Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 172

172.

Lillian’s defection is more than just an enemy soldier joining the Empire.

She is a mage.

The existence of mages is highly valued on the continent.

Magic is a difficult discipline to master, and becoming a high-ranking mage is incredibly rare.

Lillian is one of only two 8-circle mages on the continent, making her invaluable.

By taking Lillian under my command, my influence has grown significantly.

‘No matter how much Duke Austin interferes, I won’t discard Lillian. The mages of the magic corps who came on the Eastern Expedition are in a difficult position. They failed to follow the Head’s strict orders.’

Capture Lillian alive.

If you can’t capture her, kill her.

Andre failed to do either.

The Eastern Expedition’s outcome is the worst possible for Andre.

He not only failed to follow the Head’s orders, but the Crown Prince, the Head’s rival, has taken Lillian under his command.

“If I return to the main family like this, I will be scolded by the Head, lose all influence, and my life may even be in danger.”

Andre was honest.

He spoke about his situation without hesitation, conveying a sense of desperation.

I never imagined a high-ranking mage from the Riverhill family would be so humble before me.

In my memory, the Riverhill family mages always looked down on and ridiculed me.

‘The me then and the me now are different.’

I leisurely drank my tea and said,

“I don’t think Duke Austin would be happy to hear you say such things.”

Andre nodded.

“Indeed. If the Head finds out, he will severely punish me for tarnishing the family’s honor. But I trust that Your Highness will keep today’s conversation confidential. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have proposed this deal.”

I exclaimed, “Oh ho.”

Andre was different from other nobles, despite being one.

‘Is it because he’s a mage? Mages are extremely rational.’

If he only cared about his pride, Andre wouldn’t have shown me this attitude.

He was willing to be humiliated for a greater goal.

“I believe Your Highness set conditions for Lillian to join your command, perhaps related to the Reinhart family.”

Despite limited information, Andre reasoned well.

I listened without responding.

“Lillian has been studying the Reinhart family for a long time. Her siding with the Kingdom Alliance was due to the Reinhart family’s ruins. She was seeking answers to the 8th circle and beyond in ancient magic.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Andre smiled.

“The Head is obsessed with power, family honor, and being the best mage, but he is also obsessed with the Reinhart family.”

This implies that Duke Austin is also researching ancient magic for the 9th circle.

“Please share the conditions Your Highness made with Lillian. That will show the Head that the magic corps couldn’t stop Lillian from becoming Your Highness’s subordinate.”

“Good. If I share information about the Reinhart family, you won’t be reprimanded by Duke Austin. Let me ask again: what can you give me?”

“The political support of the next Head of the Riverhill family.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“I thought Duke Austin’s eldest son was the next Head. You’re from a collateral line.”

“The requirements to become Head are excellent magical skills and Riverhill blood. There’s no rule that the current Head’s eldest son must inherit the position.”

I calculated quickly.

‘Can Andre push out Duke Austin’s son and become the next Head? Even if he doesn’t, having a mage competing with the Duke’s son on my side is beneficial.’

Andre said,

“It’s a secret alliance. The Riverhill family and Your Highness are enemies. The Head’s grandson, Chen, is a prince. Although Prince Chen seems out of the Crown Prince competition, Duke Austin will ensure Chen exerts his presence in central politics.”

“He won’t give up easily.”

“The Head is more concerned with the imperial palace than the family. But he misunderstands that, unlike Attran, the Riverhill family traditionally appoints capable mages as Heads. There’s discrimination against collateral lines, but skilled individuals often take over the main family.”

Andre smiled deeply.

“The Riverhill family has a history of main and collateral lines changing. When a collateral line becomes Head, that family becomes the main line.”

I concluded,

“Good. But let’s be clear.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ll only share Reinhart family information with Duke Austin. Too many people knowing is pointless. You must accept that.”

“As long as I’m not reprimanded, I don’t need the information.”

I stood up.

“Instead, I’ll support you secretly. If the alliance between the Riverhill family’s mage and the Crown Prince is revealed, the imperial palace will be in turmoil.”

Andre bowed.

“I will do my best to become the next Head.”

* * *

After the conversation with Andre, I met Lepio, accompanied by Ken, whom I knew.

Despair was etched on Lepio’s face.

I sighed at Lepio’s defeated expression.

‘A king… the first to flee and powerless before the enemy commander.’

Even defeated, he should show dignity.

“Are you comfortable?”

“I feel like a pig before slaughter. What good is food, clothing, and a comfortable bed? I’ll be dragged to the imperial capital and executed.”

I hoped Lepio knew about the secret organization Lillian mentioned.

But he seemed clueless.

The secret organization used Lepio as a puppet and didn’t share any information.

Still, I asked,

“What is your relationship with Marquis Daret?”

“That traitor? He was my most cherished vassal. He helped me become king and strengthened the royal family’s power. But he broke his promise and fled with the royal assets.”

Ken said,

“Please speak respectfully. You are speaking to the commander of the Eastern Expedition and the Crown Prince of the Empire.”

Lepio glanced at me.

“Marquis Daret is a traitor. I have nothing to say.”

“I heard stories from Lillian. Are they true?”

I didn’t specify the stories, assuming Lepio would understand.

He did.

“Marquis Daret handled that, so he would know best, but we spread rumors that Lillian was conducting forbidden research to prevent her from going elsewhere.”

Lepio added hollowly,

“Lillian is a traitor like Daret.”

I nodded.

I plan to leave Lepio’s fate to my father. I didn’t think I needed to execute him. Lepio had no value as the king of the Pyreon Kingdom.

‘Local lords were better.’

I turned around.

“Your Highness, please save me.”

“It’s not my decision.”

I left before Lepio could cling to me. Considering he was a king, I confined him to a royal palace bedroom under strict surveillance instead of a prison.

Escorting him to the capital wouldn’t be a problem, and I didn’t want to waste any more time on him.

I headed to the office.

“Is the investigation of the royal palace complete?”

Ken nodded.

“Yes. But Marquis Daret fled with all the royal assets, so there’s nothing to salvage. Fortunately, Lillian’s documents remain, proving her innocence.”

“I wasn’t interested in assets.”

“There were enough assets to feed the entire Empire richly for three years. Mostly luxury goods, but if sold, we wouldn’t worry about food for a while and would secure military provisions.”

I was surprised.

“The Pyreon Kingdom had that much wealth? But how…”

I shook my head.

I couldn’t believe they used so much money for pleasure and luxury.

If they had used it to solve poverty and famine, accumulate military provisions, and preserve castles?

The Pyreon Kingdom wouldn’t have collapsed so easily, even with my father’s expedition.

My expedition would have been more difficult.

“Marquis Daret controlled most of the budget. A lot of money went to unknown places. I suspect it’s related to that organization.”

I nodded.

“Investigate thoroughly. What about the messengers to Father and the imperial palace?”

“They’ve been sent. Until we hear from His Majesty, we must stabilize the royal palace and capital. How about solving the capital’s slum problem with the Vikan Merchant Guild?”

I was surprised Ken mentioned the relief policy first.

Ken smiled.

“Now is the time to win the people’s hearts. We are the occupying forces, and the Pyreon Kingdom will become part of the Empire. When it’s on the Empire’s map, the capital is a strategic point.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s good for Your Highness to win the people’s hearts and receive it as the Crown Prince’s direct territory as a reward. Abundant food production, established castles, and a large number of poor people, but the capital’s population is comparable to the Empire’s capital.”

Ken was calculating post-war processing and my political gains.

“If you obtain this place as a direct territory, Your Highness can raise strong soldiers. You’ve obtained all the leaders of each organization. Now is the time to increase the number of heads [increase your influence].”

“It could lead to misunderstandings from Father.”

The concept of the Crown Prince’s direct territory could be seen as rebellion.

Ken said,

“So, we must attach conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“This place directly borders the Kingdom Alliance. Since the Pyreon Kingdom was a vassal state, it didn’t matter that the capital was near the border. But now that it’s Empire territory, it will become a huge military city, not the capital.”

I guessed Ken’s intention.

“You?”

“Yes. Let Your Highness say you will bear the war with the Kingdom Alliance. If you hold the title of Crown Prince and Margrave of the Border Territory, Your Highness’s political status will increase further.”

Ken concluded,

“Now is the time to compete not with other princes but to engage in a full-scale power struggle with the aristocratic factions. The capital of the Pyreon Kingdom will be the foundation of that fight.”