I Married Because I Wanted To Live A Normal Life Chapter 76

Chapter 76

“Nothing but pure sophistry!”

My father clicked his tongue.

While Miller’s words were certainly peppered with exaggerated nonsense, everyone knew that they were just finding fault for the sake of criticism, and that allowing Carshion’s troops to enter the capital was, in itself, a rational choice.

Leaving such a large force on the border without surveillance would have been tantamount to giving them leeway to move covertly behind the scenes.

“Putting that aside, is it really true that Carshion has fallen? I know the civil war had intensified, but in such a short time? I was aware that the monster invasion was more severe there than here, but…”

“Our own situation has been a mess lately, so we haven’t had the capacity to keep a close watch on the outside…”

“Is it possible that the crown prince, having lost the civil war, has come to us for refuge, deceiving us with such words…”

The heads of the families, who had lived their lives with Carshion’s strength more deeply ingrained in them than the younger generation, offered their opinions with serious expressions.

Just then, Duke Levitea glanced at me, standing quietly beside Callen, and spoke.

“Since Baron Ensis is in the capital at just the right time, how about having her use her ability to grasp the situation?”

“That would be a good idea.”

“That is…”

Unlike the Count of Valencia, who agreed with the suggestion, my father frowned slightly.

The recent incident where the wizard had been rude must have been on his mind, but my father also pitied me, as I would often be bedridden for days after using my ability.

Then, Miller interjected in a nonchalant tone.

“How about we hear it from the Crown Prince of Carshion himself, who has graced us with his presence? Could there be any more reliable testimony than that?”

“Hmm…”

Callen, who had been quietly observing them, groaned with a troubled expression. He seemed to be hesitating, wondering if it was right to immediately dredge up memories that could be painful for the person involved.

“That would be more accurate.”

On the other hand, Duke Levitea readily nodded at Miller’s suggestion, and so, Onyx Carshion was soon summoned to the conference hall.

The man who appeared had a different air about him. Considering that a person’s first impression is tinged with the traces of the life they have lived, he was clearly not someone who had lived an ordinary life.

The platinum-blond man raised his gloomy gray eyes, glanced around the room, and then bowed his head with disciplined grace.

“I have come in response to your summons. I was told you have something you wish to hear from me.”

“What is this… Please raise your head, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

As befitting someone in charge of the country’s diplomacy, the Count of Valencia said hastily. The two seemed to be acquainted enough to recognize each other’s faces, as Onyx nodded in greeting upon seeing the count.

Soon, he opened his mouth, his voice tinged with self-deprecation.

“What use is the title of heir to a country that has already fallen? However, I am grateful for the courtesy.”

At those words, the atmosphere grew so heavy that even my father, who had been looking at him with a disapproving eye, let out a few dry coughs.

“…I cannot imagine how you must feel, but we have asked you here in the hopes of hearing the detailed circumstances. It is a very sudden situation for us as well…”

At the Count of Valencia’s careful words, the man obediently nodded.

Onyx began to speak calmly.

Even after he became the crown prince, many of the emperor’s children did not acknowledge it.

In the midst of that, a rumor began to spread that the monster attacks were a divine punishment for the gods’ anger at Onyx’s bloodline, and the atmosphere started to grow ominous.

At the same time, as the imperial army was dealing with the monsters, a vacuum was created in the capital’s defenses, and taking advantage of this, a rebel force, centered around some of the princes and princesses, was formed and advanced on the capital.

On top of that, the intensified monster attacks had severely depleted the nation’s strength, and in the end, the imperial family of Carshion could no longer function properly.

The man calmly explained the events that had transpired, as if stating only the bare-faced truth, neither adding nor subtracting from what had happened.

“How could such a thing…”

Duke Levitea said, as if letting out a lamentation, but Miller and the Count of Valencia seemed relatively calm even after hearing the story. It seemed the Carshion they knew was a place that was extremely obsessed with bloodlines.

The count asked in a calm voice.

“What happened to the other nobles?”

“The nobles involved in central politics joined either the imperial family or the rebels and fought fierce battles. And they were crushed to the point where recovery is difficult. The survivors will have returned to their own territories and locked their gates. For now there is no one to protect them from the monsters…”

“…Even so… If I may be so bold, to plot such a rebellion while the country is in turmoil seems like a very cowardly act. Who on earth was the ringleader?”

As he said that, the Count of Valencia added several candidates. The second prince, the third princess… he mentioned several figures, but Onyx, with a strangely peculiar expression, listened to the names he listed and then shook his head.

“Well, at this point… I’m not sure who the ringleader was, and I doubt there’s any meaning in finding out.”

At his words, which sounded as if he had resigned himself, the room fell into a brief silence. And the one who broke the silence was none other than Onyx himself.

“…I want to take back my country.”

The attention of everyone in the room focused on him.

“Although Carshion fell due to the foolish squabbles of my siblings, it is because of my own lack of virtue in managing such a crisis that my people are still not receiving proper protection and are dying at the hands of monsters.”

He continued in a low voice.

“The more I dwell on it, the more I feel so resentful that I want to cough up blood.”

“…..”

“At this rate, it won’t be long before the monsters that Carshion was holding back reach the borders of Kleinin. …Though my strength is meager, I want to fight alongside you. And… so that I can reclaim my country.”

Having said that, Onyx bowed his waist with an attitude that was incomparable to just a moment ago.

“Please, lend me your strength.”

I didn’t know much, but remembering that he had lived as the crown prince of a great empire, it was a rather shocking action.

Sure enough, while the Count of Valencia shot up from his seat, making a fuss about telling him to raise his head, the gazes of the others met.

However, at this moment, for some reason, my eyes were drawn to Miller, because he was not meeting anyone’s eyes in this conference hall, but was simply looking down at the bowing Onyx.

“…We understand the situation, Your Highness. Please, straighten your posture.”

“Onyx is sufficient.”

My father nodded at the man’s words.

“In that case, Lord Onyx. To be frank, all of this depends on the will of the newly crowned King of Kleinin, so it is impossible for us to give you any definitive answer in this place.”

“…..”

“However, if you truly wish to save the people of the empire who are being attacked by monsters… you could help us track the mastermind behind the monsters.”

The mastermind behind the monsters.

It was a story I had also heard from Sir Edwin.

As a result of investigating the mana waves in cooperation with neighboring countries, including Carshion, they had come to the conclusion that there might be a mastermind who was summoning, or perhaps even controlling, these monsters.

At my father’s words, Duke Levitea also nodded.

“I too was thinking of bringing it up once His Royal Highness is crowned and the situation stabilizes to some extent. Carshion was in a serious state of civil war, and we too were bickering over internal problems, so the investigation into the truth was put on hold, but…”

“…..”

“…it seems we can no longer postpone it.”

“What about Asmo? Is it possible they are investigating independently?”

“Unlike at the beginning when they appeared without any set standard or rule, after some time passed, an overwhelming number of monsters began to push down from the north. We too were able to catch our breath because Carshion held them back to some extent, so it is highly likely that the southern countries are even more steeped in peace than we are here.”

“If there really is a mastermind behind this, the initial random summoning of monsters could have been because they lacked the knowledge to control them yet, or it could have been just an experiment. After that, they might have concentrated their power and established a base in the north of the continent to proceed with their work…”

At the Count of Valencia’s speculation, Duke Levitea nodded heavily. The Duke raised his head and looked at Onyx.

“I am well aware that you yourself are a skilled swordsman, and I have heard that your Royal Knight Order and Magic Corps are also composed of considerable talents.”

“…..”

“I cannot promise anything about the support you requested. However, I am curious if you are willing to help us subjugate the monsters that are slaughtering your people.”

The content was arrogant, but the tone was matter-of-fact, as if stating a fact.

And the other party, knowing that he didn’t have many options at the moment, bowed his head without any sign of displeasure.

“I am grateful for your kindness.”

***

As it was a suddenly convened meeting, there was actually nothing that could be decided in this place right now.

Regarding Onyx’s testimony and his treatment, the meeting came to a close with Callen reporting back to His Royal Highness the Prince.

Everyone seemed to have their own thoughts as they left their seats in a hurry. I too, without even having time to share my thoughts with my father, was preoccupied with taking down Onyx’s statements in shorthand as he repeated his testimony in front of Callen.

However, as I repeatedly listened to Onyx’s calm words, I felt a strange sense of coldness from a man who had suffered the misfortune of losing his family and retainers, and who had just been lamenting his concern for the people of the empire.

Of course, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it would be natural for him to be lost in grief from the shock, but…