After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 193

Chapter 193: The Final Decision

Still in a daze, the Chancellor heard Liese’s calm voice.

“Lord Verdan, under your orders, attempted to assassinate Princess Beatrice, but it seems he didn’t trust you as much as he should have. He realized that if the plot was exposed, he would be discarded as a pawn… So, to protect himself, he decided to keep a trump card in his possession. He secretly recorded your orders to kill the princess with a magical tool. However, his mistake was showing this to the assassin, Cecilia.”

After Liese paused for a moment, Cecilia nodded and continued.

“Yes, as Lady Annaliese said. When I was forced into the assassination, I thought about it… Even if the assassination succeeded, I didn’t think the Chancellor’s side would release my family safely. In fact, I believed they would kill them all to silence them, accusing them of treason. So, after my death, I resolved to ensure my family’s safety by keeping the magical tool that proves the Chancellor’s involvement in this plot. I stole it for that reason.”

Liese’s decision to hide the key evidence from the Chancellor was a great blunder on his part, but Cecilia did not report it to him. If she had, the secret recording would have been exposed. Instead, the Chancellor sent Cecilia’s family to a border territory to silence her. After the incident, fearing repercussions, the Chancellor sent assassins after them, and the magical tool’s existence remained known only to Cecilia. When Ayaka saved her family, Cecilia entrusted the handling of the magical tool to me.

“Now, do you have any objections to the charges?”

In response to Liese’s questioning, the Chancellor mumbled incoherently, his eyes vacant.

“…I have done nothing wrong. To ensure the kingdom’s peace, we need a stable government… For that, we cannot have someone like Beatrice, whose thoughts are so difficult to predict, as a ruler. The king should just nod to the proposals of capable ministers, nothing more…”

His words, filled with contradictions and lacking consistency, were a weak attempt at self-justification. Then suddenly, the Chancellor’s eyes widened, and he shouted.

“This is a conspiracy! Comrades, rise up! We will establish a government by the aristocracy, where only the chosen ones will rule!”

Realizing he had nowhere to run, the Chancellor began inciting the aristocrats of his faction, urging them to overthrow the monarchy and transition to an aristocratic council system. Shockingly, over thirty high-ranking nobles responded, some lighting magical flames, others pulling stones from their pockets, while others created air bullets in front of them. With their A-class magical abilities, they were formidable.

“Are you serious? You should reconsider now!”

The kind Queen attempted to persuade them, but once the lines were drawn so clearly, there was no turning back.

Not only was Beatrice skilled in wood magic, but even the Queen, who controlled earth magic, was not good in close-quarter combat inside a building. Outdoors, she could raise earth walls to block fireballs and stones, but inside, earth magic was not as useful.

“Comrades, capture the Queen and defeat Beatrice!” the Chancellor rallied.

But Liese, who had prepared for this very situation, would not allow such a thing to happen.

“You fools! Look at the ceiling!”

At Liese’s loud voice, the nobles, unable to resist, looked up. They were stunned as thousands of ice spears filled the ceiling, resembling chandeliers… and were now falling toward them.

My smart sister had anticipated this moment, and before the audience began, she had arranged a massive number of ice spears and kept them suspended, ensuring they wouldn’t melt. Her control over magic was incredible.

“Everyone, stay where you are! Do not move!”

“Who is this little girl? How arrogant! Ugh…”

One noble, full of bravado, ignored Liese’s warning and took a step forward. Just then, one ice spear shot down like a bullet and narrowly missed his nose. Though only a scratch, it was enough to break his unfounded courage. No one else dared to make a move.

“I deliberately missed that last one… But if anyone moves again, I will skewer them through the skull without hesitation.”

Liese’s beautiful face, combined with her cold tone, now looked as terrifying as an ice statue.

“The traitors have already revealed themselves without meaning to. This saves me trouble… Knights, enter! Arrest the nobles who have rebelled!”

As Liese smiled, it was not the gentle smile she often gave me, but one that looked like a predator preparing to devour its prey. The Chancellor, finally realizing the futility of resistance, slumped his shoulders in defeat.