kscans

Chapter 68 - The Heir, Entrusted in the Shadow of the Mad King

It was five years ago.

My brother, King Karlwein, became a little strange after meeting his new wife, who was twenty-five years old.

His words became pompous, his attitude condescending. He began to avoid my gaze.

My brother had never been good with the rules of the nobility, even from his time as Crown Prince. He didn't study statecraft, disliked the duties of marriage and succession, and was quick to make advances on young, beautiful women.

Those around him were on edge, but since he wasn't the type to demand extreme changes in politics, we thought we could manage if we all supported him.

Of course, there were complaints about territorial issues and disputes, but they were of a degree that the Chancellor, myself, and my second son Darius could handle.

However, my brother passed fifty, and after much persuasion, he finally took a wife for the sake of succession, the thirty-year-old former queen, Celina. Thirty is a late marriage in our country, but since she was twenty years younger than my brother, it was considered the last possible age if we were to consider childbirth, given the age difference.

But my brother did not get along with Celina, who, unlike a younger woman, clearly stated her own opinions, and the two never connected emotionally.

Nevertheless, a son was born, and those around them were temporarily relieved.

However... my brother's womanizing became even more intense. Less than a year after his child was born, the woman by my brother's side in high society was the twenty-five-year-old current Queen, Margaret. Those around them praised her fanatically.

Rumors of her involvement with various men were rampant, and I felt a suspicious magic from her, something that seemed to affect the mind. My own defensive magic was enough to repel her power. I hoped my brother wouldn't get involved...

Even when I brought up his young child, my brother's face would turn grim. Eventually, he started suspecting that Celina and I were having an affair. No, no, we've never even met alone.

When I consulted with my wife and son, they advised me to "only state my position as being on the King's side and keep a little distance from my brother."

But soon after, I received a message from Celina.

"My brother has suddenly said he wants to have a meal with my son and me. But I have a bad feeling. I want you to protect my son."

I was surprised, but my own son had also told me that my brother's recent behavior was strange, so I decided to protect him.

And then, the unthinkable happened.

My former sister-in-law, Celina, died during a meal with my brother. Apparently, a cook had poisoned her, but the reason was unknown. The cook was also quickly disposed of.

On top of that, my brother repeatedly demanded to see his son. It was strange, since he had never even tried to see him before. It was too dangerous.

I decided to use an illness that my own sons had experienced. I used it to buy time, saying he had "Mana Overload Syndrome." This would buy me several months until his mana stabilized. But in that time, he had made Margaret his official queen consort. It hadn't even been a few months since Celina had died.

Before I knew it, Margaret had become the daughter of a count before becoming queen, and even had powerful nobles on her side.

I was horrified. If she were to have a child... what would happen to this child?

First, I had to get the child away from the Royal Capital. Should I entrust him to my eldest son, Albert, or my second son, Darius?

However, Darius did not hide his love for Ariel, the alchemist of the Moonshadow Teahouse, a living weapon of the Tree Sea. He would not leave the Royal Capital, and he refused to marry anyone else. Depending on his relationship with the living weapon, I did not want to provoke her if she also had feelings for Darius.

In the end, I entrusted the child to my eldest son, Albert, to hide him in the ducal territory until the situation calmed down.

Five years have passed since then. The child now fully recognizes Albert and his wife as his parents and is growing up healthy. Darius remains in pure love, still the captain of the Tree Sea Defense Force, and his feelings for Ariel are unwavering.

And now, a message has come from the King. Darius has embezzled funds and eloped with Ariel.

What is happening...?

A few days later, Darius contacted me himself. Ariel is being held captive by the King. He says he intends to stage a coup d'état. He has been persuading the Chancellor, the noble faction, and the King's faction, but he has asked me to become king and to cooperate with the coup.

Now then, what should I do?