Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: The Imperial Palace (8)
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The Imperial Palace was vast and wide. It was also incredibly magnificent.
I wasn’t particularly impressed, but Aruru’s eyes went wide.
“Whoa! There’s no end to it. It’s like we’ve entered a labyrinth!”
The fox beastkin wagged her tail, her voice filled with excitement.
The scale of the Imperial Palace was immense, even by human standards.
The ceilings were so high you could probably fit a giant inside.
For a small beastkin, it was nothing short of marvelous.
As if her adventurous spirit were bubbling up, the girl tugged me along, exploring every corner.
I needed to take her for a walk anyway.
She wasn't entirely exempt from the laws of the universe, so she had put on a little weight.
A special course meal prepared in the Imperial Palace.
To digest all that, exercise was essential.
She was still far from becoming a pig, but there was no harm in managing it in advance.
Truthfully, her chubby form was so full of charm that I didn’t really mind either way.
My little cutie.
You can’t just run around like that!
You won’t get scolded, but your master will have to take the heat instead!
Of course, no one ended up blaming me.
The detached palace was a space exclusively for the Hero’s party, so we could do whatever we wanted.
I spent my time productively, playing with Aruru and sharing affectionate moments alone with Ceria.
The princess remained focused on mastering the Holy Sword.
And the elf girl was busy practicing her imitation of a noble lady.
Just as I was leisurely reviewing my future plans, a messenger sent by the First Prince arrived.
It was a sudden visit.
But it was an almost expected situation, so I remained calm.
“Greetings to the Hero.”
His polite demeanor was impeccable.
The man, presumably a close aide to the First Prince, handed me a letter.
I read it slowly.
The calligraphy was elegant, but the content was nothing special.
Though embellished with all sorts of flowery language, the gist of it was an invitation to share a meal.
It seemed he was curious about what kind of person the Hero was.
His plan was likely to build a friendship and then draw me to his side.
“…”
Hmm, I needed to think about this for a moment.
The First Prince, Ludwig, was the intellectual type and very rational.
Even if he disliked me, he would treat me well.
He was the type to prioritize reason over emotion.
I might even find it easier to communicate with him than with the Second Prince.
It seemed like it would be relatively less tiring, so siding with the First Prince was a decent option in its own way.
“The First Prince does not invite just anyone.”
He said I would be warmly welcomed if I visited.
I already knew that. He would welcome me as if he had been waiting.
Not only that, but he would also accommodate me in various ways.
After weighing the pros and cons in my head, I slowly opened my mouth.
“It’s a bit difficult at the moment. Please tell him I will visit when I have the time.”
He furrowed his brow, as if displeased.
It seemed he took my words as a slight against the prince he served.
*Huh? How dare you? You dare to ignore His Highness?*
*Don’t think this will end well for you!*
That was the general feeling, but his words were less honest.
“I shall deliver the Hero’s response exactly as you’ve said.”
He was momentarily provoked.
But as if it had never happened, he cautiously withdrew.
For now, I would play hard to get.
A brief conversation wouldn’t have been difficult, but I felt a slight sense of aversion.
Hmm, how should I put it?
You know how some things just feel… off?
The Second Prince had come to see me in person.
He had even come unpretentiously with only a single guard.
But the First Prince was telling me to come to him, that he would be waiting in his own chambers.
That difference starkly revealed the character of the two princes.
Even a Hero was not so great as to surpass a prince.
I could see that kind of authoritarian behavior in the First Prince.
He was subtly trying to let me know his position was higher.
Well, that wasn’t necessarily wrong.
As a leading candidate to be the next emperor, it was only natural, in a way.
Still, it just felt off.
He wasn’t the type to senselessly abuse his power.
But the way he seemed to assume he was the one in charge felt somehow uncomfortable.
Hey, why do you get to decide that on your own?
Depending on how I play my cards, the Hero can be the one in charge, you know?
The Emperor was the master of the Empire, so he was an exception.
But I had no need to bow my head to anyone else.
It might be a different story if I had no backing.
But behind me stood the mighty Crodain family.
I had nothing to lose, so I wouldn’t be outdone by anyone.
But that was just my own thinking.
Given the First Prince’s personality, it was clear he would try to summon and tame me.
It was in his nature to lay out pleasing words or design a way to make me follow him by gifting precious items.
Yeah, not a chance.
If anyone was going to be tamed, it would be me doing the taming, not the other way around.
I had already earned plenty of favor from the Second Prince.
There was no need to make an enemy of the First Prince, but there was no reason to get overly close either.
Above all…
The First Prince had a younger sister.
A princess in the prime of her life.
She was Threat Number One to my relationship with Ceria.
In the original story, the princess had very few appearances.
When playing as a male Hero candidate, if you met certain conditions, an option to get involved with her would appear.
An ending where you were betrothed to the princess and became the Emperor’s son-in-law.
She was a sub-heroine, but her role was so minor she was closer to a supporting character.
I believe her character was set as intelligent and multi-talented.
As a prodigy recognized even within the imperial family, her intelligence and charm stats were high.
A girl who seemed to resemble the First Prince, yet was a more gentle type.
If I were single, she might have been a decent option, but now, well, I was hesitant.
A political marriage just doesn’t sit right with me…
Besides, once I leave this place, I’ll never see her again.
I might have to stop by the Imperial Palace from time to time for events that happen here.
But I was scheduled to be busy one way or another, so it was unlikely I’d have time to get close to the princess.
One shouldn’t do things they can’t take responsibility for.
Even now, I felt like I was unknowingly walking a tightrope.
It was a situation where the peace of my daily life could be shattered at any moment.
But what if the princess were added to the mix?
It would undoubtedly be a chaotic mess, or perhaps a massive, disastrous party.
I already had a fiancée who felt like more than I deserved.
The fact that she accepted my little cutie was already a huge concession on her part.
How could I betray such a kind and warm heart?
Of course, this could all be me counting my chickens before they hatched.
But analyzing the First Prince’s patterns of behavior, it seemed highly likely he would push for a political marriage.
He was the type who wouldn’t hesitate to use even his own cute little sister.
He would stop at nothing to get his hands on power.
I could just picture the First Prince telling the princess to try and seduce the Hero.
Well, it wasn’t a bad proposition from the princess’s perspective either.
Objectively speaking, I was an overwhelmingly top-tier groom.
The heir to a great family and the man who became the Hero.
I was, without a doubt, the best possible candidate.
Setting aside my background, my character was also excellent, so it was possible the princess might fall head over heels for me.
“…”
Ah, I’m not being narcissistic!
What can I do if I’m really that great?
It’s not always a good thing. Troubles like this are bound to arise.
First Prince Ludwig.
His younger sister, Princess Louise.
For the sake of a peaceful life, it seemed best to avoid them as much as possible.
***
First Prince Ludwig closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Jace Crodain. What kind of person was he?
He had already mobilized all his aides to investigate.
The eldest son of the Crodain family, a young master who had known nothing but success.
Character, dignity, potential, looks, and so on.
Rumor had it he lacked nothing.
A man close to perfection, he had apparently stood out even at the Hero Academy.
There was an unfortunate incident along the way.
And he had acted like a ruffian for a while.
But that couldn't be considered a major flaw.
‘If anything, it’s incredible…’
The sense of loss from losing his dantian.
He could only imagine how agonizingly difficult it must have been.
Somehow, he had overcome that desperate situation.
As if that weren’t enough, he had ultimately been chosen by the Holy Sword.
He had to acknowledge that willpower, if nothing else.
It was no coincidence that he became the Hero.
Having defeated the strong fighters of the academy one after another, his martial prowess was also proven.
Exceptional dignity. A model student kind to everyone.
An image of someone who strived for an upright life came to mind.
He would have to try to know for sure.
But the process of winning over the Hero’s party was on the easier side.
Seasoned nobles might be a different story.
But the Hero’s party, who knew little of the world, were nothing more than novices.
Just as he was laying out plans on various fronts, the First Prince heard some unexpected news.
“His Highness the Second Prince has gone to visit the Hero’s party.”
He had expected that much.
That fellow who acts without the dignity of a prince…
That hasty personality of his would cause a big problem one day.
Anyway.
His competitor had gotten a head start, but that much was fine.
If he proceeded with his plan calmly, things would eventually go his way.
A moment later, he learned that the Second Prince and the Hero were going to have a duel.
The Second Prince must have proposed it, wanting to experience the Hero’s strength for himself.
‘To commit that foolish act again…’
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed the prince had sold off his dignity.
It was lamentable that quite a few people actually liked that about him…
“His Highness the Second Prince was brutally defeated. He, well… they say he nearly died.”
“—??”
For a moment, his mind went blank.
He beat a prince like a dog? Did I hear that right?
“He was an absolute mess, they say.”
“If he were an ordinary person, the physical damage would have amounted to a grave injury…”
“…”
The First Prince was at a loss for words.
His thorn-in-the-side, the Second Prince, had been beaten like a dog.
It was what he had hoped for, so he should have been cheering.
But the fact that the one who beat the Second Prince was the Hero was just too staggering.
What kind of nerve does he have?
Why would he do something so crazy, unless he’s a ruffian…
Suddenly, a piece of information came to mind.
Jace had committed such acts once before.
“…”
All his calculations had gone awry.
He had thought Jace was a model student, but his true nature might be that of a ruffian.
In that case, he had to completely revise his plan.
He had predicted it would be easy, but that was all based on the premise that Jace was normal.
A combination of a Hero and a ruffian.
It was a type he had never encountered before, so he had no idea how to handle him.
If he was truly more of a ruffian, it might be better to just ignore him altogether.
Still, a Hero was a Hero.
The authority that came with the title was more than worth using.
Leaving him alone felt like passing up a very appetizing meal.
There were two Heroes, not one.
Targeting the other one was an option.
But from various circumstances, it seemed Jace was the key figure.
“…”
No, but why on earth did he beat up the Second Prince?
He didn’t just rough him up a bit; he had completely pulverized him.
Jace’s intentions were deeply curious.
The Second Prince himself had brushed it off as if it were nothing.
But from the perspective of the entire imperial family, it was a very unsettling matter.
Perhaps the Second Prince was being annoying, so he was taught a harsh lesson.
Or perhaps he failed to control his strength and made a mistake.
‘If it’s not that…’
It could be a provocation against the imperial family.
Could it be a preemptive strike, anticipating a power struggle between the imperial family and the Hero?
If he assumed that, then he was a formidable opponent.
He had no idea how many steps ahead Jace was thinking.
He was surely not trying to make an outright enemy of the imperial family.
By beating a prince, he was elevating his own presence and securing a more advantageous position.
“…”
He was no novice.
His audacity was admirable.
He seemed to have a good grasp of what politics was.
Of course, nothing had been precisely revealed.
The possibility that he simply didn’t like the Second Prince very much existed.
In the end, the best course of action was to see and judge for himself.
That was why he had sent a messenger, but the reply that came back was unsettling.
“He said it’s a bit difficult at the moment and that he’ll visit when he has time.”
“…”
The First Prince intuitively realized.
Jace was playing hard to get.
He was no ordinary man, it seemed.
Flimsy tricks would clearly not work on him.
Then there was no other way.
He had to acknowledge him as a formidable opponent and act accordingly.
‘I wanted to save that method for last…’
He would have to play a strong card from the very beginning.
Then he would have to react in some way.
No matter how great he was, it would be difficult to refuse that.
Ludwig slowly prepared himself.
His destination was the palace where his younger sister, Louise, resided.