Trash of the Count's Family

TCF2-46

The test to determine the person who would become the next ruler of the Empire.

The Garden of the Stars where the candidates for the test gather...

There were numerous palaces surrounding the garden at the center and the candidates resided with their helpers in these palaces.

“...Your Royal Highness.”

Second Imperial Princess Olivia.

She had returned alive from Precinct 9 out in the western part of the Empire. Her body that almost died still had some internal injuries that had yet to recover, but she was able to move around a bit and use a portion of her necromancer abilities.

‘They’re empty.’

The First Imperial Prince Palace and the Fourth Imperial Prince Palace... They were both empty.

One of the candidates, who had been in the garden, quickly turned his head away after making eye contact with her.

However, there was a sneer on his face.

“Tsk.”

Imperial Princess Olivia clicked her tongue.

‘They must see me as a failure now.’

The First Imperial Prince, who was a strong contender, along with the Fourth Imperial Prince, who was determined to be quite skilled, and the former mercenary, Zero, went missing in the polluted lands of Precinct 9.

“...They died?”

However, most people believed that they were dead.

‘And although the Imperial Palace never announced it, the rumor is spreading beyond the capital to all over the Empire?’

The Imperial Palace also didn’t seem to be trying to stop the rumors.

In fact, they revealed a list of missing individuals and gave a rough explanation of the Imperial candidate test.

This was normal, as if it was not announced live; it was always announced afterward like this.

Of course, a lot less was revealed than usual.

The effects were nonetheless shocking.

‘His Royal Highness passed away during the test?’

A lot of comments came about how the most likely candidate to become the next Emperor had died.

‘Thanks to that, the incident where the House of Huayans was attacked has quieted down.’

The news that the citizens of the Empire had been talking a lot about was buried by this more shocking news. Of course, Olivia was certain about something.

‘The Imperial Palace and the Emperor will be more focused on the attack on the House of Huayans than the death of his own children.’

The Second Imperial Princess frowned.

‘The Emperors of each generation turned the dead candidates into undeads and controlled them as their subordinates?’

Olivia clenched her eyes shut after recalling the terrible truth that she had heard.

The Capital and over half of the Empire still did not know the truth about the ‘black tree’ and the ‘purification.’ They prevented the people of Precinct 9 from saying anything under the justification of their investigation while keeping things quiet at the capital.

It was simply known as an incident where they were investigating the black rain in Precinct 9 and ran into a large mutant monster that resulted in the noble sacrifices from the deceased in order to protect the wall.

‘It is cleverly different from the truth.’

It was highly likely that it was the Imperial Palace that spread this twisted rumor.

Olivia had seen the pure white sand desert through the video recording device.

No rumors had spread at all about that purified land.

She noticed another candidate make eye contact with her and ignore her before turning her head.

Click.

She closed the window.

Olivia was being praised by the Imperial citizens as the person who informed others about the monster with her life on the line while the candidates were treating her like dregs.

All of her helpers were dead and her body was in terrible condition.

"Why-”

She started to speak again.

"Why didn’t you inform people about the whole truth?”

She looked toward a corner of the now dark room. She was looking at a white-haired green eyed person wearing a white priest robe. The area underneath his nose was covered by a white cloth.

She walked over with her crutches to stand in front of the person she was calling her healer in order to have him stay in her palace.

“Oh esteemed purifier. Please answer.”

The green eyes curled up.

Cale opened his mouth to speak.

“The truth is being spread right now. It is just under the surface.”

He had handed the Pope a video recording device and ordered her to spread the truth.

However, they could not inform people about everything from the beginning. One false move and the House of Huayans and the Imperial Palace's hostility would be immediately focused on the church.

“...Are you informing people about things one by one?”

head at the Second Imperial Princess’

from outside the Empire to inside the

his face and he spoke with a

come. That is probably how it will

“…….”

away

to the couch and sat

“Mm.”

out a short groan. Her body was not

nonchalantly asked

you keeping an eye

“Protecting you.”

“With the Dragon-nim?”

Crunch crunch.

who was on Olivia's bed eating cookies, opened his eyes wide. He waved his front paw as soon as he made eye

Princess, do you want

“...That’s okay, Dragon-nim.”

Just let me

brushed her face with

no idea how things are

from

already aware of everything though, aren’t you, your Royal

“Pffft.”

let out a short chuckle.

second test starts

currently tied for first place, your

“Pffft.”

out

the first test, there were three people who were tied for first place without considering the missing First Imperial Prince and Fourth

I. The three

other candidates were looking down on

tied for first place but have lost their arms and legs. It is understandable why they consider you to

lost two of her

had lost all of their

was not fully recovered

loser of the three of

participate in the black tree attack team were not being praised but they all felt as if they were closer to the position of Emperor

esteemed Purifier... There is something

your Royal

the Purifier who

Heni Wishrop and Zero

Cale lightly responded.

had to give their statements to the Huayans patriarch’s subordinate

must have

It definitely was easy. Although he did use some black magic that forced

interjected at

gramps

started

get the testimony, he should have been a highest-grade black mage. They were able to turn that person's black magic

up with the answer to

sense since

Dragon with the golden dust

Huayans patriarch would find it

was a supposedly extinct existence from their imagination. The strength of the Dragon was most likely beyond Olivia’s wildest

could see Cale’s mouth

from some vines and branches when they got swept up by a sudden red

“…….”

white sand

they accepted that

Olivia with an expression that seemed to be asking why she was asking that kind

not since there are people keeping surveillance on the two

that

Huayans subordinate thought that his black magic worked, but the patriarch had placed people to keep an eye on the palaces after

being watched

quite free for

pretty safe because this identity was procured by

was acting as a priest of a different

few

course, Cale staying in this palace could have been allowed so that the Huayans patriarch could

‘But so what?

can he find out

he finds

just fight

there was one thing he had to do before they

“By the way...”

Olivia's voice was shaking.

the basement of the Emperor's Palace, are there

stopped for

her hands

where her Royal Father resided...

corpses of all of

be more accurate, they are not

eyes shut

“Such despicable-!”

of the black tree, the truth hidden beneath the surface of

Palace

want to destroy

slightly flinched after hearing her mumble

wants to destroy

personality, but he ignored it. Olivia

the

First

have turned into the undead are

he had not told

are there as

had

sighed when asked about how

‘Coincidence.’

felt as if it was not a coincidence but

‘Something’s off.’

uneasy about that