Rosie's Games

Chapter 127: Planting the Seeds 5

"There is no need to worry about the organization," Mr. Pratt said. "All you need to think about is your legs."

"You— Do you understand what you are saying right now?"

"I do. The organization will stand with Miss Lin and… if the Duke chose to support us, we will do our best to support the Duke in his future endeavors too."

The Duke frowned.

"I understand the Duke's hesitation." Mr. Pratt said. "But the Empire has changed. Everything is slowly changing. The Blessed ones have become… different. They are no longer the people who promised to help the people. Don't you think this is what the Goddess wanted?"

The Duke said nothing. And for a moment, the two men inside the room maintained their silence, each having their own thoughts.

"The rumor about the disease… is it true?"

"Disease?" Mr. Pratt lifted an eyebrow.

"The one that was from the slaves from the south."

"Ah… and here I thought his Blessedness did a decent job at hiding it."

"Are you trying to tell me that this is true?"

"Yes. There is indeed a mysterious disease that is slowly spreading through the Empire."

"And? Why would they hide it? What is their plan? Are you working with them to create more profits? Are you trying to create a villain to have a hero?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot answer your questions, your Grace. Only his Majesty the Emperor and his Blessedness Federico could answer them."

...…

THE ASTER EMPIRE

PALACE of the EMPEROR

"I just received reports from the other Empires, and not one of them included the mysterious disease," His Majesty Emperor Nicholaus Goosebourne looked at the man sitting opposite him. "Are you certain that hiding this matter from the populace will help us out?"

"Your Majesty, this disease… is something that we can easily get rid of," Federico said, confidence laced his voice. 'There is no need for you to worry about it. All you need is to mind the affairs inside the Empire."

"Your Blessedness, I do not want any mistakes this time. The Aster Empire needs to come out as the victor. We cannot make careless mishaps."

"I understand, Your Majesty." Federico laughed. Not long after, he excused himself and went to see his son.

"Are you still thinking about the matters in the house?" Federico narrowed his eyes at his son who seemed to have become older than him after just a few days.

He made sure that the door behind him was locked before he added, "You, the next ruler of this Empire cannot even manage his house? How can you manage an Empire?"

"Father— "

"The Future Crown Prince is sick and stupid. The other Princes are all incapable of ruling this Empire. It is time for the light to shine. You knew that," He sat opposite to Martin Lux. "And yet here you are… worrying about pacifying your wife. What a weakling."

"Father, this is not just a simple matter. Dorothy has been infected with the curse."

josei

"Dorothy is not the Blessed one."

"She is still my daughter."

"Soon, she will not be your only child. You will have plenty. There is no need to think about someone who does not even qualify to receive the Blessing from the Goddess."

"Father, you— "

"I asked the people from the black market to kill the slaves."

"What?"

"I wanted no traces of those people. Meanwhile, the prison guards that have been infected with the disease will be sent to the other Empires."

"Father, you are creating a pandemic?"

"The disease came just in time when we needed to show this continent that we are still the most powerful Blessed family." Federico eyes narrowed. "And I do not appreciate your tone. I am not trying to create a pandemic, I am trying to save everyone."

"You— " Martin was left speechless at his father's nonchalant words. How could someone who was planning to murder millions say something like that? But then again…, Martin chose not to say anything.

"You are looking at me as if I am a monster," Federico said. "When all I want is to save our family."

"Save our family?"

"The war has passed. The Dark Lord has been gone for hundreds of years. Isn't it time that we do something about the current power dynamics in this continent?"

"Father, I think we need to think things through thoroughly. We cannot act hastily. Moreover, I have heard that the curse— "

"There is no curse. It was a disease."

"But you cannot heal them."

"That is because of my age. However, you are a different story. You have the capability to heal them."

"I have never seen a 'disease' like that."

"Does that matter?" Federico said. "We have been Blessed by the Goddess. It is only right that everyone in this continent would recognize us as its healers!"

Martin frowned. He did not know when this started or how his father became like this. He did not understand why the man would suddenly want to have more of what they currently had now. But looking back, he understood that his father always had the tendency to think like this. For some reason, Federico had an obsession with power.

The man would not have tried to study his own body if he did not want to become even more powerful.

Sadly, Martin could not do anything about it. Federico was still his father.

"Ah…. As expected. Having this conversation with you would end up the same way." Federico shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder why I was blessed with a cowardly son who had no dream and refused to adjust to the new reality."

"New reality?"

"The new reality is that we… the Blessed ones should be treated as Kings and Queens. The Goddess gave us everything that we needed to rule these lands, yet, the Kings and Queens refuse to acknowledge that. But soon… that will change," Federico uttered. "Soon, everything will change."

Martin had a troubled look on his face. He could not help but wonder what changes his father was talking about.