Lord of Caldera - Chapter 200

Chapter 200: Chapter 200

How did he know? Only a select few were aware of Rozier’s connection to the Crown Prince. Before Rozier could recover, Sylas continued, his voice ringing with feigned outrage.

“Tell me, how could you possibly do such a thing? To claim imperial authority on behalf of the Prince is a grave crime! Even the Emperor’s own son and heir wouldn’t be exempt from punishment for such an act! He would deserve execution!”

“…”

“So, this is the Emperor’s will, is it? An insult and an attempt to divide the North, sanctioned by the Empire! How could we, the North, continue to serve an Empire that treats us with such contempt?”

With a bang, Sylas slammed his fist against the wall beside him.

“Treason! We shall commit treason! Lords of the North, gather your armies! Send letters across the land! If this is the Emperor’s will, we shall declare independence! A grand war awaits, with countless dead and rivers of blood as we fight the Empire! We shall not stop until every Northman is dead!”

It was a chaotic, reckless speech, hardly rallying anyone’s spirits and more likely to drain them of resolve. No one here would follow such a call for rebellion. Yet, not a single noble dared to laugh at his words.

After all, they could all read between the lines.

‘The Crown Prince used his loyal confidant to falsify imperial orders.’

‘But if the North, believing this to be imperial will, shows signs of rebellion…’

Each noble swallowed nervously, realizing the consequences.

‘The Crown Prince’s head would likely roll.’

Rozier, pale as a ghost, stood trembling, his confidence shattered.

Rozier’s stunned expression was immensely satisfying to Sylas, who felt as if a ten-year weight had lifted from his chest. In his past life, there had been no Platinum Council, and Rozier hadn’t been sent by the Crown Prince. Sylas didn’t know if the Crown Prince had actually forged the Emperor’s command, but he was sure of one thing.

‘How could the Emperor suddenly accuse us of treason?’

The current Emperor was a weak-willed man, one who never raised his voice so long as he was respected, preferring to avoid conflict rather than face its causes. He was the very definition of a complacent ruler. And yet, here they were, with an Inspector pressing treason charges from the start?

‘The Crown Prince must be involved.’

Especially since the Inspector was Rozier, the Crown Prince’s “Viper.” By now, it wasn’t even suspicion but certainty.

“Slander! This is slander!” Rozier exclaimed, panicked.

“Slander? What slander? I’ve said nothing but the Emperor’s true intentions!” Sylas’s retort boomed, leaving Rozier speechless. Sylas hadn’t once mentioned that the orders were forged by the Crown Prince.

Rozier’s face paled as he processed this, and Sylas chuckled inwardly.

‘You’re sweating now, aren’t you, you snake?’

The Emperor was indeed weak and easily dismissed by many, but he had one unbreakable rule: he would not tolerate being manipulated. It hadn’t been too long since the Imperial Palace had last reeked of blood.

Just a few years ago, when Sylas was still living with his grandfather, a beloved imperial concubine had dared to forge the Emperor’s command for a trivial matter related to luxury goods. The noble court had assumed the Emperor would let it slide, as he always sought to avoid scandal. But upon discovering the forgery, the Emperor had exploded.

“Kill her! Kill her! Exterminate her family, down to the last of her bloodline!” he had roared.

The entire Empire, which had underestimated the Emperor, was horrified. Many noble lords tried to convince him to limit the punishment to the concubine herself, but he refused. The once-powerful concubine’s family was eradicated by the imperial guards, and her son was dragged, screaming, to the executioner’s block.

“I am the Emperor! I am the Emperor, not you, not any of you!”

After that incident, the disrespectful jokes once whispered among court nobles vanished entirely.

‘And this snake dares to pull the same trick after witnessing his brother’s execution?’

Sylas understood the Crown Prince’s motivations. The Emperor was sensitive to anyone meddling in his authority but rarely took action himself. So long as they didn’t get caught, the Crown Prince must have felt confident. And without Sylas, they probably would have succeeded.

‘But not this time.’

Now that he’d exposed Rozier’s scheme, there would be no escaping judgment.

Rozier felt as though ice had pierced his spine. His well-honed poker face faltered, and his unease was evident.

‘Stay calm! If I falter now, it’s over!’

With extraordinary mental discipline, he regained control, swallowing his fear. He hadn’t lost yet—damage control was his strength, after all.

“On what grounds…”

“We will rebel!” Sylas’s voice boomed, cutting him off.

“Hold on—”

“Raise the North! This is war!”

“Listen—”

“A great war! The North versus the Empire!”

Every time Rozier opened his mouth, Sylas cut him off with a battle cry. Rozier’s face fell as cold sweat poured down his back.

‘Damn it. Am I really facing my own tactics?’

Rozier had often used this exact technique, interrupting his opponents until they lost their composure. But Sylas was different. He wasn’t merely pressuring Rozier—he was dismantling him.

Thud.

Rozier dropped to his knees, bowing his head. Pride meant nothing now—his survival depended on submission.

“Please, forgive my rudeness. My nature is coarse and arrogant, prone to mistakes. This surely could not have been His Majesty’s pure intention. I must have relayed it poorly. Please, lend me your ear once more,” he pleaded humbly.

His tone, once sharp, was now supremely respectful. Kneeling before them, Rozier embodied a rare display of noble humiliation. Seeing this, some Northern lords softened.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“There could have been a misunderstanding in communication, after all…”

Sylas’s gaze narrowed.

‘He’s adapting quickly.’

To bow one’s head and swallow pride was one thing; to do it so effortlessly was another entirely. Rozier had clearly calculated that one moment of humility would spare him from greater consequences.

‘Not a chance.’

It would have been easy to let this slide. After all, they couldn’t afford an actual war with the Empire. But if Rozier thought a simple apology could settle this, he was mistaken.

“Wake up, lords! Are you really going to let this opportunity for rebellion pass?”