Ivan woke up, clutching his head as he opened his eyes. His consciousness emerged hazily along with a throbbing headache.
It felt like a hangover after a night of drinking. But remarkably for this era, Ivan was someone who rarely drank alcohol. Therefore, he shouldn't be experiencing a hangover.
He pushed aside the soft velvet blanket and sat up in bed.
"What...?"
Velvet blanket? Bed?
Ivan's thoughts plummeted rapidly. He couldn't possibly be waking up in such a bed. He only slept on the sofa in the director's office. (Enrique had been furious when she saw that.)
The more confused he became, the more he needed to slow down. He carefully raised himself and surveyed his surroundings. This caution was ingrained through years of training.
People overwhelmed by confusion in unfamiliar environments tend to make mistakes or misjudgments. With feigned composure, Ivan tried hard to recall how he had arrived at this place.
"..."
Luxurious gold-embossed fabric wallpaper, brilliant tapestries hanging on the walls, a massive wooden table, and clothes scattered across the floor.
A red plush carpet on the floor and a velvet blanket gently billowing on the bed.
And at the end of it, a silhouette lying turned away.
A woman. Curled up, approximately 160cm tall. Slender build. It was difficult to gather more information as she was wrapped in blankets.
"Hmm."
He examined his own condition. Half-naked, wearing only light cotton pants with his upper body bare.
After checking, it seemed he hadn't done anything "improper." This was both reassuring and suspicious.
But this situation, judging comprehensively...
Succubus.
Yes, those mosquito-like creatures that invade dreams, forcibly unleash unwanted desires, and drain magical and physical energy.
It must be them. Naturally. Ivan had encountered those mosquitoes multiple times during operations escorting the Hero Party near the Demon King's castle.
Where had he encountered them? Last night's memories were hazy. Surely...
"Ugh..."
The headache struck again. It was clearly the kind that interfered with memory. Ivan shook his head and carefully stood up, moving toward his coat.
As he reached into the sleeve of his coat on the floor, there was a clatter. He grasped a dagger and a water bottle.
Dreams are fantasies based on reality. Naturally, items carried regularly or routine habits are reflected in dreams as well.
And when it came to routine and being armed, no one was more thorough than Ivan.
He silently removed the knife from his sleeve and rested it on his forearm.
He shouldn't touch the woman lying in bed. If this was a dream created by a succubus, there was no telling what trap might be set.
However, one of the two certain methods to wake from a succubus's dream could be attempted right now.
Either create shock by acting in direct opposition to the dream's intended design, or have a priest use a purification spell.
Since there was no priest beside his sleeping form, he decided to follow the first method.
-Slash.
With a cool pain, his forearm was deeply cut. He quickly looked around, but there was no sign of the dream collapsing.
That's fine. As an agent who had undergone pain desensitization training, a cut on the forearm might not be enough shock to wake him from a succubus's dream.
In that case, he would simply use another method.
"Hah..."
He had sworn never to use this on himself again.
Was it 15 years ago? He remembered being restrained and forcibly "treated" in the unit's infirmary when a spear had pierced his abdomen.
Ivan stared at the water bottle with disgusted eyes, then slowly... very carefully tilted it.
A viscous, terrible red liquid gurgled out. Onto his forearm where blood was flowing freely.
As soon as it touched the wound, there was a hissing sound, and the gash began to close instantly. There was no groan or sigh. His breathing remained regular.
However, lightning-like pain tore through his head. A familiar pain, deeply buried in the recesses of his memory, surged forth.
The healing sensation of a Healing Potion. (That's what he decided to think of it as.)
With a short breath, he straightened the potion and resealed the cap.
With delicate and careful gestures, like sealing an ancient cursed demon in a jar.
The tightly sealed Healing Potion transformed from a conceptual viscous liquid embodying the malice of hell back into a reliable essential armament. He placed the potion bottle in his sleeve and put on his clothes.
"...?"
The dream hadn't shattered despite witnessing all this.
Looking at the dagger again and contemplating whether to slice his forearm once more, a small hypothesis occurred to him.
What if this wasn't a dream...?
Ivan leaned against the massive sofa by the table, pointed his dagger toward the woman lying on the velvet bed, and fell into thought.
Who is that woman, where is this place, and why am I here?
What on earth happened yesterday?
I was definitely searching the school to find the Academy's secret room...
Ep11. St. Yansk University and the Secret Room
Let's rewind time a bit and look at the situation in Pritzenkaya right after rescuing the sons and daughters of the Hero Party.
Elizabeta ultimately declined the throne.
"The royal authority cannot be established before rectifying the national crisis."
"How could I dare claim the royal title when my father the king is still so vigorous?"
After declaring her intention to completely root out the "unidentified foreign enemies" who had created a "fake crown prince" and infiltrated deep into the royal family, she generously opened the national treasury to the people caught in the terrorist attacks.
The important point here is that she opened the "national treasury." Not the princess's personal funds.
In other words, in a way that all nobles could understand, the royal treasury had come under her control.
"The Foreign Minister was kidnapped by the villains."
These villains, surprisingly, kidnapped the crown prince and impersonated him to manipulate the monarchy.
The royal authority was greatly diminished by this unprecedented major incident where the first heir to the throne went missing. Naturally, the intelligence command that should have prevented such an incident should have been in great trouble, but...
"As a royal blood, I deeply regret my responsibility for this situation and will relinquish all my authority in the court."
The matter was resolved when the princess, who also served as the head of the intelligence command, voluntarily stepped down from her position, lamenting that she had failed to protect her own brother.
"Lord, protect Krasilov. The royal family no longer holds secular red robes. The royal blood will serve only as a symbol of national prestige, a lighthouse to overcome national crises."
All those of royal blood stepped down from direct control to become cultural symbols. In other words, the beginning of a constitutional monarchy.
The "divine right of kings" spread by the crown prince became meaningless, at least within Krasilov. The world is evil? Who would you blame? Since it's not a country directly ruled by the king, throw stones at your nobles.
The power that the people look to is now subordinated to the House of Nobles and the high administration.
However, all power comes from military authority, financial power, and information control.
And right now in Pritzenkaya, all three are attributed to one person.
"Your Majesty, please give your command."
"You jest too much. My father is still well, and I no longer involve myself in state affairs, so why do you speak of commands?"
"Hahaha! I apologize, Your Highness!"
Dmitri and Elizabeta were laughing and drinking tea. The east palace's back garden on a summer afternoon after the rain was filled with the warm scent of blooming flower buds.
"How were the old men of the House of Nobles?"
"They all look quite amusing, rolling their eyes. They must be frustrated since they get no response when they try to extend their hands to military affairs."
"Let them suffer a bit more. Perhaps some brave soul among them will draw their sword."
"It will make the pruning easier."
All the guard divisions near Pritzenkaya had already sworn loyalty to the princess, and all information channels directed toward military affairs were controlled by the intelligence command.
It's suspicious enough that the crown prince suddenly disappeared, but equally puzzling is the story that a "fake" crown prince dared to attempt a coup only to fall overnight.
From the nobles' perspective, they must be burning with anxiety. Especially those who had sided with the crown prince.
Naturally, the nobles aren't stupid. Anyone can see that this is merely the beginning of a massive purge.
The princess resigned as court minister? Would the garden she personally cultivated for over ten years betray its master?
The princess abandoned the intelligence command? Since the days of the Annihilation Squad, the princess had been their master. Nobles with common sense don't believe this claim.
It's not even a secret among nobles that both the national treasury and the royal private coffers have been subordinated to the east palace. Because the princess intended it that way.
At this point, with the current king firmly occupying the throne, the princess unilaterally declares a "constitutional monarchy"? Isn't it obvious that she has stripped away and subjugated all the king's authority and power?
In this situation, there's really only one thing the nobles should do.
"Your Highness, Count Yusuf requests an audience."
The princess smirked upon hearing the attendant's words.
"A bold vanguard. The cavalry commander himself has come."
"They must be feeling the heat. I shall take my leave then."
"My, how can a monarch's direct rule be proper without attendants? Stay where you are."
Elizabeta nodded with a smile toward the count entering through the door.
If the House of Nobles directly witnessed a lieutenant colonel in charge of intelligence command operations in Elizabeta's office, they might more easily show a progressive attitude.
Therefore, as soon as Pritzenkaya Cavalry Commander Count Yusuf stepped onto the carpet of the office after opening the door, he knelt and bowed deeply.
"Rise. I'm embarrassed by such formality."
Elizabeta waved her hand with a smiling face.
Krasilov has now become a constitutional monarchy. Thanks to Alexandr's schemes.
The royal blood is now subordinated under the nation's constitution.
However, the constitution, and those who handle it, have submitted to one person.
Krasilov's royal authority has become more solid than at any time since the previous king's era. All the people's complaints will go to the nobles, while the sweet fruits of authority will return only to the royal family. No, to the princess.
Now Pritzenkaya has fallen into Elizabeta's hands.
She would need to bestow favor on all those involved in this affair, but instead, she was thinking of one man.
What should she rightfully do for her woodsman, who had achieved the greatest merit?
Ivan Petrovich, the top contributor who made the princess the behind-the-scenes ruler (a somewhat self-interested assessment), and who successfully protected the children of the Hero Party, thereby preemptively removing international conflict, at that point was...
"Uncle, this really won't do. I can understand the stalking, and I can accept your way of speaking, but this is truly unacceptable. Stop right there!"
He was stealthily moving through the darkness, evading Asidis's eyes as she chased him with a dagger and shaving foam.
In perfect concealment befitting a former member of the Annihilation Squad, he calmly slipped away from Asidis's sight.