dealt with others with respect and consideration.

Faced with the blatantly contemptuous princess, something inside him squirmed. He felt the urge to switch places with the prince immediately.

“I am unworthy, Lady Ludmilla! Despite your personal efforts to save the kingdom… I failed to protect the royal family and citizens from the ruthless villains!”

As Erik faced Ludmilla, he began to deliver an impassioned speech, as if possessed by a sense of duty and sorrow.

I lay sprawled on the floor.

Tears streamed down, visible to the eye.

Was I planning to plead with Rudmila like I did with the Emperor, sticking the straw this time? It was audacious to the point of sticking out my tongue. If it were me, I would have bitten my tongue unable to overcome the shame.

“….”

I turned my head to look at Rudmila.

There, I could witness the chillingly bloodshot eyes.

It felt like a cold wind blowing.

Instinctively, I shuddered at Rudmila’s gaze full of disdain.

“The Crown Prince is truly remarkable. Facing the enemy and shamelessly begging for his life. If it were me, I would have swung my sword until the end against the executioner who beheaded the King.”

“T-that was… to inform the kingdom of the tragedy committed by the executioner Regnas! Otherwise, I would have fought with a resolve to die!”

Lame excuses only exacerbated the anger.

Seeing Rudmila turn her head with a snort, I sensed it.

“You, come along quickly!”

“….Yes.”

Why is she taking it out on me? Did the old maid suddenly have a fit of hysteria?

Exhaling a heavy sigh at the enraged voice echoing around, I followed.