kscans

Chapter 82 - A Foreign Palace and the Little One

"His Highness Crown Prince Dīvadatta, or rather, His Majesty King Dīvadatta. Congratulations."

The First Consort gazed at her son with a face full of emotion.

Ah, with this. Finally, I can become the most noble woman of all. I, who have been looked down upon for so long.

Within the First Consort’s view, a solemn melody echoed through the hall. The retainers began to walk silently in time with the music.

However, Dīvadatta, who should have been descending from the throne along with them, did not come down. He remained motionless, as if contemplating something. The retainers turned back and spoke to him in low voices.

"Your Majesty? It is time for the parade. The people are waiting."

Dīvadatta stared at the puzzled crowd and shouted in a loud voice.

"Masahad! Come here!!"

The second prince pushed his way through the murmuring crowd and approached the throne, wondering what was happening. Seeing his brother’s complicated expression, Dīvadatta’s brow furrowed sadly. He removed the crown he had just received and placed it on the head of the kneeling Masahad.

A stir, zawa, ran through the hall’s atmosphere.

Ignoring the thorny air that crackled like static electricity, Dīvadatta adjusted the crown he had placed on his brother. Looking at his brother, who was frozen in shock, Dīvadatta embraced Masahad for the first time in his life.

"I have always wanted to do this. Forgive your cowardly brother."

"...Brother?"

"I thought about it. I agonized over it for many days. How could I save myself, and all of you as well."

Yes. Ever since he had been told by the envoy-dono.

Even as king, he could not save his brothers. His mother would surely kill them all. The retainers who valued the old customs would surely agree with her. He did not have the power to resist them.

But what about Masahad?

What about his brother, who always read ahead and looked to a world far beyond?

It was fine if he died. But he wanted to save his wife and children.

The answer that Dīvadatta came to after much anguish.

It was to ascend the throne and then yield his position to the next king.

As a puppet of his mother and the retainers, the only right he possessed was the ability to choose who to pass the crown to.

He had lacked the strength to refuse the throne despite the opposition of both sides. He had also lacked the strength to yield the position of Crown Prince to his brother.

But as king, he could exercise absolute authority. The girl’s words had made him realize that. And that chance would only exist immediately after his coronation. The more time passed, the more his circle would solidify, and he would be unable to do anything. Just as he had been kept in semi-confinement until now under the pretext of his frail health.

"Here and now, as king, I declare. I designate my younger brother Masahad as my successor and shall abdicate this throne to him. Will you accept it?"

"Yes. I am overjoyed, brother."

Retainers soothed the frantic First Consort. Masahad gave them a sharp glare, then received the king’s kaftan from his brother and put it on.

"With this, the coronation is complete!! I am Masahad II!!"

Masahad untied the cord holding his hair and threw it aside. His silver hair spread out, buwari, and rippled in the air. In this country, only the king was allowed to wear his hair unbound towards the heavens. The crown glittered in his lion-like mane. The ornate circlet adorned his forehead as if it had been made for Masahad himself.

Everyone fell silent, their eyes wide at the sight of his majestic, brilliant figure.

Splendid.

The Little One offered her praise in her heart.

They had found and carved out their own path. With this, the dark clouds hanging over this country would likely clear. There was no need for such evil customs.

But things would not end here.

"That’s invalid! It’s not allowed!"

The First Consort screamed, half-crazed.

"Who says it is not permitted? Do you object to what the king has decreed?"

Masahad narrowed his sharp eyes. In this country, the king’s command was absolute. That was why they killed all the siblings to narrow down the royal line. To not distribute power to others. Just for that alone.

Just for that alone, they were killed. All the siblings.

A dark anger swirled, dorori, in Masahad’s chest.

The lives of his young brothers, almost taken for something so foolish. How much had they cried and screamed? How desperately had he pleaded with his father, the king?

To save Marrow.

His brother was already the Crown Prince. At that time, he thought he had no choice but to appeal to his father’s mercy. But his father, the king, had said it.

Then you become king.

If you wish to save Marrow, you become king and oust your brother.

It had been a devil’s whisper. He had been blinded.

The current Masahad was deeply ashamed of his own ugliness in trying to oust his brother at his father’s behest.

"An Imperial Decree."

Gasps, ha, as people’s faces shot up.

A Gyoku-rei was the very first command given by one who had ascended the throne. It was something that could not be overturned for all eternity, no matter the reason.

"The custom of destroying the brothers of the one who becomes king is hereby abolished. No member of the royal family shall be deposed without just cause."

The hall fell into a dead silence, shin, which was then followed by a cry like a war cry.

Masahad’s brothers exchanged glances, their eyes wide.

"Are... are we saved?"

"We’re saved?"

"We don’t have to be executed?! Ahhhh! Thank you!!"

"Thank you, brother Masahad!!"

Words of joy at their narrow escape from death tumbled from their lips. Hearing this, Masahad embraced Dīvadatta.

"Thank you, brother. Your wise decision saved not just us, but all our younger brothers.......... no, all future generations of siblings."

Seeing the two embrace, the cheers grew even louder.

"Thank you! Brother Masahad! Brother Dīvadatta!!"

"Ahhh..., I am truly grateful, Dīvadatta-sama! Thank you for saving my son!!"

The other consorts broke down in tears. Some were cradling their large bellies.

Me? Masahad was the one who saved them. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t even have the courage to abolish the custom with an Imperial Decree.

Masahad embraced the dazed Dīvadatta’s shoulder and looked at him with a mischievous expression.

"We’re in this together now, you know? I’ll have you work hard, you hear? Brother?"

Dīvadatta’s eyes went wide at his brother’s broad grin. It was the first time he had seen Masahad like this. His brother, who had always worn a cold expression with sharp eyes, was smiling, his face full of joy.

"You all too! If you’re grateful, then work!!"

Masahad shouted, his eyes shining, and the younger princes nodded vigorously.

"""""Yes!!"""""

The hall was filled with smiles. The retainers must have had their own conflicts. While thinking they should uphold the custom, they must have had a conscience that was not at ease. However, in that space filled with joy, there was a group chewing on bitter herbs. They were the retainers who had planned to suck the sweet nectar by making Dīvadatta their puppet.

Surveying the hall with its stark contrast in moods, Dīvadatta’s face finally relaxed.

Ah, I was not mistaken. Is that not right? Envoy-dono.

Dīvadatta, who glanced at the Little One, widened his eyes at the girl’s face.

She wore a strange, troubled smile.

The Little One, who knew what was to come, knew that this kind prince’s heart would soon be in pain.

At that moment, the royal guards burst in. They glared at the First Consort with stern faces and knelt before Masahad, the new king.

"Based on a report from an attendant, and with the head lady-in-waiting of the inner palace accompanying us, we searched the First Consort’s room and found this."

What the guard brought was that very pill. It seemed the consort had not even destroyed the evidence.

"That’s!"

Ignoring the panicked First Consort, the attendant continued his story.

"I saw the First Consort-sama switching the medicine and wondered what it was... and then His Majesty the King’s riding accident occurred immediately after." The Little One and her party already knew the facts. It was a charade, but Masahad nodded earnestly, prompting the attendant to continue.

"So I thought there might be something wrong with the switched medicine and consulted with the Lord Chamberlain... but I was almost killed and had to go into hiding."

The hall stirred, zawa.

Receiving the focused fire of everyone’s gazes, the man who appeared to be the Lord Chamberlain desperately tried to defend himself.

"No, that’s not... It was so absurd, and disrespectful as well, so I was only going to put him in a cell..."

The Lord Chamberlain’s eyes darted about wildly as he stammered.

"Hoh? The possibility that the king was assassinated is absurd? Why did you not investigate immediately? Even the suspicion is high treason, is it not?"

The Lord Chamberlain was at a loss for words.

"And what was this medicine?"

The guard glared at Dīvadatta’s mother with disgust and muttered as if spitting.

"It was a muscle relaxant."

"To my father before he went riding? Why would you do such a thing? Consort-dono."

Presented with irrefutable evidence, the First Consort’s face was ashen. Dīvadatta, hearing this for the first time, was indignant.

Here, for the first time, the truth of the king’s assassination would be told.