Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 90 : Madman
30 minutes.
Even though 30 minutes had passed since the envoys arrived at the reception room, the 1st Prince was not showing even a shadow of himself.
“What happened? Did sothing go wrong?”
“Indeed? Perhaps it wasn't conveyed that we arrived?”
As the waiting ti grew longer, agitation spread among the envoys.
“…….”
Of course, I, Hein, who had guessed this kind of situation from the beginning, was reading a book with a nonchalant expression, though.
“……Where is the 1st Prince?”
And the person who broke the silence weighing down the reception room was not the 1st Prince, but his biological younger sister, Isabella.
After finishing her report, she appeared wearing a dress to welco the envoys, and her appearance was dazzlingly beautiful.
“……I have reported it several tis but…….”
“Understood. I will go and bring him myself.”
Her face, asking the servant about the whereabouts of the 1st Prince, soon flushed red.
“Please wait a mont. It seems there was so mistake so…….”
Isabella bowed her head once towards the envoys and scurried towards the 1st Prince's bedchamber.
“…….”
Her gaze, while scurrying, lingered on reading a book for a very brief mont, but since the ti the gaze lingered was too short, no one noticed that fact.
And about 10 minutes after Isabella disappeared.
“Yaaawn!”
The owner of this place, the 1st Prince of the Akrishima Empire, ‘Themia Tercios’, revealed his appearance.
The superior bloodline of the Imperial Family was already well-known, but even among them, the 1st Prince, Themia, had a decidedly striking appearance.
Flowing silver hair, smooth skin, features reminiscent of a carved sculpture, limbs stretched out straight without an ounce of fat, and blue eyes that looked as if the essence of the ocean had been scooped up and poured in.
‘Themia’s’ appearance was beautiful enough not to lag behind Isabella who led him to this place.
And from Themia's mouth, finally revealing himself in front of the envoys…….
“Yawn…… You said there was an accident on the way?”
A voice heavily tinged with drowsiness that hadn't fully cleared yet flowed out.
“Since you guys suffered inconvenience, I feel very sorry, so just understand moderately on your own. Haha, there are so many crazy bastards these days.”
“……!”
“Now, is that enough? I apologized as you told to.”
Anger ford on the face of Isabella, who saw the 1st Prince apologizing reluctantly while being pushed by his younger sister, and bewildernt ford on the faces of the envoys.
If not for my quick response, the envoys would have beco ghosts without seeing the rising sun today.
But for the words coming out of the mouth of the person responsible for this situation to be like that?
“Broth- no, Your Highness! What are you saying right now!”
“If we search with determination, we could find which bastard plotted this, but then we have to cover everything in blood to crush that guy. But if such a thing happens, you guys won't feel comfortable either, right?”
Themia continued speaking in a languid voice while stretching his body long on the Crown Prince's exclusive seat located at the seat of honor.
“You ca to a feast because there was sothing to celebrate, but if the host jumps up and does a sword dance just because of a minor inconvenience I experienced, how uncomfortable would the guests be.”
A brazen tone as if he was covering up the ambush incident as is for your sakes.
“And you said no one died? Then it's all good, whatever.”
At the 1st Prince's brazenness dismissing the crisis of life they experienced as a ‘minor matter’, so of the envoys could not hide their bewildernt.
Because the brazenness Themia was showing was a brazenness outside the norm, surpassing differences in national power or status.
“Your Highness!”
Eventually, Isabella, unable to watch this scene any longer, raised her voice once again, but.
“My cute younger sister. Don't be so angry. What are you going to do if wrinkles form around those pretty eyes?”
“Your Highness, in front of people who ca a long way, how can you say such……!”
“Ah, ah. Stop, stop. Okay, okay. My lovely sister, don't be too harsh. I still prepared a gift for these people.”
The 1st Prince's frivolous attitude was the sa, but at the word ‘gift’ coming from his mouth, the ears of the envoys perked up.
Anyway, if it was a gift prepared by the 1st Prince of that Empire, from the perspective of envoys from weak nations, it was impossible not to be interested.
“You guys from Nefam and Volmada, you can just go back as is without waiting until the Sacred Festival ends. Well, if you say sothing like you were so shocked by the attack or whatever, you'll have enough of an excuse to return roughly, right? I'll report appropriately to the Royal Father, so know that.”
The 1st Prince waved his hand and gave an order to the envoys of Volmada and Nefam.
“Well, that doesn't an go right now. When you guys ca here, you must have thought of this and what you wanted to do, right? I will allow you to do those things. So finish all your personal business and return. When returning, you don't need to report separately.”
“Your Highness! If we did sothing wrong, even now, forgiveness…….”
“Your Highness, please reconsider once again!”
At the 1st Prince's expulsion order that wasn't quite an expulsion order, the envoys put on expressions of being deeply hurt, but,
“Bullshit.”
The 1st Prince, dismissing his impressions of their acting with this single word, just waved his hand again.
“Anyway, what you want is to feed all the bribes you want to feed to our Empire's noble high officials and safely pull your bodies out. Since I'm saying I'll let you do that, stop spouting nonsense and disappear. What are you doing? Not escorting those people out.”
The envoys of Nefam and Volmada showed expressions as if they were being pushed out by the 1st Prince's coercion, but in fact, their inner thoughts matched exactly with the 1st Prince's words.
Pulling their bodies out as quickly as possible from the Empire's capital, which was like a tiger's maw, was what they desperately desired.
Although they almost lost their lives, thanks to it, the envoys of Nefam and Volmada ended up on their way ho earlier than scheduled, having achieved exactly what they wanted.
And the 1st Prince's gaze, having sent out the envoys of Nefam and Volmada…….
“Hey, you. You don't go and stay here.”
Landed on , who was standing a little distance away from the other envoys.
“Black hair, what's your na?”
“Brother! Grand Duke Reichart is soone who ca here representing a nation to celebrate the Sacred Festival!”
Eventually, the title ‘Brother’ popped out of Isabella's mouth.
“So what? Just looking at him, he looks younger than .”
“Brother, this place is not for discussing age difference…….”
“What? Is that black-haired kid's title anything special? So what about it? Sister, this brother is none other than the legitimate son of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“To talk about such things now……!”
“My blood is higher class, my status is higher, and even my age is older. So what on earth is the problem with speaking informally a little?”
However, despite Isabella's protest, the 1st Prince didn't seem to have any intention of changing his current attitude.
I, watching this appearance silently.
‘Still, his condition looks a bit okay today.’
Nodded my head thinking the sa thing.
As soone who knew too well what kind of person ‘Themia Tercios’ was through mories of the past life, this level of treatnt was not sothing surprising in the first place.
“What's your na?”
“Hein Reichart. I am called Hein Reichart of Zodiac, Your Highness.”
“Aha! You were that Hein Reichart? Sister, that friend you told about last ti, the one rumored to have devoured the king he served, his na is Hein Reichart, right?”
“…….”
At Themia's truly explicit words, Isabella only blushed and said nothing.
“More than that, I heard you cleaned up all the assassins alone this ti? You, are you pretty good with a sword? Oh my, looking at you now, you're quite handso too. Do you have a lover?”
Making an expression like a child who just received a toy as a gift, the 1st Prince poured out questions.
“I was rely lucky, Your Highness.”
“Luck? Right. Whether luck or whatever, first I have to give you a reward too. Isabella.”
“Please speak…… Your Highness.”
“Ehe, I told you to call Oppa. Anyway, since that friend established a big rit and all, as a reward for that, give a deep kiss on your friend's lips or sothing.”
“Hey! You!!”
The mont the word ‘kiss’ ca out, Isabella eventually exploded.
“Why? Can't you do even that much for the person who saved Oppa's face? You would be satisfied with that much too, right? No, no. This, cancel.”
However, Themia was still only giggling.
“If by any chance a rumor spreads that that black hair stole our Princess's first kiss, the knight bastards who only stare at Isabella's lips day and night will try to stick a knife in that friend's back, right? Hey, sorry. This is canceled.”
Watching Themia's incomparably frivolous behavior that did not suit his noble status at all, I muttered in a low voice inside my heart.
‘Crazy bastard.’
If soone with a sowhat excessively positive mindset, who didn't know what kind of person Themia was, stood in my position, they might have accepted the current situation cheerfully.
Thinking that the frivolous appearance the 1st Prince shows is a show to relieve his tension.
But I knew.
That Themia smiling so brightly over there is-
‘A guy who might rush at saying he'll cut off my head right now in 1 minute.’
A genuine madman harboring a terrible toxicity that is absolutely impossible to decipher.
Therefore, to not fall for Themia's pace, I was just showing respect in a posture kneeling on one knee.
“Then at this point, one serious question. Hey, are you the sword, or the brain?”
Themia, who had been giggling for a long ti, suddenly threw a question with a serious expression.
“I just thought of it, but I heard you pass as a Grand Duke in your country? Usually, when a young guy like you rises to such a high position, there tends to be one exceptional strength in the person concerned. Either using the sword well, or having a good brain, or if not that, having incredibly high-class blood like .”
I did not miss madness flashing for a mont in those blue eyes when the word ‘blood’ ca out of Themia's mouth.
“But looking at it, it doesn't seem like you are of noble lineage like . So I'm asking if it's the sword or the brain. Try answering. Which of the two is it?”
“……How could I boast of my insignificant sword skills in front of Your Highness.”
“What? Then you an the brain? You don't look like it, but you show off a lot. Are you saying, I fight well enough to sweep away assassins alone but actually my brain is better, sothing like that? It's starting to get annoying.”
“Brother!”
“Okay, okay. I'll stop. But Isabella. You saw it too, right? Usually, if I say this, everyone flinches, but that friend doesn't even budge? Kick, wow, a rare interesting friend has entered.”
Perhaps inevitably glad to et , Themia showed a grinning smile rubbing his hands together.
“You, just stay put and wait until the Sacred Festival ends for now. Ah right, I keep forgetting about giving a reward. Look here, Lord Grand Duke. Listen well to what I say from now on. For soone who uses a sword, looking at you, it seems you don't possess a single decent artifact.”
Themia's gaze scanned my whole body up and down.
“Looking at it, that sword seems quite usable, but that's all, right? I'll be generous. As a reward for saving my face, I will give you one thing you want among the items in the treasure warehouse.”
“……!”
As the word treasure warehouse ca out of Themia's mouth, the eyes of Isabella and the lined-up knights turned huge.
The treasure warehouse Themia speaks of is exclusive to the Imperial Family.
But to give one from among those to ?
And whatever I want at that?
“Go pick. Since there will be this and that which are quite usable.”
“Your Highness, it is presumptuous to say, but to say you will open the Imperial Treasure Warehouse privately to an outsider…….”
“Hey, enough! The owner says I will give it, so who are you guys to be noisy!”
“Your Highness, thank you for your words, but it is a grace too undeserved for .”
“Hey, if I say I'm giving it, just shut your mouth and take it. Don't speak nonsense.”
The Empire's subjects dissuaded him and I also expressed refusal repeatedly, but Themia's will was unmoving.
“I am grateful, Your Highness.”
“Isabella will guide you to the treasure warehouse.”
Eventually, I had to pretend not to win and accept Themia's kindness.
“Ah, right. Isabella, you hate being alone with a man to death except for this Oppa. Then Isabella, you just stay here, and who would be good to guide?”
“……I will guide the Grand Duke.”
“Uh? What's going on? Was a handso guy like that your type?”
When Isabella cut off his words and ca forward, Themia made a feigned surprised expression and teased.
“It is to apologize on behalf of Your Highness for the rudeness Your Highness committed to the Grand Duke, so. I. hope. you. would. stop. spouting. non. sense. Your. High. ness.”
“Oi, Mr. Grand Duke? Did you hear? She says it's nonsense. What to do, it's disappointing?”
Isabella just retorted with a cold expression.
But as if watching such an appearance of his younger sister was very enjoyable, Themia did not stop giggling.
“Okay, then try following the beautiful Miss Isabella. Since I need to sleep a little more.”
“Please follow , Grand Duke. I will guide you.”
“Then I will withdraw now, Your Highness.”
I left a greeting to the 1st Prince that I would withdraw and followed behind Isabella out of the reception room.
“Grand Duke, I hope you do not take the drastic words His Highness said too much to heart. Since the Prince's nature is so eccentric, there is a side of him that acts more mischievously especially to those he likes…….”
“It is fine. Since I do not mind, the Imperial Princess does not need to mind either.”
“If the Grand Duke thinks so sincerely, it is fortunate but…….”
My words that I do not mind Themia's remarks were sincere. No, to speak a little more accurately, should I say I cannot mind Themia's remarks?
Right now inside my head…….
‘Would that item still remain in the Imperial Treasure Warehouse?’
It was completely filled with a certain artifact that would be sleeping in the Imperial Treasure Warehouse.
As befitting the Empire's treasure warehouse where only the most noble and valuable things in the world are gathered, inside it overflowed with valuable armants whose value could not be described in words.
But there was no way I would fall into agony over which one to choose among them.
From the mont I heard to pick one of the items in the Imperial Treasure Warehouse, I had already made the choice.
To hide my heart rate that suddenly quickened upon thinking of that armant, I put on a feigned nonchalant expression.
‘……Magic Armor of Spirit Soul.’
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