Emperor's Reckoning

Inside the pill store, was the second prince, Prince Frey. After giving his older sister the critical info, he along with the two guards proceed to the second floor.

The two guards had a confused look that they didn't dare to express as they followed behind him. There exist a critical question inside their head as the guards looked at each other. They pretty much knew the condition of the fight between the three candidates so the act of what the prince did baffle them so.

"There must be one word that popped up in your minds, 'why'," said the prince as he stopped his walk before turning around to face them.

"No-no, we didn't dare to question young prince," said one of the guards as the both of them quickly bowed.

They knew that their status was deemed insignificant to the eyes of the royalties, with a single order, the kingdom could make them disappear as if they never existed in the first place.

"It's alright, there is no need to be scared, I'm not as unreasonable as the first prince. True, normal people would no doubt want the reason behind why I gave my rival a piece of info like that," answered Prince Frey with a smile.

"As you already know, the first prince held reasonably high military assets compared to the second princess and me. It would not be possible that she could face the first prince alone, so by giving her the information, all we have to do is wait for her to initiate a negotiation with me, which of course I will have the upper hand.

"The amazing part of this plan is, even if she didn't initiate the negotiation and she chose to fight the first prince all on her own, she would lose and the first prince wouldn't leave unscathed either. Leaving me the only faction with full power."

"P-pardon me, young prince, but if you said that, then wouldn't it be better to not tell Princess Aelina about it at all?" asked one of the guards.

The prince smiled in response before saying, "Tell me, which one is harder, stabbing a cornered foe, or stabbing a 'friend'?"

The guards were dumbfounded as they realized what he meant. A cornered rabbit would still fight with teeth and claw but an unsuspecting ally wouldn't even realize before it was too late.

Now they knew that the prince in front of him was not just a talented alchemist but also a crafty ruler. He only lacked military power against his big brother, if he had those, he would be the next in line without a shred of doubt.

However, he didn't know one crucial information that only the current king possessed, the existence of the wild card.

*zing

A flash entered the entire pill store from the nearby window. The prince and the guards couldn't help but covered their eyes for a moment before walking to the nearby window.

"What was that?" asked the prince as he approached it.

"?!" his eyes opened wide in horror as he took a peek outside.

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In the downtown, or commoner region.

*thud

A young man fell to the ground as he looked up above. His eyes opened wide along with hands shaking as if he tried to hold on to the paving. His mouth was agape as he couldn't mutter a word.

The nearby people who noticed him subconsciously averted their gaze following the young man.

"Good gracious God..." one old man couldn't help but mutter as he saw a grand sight above him.

One by one, people that were inside a building started to come out and stared at the above.

"What the...," gulped a commoner with his eyes glued to the sky.

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Inside the castle, the first prince room.

Prince Weiss was staring at a glass of wine that he held. He slowly tilted it to the right and then back to the left as he contemplated.

"With both of the women in my hands, he will not dare to try anything funny. A womanizer's demise is always his own woman," mused the first prince.

"This is the prize of disrespecting the future ruler of Luderia Hahahaha! Of course, I cannot do this without your support, Duke Armand."

"The pleasure is mine, 'future king'," replied the middle-aged man, sitting in front of him. In his mind, he was killing two birds with one stone. He was trying to enact revenge against this young man called Lyon for leaving his son almost crippled and in doing so he helped the first prince which would be very beneficial for the future.

"First Prince! First Prince!" suddenly a shout was heard as the source rushed to Prince Weiss's chamber.

The prince and the duke furrowed his eyebrows as this was a form of disrespect to them. "What is it?! Do you want to die?!" shouted the prince.

"Pardon me, First Prince! But please look outside the window! S-something big is happening!" said the guard as he entered the chamber.

"Hmm?" both the prince and the duke glanced at the window beside them.

"Hm?!" both of them opened their eyes wide in an instant.

The prince gulped at the sight, it was magnificent and divine, beautiful but horror at the meaning. "Y-you're...kidding..., right?"

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Sitting on the throne, the king was alone in the room with closed eyes.

"Hm?!" his weary eyes twitched before opening, revealing the wisdom hidden in his vision.

The king stood up from his throne as he said, "So... the wild card finally revealed themselves at last!"

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Princess Aelina instinctively took a step back as she faced the sky.

A single huge rainbow magic brand was covering the sky. It stretched as far as the entire Luderia's kingdom. The color itself brought people to their knees as they knew what grade it meant.

With the young man stood directly under the center of the magic brand, he took a long breath before opening his sharp eyes.

"Divine Spell, Scabbard!"

The magic brand lit up as the mark of a historical event began.