The First Gift (1)

I didn't even hope for spotless integrity. Diligence and sincerity? Honestly, I felt it was hard to expect that. The center was rotten from the top, so expecting the provinces to be pristine was an utterly absurd difficulty level.

But at the very least, I figured they'd commit corruption within reasonable bounds—upholding basic human decency. However.

'The fact that no one did...'

Did they all take classes together or something?

'No, they actually did learn it together, didn't they? The Eastern Alliance.'

They all acted exactly the same. Operating under the delusion that the Empire would remain eternally strong, so they could get away with anything.

They'd sold off everything except their immediate inner circles. Converted it all to cash for luxuries, gourmet feasts, and top-shelf liquor.

If something was trending in the Maselin Kingdom, Kailen would personally step up for group buys.

'Group buys... even group buys, huh. A real SNS influencer.'

Mirne really wasn't your average person. Being a 21st-century modern reincarnator, she'd already spread the gospel of group purchases through romance fantasies. Her marketing was so spot-on that every Eastern Alliance noble I met clutched Maselin-bought accessories.

Piiiing.

Something like a top shot from my finger and started spinning.

"O-oh... Oooh... Spinning this jeweled plate makes my mind go blissfully blank!"

Arbeda gawked like a caveman discovering fire, eyes wide.

I recognized it instantly.

"...Fidget spinner."

The fidget spinner—that short-lived global craze from back in the day. Now it spun busily in the dragon's palm, captivating her gaze.

"Is this called a fidget spinner?"

"That's right."

One reason the Empire's treasury was hemorrhaging in real time.

'Jeweled fidget spinners being a culprit.'

What a laughable tale.

'I'll crank out tons more of these soon.'

It was even funnier that impoverished, feeble Maselin had suddenly started manufacturing and hawking them. Sure, if it was trending, production and distribution would cost money.

'So where'd that money come from?'

The answer was already crystal clear.

Obviously, the Empire had footed the bill. They used Empire funds to produce this crap, then sold it right back to the Empire—an utterly preposterous scam.

Or hell, if they were making it with our money, shouldn't they just hand it over for free? No one raised a peep throughout the whole pipeline.

Because the one at the very top—who should've been calling it out—Kailen, voiced zero complaints.

"Haha."

Seeing the entire scheme so neatly documented? My adrenaline spiked, surging through my skull and body.

For a case like this, intel should've reached the imperial center. Yet somehow, they'd buried it among themselves.

I only uncovered the documents after trekking to territories near the Eastern capital, Marina Polis.

"Using aid money for business ventures... Yeah, later peddling mala tang, tanghulu, and whatnot."

Why did the Maselin Kingdom get endless support from all the male leads yet always cry broke? Felt like I'd cracked the code.

'You were gearing up for business, huh.'

No need for real nation-building investments. Why? The Empire had built all their bridges for free, like a grandma endlessly spoiling her half-starved grandson.

Handing out cash nonstop to a foreign kingdom without realizing the Empire was crumbling.

'Thanks to that, I've got a five-year death sentence.'

Thanks a bunch, Mirne. We'll meet again soon, I vowed inwardly.

With that, I slipped quietly into Marina Polis.

This place at least met the bare minimum—they pretended to check entrants' identities.

Though a single silver coin got your wagon past without even peeking inside.

"...Feeling like even pretending to check counts as progress now? How abysmally low is the Eastern baseline?"

Sighing at the Eastern average amid my lamentations.

"Your Highness, are we truly infiltrating this time?"

Arbeda's words reminded me—I'd resolved to do a real infiltration.

"Yeah, we are."

Before, when raiding Eastern Alliance nobles, I'd tried some stealth to scout surroundings first.

But my hyper-honed body always zeroed in on noble faces through windows.

Irresistible rage would hit before any proper recon, and I'd wipe them out on impulse.

So this time, I swore to hold back, actually wander Marina Polis a bit.

Eavesdrop on street chatter, gauge market rumors, that sort of thing.

"This humble one shall prepare an illusion spell."

"Do it."

The very moment we sneaked in to tour Marina Polis incognito.

Whoosh.

My exquisitely trained body instinctively locked onto Kailen again.

Despite the vast distance, there he was—smirking leisurely against the sea backdrop.

No need to question if it was him. His vibe stood out from the milling crowds.

Handsome at a glance, blue hair, refreshing aura. The epitome of the Eastern Grand Duke ruling the seas.

"Ah."

Seeing him ignited that uncontrollable fury.

While I'd been scrubbing corruption from the center to the East.

This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guy lounged around, laughing, fiddling with artifacts and fidget spinners.

Was this fair? Did I really need to scout Marina Polis after this?

My thoughts halted there.

"Your Highness, heading straight there?"

I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already mid-leap, sky-high.

No worries about detection—Arbeda would cover everything.

Maybe having a dragon, pinnacle of magic, made me bolder. I charged the ducal palace without restraint.

Honestly, I had a ton to say, and the scene I'd imagined was far more civil.

Hail Kailen politely, grill him thoroughly.

Check novel progress, do a light pre-cleanup dust-off.

But.

Crack!

Snapping to, my knee was buried in Kailen's jaw.

"Guhk!"

The satisfying impact rang in my ears.

"Meeting you like this is truly a pleasure."

I gazed down calmly at Kailen, blood trickling from his mouth, and continued.

"After personally cleaning the East from top to bottom, I've realized you're the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one rotting it."

Screw decorum or face—I just wanted to unload freely. Your good days are over.

++++++

Kailen was definitely a capture target male lead, through and through.

"You were supposed to send tribute to the imperial center, yet you didn't... Why divert it to Maselin? Reports claimed it would strengthen the East, no?"

"Th-that's..."

Despite a jaw-shattering kick, he answered coherently enough.

Problem was, his body and mind capable of coherent answers were separate issues.

"Your Highness, I can explain. Please allow me to speak—"

His retainer tried to interject.

"Arbeda."

"This lowly one shall handle the insolence."

Thud!

I shut that down instantly.

Daring to butt into a crown prince and grand duke's conversation without permission? A perfect gauge of how broken the Eastern hierarchy was.

"Guhk... Guhheeeuk..."

Ignoring the retainer slowly crushing into the floor.

I fixed my gaze back on Kailen.

"Why aren't you answering?"

"It's just..."

"Is Maselin the East to you, Grand Duke?"

Obvious he'd shipped it to Maselin, yet he dodged proper answers.

Terror? No way. Not fragile enough to cower from one chin shot.

Yet he kept stalling.

"Don't tell me you're holding back to spare Maselin fallout? While ignoring the Empire's damage?"

Proof he was thinking something entirely else.

"H-how could there be damage to the Empire? Short-term losses maybe, but long-term..."

His pufferfish-like puff-up and outburst drew a hollow laugh from me.

"Ha! So even now, you're fretting over a foreign nation?"

"How is it foreign? Once we forge close ties and marry..."

Discussing marriage to Mirne now?

"Why do the Second Prince and you sell out the nation for love?"

Just win her over on your own merits.

Why keep hawking the country for a crush?

Scariest part: zero guilt. Empire money was "public funds," so who cares?

Ask how they'd recoup the cash funneled to Maselin?

'It's the country we'll marry into—it's basically ours anyway. What?'

Ridiculous answers that were absurdly funny.

One silver lining here:

"No need for more talk. I hereby strip Grand Duke Kailen of his title."

Strong enough imperial authority to revoke it on the spot, no procedures.

Normally, I'd dissect every misdeed first. But his traitor talk was crime enough—no need to dig.

"Furthermore, I revoke Kailen Marin's heart method."

Killing him would've been rash rage-venting.

If death ended it, I'd have offed the Second Prince ages ago.

'Need his parents to rule the East again.'

How many fathers would pledge loyalty after their son died by Empire hands?

Word was former Grand Duke Jabairen doted on him.

Better to neuter his power and status to civilian levels than kill.

"Kailen Marin, you're barred from imperial affairs henceforth. You'll amass no more martial power."

Strip the title, cripple mana use, normalize the East swiftly, then...

'Exile this useless lump to Maselin Kingdom.'

Would Mirne love a penniless, powerless ex-grand duke the same?

I was dying to see her reaction.

'But why's he so quiet?'

My gaze stayed locked on Kailen amid the curiosity.

He'd yammer endlessly about Mirne.

Yet on his own punishment? Silent, just staring back.

If—and just if—Kailen rebelled here.

'Kill him.'

Can't spare a bared fang at the crown prince. Hierarchy issue before any normalization.

What would he say?

'No clue why he's dragging this out.'

Better waste his heart method first. Signaling Arbeda—

"Unjust! Unfair! Your Highness, you know the fire of love! Can't you grasp this sea-fresh heart of mine!? Trust me, please! Help me keep ties with Maselin strong—this is true loyalty to the Empire!"

Kailen pounded his chest, eyes bulging, spilling it out.

"...."

I gawked at him, stunned.

What the hell was this guy saying?

Right as his title's revoked and heart method crippled?

'So the crown prince just smiled through these clowns rampaging?'

No wonder he got called a pushover.

And Kailen kept going.

"But bro, you're pranking, right? Dropping in like this outta nowhere? I played along with the theater, knee hurt though... Hehe, want a snack?"

Shock value nonstop.

Even banmal-skipping Arbeda gaped.

The retainer, mid-scream under pressure, blankly stared.

Kailen acted like it was all WWE smackdown.

Shrugging with "playtime's over" blue eyes.

This fool thought the whole ordeal was a skit, a joke.

Thwack.

The instant he finished, I launched.

No talking this out.

"Arbeda."

"Yes, Your Highness."

She clocked her role immediately. Black pupils slit vertical, opalescent shimmer.

Instantly, magic bound Kailen.

"Wh-what, bro, prince bro?"

Still "prince bro"-ing?

'You're beyond saving.'

Whoosh.

Golden flame flickered at my fingertip.

Stab!

Straight into his mana-core dantian.

Crackle-crunch!

"Gaaarghhhh!!!"

How much of a joke did he take this? How lightly the crown prince?

Even hearing "heart method revoked," no defenses up.

Utterly off-guard—zero mana stirring amid the shattering.

"Guheeeuk!"

Mana draining in a flash. Agony worse than nerves aflame racking his body.

'Incompetent allies are deadlier than enemies.'

Spot on.

And indeed.

Shattering Kailen's dantian dropped doom probability by 10% instantly.

Changed my mind. Was gonna leave him till East stabilized.

'Exile this trash abroad now.'

Mirne, now I can send you your first gift.

Powerless, love-struck ex-Grand Duke (no funds).

Empire used him long—your turn. Bet he'll taste great.