Chapter 117: The Bait (3)

The slightly dazed king quickly regained his composure.

“What—what do you mean by ‘temporary adjutant general’?”

“Are you suggesting I’d be out here in the middle of the night just to deliver a measly letter? I’m not some messenger boy—I’m an intelligence envoy for the Leon Revolutionary Army!”

“A—a child like you?”

“Well, as you can see, I may look rather young, but…”

“Young-looking? You’re just plain young!”

“Let’s set aside such trivial matters. For someone who wears a crown, Your Majesty seems quite oblivious at times.”

”…”

Had this king ever been so openly rebuked by a mere child past sixty years of age? It was only natural that anger would arise from rational judgment.

As the flustered king listened intently, Louis continued:

“In any case, despite my youthful appearance, I possess another remarkable ability.”

Louis gestured around with his chin, indicating the space barrier he had set up.

The king nodded, seeming to grasp the situation, which made Louis smile slightly.

I didn’t plan on revealing myself like this, but…

Originally, Louis intended to stay behind the scenes, supporting Pablo, Greg, and Page as they took center stage. Of course, while he saw himself as a helper, others would likely view him as a puppeteer pulling the strings.

In any case, that was his initial strategy, but…

It seems letting them handle things from the back would take too long.

Louis wanted to swiftly deal with this matter and then head straight across the Summer Continent without delay.

And besides,

Since I’m helping anyway, I might as well steer events in my favor.

After all, it was preparation for an uncertain crisis that could arise in about 250 years.

Louis smiled slyly.

The king eyed him suspiciously. “Even so, asking such a thing of a child like you…”

“No need to worry about that. I can take care of myself. That’s not important now. We don’t have much time, so let’s get down to business.”

“Speak,” the king urged.

“You owe me something, old man.”

”…?”

“Announce the marriage between Page and Pablo.”

“Nonsense! If I were to allow their wedding…” The king bristled with anger.

Louis cut him off: “Levans will go berserk, won’t he?”

“And you still want this?!”

“Of course. It’s exactly what I’m after.”

“You…” The king’s eyes demanded an explanation.

In a calm tone, Louis replied:

“We can’t afford to give Levans time. No, we must force him to accelerate his plans.”

”…What do you mean?”

“It’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll rebel eventually.”

”…”

“At present, everything is stacked against us—the king and Leon’s Revolutionary Army. Or should I even call it ‘stacked’? With Levans’ forces, he could easily swallow up the palace. Am I wrong?”

”…Continue.”

“All signs point to an inevitable defeat for us, so we need to create a variable.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll choose a predictable place and time, then guide Levans into rebelling there. After all, isn’t it easier to face someone charging straight at you rather than one sneaking up from behind with a knife?”

“Hmph…” The king let out a soft sigh. But it was fleeting. A sense of discouragement clouded his eyes.

“That won’t turn our current disadvantage around in one fell swoop. We can’t even begin to guess how much power that Levans has amassed.”

“Even if Levans leads an army of a million soldiers against us, all we need to do is capture him and his top lieutenants.”

“Do you really think capturing Levans and his inner circle will be so easy?”

“Well, treasonous conspiracy should provide ample justification for… er,” Louis trailed off, but his eyes gleamed with conviction. “If Your Majesty grants me just one request, I assure you, they’ll be ours.”

The king’s eyes widened slightly at this burst of confidence from Louis.

“What might that be?”

“Could this palace crumble a bit?”

”…”

“Of course, I won’t be able to compensate you for the building’s value later. Let’s make that clear before we proceed.”

Seeing Louis’s serious expression, the king’s mouth slightly gaped open.

In response, Louis flashed him a bright smile.

“If Your Majesty grants me just this one request, I will change the dark future of the Frenche Royal Family.”

The king felt a chill at the sight of the child’s pretty eyes.

He pondered deeply.

…Should I entrust the future of our country to this boy?

Somehow, it felt like inviting an ogre into his house to get rid of goblins—a foreboding unease crept up his spine.

A week had passed since the incident at Bernium Palace. During that time, several rumors circulated within its walls.

The first concerned Crown Princess Page:

“I heard the exiled princess has returned!”
“No, not exiled—she ran away on her own accord.”
“They say it was a love-fueled escape, and she’s back now.”
“Rumor has it, she even brought home a baby from outside.”

News of what transpired between Page and Pablo during their meeting with ministers spread by word of mouth. As such, tales inflated over time until they claimed Page had already given birth while away, framing her departure as a romantic getaway.

And then came another piece of gossip:

“His Majesty the King is confined to his bed!”

The second rumor was that the king had retreated into seclusion after being shocked by Princess Page’s announcement.

Well… After all, his daughter who returned after twenty years came back with some mountain bandit as her supposed fiancé.

But what kind of person is this guy who’s about to become our son-in-law?

Sons-in-law?! That requires His Highness’s permission first!

I guess their relationship must be good if they’re doing it every night…

For the past week, there had been much speculation at Bernium Palace regarding Page, Pablo, and the king. The rumors grew more intense because the king had gone into seclusion while Page and Pablo were acting like an affectionate engaged couple at the palace.

The rumors even spread beyond the palace walls.

And then came another whisper:

They say a ghost appears in the palace every night!
It’s supposed to be a small, white apparition.
Three people have already claimed they’ve seen it!

Rumors of a ghost haunting the royal palace abounded. Though a few individuals insisted they had actually witnessed the specter, the chatter soon died down.

Given the palace’s long history, tales of ghosts occasionally surfaced. Moreover, with the king’s seclusion and the rampant gossip about Page and Pablo, these new whispers were quickly overshadowed.

Thus, after swirling through the palace for a week, the talk of ghosts eventually faded away—coinciding with the king’s emergence from his self-imposed isolation.

At a rare gathering of ministers, Prime Minister Levans raised his voice once again.

“W-what did you just say, Your Majesty?” he asked sharply, as if questioning the king himself.

Yet no one present dared to challenge him. After all, they shared Levans’ sentiments exactly.

Taken aback by the ministers’ reactions, the king spoke with forced composure:

“We intend to proceed with the marriage between Crown Princess Page and Duke Pablo. The prime minister shall oversee all preparations without delay.”

”…”

As realization dawned on Levans that he had heard correctly, his face hardened ominously.

What in blazes is His Majesty thinking?

He stared intently at the king, trying to pierce through his thoughts. The king met his gaze unflinchingly. Just days ago, those eyes had been plagued by concerns over Page, but now they were eerily calm.

After exchanging glances for a moment, Levans was the first to relax his stony expression and bow his head. “I will obey your command.”

The ministers observing this exchange were taken aback by how easily Levans acquiesced. But he wasn’t finished yet.

“Then, when exactly do you anticipate the appointed day to be?”

Levans’ question sparked interest in the king’s eyes as he recalled something the boy temporary adjutant general had said just days ago:

We need to buy some time. So go underwater for a few days. : …Underwater?

: Stay holed up in your room.

: Why should I do that?

: You need to make it obvious that you’re doing nothing! No thoughts on your mind! That way they’ll let their guard down. Meanwhile, I’ll use the time to prepare.

Preparations? What preparations?

I’ll set a trap. Just remember that for now.

…

Anyway, staying secluded for too long won’t do. They’ll get suspicious if it goes on… A week should be about right. And then!

And then?

When you emerge from seclusion, announce your immediate engagement. Then they’ll test the waters and see how you react.

How?

They won’t refuse. They’ll agree, of course.

Levans will? No way! That persistent bastard wouldn’t just sit back and watch Page marry someone else, would he?

Yes, he would. He’s already tried to remove the old king; what could possibly scare him now? Given this opportunity, he’d likely accelerate his plans and make a big move.

…Then what must we do?

If you think it’s a good idea, let’s set the date for that very day. Don’t worry about asking the old king; just consult with Levans.

The king was astounded.

So he meant it!

Despite Greg being named temporary chief of staff, the king had remained skeptical. What could possibly possess anyone to entrust such responsibility to a mere child? Yet this young chief of staff’s capabilities were now indisputably proven—by his ability to perfectly predict Levans’ actions.

The king composed himself before asking, “What timing do you propose, Prime Minister?”

Levens’ eyes sparkled as if caught off guard by the king’s question. He pondered briefly before responding, “There’s no point in dragging this out. Since His Majesty has already made up his mind, let us proceed with the wedding as soon as possible.”

“Hmm…” the king murmured thoughtfully.

“How about two weeks from now?” Levans suggested.

“Hmph…” The king heaved a deep sigh.

”…What troubles you, Your Majesty?”

“Nothing.” The king clicked his tongue inwardly.

It was just as the young chief of staff had foreseen:

If you ask him for a date, he’ll likely set one soon. Probably within two weeks at most.

Merely? Merely two weeks?

Because I’m eager to cut off the head of someone whose presence I can’t bear any longer. Those two weeks will be the minimum time needed for him to make all sorts of preparations.

…?!

The king didn’t need to be told who it was that Levans couldn’t wait to behead.

After barely managing to calm his boiling insides, the king nodded. “Very well. But isn’t two weeks rather tight for making all the arrangements?”

“Given the crown princess’s circumstances, it would be best to proceed with a quiet wedding rather than inviting guests from other nations.”

In addition to returning after twenty years, she was pregnant out of wedlock and marrying a commoner—a perfect storm of embarrassment for those who valued appearances. Levans’ suggestion made sense.

“If we were to invite foreign dignitaries, two weeks would indeed be insufficient. However, as I mentioned earlier, if we opt for a low-key ceremony, this timeframe should suffice.”

“Prepare accordingly,” the king instructed.

“I understand. Then, if you’ll excuse me… there is much to arrange.” Despite still being in the middle of their meeting, Levans rose first.

The king didn’t prevent him from leaving early. After Levans departed, he waved off the ministers who remained, sensing they were waiting for his cue.

“You may all withdraw.”

“Then…”

With the king’s dismissal, his ministers rose from their seats one by one.

As over thirty individuals filed out together, the monarch was left alone in the vast chamber.

He closed his eyes, recalling his final conversation with Louis:

I will follow your counsel. But… I ask you to promise me one thing.

What is it?

If things should go awry… please ensure that Page… she must escape this kingdom safely.

Well, there’s no need for concern, but rest assured, I’ll see to it.

Good… Thank you.

Emerging from his reverie, the king gazed around the empty hall with steely resolve and murmured:

“Oh heavens above, please… keep that promise.”