Chapter 45
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Kovern Viscountcy
45.
The journey proceeded smoothly.
At first, Lia had been cautious, glancing warily at Eirana's mood, but before long she was brimming with excitement, gazing endlessly at the passing scenery with a carefree expression.
Watching her, Silver Fang asked.
"Master, aren't you going to say something about that?"
Eirana was the type to swiftly punish such behavior during lessons.
'It's not class time right now. Besides, it's a trip.'
She replied through mental communication while absorbed in her book.
A moment later, having turned the final page, Eirana closed the book and lightly rubbed the back of her neck.
To her, this leisurely journey felt somewhat dull.
With the royal guard providing escort, there was zero chance of any issues arising for their group.
After admiring Lia's thrilled demeanor for a short while, Eirana suddenly felt a spark of curiosity and spoke up.
"Come to think of it, what kind of person is the Second Prince?"
"Brother Clobero?"
"Yeah."
Eirana had only ever heard his name; she knew absolutely nothing about Second Prince Clobero.
"What kind of guy is he?"
Her question carried not a shred of the reverence typically afforded to royalty, but Lia didn't mind in the least.
After all, she'd been on the receiving end of Eirana's discipline so many times that such things no longer fazed her.
As Eirana tilted her head inquisitively, Lia hesitated for a moment before responding with a troubled expression, choosing her words carefully.
"Just like the rumors say. Arrogant, a bit loose in his private life, and rather overly ambitious."
It wasn't a flattering assessment.
Watching her, Eirana clicked her tongue inwardly.
Lia had her cheeky side, but at her core, she was a good kid.
If even Lia rated him this poorly, the man had to be seriously problematic.
Eirana mulled over Clobero for a beat before neatly shoving him from her mind and turning her thoughts to what lay ahead.
This outwardly peaceful kingdom was saddled with a ticking time bomb in the form of the Demon King.
Judging by events so far, a clash with Crown Prince Winsor was inevitable.
Which meant their top priority had to be uncovering the culprit who had summoned the Demon King in the first place.
Eirana narrowed her eyes.
She had joined Winsor's service with a light heart at first, but things had escalated to the point where she now had no choice but to forge deep ties with this nation.
'The Demon King's contractor.'
Her brow furrowed faintly at the thought of such a thorny existence.
After departing the capital and traveling steadily for a full day, the group arrived in Viscount Kovern's territory, which bordered the capital directly.
Having received word of a direct royal's visit to his lands, Viscount Kovern had rushed out to the territory's entrance to greet Winsor.
Under the viscount's guidance, they reached the lord's castle, where his entire household—including blood relatives—had turned out to offer the utmost courtesy.
"We'll impose on you for the day."
"It is the honor of our house."
Viscount Kovern—a stout man in his early to mid-forties—bowed deeply with an expression of profound gratitude as he gazed at the smiling Winsor.
His mind was entirely consumed with the desire to make a strong impression on the crown prince this time around.
"This place is modest, but this is my heir."
The viscount introduced a brown-haired young man of similar age to Winsor.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Devin Kovern."
Though visibly tense, he executed a crisp salute, and Winsor responded with a gentle smile and a light handshake.
"Pleased to meet you."
After exchanging greetings with the territory's highest-ranking figures, Winsor turned to Viscount Kovern.
"Viscount Kovern, I hate to ask, but could you show Clobero around the castle?"
He said this with a casual glance toward the carriage carrying the Second Prince.
"You mean the Second Prince?"
The viscount's face took on a puzzled cast.
Winsor gave Devin a wry smile.
"I'd like you to guide me instead."
By protocol, the higher-ranking Viscount Kovern should attend Winsor, while the lower-ranking heir Devin handled Clobero.
But given Clobero's temperament, he was liable to commit some offense if attended by anyone short of top nobility.
As a guest, Winsor had no desire to cause trouble for their host.
The viscount, sensing the consideration, wore an expression of overwhelming gratitude.
Of course, it was laced with exaggeration for effect.
He bowed once more, shot his son a fierce glare loaded with unspoken instructions to make the most of it, then hurried off toward Clobero's carriage.
'Quick on the uptake.'
Winsor smirked inwardly, figuring the man's insight was as sharp as expected of a central noble.
With Devin in tow, he headed for Lia's carriage.
The two men soon stood before the carriage door.
Gazing at it, Devin grew tense all over again.
Just as countless noblewomen dreamed of marrying Winsor, Lia was the object of courtship from innumerable noblemen.
Though only sixteen, she resembled her late queen mother in beauty, and her background was formidable.
Admittedly, families far more prominent than House Kovern vied for her hand, making his odds slim—but they weren't zero for a central noble like him.
That was precisely why Viscount Kovern had signaled his son so emphatically: the presence of Princess Lia.
'A chance to make a good impression on the princess.'
He'd glimpsed her at capital social gatherings a few times, but this was his first opportunity to actually speak with her.
Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Devin mustered a friendly smile.
Clack.
The carriage door swung open, and someone stepped down.
"......"
Devin's jaw dropped unwittingly.
Not just him—everyone nearby let out gasps of admiration.
What first captured the crowd's eyes was the flawless cascade of silver hair.
Along with it came a beauty so captivating it stole the breath away.
Eirana descended first, her face an emotionless mask, and extended her left hand into the carriage.
Lia took it and stepped delicately to the ground with elegant poise.
She then bestowed a gentle smile on those around her.
The picture of a princess straight out of a painting.
Of course, inwardly she was wound tight, desperate not to commit even the slightest error.
Having flawlessly escorted Lia, Eirana stood sentinel behind her, utterly unmoved by the stares.
Devin, speechless for a moment, snapped back to attention.
He turned at the gaze prickling his side.
Winsor was smiling.
As a inexplicable chill ran through him, Lia spoke.
"Brother, who might this be...?"
"Devin Kovern, Princess."
"Ah, the viscount's son."
Lia let out a soft murmur of recognition and flashed a bright smile, lightly lifting the hem of her dress in return.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Lia Willa El Ru Adea."
It was grace and elegance incarnate, without a single flaw.
Eirana's eyes twitched for an instant as she observed.
Her gaze narrowed, shifting elsewhere.
It landed on the Second Prince Clobero's carriage.
A young man in his early twenties had just stepped down—sharing Winsor and Lia's hair color.
Handsome like his brother, but with markedly sharp eyes.
It was Eirana's first time laying eyes on the Second Prince.
Viscount Kovern greeted him with the same formality as before, but Clobero merely looked bored.
As if such fanfare was only natural for royalty.
Ignoring the viscount entirely, Clobero glanced toward Winsor's group—and locked eyes with Eirana.
Spotting her, his eyes went wide.
'Something felt off just now.'
As Eirana frowned and started to look away...
Another figure emerged from the carriage.
A woman.
Impeccably attired in a black formal dress, she was a stunning beauty with rare black hair and eyes.
Her refined features evoked an inexplicable sense of nostalgia, and her gaze intertwined with Eirana's in midair.
The two stared silently at each other.
A moment later, she offered Eirana a soft smile and a slight bow.
With the welcomes concluded, the royals proceeded into the lord's castle.
Eirana handed Lia's protection off to the guards and stepped back a pace when Ross approached, his face puzzled.
"What were you staring at so intently?"
"That woman beside the Second Prince—who is she?"
"Hm? Oh."
Ross's puzzled expression cleared into realization.
"They say she's the Second Prince's lover."
He clicked his tongue as he spoke.
"Daughter of some massive foreign trading conglomerate. She's been spotted with him frequently these past few months."
Arms crossed, he asked.
"But why the sudden interest?"
"Nothing, just a weird vibe."
Eirana shook her head lightly and headed for the castle alongside Ross.
"Where's Auntie?"
"Probably in your room with your luggage."
Ross paused mid-stride to peer steadily at Eirana.
"Why?"
As she looked back quizzically, he shook his head.
"The way you're treating her so casually."
To Ross—a full dragon—Eirana's familial warmth toward the mere half-dragon Silia was a curious sight indeed.
"Is it that strange?"
"Not strange, exactly. Just... didn't expect you two to get this close."
'Close, huh?'
Eirana reflected on her relationship with Silia.
"Well, you've caught the Second Prince's eye, so you'd best stick close to Lia for the time being."
Ross clicked his tongue in warning.
Eirana let out a sigh at that.
"Maybe I really should leave a scar on my cheek or something."
Ross could only stare in disbelief as she murmured to herself, absently stroking her cheek.
In the darkness, a man with ash-gray hair hummed a light tune.
The blue-skinned monstrosity watching him queried in puzzlement.
"You seem to be in high spirits."
"That obvious?"
Kerdic chuckled at the question.
The hulking figure standing rigidly behind him was Kerdic's trusted retainer.
A top-tier demon race member, summoned to the middle realm via the Demon King's authority.
His power had waned considerably, but he was still a monster more than capable of toppling a human kingdom with ease.
"I've come across quite a few amusing things lately."
The demon realm, too, was a world stratified by bloodlines.
Lowly demons scrapped viciously over rank, but Demon King-caliber fiends passed their thrones down through generations.
Though the prior king often perished in the handover, of course.
That was how Kerdic had ascended to the throne himself.
Yet the over 3,000 years since had been an endless parade of tedium for him.
He despised humans as insignificant, which was why he'd responded to the summoning on a whim.
And he'd ended up liking the summoner.
In that context, stumbling upon yet another intriguing discovery made his recent days thoroughly enjoyable.
Rogaus—the giant—asked.
"Might I presume to inquire what schemes you're weaving?"
Kerdic stroked his chin, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Demon Dragon."