Drinking with the Crown Prince (2)
I sipped the strong whiskey, taking another close look at the crown prince before me.
During the day, he'd glared at me like he wanted to grind me into the paperwork pile, but once the drinking started, Maximilian hadn't so much as mentioned the word "administration."
Instead, the topics he tossed out were all intensely personal and indulgent: rare liquors from across the continent, exotic artworks, tales of fierce beasts hunted in the wilds.
When he asked if I'd ever hunted any bizarre, powerful monsters, I told him about the blue marlin I'd hooked while out fishing.
"—And then the damn thing leaps right onto the deck, swinging that massive jaw of its around. I mean jaw—more like a gigantic bone sword, a deadly weapon no different."
"So what'd you do?"
"Lucky for me, the stupid fish was predictable. Dodged twice, then drew my sword and plunged it right between its eyes."
"Haha... what a heart-pounding hunt. Who knew a mere sea fish could spin such a thrilling yarn."
As the booze settled in, I found myself speaking to the crown prince a touch more casually.
"Your Highness. I have to admit, I was bracing for a heated debate on imperial administration all evening."
"Hahaha! Am I insane? I finally escaped that hellhole of an office—why the hell would I talk work again?"
Maximilian shook his head in genuine disgust.
"The moment I step into this room after hours, my ironclad rule is no politics or work talk whatsoever. Only booze, women, and fun. Nothing else."
"You draw a very clear line between work and rest."
"That's how you survive another mad day of it. Speaking of, just drinking's leaving my mouth a bit idle. We need some snacks."
Maximilian straightened slightly from his lazy recline, flashing a grin.
His purple eyes narrowed like a serpent's.
"Ian. Care to see another rare sight?"
"A rare sight... you say?"
I tilted my head in confusion, and Maximilian snapped his fingers.
Snap—
The massive doors of the audience chamber, sealed tight, swung silently open.
And in walked a naked woman, hands raised high above her head, balancing a large silver fruit tray.
Her skin was blindingly white, her curves flawlessly sculpted like a statue of perfect beauty.
Black hair cascaded past her shoulders, her sharp features shadowed in a decadent, sultry allure.
She's pretty. Another maid?
Unlike the other naked maids in the room, who carried themselves naturally without a hint of shame, this new one's demeanor was entirely different.
Her face burned crimson with humiliation, her slender arms trembling like aspen leaves under the tray, her thighs quivering just the same.
She bit her lower lip so hard it threatened to bleed, head bowed, tears dripping pitifully—a vision of utter pathos.
"Come stand in the center of the room. And don't lower your arms until I say so."
"...Y-yes, Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince."
At Maximilian's icy command, she took her humiliating position in the room's midst.
He eyed her quivering nudity with keen interest, then turned to me.
"Do you know who this girl is?"
"...No clue."
"To the far east of the continent stretches an endless, savage sea. Beyond it lie barren island chains, ruled by a certain kingdom."
Maximilian swirled his whiskey glass, ice clinking, as he continued leisurely.
"Arrogant barbarians from those pathetic isles called themselves 'children of the sun,' dared style their king of a few rocks an emperor. Even sent my father—a previous emperor—this insolent missive: 'The emperor where the sun rises greets the emperor where it sets.'"
"...Fearless fools."
"Right? Blasphemy against the great Empire's imperial house. There's only one emperor. But they had a decent navy. Couldn't crush them outright back then."
"So what happened?"
"We played along. Let the idiots delude themselves into thinking they were our equals and dropped their guard. Meanwhile, the Empire built its navy, amassed power."
Maximilian nodded toward the woman trembling in shame at the room's center.
"Then a few years back, our fleet commander sails east with a massive armada. The island rats thought their 'god's winds' would save them, strutted on the waves—but our commander sank their precious fleet to the seabed. Landed troops, dried up that arrogant clan's bloodline. Burned the kingdom, slaughtered resistors, fed the self-proclaimed royals to the hogs."
"... ."
"And this girl? The sole survivor of that incinerated island kingdom's royalty. The fake emperor's only daughter, last of their line. The navy offered her as spoils to the palace—I claimed her."
I swallowed dryly.
Dragging a nation's princess as war booty, stripping her bare for mockery.
"Thing is, unlike you, this princess has nothing but a pretty face and a soft heart. No talents or value to serve the Empire."
Maximilian's voice turned as chill as a midwinter gale.
"No matter how kind or good, incompetence makes you worthless trash. But kindness aside, beauty like hers makes fine entertainment, doesn't it?"
"......"
"So I stripped her bare, turned her into my nighttime spectacle—a living piece of furniture. A haughty princess punished naked. Better snack than that?"
Maximilian locked eyes with me, whispering in a heavy tone laced with warning—or perhaps approval.
"Ian, you're treated so well here not because you're some prince. Birth means nothing in the Empire. It's your brilliant mind's competence."
"......"
"Remember this. Fail to prove your worth, show incompetence, and you'll end up like her."
"...Naked, waiting on you in your detached palace?"
The booze loosened my tongue into that idiotic question. Maximilian closed his eyes, savoring his drink, then murmured lazily.
"Yes. Exactly."
"Pardon?"
"......Huh?"
A second later, realizing the monumental screw-up, Maximilian's eyes snapped open.
He glanced between my dumbfounded face, the maids eyeing him like a freak, and the princess—tears turning to barely suppressed laughter, cheeks puffed out—before yelling in defense.
"N-no! I meant you'd fall to a pathetic fate like hers, figuratively! Not that I'd want to see some guy's naked ass serving my nights...!"
"...Ah, got it. Well, if you need my body, I'll gladly offer it... j-just give me a moment to prepare my heart..."
"No!! It's not like that! Don't misunderstand! I like women! Beautiful women! Men? No thanks!"
"Your Highness, no need to deny it so vehemently..."
"I said no!!!!!"
The booze-fueled panic sobered him fast. He shot up yelling, then deflated back into his chair, reality crashing in.
"...Time to call it a night. Ian, see yourself out. I'm off to bed."
"Good night, Your Highness."
As the weary crown prince staggered toward the door, I tossed one last jab.
"...If you need my nighttime service—"
"Scram!"
The crown prince slammed the door behind him.