Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 325

“The Empire’s princess was attacked!”

“Is this going to lead to war?!”

“Nah, no way. I heard she wasn’t even seriously hurt.”

“Still, it happened in our royal palace…”

The capital was buzzing with rumors.

The princess of the world’s strongest empire—though not an imperial princess, but still of royal blood—had been attacked. People were worried that this could cause problems with the Empire, maybe even a war.

But the strange thing was, even if things got really bad, it wouldn’t be *that* bad. This made the whole attack even more confusing.

[We demand a clear explanation for the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday.]

Haa…

“What is this nonsense?”

It was a message from the Empire’s Eastern Office.

Logan sighed and rubbed his head after reading the report.

*What is Princess Louisa playing at now?* he wondered.

He was getting a headache from this confusing situation.

“…I guess we should be glad she wasn’t part of the imperial family.”

“If the princess had died, the imperial family would have demanded answers. They would have asked for a lot,” Dwayne said.

Damian, who had also been called in, nodded. “The strange thing is, the princess doesn’t gain anything from this attack.”

“What about the Empire?” Logan asked.

“They don’t seem to gain much either. Unless the princess had died or been seriously hurt, just being scared isn’t enough…” Damian looked puzzled.

Logan felt a little relieved. At least he wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand what was happening.

“I can only think of one thing,” Logan said.

“What’s that?” Dwayne asked.

“No one does something if they don’t gain anything from it.”

“Unless they are crazy,” Damian added.

“Exactly. So, the princess didn’t plan this.”

“…You mean it wasn’t a setup?” Dwayne asked.

“Like I said, there’s nothing to gain. Unless she was so badly hurt that she couldn’t recover…” Logan replied.

“She’s not the type to hurt herself on purpose,” Damian said.

“Royal people don’t usually do that. Well, except for His Majesty, who acts without thinking. I mean, he’s brave and decisive. It’s a compliment, a compliment. Ha. Ha,” Damian said, trying to joke.

Logan glared at him, and Damian looked away, making excuses.

*This guy is getting more and more cheeky,* Logan thought.

But what Damian said was true.

“If so, then who did it?” Dwayne asked.

“It means someone else did it,” Logan said.

“But I don’t know what they wanted,” Dwayne replied.

“Exactly. This will probably end with us sending some gifts to the Empire’s Eastern Office. So, that wasn’t the goal,” Logan explained.

“…Were they trying to kill the princess? Don’t they know how strong she is?” Dwayne asked.

“Yes,” Logan confirmed.

“The attackers acted like the ones who attacked me and the Queen before. That means it’s the Empire. But we can’t prove it,” Damian said.

“Then it must be someone from the Imperial Family. Someone who would gain if the princess died in our royal palace,” Dwayne speculated.

“Surely not the Emperor…?”

“No, not the Emperor,” Logan said firmly.

“If he wanted to start a war, he would have sent people who could definitely kill me. This attack was too small for the Emperor,” Logan explained.

He remembered the Emperor’s dark eyes and spoke confidently.

“Then…?” Dwayne asked.

“It must be someone who wants a fight between the kingdom and the empire right away. It’s too clumsy for the Black Serpent mages to be trying to hide what they did. If so…” Damian trailed off.

Logan smiled wryly. “We don’t have enough proof, but I can think of one person.”

“I feel the same way,” Damian agreed.

“Prince Baros,” Logan said.

“The Second Prince,” Damian added.

Logan and Damian looked at each other and nodded.

Baros was always the main suspect in the kingdom’s problems.

And after disappearing and coming back, there were rumors he was up to no good.

He was a powerful person with a reason to take risks.

“Something is bothering me,” Dwayne said. “You said the Second Prince being safe means he worked with those attackers. But it doesn’t make sense that he doesn’t know how strong the princess is. This is not only betraying someone who is helping him, but it’s also a big mistake.”

“He might not know,” Logan said.

“Yes?” Dwayne asked.

“The Cassel Magic Tower isn’t fully helping the Empire. They’re just using each other,” Logan explained.

His conversation with Louisa had confirmed this.

“Is the princess hiding her power?” Dwayne asked.

“Yes. If the Second Prince did this without knowing that…” Logan said.

“We can use this,” Damian said.

Damian and Logan smiled mysteriously at each other. Dwayne, who was watching, just frowned.

Many brave knights of McLaine gave their lives to stop the assassins who attacked Princess Louisa. We are very sorry for this tragedy. Count Lonian McLaine is taking good care of the princess, who was very scared.

The royal family’s announcement stopped most of the rumors about the attack.

One rumor spread quickly and overshadowed the others.

“I heard it was an imperial nobleman who was in love with the princess and was angry about the marriage plans.”

“And Count Lonian risked his life to stop him.”

“Actually, the princess is taking care of Count Lonian, who was badly hurt, right?”

“Oh, so…”

“True love can beat anything.”

“Wow…”

This rumor made people feel better about the attack and stopped worries about problems with the Empire.

It was a nice rumor that spread quickly, even in the eastern part of the Empire.

“It’s going well,” Logan said, chuckling at the report.

Damian, who was giving the report, smiled wryly. “Yes. But if things go wrong, Count Lonian might have to marry her.”

“They’ll say no. Don’t worry,” Logan said.

“The Count is very worried right now,” Damian replied.

“Tell him to deal with it. They wanted the marriage in the first place. Now that everyone thinks this, the Empire can’t complain,” Logan said.

“The princess shouldn’t do anything else,” Damian warned.

“She has to go along with it, or people will think she killed all the assassins herself,” Logan replied.

For most people, a love story is easier to believe than royal power struggles or problems between countries.

The rumor that Logan started was working perfectly.

“…You’re really good at using your head,” Damian said.

“What, you want to die?” Logan joked.

“Ah, no. Anyway, we shouldn’t have any problems with the Empire,” Damian said.

Logan chuckled and watched Damian look away.

But Damian was still worried.

“But those… ghosts, are getting into the royal palace too easily. Shouldn’t we do something about it? Not everyone in the palace is as strong as His Majesty,” Damian said.

He was right.

“But you can’t stop those guys just by defending,” Logan said.

“But we can’t just do nothing,” Damian replied.

“That’s true,” Logan agreed.

“Yes?” Damian asked, confused.

Logan smiled strangely. “Luckily, we’ll have a way to defend ourselves soon.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t want the Empire’s people coming and going in my house as they please,” Logan said.

Logan smiled, remembering the secret report he had received a few days ago.

The plan for the Great Magic Circle was complete.

It seemed the royal palace would be the first test site.

While Logan was smiling, someone else was angry.

[The royal family’s ghosts… The princess is important to our plan. Are they going to get in the way?]

Thump.

“Is it because you guys aren’t doing your job?!” Baros shouted, glaring at the communication device.

The three ghosts were supposed to be his secret weapon.

They could move without his father’s permission.

They should have finished the mission. Or at least not left any evidence.

But now they had left their bodies behind, and he was afraid of the Emperor’s questions.

*How did I get back in this position?*

How could the ghosts leave bodies behind while fighting Louisa, who was just an ordinary woman?

Two impossible things had happened, ruining his plan. It was worse than doing nothing.

He felt like he was going to explode.

But the person on the other end didn’t care.

[I didn’t think you were so weak. Disappointing, Prince.]

“Are you judging me right now?!” Baros shouted.

[Isn’t it worth it? Someone who wants to be king is acting like a child… You need to be patient. There’s still time, so why the rush?]

Ugh.

The old man’s cold stare on the communication device calmed Baros down.

He hadn’t seen Logan McLaine in a while, but the old man’s gaze made him just as uneasy as Logan’s red eyes. The creepy feeling from their last meeting still haunted his dreams.

The old man was planning something, but Baros couldn’t figure it out.

*Is that why I’m so unsure?*

Damn it.

He was making excuses again. Baros gritted his teeth.

*If this keeps up, I’ll be back in that terrible situation again.*

He realized how pathetic he was and snapped out of it.

Baros sighed and looked at the communication device again.

“…I made a mistake this time. I’m sorry.”

The old man looked surprised.

[Ho?]

“But I need another favor.”

[A favor?]

“I’m going to lose more because of those guys. I might end up in that terrible situation again…”

He couldn’t say the words.

The old man seemed to understand.

[You need to make up for this mistake?]

“That’s right.”

[…Not hard. But promise me you won’t do this again without telling me.]

Baros bit his lip.

It was an insult to be ordered around by someone other than the Emperor.

But he had no choice.

“…I understand.”

[Hmm, good. I’ll trust you this time. Then…]

Baros nodded helplessly as the old man spoke.

A little later…

“Your Highness, the Emperor wants to see you.”

Baros calmly accepted the summons.