Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Ash Who Claims to Be a Prince
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Ash, who claims to be a prince.
I carefully recalled the information.
‘There are officially three princes known from Tunkai.’
Perhaps my doubt showed on my face, as Ash grinned and spoke.
“To put it bluntly, he’s like a bastard child you can’t openly acknowledge. It’s not that rare, is it?”
“Ash! Stop talking!”
“What? You already seem to know everything.”
Having revealed his identity, Ash seemed relieved and regained his mental composure. Rather, the look he gave me now carried a challenging glint.
It was a bit ridiculous, so I decided to shatter that composure.
“Hmm.”
I threw out a plausible hypothesis.
“Since you participated in this war, you must have been aiming to establish some military merit, right? To build up your influence that way.”
“...”
“The Florand Tribe’s location is unknown to me, but it’s obvious they’re a faction supporting you. The fact that you tried so hard not to reveal your identity means even the military or the royal family barely knew of your participation.”
“...!”
“And yet, for someone like you to be entrusted with such an important role in the final battle means the commander at the time was on your side. It was the Fourth General, Landon Crowe, wasn’t it?”
Ash’s face, which had regained its composure, hardened in an instant.
“Well, now there’s one more person who knows your situation. I have no more business with you lot, do I? You can demand your ransom from that Landon Crowe fellow.”
“W-Wait! Landon has nothing to do with this!”
“Now the mask is finally cracking.”
“Kuh!”
Ash ground his teeth. All his composure vanished in a flash.
Lisitea shouted in his place.
“Keep your promise! You said you’d show mercy if we revealed our identities!”
“I never said that. I only said I wouldn’t hand you over to Crossing. You’re free to have misconceptions, but don’t force them on me.”
“How dare you!”
Oops, I’d gotten carried away without realizing it. It wasn’t good to plant resentment in them, so I decided to stop here.
“Well, to be honest, I don’t really care who you are, what your true identities are, or what you’re aiming for. I have no intention of digging deeper. So let’s talk about the terms of your release.”
Lisitea let out a sigh of relief.
“I mentioned it earlier. Woman, you can do whatever, just release the man.”
“Yes.”
At that, Ash glared at me with murderous eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that. I plan to be as merciful as possible. First, you two. Do you have the means to pay your ransom?”
“How much?”
“200 million silane for both of you combined.”
“200 million!?”
“That’s already a light price. High-ranking prisoners fetch quite a sum. For someone of a prince’s status from a nation, even billions wouldn’t be enough. I’m setting it at 100 million silane per person. Pay up, and you’re free. Can you pay?”
“S-Such a huge amount so suddenly...”
Lisitea hesitated. She’d taken the bait.
They probably could pay it. Since Ash had the backing of the Florand Tribe, they could likely scrape together 200 million somehow.
But it would still be a burden. That’s why I made this offer the moment she hesitated.
“If that’s too much, work it off yourselves. Woman, you’ll deduct 100 million silane per year and serve under me for two years. In exchange, I’ll release the man. How about it?”
Lisitea, who had been hesitating over the large sum, bit eagerly at the thought that she alone could pay it off by sacrificing herself.
“I’ll do it!”
“Lisitea! You don’t have to!”
Ash tried to dissuade her, unable to accept it, but the woman was resolute.
“It’s all my fault that you got caught like this. So I’ll take full responsibility.”
“Damn it...!”
Somehow, I felt like the villain here.
Am I the villain?
“Don’t talk like you’re bidding farewell forever. As I said, I’m deeply merciful. If you’re worried about the woman, contact me via Crossing. I’ll arrange a meeting anytime.”
“...”
Ash narrowed his eyes, as if verifying the truth of my words.
“You’re not lying, are you?”
“I’m not that petty.”
“If I bring 200 million silane later, will you release Lisitea?”
“That won’t work. The 200 million silane will be paid off by her working it off. If you don’t like that, contact the Tunkai royal family or the Florand Tribe right now and prepare the 200 million silane.”
The latter seemed problematic, as Ash fell silent.
“What’s the reason for your extortion? Why do you want Lisitea so badly?”
It seemed best to be honest about this part.
“It’s not the woman. I want you, Ash.”
“...What?”
“I’m gathering talent. You’ve caught my eye. But if I tell you to join my command now, you wouldn’t listen, right?”
“Of course not.”
“So I’m planning to draw you in over time. This woman is just the bait.”
“What nonsense.... Do you think I’d pledge loyalty to you?”
“We’ll see in two years.”
“...”
Ash stared at me intently, then finally nodded in resignation.
*
*
*
With the negotiations concluded.
I handed Ash over to Olaf to be sent back. Even if he harbored grudges against me, with Lisitea here, he wouldn’t act rashly.
“Wait.”
Lutger, who had followed me out, asked with a bewildered expression.
“You said you had a way to prepare Estelle’s bodyguard, but you don’t mean to assign that woman to guard Estelle, do you?”
“Don’t you like it? Her skills are decent.”
I didn’t know her exact skills, but she seemed stronger than me at least.
“Her martial prowess aside, we can’t fully trust her.”
“The woman won’t act recklessly either. She’ll think retaliation will fall on Ash if she does anything foolish. We’ll build trust gradually. Plus, for the time being, Ymir and Eonia will take turns monitoring her, so rest easy.”
“Uh, umm. If that’s the case.”
When the horn’s tip is crooked, pull it out all at once, as they say. I decided to introduce her to Estelle while at it.
“Shall I bring Estelle now?”
“Understood.”
After wetting my throat in the break room, I returned to the room.
For some reason, Eonia and Lisitea were locked in a staring contest in the room.
“The Florand Tribe.... His Holiness once mentioned them. Heretics in the northwest Elrich Mountains who worship evil gods...!”
“I’ve heard from Grandma about Kurabel’s Valkyrie. A group that worships heretical gods. And within them, a spoiled brat treated like a princess despite being just a guard captain in name only.”
“What did you say!?”
“What? Want to try me!?”
“Fine! Grab your weapon and come out!”
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for!”
Why were these two fighting?
‘Kurabel Holy Kingdom and the Florand Tribe.... Two places on opposite sides geographically—what connection could they have?’
Asking Eonia wouldn’t help much, so I decided to ask Bisceta later.
As I was breaking up the fight with those thoughts.
Estelle arrived.
I sat in the chair and greeted her.
“Long time no see. A year, right?”
It had really been a while since Wade met Estelle.
Estelle seemed to know that too and was quite tense.
“...?”
But upon hearing my voice, she paused and narrowed her eyes.
Probably because it was her first time seeing Lisitea.
“Oh ho, looks like you’ve fully recovered. What a transformation—unrecognizable. No wonder Lutger made such a fuss.”
“Y-Yes....”
A year ago, Estelle had trembled in fear before me, but now that nervousness was gone.
“Why did you call for me today...?”
“Lutger begged me earnestly. To assign a bodyguard for you. Can’t do anything with a doting father like him.”
“...Hmm?”
“This person here will take charge of your protection from now on. Greet her.”
“Greet... you say.”
Step. Estelle took one step forward. I thought it was to greet her, but step. Another step closer.
“What’s wrong?”
“...Hehe.”
Step. Yet another step.
I felt a sense of pressure. If I hadn’t been sitting, I might have backed away.
“If you have business, speak it.”
“So that’s how it is....”
“How what is...”
Step. Estelle, now within 2 meters, murmured softly. But she wasn’t looking at Lisitea—she was looking at me.
“Indeed....”
“Indeed?”
Then, whoosh! She grabbed my hand and examined the back of it.
“That unmistakable speech pattern and mannerisms. Above all, the number and position of the moles on this hand.... It’s certain. It really is you, Lord Als!”
“What!?”
I’d never even counted the moles on my hand myself....
Then Estelle whoosh! suddenly yanked off my helmet. Since we were indoors, I hadn’t locked the clasp—a mistake.
Above all, I was too flustered to react properly.
Estelle, having removed the helmet, looked at my face and smiled in satisfaction.
“So this is the secret you shared with Erina.”
“No, that’s...”
“I should’ve met with Wade sooner if I knew it was like this. I could’ve learned the secret earlier, but I hesitated needlessly because I was scared.”
I was considerably flustered.
If only Estelle knew my identity, I’d let it slide, but there were others here who didn’t.
“Wade’s true identity is a young boy...!?”
Lisitea was shocked. Eonia was panicking too, not knowing what to do.
Oblivious to the situation, Estelle beamed happily.
*
*
*
Estelle had been afraid.
Her father had suddenly told her to go to Wade, so she thought something bad had happened.
But the Wade she met after a year gave no sense of fear. Instead, an inexplicable familiarity washed over her.
And then.
“Long time no see. A year, right?”
The moment Wade said that, Estelle couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘Why didn’t I notice back then?’
Even with the voice altered, she could clearly tell it was Als.
Back then, she had a great fear of Wade, and she hadn’t known Als long enough to notice, but now it was different.
Her fear of Wade had vanished completely.
The only regrettable part was realizing why he had approached her.
‘To bring Father under his command....’
That part hurt a little, but knowing Als treated her sincerely beyond that, she didn’t mind much.
She was even glad that Wade, to whom she owed a debt of gratitude, was the same person as Als.
“You thought you could fool me? I know Lord Als’s habits, scent, physical features, speech patterns, and behaviors—all of them. All, all, all, all, all....”
“Gasp....”
Als made a genuinely exasperated face. Estelle cleared her throat, wondering if she’d gotten too excited.
“...Huh?”
Only then did she look around.
One she knew: Eonia Mirabel.
Estelle eyed Eonia warily. Though her face was hidden by the same ashen helmet as Als’s, Estelle could easily imagine her appearance.
Because it matched a character from the novel.
‘So that’s it. The knight from Lord Als’s book. Elnia Pentabel’s motif was this woman.’
Even though it was a novel, since Als had set her as the main heroine, black jealousy welled up inside, but she suppressed it easily.
Thanks to Erina’s advice.
Erina had told Estelle not to interfere excessively in his romantic relationships unless Als was recklessly flirting indiscriminately.
-That person doesn’t open his heart to just any woman. If someone like that opens his heart and accepts her, we should accept her too.
Estelle, with her strong possessiveness, hadn’t understood easily, but she eventually accepted Erina’s persuasion.
With one precondition, however.
-What if Lord Als is indiscriminately charming vixens?
-Then... we can get angry, right?
-Exactly....
-Estelle...? Your face is scary.
Estelle decided to accept Eonia.
‘Be generous and include Remy too.... But no more than that.’
Considering her personality, accepting three was already a miracle.
Estelle glared at the other one besides Eonia: Lisitea.
“Eek...!?”
Lisitea’s eyes widened at the chilling pressure.
Als sighed and said.
“This person will be in charge of your protection from now on. Her name is Lisitea Dearwind. Call her by a nickname or whatever.”
“That’s all there is to it, right? You don’t have feelings for this woman or anything...”
“I met her for the second time today. And she has a partner already.”
“Then no worries. I’m Estelle Diante. Nice to meet you, Lady Lisitea.”
Lisitea let out a deep sigh at her precarious situation and nodded.
“Please call me Lia from now on. It’s only two years, but nice to meet you.”
Lisitea wanted to ask about Als’s identity as soon as possible. Als noticed her intent but, since his face was already revealed, decided not to impose any real restrictions beyond forbidding her from telling others.