Capturing Shusain was a tremendous achievement.

Ascan and I locked Shusain in a secret location known to no one else, then immediately informed Dekain and Kisandra of this fact.

It was to plan our next steps.

After Petro’s sudden death, everyone had been frantically busy, but the news of capturing Shusain brought us together in one place.

As soon as Dekain entered, he began showering us with praise, his expression bright.

“Is it true you captured the Crown Prince? I thought it was absolutely impossible as long as the Grand Duke was around, but you’ve truly accomplished something incredible, Tanashia.”

I responded with an awkward smile instead of words.

Even when Ascan asked how I found out Shusain’s location, I kept dodging the question.

I couldn’t exactly say it was because I read it in a novel. With no plausible excuse to offer, all I could do for now was smile.

Unlike Dekain, who was delighted by the news of Shusain’s capture, Kisandra sat with a grave expression.

Breaking her silence, she spoke for the first time.

“…This is a heaven-sent opportunity. We should eliminate the Crown Prince now.”

As expected, Kisandra was ruthless.

Shusain was legally her grandson. Even if he wasn’t her biological grandson, he was still of imperial blood, yet she made this decision without hesitation.

“That cannot happen.”

Surprisingly, the first to object was Dekain.

Kisandra’s eyebrow twitched.

“Why not?”

“If we kill the Crown Prince and ascend to the throne, that fact will follow us like a shadow for life. Many nobles and commoners will oppose it, and it will be recorded as such in the history of the Lazent Empire. That’s not what I want.”

Dekain, usually full of smiles, looked unusually resolute today, as if it wasn’t even worth debating.

Kisandra let out a laugh, her expression one of disbelief.

“My dear grandson, you’re sounding awfully romantic. No matter what stigma we bear, we must first become emperor. Only then can we leave a mark on history—or not. Otherwise, we won’t even be recorded.”

“I understand there’s truth to your words, Grandmother. But I carry the fatal weakness of being a prince of commoner origin. If I add another blemish here, even if I become emperor, the nobles won’t follow me. That will weaken the imperial authority.”

In the long term, Dekain was right.

For personal ambition, eliminating Shusain and inheriting the throne was an option. But for the Lazent Empire, it was not a good method.

Once weakened, imperial authority was hard to restore.

The hearts of the emperor’s faction of nobles who supported Shusain would turn cold, and conceding to them one by one to win them over would lead to losing control.

The position of emperor required maintaining balance. Eliminating the emperor’s faction entirely would not only brand one as a tyrant in history but also lead to the decline of the Lazent Empire.

If Dekain’s ambition led the Lazent Empire down a path of decline, as he said, he might become an emperor remembered and scorned throughout history.

Kisandra, perhaps understanding Dekain’s point, bit her lip. But she still spoke in a reluctant tone.

“Your heart for putting the nation first is admirable, but remember that this could cost us our lives.”

“Of course, I understand. But my goal isn’t just to become emperor. It’s to become a wise ruler who leaves a mark on the Lazent Empire’s history after ascending.”

Having read the novel, I knew Dekain’s true intentions.

He didn’t just want the throne; he wanted to be acknowledged by everyone. He wanted to prove to those who abandoned him how perfectly he fit the role of emperor.

I hadn’t noticed before, but today I could sense the qualities of an emperor in him. He was different from the weak Crown Prince Shusain and the greedy Second Prince Seiji.

As Dekain and Kisandra’s opinions clashed fiercely, Ascan, who had been quietly observing, spoke in a low voice.

“Whatever conclusion we reach, we need to act quickly. We don’t have much time. The Crown Prince is currently the rightful heir to the throne. If we can’t stop that, there’s no hope.”

Kisandra nodded vigorously, as if agreeing with Ascan’s words.

“The Captain of the Guard is right. The throne cannot remain vacant for long. If there’s no clear solution, we have no choice but to eliminate the Crown Prince.”

Dekain, his expression darkening, fell silent. He didn’t want to eliminate Shusain, but there was no surer method.

After a moment of thought, Dekain glanced at me and asked.

“Tanashia, what’s your opinion? You captured the Crown Prince, and you’ve come up with brilliant strategies so far, so I’m curious about your thoughts.”

Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

Dekain, Kisandra, and Ascan each had different emotions on their faces, but they were united in their curiosity about my opinion.

In truth, listening to them had already helped me make up my mind.

“I share Prince Dekain’s view. Eliminating the Crown Prince doesn’t seem like a good choice in the long run. Immediate goals are important, but we must also consider the future.”

Kisandra, looking frustrated, countered.

“I understand what the Prince and the Young Lady mean. But right now, we don’t have any alternatives, do we? As the Captain of the Guard said, we’re running out of time. The throne will be decided soon.”

Petro’s death as emperor was something no one had predicted. That lack of preparation was the problem.

We had planned to gradually weaken the emperor’s faction by using Reiana’s betrayal to the Kalua Empire as leverage, but this urgent situation forced us to revise all our plans.

With a serious gaze, I looked at Dekain, Kisandra, and Ascan in turn and said.

“Did you know? The Crown Prince has no desire for the throne.”

It was a thought I brought up after much deliberation, but no one seemed surprised. They all reacted as if they’d heard it before.

Kisandra was the first to speak.

“The Crown Prince is known for his timid nature, so such rumors exist. But how could anyone not desire the throne? I don’t think it’s a credible story.”

Dekain agreed.

“I’ve heard the rumor too, but it’s not something we can judge based on hearsay.”

Ascan was the only one who remained silent, looking at me with curiosity about what I’d say next.

“I understand you all don’t believe it. But the Crown Prince truly doesn’t want to inherit the throne. If we play our cards right, he might even side with us.”

I knew it was hard to comprehend logically. The idea that Shusain, our greatest enemy, would support us.

But my words were true. I couldn’t provide solid evidence, but I was certain because I’d read it in the novel.

If we hadn’t found Shusain at Bbi’s grave, I might have thought the original story had changed.

But he was standing in front of Bbi’s grave, just like in the novel. That meant he still held the same feelings as in the original story.

Kisandra shook her head and said.

“Young Lady Brellof, unless the Crown Prince has lost his mind, he wouldn’t side with us.”

Dekain added with a bitter smile.

“I feel the same. I don’t want to eliminate the Crown Prince, but it’s illogical to think he’d give up the throne and join us.”

Their disbelief was understandable. I didn’t have concrete evidence to present.

But passing up the chance without even trying felt like too great a loss.

If Shusain joined our side, not only could Dekain become emperor, but it could happen without any controversy.

In other words, we could achieve everything we wanted.

“I know it’s hard to understand. But what I’m saying is true. It’s worth trying.”

Despite my words, Dekain and Kisandra remained skeptical.

Ascan, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke.

“Tanashia was the one who found the Crown Prince’s location when no one else could. So I believe her information is trustworthy. Besides, there’s no risk in failing, so there’s no reason to oppose it.”

Indeed, failing to persuade Shusain wouldn’t cost us anything. We had him in our grasp, no matter the outcome.

Dekain and Kisandra, who hadn’t believed me, softened their expressions for the first time.

Sensing the shift in the room, Ascan naturally took the lead.

“One thing to be cautious of is that the Crown Prince might try to deceive us. If we keep that in mind, there shouldn’t be any issues. Either way, he’ll remain in our hands until the throne is decided.”

I nodded vigorously in agreement. I hadn’t explained calmly due to my excitement, but Ascan had stepped in to clarify.

There was one more thing to show Dekain and Kisandra. It was the Crown Prince’s seal, which Ascan and I had stolen.

“Originally, we took it to forge a document of abdication. With this seal, they’d investigate the facts, buying us time. But if it’s not forged and becomes real, everything changes.”

Initially, the goal was to stall for time, but if Shusain voluntarily stepped down, the situation would overwhelmingly favor Dekain.

The Second Prince Seiji was still a factor, but aligning with Shusain meant absorbing the emperor’s faction’s power.

That would eliminate the stigma of killing the Crown Prince and prevent future conflicts with the emperor’s faction.

Dekain, looking conflicted, said.

“Of course, if it works out as you say, it would be ideal, but is it really possible…?”

“Don’t worry. There’s no risk in failing, and the reward for success is enormous. There’s no reason not to try.”

I couldn’t be certain I’d convince Shusain. But knowing the novel’s contents gave me an advantage.

In the end, Dekain nodded, permitting us to try persuading Shusain to join our side.

Kisandra, who had been watching, quietly stood up.

“…I’ll take a chance and trust you. I can’t stay away from the palace for long if we’re to take control, so I’ll head back.”

Her tone was casual, but it wasn’t a decision made lightly.

Kisandra, too, had chosen a path for Dekain to become emperor without controversy, for the future of the Lazent Empire.

As she left, Ascan, Dekain, and I paid our respects.

With that, our goal was set.

To bring Shusain to our side.

I wasn’t sure if we’d succeed, but I was determined to try my best. As I was thinking about how to approach Shusain, I suddenly locked eyes with Ascan, who was looking at me.

I smiled at him first and mouthed softly.

“Thank you.”

For always believing in me.

Perhaps sensing my feelings, a warm smile spread across Ascan’s face.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Laila and Retanda deployed all their forces to thoroughly search every place Shusain might have gone.

Despite their efforts, they couldn’t find him, naturally leading them to imagine the worst.

Retanda spoke in a strained voice.

“Your Majesty the Empress, perhaps… His Highness the Crown Prince might have been captured by someone.”

Shusain had an almost worryingly docile personality.

It was unlikely he’d stay hidden of his own accord for so long. Something must have happened to him.

Laila, with her stout frame, staggered. Looking at Retanda with a despairing expression, she said.

“Does that mean the Crown Prince’s life might be in danger? To be captured by someone else at a time like this…”

Shusain occasionally disappeared to the abandoned palace, but he usually returned before his absence was noticed, so it had never been a major issue.

In truth, if Tanashia hadn’t known the original story, he would have quietly returned this time too. But unfortunately, that wasn’t the case today.

With Emperor Petro dead, the disappearance of Shusain, the first in line to the throne, was a matter of life and death for the emperor’s faction.

Retanda said with a serious expression.

“We can only hope he hasn’t been captured by another prince. If someone with a purpose contacts us soon… otherwise, we must prepare for the worst.”

“If the Crown Prince dies, it’s all over! What preparations can we make?”

At Laila’s cry of anguish, Retanda’s eyes flashed.

They couldn’t give up everything just because Shusain was gone.

“With His Majesty the Emperor’s passing, assassinating the Crown Prince, who is to become the next emperor, could brand someone a traitor.”

Of course, that required power. So Retanda summoned all the forces of his duchy to the capital.

Soon, a massive army would surround the capital, and no matter how much Kisandra controlled the palace, it would be futile against military might.

Laila, puzzled, asked.

“If something has truly happened to the Crown Prince, who do you plan to put on the throne?”

“Without His Highness, they’re all illegitimate anyway. Choose the most manageable figure among the imperial relatives.”

Petro, now deceased, had wanted Shusain as his successor. If that wasn’t possible, it didn’t matter to Retanda who took the throne.

In that case, he planned to eliminate the troublesome Second Prince Seiji, Dekain, and Kisandra all at once.

Having Shusain become emperor was the ideal scenario, but if that wasn’t possible, Retanda had to prevent the opposing faction from producing an emperor. Otherwise, the future for Retanda and Laila was uncertain.

Laila nodded in agreement with Retanda’s bold decision.

“You’re right. We planned to put the Crown Prince on the throne, but if that’s impossible, we need other measures.”

At this moment, Laila wasn’t a mother grieving her son. She was an empress on the verge of losing power.

In truth, she didn’t care about Shusain becoming emperor. She wanted to be the emperor’s mother, the Empress Dowager.