I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 33 - Prepared for Mutual Destruction
“Is there something about her?”
It was Cain who suddenly spoke up.
He grabbed the front of his coat and showed the inside fabric to the officer.
“She’s a rookie Saint. If you have something to say, then speak with me.”
When Cain said that, the military police officer widened his eyes.
Then, as if his earlier threatening attitude had been a lie, he bowed deeply and said to Cain:
“I deeply apologize…! I had no idea you were a priest…”
After the military officer left, Cain explained the reason to us.
Just like before, he showed the inside of his coat.
There was embroidery of four white lilies, gathered together.
It was the crest of the Temple.
Seeing that, the military officer hurriedly left the scene—which meant…
In other words, it suggested that the military, which should originally be under the royal family’s control, was already falling into the hands of the Temple.
In the end, we bought sandwiches from a nearby food stall and left the area.
We sat on a bench away from the main street and ate our meal.
Then we headed to the Temple.
Louis and I pulled our hoods over our heads properly and followed behind Cain.
At the entrance of the Temple, a guard called out to us, but Cain smoothed things over, and we were able to enter without any problems.
(So this is… the Temple.)
When was the last time I stepped foot in here?
Back then… yes, it must’ve been before I made my debut in high society.
After debuting in society and becoming a noble leading the Conservative faction, my relationship with the Temple worsened, and I purposely avoided visiting.
To avoid being poisoned, framed, or having bad rumors spread about me.
Although in the end, I couldn’t avoid the latter because one of my maids was bribed.
The Temple was made of marble hallways, and every step echoed with a tapping sound.
I believe not laying carpets was intentional—to easily know who was walking around.
Cain spoke to a nearby priest and asked about Aidan Lips’ whereabouts.
“If you’re looking for Lord Aidan, he’s in the back office. Prince Noah is also there.”
…It looked like we made it just in time.
As we headed for the office, we heard a loud thud—a heavy sound, like a shock.
No way, I thought, eyes wide.
(That sound…!!)
No doubt, it was a gunshot.
Louis, Cain, and I looked at each other, and without knocking, threw open the office door.
“Excuse us!!”
Cain shouted, and Louis and I followed him into the room.
There was a faint smell of gunpowder.
Looking for the person we came to see, we found him immediately.
In the office were two sofas facing each other.
On one of them sat the man we were looking for.
(Noah…!)
He was holding his shoulder.
The reason was clear.
His white military uniform was slowly turning red from the shoulder.
Noah was glaring at the man sitting across from him—Aidan Lips—but startled by our sudden entrance, he quickly turned toward us.
“…So we’re interrupted. I was in the middle of a life-or-death match with my dear nephew. How boring.”
The one who said that with a voice filled with joy was Aidan Lips.
Looking closely, he was laughing while holding his stomach.
A sword hilt was sticking out from his belly.
(We have to treat Noah quickly…)
From the sound earlier, it was definitely a gunshot that rang out in this room. But Aidan Lips didn’t have a gun.
…If that’s the case, then how?
As I glanced around the room, Aidan Lips noticed and frowned.
“What are they? This sudden intrusion—how rude. Luke.”
With those words, Noah seemed convinced that Cain—no, Luke—was with the Temple.
Breathing shallowly, he stared coldly at Cain.
But Aidan Lips looked quite pleased, despite his injury.
“Perfect. Then, you finish it. Kill your own master with your own hand—a classic scene of rebellion. Go on, Luke.”
“…If you kill me, what then? Uncle, even if you take this country, it has no future. It’s not like you to go for such a low-paying job.”
Noah stared at Aidan Lips and said in a challenging tone.
Meanwhile, his white uniform kept turning red. It was probably a deep wound that needed treatment right away.
Aidan Lips should’ve been in a similar condition.
But he laughed as if he were at a party.
“You don’t understand, prince. I want this country. I seek only the fact of becoming its king. And with barren land and starving people, it’s perfect. For politics to go smoothly, oppression is best. You know that too, don’t you?”
“Ha. And then the people will slit your throat in the end, right?”
While holding his shoulder with his left hand, Noah traced his finger across his neck with the other.
Seeing that, Aidan Lips burst into laughter.
“And how many years until that happens? At the very least, I don’t plan on being taken down by foolish peasants. Power is absolute, Noah. You might not understand, but when you crush people with force, it plants fear. The most efficient emotion to control people is fear.”
“…You bastard.”
“For your final words in this world, that’s a bit too pitiful. Let me at least hear your last message to your brother. Don’t worry, that boy will join you soon.”
Aidan Lips said this in a sing-song tone.
We were watching carefully, waiting for the right moment to step in.
In the room were only Noah and Aidan Lips.
Yet, Noah had been shot.
And Aidan Lips didn’t even have a gun.
Is there some kind of trick?
Or maybe—
Just as I thought that, Noah let out a shallow breath and spoke.
“Uncle… You are not fit to wear the crown of Victoire.”
“…What did you say?”
“If you touch it, even a golden crown would rot and turn into a fake. You will destroy it all—Victoire’s pride, this nation’s honor. You’re the true traitor to Victoire.”
“…You…”
Aidan Lips clenched something and lifted it.
In his hand was a small firearm.
(That’s—a gun!?)
But it was way too small.
The muskets used by the Kingdom of Victoire’s military were about five feet long.
I’d never seen such a palm-sized gun before.
Was it made in another country?
Or was it secretly developed? Either way, it wasn’t in Victoire’s official arsenal.
As I widened my eyes, I saw Noah also pull something from inside his jacket.
It was a silver object, shaped much like a fruit—
“No, don’t…!!”
I shouted, and at that moment, Noah hurled his words at Aidan Lips.
“I’ll kill you—and that’s the end! I’ll kill you and bear the crime of royal bloodshed. That’s how I’ll protect this country—I swore it!!”
“Wait, you—!!”
Aidan Lips panicked and started to stand.
At the same time, Noah—he pulled the pin from the grenade.
The silver ring flew through the air.
Right before my wide eyes, Aidan Lips frantically rolled off the sofa—
The next moment, the office was swallowed by a blast and a thunderous sound.