System vs Rebirth

Chapter 1431: Eve of Chaos

There was a group of people slipping past the gate and heading west during the night.

Not a single soldier looked like they noticed their presence. These people also moved extremely fast so as to avoid any unnecessary problem.

However, it looked like they were not as effective or as fast as they thought because there was an old man watching their movement.

That old man then disappeared after confirming their existence.

In the castle, the third princess was standing behind the window, looking at the city.

”...” Wendy looked saddened by the sight of the city. It had been a while since she last returned here, but the atmosphere of the royal capital had worsened.

She couldn’t help but recall all the details she noticed in her return.

Because of the lack of support from the nobles as well as the opposition from Marquis Ardagan, the royal capital wasn’t as bustling as it used to be.

Besides, a lot of people had been taxed quite heavily, not just in the royal capital, but also in the surrounding territory.

To fight against Marquis Ardagan, they needed financial power. Although Matthew, the former second richest merchant in the kingdom, backed them up before, he had been eliminated now. She had helped Zephyr in eliminating him.

Without enough financial power, they couldn’t resist Marquis Ardagan. As a result, they had to increase the tax. Since it was impossible to take it directly from the ones opposing them, they had no choice but to increase those who they could oppress.

As a result, the citizens’ trust in the royal family declined quite a lot. While they were scheming against Noel or even the western lords, they neglected their duty as the central government. They had to take care of their own people.

Yet, from what she had seen so far, a lot of people had been dismissed because they were rational people who didn’t want to prolong this conflict between the royal family and Noel Ardagan.

Her father imprisoned those people, which caused this situation to get even worse.

The ones who suffered the most from this conflict were not the Ardagan family or the royal family. Instead, it was the people.

If this continued, the situation would have become even worse to the point where a rebellion might even form inside the royal capital itself.

”...” Wendy let out a long sigh. ’This can’t go on. I have to do it as quickly as possible. If I let this situation develop further, we wouldn’t be in a position to recover or resist the Supreme Devil Organization, even if I manage to take it later.

’Besides, I can’t afford to have this kingdom change its owner.’ Wendy clenched her hands into fists, steeling her resolve for one last time.

An old man soon appeared behind her.

Wendy glanced back, muttering, ”Duke Lorelei...”

”It looks like they have gone away, Your Highness.” Duke Lorelei nodded.

”How is the situation on the other side?”

”Countess Christina has entered the capital city. She is in Kevin Stargaze’s mansion right now, discussing it with him.”

Wendy paused for a moment before saying, ”You might hate me a lot for doing this. However, is there nothing I can do to avoid this route and somehow restore the kingdom?”

Duke Lorelei didn’t answer that question, indirectly implying that there was no other way.

The king had gone too far.𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

”I might end up getting known for my infamy in the future... The killer of my father, the killer of my brothers, the tyrant queen, the puppet queen... Even with all that, are you willing to follow me to the very end, Duke Lorelei?”

Duke Lorelei smiled. He couldn’t help but remember what Noel had said previously. Noel even asked him to protect her.

The king had been too busy with unnecessary politics. The crown prince was too useless and too fixated on women.

The second prince had been gone, while the rest of the royal family hadn’t shown any noteworthy actions or contributions. The only person that could change the situation would be the former third prince.

If she let other princes or princesses take the throne, they would become even more of a puppet than her. At the very least, Wendy knew her fate from the beginning.

She had accepted her fate, but at the same time not resigned to her fate. Despite being the puppet princess this whole time, she did a lot of things in the shadows for the sake of the kingdom.

Duke Lorelei smiled at her question. ”My bones are already old. However, as long as Your Highness doesn’t dislike this old bone that can die of old age at any moment, please allow me to accompany you until death comes my way.

”For the sake of the kingdom, please rule over this kingdom and save it.” Duke Lorelei lowered his head. ”I shall be your sharpest sword and pave the way for you.”

Wendy’s heart felt relieved. In the end, what she was going to do was something unforgivable.

She was hesitant at the last moment, but with his words reassuring her, Wendy had completely thrown away all kinds of hesitations.

Wendy turned around and walked to the door. Before leaving this room, she said, ”Duke Lorelei. Please take care of the rest.”

”As you command.” Duke Lorelei nodded.

Wendy finally exited the room and wandered around the castle.

...

Thirty minutes later.

She finally arrived in front of the king’s chamber. Surprisingly, the one guarding this chamber was actually the marshal.

”Your Highness...” The marshal frowned. ”What are you doing here?”

Wendy looked at the marshal. The latter was clearly suspicious of her, scanning her every reaction. The marshal was known as a loyal dog that would cut down even another royal family member if they threatened the sovereign.

But she also had been observing the marshal this whole time and understood his circumstances.

That was why, despite her heart beating rapidly, her face remained unchanged as she said, ”I have another matter to report. It looks like I have forgotten about one thing.”

”You can wait until tomorrow. Your father is resting.”

The third princess shook her head. ”We can’t wait. If I postpone it to tomorrow, I’m afraid it will be too late.”

”...” The marshal was staring at her as if he was trying to see her soul. But eventually, he knocked on the door to inform him about the matter.

It looked like the king chose to accept her. Besides, with him standing in the door, any tricks that the third princess was going to use would have been stopped.

However, the real reason for the marshal standing in front of the king’s chamber was precisely due to his sense of picking up Duke Lorelei’s presence.

Although he didn’t know who it was, there was only one reason for a spirit transcendence to come to the royal capital. That was why he had to protect the king.

To his surprise, once the princess entered the room, he heard footsteps coming toward him. The sound was coming closer and closer.

The marshal’s expression turned grim because his senses were tingling. It was clear that the person approaching him was also a spirit transcendence like him.

But even he didn’t expect that Duke Lorelei would suddenly show up before him.

”!!!” The marshal was visibly shocked. ”Duke Lorelei...”