A jade-skinned brunette with the beauty akin to a fresh flower in full bloom stood before a door. She had the air of a professional businesswoman combined with a noblewoman’s presence despite how young she was from the way she carried herself, her clothes, to her high-class glasses. Despite the familiar sounds that entered her ears from beyond the door, she knocked thrice as usual and then entered without waiting for an answer because the owner never did.
The scent of won assaulted her nostrils.
“Prince, your duties are waiting for you,” she said while paying no mind to the ten won lying flat all over the room. Her eyes were fixed on the naked man on the bed, still swinging his waist.
“Solany!” The man happily said. “Have you co to join? Welco, welco! Let’s get right to it. Wait a sec. I’m almost finished with her.”
The sound of thumping increased in frequency.
“Your appointnts, prince. It’s way past noon,” the brown-haired woman said, raising a handkerchief to her nose.
“Mmmhhh… I don't feel like it. I still want to play with these beauties.”
The one Solany called prince, a very handso young man with blond hair, unblemished light skin color, and the perfect chiseled body of an ideal male, said like a pampered kid.
“Prince…” Solany growled.
“I’ve got an idea! Visit my chamber tonight and I’ll do today’s duties without further glib. It’s been a while since I tasted you,” he said without a hint of sha, tossing the woman on his rcy just seconds ago.
“...It’s only been four days.”
“A dreadfully long ti, I know. It pains my heart and soul.”
Solany’s eyes narrowed. She was familiar with the prince’s antics. He wouldn't budge if she refused now. “Only if you do all your tasks today.”
“Then let's go! The sooner it all ends, the more ti for us.”
The prince jumped out of bed energetically. The fact that he didn't sleep at all last night didn't seem to have any effect on his body at all. He put on his trousers and slapped a royal cape over his shoulder before going out of the room without a shirt.
Solany disregarded the grab on her bottom as the prince passed her. She took one last look at the sloppy state of the won in the room and their satisfied expressions before walking behind the prince.
“What’s on my plate today?”
“First, there’s a representative of the miners of the city. Behind them, the crafters. They’ll have petitions for you.”
“Ehhh… What do they want?” The prince made a bad face. His motivation dropped.
“The short version, they want less work, more food for them and their family, and wages.”
“The hell? What I gave them isn't enough?” The prince wondered.
“You didn't give them anything, prince. Even the food is given by the duchy. Your territory produces not enough food for the masses.”
“It worked out in the end, didn't it?”
Solany rolled her eyes. “Apparently, they didn't think so.”
“Relax. I know what to do.”
The pair walked into the throne room. Nicely decorated and guarded by imposing armored knights. Between the row of knights, several people were there for an audience.
“Prince Marvin Topaz Latias. The 40th prince of the Latias Kingdom.” A crier announced the Prince’s arrival as he took the seat on the throne. Solany stood beside him and the people in poor clothing knelt.
“You have the Prince’s attention,” Marvin said. “What ails you, my people?”
“My Prince. We thank your benevolence for granting us this audience,” an elderly woman said after waiting two hours. “Please, grant us leniency, Your Highness… Many of us worked too hard. Since your ascendancy two months ago, the children, the elderly, and the infirm are dying in droves. Please, grant us rcy! There’s not enough food or dicine. Ahh, rcy, great prince. rcy.”
Looking at the old woman's teary face didn't move the prince at all. He couldn't be swayed by ugly won. “Solany, thoughts?”
“Does the prince want to mine the mana crystals himself?”
“Oufff. Can't have that. What to do, what to do…” Marvin snapped his fingers. “Solany, do the thing.”
The secretary stand-in sighed, removed her glasses, and laid her eyes on the representatives. A tremor of magic was in the air. The representative’s face turned loose and passive.
“All right you guys. You’re all happy under my rule. Work hard every day and rather than pull this shit ever again, you’d rather mine crystals until you die. Understand? Good.”
The magic faded and their consciousness returned.
“Praise to Prince Marvin!” the old woman who tearfully begged for the wellbeing of her people had a happy expression. “We’ll honor you by working a double shift today!”
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“That’s the spirit. Go, work hard for .”
Marvin put his elbow on the armrest and pressed his cheek against his fist while crossing his legs.
“Mind control. So useful for controlling the herd. Impressive as always, cousin. Would you kindly make sure the livestocks have enough feed?”
“I’ll make the arrangents,” Solany put on her glasses again.
“What’s next?”
“The Knight Captain of the Black Shield Knightly Order, Harper Nass.”
With the announcent, the black-armored Knight Captain arrived and knelt with one knee before the prince.
“My Prince. And My Lady.”
“Ohh, Harper. Welco back. So, is my brother dead?”
“I’m sorry, prince. I’ve failed.”
“Hm, those two Level 4s from the assassins guild plus you and your knights are not enough to handle an Idler and one Level 4?”
“I have no excuse for my failure. Please punish as you see fit.”
“The report, please. Sir Harper,” Solany said.
“Prince Croix and his guardian hid themselves well after escaping the capital. The cultists were able to smoke them out using villages as bait but their attempts were thwarted by a passing Pathseeker duo.”
“This much we know. Prince Marvin then sent the Black Shield and you to intercept them on the way to Stormberg. What happened then?” Solany asked.
“The two Pathseekers began to travel with the prince, bolstering their number to four. The two of them were only Level 3 but their powers were formidable. We caught up to them at the Floating Rock Chasm, but we are not the only ones. The Thunder Wing Knightly Order, under the orders of the Countess Weiss of Stormberg, intervened.”
Harper then narrated the ensuing battle.
“Guess the assassins’ reputations are way exaggerated. So much for being the most feared cult in the continent,” Marvin harrumphed. “Well, if Croix’s reached Stormberg, he’s under safe haven. It’s too much hassle poking around a Level 5’s lair. Solany, guess you should inform your house about this.”
“Duke Lucan won't be pleased.”
“Well, he’s the one wanting this political murder, not . I’m rather fond of that half-brother of mine,” Marvin took the news in good humor. “So, of the two tag-alongs, one is a kid about ten and he called the other master?”
“Indeed, my liege. I believe he has a bloodline. Troll or giant race.”
“Early awakening?”
“Undoubtedly.”
“I see, I see. You’re dismissed. Stand by for now.”
“Yes, my lord, my lady.”
Harper bowed to the two before leaving.
“What’s next?”
“Your 11th mistress is waiting for you in the solar.”
“I shall head there imdiately.”
Later, after finishing his etings and businesses, Marvin went to look at a ranch of his making. A new batch ca in today.
“Here’s the list.”
“Mmm. They’re a bit skinny,” Marvin took the list from Solany’s hand and examined the products with critical eyes.
There were about thirty slaves, all under the age of fifteen with the youngest about seven years old. They were of different races, humans, beastfolks, dwarfs, and even a couple of elves.
“Will there be a success case in this batch?”
“I wouldn't know, prince,” Solany dryly replied.
“Ready the guards. We’re all going on a trip.”
“Of course… Since I will be reporting to Duke Lucan, he will want to know your progress.”
The prince flexed his magic and emitted a brilliant golden-colored Victa, shaking the entire slave quarters. The ever-stoic Solany had a rare look of shock.
“Already Level 4!?”
“I’m the pinnacle of humanity,” Marvin said proudly. “The favored child of the goddess. I feel sorry for all the other people born in my generation. They’ll always be under my shadow, always striving to be the second best. Ahahahaha!”
Later that evening, Solany in a forest green dress with yellow flowers sat prim and proper in her room. Before long, a magical projection of a man appeared.
The man was a brown-haired youth but his eyes had the depth of years in them. The man was wearing thick clothes suitable for cold weather and a sword strapped to his waist. On top of that, he donned the fur of a gray wolf, with the monster’s head resting on his left shoulder.
“Duke Lucan,” Solany solemnly greeted the Level 5.
“I trust you are well, daughter?”
The two looked like siblings but were actually father and child. They had a small talk in the beginning before moving on to the at of the matter.
“So the son of Giselle escaped. Pity. I would have liked him captured. If not, eliminated.”
Then they talked about Prince Marvin Topaz Latias, who Solany Lucan was betrothed to, the latter’s cousin.
“His 17th birthday celebration had just passed and now he’s a Level 4. The boy’s a genius, daughter.”
“Yes.”
Faced with such a fact, Solany couldn't say a single word of disagreent.
“All the resources I poured into him are not wasted. Good. Good,” Duke Lucan was all smiles. “Even though Marvin is the 40th prince, his talents completely overshadow most of his older siblings. Mark my words, he will be king, Solany. When he does, you will be queen! The Lucan dynasty will dawn upon Latias.”
“Yes, Father.”
Solany had heard this talk a hundred tis already.
Then she told her father about how Marvin ruled his territory.
“Father, why did you give this territory from your duchy to be Marvin’s playground? You even allowed his every whim.”
“If he was to rule Latias one day, he has to learn. There are good reasons why all lords and ladies do not mindcontrol their populace.”
“The Church. The Silver Legion might co knocking on their door,” Solany said.
“That’s one, but there are other reasons. Let Marvin have his way. Let him fail. Let him grow. Your fiancee is talented, this is true, but he still has a lot to learn.”
“I shall abide,” the brunette was the very picture of a devoted child.
“Does Marvin playing with other won bother you?” The Duke asked.
“No.”
Solany tsked inside her mind. The answer was a split second late and her father would not have missed her lie.
“Marvin is young, let him sow his wild oats. How can you know your wine is of the highest quality if you never taste other wines? Do not let your heart waver, for my daughter is far better than the lasses of lower nobility. He would soon realize that.”
“Father is wise.”
“I’m needed elsewhere. Farewell, Solany.”
Duke Lucan’s projection ended and Solany was once more alone in her room. She remained seated for a minute, putting her mind and heart in order before she grood herself.
“Hellooo~ beautiful!”
Not a mont too soon, Marvin barged into her room without knocking. He paused looking at the heavenly muse in front of him.
“By the Goddess, aren't you ravishing tonight… Even the two moons are pale in comparison to you at this mont. So, you can't wait too, hm? Well, well, let redy that.”
The prince dived into the bed and the bed rocked until the sun was up.
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