Age of arrogance novel (machine translated with some grammatical edits)

Chapter 9

Just as Carlisle was about to think of doing something impulsive, the Emperor, as if feeling the prick of his son's murderous gaze, placed a condition.

"It is true that Carlisle has accumulated his status by serving the empire, so if he serves the empire for the next three years and reflects on his arrogant attitude and impresses me, I will reinstate him as crown prince."

Then he mentioned Matthias' name to prove his point that he was indeed serious about this matter.

"In the meantime, I will treat 2nd Prince Matthias as the Crown Prince, and if Carlisle's efforts do not meet my expectations, I will treat Matthias as the Crown Prince."

His gaze turned towards 2nd Prince Matthias.

"Matthias. Don't be mistaken either. You are only 'treated as a crown prince', but you are not a crown prince." The Emperor wanted Matthias to know that if he becomes as arrogant as Carlisle, he can be stripped of his position at any time too.

Matthias obediently knelt down on one knee and bowed his head. The emperor liked that attitude, and a smile briefly flashed across his face, which always had a frown.

Meanwhile, Carlisle's cold gaze was directed not at the Emperor but toward the Empress. She looked worried, but her eyes were filled with triumph as she looked down at Carlisle.

Carlisle looked directly into her eyes and opened his mouth.

"How dare I reject my father's decision? But.........."

It felt like he was reciting a dialogue from a play. All of this felt like a play, nothing felt real. Like the truth didn't matter. Even though he knew, he said what he had to say.

"Your Majesty did not properly investigate what happened that day, and labeled me as unscrupulous and deprived me of the title of crown prince. I am afraid that the person who created this situation is certainly laughing at my father's expense."

"You are trying to deceive me again. All those involved have already been investigated. And everyone confessed that they had conspired because they could not withstand your coercion."

"What did Lionel, who was with me, say?"

"The testimony of your closest associate, Lionel Bailey, will be biased hence invalid. Isn't it obvious?"

He knew it. Carlisle chuckled as he saw his father not deviating from his predictions, not even an inch.

"So, from the beginning, my father had no intention of accepting testimony that was favourable towards me, right?" Carlisle chuckled and laughed even in the tense atmosphere.

"Ahaha! What kind of investigation is that?"

The problem wasn't his stepmother, who regarded him as a thorn in her eyes. The real cause of this situation was his father, who was a coward and a spineless man that he shamelessly sent his young son to battle instead of going himself, and was green with envy of his son's achievements.

'This incident is just an excuse.'

It was clear that the Emperor believed that the Kingdom of Elvenia, which had been a problem for a long time, has already been dealt with. That there would be no war in the southern part of the empire for a while, and the Imperial Knights would be able to stop the monsters by themselves. There was no need for Carlisle in the near future.

"Yes you bastard! You still don't show any signs of reflection! Do you think I'm joking?"

The Emperor was enraged by Carlisle's attitude of laughing as if he had just heard a joke. Then, Carlisle's status will truly be relegated to that of a prince.