Chapter 243: You Know Why I Called You, Right? (1)
Chapter 243: You Know Why I Called You, Right? (1)
Pride meant nothing now.
The King bowed his head and apologized.
Even though it was a private conversation over a communication crystal, this was an unprecedented move. However…
Prioritize practical interests over face.
When you bow, bow properly.
This was the current King’s creed.
He couldn't afford to do something as foolish as ruining practical gains for the sake of useless vanity or authority. Perhaps it was because the Atronia Kingdom wasn't a superpower that a monarch with such a flexible mindset could emerge.
—Hooo…
Patrick’s voice drifted through the communication device.
What should I do? How should I handle this?
His voice carried the nuance of a man in an overwhelmingly superior position, hesitating between mercy and punishment.
The King was tense.
He had lowered his head. Even if it was strictly confidential, he had swallowed the pride of a nation's monarch to sue for peace with Patrick.
If Patrick didn't take his hand here…
‘That must not happen.’
As the King waited anxiously, Patrick’s voice came through again.
—This is the last time.
“…….”
The King let out a sigh of relief. Patrick continued.
—If Your Majesty betrays my family’s trust again and forces unilateral sacrifice and patience upon us, an independent nation might just spring up within the Atronia Kingdom.
Depending on how one heard it, it was a dangerous statement that could be considered treason. However, the King did not point that out.
‘Thank God. Thank the heavens.’
He was simply relieved.
Having avoided the worst-case scenario, the King took a breath and spoke.
“What do you intend to do with Marquis Panola?”
—Should I hand him over? Or should I just kill him myself?
The King thought for a moment before answering.
“Hand him over, if possible.”
—Ho, you’re looking out for him? That’s unexpected.
“Don’t misunderstand. To resolve this issue, I need a scapegoat to show the public.”
—Ah… I see. If that’s the case, then fine.
Patrick understood immediately.
If Patrick beat Marquis Panola to death, it might satisfy his anger, but there was nothing else to gain. However, if the royal family punished him, the story changed.
By personally punishing Marquis Panola—claiming he misunderstood the royal will and abused his authority—the royal family could publicly signal that this incident was not their intention.
It might seem like a small thing, but accumulating such minor justifications one by one was the job of a politician.
—Understood. I’ll send him over. In exchange, I hope I won’t have any more annoying trouble because of that man.
“I give you my word.”
Marquis Panola was a 6-Star Knight and an important figure with significant influence over the domestic military nobility. However, compared to the Double Dragon, he wasn't even worth putting on the scales.
‘It was about time to clean him out anyway. A focal point that unites the military nobles is too dangerous.’
Thus, Marquis Panola’s fate was decided. But one larger problem remained.
“What do you plan to do about the delegation from the Harbor Kingdom?”
—I’ll handle that myself.
Patrick cut him off firmly. The King nodded.
“I have already granted the Schneider Territory the authority to exercise independent diplomatic rights with external foreign powers.”
—Oh, you remember that well.
It was a right Patrick had obtained by lying down in the Royal Hall and throwing an almighty tantrum. At the time, the King had been extremely reluctant to grant it, but now it actually put him in a better position. He could slip away without having to perform difficult mediation between the Schneider Territory and the Harbor Kingdom.
No, it might even be an opportunity.
Currently, Patrick held the Harbor Kingdom’s weakness and had their prince as a hostage. If that was the case…
“I’m sure you’ll handle it well, but let me know if you need the royal family’s help. Son-in-law.”
If you’re going to fleece the Harbor Kingdom, let us have a spoonful too.
—Hahaha. Why would the royal family need to step in? Just staying neutral is enough.
Ahem, if you try to stick your spoon in where it doesn't belong, your wrist might get snapped.
“Hahaha. Is that so?”
—Hahaha. Indeed.
‘Stingy brat.’
‘What? What? What?’
And so…
The resentment with the royal family was settled for now. They agreed to return Marquis Panola to the royal family, and the matter would conclude with the royal family punishing him directly.
For Patrick, this was an incredibly lenient compromise. However…
“The Harbor Kingdom bastards won't get off so easily.”
“What are you planning?”
At his father’s question, the corner of Patrick’s mouth curled up crookedly.
“That Prince Dawson or whatever his name is dared to kidnap my mother and tried to make my father apologize on his knees, right?”
“…….”
“If I don’t pay this back, I’m not Patrick Schneider. I’ll return it at least a hundredfold.”
The Count felt a sense of unease.
In Count Schneider’s experience, whenever Patrick took things this far, it never ended quietly. This was the son who had gone to war with the Caesar Kingdom all by himself just because he found their behavior annoying.
He couldn't even imagine what Patrick would do to the Harbor Kingdom for daring to touch his family.
Patrick shrugged his shoulders.
“First, please prepare the territory’s knights. I’ll speak to the Orcs and Elves myself. To the Tower of Truth as well. And…”
Patrick scratched his head and added.
“Preparation will take some time. So, before that, I’m going to tidy up my surroundings a bit.”
“Tidy up your surroundings?”
“Yes. There’s something I absolutely must settle.”
As he said this, Patrick’s expression was indescribably subtle.
* * *
Patrick Schneider’s room.
Patrick had summoned three people there. Those summoned were…
April, Isabella, and Elione.
The three greatest beauties of the Schneider Territory were gathered in one place.
And they looked extremely anxious.
April’s eyes were shaking as if an earthquake were happening inside them.
Isabella was muttering to herself, deep in agonizing thought.
Elione was biting her nails nervously.
Why were these three acting like this? The reason became clear the moment Patrick spoke.
“You know why I called you, right?”
At Patrick’s single sentence, all three flinched simultaneously. And then…
“I’m sorry, Young Master.”
“I don’t remember! I really don’t!”
“U-uh… bububub… uh….”
Their reactions were exactly those of people who had been caught red-handed doing something very wrong. Patrick looked at the three of them and said.
“I told you before. I might have been collapsed for a year, but that was just Energy Circulation to manage my Qi Deviation… no, you wouldn't understand it if I put it that way. Anyway, I was conscious.”
“…….”
“……."
“…….”
The three women turned pale.
Patrick continued.
“Naturally, I know that the three of you took turns guarding me at night. And I know exactly what happened then, too.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Now, beyond mere agitation, despair settled on their beautiful faces.
Patrick spoke.
“Let’s start from the mildest version first. April.”
“Ye-Yes!”
April, being called first, answered with the posture of a disciplined recruit. Patrick pressed his hand to his forehead and began his explanation.
“You…”
* * *
<The Case of April>
A perfectly isolated space.
Only Patrick, sleeping soundly, and April were in this room. Even when April expanded her Energy Sense to the maximum, there was no one around.
In other words, they were completely alone.
And Patrick was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
Seeing this, April carefully expressed the feelings she had been desperately suppressing.
“Young… Master. I… I love you.”
Naturally, there was no reply.
However, April was overwhelmed with emotion at having expressed her feelings for the first time.
A feeling she didn't dare allow herself.
A feeling she had suppressed, telling herself to know her place, just as she had once told Isabella.
She had expressed that feeling for the first time. And…
1:00 AM.
“I love you. I really love you.”
5:00 AM.
“I love you more than anyone in the world. More than the whole world. I love you so much I wouldn't trade you for anything.”
7:00 AM.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love…”
There stood April, whispering her love at Patrick’s bedside as if possessed.
And that had continued for the entire year.
The entire year.
* * *
“…April.”
“Are you performing some kind of brainwashing?”
Isabella and Elione stared at April with horrified expressions. Everyone in the Schneider Territory knew how she felt, but still…
“I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Is this some new form of torture?”
“Please… just kill me.”
April covered her face with both hands, unable to lift her head.
Patrick looked at her and sighed. Then he looked at the other two.
“You two have no right to scold April. Didn't I say? That was just the mildest version.”
At those words, the eyes of the other two women shook again.
April peeked up slightly.
‘Just what on earth did they do?’
* * *
<The Case of Isabella Black Atronia>
Isabella stared intently at Patrick’s sleeping face.
“Just how long are you going to sleep?”
Naturally, there was no answer. But she spoke anyway.
“In fairy tales, there’s a set way to wake up a sleeping prince.”
“……”
“It’s worth a shot, right? Nothing to lose.”
“…….”
“I’m not doing this for selfish reasons. This is strictly a method of treatment… and it’s not like it hurts to try. Yeah. Right.”
To whom was she making these excuses when no one was listening?
Regardless, having finished her self-justification, Isabella’s lips gradually lowered. And then…
Mwah.
It was a light kiss.
Naturally, Patrick did not wake up from that. To begin with, breaking a curse with a kiss was just a story from a romantic fairy tale book. So…
“Maybe it’ll break if I do it more passionately.”
Her self-justification intensified.
What followed was…
Mwah, chuuu! Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
“Haa… haaa… You’re still not waking up?”
As expected, fairy tales and reality were…
“I’ll try for longer.”
Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…
I don't even know anymore.
* * *
Patrick looked at Isabella with a look of pity.
“They say the quiet cat is the first to jump on the stove and strike first…”
“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes?”
“Does that even matter right now?”
“…….”
“No, I mean, shouldn't you have done it in moderation? Do you know I almost suffocated to death while being kissed? Like, three times.”
“…You didn't die in the end, did you?”
At Isabella’s excuse, Elione and April rose up in protest.
“Look at the way this Princess talks!”
“That was too much, Princess.”
Even if they were assigned for protection and nursing, how could she do such a thing?
Isabella shrieked back.
“What? What! Can’t I kiss my own fiancé? So what? What are you going to do about it?”
Perhaps because she had the justification of their engagement, she was in a slightly better position.
But the truly serious one wasn't her.
“E~li~o~ne~.”
Patrick spoke while clutching the back of his neck as if his blood pressure were rising just thinking about it.
Elione flinched.
In the gaze Patrick directed at her, there was even a hint of genuine fear.
“You. You… You are really…”
* * *
<The Case of Elione Evergreen>
“Hehe… hehehehe…”
“…….”
“Finally, we’re all alone, aren't we?”
Elione licked her lips and approached Patrick.
She unbuckled the belt at her waist and began taking off her clothes one by one. Soon, her figure clad in flimsy silk lingerie was revealed.
Climbing on top of Patrick in that state, Elione spoke with swirling vortices in her eyes.
“I. Fi. Nal. Ly. Caught. You.”
“…….”
In that instant, goosebumps erupted all over Patrick’s body.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
Begin what?
There wasn't even time to ask.
Elione [Bleeped] Patrick’s [Bleeped], then used her [Bleeped] to [Bleeped] [Bleeped] her own [Bleeped], and then [Bleeped] the [Bleeped] [Bleeped] [Bleeped]…
* * *
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Gazes filled with a mix of fear and horror were showered upon Elione.
April was the first to open her mouth and say one thing.
“Pervert Elf.”
That was it.
Elione flared up in protest.
“What? What, what! I didn't go all the way, did I? I was just testing the waters! I can at least do that much, can’t I?”
“At that point, I think you went further than if you’d just gone all the way!”
“If I didn't go all the way, I didn't go all the way!”
“Super Pervert Elf.”