Chapter 664: The Suspicious Crown Prince
The return of the First Prince Wilhelm had spread across the empire within a few days.
Many were doubtful, but seeing him lead the Empire’s Knights and solve the monster crises across the regions left them no choice but to believe. Of course, these reports had also reached the imperial capital.
"Prince Wilhelm was certainly supposed to be dead..."
"There's no mistake... I rember holding that child's hand after it had turned cold..."
In the absence of their ruler, Chancellor Franz and Empress Brunhilde were discussing the situation. Both had seen Wilhelm's body; they had certainly completed the funeral and buried him in the royal family’s private cetery. Now, his resurrection seed impossible. The situation was being complicated by...
"Prince Erik being by Prince Wilhelm's side lends a lot of credibility. However, I have not heard anything directly from His Highness."
"Erik has no reason to prop up a fake... However..."
"Yes. Prince Erik was involved in the struggle for the throne. It makes no sense for him to introduce a fake Wilhelm at a ti when he himself had the highest chance of ascending the throne. But it also seems unlikely that it's a fake Wilhelm."
"We would like to believe that Erik had his reasons to hide Wilhelm... But the dead do not just co back to life."
Franz sighed in relief internally at Brunhilde’s deanor. Wilhelm's death was the biggest trauma of her life. He had feared she might readily believe he had returned. In the absence of the emperor, if the Empress supported the supposedly resurrected forr Crown Prince, even if he were a fake, he would beco real in effect.
Real or fake.
Franz and Brunhilde needed to judge calmly, as the remaining stewards while the emperor was absent.
"We are currently verifying at the cetery. If he is real, then the body laying there must be fake."
"I apologize for giving you such an unpleasant task..."
"It's my duty as Chancellor. However, I alone cannot quell the unrest within the country. Suppression is straightforward if it's just monsters, but with rumors of Wilhelm's return spreading, it's difficult to manage."
"I will handle the nobility. However, we cannot leave this matter unattended for long."
"Currently, the number of knights following Prince Wilhelm exceeds ten thousand. They are suppressing monsters across the regions. Regrettably, it is beneficial for the empire."
"We should summon Wilhelm to the capital once the regional upheavals settle. But we should call for Erik first."
"I have already sent a ssenger but I am not sure if he will respond back."
Wilhelm’s appearance was causing the empire to take back control of the affected regions.
The chaos caused by the monsters was being resolved by the reappeared Wilhelm.
To avoid further confusion, the Chancellor deliberately did not send forces from the capital.
Now, the people and local lords across the empire believe that Wilhelm is acting on the capital's orders.
They think it's a united front.
If a dispatched army arrived and undermined Wilhelm’s efforts, it would only increase the chaos.
That’s why Franz did nothing.
However, because he did nothing, the stories about Wilhelm inflated.
"If this is all going according to soone's plan, it’s a nasty move."
"If there is a sche, it must be Erik’s. Yet I don’t understand his intentions here."
That was the mystery for both of them.
What Erik wanted to achieve.
That remained unknown.
Even without his rival Leo, Erik was still the leading candidate.
The throne would have fallen into his lap without any effort.
Yet, Erik had brought Wilhelm into the fray.
"We must see for ourselves... However, since he has essentially turned into a regional warlord, we can’t easily provoke him. Fortunately, the prominent families in the regions are observing quietly." ℞À𐌽óᛒÊṩ
"The Reinhart Duchy in the east, the Siml Marquisate in the south, both houses with popular support have been a blessing."
"Yes, they sent envoys promptly complying with the capital's intentions. The Zweig Marquis in the north and the Kleinert Duchy in the west did the sa. Nevertheless, the situation remains unclear. I apologize for my inadequacies."
"It's not your fault, Chancellor. While we're on the subject, let's be clear. As Empress, stewarding Emperor Johannes’s absence... I fully support the Chancellor. Please continue to fulfill your duties."
"Thank you."
Franz bowed deeply.
He was a Chancellor of humble origins, backed by the Emperor himself.
He had won much support through his capabilities, but he lacked in terms of authority.
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