Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Where Do You Think You're Flirting?
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Steno Kingdom's second prince, Belheim Roseria Steno.
He didn't look human at all.
If the duchy knights hadn't recognized his face, no one would have pegged him as the second prince.
He was leading a refugee horde that had to number at least tens of thousands, every last one of them gripped by terror and etched with exhaustion.
The duke recoiled in shock at the sight of the utterly drained second prince and demanded,
"Prince Belheim, what in the world happened in Steno?"
"Kuh...! A massive monster legion appeared and assaulted the capital."
"The capital? What of His Majesty the King?"
"I don't know! It looked impossible to hold off the monster onslaught, so Father ordered me out ahead to beg aid from Elryad and Arcana!"
Windler: Lord, the incoming refugees number at least several hundred thousand.
Silvret whispered to me.
"Prince, is this another imperial plot?"
"The monsters were just numerous—no individuals strong enough to topple Steno in a heartbeat. Suspicious as hell."
There was no way Steno was purely an innocent victim here.
'I've seen plenty of these sob stories turn out to be self-inflicted karma after dishing out some pity-quest BS.'
"Silvret, remember what I've drilled into you time and again?"
"Yes. That you and Arcana aside, every other kingdom comes packaged with lies and betrayal. I've got it memorized."
"Think back to Pinia's king. Even that kid plays betrayal and schemes like it's nothing."
"Yes, Prince."
Time to reinforce my pretty elf's loyalty training.
'Belheim Roseria Steno. Always playing the victim with his crap quests, skimping on rewards.'
The bastard ends up as Steno's king later on.
Or rather, players make him one.
'I gritted my teeth through his garbage quest rewards, slogged through that endless chain just to crown the prick...'
"The hunt is over—time to boil the dog and eat it! Prepare the pot!"
The psycho actually tried shoving him into a pot!
Of course, that was the finale of Steno's New Sun, bridging to the next chain quest.
Doesn't make the bastard any less of a toxic NPC.
'Might as well siphon some of these refugees to Arcana while we're at it.'
Arcana has everything in abundance except people.
Not lacking relative to land size, but more bodies never hurt.
They might look like a beggar swarm to others, but to me? Pure labor pool.
'Industry needs unlimited population backing to boom.'
「Cheok Jun-kyung, head to the royal castle and brief the prime minister on the situation here. Tell him we need to screen for labor too.」 -Understood. Command received.
Doppelius let out a roar, and the Wyvern Lord flinched skyward before taking flight.
We trailed Doppelius as it veered toward Arcana.
"Son-in-law, what's going on? Why take our Gorgeus?"
The duke came sprinting up in alarm.
Gorgeus? Already named, huh.
"Doppelius still needs breaking in on the road. Without it, the Wyvern Lord might bolt or rampage."
"Ahh, got it. Had me scared for a second there."
That's when the second prince—fed and somewhat recovered—approached.
His eyes sparkled at the receding Doppelius and Wyvern Lord.
"Isn't that a Wyvern Lord? Arcana tamed two of them?"
"Indeed."
"Arcana is incredible!"
The bastard bowed politely to me.
Same prince or not, I'm the heir apparent—wielding the king's full authority while Father's bedridden.
He's just second prince.
Factor in our power gap, and it's like a duke facing a viscount.
'Even now, can't drop his curiosity about taming a Wyvern Lord. Classic shady NPC from the Dragon Defense world.'
Wyvern Lords can't be tamed.
No successful cases with eggs or hatchlings either.
But tame one? Unbeatable aerial weapon.
Bring all the wyvern knights you want—they're useless.
One roar scatters hundreds, thousands alike.
Instinct. Training won't override it.
That's why the duke felt my "reformed sincerity" through the Wyvern Lord gift.
"Father-in-law, Cheok Jun-kyung will have Gorgeus back by dinner."
"Mm, alright. And son-in-law, don't think I'm fretting you'll give then snatch back—no misunderstandings like that, please."
"Of course not. No worries."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Windler returned faster than expected.
Towing a transport airship packed with the prime minister, knights, and soldiers.
The prime minister took charge, directing vassal nobles and troops to disperse and manage the refugees.
With my competent PM stepping up, things shaped up quick.
"Oh, Gorgeus! Enjoy your drive?
Arcana's air still crisp and pure? One day I'd love to take a spin on you myself."
No father-in-law hates a son-in-law gifting a Ferrari, they say.
Honey dripped from the duke's eyes on his Wyvern Lord.
Belheim had started dogging my heels at some point.
Couldn't pet Silvret thanks to it—annoying, but closer than a mere lover, right?
"Prince Ragna, even with Marquis Ruindra issuing orders, Elryad's prime minister and retainers obey without question. Remarkable."
"Elryad Duchy has always been Arcana's vassal state, past and present. Following the suzerain PM's command is only natural."
Elryad started as a borderland noble house.
Built power through trade in Arcana goods, rising from march to duchy.
Elryad dukes visit Arcana's castle for investiture before their own coronations.
'No way this prick doesn't know that. Why bring it up now? Buttering me up?'
Useless bastard who doesn't even know his capital's fate...
Canelian returned from last night's cleanup—erasing traces of the duke, Baron Caron, and Windler's monster cull.
Caron (face hidden in full plate) and the soldiers came back with her.
Canelian approached and reported.
"Prince, all tasks complete as ordered."
"Good work."
Then Belheim blanched, trembling as he stared at Canelian.
Canelian startled, eyeing him back.
What the...?
Bad blood between them...?
"Who are you? Why stare like that?"
Ah, my bad.
Then why was Belheim...?
"Canelian? You're Canelian, aren't you?"
"Pardon? You know me?"
"It's Belheim, prince of Steno. Remember?"
"Ah..."
What's this? Canelian glanced at me, then blurted,
"I told you before—when I was little, Swordmaster Baron Caron ran a short academy here in the duchy.
Lots of Steno royals and nobles' kids came for lessons."
Oh. That.
Damn near black-modeled for a sec there. Gotta reflect—nearly doubted my attachment Swordmaster.
"You've... grown so much. Back then you barely reached my waist. Haha!"
"I was under ten."
His hand at waist height, chuckling—pissed me right off...
"Gone are the days of that tiny, earnest trainee swinging her wooden sword with all her might."
"...Doubt there's many knights taller than me? But what happened to Steno...?"
"A tragedy. Father sent me alone to beg aid quick—I barely escaped, no clue on the capital's fate.
Arcana and Elryad's help is vital, Canelian."
"Ah, yes."
Belheim reached with puppy eyes; Canelian checked me and sidestepped.
'This gold-digger simp, flirting where?'
Flip this script?
But if I blow up over this, my hard-earned diluted tyrant image...
"Canelian! Sudden, but—marry me!"
"...Pardon?"
"Steno needs Elryad's aid. And you've grown so beautiful and strong. We'd make a perfect pair."
Canelian, no immunity to this—panics, looks to me.
I tamped down original Ragna's tyrant rage.
"Prince Belheim, that's a grave breach of decorum."
"Prince? What do you...?"
"Duchess Canelian is pre-betrothed as Arcana's crown princess. My woman, in other words."
I naturally draped her shoulder.
Belheim's eyes bulged; his legs quivered faintly.
"Pardon? But I heard your fiancée was her sister, Duchess Ceres..."
"What's wrong with taking both sisters?"
"N-No, nothing! Forgive my ignorance and rudeness—spare your vast mercy!"
"I'm magnanimous. I'll overlook it generously. But swear on your house's honor—never breathe a word."
"I swear on myself and Steno's royal line. My apologies again. Sorry, Canelian—I didn't know you were engaged."
Belheim fled, humiliated.
Canelian eyed me complexly.
"Why lie like that? My sister..."
"Couldn't tarnish Duchess Ceres's name in front of that scum."
"...Prince."
"Yeah?"
"Were you jea— No, never mind."
"Not jealousy. Just pissed."
"Ah..."
"Even if he didn't know, proposing to my woman right in front of me? How not to snap?"
Canelian smiled shyly.
"Weird. Why does it feel good?"
"Tch, I'm the one offended."
"Don't be mad. He didn't know."
"Belheim's a slimy bastard. Who knows his schemes.
He might slip you a drug to claim you and become Elryad's son-in-law. Stay vigilant."
"Stuff like that doesn't work on me. Don't worry."
"Still worried."
"Continent's youngest Swordmaster frets? Nobody's safe then."
"He's rotten to the core—bottomless schemer. Not jealousy, swear."
Canelian's face hardened.
"He can't touch me, so no real worry. But if you say that... time for surveillance."
"Yeah. Steno's mess might be his plot too."
"That bad?"
"He'd raze the throne before letting it slip away..."
"..."
"..."
Me, Canelian, Silvret—silence hit.
Silvret broke it.
"The monster horde crossed the border a day sooner than the prince escaped for aid. Timings don't match."
"Waited for the capital to fall. Damage be damned."
Canelian summoned the duchy guard captain, ordering,
"Ironclad watch on Prince Belheim—without his notice."
"What level of surveillance?"
"Treat him as an assassin disguised as Belheim to kill His Grace. Watch accordingly."
"Understood."
My attachment heroine—handles orders crisp.
I sent Windler on recon.
Atop Doppelius over distant Steno capital, he reported mentally.
Windler: Lord, the entire capital is reduced to ashes.
「And?」 Windler: Barminon Empire troops are running relief ops—no signs of monster combat.
Late to the party, or deliberate neglect?
'Times like this? Empire's handiwork, as usual.'
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