### Chapter: 199
The Fourth Princess of the Empire, Sigrid Ephania.
By some twist of fate, Kraush found himself alone in the boys’ dormitory room with her. He took a sip of tea that Alicia had brewed.
“How did you get into the boys’ dorm?” he asked.
“Why not? The maids come in here all the time without a problem,” she quipped.
When it comes to servants, the ratio tends to lean heavily towards women.
So, as Sigrid mentioned, maids often visited.
But what about female students enrolled at the academy?
“Besides, I saw some girls whispering sweet nothings with their maids as they passed by. What’s the big deal?”
She playfully tapped her finger under her eyes, suggesting she had seen something interesting.
While those relationships weren’t exactly common, they weren’t unheard of either.
After all, they were young adults at their prime.
“More importantly, the dorm head hails from the Empire. That’s the time to wield some power,” she declared, waving her thin arms dramatically.
Her naturally frail body, with hardly any muscle, seemed like it could break with a gentle touch.
“Plus, I hear there’s a certain maid visiting your room quite often. Quite the little troublemaker, if you ask me.”
Was she talking about Lirina?
Kraush sighed, noticing Sigrid laughing cheekily behind her hand.
“Let’s skip the gossip for now.”
He decided to put that conversation on hold.
“Let’s get straight to the point.”
Kraush had contacted Sigrid through Mary earlier.
And he’d asked her to look into the connection between the Hell Fairy within the royal family and Ixion’s mole.
Sigrid, having noticed suspicious activities in the royal palace recently, was eager to verify for herself.
So, as soon as she heard the info Kraush had, she jumped into action.
Sigrid was known as the smartest in the Empire; maybe even the world.
Kraush knew her sharp intellect well and was curious about her take on the situation.
After a moment of silence, Sigrid lifted her teacup for another sip.
From her demeanor, it was clear that this wasn’t a conversation to take lightly.
As Kraush waited patiently, Sigrid tapped her arm with her index finger.
Then, she glanced at him.
“First off, based on my thoughts and yours, there was definitely a mole.”
Her certainty about the mole left Sigrid cautious with her words.
“And to be honest, I’m unsure if I should tell you this, Kraush.”
“Because I’m from the Balheim?”
Sigrid and Kraush shared a solid connection.
More specifically, they got along quite well.
Sigrid, with her brilliant mind, had grown wise early on, while Kraush, having undergone reincarnation, experienced a maturity that set him apart from his peers.
Although Sigrid enjoyed toying around a bit, their conversations flowed well overall.
However, their respective positions couldn’t be ignored.
Sigrid was a princess of the Ephania Empire.
Kraush was a direct descendant of Balheim from the Starlon Kingdom.
The Ephania Empire and the Starlon Kingdom weren’t outright enemies, but they kept each other in check.
And as the sword of Starlon, naturally, Kraush and Sigrid couldn’t be completely free from this dynamic.
Thus, Sigrid hesitated before broaching the topic.
“Be careful; you could easily become a target for the Empire.”
There was another reason Sigrid hesitated in expressing herself.
It wasn’t that she was worried about Kraush causing a ruckus in the Empire,
but rather that the Empire’s sword could be aimed squarely at him.
The Empire was powerful.
Starting with its population, it boasted the most Ten Great Lords and knight orders dedicated to its protection.
Although Balheim might have the edge in quality, the sheer numbers of the Empire were overwhelming.
If things turned to war, no matter how strong Balheim was, it would struggle against the Empire’s might.
Now, if Kraush, a direct descendant of Balheim, learned one of the Empire’s secrets?
Naturally, the Empire wouldn’t let that go without a response.
“For now, I’ve taken some precautions. Inside the royal family, they’re unaware that I’ve been asking questions.”
But Sigrid wasn’t omnipotent.
In fact, her inner circle wasn’t infallible either.
She could carry out her plans flawlessly if she set her mind to it.
However, the mistakes of those surrounding her were beyond her control.
This world doesn’t spin on one person alone.
“With this new info, you might find yourself in a tight spot.”
Sigrid was genuinely worried for Kraush.
He once saved her life.
Even if she was prepared, without Kraush, she would have faced dire consequences.
With her inherent weakness, it could have led to irreversible results.
So, Sigrid hoped for Kraush’s safety.
By nature, she tended to leap into danger.
If she heard this information, she would likely dive headfirst, like a moth drawn to a flame.
“Kraush, let me ask you one thing.”
Just then, Kraush opened his mouth.
“Do you think you can handle this on your own?”
Upon hearing that question, Sigrid bit her lip slightly.
Sigrid was a princess of the Empire.
Without a doubt, she held one of the highest positions within the Empire and had power, albeit ambiguous.
However, that power was not enough to directly influence the Empire’s workings.
She had distanced herself from the Empire for her own safety.
After all, gathering those who held her in high regard was merely to prevent turmoil within the Empire.
The Empire was currently in a state of upheaval.
The Emperor had shown signs of poor health and often lay bedridden.
Those who stood next in line were, knowingly or unknowingly, aiming daggers at one another.
Sigrid couldn’t insert herself into that situation.
No matter how brilliant her mind was, her position as the Fourth Princess and her inherent frailty were significant roadblocks.
“I can’t do it.”
Thus, Sigrid answered honestly.
She couldn’t do anything regarding the Empire.
While it wasn’t impossible if she committed fully, it would take an immense amount of time.
And during that process, irreversible consequences could arise.
“Ixion is a genuinely dangerous cult of lunatics.”
Sigrid was aware of the threat Ixion presented.
She had heard about them from Kraush, and the empire, along with other nations, had started to realize their presence due to the gravity of the Hardenhartz incident.
“Before they spread their wings and wreak havoc, we need to suppress them.”
To do that, they had to identify who the mole within the royal family was.
As Kraush asked his question, Sigrid fell into a long silence.
Her throat parched, she tipped her teacup once more and finally let out a long sigh.
“Kraush, can I ask just one thing?”
“Sure.”
“In your journey, what kind of Empire are you envisioning?”
Sigrid Ephania, who had hidden the emperor’s seal from the world and sacrificed herself, always hoped the Empire would progress in a beneficial direction.
Kraush, looking at her, slowly opened his lips.
“I don’t think any nation can move forward as a single entity.”
All nations face their doomsday at some point.
And the path they take is always different.
“The Empire is the Empire.”
Thus, Kraush refused to define the Empire’s shape.
“Whether it’s Starlon or any of the other four kingdoms, they’re all the same.”
As Sigrid heard that, a slow smile crept onto her face.
“That’s so you.”
With a slightly more relaxed expression, she leaned back in her chair.
“The mole in the Empire is the Emperor’s sword, the Heavenly Emperor, Dalpion Junon.”
And just like that, she dropped a bombshell.
*
Heaven’s Sword
Heavenly Emperor
Dalpion Junon
The Junon family had been serving the royal family since the Empire’s founding.
Though they had now passed into rest, they once produced the Heavenly Sword King, proclaimed as the strongest in the world.
The Junon family still held one of the Heavenly Emperors, known as the Heavenly Sword.
Because of that, many say that while Balheim exists in Starlon, Junon exists in the Empire.
The problem is that the current head of the Junon family is colluding with Ixion.
“……”
Kraush’s expression darkened.
Naturally.
No matter how impressive Kraush was, he couldn’t contend with Dalpion.
After all, he was one of the Heavenly Sword Kings, standing shoulder to shoulder with Balok Balheim.
But that made him ponder.
Kraush had faced Dalpion before.
‘He’s a man who is relentlessly loyal to the royal family.’
He only follows the orders of those in power within the royal family.
In fact, it’s said that to ascend to the throne, one must gain his trust and support.
How could someone like him be involved with Ixion?
It felt impossible to even comprehend.
‘Even if reincarnation played a role, there’s no way Dalpion would make such a decision on his own.’
That meant someone else had influenced him.
And there was only one person capable of doing that.
Kraush’s gaze landed on Sigrid.
Seeing her smile, tinged with worry, conveyed a deeper message.
‘Sinox Ephania.’
The current Emperor of the Empire, who, of late, had been showing signs of declining health.
That was all.
Kraush repeatedly opened and closed his lips.
He finally understood why Sigrid was so certain that she would be unable to tackle this.
Dalpion Junon, the Heavenly Sword, was already out of reach.
Let alone the Emperor.
There was no way a Fourth Princess could navigate such a high-stakes situation.
Simultaneously, Kraush’s wrinkled eyebrows began to unfurl.
Because he was aware of one truth that was being concealed within the empire.
In addition, he recognized why the Emperor had allied with Ixion.
‘Because the roots have rotten to the core. It’s time to change the roots, huh?’
Kraush knew the reason for the Emperor’s affliction.
Not only did the illness run in the royal family, but it had also plagued generations.
It typically began manifesting after they turned fifty, ultimately consuming their lives.
This condition was inscribed into their bloodline, rendering it uncurable even with the Holy Maiden’s arrival.
The Emperor must have allied with Ixion in hopes of resolving this affliction.
‘To completely wipe out the lineage curse, including himself.’
Kraush grasped why Dalpion would support the Emperor’s alliance with Ixion.
No matter how loyal Dalpion was to the royal family, he wouldn’t hesitate to counsel against a flawed choice.
However, this time, he agreed, as he believed it would render the royal family even stronger.
Kraush tapped his arms folded across his chest.
‘Bloodline Theory.’
The notion sprang to mind.
‘That’s right! The Bloodline Theory was stolen before my reincarnation!’
If that were true, it would mean the Hell Fairy and the Emperor had already collaborated.
‘The Bloodline Theory was needed to erase the curse that plagued the royal family.’
Lagrain had previously chosen a neutral stance between the royal family and the regional nobles.
Lagrain, being a formidable force among the local nobility, had considerable strength back then.
While the power of the regional nobility had significantly weakened today.
At that time, the local nobility held significant sway.
‘Even if they just asked for the Bloodline Theory, Lagrain wouldn’t have handed it over willingly.’
It would have made more sense to provoke Ixion, placing Lagrain in danger.
Then, under the guise of neutrality, they could lure Lagrain back to support the royal family.
In doing so, they could have also acquired the Bloodline Theory, achieving double the benefits.
Finally, Kraush had grasped why the royal family and Ixion had stolen the Bloodline Theory from Lagrain.
‘But…’
Before his reincarnation, that incident had disappeared without a trace.
Kraush centered his attention on why that had happened.
‘What happened between the Hell Fairy and the royal family in the past?’
And thanks to that, the royal family had severed ties with Ixion.
The Emperor’s eventual death had been its cynical consequence.
Moreover, to prevent anyone from realizing that the royal family had allied with Ixion, Dalpion likely took action personally.
‘Dalpion’s skill.’
If he applied his abilities, it would indeed be possible to erase the existence of the Hell Fairy from this world.
After all, that was why Dalpion served as the sword of the royal family.
‘But this time, the Hell Fairy still exists.’
Kraush already knew who was behind that.
The Red Witch, Abella.
It appeared she was weaving into the fabric of the royal family’s alliance with Ixion, using the Hell Fairy as leverage.
As that thought crossed his mind, Kraush felt a slight headache coming on.
The situation was more tangled than he had anticipated.
Especially considering that the royal family’s illness was information Kraush hadn’t fully grasped until just before his reincarnation.
“What now?”
As Kraush lost himself in contemplation, Sigrid gently inquired.
She looked at Kraush with genuine concern.
Meeting her gaze, Kraush slowly lifted his head.
Then, a long breath escaped from his lips.
The collective threats of Ixion and the most powerful nation, the Ephania Empire.
This was an insignificantly massive situation waiting to explode.
Get caught in a conflict like a whale fight, and you might just get crushed.
Yet Kraush’s eyes were clear as ever.
“I can handle this.”
Kraush held the key to fix this mess.
And the solution he envisioned was simple.
He would bear the curse passed down through the royal family.
He had the Black Hood at his disposal.
Kraush could steal a curse reminiscent of a disease.
And he had already done it once.
Sigrid Ephania.
He had stolen the unpleasant curse that had plagued her lineage as well.
But to carry it out, he needed to meet her.
“Sigrid, can you set up a connection with Dalpion Junon?”
The Heavenly Emperor, Dalpion Junon.
The sword of the royal family.
