Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Not Everything Had Disappeared (2)
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Magic and gathering couldn't match the elves.
Fortification and metallurgy couldn't rival the dwarves.
In combat and hunting, they fell short of even orcs.
Might and wisdom couldn't compare to giants.
Humans were merely one of the countless races inhabiting the world.
The elves scorned human barbarity, and dwarves mocked the crudeness of their cities.
Orcs hunted humans, and giants trampled their cities.
It was an era when mere survival was a scramble, and being robbed and slain was commonplace.
There were those who put an end to that livestock-like history.
They rallied the scattered humans, united them as one, and led them through the long Great War, ultimately elevating humanity to the dominant race of the continent.
People called them the Five Elector Princes.
Among them was one who severed the neck of the giant king "Eda", bringing a brutal era of plundering to its end.
Sword Marquis of Iron Blood, Agnes Bayern—my former master.
I recalled the battlefield we shared. Her figure leaped vividly to mind: charging fearlessly at hundreds of giant soldiers, each one capable of crushing a city alone or toppling a fortress when ten gathered.
[These shit-like bastards crawling back in thinking they'll scavenge scraps again!]
[You fucking pricks! You think those damn shits will back off just 'cause you're down whining? Quit your bitching and get up—fight till they fuck off!]
Hmm. Even recalling it dirtied my ears.
I halted the reminiscence.
Anyway.
She was a knight without equal, a great commander. Back then, no knight didn't revere her. It was only natural that the surviving knights flocked to her house after the war.
The Sword Marquis of Iron Blood, her mighty knight order, and the forces gathered at House Bayern were enough to make even the other Elector Princes wary.
If a king were to be born, it would come from House Bayern.
That was the mighty Elector House of Bayern.
And the maid before me was her descendant.
"Ha."
It was beyond absurd—enough to induce a headache. Moreover, from her demeanor, she seemed utterly clueless about her ancestor's greatness.
I couldn't even begin to imagine what had happened during the time I was asleep.
"You..."
At that moment, the carriage halted.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the door. Adelia Bayern asked my permission before opening the window.
"Your Highness. We have arrived at our destination."
Kals peeked in from beyond the window and reported.
"Talk about timing."
For a split second, I considered turning back, Ilai be damned. But the hesitation didn't last.
Adelia Bayern was my personal handmaiden. I'd have plenty of time to talk with her later. But not with Ilai. I wouldn't be attending gatherings like this after today.
"Your Highness?"
"Don't worry about it. And you—we'll talk later."
I glanced at Kals, then spoke to Adelia Bayern.
At my words, she nodded with the wide-eyed look of a startled doe. Watching her only soured my mood for no reason.
I stepped out, and Kals looked back and forth between me and Adelia Bayern.
"Your Highness. Did she do something wrong...?"
He asked cautiously.
"Stop asking."
"My apologies, Your Highness."
Kals turned away with an awkward expression.
"I shall lead the way."
The carriage had entered a well-manicured garden. A large building stood not far off, a mansion entirely clad in white.
Soldiers armed with spears and swords lined the surroundings. The crests on their chests marked them as royal guards.
And in the center stood a finely dressed man.
The man knelt with exaggerated flair, his face like a priest receiving a divine revelation—thoroughly off-putting.
"Bernard Ilai of House Ilai greets Prince Idrian Leonberger. Seeing Your Highness so hale fills me with joy."
I quickly scanned him up and down.
"Yet to see the once-mighty figure of Your Highness so slender stirs thoughts of your past hardships, and I cannot help but feel sorrow..."
This wordy bastard was from House Ilai...
Gazing at the plump, golden-haired pretty boy, I immediately invoked my authority. A status window floated in the air.
"Your Highness? Are you still unwell?"
As I stared silently into space, Bernard Ilai feigned concern.
"No. Just... glad I came."
I smiled at him.
"Thanks to you, today's going to be fun."
He blinked in confusion at my smile, then replied in a flattered tone.
"I only hope to live up to expectations. This way, if you please."
He turned to guide me, then glanced back.
"Ah, yes. We've prepared a separate area for Your Highness's knights."
Kals looked to me. I nodded. He looked reluctant but didn't defy the order.
"Let's go."
And so, I separated from the Royal Knights and headed inside.
The mansion's interior was a world apart from the outside.
The clear summer night air was gone, replaced by a strange scent assaulting my nose. Misty smoke wafted from candles lining the corridors, making reality feel distant.
"Your Highness."
Maids passing in the halls bowed to me. Each time, their scantily clad flesh dazzled my eyes.
Are they wearing clothes or not?
A sharp whiff of perfume pierced my nose, leaving me disoriented. Then Bernard Ilai, beside me, spoke in a boastful tone.
"The real fun's inside."
"Yeah, sure."
I mumbled vaguely and pressed on down the corridor. Occasionally, passing firmly shut doors leaked embarrassing noises.
[Ah, don't stop...! If you do...!]
Sounds that inexplicably drew the ear.
"Your Highness?"
My steps had slowed without realizing. Bernard Ilai turned back. His expression seemed to peer into my soul, lips twisted.
"Yeah, let's go."
I followed him down the hall. After a long walk, we reached a fairly large door at the end.
"Here we are."
He grinned and turned the knob, pushing the door open. Through the widening gap, the scene beyond came into view.
Beyond the hazy smoke, naked women appeared. Disheveled men too. Holding wine glasses in one hand and women in the other, or women on both sides. Men and women melted together in ecstasy.
What a total shitshow.
Seeing them revel without even noticing the newcomer furrowed my brow.
"You lot! Don't you know who just arrived? Get up!"
Bernard Ilai shouted belatedly, though his tone lacked any real reproach.
"Who?"
"New member?"
Men with glazed eyes tilted their heads at me. They clearly couldn't connect the former fat wastrel with my current self.
"New member? It's Prince Idrian Leonberger!"
At that, their eyes widened.
"No way! Your Highness! How did you slim down so much? We didn't recognize you!"
"To grace us in such fine fettle brings tears to this humble one's eyes!"
They still clutched their glasses and women.
No etiquette for royalty, no minimal respect for a prince. And no one to call them out.
Ha. So this is how it is.
It perfectly illustrated how the wastrel prince used to mingle with them.
"Your Highness."
The refined noble facade Bernard Ilai wore at first meeting was gone.
"This way."
With the same hazy look as the others, he pulled me to the innermost seat.
Snap.
"Seeing Your Highness so refined makes my heart race—I can hardly contain it."
"My heart's been pounding wildly since earlier."
Women appeared as if waiting, fawning over me.
"Now that Your Highness is here, let's party for real!"
Bernard Ilai raised his glass high and shouted.
**
"So that girl from House Norun hiked up her skirt like it was nothing!"
"Whoa! She's ripe as a cooked meal!"
One corner traded vulgar jokes.
"Man, what a handful."
"Oh, stop teasing."
Another had coquettish nasal whines leaking out.
"Didn't my old man say he dragged me back from the underworld?"
"And? What happened?"
"What do you think? Who else is there to inherit House Balson but me?"
Elsewhere, pointless tales of valor droned on.
And the First Prince watched it all in silence.
Bernard Ilai tilted his head at the prince. By now, he should be drunk on booze and women, out of his mind. Yet he was far too composed.
Maybe because he'd lost weight, his vibe felt different. It nagged at him oddly.
"Hm."
Approaching stealthily, he adopted a stern tone.
"You wench! What are you doing instead of serving His Highness properly?"
The expensive courtesans flashed flirtatious smiles and clung to the prince.
"Back off a bit? This is fine clothing."
"Oh, come on, such a joker."
"Not joking."
He smiled, but his words blurred jest and earnest. The woman glanced awkwardly at Bernard Ilai.
Nod.
At his signal, she slowly withdrew her hand.
"Is something amiss? Shall I dismiss the girls?"
Gauging his mood, he asked. The prince waved it off.
"Nah. Don't mind me—keep doing what you were."
His roguish speech matched the usual First Prince. But Bernard Ilai couldn't just ignore it.
As he tried to reignite the revelry, someone plopped down beside the prince.
"Your Highness, how did you get so refined? Share the secret, won't you?"
It was the son of Baron Balson.
"Think stabbing yourself does it?"
"Hey! You think any knife works? Has to be the royal sword His Highness used!"
Before he could stop them, they swarmed, spouting nonsense. He glanced at the prince's face unbidden. Fortunately, the prince was smiling.
"So if we get that sword, we can be handsome like Your Highness?"
"Your Highness! Lend me that blade too! There's this girl I'm chasing, but she won't budge."
The members bantered and joked as always, passing drinks. Yet for some reason, Bernard Ilai's heart kept shrinking.
"Oh yeah. Heard you plucked the flower of Iron Lion Castle?"
That feeling intensified when Balson's son brought up Arwen Kirguyen.
"I've had my eye on her forever. Should've made her swear to me first. Even in armor she was stunning—what's she like underneath..."
"Hey."
A low voice cut through the filth. The prince's.
"Balson or whatever. You."
Bernard Ilai felt doused in ice water, scrutinizing the prince's face. He was still smiling.
"Got any little brothers or sisters?"
"Forgot already? I've got one sibling."
"Good."
The prince gripped his glass.
"Your line won't die out."
"Y-Your Highness? What do you... Ack!"
Balson's eldest clutched his mouth and writhed on the floor.
"From now on, your sibling inherits the house."
The prince set down the bloodied glass and rose, grabbing an upturned wine bottle.