Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 362

Loud shouts echoed through the street. People quickly moved out of the way.

Knights in shiny armor walked through the crowd. Their armor had colorful circles painted on it. They looked proud and important as people stepped aside.

Clack clack.

“The Holy Knights,” someone whispered.

“It’s the Commander of the Sacred Sword!”

“Oh! Really?”

This was why the west gate of Noviens was so crowded. But even more interesting than the knights was the carriage they guarded. People in the Holy City stared at it.

Rattle rattle.

Inside the carriage, surrounded by iron bars, sat a woman in pure white robes, although they were dusty. She sat in a composed posture.

“…The Saintess?”

As soon as someone recognized her and muttered the word, the news spread quickly.

“The Saintess?!”

“That Cardinal?!”

“Hey, don’t call her ‘Saintess’ anymore! She’s not a priest now!”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…!”

Murmurs filled the street.

News of the commotion quickly reached the Central Temple.

“…The Sacred Sword brought Illyia into the Holy City, you say?”

The speaker sounded gentle and wore a painted smile as he looked at the person standing before him.

However, despite the smile and warm tone, the person reporting was sweating a lot.

“Yes, yes, that is correct.”

“And why am I only hearing about this now?”

“……I am sorry.”

Lotte, the new secretary for Cardinal Tracy, could only say sorry. He knew what happened to secretaries before him who made Tracy angry.

The position of secretary to the influential Cardinal, which some people envied, was a disaster for him.

A disaster he could not refuse.

‘God, please, please.’

He prayed in his mind, when—

“…Shouldn’t we find out the cause, rather than just apologizing?”

The plump middle-aged woman, the Cardinal with a gentle appearance, questioned him in a tone as comfortable as her appearance.

“…We only received the news right before the Commander of the Holy Knights arrived in the Holy City.”

“Oh my, does that mean we only knew that the Holy Knights were moving after receiving the news?”

I’m screwed.

Lotte, his face pale, ended up bursting into tears and collapsing on the spot.

“I, I’m sorry, Your Eminence. I didn’t receive a proper handover from my predecessors… No, that’s not it. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

Cardinal Tracy, seeing Lotte started talking quickly, words tumbling out without making sense, sighed deeply.

“…Get up. Anyone would think I’m giving you some kind of punishment.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

“…Goodness. Go out and do your work.”

“Yes?”

Lotte’s question had many meanings.

Just go out?

Without any punishment?

But it was a question he couldn’t dare to ask, so he just kept bowing his head.

“Yes, yes! I understand. Th, thank you, Your Eminence!”

Lotte took a step back, watching Tracy’s expression.

As soon as the door closed, a handsome young man with black hair and black eyes, who had been watching the situation from the side, chuckled and opened his mouth.

“…You treat your subordinates too harshly, Cardinal.”

“Oh my. Ho ho ho, that can’t be. That child is just weak-willed.”

“Anyone would be like that, having been appointed to a position where someone goes missing almost once a month.”

Tracy, who had been smiling, frowned when she heard the sharp words.

“So, have I ever interfered with your work, Your Highness the Prince?”

“Hoo, you’re very confident. But it seems like there will be interference soon. The deadline given by Father won’t be long, will it? Isn’t that right?”

“Two weeks remain, Your Highness,”

Baros’s words were answered by a handsome man with blue hair and green eyes, who was standing behind him.

Next to him, a knight with an eyepatch on his right eye also nodded with a stern expression.

“You see, Cardinal. While our side is getting more and more tense as the days go by, your side seems to be very relaxed. Is it because you only need to give orders to the ‘doll’?”

At that joke, Tracy’s expression also hardened into a blank stare.

“…Watch your words, Your Highness. You never know where there might be listening ears.”

“Weren’t those ears all our people? Anyway, I don’t know why you’re delaying such an easy task.”

Baros leaned forward in his chair and looked at Tracy.

“Or are you planning to stab us in the back again this time?”

His eyes shone sharply.

No matter how much of an Imperial Prince he was, he couldn’t question a Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom like this. But due to the special nature of the situation and what he had done in his other identity, Tracy could only grit her teeth inwardly while forcing a smile on the outside.

“…There’s no way that would happen. As I said, that incident was an accidental act committed by a hardline faction within our Magic Tower, so…”

“It has nothing to do with us, so please believe us. I’ve heard that every day recently. Aren’t you tired of it? Or is it that difficult to just say a word to the doll?”

Should I turn you into a doll too?

Tracy forcibly suppressed the words that rose to her throat and the surging murderous intent.

‘The mental protection barrier possessed by the Ares Imperial Family cannot be broken at once even with my magic. And in the meantime, that knight will cut my throat. The Bracelet of Supremacy is being used to suppress the Pope’s divine power, so if I had to find another way…’

He had been playing the role of an unwilling ascetic priest for over a decade to infiltrate the Holy Kingdom. The biggest thing he had gained during that time was, of course, his acting skills, so Tracy imagined the extreme situation and hid her murderous intent, smiling again.

“Hohoho, Your Highness the Prince is also aware of the repercussions that would arise from that. I am agonizing over finding a way to minimize possible side effects.”

But Baros did not back down easily.

“Isn’t that why I’m visiting you every day, Cardinal, to discuss that method? But somehow, you’re not discussing it with me?”

Baros, rising from his chair and approaching Tracy, had eyes that shone murderously, unlike his relaxed tone.

“Or perhaps, are you thinking of it as someone else’s problem?”

“There’s no way…”

Bang!

“I’m saying it because it seems like there is! Otherwise, you shouldn’t be so relaxed!”

Baros slammed his hand violently on Tracy’s desk.

His face changed, showing his anger. It looked cruel and mean.

“Cardinal Tracy, remember this. I, Baros van Ares, will never die alone. If things go wrong, at least you will go to hell with me. Do you understand?”

The dangerous madness gleaming in his eyes had a force that overwhelmed even Tracy, the elder of the Cassel Magic Tower and a Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom. His eyes were not like a prince’s eyes. They were like the eyes of someone about to fall off a cliff, facing death.

It was difficult to lie while looking into those eyes.

“…Do not worry. I will do my best.”

I said I would do my best, not that I would listen.

Baros laughed, showing he didn’t believe her answer.

“‘Best efforts’? That’s not good enough. They must do what we say.”

“…The bad effects will be very big. We are trying to find ways to stop them.”

Tracy said this while lowering her head.

Baros stared at her for a long moment before turning away coldly.

“I will return tomorrow. I expect a definite answer then. Time is truly running out.”

Only after the sound of Baros’s heels had completely faded and the door slammed shut did Tracy let out a long sigh.

“Haaah….”

Only then could she recall the earlier report. Startled by the Crown Prince’s mad behaviour in the face of crisis, she had forgotten something just as important.

‘Ilia!’

Why had the Order of Holy Knights concealed the information?

Biting her lip, she immediately rose from her chair and headed out. She flung open the door to her office, meeting the Crown Prince’s icy gaze.

Taken aback, Tracy quickly masked her agitation with a smile.

“…Hee hee, Your Highness. Have you not yet departed?”

“It seems you followed me out rather quickly.”

“…Indeed. My eagerness got the better of me.”

“Hmm. I have no intention of interfering with your movements… but is the capture of a disgraced Saintess truly such a significant matter?”

“Ah… I simply wish to resolve the matter before any baseless rumours spread among the common folk.”

Tracy forced a smile, but it looked tight and unnatural. Small drops of cold sweat ran down her pale face, even in the cool room.

“I see. So you are busy with other matters. Perhaps we could be of assistance?”

“Hee hee hee, no, thank you. There’s no need for that. This is strictly an internal matter for the Holy Kingdom.”

“I’m just saying, you seem very busy with *our* stuff, and not your own.”

“…I will handle it swiftly and find a solution. Worry not.”

Her demeanour was consistently submissive.

Tracy acted very humble. This was strange. She was a high-ranking person, almost as important as the Crown Prince. People who act like this often have secrets.

“…I shall trust you once more.”

“Yes. Place your trust in me, Your Highness.”

‘Though that trust shall not be rewarded.’

Tracy concealed her thoughts and quickly turned away, and Baros, seeing this, nodded once before turning in the opposite direction.

It was only after some time had passed that he spoke.

“What do you think?”

“Looks like she’s not really going to do what the King wants.”

Baros’s gaze darkened at Leos’s immediate response.

He then turned his gaze to the side.

“Jerome. What are your thoughts?”

“…Yes?”

“What do you think Cardinal Tracy will do?”

“…I, too, agree with Leos’s opinion.”

“Hmm….”

Having heard Jerome’s awkward reply, Baros stared into Jerome’s remaining eye for a moment before smiling bitterly.

“Take it easy, Lord Jerome.”

“…Yes?”

“I say this because you seem more stressed than I am. Or do people who can spy also feel fatigue so easily?”

“…I apologise. I will pay more attention to managing my condition.”

Seeing the heavy emotion in his eye, Baros patted his shoulder and turned away.

“Is Number One present?”

It was unclear to whom he was speaking, but a voice echoed from the empty air.

– Yes, Your Highness.

No one was surprised.

“The results?”

– There were no noteworthy items in either her office or private chambers. It seems she carries it on her person.

“Indeed… nothing is ever easy.”

Biting his lip, Baros pondered deeply as he walked.

The one who hid in the air, and Leos and Jerome, who closely followed behind, did not interrupt Baros’s thoughts.

It was only when he reached the assigned temple lodging that Baros spoke again.

“If the interests of the Empire and my own conflict, which should take precedence?”

“The Empire, of course.”

“The Empire.”

The two retainers spoke almost simultaneously.

As subjects of the Empire, indoctrinated since childhood, it was the obvious answer.

“Even if the cost is my life?”

But they could not readily answer the follow-up question. If they were ordinary citizens, they would naturally say the Empire, but the subject was the Crown Prince they served.

Unlike Jerome, who was visibly frozen and speechless, Leos paused for a moment before speaking heavily.

“You should exercise flexibility. You should find a compromise.”

At that, Baros patted the shoulders of his two stiff retainers and spoke with a grim face.

“Those fellows are unlikely to listen anyway. If they had any intention of listening, there would be no reason to drag things out like this. You all agree up to this point, yes?”

“…Yes.”

“But no matter what they do, His Majesty will find a way to exploit this situation. Never has the Imperial Family been so close to achieving its long-cherished goal of subjugating the Holy Kingdom.”

Jerome flinched noticeably at those words, but Baros brushed it off. His own situation was that dire.

“And whether that plan succeeds or fails, my position in the Imperial Family will be lost. I will be eliminated from the succession. In that case, I might as well be dead. So, what should I do now?”

As no one could easily answer, Baros spoke again.

“…That Saintess. What do you think will happen to her, Jerome?”

“Your Highness, surely not…?”

Even as Leos was aghast, Jerome flinched and replied.

“The Holy Kingdom’s sacred laws are stricter than those of any other nation. That may be why they cannot easily comply with His Majesty’s demands…”

“So, what is the conclusion regarding the Saintess?”

“If she is a defrocked priestess, especially one who killed a key figure and then fled, I suspect she will face the ultimate penalty.”

“Then I shall ask you, Leos. Is that Saintess truly a fake?”

Leos, having somewhat guessed the Crown Prince’s intentions from the gaze directed at him, bit his lip slightly.

“No. She was merely purged by Tracy, who is manipulating the Pope.”

“…So, you are saying she is a true Saintess.”

“Yes, that is correct. Surely Your Highness….”

“What if I were to rescue that Saintess? And together, we were to strike down those fellows?”

At those words, Jerome’s remaining eye widened, and a sigh escaped Leos’s lips.

“The risk is too great, Your Highness. Above all, the Imperial Family’s reaction would be….”

“It cannot be helped. If they will not follow my will, I must find a substitute to survive. A substitute to control the Holy Kingdom… No matter how I think, that is the only countermeasure that can reconcile the Empire’s interests with my own.”

“……”

The one-eyed superhuman squeezed his eye shut, and the sole recorder swallowed hard, as the Crown Prince’s detached voice continued.

“Reinstate the Saintess and remove the brainwashed Pope. And in return, demand full cooperation.”