Chapter 218 – If It Works, It’s a Revolution (16)

“What?! What did you say?!”

The princes all shouted in alarm.

Not just the princes—Berken hyung and the Second Princess also widened their eyes and stared at me.

“What are you saying, Dian?”

The Second Princess asked.

“You’re telling His Majesty and all the princes to leave the capital? Don’t tell me…”

“Don’t tell you what?”

“Don’t tell me… you’re planning to… become Emperor yourself?”

“Gasp…!”

The princes turned pale.

“D-Dian, my friend!”

The First Prince stammered, rushing over to kneel before me.

“You remember, right? Ten years ago, we had a meal together, we went to a sauna together! Why would you say you don’t remember?!”

“Brother! What are you doing?!”

The Second Prince protested, only for the First Prince to snap at him sharply.

“Shut up, you fool! If Dian decides to take the capital, there’s nothing that can stop him! If we don’t grovel like this, we’re all dead men!”

“But Sir Linus will come! Didn’t you write him a letter yourself? Asking him to come and kill the Third Prince!”

“Shut your mouth!!”

The First Prince barked again, glancing nervously at Berken hyung.

“Why should I?! Where is Sir Linus anyway?! You’re the one who called him—go bring him yourself!”

“You idiot! Linus and Dian are best friends, damn it!!!”

“Eh?!”

The Second Prince froze for a moment, then stumbled forward to kneel beside his older brother.

“Dian… I’m the Second Prince. I… I couldn’t look after you during the war… I’m sorry.”

Seeing the two of them kneel, the young Fourth Prince scratched his head in confusion, then awkwardly followed their lead.

It was obvious he had no idea what was going on—just copying his brothers.

“Good grief.”

Berken hyung sighed and rubbed his forehead as he looked at the three kneeling princes.

I felt a little grim myself.

These were the princes of the most powerful nation on the continent, and here they were, on their knees, groveling before a commoner like me to spare their lives.

And now they were bickering in front of me about whether I’d become Emperor or whether Linus would come stop me.

I had made the right call.

If one of these guys became Emperor, the Empire would collapse.

After entering the capital with the Second Princess and assessing the situation, I’d already made my decision about the Empire’s future.

With things devolving into chaos like this, there was no going back to that precarious balance between the Emperor’s faction and the Second Princess’s.

One of them was going to fall. And I’d decided to side with the Second Princess.

Not because I’m interested in politics or want to manipulate the fate of the Empire.

But based on what I’d seen, the Emperor and the other princes were just sitting around sucking their thumbs, waiting for Linus to save them.

If any of them became Emperor, the Empire’s future was doomed.

And if the Empire fell into chaos, the academy I belonged to would be in danger too.

That was the whole reason I’d escaped to Brunswell in the first place—I didn’t want the headache.

If I helped Linus, then fine, but I didn’t want to be stuck in another mess.

Besides, given how spineless these princes were, they’d pester me and Linus for help nonstop—and I wanted none of that.

Letting the Second Princess become Emperor would be far better for the Empire’s peace—and my peaceful, quiet life.

And just in time, the Emperor had gone mad and, somehow, formally named the Second Princess—his illegitimate daughter—as his heir.

Still, even if she became Emperor, if the legitimate princes and princesses remained alive, they’d become a problem later.

This Empire doesn’t run on the Emperor’s will alone.

It’s a chaotic web of factions fighting to protect their own interests.

Some of them won’t like the Second Princess. They’ll raise the issue of legitimacy and try to use the surviving heirs as pawns. That’s almost guaranteed.

In that case, one option is to kill all the other royals—but that creates other problems down the line.

So, I came up with another solution.

“If you want to avoid the worst-case scenario, you’ll have to accept my proposal.”

I said to the kneeling princes.

“Take His Majesty and the Fourth Princess, and leave the capital. And no, I don’t mean exile them to some northern wasteland or assassinate them on the way.”

I sighed, looking at their tearful expressions. Pathetic.

“Remember that place in the south? That palace the royal family uses as a vacation retreat? The huge one that’s practically a palace itself. Still around?”

“It is.”

The Second Princess replied.

That estate was in a temperate, scenic southern province—developed enough that during the war, there was even talk of relocating the capital there.

They’d be able to live comfortably, just like here.

“Go there. Live peacefully. Like an ordinary family. What do you think, hyung?”

“So you’re saying we should all live together at the villa—father, brothers, sisters… peacefully?”

“Exactly.”

“I…”

Berken hyung’s voice thickened, and he cleared his throat.

“I don’t care. If I can live with my family again… that’s enough.”

“Then promise me this. I don’t care what you do there, but if anyone tries to use your family—”

“I won’t let that happen! I’ll protect them with my life! I’m Berken, damn it! I keep my word!”

His bold declaration made the other princes look even more sullen.

Good. If Berken hyung is guarding them, no one in the Empire will dare mess with them.

“And Your Highness.”

I said, turning to the Second Princess.

“You promise me too. When you become Emperor, you’ll reinstate the Third Prince and never touch those living in the villa.”

“What happens if I break that promise?”

I shrugged.

“Then you’ll have broken a promise to me.”

“I see. I promise. And I won’t break it. Do you want it in writing?”

“There’s no need. Whether it’s written or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that we made this promise.”

The Second Princess gave a short nod.

It was done.

The Emperor and the princes would live out the rest of their lives in comfort and peace at the villa.

With Berken hyung watching over them, no one could approach them with bad intentions.

The Second Princess would become Emperor without any obstacles, and as part of our agreement, she wouldn’t touch the villa.

She’d rule the Empire, Berken hyung would live with his family, the Emperor and princes would survive, and I’d get to keep my quiet, comfortable life as a professor under a competent ruler.

Nobody loses. It’s perfect.

# # # #

Once the agreement was settled, we immediately moved to clean up the current situation.

First, we summoned all the nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital.

The Second Princess stood before the crowded hall and explained everything personally.

The hidden prince.

The misunderstandings that had led to last night’s military conflict.

The aged Emperor’s mental breakdown.

How the legitimate heirs had all yielded the throne to her.

Some of it was true. Some had a little “seasoning.” But the message was clear.

“The Second Princess will become Emperor. And no one opposed it.” That’s what mattered most.

“Anyone who objects may leave the hall now. You will not be harmed or punished in any way.”

Naturally, no one moved. You’d have to be insane.

In fact, many in the capital had secretly hoped for the Second Princess to take the throne, given how incompetent the princes were.

They say incompetent commanders are worse than the enemy, after all.

The princes began packing under Berken hyung’s supervision.

“We’re moving to a better house!”

The innocent Fourth Princess skipped around, smiling. The others looked like they were chewing sand.

“Come now, brothers! Smile! This is a good day!”

Berken hyung threw his arms around them cheerfully, and they forced awkward smiles in return.

Still better than getting executed by the Second Princess, I suppose.

And if one of them had become Emperor and ruined the Empire, I’d probably have lost it anyway.

I stayed in the capital the entire time.

Just in case either side tried to break our deal or pull anything funny.

Though… they said they sent a message to Linus asking for help. What the hell is taking him so long?

“Professor Dian. His Majesty—no, Her Majesty—requests your presence.”

I was sipping coffee on the castle wall when the aide approached me.

“Please go to the throne room at once.”

When I arrived, the Second Princess was waiting for me.

“What is it?”

“Dian. I’ll be direct.”

She looked me in the eye.

“Marry me.”

“…Huh? Are you seriously doing this again? We already talked about this before—”

“I know. I misunderstood your words back then. But this has nothing to do with that.”

“…Nothing to do with it?”

“After everything that’s happened, I’ve come to truly understand the kind of person you are. And I like you.”

I was so stunned, I couldn’t speak.

Did she lose her mind or something?

“I am officially proposing to you now. Marry me, Dian. Stand beside me and rule the Empire. I need you.”