How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 275

The second Prince had attempted to stage a rebellion by joining hands with the would-be third Prince, who was just about to be officially named.

 

No, from the beginning, the only reason Karl—who didn’t have a drop of Estroa blood—was able to enter the imperial palace at all was because of the second d Prince’s cooperation.

 

As soon as the second Prince and Karl were dragged to prison under the Emperor’s orders, the rumors spread like wildfire.

 

“They say His Highness the second Prince helped forge the Estroa symbol? I didn’t even know that was something you could fake!”

 

“More than that, a rebellion? Are you saying the monster attack on the capital was really his doing? I didn’t believe it at first.”

 

The second Prince had supposedly plotted to assassinate the Emperor using monsters. The attack on the capital by monsters earlier? That was also meant to kill the Emperor.

 

At that time, the person who helped the second prince was Karl, and he was someone who could command monsters.

 

These rumors, laced with bits of truth and fanned by someone’s deliberate hand, spread across the capital in a single night.

 

Even Kairos, who had no interest in what was happening in the capital or the complicated circumstances within the palace, went to see the Marquise of Calvin.

 

“Mother, what on earth is going on? The second Prince and Karl have been imprisoned for rebellion?”

 

“It must be a truly shocking event, if even you—who’s never once visited me—have come all the way here to ask about it.”

 

She sounded like she was scolding her usually indifferent son, but her voice was positively brimming with excitement, like she was humming a tune.

 

Thanks to this, Kairos was able to be certain without having to hear an answer.

 

He was certain now that Marquise Calvin was behind everything that had happened the night before.

 

“What on earth have you done?”

 

“What have I done? I’ve finally removed the biggest obstacle in your path. You should be thanking your mother.”

 

However, contrary to Marquis Calvin’s expectations, Kairos’ face looking at her was extremely indifferent.

 

No, there was a subtle anger in the eyes that glared at her.

 

“Do you know how noisy the palace is right now?”

 

Upon hearing the news of the second Prince’s arrest, the nobles who supported him swarmed the palace.

 

Those nobles demanded a proper investigation, but the Emperor threw them all into prison as well—accusing them of conspiring in the rebellion.

 

But that was exactly what the nobles supporting the second Prince had wanted.

 

As a result, dozens of nobles were now behind bars.

 

Furthermore, when Duke Daphne heard the news, he hurriedly came up to the capital.

 

Even if he is the emperor, he cannot guillotine them all without a single piece of evidence.

 

If he dares attempt such a thing, the issue will no longer be about individuals—it will become a matter of the entire nobility.

 

Who would follow an Emperor who commits tyranny with no justification?

 

If the struggle for the throne ends like this, even if the First Prince becomes Emperor, he won’t have any loyal nobles left.

 

“No, if it’s clear I framed the second Prince, the nobility won’t accept me as Emperor anyway.”

 

“And if they don’t? What if you’re their only remaining option—would they still reject you?”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“That guy Karl really set the stage. A monster attack on the capital, was it?”

 

The two eyes that glanced back at Kairos after a moment of hesitation were sparkling with boiling joy.

 

“If Karl, the second Prince, and even the Emperor all die—made to look like a monster attack—then that’s it, Kairos. You’ll finally become Emperor.”

 

“It’s crazy…. Are you serious about what you’re saying right now?”

 

“Of course I’m serious! My beloved son, just trust your mother. I’ll put you on the highest throne in the empire! Ahahaha!”

 

Marquise Calvin laughed as if she already had the entire world in her hands.

 

Kairos looked at her with a disgusted expression as if he were looking at a madman, then left the place.

 

‘With her abilities, she might actually be capable of assassinating the Emperor.’

 

Not just the Emperor.

 

If she didn’t care about cleaning up the aftermath, she could probably eliminate the entire royal family.

 

All she had to do was hand the Emperor a sword and command him to kill his own children.

 

The reason the Marquise of Calvin has not done that simple thing until now is that it is literally difficult to clean up the mess.

 

If anyone started to suspect the Emperor wasn’t in his right mind—and a sage-level wizard was summoned to examine him—then it would be revealed that he was under a charm spell.

 

In short, Marquise Calvin now believed that even if the Emperor, the second Prince, and Karl were all dead, no one would suspect her.

 

‘She said that Karl set the stage. Onyx, was it? Are they planning to bring a chimera from there to attack the capital?’

 

Chimeras have bodies that are several times stronger than normal monsters, and their attacks are completely different from what you might expect from their appearance.

 

Like Thunderbird, who attacked him using the poison in his claws instead of lightning magic.

 

What if such creatures acted intelligently under human command?

 

The damage will certainly not be small.

 

Maybe the Emperor and the second Prince would be killed by chimeras even before Marquise Calvin made her move.

 

After all, the power of the symbol—the divine authority—wasn’t omnipotent.

 

Even Kairos himself had nearly died from the venom of a stone snake.

 

‘So when’s the attack happening? Could the monsters already be close by…?’

 

His steps quickened in his anxious mind. Kairos hurried back to his palace.

 

After establishing tight security in the palace, he called his close attendant, Taylor.

 

“I have something for you to do. You’ll need to move discreetly.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness. What is it?”

 

“I’ll assign four knights to you. Go immediately to Iris Palace and…”

 

That afternoon, in a corner of the palace, a pale-faced maid was whispering to the other maids.

 

“Do you know what I just saw? Armed knights stormed into Iris Palace and dragged away the second Prince’s wife!”

 

“Seriously? Where did they take her?”

 

“How should I know? Probably to prison, right? The second Prince himself is already imprisoned…”

 

Even with a baby in her belly, they had dragged her off so brutally. Was the second Prince really going to be executed for treason?

 

“What if that happens and the sparks fly to us too?”

 

“Then what? We’ll just die….”

 

The gossip among the maids, loud as it was, didn’t spread far amid the general uproar of the palace—it simply sank like dust in the sand.

 

* * *

 

In contrast to the uproar in the capital, the spacious gardens and rear courtyard of the grand Paul Herbina estate remained calm and peaceful.

 

But they say the calm before the storm is the most dangerous.

 

This silence felt like being inside the eye of a hurricane, and it made me uneasy.

 

‘If only my sister were home.’

 

I sent a letter telling her to come to my mansion because the atmosphere in the capital was not good, but I only received a reply saying that she was busy and had to go to work.

 

Something about how, even if the sun fell out of the sky, she still had to fill today’s quota of orders.

 

‘I should’ve just told her the truth—that the capital might be attacked by monsters and she should evacuate to our home.’

 

If I had known this would happen, I would have pretended to be sick and asked her to come and take care of me.

 

“Nell, you don’t look so good.”

 

“Really? That bad?”

 

When I asked again, touching my cheek, Catherine nodded.

 

Because of the current situation, Catherine had been reassigned from secret guard duty to official guard duty and now stayed by my side.

 

She took a knitted doll out of her pocket and put it in my hands.

 

“Here, I’m letting you borrow this because we’re friends. I’m not giving it to you—just lending it.”

 

She said squeezing it when you’re feeling down helps improve your mood. The cat doll she gave me looked oddly familiar.

 

“Huh? You still have this doll?”

 

“Of course I do. You gave it to me to celebrate our becoming friends.”

 

The cat doll, which she had named Lucy—a play on “Ruby’s little sister”—was worn at the edges and grimy from use.

 

It was clear she had kept it close and cherished it all this time.

 

I fiddled with the cat’s ears, which had grown slightly larger, and then gave the doll back to Catherine.

 

“Thanks. That really helped calm me down.”

 

“Just let me know if you need it again. I can lend it to Nell anytime.”

 

Catherine’s bright smile towards me really took my anxiety away.

 

As I was looking for knitting needles to make a new friend for Lucy, Leonhard, who had gone to the palace last night, finally returned home.

 

“Leon! What happened?”

 

“Things are getting worse. I was hoping to mediate somehow, but it’s no longer possible.”

 

The second Prince had been imprisoned for inciting rebellion, and now the nobles who supported him were stepping forward to save him.

 

If Leonhard were to align himself with them, it would look like he was supporting the second Prince as the next emperor.

 

“For the same reason, Duke Khalid is also unable to come forward.”

 

“Then… what about the knight order? Are they being deployed?”

 

Leonhard shook his head with a serious expression.

 

“I couldn’t even get an audience with His Majesty. I waited as long as I could, but eventually had to return home.”

 

“But… I heard monsters are advancing on the capital.”

 

“I’ve sent a warning through Sir Alex to the guards stationed on the outer walls. If any monsters appear, they’ll ring the bell immediately.”

 

The problem was, by the time monsters were close enough to be spotted with the naked eye from the walls, it would already be too late to respond—even if they rushed.

 

The best option would be to send out the Knights to subdue the monsters outside the capital.

 

“For now, Duke Khalid has agreed to keep his knights on standby. I’ve also pulled out as many units as I could from the wizards and knights of Ajas. If it comes down to it, I’ll go out and fight myself. Duke Khalid and Duke Kereis will be there too.”

 

Leonhard reassured me, saying it would be fine since there were still three people in the capital who possessed divine authority—even without the Emperor.

 

‘But there will definitely be people who get hurt.’

 

‘Couldn’t I do something to prevent that?’

 

I hesitated, then opened my mouth to speak.

 

* * *