The Potbellied King and the Sly Old Fox

My guy, the king, is a potbellied middle-aged man. The Court Chamberlain is a scrawny old geezer.

"Hahaha!"

"Heh heh heh."

They don't look a thing alike, but they sure get along. Not even a proper feast—just a few simple snacks and some grape wine—and they're having the time of their lives. But as far as Ballarnyar knew, the king wasn't the funny type. He had no reason to hone his wit in the first place. So this cheerful vibe must be all thanks to the Court Chamberlain. That sly fox of a man. Ballarnyar couldn't stand the snake-like old coot. But he wasn't the only one hiding a fox in his bosom.

"Wow, how long's it been, Court Chamberlain? I was just thinking of dropping by."

"Exchanging letters with you now and then is bragging rights enough for an ignorant brute like me. Did you get the gift I sent last time?"

The golden cabinet—that bribe. Asking right in front of the king if he'd taken the payoff.

"Oh, that? Such a fine piece. Felt too good for the likes of me, so I just put it on display at the school."

"Heh heh, that's even better news."

Ballarnyar deflected smoothly. It was something like the Tai Chi those Eastern sages practiced.

"What're you two yapping about?"

The king just blinked in confusion between them. The headmaster quickly changed the subject.

"Your Majesty, check this out."

"Oho!"

"Fifty-year single malt. Wasn't easy to get."

"Ah, damn, what a shame."

The king, who loved his booze, just smacked his lips at the whiskey for once.

"The Court Chamberlain brought some killer wine today..."

"Heh heh heh, Garnay from the Empire's Sangtal region."

A massive magnum bottle in the Court Chamberlain's hand. Fine domaine wine even Empire nobles coveted. Probably rarer than the gnome whiskey Ballarnyar brought. But he plopped down next to the king with a hearty laugh.

"We can polish off the wine and do another round after."

"R-right you are. Hahaha."

Ballarnyar kept the chat flowing with shameless ease. The drinks made a round. Even the booze-loving king was flushing with a buzz. The gnome Ballarnyar, who held his liquor like a champ, was fine as ever. But the elderly, ordinary human Court Chamberlain looked suspiciously steady too. Ballarnyar clicked his tongue.

He had a lot he wanted to probe the king about today. Especially the princes. But with the Court Chamberlain here, it was tricky.

...Screw it, no more tiptoeing.

"Your Majesty, why'd you suddenly enroll Prince Philly?"

"Huh?"

He glanced slyly at the Court Chamberlain as he asked. He was probably the one pushing it. But the old fox didn't flinch, just grinned benignly.

"Oh, that? The kid needs to get his act together. Can't have him slacking around the palace forever."

Lies. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The king and the princes' relationship was nothing like a normal father and sons. Princes all carried the potential to be future kings. No fool of a king would ignore weeding them out early. Succession rights had to be locked down firm—or balanced through ruthless political calculus. King Benjamin wasn't a fool. He'd chosen the latter: pitting the first and second princes against each other to secure his throne.

But now, out of nowhere, the third prince gets personally enrolled at Emerald School. The first prince was a graduate, the second still attending. Too big a stone to toss just to tighten up the lax palace air. And the third prince's backing was no slouch compared to his brothers.

"Too many people won't like it."

"Damn mood-killer. Do I have to watch the Empire's mood and our nobles'?"

The king grumbled.

"Heard the Empire's sending another envoy. Can't stand the thought of grinning like an idiot in front of 'em—my face is already twitching."

"Hahaha..."

Uh-oh, he was getting irritated. The headmaster cut in bluntly.

"Then, should I 'diligently' teach Prince Philly too? I'm just a guy who only knows teaching and research."

Diligently. Code for: treat him as a succession contender?

The king didn't answer right away. As Ballarnyar waited patiently, that pesky Court Chamberlain butted in again.

"Does the headmaster need to micromanage every student? You're busy enough with school affairs."

"Can't treat a prince like any old student."

"Emerald School's spirit covers that, haha."

Invoking the school's spirit right in front of the headmaster. The Court Chamberlain added meaningfully,

"Besides, the third prince already has a fine professor assigned."

"Fine professor?"

The king perked up.

"Obern Grimoire—that prodigy who made waves in the Empire for his genius."

"There's a talent like that?!"

"You spotted his gifts and hired him on the spot as professor. Friend of mine too, and he's now the prince's dedicated tutor."

"Good, that's good, heh heh."

The Court Chamberlain name-dropped Obern outright. Flaunting his influence? A lesser man might think so. But the shrewd gnome caught a tiny slip in that instant.

Ah, maybe.

The Obern Ballarnyar knew was no pushover. He still hadn't grasped the man's full depths. If he hadn't heard about the recent school incident, even Ballarnyar might've pegged Obern as the Court Chamberlain's lackey...

Obern Grimoire's no mere hunting dog for the Court Chamberlain.

Not some disposable pawn. Otherwise, he wouldn't bring it up in front of the king. That's not the Court Chamberlain's style. But now the headmaster had caught on.

Ballarnyar grinned.

"Yes, so I personally assigned Professor Obern to the prince. He reported 'directly' to me last time— the more I learn, the more impressive he is. Says Prince Philly's opened right up to him... So this time, gonna buy that friend of mine—er, the professor—a good drink."

"They get along well, huh."

"Indeed. We're both walking the path of magic, after all. Mages just click..."

Ballarnyar glanced at the Court Chamberlain.

Heh, gotcha.

For the first time, the old fox faltered. His eyebrow twitched ever so slightly in annoyance.

Thus, an invisible power play unfolded at the king's drinking party.

That's me. You ain't the only prince—I'm one too.

Obern Grimoire's lab. For a newbie prof, he scored a pretty spacious one. Roomy enough for Amaen, Lania Grayrim, and Prince Philly without crowding.

And right in front of me, the three struck horse-riding stances. Mashup of "side-by-side forward" and "invisible chair." Why? Lania sharing her fitness routine with pals.

"Straighten up."

Obern snapped coldly. Truth was, I'd drilled him on fitness before they arrived. Fresh off panting and sweating, now playing cool instructor.

"Stamina's the foundation of everything. Even magic training starts with it."

Brazen as hell. Well played, Obern.

Lania looked fine, but Amaen and Philly were melting like wax.

Everyone's got different stamina—and grit. Philly's grit hit zero first.

"Argh, can't anymore! Kill me!"

Flops flat. Obern glances at me.

Right, my turn.

"Saa aak!" (Then die.)

I roared fiercely.

"Eek!"

Philly sprang up reflexively. Perfect. Learning fast.

"Sasaak!"

Back to horse stance. Once stamina's drained, train mana next. Not my whim—Pellelian's mana method. Extreme fatigue eases true meditation.

Philly groaned back into position. I climbed his shoulder. He freaked at first, but used to it now—no reaction.

Crown of Connection leveled up. And lately, my bond with Philly changed. After the disciple rite, formal master-disciple.

The Crown acknowledged it.

Reason for sharing Mana Detection? Turns out it's no common skill—rare even. Mostly innate for mana-affine beasts or races. Human versions are spells. Mine uses senses—different league. Lending it to kids yields fun results.

Feel the mana in you?

Yes... I do.

They sense their own mana vividly. Great for magic practice, mana handling.

I taught mana control step-by-step. Then—

Knock knock.

Careless, bold knock.

"It's the Court Chamberlain."

And that unexpected guest.

Didn't wait—flung the door open!

"Coming in."

Luckily, I sprang up quick, climbed Obern's hand. That rude bastard!

"Guests already... Huh."

He eyed Obern and the horse-stanced prince alternately. Rubbed his eyes like he couldn't believe it.

"Heh, heh heh heh!"

Beamed at Obern like a fool.

What's his deal?