Chapter 564 - 34: Prince Samon
Chapter 564: Chapter 34: Prince Samon
「The Royal Capital.」
After brewing for several days, news from the central front had spread. Anyone with the means to know about it, now did.
The Marshal Prince had returned to the Lord of Dawn, and the King Marquis remained in a coma.
Suddenly, the Frankish political arena, which had been stable for decades, was filled with the ominous tension of a gathering storm.
In the absence of Louis III to preside over the situation, this feeling only intensified.
The one who benefited most from this, naturally, was Marquis George.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Marquis George’s star was on the rise. Lately, Wei Man Manor had been bustling with a constant stream of carriages.
However, Marquis George was refusing all visitors. At this critical juncture, the once-ostentatious marquis had surprisingly grown quiet. Aside from banquets he couldn’t avoid, he spent most of his time at his manor, managing the internal affairs of the northern faction.
This only strengthened the determination of the kingdom’s political heavyweights to pay him a visit.
In the eyes of most, this meant Marquis George had matured. He had learned to cultivate his Inner Strength.
As for the second tier of beneficiaries, there were quite a few...
Marquis William, for instance, as well as a host of other factions’ second-in-commands.
Many nobles who had once benefited from Marquis Oscillate were now thrilled.
They had benefited from Oscillate, but they had also been constrained by him. Members of the Edward family could be found all throughout their own houses.
Like Valentino, these people were just waiting for Oscillate to die so they could conduct a major reshuffle within their families and seize complete control.
Of course, if one were to ask who benefited the most, it would have to be Prince Samon.
The royal family had previously focused all its energy on Prince Noah. As a result, once he died, even though Louis III had plenty of other children, not one of them was up to the task.
The princes older than Noah all had sordid reputations, given to debauchery and vice. And the princes younger than Noah... they were far too young, the eldest being only nine years old.
In an instant, Prince Samon, who should have faded into obscurity along with the military faction, had somehow become the entire nation’s top candidate for the throne!
「Inside the Prince’s Manor.」
Prince Samon had been all smiles lately.
The tables had turned. It was that simple.
A hopeless situation had, in an instant, become winnable.
Although not a single court official had come to pay their respects yet.
However, people had begun sending letters to his manor, and the agents who had been secretly watching him were now nowhere to be found.
Prince Samon was in his bedroom, joyfully reading his letters, when he suddenly felt a cold draft at his back.
Instantly, Prince Samon knew who it was.
Although these people were his great benefactors, Prince Samon’s expression was grim.
"What? Now that you’re in a position of power, Your Highness, you wish to part ways with us?"
Prince Samon sighed, stood up, and turned around.
As expected, it was the Black Robed Mage.
That’s right. Prince Samon was, in fact, also in contact with this cult.
It was only logical. If Count Sriphine, the second-in-command of the military faction, knew something about the cult, how could Prince Samon, the faction’s public face, not know them as well?
"Didn’t I tell you not to come here anymore?" Prince Samon asked.
"I will take care of your business," Prince Samon said. "You want the King’s Altar, don’t you? Once I ascend the throne, I will naturally see to it."
News from Madar Mountain had not yet arrived, so for the moment, Prince Samon had no idea what these people wanted with the King’s Altar.
"Heh. It was the guards we arranged who killed Prince Noah. That’s the only reason you have this opportunity."
"Even without you, Grantham would have blown him to bits."
"Your Highness... surely you’re not naive enough to think Grantham has nothing to do with us?" the Black Robed Mage asked in disbelief.
"Whether he’s connected to you or not, why are you here?" Prince Samon demanded.
Sensing Prince Samon’s attempt to distance himself, the Black Robed Mage gave a cold laugh.
"Semon, you think you’ve already won? Let’s not even mention your collusion with a cult."
"Did you know," the Black Robed Mage said, dropping a bombshell, "that Noah has a posthumous child?"
"What!"
Upon hearing this, Prince Samon’s pupils dilated.
"H-How is that possible?"
’That guy, Noah, actually has a posthumous heir? Why won’t that bastard’s ghost just fade away?’
Prince Samon’s political acumen might be lacking, but anyone with the slightest grasp of international affairs understood the implications of a marriage alliance between the Algeria Kingdom and the Frank Kingdom.
If this was true, Prince Samon didn’t know if others in the Frank Kingdom would support this posthumous child, but he knew for certain the child would have the backing of a foreign power like the Algeria Kingdom.
Even if he did manage to seize the throne, the Algeria Kingdom could use this issue to attack him in the future.
"And it’s not just the posthumous child."
"They already have a supporter," the Black Robed Mage said. "One with a military background."
"Who?" Prince Samon asked, startled.
He didn’t even have any definite supporters of his own yet.
Only a few young scions from the great families had written to him.
"Robson," the Black Robed Mage said.
"Who’s that? You’re trying to scare me with some nobody I’ve never even heard of?" Prince Samon breathed a sigh of relief.
He mentally ran through his list of important figures and came up with nothing. He had never heard of this person.
This wasn’t entirely Prince Samon’s fault. Robson’s rise to prominence began with the invasion of the steppes from the eastern front, and by that time, Prince Samon had already been placed under house arrest by Louis III.
Prince Samon had only been released from his confinement yesterday. He was now utterly alone, with nothing to his name but his title. He had no power base, and thus, no one to brief him on recent events.
The Black Robed Mage fell silent, suddenly beginning to doubt his choice.
’They had chosen to approach this man because he seemed dimwitted and easy to control. But now... it seemed he was a little too dimwitted.’
"Robson. The kingdom’s Eastern Line General. Marquis Oscillate’s nephew-by-marriage. His wife is Earl Fengman Valentino. He was a close friend of the late Prince Noah, and he’s a Hereditary Earl who has yet to go through his investiture ceremony."
"He killed Kemal," the Black Robed Mage added.
"What!"
Prince Samon stared at the Black Robed Mage in disbelief.
"Kemal is dead!"
’How do you not even know that?’ the Black Robed Mage couldn’t help but inwardly complain.
"It’s over..."
Prince Samon collapsed onto the bed, his eyes filled with resentment and despair.
"Noah... damn you, Noah... Why are you still haunting me even in death?"
"He killed Kemal..."
Seeing this reaction, the Black Robed Mage felt a sense of relief. ’At least he’s not completely stupid,’ he thought. ’There’s still hope.’
’In any case, they only needed to use this man to secure the position of King of the Franks. Nothing else mattered.’
"Don’t worry. I have found someone for you."
"With his help, I believe you still have a chance to win the throne."
"And judging by the time, he should be arriving any moment now."
Prince Samon was puzzled by this.
’Help him win the throne? Who had that kind of power?’ Prince Samon looked out of the manor. A carriage was indeed approaching. Emblazoned on its side was a family crest: a dragon and a bear.