The Empror's Trap

Ch 45 - The Mastermind Behind the Scenes:

When Shenya saw Lina enter, he visibly grew flustered.

For a scholar like him, facing a remnant of the Evil Cult hardly seemed like good news.

"Mr. Luin, I simply want to hear the specifics of your situation directly from your mouth. Look, I'm not a fool - I know who's behind you. That former prince from the Southern Frontiers must still be plotting my demise, correct?"

Kenji smiled as he voiced his speculation - or rather, what was essentially confirmed fact, just lacking the final evidence needed for conviction.

"Do you really think you can escape this, boy?" Though his body trembled, Shenya still managed to spit out the words, knowing he likely couldn't walk away unscathed.

"Escape?" Kenji reacted as if hearing a joke. "Impossible. I can guess what banner you're rallying under - something about 'cleansing the court of evil influences,' right? Makes perfect sense, really. After all, I've consolidated too much power, so it's only natural for you to pose as righteous patriots and denounce me."

Kenji sat calmly in his seat as Lina swiftly brought over a plate of fruit.

"However, I have no intention of escaping. Quite the contrary - the bigger fuss you make, the safer I become."

As he spoke, he casually picked up a sharp knife from the fruit plate and sliced open an orange. The fragrant juice splattered everywhere as Kenji took a satisfied bite and continued: "You see, you want to eliminate me. While I'm capable of protecting myself, sometimes Her Majesty prefers that I put on a little show of suffering for her benefit."

"Sometimes, when a minister only displays loyalty and reliability, Her Majesty becomes skeptical. But what if I play the victim? Your schemes against me might actually make Her Majesty trust me more."

Kenji's words weren't mere intimidation.

These people's target was almost certainly himself now. While the previous assassination attempt on Her Majesty had provoked her fury, overall it was just an opportunistic experiment by certain parties.

That failure would make them realize: to move against the Emperor in this country, they'd need to deal with him, the Grand Marshal, first.

Seeing the other party wavering slightly, Kenji knew it was time to appeal to righteousness.

Shenya looked at him, then said:

"Don't tell Her Majesty."

"I'll keep it confidential."

Kenji nodded.

Of course, he would tell Pluvia depending on circumstances, but some things he couldn't let her know, or his plans might be compromised.

"The Fifth Prince Yunis Camelot has long been plotting to eliminate you."

Kenji showed no surprise at hearing this name.

He'd already investigated thoroughly. This Prince Yunis, being the most diplomatically skilled of all the princes, had long been on his list. Prince Yunis had previously negotiated with multiple barbarian tribes in the Southern regions during the previous emperor's reign. With his help, relevant diplomatic missions successfully brought most tribes in the Southern regions under Camelot's control at minimal cost. Quite an achievement.

However, in the succession struggle, Yunis clearly lacked too much. He excelled at socializing and pleasure-seeking but wasn't cut out for governing. Being rather undisciplined, he didn't even make it to the real finals.

The Fifth Prince opposing Pluvia was perfectly normal - he'd never liked his sister since childhood. And because he lived so extravagantly, after Pluvia took the throne she simply gave him the prince's title, built him a mansion in the secondary capital not far from Luminara capital, provided some monthly stipends and left him to his own devices - though beyond allowances sufficient for comfortable living, Pluvia wouldn't give him any more money.

The Fifth Prince always harbored such ambitions. His success in persuading the Southern Barbarians led him to believe he had the ability to rule the country, so his ambitions grew increasingly over these years, even secretly manufacturing armor and cultivating practitioners.

Of course, this behavior didn't succeed - Pluvia understood her brother's little schemes all too well, directly bribing the mansion's steward to secretly set fire to it, burning all the hidden weapons and armor to ashes...

Even so, relying on his Southern Frontier connections and excellent eloquence, this Fifth Prince still managed to build up his own power base.