Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Minster Kingdom (4)
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Prison corridor.
King Varhan X and his chief aide gazed out the window after stepping out of the warden's office.
Beyond the Eternal Snow Mountains lay their proud kingdom.
They harbored grand dreams of elevating their homeland into an empire.
Yet despite secretly weaving their grand scheme for so long...
This place, Berryhill, felt far too small and cramped to play a part in it.
"This humble servant still cannot fathom Your Majesty's profound intentions."
The chief aide mustered his courage to voice his concerns.
His foot pressed discontentedly against the creaking floorboards with each step.
"Whether the warden of this tiny prison was truly worth Your Majesty gracing him with a personal audience."
The black-haired monarch offered no reply to his aide's worries.
He simply gazed quietly at the herb pot on the windowsill.
"Word of Your Highness's visit here today will soon spread to the imperial capital."
King Varhan X lightly stroked the green leaves.
His aide gathered courage once more at the king's nonchalant demeanor.
"Was it worth risking their ire just to meet him?"
"What's it matter?"
Unlike a small animal fidgeting in a beast's lair, King Varhan X spoke calmly.
"To me, this was just a stroll abroad. But the empire? They'll overthink it endlessly."
"That's precisely why I'm concerned, Your Majesty. It could easily escalate into a diplomatic incident."
Unlike his earlier impersonation of the king before the warden, the aide was now thoroughly cowed.
Yet the king, in whose veins flowed the blood of the empire's greatest warrior, Veil Mikhail, remained utterly composed.
"It's fine. If they truly make an issue of it diplomatically and raise a fuss, that works in our favor."
"Pardon...?"
King Varhan X plucked a single leaf.
Though only the tiniest leaf fell, the herb pot looked utterly barren in its absence.
"As you said, the man I met is merely a warden in some remote prison. If the imperial court makes a public fuss over it anyway, that means they've acknowledged Derek as someone truly worth investing in."
Behind the plucked leaf, a small crystal orb revealed itself.
"It means he's talent worth protecting even at the cost of muddying international relations."
"......!!"
The aide's lips parted at the faint mana surge he himself hadn't noticed.
The crystal orb in the flowerpot had been eavesdropping on them the entire time.
For a backwater prison, it was highly suspicious.
Yet King Varhan showed no hint of panic.
On the contrary...
He boldly addressed the figure beyond the crystal orb.
"Let's see just how valuable this warden is to the imperial court."
The black-haired king's reflection gleamed on the orb's smooth surface.
He flashed a leisurely smile toward the imperial observer watching him.
Soon after.
Krash...
He casually crushed the crystal orb between two fingers.
The shattered fragments spilled powerlessly onto the empire's ancient wooden floor.
"......"
In the princess's office, one crystal orb crumbled into powder.
The final conversation echoing from it had gone like this.
The calm yet intimidating voice of Bakar’s king.
His aide immediately carrying out orders.
Everything proceeded smoothly and systematically.
"Make Derek an independent king of a neutral state...?"
Camillia Andalusia let out a scoff.
She hadn't imagined such a scheme to pry him away.
'It's not entirely baseless. Varhan X is more than capable of plotting something like this.'
Her father, Emperor Bodwin VIII, had long warned her to beware Bakar's new king.
Though only half, the same imperial blood made him exceptionally sharp.
'It's an offer plenty tempting for Derek.'
Even if she herself had taken him under her wing, House Minster was thoroughly scorned in the empire.
Shunned by all, Derek might well harbor resentment toward his homeland.
'Better to build a new nation with his followers than live under constant finger-pointing.'
From the empire's notorious brat to a nation's king.
What greater rise in status could there be?
Far grander than merely becoming her husband.
'If he sets his mind to it, it's entirely feasible.'
In truth, he already fulfilled the three great prerequisites for kingship.
Wealth, military might, and connections.
He'd seized kingdom-level riches by extorting Walter Group.
Militarily, he'd personally defeated Steelman and held national-disaster-level assets like the Saintess and Myoran.
His connections were flawless too, backed by the enigmatic Grand Elder and Varhan X.
If Uncle Dark served him, he'd make an effortless prime minister for the new state.
All achieved in a mere six months.
"Could Derek have been scheming this from the start?"
Camillia considered possibilities as Northern ruler.
"No... I saw it with Confession Magic. He had strong loyalty to the empire. At least he won't betray us."
She clutched the shattered crystal shards.
Gazing silently at her stunning reflection.
'Then... is he building a duchy to become a man worthy of me?'
The princess recalled rejecting his confession in the carriage.
Promising to accept him once he proved worthy.
Camillia squeezed her eyes shut, chastising her past prideful self.
Now everyone knew Derek wasn't a serpent but a hatchling.
They all sought to mount him before he grew into a dragon.
The final words leaked from the broken crystal.
Varhan X's leisurely farewell.
"Let's see just how valuable this warden is to the imperial court."
"Hm."
The empire's First Princess rubbed her dry face with clasped hands.
Soon, a chilling sovereign glint flashed between her fingers.
"Fine."
Camillia rose from her office chair.
This time, she resolved not to stand idly by.
She'd handle it her way.
"If the press is the issue, then 'deal' with them all."
She reached out, and today's newspaper flew to her from afar.
Scanning it, she easily found interviews and articles condemning House Minster and Derek.
In truth, the quoted respondents were mere figureheads.
The real media manipulators never showed their faces.
That's why Camillia hadn't rooted them out until now.
But the tide had turned.
「Walter Group internal confidential documents.」
The files Derek had personally handed her at the meeting(?) with her kin.
They detailed every rotten media outlet tied to them—and the backers inciting attacks on House Minster.
Derek could have used them for revenge without telling her.
Yet he'd held back and entrusted them to her—a sign of trust.
"As expected, you think deeply."
The princess admired the clever hatchling's scheme.
And found it most appetizing.
"I'll properly reward you for this, Derek Minster."
Camillia resolved to repay him fittingly for the intel.
「Is anyone outside?」
Her mana-infused commanding voice pierced beyond the office.
A woman who had been waiting entered.
"You summoned me, Your Highness."
Northern Commander Conan.
The Swordmaster with neatly bound purple hair saluted crisply.
「It's the Northern Commander. Perfect timing.」
The princess, her childhood friend, spoke in icy tones.
Conan steeled herself solemnly.
Camillia only summoned her covertly in crises threatening the nation's survival.
「I've called you for urgent matters.」
"Speak freely. I'm prepared to carry out any order."
Was it finally time to settle things with Prince Ivan over the throne?
Or had His Imperial Majesty devised a new grand stratagem?
Conan swallowed hard.
Her golden eyes sharp beneath her purple locks.
But no.
What she held wasn't some grand scheme.
"......?"
Just a list densely packed with names.
"Those named there? Invite them to a secret banquet tomorrow."
"A secret banquet?"
Conan blinked blankly before rethinking it.
She's gathering talent for a new strategy!
"Yes. It'll be a very special one."
"Understood. I'll order my subordinates directly."
She checked the names with grim resolve.
But...
No matter how she looked, the lineup seemed too lightweight for plotting the empire's future.
From nobles glutting on inherited fortunes.
To military officials suspected of corruption.
All far from the princess's philosophy of recruiting the capable and loyal.
"May I ask why you're summoning these particular people?"
"I have urgent business with them."
Conan accepted the order at Camillia's grave tone.
Tilting her head, she withdrew from the office.
The next evening, the secret banquet unfolded in the Northern Palace.
Where Princess Camillia wielded absolute power.
Carriages began arriving one after another.
Those of some renown in the empire donned formal attire and headed to the palace garden.
"General, you're here too? It's been ages since that polo gathering."
"Indeed, news director. How's that black mare you showed off?"
"Lucy? She's doing splendidly. Currently resting after breeding with a white stallion from Bakar."
"Ho... Pairing her with such a rare stud must have cost a fortune."
At the mention of costs, the news director smirked, finger to lips.
The general, getting the hint, nodded and clammed up.
Unverified stories turned truth with the right bribes.
That's how they amassed their fortunes—in secret.
Chatting idly, they entered the corridor.
Guided by attendants, they took seats at the garden banquet.
"Still... why did Her Highness summon us?"
"We came since invited, but it's a bit nerve-wracking."
The two nobles eyed the arriving guests, gauging the mood.
They guessed the common thread among those gathered.
"......Looks like she called us here to warn us."
Amassing private wealth required sharp instincts.
They quickly realized everyone present had recently slandered Derek Minster, the princess's new retainer.
Themselves included.
"Is she formally taking House Minster under her wing?"
"Their stock's skyrocketing lately. Probably locking them in as allies now."
Realization soured the lavish feast before them.
They set down their sticky wines and switched to water.
"That'd be a problem."
"Agreed. A stronger House Minster means headaches all around."
House Minster, led by Count Damon, had long taken dirty commissions from nobles.
Greater influence meant leverage over their patrons.
Hence their leaks to the press on Minster's misdeeds.
"But how did she learn we were the leakers...?"
"No idea. Which is why we can't yield an inch tonight."
The nobles smartening their attire nursed grudges against House Minster.
Like knights bracing for enemy assault.
"Still, she's only 24. How much pressure can she really bring? Her Highness excels in martial might, but she's yet to shine in politics or debate."
"True. So we strike hard first."
Other nobles mirrored the general and marquis's grim faces.
United against the colossal serpent.
In response, heavy footsteps echoed from the garden's far end.
Each step accompanied by metal clanging against stone.
"She's coming..."
"Keep composed."
The nobles rose, awaiting Camillia's arrival.
When her figure emerged under the radiant moonlight...
"......!!"
Chills raced over them, as if facing the emperor's golden age.
"Y-Your... Highness?"
"Why are you dressed like that...?"
The princess's attire was anything but banquet-appropriate finery.
Instead, the black uniform from her northern campaigns.
Blood-soaked, wielding Landruin to burst hundreds of barbarians.
"What are you lot doing?"
Camillia entered gripping Landruin in one hand.
Her deep blue eyes absorbing all light.
"Not sitting."
The nobles froze like goats before a predator.
Camillia slumped into the head seat and downed dark red wine first.
"Don't tell me you've committed crimes behind my back to quake like that?"
Soon, White Horse Knights arrived behind her.
Clutching dossiers packed with the guests' secret scandals.
"Let's start with some light questions before the feast."
The princess took a sheet of paper and drew a long line.
On either side: 'Spare' and 'Kill'.
"I despise Derek Minster. Raise your hand."
From that day, denunciations of one man visibly dwindled.
The slanders against him were swiftly...
replaced by Wolf Boys members' popularity polls.
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