Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The End of the War
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I had barely won the battle for control over my lower brain and was lost in shock as I changed my clothes.
'Did something go wrong when my body was reconstructed?'
One might ask why I was making such a big deal out of just getting a little "excited," but what was the 7th Circle?
It was the realm where one's inner universe—built from personal concepts, knowledge, and consciousness—expanded into the world.
In this stage, where magic activated with mere thought, control over the "unconscious" was more crucial than anything.
You couldn't just sneeze and mutter, "Ugh, my nose itches," only for ice magic to trigger and harm those around you, right?
But I had suddenly gotten "excited"?
It was like an uncontrollable magic staff had suddenly sprung up.
'I think I heard something about my vitality increasing after the war...'
As I pieced together the cause, Jenia entered my room.
"Your Highness~ It's about time to head out."
"Jenia, hold on a moment."
"Yes? Oh?"
I approached Jenia and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Just stay like this for a bit."
"Hehe, what's gotten into our prince? Do you have some worries?"
"No, I just feel like it."
I felt Jenia's warmth, the curves of her body, her scent, but I was still keeping my lower brain in check.
'My body and unconscious are under my control. So, is the problem in the realm beyond consciousness?'
"Your Highneeeess~ We really need to go. I have to reapply my lipstick, you know?"
At Jenia's urging, I decided to set my thoughts aside for now.
"It wasn't a bad taste. Should I have a little taste before we go?"
"Hehe, hold off for now and do it later♥."
Jenia, humming happily, grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
'Alright, I'll extend my meditation time a bit. I can't quite grasp it yet.'
I let myself be dragged along helplessly, resolving to increase my meditation sessions.
The sun had set, and darkness blanketed the night, but the courtyard of the Grand Duchy castle was ablaze with the knights' fervor, forgetting the war's fatigue as they drank and reveled.
Fueled by their energy, the roaring campfire illuminated the knights' faces brightly.
We sat in chairs, drinking, laughing, and chatting, adding to the Grand Duke's festivities.
"I absolutely refuse to accept that the Reverse Cross Cult is below the Black Choir! They have to be Diamond tier at least!"
"No way! We've crushed so many Reverse Cross Cult and Blood Demon Squad guys! Isn't it time they dropped a bit?"
"Hmm... Shall we put it to a majority vote? What do you think, Your Highness and Owen?"
"I say Diamond tier."
"From the investigations this time, the Reverse Cross Cult had a pretty big share. I'll go with Diamond tier too."
"See! As expected of the Apostle!"
"Th-this can't be."
Lancelot stared at us with betrayed eyes, but we ignored him.
So, what were we doing?
"Next up is the Entangled Constellation? Hmm..."
That's right—we were playing a tier list game with all the heretic organizations.
While Owen handled the postwar cleanup, tons of heretic group names came up. The conversation drifted to heretics, and before we knew it, this was happening.
With the mindset of "if we're ranking them, let's do it right," I made one up, and they were having a blast with it.
I was deep into assigning tiers when Owen called me over.
"Liam, could I have a word?"
"Hm? Something just between us?"
"Come with me for a moment."
I followed Owen, who rarely had private matters, and soon we were in the Grand Duke's office.
With questions bubbling up, I asked him.
"What's this about? What happened?"
Owen closed his eyes briefly before opening them and began explaining slowly.
"Do you remember? The two loudmouths in the conference room when we first met?"
I remembered—hell, I'd made an example out of one by chopping him in half.
"Yeah, I remember. Why? Are they gunning for the Grand Duke position?"
Owen shook his head and continued.
"Not that. Their position has improved a lot since the war, so that's fine. This is something else."
As I looked over the documents and analyses Owen brought, my expression darkened.
"...Where is this bastard now?"
"Heard he bolted the moment he got word of the victory."
"Teleportation magic circles?"
"With the war on, the knights managed them tightly—no records or witnesses of use."
"Thanks for the help. This intel compiled today?"
"We were investigating funds from the collateral lines and noticed something off, so we traced it and got this."
"Sigh... We need to find him fast. I've got to get back to the capital soon."
"We'll need your input on that matter too."
"I'll handle that part."
"I'll leave it to you."
I glared at the name on the document.
"Finally home!"
Lancelot spread his arms wide and shouted excitedly as we stood before the teleportation magic circle.
The time since the banquet day had flown by quickly—enough for the soldiers to rest and regroup fully.
"Haa! Finally heading home..."
"You did great, Jenia."
"Haa, I can't wait to go to the capital church and see the kids!"
"Everyone worked hard."
Owen looked at us with a slight smile.
"The Grand Duchy will never forget this favor."
We exchanged glances and grinned.
"What sappy talk? Keep it for later, man!"
"We're the grateful ones. Take good care of our merchant guild from now on?"
"The Grand Duchy church was amazing too!"
Everyone chimed in with their farewells.
I looked at Owen, smiled, and extended my hand.
"See you at the academy."
Owen clasped it firmly and grinned back.
"See you at the academy."
Ella's face darkened at the mention of the academy, but whatever.
With our goodbyes said, we stepped into the teleportation circle and arrived in the capital.
As we opened the door...
-Waaaaah!
-Long live Prince Your Highness!
-Long live the Prince Consort!
-It's the Saintess! So beautiful!
-The heroes!
The moment we exited the teleportation hall, thunderous cheers erupted.
The imperial citizens, high on national pride, chanted our names endlessly. Children scattered flowers, people waved drunkenly in broad daylight, others wiped tears—all welcoming us in their own ways.
The vibrant energy from the mixed cheers brought smiles to our faces.
Watching them, the stars in my inner world seemed to sparkle even brighter.
We rode in an open-top carriage, waving nonstop.
-Long live the Empire!
-Prince Consort, you're so pretty!
-Saintess, bless us!
-Kyaa! I made eye contact with Sir Lancelot!
Veronica beamed innocently and asked me.
"Apostle! Still feeling off?"
I wasn't sure about the complications anymore, but seeing the joyful citizens lifted my spirits.
I smiled at Veronica.
"Nope!"
As I pushed those thoughts aside, the palace gates opened, revealing my family.
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, Mother rushed to me without a care for onlookers.
"My son! My boy! Aaah..."
Mother clung to me, sobbing bitterly.
"I'm home, Mother..."
"You foolish boy... How could you drive such a nail into your mother's heart..."
Serena, who had been watching with decorum, had teary eyes and ran over, hugging me.
"Waaaaah! Oppa!"
"Did my princess behave?"
"Waaah... I'm not a princess... I'm a princess, wah... sob sob."
I chuckled at Serena's honest words, and Andrew shouted.
"I knew you'd pull it off, brother!"
As I stroked the backs of Mother and Serena in my arms for a while, Father was suddenly before me.
His eyes held the gaze of a father seeing his grown son, mixed with complex emotions.
I met Father's eyes squarely.
"I'm home."
Father closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
"Good."
Though his words were few, his emotion-filled eyes spoke volumes without need for more.
Thus ended the family reunion.
The victory banquet was postponed for those yet to arrive and the soldiers still marching diligently.
I sat in a dark room, sipping tea.
The elegant aroma filled my senses, calming my heart and organizing my thoughts.
Oh, and this wasn't my room.
This place was...
-Click!
Light streamed through the cracked open door into the dark room.
It connected the opener and me like a beam.
The difference: she stood with the light behind her, while it grazed me, fully revealing my face.
The one who opened the door hesitated timidly.
Her lips parted, and a meek voice emerged.
"Um... what brings the First Prince here..."
"Have a seat first. I brought a gift since I returned from the expedition."
Her expression questioned, 'What gift between us?' but she sat in the chair before me without lighting the room.
I pulled a preserved head from my subspace and placed it on the table.
A gruesome sight: teeth all yanked out from torture, eyes still open in death.
Her face changed completely upon seeing the corpse, as if she were another person.
The timidness vanished; irritation and arrogance took over.
"Tch, pathetic fool—couldn't even escape properly. Pour me some tea."
Her brazen attitude drew a hollow laugh from me, but unaware it was her end, I levitated a cup and poured her tea.
"Second Consort, you must be tired. Wasn't it hard wearing that mask?"
The consort ignored the informal speech, sipping elegantly before replying.
"Tired? If I couldn't even act that well, how would I survive in the imperial family?"
With her mask off, the consort was utterly cynical.
"So, how'd you track him?"
She answered the genuine question.
"You're not the only one planting spies in my palace. The budget showed steady spending on northern specialties—furs, herbs, timber, cold-weather leathers—but the ledgers didn't match actual quantities."
The consort furrowed her brow.
"Wasn't it four?"
"Six."
She sighed.
"That alone wouldn't suffice, would it?"
I nodded toward the headless torso.
"Tore his place apart and found the ledgers. A few blades to the body, and he spilled everything."
The head belonged to Count Albert Linton, the Grand Duke's uncle and a key collateral figure in business.
"I told him not to keep ledgers, but he caused trouble anyway."
The consort grumbled, taking another sip.
I asked her.
"Did you know heretics were involved?"
She smirked.
"Does that matter now? Yes, I knew—found out a bit late. Your pretext for joining the war was weak, but it worked out perfectly."
"If damage hit the palace after the Grand Duchy, the losses wouldn't be small."
"There's the Tower Master if needed. Treaties be damned—he'd have hauled his heavy ass over. But to think you'd return alive..."
For the first time, bitterness crossed her face.
"Many died. Was the throne that tempting?"
Her eyes widened for the first time, then she burst into laughter.
"Puhahaha! Tempted by power? Isn't that obvious? We invested in the Emperor for that very reason. Heh heh heh!"
I stared at her blankly.
She kept laughing.
"Many died? Heh heh. You weakling—it's hilarious that a naive fool like you is the next Emperor!"
Tears of genuine mirth welled in her eyes, which she wiped away.
"Your father went all lovey-dovey with that Laila wench too! Heh, so soft... No wonder he spared Sophia. Should've tightened the leash if I'd known..."
The consort set down her cup, leaned back, and relaxed.
"Wake up, Prince. An Emperor must love all while being ruthless to all."
She now met my eyes directly.
"If the Emperor is merciful, nobles grow greedy. If unfair, someone rebels. If he bows his head, the people can't look to the heavens."
She spoke like proclaiming truth, with firm resolve, then slumped back in her chair.
"The Empire's future looks bright. So... what now for me?"
I stood and said to the composed woman.
"You'll fall ill and retire for recovery. Despite imperial aid and your family's care, your condition worsens."
She smirked, brushing back her hair.
"Die slowly like that, and drink the medicine dutifully."
"What if I refuse or stab you in the back?"
I answered her question.
"The First Princess, visiting out of worry for the Consort, dies en route to various mishaps—magic beasts, bandits, natural disasters—due to poor preparations."
With her hostage mentioned, she replied.
"Regrettable, but my daughter holds no great value to me, Prince."
I chuckled.
"First time you've snapped after all that talk. Don't worry—if you die cleanly, I'll leave the First Princess be."
Unease flickered across her face for the first time.
Soon, she spoke as if surrendering fully.
"Sigh... I lose. I'll exit gracefully, so let Sophia live better than me."
"I'll send a carriage soon. Get in."
With those final words, I left the room.
Carrying the wounds left by the long war.