This Bastard is Too Competent Chapter 249 - The Emperor of Cantum

 

 

Cantum was quieter than ever. Everyone was doing their best not to disturb the hero’s rest. Even the wounded kept their mouths tightly shut. Concerned, the healers said:

 

“Are you alright? Don’t hold it in—if it hurts, it’s okay to cry out.”

 

“No, really… I’m fine.”

 

“I’ll apply the medicine now. It might sting a little.”

 

“Ughhh…”

 

Still, the wounded bit back their groans, determined not to disrupt the peace of the man who had saved Cantum. Everyone was doing what they could for the hero. And it wasn’t just the commoners.

 

“Injured, this way! If you can move, help those who can’t!”

 

“Repairing the damaged homes is the top priority—more than anything else. Do you want your family sleeping on the bare ground?”

 

“No, ma’am!”

 

“Then be quiet. Shut your mouths, but keep moving your hands.”

 

“Yes, ma’am!”

 

The First Imperial Princess and Princess Irene of Kaistein—unlike the other royals who had fled—were leading the recovery efforts. Irene, in particular, was carrying building materials herself, rallying her knights to assist. A eunuch cautiously approached her and asked:

 

“Why is someone of your noble status doing such lowly work…?”

 

“And who decided what’s noble and what’s lowly?” Irene replied firmly. “If something needs to be done, I’ll do it. It’s not about sympathy or appearances. Now stop talking and get to work.”

 

Naturally, the eunuch was scolded and had to dirty his fine clothes to work alongside her. Yet, amidst it all, they were full of life—hope was blossoming: the hope of rebuilding broken Cantum. But elsewhere, the atmosphere was starkly different.

 

Drip. Drip.

 

Cold water echoed in the damp, dark prison. From within, a man screamed in despair.

 

“You can’t leave me here! I’m the prince of this nation! This kind of treatment is unforgivable!”

 

It was the Second Prince. Even with his lower body crushed by Ian’s Fury, he clung to the bars, shouting:

 

“Hey! Is anyone there?! I’m the Second Prince! The man destined to rule half of Cantum!”

 

But no one answered. Instead, the guards retorted:

 

“Silence! How dare you raise your voice while the Hero—no, Lord Ian—is trying to rest?”

 

“What…? Aren’t you soldiers of Cantum? How can you put a foreign prince above your own Second Prince?”

 

“Second Prince?” one scoffed. “Do you think anyone still calls a man who murdered the Emperor and fled a prince?”

 

“Y-You bastards! How dare you insult me?!”

 

The Second Prince flew into a rage, causing a commotion. The guards could no longer hold back.

 

“That’s it. Time to teach him a lesson.”

 

“Are you sure? He’s still royalty.”

 

“A prince who betrayed his country and people? Don’t make me laugh.”

 

“You’re right.”

 

“If we beat him to death, we might even get rewarded.”

 

The guards entered the cell, clubs in hand. With his lower body destroyed, the Second Prince couldn’t even attempt to flee. The beating began.

 

Whack! Whack!

 

“Stop… please… can’t you stop?”

 

“We told you to shut your mouth, didn’t we?!”

 

After a brutal beating, the guards spat on his bruised and bloodied face and left.

 

“You disgusting traitor.”

 

“A disgrace who killed his own father.”

 

Spit!

 

The Second Prince barely opened his swollen eyes.

 

“Urrghhh…”

 

Tears streamed down his face. He no longer knew where it had all gone wrong.

 

‘Was it because I didn’t kill the Seventh Prince, As? Because I spared the First Princess… or Leonic?’

 

Even if he had just refused Ian’s hand… If only he had kept holding Leon’s hand instead…

 

Or better yet, if he had never betrayed the Emperor, maybe things wouldn’t have ended like this. Regret filled his mind as he pondered his past mistakes.

 

And then—

 

Clack, clack.

 

Footsteps echoed through the cold prison. Looking around, he realized the guards were gone. His eyes widened at the figure approaching.

 

“You… Is it really you?”

 

“It’s been a while, brother.”

 

It was the First Imperial Princess. Once a rival in the fight for the throne, she had come to visit him. The Second Prince finally managed a smile.

 

“Yes, I knew you would come. You’ve come to keep our promise!”

 

He remembered it clearly. Despite how things had turned out, they had once agreed—he would forfeit the throne in exchange for part of Cantum. At the time, he had done so out of fear—fear of Leon’s retaliation.

 

‘It was the right decision. In the end, I’ll survive… and one day, I’ll reclaim Cantum for myself.’

 

But the next words he heard shattered that illusion. They came coldly from the lips of the First Imperial Princess.

 

“A promise? What promise are you referring to?”

 

“You… You dare—!”

 

The Second Prince began to tremble.

 

“Have you truly forgotten? We agreed—I would forfeit the throne in exchange for part of Cantum.”

 

“Oh, I remember. Right up until the moment you stabbed our father in the back.”

 

“!”

 

“Until then, you still had an army at your command. Several lords still stood behind you.”

 

It was telling—his own former soldiers were the ones who had captured him. The lords had turned their backs the moment news spread that he’d betrayed the Emperor. His knights, blinded by promises of wealth and status, had long since abandoned him.

 

“Right now, Brother, you have nothing—not even a scrap to your name.”

 

The Second Prince’s face twisted with rage, but the First Imperial Princess looked down at him with cold, resolute eyes.

 

“If only you’d kept your mouth shut… Even if you had fought with dignity, I might’ve honored our deal.”

 

“Still… even if you’re a woman, a royal breaking her word is disgraceful…”

 

“At the very least, I’ll grant you a death befitting royalty. So stop degrading yourself—as a prince, no, as someone who once sought the throne.”

 

“…”

 

Clenching his teeth, the Second Prince’s bloodshot eyes stared at her.

 

“Then who? Who will become Emperor? Father is dead—do you intend to take the throne for yourself?!”

 

His gaze gleamed with madness, like a man who believed that if he couldn’t have Cantum, no one should.

 

“You know it’s impossible, don’t you? If Father were still alive, maybe. But now? You can never be an Emperor!”

 

And he wasn’t wrong. Cantum’s throne had always passed from man to man. A woman had never worn the crown. But still, there was one reason why the First Imperial Princess could even consider it.

 

“Only the Emperor holds the authority to change the succession laws. And now that he’s gone, that power died with him!”

 

Her kind-hearted brother had reserved the right to amend the law—solely for her. Without it, she would have had no chance. The Second Prince grinned wickedly.

 

“Then what? Will you give the crown to Brother Leonic? Or that pathetic Seventh Prince, As?”

 

If Leonic became Emperor, the First Imperial Princess would die without hesitation. And if the Seventh Prince took the throne, he would have no choice but to kill her to solidify his rule. Leonic was ruthless, and As would be forced to prove his authority. The Second Prince smirked.

 

“So choose wisely. If you kneel now and show me the respect I deserve… I’ll spare your life. I’ll be a generous new Emperor.”

 

And then—

 

“Hahaha!”

 

The First Imperial Princess burst into laughter. It was too absurd to hold back. She laughed because she truly found it ridiculous.

 

“How can you always be so predictable? I regret ever feeling the slightest bit of pity for you.”

 

“W-What did you just say?”

 

“Lyn was right. You don’t feel an ounce of guilt for stabbing our father, do you?”

 

“…”

 

Her gaze sharpened, now cold and resolute.

 

“There’s no one—absolutely no one—who would ever hand the throne to someone like you.”

 

When she first came to see him, she’d truly intended to let him die with dignity. But he shouldn’t have said what he did. He’d already crossed a line. Betraying their father had been unforgivable—but this was worse. He could no longer be forgiven.

 

“You’ll die here. A miserable death.”

 

No one would come looking for him. Until his death, not a single scrap of food would pass his lips. The First Imperial Princess finished her declaration and turned to leave. But at that moment, the Second Prince grabbed her desperately.

 

“Then who… who the hell will sit on the Emperor’s throne?! Answer me! I said answer me!”

 

His voice echoed forlornly through the prison cell. When the First Imperial Princess halted mid-step, he shouted out even more urgently.

 

“Don’t tell me…don’t tell me it’s that bastard Ian. You’re not thinking of making that Kaistein scum Emperor, are you?! Are you and your people out of your minds?!”

 

That was the one thing he could never accept. If Ian ascended to the throne, Cantum itself would change beyond recognition. It would mean the end of the Cant bloodline, which had ruled the kingdom for generations.

 

“Ran! Your plan is obvious. You want to crown him Emperor and make yourself Empress! That way, you can cling to your pathetic little power. You’re just like me! No different!”

 

Even though he had betrayed his own father and his people, in his eyes, what Ran was doing was worse—a betrayal of the entire nation to a foreign kingdom.

 

“Tell me! Admit your filthy schemes right now!”

 

But the truth remained: the First Imperial Princess couldn’t become Emperor. With the Emperor dead, there was no one left who had the authority to change the succession law. This was his last chance.

 

‘There must be guards outside. If they hear her speak, they’ll act. They must act.’

 

If he could just provoke those outside, he might find a way to escape this fate. No matter how much Ian was hailed as a hero, if he tried to claim the throne, the people would see it as treason. But the First Imperial Princess, as if anticipating his thoughts, leaned in with a cold smile and whispered:

 

“Don’t worry. The next Emperor of Cantum…”

 

Her words made the Second Prince’s eyes widen in disbelief.

 

“What are you saying… That’s wrong. That can’t happen. It mustn’t happen!”

 

He shouted like a madman, but the First Imperial Princess simply walked away. No one would come searching for him—he was locked away in a place so remote, even the guards had seemingly forgotten it existed. And no one ever would. That was the price he would pay. That was his punishment.

 

***

 

A red carpet stretched toward the Imperial Palace. Even within the grand palace, only the path leading to the throne was adorned in red. Imperial Guards, dressed in ceremonial attire, stood tall and proud lining both sides of the carpet. Then, the ceremony began.

 

“We now commence the coronation of His Majesty, the Emperor. Glory!”

 

“Glory!”

 

The Imperial Guards lifted their weapons high, countless blades and spears raised overhead in honor of a single man. Walking between them was none other than—

 

Step. Step.

 

“Crown Prince Leonic enters!”

 

It was Leonic. Though this was the coronation he had once dreamed of, his expression was dark. No—beyond grim. It was filled with despair.

 

Drip.

 

Tears fell silently from his eyes. And it was understandable.

 

“Hey, wipe your face. Is this how you show up at your own coronation?”

 

The person next to him was the problem — Ian Kaistein. He had just heard that Ian had collapsed, yet here he was, standing safely and teasing him. But that was not all the issue.

 

“Pick up the pace, will you? Don’t you remember what the ministers and the people said? The throne mustn’t remain empty for long.”

 

Leonic gritted his teeth.

 

His enemies weren’t just Ian. Every ally he once had had already turned their backs on him. Even the citizens who once looked upon him kindly now regarded him with cold eyes. They all remembered how he did nothing but watch silently.

 

Just before this day, Leonic remembered Ian’s words:

 

“So, what’s it going to be? A clean execution on the gallows? Rot in prison like the Second Prince? Or should I tear you apart piece by piece?”

 

There was no future left for him—not unless he accepted Ian’s terms. And so, he did as he was told.

 

He took the Emperor’s crown from the Chief Eunuch, placed it atop his head, and began his speech.

 

“I, Leonic… hereby issue my first decree as Emperor.”

 

His voice trembled, but he closed his eyes tightly and continued, aware of Ian and others watching him.

 

“As Emperor, I hereby amend the imperial law. From this moment forward, any member of the royal family, regardless of gender, may ascend the throne.”

 

Cheers erupted. The Imperial Guards and citizens alike roared in approval.

 

Hooray!

 

They celebrated the possibility that the First Imperial Princess—the only royal who hadn’t fled—could now claim the throne.

 

But Leonic wasn’t finished.

 

“At the same time… I, Leonic Cant… hereby abdicate the throne and return to being a commoner. The position of Emperor shall now pass to… the regent—kuh…”

 

“Hurry it up. The people are waiting,” Ian muttered beside him.

 

“To Prince Ian… as regent.”

 

With tears in his eyes, Leonic removed the crown he had just worn. His reign would go down in history—for lasting barely a single minute.

 

‘One damn minute… That’s all I got.’

 

But there was something Ian and those fools had overlooked.

 

‘Only one imperial law can be changed by an Emperor. Even if women can now inherit the throne… they must be married to do so.’

 

The First Imperial Princess was still unmarried. That hadn’t been by chance—it had been his doing. Meticulous to a fault, he had never let his guard down, not even with his own blood.

 

‘And there’s no way Ian could marry her, either.’

 

Ian was the King of Bahara—and the likely successor to the throne of Kaistein. If Ian declared his intent to marry the First Imperial Princess, no matter how heroic his reputation, Cantum wouldn’t accept it so easily. He had earned their gratitude by saving Cantum’s people, but taking the country itself would be a different matter altogether.

 

‘That’s how Cantum has always been.’

 

No matter how incompetent their Emperors were, foreign interference had never been tolerated. Yet Ian just smiled, as if he’d expected everything.

 

“You didn’t really think I wouldn’t see through that little scheme of yours, did you?”

 

“What are you planning? Don’t tell me you’re going to marry her?!”

 

“Of course not. I already have a fiancée—don’t you remember?”

 

“Then what—?!”

 

Ian grinned and looked toward a man nearby. Slowly, he approached and extended the Emperor’s crown of Cantum to him.

 

“The next Emperor… is you.”