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61. Signs of Instability (5)

Everyone was panicking at the sudden appearance of the signs of destruction but the attention of the Imperial Capital was focused on somewhere else. Their attention was diverted only because of a certain newspaper headline.

[Commander of the Mobile Field Army, Iron Carter, has done it once again!]

The newspaper with this headline had been selling like hot cakes in the square since dawn.

The most valuable jewel in the continent, the God’s Orb, was rumored to break anytime soon. However, it was said that it did not break any further despite the cracks not being repaired cleanly. Thanks to this, the time of destruction had been pushed back which increased the faith and trust of the people in the Empire for Iron.

“Oho! This rascal. I came here under the orders of His Highness.”

“You cannot enter, please be on your merry way.”

“Then, how about this?” The noble asked, trying to secretly bribe the Imperial Guard. However, the guard flatly refused the offer. If someone was unaware, with the situation that they were in, and they accepted the bribe, they would be beheaded. No questions asked. This was the Crown Prince’s absolute order.

“Do not permit any aristocrats to set foot on the palace until he returns.”

With this order, the guard would face big problems if he were to receive the bribe, just like in the past. Besides, this was related to Iron Carter. Iron Carter was an existence that could make anyone from the empire fall down from grace. The nobles hoped that nothing bad would reflect on them from what they did before. Because of that, the nobles gathered in front of the Imperial Palace to meet with Iron. However, no nobleman was able to get through the Imperial Palace’s gates.

‘Sigh… I was already lined up with Western Command.’

‘Still, Iron Carter is the best choice!’

‘Tsk! I have no choice but to bet all the rest of my fortune.’

The noblemen that had gathered in front of the gates were struggling to think of a way to grasp Iron’s line.

They wanted to find a way to live so they made sure to grab the different Commanders’ lines by either sending their children or sending money in the form of donation to restore their collapsed armies. Since the entire Empire would be in danger, the safest place to be was next to a Master.

The most popular choice was Central Command. This was because the Central Command was relatively free compared to other Commands, which were under a crisis. The least popular choice was Southeast Command. Why was it that the Southeast Command was the least popular when it was equally as dangerous as the other commands? The main reason was Iron.

“The entry of Central Nobles is prohibited.”

Due to this simple decree, the central nobles have no means to get in touch with Iron. The reason was relatively simple.

There was an ongoing intense battle, so do not interrupt.

The Southeast Command had enough justification since they were all busy crossing the line of life and death as they fought battles every day.

However, even though they were in that situation, Iron still personally came to the Imperial Palace. And compared to before, when he only visited for business, he dined together with the Crown Prince before repairing the God’s Orb, right?

To the nobles, it sounded like Iron was showing them his political stance. That he would open the Southeast’s closed doors. That was the reason why the nobles rushed to the Imperial Palace early in the morning.

“We will have an audience meeting with His Highness soon. Why are you blocking us?”

“I apologize. However, His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered the meeting with him to be moved to the afternoon.”

The high-ranking nobles that attempted to enter for their meeting with His Highness were even blocked and soon the nobles began to give up one by one. Yet, there were still those that never gave up, lining up since dawn in an attempt to meet with Iron.

On the other hand, the Imperial Family went ballistic.

“Of all days…” The Fourth Prince said, biting his lips in worry.

Iron had apparently come to the Imperial Palace just when he was about to completely take over the authority of the weakened crown prince and isolate him.

The Fourth Prince was also aware that the Crown Prince’s relationship with Iron was bad. He wasn’t dumb, he was fully aware that the Imperial Family’s era was reaching its end. In that situation, what would become if Iron pushed the Crown Prince?

If Iron were to become interested in central politics and become the kingmaker, the Fourth Prince’s effort would be for naught.

The Fourth Prince tried to make connections with the other commanders. But contrary to their stance of willingly receiving monetary support from the nobles, none of the Commanders met with the Imperial Family. It was clear as day that none of the Commanders wanted to be involved with the Imperial Family’s power struggle.

So, if Iron were to become the Crown Prince’s backing, then he would be the only commander to support a member of the Imperial Family.

Someone had asked, “What’s the essence of being an Emperor in the time that the destruction is fast approaching?”

However, that thinking was wrong. It was exactly this crisis that would allow them to rise to a higher position. After all, the higher the place you’re sat at, the higher your chances of survival. Even if destruction was fast coming, there was no telling that the Empire would truly meet its fall.

“At this rate, our plans will go awry,” the Fourth Prince mumbled.

As soon as he gained the upper hand among his siblings, he had planned to make the Crown Prince the Emperor and then as soon as possible, dispose of him.

The value of the status of the Imperial Family was fast declining after the collapse of the Imperials’ power. In such a grave situation, only the position that the nobles had acknowledged was the Emperor. It was a position that would guarantee his safety. That was why the Fourth Prince wanted to ascend the throne. But it seemed like his plans were futile.

Of course, the Fourth Prince’s concern was also the same concern that the other princes had. Those who had dreamt to be the next Emperor had their dreams shattered. However, they couldn’t delay anything any longer.

If Iron were to show his support to the Crown Prince, the nobles would eventually feel troubled until someone would formally suggest making the Crown Prince ascend the throne. There was no one in power that could oppose the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne. Even those that supported the Imperials did not have the power to do so.

While the princes were immersed in their own world and worrying about their own future, Iron has been drinking tea with the Crown Prince after their dinner. He had finished everything and it was time for him to leave the palace.

Then, the chamberlain approached the Crown Prince, who was still talking with Iron.

“What’s the matter?” The Crown Prince asked.

The chamberlain whispered his report, “The nobles are clamoring that the position of the Emperor should no longer remain vacant. I believe they will put this as an agenda for our meeting set after a few days.”

The chamberlain tried his best to lower his voice as possible so that only the crown prince would hear it, however the Master-class Iron had heard it all.

‘Would the empty seat finally be occupied?’ Iron thought as he watched the Crown Prince’s bitter expression while drinking his tea and pretending to be ignorant.

“I will become the Empire’s final Emperor.”

Iron placed his tea cup down and congratulated the Crown Prince. He said, “Congratulations.”

“You know full well that the Emperor’s position is meaningless, right?” The Crown Prince said.

Iron remained silent in front of the Crown Prince’s bitterness.

The value of the throne has lost its meaning to the Crown Prince, who had foreseen the fall of the Empire. On the other hand, the other princes still had lingering obsessions for the throne. None of them had abandoned their dreams of becoming the next Emperor.

None of the nobles were ignorant of the fact of trying to make the Crown Prince as a stand-in and dethroning him right away. After all, the Crown Prince had abandoned his influence and power and was no longer the core of the Imperials.

Iron was well-aware that the other princes were anxious to meet him.

‘Does knowing the future make any difference?’ Iron thought as he looked at the calm Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince looked like he had been freed from all of his worldly greed. That was when Iron realized that the Crown Prince had not told him everything.

“Did you foresee yourself becoming Emperor in your dreams?” Iron asked but the Crown Prince just smiled.

Silence meant yes, right? With the Crown Prince’s silence, he had affirmed that he would ascend the throne in the future. Then, a question suddenly popped up in Iron’s mind. ‘If His Highness is aware of the destruction of the Empire, why is he acting this way?’

With things as they were, the Empire would not last. Even if he were to ascend the throne, once the Empire fell and destruction came, his position and throne would be meaningless. But as long as he remained the Emperor, he would have to protect the Empire, no questions asked.

But the Crown Prince remained silent. He did not ask Iron any favors. It was as if the future was already set in stone. All he ever mentioned to Iron was taking care of the people of the Empire. Iron’s eyes widened at the sudden epiphany, but when he turned to ask the Crown Prince…

“…”

…he was met with the Crown Prince’s shaking head. Iron remained silent as the uncomfortable silence shrouded the dining area.

The Crown Prince, who had been silent for a long time, said, “You must be busy, I must not keep you occupied.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Iron looked at him silently and bowed his head.

“…Yes.”

Iron reluctantly rose from his seat and continued to say, “I hope we will meet again in the future.”

“I shall wait for that day to come.” The Crown Prince smiled deeply as he saw Iron off.

They continued to chat as they walked towards the warp gate installed within the palace. It was mostly about the information related to the God’s Orb and the destruction’s arrival, so no one was allowed to approach them as they chatted.

At the sight of them, the maids and the servants had misunderstood that the two became close. However, they weren’t wrong either. Actually, Iron had begun to view the Crown Prince in a different light, while the Crown Prince believed in Iron the most in the Empire.

“I hope to receive good news from the Southeast.” the Crown Prince said.

“I will make sure that it will happen,” Iron said as he shook hands with him one last time and approached the warp gate.

The lights then engulfed Iron as he disappeared to go back to the Southeast. The Crown Prince only turned back after seeing Iron gone.

“…Your Highness,” the chamberlain called out.

However, the Crown Prince remained silent.

“Why haven’t you told him?” The chamberlain asked, looking at the silent yet smiling face of the Crown Prince

“The future… can be changed.” said the chamberlain.

“I know that.”

The prophets had said that the future could be altered through everyone’s individual efforts. However, if it was the future that the Lord himself had shown, then it would be a different story.

He had suffered and witnessed the downfall of the Empire multiple times. And in those dreams, there were futures where he was given a choice to either struggle to live or to ask Iron a favor. In the end, everything was useless.

“Of the dozens of futures that I have witnessed, there was no future where the Empire was not destroyed. My future was also set in stone even though the process differed every time.”

The chamberlain closed his eyes sadly at the Crown Prince’s words.

“Do you know what is the best future out of all the futures I had foresaw multiple times?” The Crown Prince asked.

However, the chamberlain remained silent. Seeing the sadness in his face, the Crown Prince smiled and said, “It is my and the Empire’s downfall.”

The chamberlain bowed his head at the Crown Prince’s calmness. The stupid and arrogant Crown Prince accepted his and the Empire’s destruction.

Those who knew him before in the past would treat it as a joke. And their judgment about him wasn’t wrong at all. If he could prevent the fall of the Empire and enjoy the life of having absolute authority as an Emperor, he would do it, even now. Yet none of the futures he had foreseen in his dreams had such an ending. And out of all the dreams that he had seen, only one future was filled with a ray of hope.

There was only a single future out of all the dozens of future that he had seen where mankind could hope to survive destruction. And that future included his and the Empire’s downfall.

This was the reason why the Crown Prince had made this choice. Their ancestors might have made the wrong decision in the past for their cause but at the very least he wanted to make the right choice for the last time.

He always woke up with trembling legs and clothes drenched with sweat from his dreams, but he never changed his decision. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to do anything so at the very least, he wanted to spend his final moments righteously.

The chamberlain followed silently behind the Crown Prince, fully respecting his decision and sacrifice.

***