Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 295

Chapter 295

“Again! Another failure!?”

Leos squinted his eyes shut as he looked at the second prince’s black eyes, now flickering with panic. Ever since the incident at Macline, or more precisely, ever since the first prince overtook him in points, Baros von Ares, who had always seemed so composed, began showing signs of reaching his limit.

‘Was his composure just a façade? Why is he showing a worse side now than when he was younger…’

Despite such thoughts, Leos had no choice but to follow through with even the most reckless of operations like this current one. After all, he was the chronicler of the succession battle. The fate of Prince Baros was directly tied to his own.

“The Emperor’s order was to be cautious, and yet you’ve gone and made a deal with ‘those people’ — and you failed!?”

Baros’s trembling hand looked ready to strike Leos at any moment, yet, fortunately, he did not cross that final line. They were fated to be in the same boat until the very end. For the current second prince, Leos was one of the few people he could trust until the last moment. That was reciprocated by Leos as well. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Despite the bitter feeling, Leos knew he still had to speak the truth.

“According to ‘them,’ superhumans have appeared as assassins from the Duchy. They claim more than one, and since this breaches the contract, they said they can’t pay the penalty either.”

“What utter nonsense!!”

Crash!

Decorum like that of royal dignity was nowhere to be found, but it was a relief that all the knights and servants had previously been sent away. With these thoughts, Leos waited for the prince’s outburst to subside.

Once Baros seemed to have quieted down, Leos spoke again, maintaining his composure.

“We still have something to rely on. We may have lost the Duchy’s card, but the Union of Small Kingdoms is in chaos. The spark of that confusion was undoubtedly something we created.”

“So, what?”

Seeing a flash of red seethe in those black eyes, Leos gulped. If he misspoke now, he could very well set off the prince’s fury upon himself.

With dry lips, he hurriedly continued.

“Per His Majesty’s command, the succession battle is currently at a stalemate. Since the first prince can no longer advance his operations either, this disorder within the Union will count toward the succession score, allowing for a possible reversal.”

It was the most optimistic hope he could offer, and yet there was validity in his words. But…

“That’s precisely what we had planned when we instigated strife between Macline and the alliance.”

The growling voice of the prince was evidence of lingering anger.

“It’s not about Macline being important. The most crucial thing is the throne, Your Highness. Look higher.”

Only then did the shadow of madness begin to fade in those black eyes. Soon enough, the prince slumped into his seat, as if his energy had drained away.

“I apologize for such an unsightly display.”

With a deep sigh, Baros spoke, and Leos managed to calm his heart just a bit.

“I don’t know why I’ve been like this recently. Whenever I think of Logan Macline, I just lose my cool.”

“Perhaps frustration due to a few failures is to blame.”

“…No. It’s not that.”

“What do you mean?”

“There must be another reason. A reason unknown to me. Something is rattling my mind.”

The prince sounded borderline insane from his continuous failures, but his demeanor was chillingly rational, the same as the one Leos once noted as a prime candidate for the next emperor. Again, Leos couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope.

“That means…?”

“Call them. To the palace. When it comes to dealing with people and minds, those folks are indeed the best, aren’t they?”

“A single contract is like a gamble. Should it reach His Majesty’s ears by chance….”

“No. We can’t continue like this. It’ll only get worse.”

“It’s a perilous endeavor. For all we know, they may have bewitched Your Highness.”

“Our royal family is more rigorously protected in mind than in body, thanks to all sorts of magical devices. Have you forgotten?”

That was a tradition birthed precisely because of those individuals. Leos almost let these thoughts slip, but the prince, guessing his thoughts, scoffed.

“No. It all started right after I met Logan Macline. I keep having strange dreams and an endless rage against him rising. We need to pinpoint the cause before we proceed.”

Despite the ambiguous reasoning, there was a strange certainty in Baros’s voice. Leos, though hesitant, found himself nodding agreement without realizing it.

“Understood. I will make contact.”

“Tell them to come to the palace as soon as possible.”

“They may refuse. The palace is like death to them.”

“If it’s impossible here, I must go to them.”

“That’s even more dangerous….”

About to object, Leos froze as he met the prince’s daunting, blood-red stare. The prince, with a cold and composed gaze, was far more terrifying than when his eyes were gleaming with madness. Leos had applied to be his chronicler precisely because of such moments.

“…Understood.”

In the end, Leos decided to reach into the forbidden once more. As they exchanged these words, a decisive conversation was beginning elsewhere in the heart of the imperial palace.

“Baros, the child has reached out to the serpents.”

A middle-aged man’s brow furrowed slightly as he lounged on a massive throne. It was rare for the emperor, the absolute ruler of the empire, to show displeasure.

But when speaking of ‘serpents,’ it was entirely justified.

– I have confirmed it myself.

The voice resonated in the space, belonging to a presence unseen even to the emperor, who seemed unfazed by such insolence.

“How did the child come to be connected with them?”

– I was unable to determine that, Your Majesty.

“So, the mad serpents still have ties within the royal family. Distasteful. Highly distasteful…”

The emperor drumming his fingers against the armrest was a clear sign of his irritation, which remained even as silence stretched and another voice spoke.

– What will you do, Your Majesty?

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