Assassination!

After leaving Phantom, Merlin boarded the carriage and said evenly, "Go to Count Altadin's castle."

The carriage driver did not ask anything, simply brandished the whip and urged the carriage on towards Altadin's manor.

In the carriage, Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly. The current situation was getting more and more strange. In other words, things were becoming clearer as well.

The king, the second prince, the Princess Royal, were now similar to three different legs of a tripod. In fact, the king's influence was not as scary as one would imagine. The power held by the princes and princesses within the royal family was actually fearsome as well. 

As an example, the army that now protected the palace completely was actually in the hands of the second prince and the Princess Royal. The second prince had slightly more authority. Still, by now the Princess Royal had Merlin's support, and the situation might reverse soon.