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

from outside the Empire

a stoic look

That is probably how it will

“…….”

turned away from

over to the couch

“Mm.”

groan. Her body was

asked

keeping an eye on

“Protecting you.”

“With the Dragon-nim?”

Crunch crunch.

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

Princess, do you want some

“...That’s okay, Dragon-nim.”

Okay! Just let me know if

brushed her face with both

idea how things

across from

of everything though, aren’t you, your Royal

“Pffft.”

let out a short

second test starts

for first place, your

“Pffft.”

out another

there were three people who were tied for first place without considering the missing First

Wishrop, Zero, and I. The three of us are tied

other candidates were looking down on these

their arms and legs. It is understandable why they consider you

Wishrop had lost two of

Olivia had lost all of their

Olivia was not fully recovered

loser of

9 and did not participate in the black tree attack team were not being praised but they all felt as

Purifier... There is

your

asked the Purifier who

excuse did Heni Wishrop

Cale lightly responded.

their statements to the Huayans patriarch’s subordinate since he immediately returned to the

must have made things

Although he did use some black magic that forced them to

interjected at

gramps

pupils started to

the testimony, he should have been a highest-grade black mage. They were able

up with the answer to her

it makes sense

golden dust

Huayans patriarch would find it

their imagination. The strength of the

see Cale’s

from the rear and blocking attacks from some vines and branches when they got swept up

“…….”

white sand desert when they woke back

accepted that

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

not since there are people keeping surveillance on the

you put it that way...

had placed people to keep an eye on the palaces

watched

quite

safe because this identity was

acting as a priest of

Empire but in other nations but there were a few temples in the Empire as well. Thanks to that,

Cale staying in this palace could have been allowed so

‘But so what?

hell can he find out by keeping

he finds

fight it

there was one thing he had to do before they

“By the way...”

Olivia's voice was shaking.

of the Emperor's Palace, are there really the candidates who

for a

hands

Emperor. The Emperor’s palace where her Royal Father resided... In

corpses of all of the candidates

more accurate, they are not corpses but

her eyes shut at

“Such despicable-!”

truth hidden beneath

hated the Imperial Palace after learning

want to

after hearing her mumble in a

wants to destroy

true personality, but he ignored it. Olivia had decided

was the only

thought about something First Imperial

turned into the undead are in the Emperor’s

was another truth that he had not told

are

the Emperors had turned into

First Imperial Prince had sighed when asked about

‘Coincidence.’

a coincidence

‘Something’s off.’

uneasy about