Chapter 157

"Grand Duke Magana helped Vainay in her quest for the throne, and the reason behind it is heartwarming."

A bustling day in the Imperial Capital passed, and the Old Emperor's birthday banquet turned into a funeral. After a chaotic battle among various forces, no one expected it to end like this. Rumors flew everywhere, and it was impossible to tell what was true and what was false.

The much-anticipated Her Highness the Princess and the ever-guarded Iron-Blooded Grand Duke —one has disappeared without a trace, while the other has surprisingly remained in the Imperial Capital as a guard, running back and forth between the castle and the train station every day, his purpose unknown.

With the sudden rise of 'Vainay', her information was noticed by all parties. The royal family then searched through the family tree overnight and finally confirmed 'Vainay's' identity as a member of the royal family. A group of old-timers breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, the family business from our ancestors hasn't been lost. Who cares, as long as we're members of the royal family.

Besides, some people were relieved that this wasn't a rebellion or a usurpation, and that there was no need to continue fighting.

However, because 'Vainay' had such low prestige within the empire, there were almost no nobles who openly supported her, except for the Gate of Janus. Then various conspiracy theories emerged, with some suspecting that this was a conspiracy by the Gate of Janus to install a puppet to control the empire.

Cardinal Andeni couldn't wait to ask 'Lin Qi' if it was true. He was quite excited. If it was true, wouldn't the layout of the Gate of Janus in the Northern Continent be set to take off?

Unfortunately, the wish was beautiful, but the reality was cruel. 'Lin Qi' only represented Gate of Janus in reaching a cooperative relationship with 'Vainay'. Look, although the two are good sisters, they still know how to handle business professionally.

The people of Gate of Janus were disappointed, but 'Vainay's' situation was indeed very delicate. The imperial army, the powerful nobles did not recognize her, and the Senate, they did not know her either.

Those royals? It's alright, they can accept either 'Vainay' or Caslathdi, but the key is they don't contribute anything.

Even the Second Prince and Fourth Prince, seeing that it was actually 'Vainay' who ascended to the throne instead of the crown prince Caslathdi, gradually rekindled their dying hopes and began to secretly make moves, seemingly attempting to turn their fortunes around.

At this point, the most intimidating force was still Magana, because many of the 10,000 Iron Blood Army were still alive and stationed in the city.

Moreover, outside the Baron territory, Kalkart, who was originally engaged in a tug-of-war with the Ironblood main force at the Molte Defense Line, immediately ordered the Imperial army to withdraw after hearing the news of the Old Emperor's passing, allowing the Iron Blood Legion to enter the Baron territory.

However, after receiving news from Magana, Macaos simply led over 100,000 troops to garrison on the Mort Plain.

Now, not to mention the trouble that a rebellion of nearly 200,000 men under Kalkart's command would cause to 'Vainay', Magana, by all accounts, seems to be the best candidate to seize the throne right now, doesn't she?

Although it would certainly cause even greater chaos if Magana were to take the throne, the Iron-Blooded Grand Duke doesn't care about that.

The Grand Duke didn't care.

What does she care about?

This question even overshadowed the discussion about how 'Vainay' managed to get Caslathdi to agree with the Gate of Janus. The entire empire's news agencies were working frantically, and the reporters were racking their brains trying to figure out what was going on.

While things were bustling outside, inside the Imperial Capital castle...

In a courtyard.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

'Vainay' picked up her teacup and took a sip, while Caslathdi and Haino were also sitting at the tea table.

Caslathdi: I woke up to find the sky had fallen. Augustus was about to ascend the throne, but I wasn't the Empress!

Caslathdi couldn't understand how things had suddenly turned sour... Her trusted subordinate had betrayed her, her most trusted teacher had said "Forget it, Caslathdi," and her most trusted friend, the Saintess, had said "This is an internal decision of the Gate of Janus." All three sides collapsed at once, leaving her standing there, sword in hand, looking around in bewilderment.

Can anyone tell me what happened?

She felt the same way the Old Emperor did after the failed blood sacrifice and wanted to question Creed, but she had so many questions that she didn't know where to begin.

"Why?" In the end, she asked the question that had been bothering her. Since the other party had invited her over, there must be a reason.

'Vainay' sighed softly: ' Your Her Highness the Princess, you are still too kind. Why don't you question why I followed you when you had no advantage at all?'

That's because...

"Because you never considered that anyone other than Magana and the others would compete with you, right?"

Caslathdi remained silent.

She really hadn't thought of it, or rather, who could have imagined it? A viscount from a small place suddenly coming up to seize the emperor—she preferred to believe that her father had an illegitimate son outside the marriage who had suddenly risen to power.

"So you still can't understand why the Saintess supports me, or why your teacher doesn't object... Ultimately, this shows that I'm more suitable to be Emperor Augustus than you, isn't it?"

Caslathdi turned to look at Haino, but the latter looked away and gazed at the blooming flowers in the courtyard.

Then she understood. She had indeed failed. Compared to 'Vainay,' she seemed too naive. Even now, she couldn't understand when the other party had turned 'Lin Qi' and Hai Nuo against her... I had people secretly watching her too!

Because of the suspected mole incident involving Ryan, Caslathdi had become more cautious and arranged for someone to secretly keep an eye on 'Vainay,' since the latter had a pretty good relationship with Ryan in the past.

As a result, 'Vainay' had been working diligently in Silver Peak City without any suspicious activity, so Caslathdi had no suspicions.

Forget it, what's the point of saying all this? A loss is a loss, and 'Vainay' is better than me.

Caslathdi breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling much more relaxed. She had been troubled by how to seize the throne, but now, without the pressure, she felt completely at ease!

"Speak, what do you want from me?" Caslathdi asked. "If I'm not mistaken, you want my support so that those who originally supported me will switch sides, right?"

'Vainay' smiled slightly: 'Your Her Highness the Princess is truly intelligent.'

"Even so, the situation is still unfavorable to you. As far as I know, General Kalkart's Imperial army is stationed on the border of Baron, and he has nearly 200,000 men under his command."

Caslathdi knew very well that although 'Vainay' had seized control of Baron, the situation was not actually optimistic. After all, 'Vainay' was not the crown princess and did not have the same legitimate claim. Besides, the Old Emperor was dead, and who wouldn't have some reservations about an imperial general holding 200,000 troops in his hands?

Not to mention, there are so many nobles throughout the empire, who would trust 'Vainay'?

"And then there's Magana, she has over a hundred thousand men under her command, and she's right here in Baron ... I'm curious, how exactly did you convince her to help you?" After clearing her mind, Caslathdi put aside those random thoughts and her mind became clear.

'Vainay' smirked. "It's simple. Just like when Shally killed Ryan, Magana was so angry she almost lost her mind. So, by the same token, if Ryan comes back to life, she will naturally be willing to give up some benefits."

Caslathdi was shocked. "Ryan! He's still alive? How is that possible!"

"Look, you don't even know why he's alive. So, Your Her Highness the Princess, you're really not suited to be emperor."

"..."

Caslathdi thought to herself, "Of course I didn't know, because it was all your plan. If I had known earlier, what chance would you have of this throne?"

So this guy had been plotting all this in secret... Caslathdi shook her head inwardly. She now understood why 'Vainay' had won.

But... Ryan didn't die.

Caslathdi was puzzled. She found that her first reaction to the news was not anger but rather a sense of happiness, even though she was almost certain that Ryan was the mole planted by Magana... Was it because she had completely given up on the fight for the throne?

Where is he?

"Who?"

"Ryan, I want to see him."

'Vainay' chuckled: ' Magana thought so too, but Ryan probably won't arrive in Baron until tomorrow afternoon. Princess also want to see him?'

"I'd like to talk to him, even if it's just to hear it from him in person." Caslathdi stared at her teacup, the swirling black tea mirroring her current mood.

"Well... you'll have to ask Magana for her opinion, but if you agree to what I just said, I can make some arrangements quietly."

"I had no choice," Caslathdi retorted. "If I didn't agree, could I leave Baron alive?"

"Of course you can. Vice Dean Hainuo will definitely protect you. She's so good to you."

"Cough cough..."

Hainuo, who was standing next to him, choked on his tea.

"Teacher..." Caslathdi handed over a tissue. "Thank you. I know you must have been forced to do this."

Haino: "..."

Someone... can save her!

"There's one more thing," 'Vainay' said, her tone shifting. "Your Her Highness the Princess, when I become the new emperor, I will abolish the Senate and establish High Lord Council to govern the empire. If you are willing, I would like to invite you to become a member of it."

"High Lord?" Caslathdi asked in confusion. "Is this any different from the Senate?"

"Of course it's different. The current Senate is basically a retirement home for those royal ministers. Most of them are old nobles from the royal family, and few of them do any real work. The newly established Augustus Empire doesn't need this kind of empty shell. In contrast, each of them in the High Lord Council is an important figure who holds power in the empire, including Grand Duke Magana. I will also have her join them."

'Vainay's' eyes gleamed with confidence, 'The future Augustus Empire will surely become even stronger.'

After the brief tea party ended, Caslathdi and Haino walked around the castle, where they had been staying for the past few days.

"Teacher, is it really possible for something like the High Lord Council to be established?" Caslathdi hadn't given a clear answer earlier because she found it somewhat absurd.

"If the empire truly has so many people wielding real power, that means..."

Haino said softly, "It means that Augustus is powerful."

Caslathdi paused in her steps.

Yes.

She was thinking about the internal chaos within the empire.

What 'Vainay' wanted was for the empire to become even stronger.

As long as we keep moving towards becoming stronger, the so-called High Lord Council can become a reality.

"Caslathdi, if you're still willing to listen to my opinion..." Haino hesitated, "Perhaps this is a better choice for you."

"I know, teacher." Caslathdi chuckled. "I've never blamed you. I'm already very grateful that you're still willing to stay by my side at this time... As for the position of High Lord, I know that Vainay really wants to tie me to her side... but since she's confident that she can make Augustus better, I'm willing to try to support her."

"Everything for the empire."

Does Caslathdi have any other choice? No.

Although it seems that 'Vainay's' chances of seizing the throne are very unstable, in reality, it's just a matter of time before things get better.

Unless Magana directly rebels, no one can truly threaten 'Vainay'. She can't, and her two older brothers who are already in high chairs are even less of a threat.

Sure enough, on the afternoon of the same day that 'Vainay' finished talking to her, two armies stormed the residences of the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince, and threw them into prison bound hand and foot on charges of 'treason'.

The treason wasn't directed at 'Vainay,' but at the Old Emperor. 'Vainay' already possessed evidence, though this evidence was common knowledge—for example, the Second Prince secretly bribing military officials to build a private army; the Fourth Prince using public funds to buy the support of nobles, 'misappropriation of public funds.' The Old Emperor knew this, of course, but he didn't care. But now, it had become 'Vainay's' leverage to convict them.

Although this matter initially aroused strong opposition from many nobles in the Imperial Capital, the voices gradually faded away after Caslathdi appeared at the castle the next day and publicly supported 'Vainay' as emperor.

Even a fool could see the situation clearly by now. Don't look at how much power 'Vainay' has herself; just look at the people who support her: Saintess Janus, the Iron-Blooded Grand Duke, Crown Prince Caslathdi, plus the nobles in the Western Territory who have been speaking out one after another.

With this support group, who dares to say she's not qualified to be Empress?

"My Grand Duke, I have a feeling we've been used."

Outside the castle, the Iron Blood Legion's garrison.

Everson scratched his head and said to Magana, who was studying the map beside him, "Now everyone outside is saying that our Iron Blood Legion also supports Vainay as emperor. And why did that guy send us to capture the prince yesterday? They all say it's a conspiracy, and that our Iron Blood Army has become Vainay's lackeys."

"You believe everything they say? Everson, when are you going to use your brain and learn from me, the Grand Duke, to have your own ideas?" Magana said, exasperated. "What do you care what they say? As long as we achieve our goal, that's all that matters. Even if Vainay becomes emperor, she won't have any military power. When our army marches east, won't we be able to take Baron in no time?"

Everson nodded vigorously. "The Grand Duke is right, that's what I think too!"

"I've studied the battle of the Molte Defense Line these past two days. If the Iron Blood Army advances eastward again and that guy Kalkart tries to stop us, hmph~ I'll beat him so badly that even his own mother won't recognize him!"

It was only because the time was too rushed this time that Magana was determined to storm the Imperial Capital. Otherwise, how could Kalkart have stopped the Iron Blood Army?

Just then, an officer hurriedly entered the tent.

"Your Grand Duke! Breaking news! An army has entered Baron!"

"Oh?" Magana nodded nonchalantly. "From the Southern Territory? How many are there?"

She assumed that 'Vainay' had mobilized troops from the Southern Territory.

"No, it's the Holy Blood Legion, there are about 10,000 of them."

Bang!

The conference table was smashed to pieces by Magana's slap.

"The Holy Blood Legion! That woman Shally is back?" Magana's killing intent surged. "The Iron Blood Legion is assembling, prepare to attack!"

When Magana invaded Baron, she thought that if she encountered 'Shally', she would stab her in the heart a dozen times before she would stop. However, 'Shally' did not appear, and even the Holy Blood Legion did not know where she was.

Now, come out here, or I'll beat you to death?

No sooner had Magana stepped out of the tent than a soldier rushed in from outside the camp in a panic—

"Your Grand Duke! Your Grand Duke! News has come from the train station: Ryan has arrived! Ryan has arrived!"

Magana was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! My Grand Duke Ryan has returned! Everson, gather your men and come with me to greet Ryan!"

Just as Everson was preparing to gather his forces for a charge, his legs slipped, and he asked in surprise, "What about the Holy Blood Legion?"

"They can fight anytime, no rush, let's take on Ryan first."

Da da da da.

Before long, an elite force of two hundred men assembled, and with a wave of her hand, Magana led them in a grand procession toward the train station.

At the same time.