Reborn as a Leader: King's Debauchery, SSS-Yandere Harem and Evolution-Chapter 44 - A Fabricated Story

’!?’

"N-no, Lady Vulpine, I did not share any misinformation," the man in the rabbit mask stammered, slowly standing as he understood the potential consequences of the incorrect information he had relayed to the main branch about the king of the Vendreat Kingdom.

He was visibly shocked to discover that the king was aware of the highly confidential details he had himself been unaware of.

The king’s age seemed to lend an extraordinary accuracy to his reaction, which rendered the masked man’s previous assumptions about both the king and the kingdom utterly worthless.

The realization dawned that since he was the one who had provided the information to the main branch, the repercussions of it being proven false would likely be more than he could bear. Trembling, he rose to his feet, anticipation gnawing at his insides.

"He is correct... I only wanted the Empire to take action against us, that’s all." Akhil, observing the expected reaction from the masked man, seized the moment to assert himself, recognizing that the situation was now tipped in his favor.

He had just suggested that he had intentionally supplied false information, misleading the information guild branch in the Vendreat Kingdom to provoke action from the Empire against them, all while lying low until now.

"...What?" The masked man, who had been trying to clarify his position, turned to Akhil, astonished. It seemed he had unwittingly become a pawn in Akhil’s scheme, designed to manipulate the entire narrative to their advantage.

This meant they could share the false information with their main branch clients, thus watching the Empire move against them.

’Using us?’ Seraphina remained composed, yet she struggled to comprehend how this man was privy to her secrets—secrets she had gone to great lengths to keep hidden. Only the higher authorities within the Information Guild were aware of her true identity.

Typically, members referred to themselves by titles corresponding to their species: rabbits (lagomorphs), foxes (Vulpine), and lions (Leoline), often preceded by ’Lady’ or ’Lord’ depending on their rank.

However, upon hearing how the king had exploited the information guild to circulate false intelligence throughout the kingdom, confusion overwhelmed her. The state of the Vendreat Kingdom was already precarious, and provoking the Empire would be a grave error.

Furthermore, it was disconcerting to realize that he had meticulously calculated each maneuver that led to this very moment, leaving Seraphina feeling bereft of hope for their already shattered kingdom.

Yet here was this king, claiming that he had intentionally allowed his kingdom to fall to such a low point just to provoke the Empire into action.

"Hm," Akhil remarked, observing the heavy silence in the room. He understood that this was his opportunity to secure the allegiance of all three individuals and steer them onto the path he desired. Taking a deep breath, he stood up from his chair and began to weave a story: "It all started when I was around eight years old. At that time, I learned about Lady Astarra, the princess of a duchy within the Empire. She came to this kingdom, which was considered the weakest of them all, to marry my father."

Astarra remained silent, absorbing his words. She had anticipated the chance to assist Lysandric when he asked for her help, knowing that the cunning caretaker of the Information Guild would not be easy to deal with.

Astarra held an advantage in that regard, yet she hadn’t expected this kind-hearted king to possess such a flair for storytelling.

From her observations since yesterday, she had already sensed that there was no genuine kindness in Lysandric; instead, he was quite lecherous.

Still, she hoped that perhaps he would struggle to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the cunning caretaker.

To her surprise, Lysandric had silenced the caretaker with his replies and even detected a hidden presence behind the walls.

From the caretaker’s reaction, Astarra deduced that the masked woman was likely of a higher rank than he was, revealing how little she knew about the Information Guild and even about Lysandric himself.

A visible tension gripped her hands as she processed the implications of what Lysandric was saying.

He claimed to have acted as a benevolent king while intentionally allowing his own kingdom to deteriorate, provoking the Empire to take a stand.

This assertion left Astarra feeling baffled and skeptical. After all, no one could maintain such an elaborate façade for so long.

She recalled her own memories of him as a child, diligently studying and working hard—his efforts didn’t seem to align with the portrayal he was weaving now.

"At the first sight, I got crush on Lady Astarra. Ahem... it’s another matter that she ended up becoming my stepmother," Akhil continued, inserting this revelation into the narrative with a playful yet serious tone.

"Eh?" Astarra’s composure faltered at this unexpected confession. Her eyes widened as she struggled to maintain her poise, the surprise evident in her reaction.

As Seraphina listened intently, hoping to catch a clue or a loophole in his words, she couldn’t shake the conviction that no one could convincingly act for such an extended period.

However, when he spoke of a curse on Lady Astarra, her instinctive glance toward Astarra revealed nothing—she remained composed, only directing her focus back towards Lysandric as if anticipating his further elaboration.

After all, Lady Astarra was known in the Empire for her sharp mind and strategic thinking. It was no wonder her brother had feared her presence; even after banishing her to this remote kingdom under the guise of marriage, he had ensured she was removed from any threat she posed.

"When she arrived here, I hoped to elicit a positive reaction from her, but instead, she showed nothing but contempt and disdain upon learning that I was a crown prince of an impure bloodline," Akhil continued, artfully blending elements of Lysandric’s story while crafting a narrative that would convince Astarra, Seraphina, and particularly the Information Guild, of the king’s supposed intentions to incite a reaction from the Empire.

"...Lady Astarra, do you remember how I always sought your recognition?" He turned towards Astarra, who was still listening in silence, her mind wandering through vivid memories of their past.

She recalled the times he had approached her, each time presenting his latest achievements, only for her to dismiss him based on his bloodline, maintaining a deliberate distance.

"I-I", Astara’s voice faltered as she spoke, her lips parting to reveal the truth that he had indeed been correct but pursed again. Her prejudice against his impure lineage had clouded her judgment, preventing her from recognizing his success.

Hidden under her cloak, her face registered loss as she recalled her previous misjudgments, rooted in her aristocratic lineage and the pride she held for their pure blood.

"It’s fine; I’m not blaming you. After all, I am of an impure bloodline," Akhil said, offering a smile with his eyes closed, intended to evoke a sense of guilt in her. Yet, he didn’t lose sight of his primary objective.

He redirected his attention to Seraphina, who was glancing back and forth between him and Astara, attempting to discern some underlying tension while weighing the situation with a rational mind rather than simply accepting his fabricated tales.

Reading the moment, Akhil further embellished his story, "I once heard from my father that Lady Astara was banished from her family as part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the Empire..."

Seraphina, up until that point, found no flaws in his narrative. It was indeed plausible that the late king, who was no longer alive, could have been privy to the political machinations within the ducal family, particularly as he had been chosen to marry Lady Astara.

Moreover, King Lysandric’s mention of Akhil’s infatuation with Lady Astara seemed credible, given her status as one of the esteemed figures in the aristocracy, even within the Empire.

"So, tell me, Lady Seraphina," Akhil remarked, noting the subtle dip in Seraphina’s posture, as if she were lost in contemplation, his smile barely contained.

He stepped closer, his hands tucked into the pockets of his cloak, prompting her gaze to meet his. "As someone who loves her the most, why wouldn’t I be willing to raze my own kingdom to exact my revenge on the Empire?"