Why Did You Mess With Him? He’s the Evil God’s Lackey! Chapter 169

Chapter 169: You Have Nothing Left to Say!

Beneath the enormous golden palace, the air felt incomparably heavy.

Countless ministers stood with their heads bowed, not daring to make a single sound.

The solemnity inside the entire Grand Hall had reached a level that bordered on frightening.

This atmosphere could be attributed to none other than Auréliane's arrival.

This Princess—who had almost never once appeared in the Grand Hall—had, for the very first ti, co here in person.

When the surrounding officials laid eyes on Auréliane, every single one of them froze.

After all, this was the Princess's very first ti attending Morning Court.

What did this an?

Not one of the ministers present had any idea, and not one of them dared to find out.

A Princess did not serve as regent—this was common knowledge.

Moreover, Auréliane's greatest claim to notoriety was still her reputation as nothing more than a Decorative Vase Princess.

Though public opinion of the Princess had shifted sowhat of late—after all, Viktor, the Empire's most powerful 4th-Tier Mage, had beco her teacher, making people realize that Auréliane might genuinely possess so degree of ability as a Mage.

But no matter how capable, no matter how much opinions had changed, she was still, at the end of the day, a Princess.

Auréliane, however, paid no mind to the officials' bewildered stares, and settled quietly into the seat positioned just below the Emperor.

Wearing an expression of artless innocence, she watched those officials whose faces were written over with unbearable tension.

Indeed—this aged Emperor had even had a chair prepared inside the Grand Hall for this most cherished daughter of his.

This was treatnt that not even the 2 Princes had ever received.

Yet however they turned it over in their minds, they found it sohow made sense.

As Emperor, His Majesty would never do as the nobles did and align himself openly behind one Prince or another by na.

For doing so would an publicly declaring his chosen successor.

A Princess, however, sidestepped that controversy entirely, which ant the Emperor could shower his daughter with boundless affection right in front of everyone without it carrying a shred of political implication.

After all, no matter how much he doted on her—the final outco for a Princess was only ever 1 thing.

Arranged Marriage.

Yet observing the posture Emperor Aubrey had adopted, many ministers still felt a creeping unease.

They had no idea what had brought the Princess here today.

Surely she hadn't co simply to watch a Morning Court session and unwind.

Or perhaps... this Morning Court itself had sothing to do with her?

With the heavy drums of dawn beaten to signal the session's start, Emperor Aubrey on his throne gave a wave of his hand to the ministers bowing before him.

The assembled officials slowly straightened, and began reporting to the Emperor one by one.

"Your Majesty, Prince Owaise has arrived at the Northern Frontier's Pallid Mage Society and has t with General Vladimir."

"It is expected that within a few days, the truth behind the Northern Frontier Demon incident will be brought to light."

Another group of officials stepped forward imdiately after, unwilling to be outdone, and continued:

"Your Majesty, a great upheaval has erupted from the Magical Creature rifts in the south, but Prince Aubeny returned to the south not long ago to suppress it."

"Before long, reports of victory from the front lines will arrive."

The 2 factions in the Morning Court took turns one after another, each as though terrified of falling behind the other, reporting on the achievents of their respective Princes.

Despite the fact that neither side had yet taken any substantial action whatsoever, the way these officials spoke made it sound as though both Princes had already accomplished their respective objectives.

The entire Morning Court devolved into a scramble, with virtually all of it devoted to arguing over whose faction held the greater rit.

Before long, what had begun as a comparison of the Princes' prospective accomplishnts shifted into the officials taking turns despising and impeaching one another.

Auréliane watched this chaotic spectacle with an expression of mild surprise.

This was her first Morning Court, and naturally, her first encounter with such a scene.

It was sowhat different from what she had imagined.

Aubrey sat on his throne and looked down at Auréliane with a smiling squint.

"Disappointed, aren't you, Auréliane."

"But this is how it is every morning—I've grown quite used to it."

The Emperor chuckled on his throne, and with each laugh, the ministers below involuntarily lowered their heads a fraction further, not daring to say a word.

That laughter carried the distinct air of watching Clowns perform, mocking every last one of them.

And yet—every one of them still desperately wanted to be the retainer who rode to glory alongside the next Emperor.

With the Emperor's years plainly dwindling, they appeared more frantic than anyone.

The Emperor on his throne showed no irritation whatsoever, simply narrowing his eyes and laughing to himself as he continued:

"Now you understand why your teacher almost never cos here?"

Auréliane nodded with a thoughtful expression.

Though she was still, after all, an underage Princess—and given that identity, there were certain things she was certainly not supposed to understand.

Even if she did understand, she could not let on that she did.

And so, wearing an expression of complete innocence, she asked her Imperial Father:

"Why do my Imperial Brothers go off and do such dangerous things?"

Aubrey rested one hand on the armrest of his throne, tapping it idly with his fingers as he said with a smile:

"Naturally, for the Empire—for our nation."

Auréliane nodded, and continued in that sa tone of artless naivety:

"My teacher said he wants to take south, to the Magical Creature rifts there, for so real-world experience."

"I also want to be like my eldest Imperial Brother and help vanquish the Magical Creatures."

The mont the Princess spoke those words, Aubrey hadn't yet reacted, but the officials on the First Prince's side erupted as though a pot had been overturned, falling into extre agitation.

They bent at the waist and hurriedly addressed the Emperor:

"By no ans, Your Majesty!"

A crowd of ministers stepped out to the center of the Grand Hall, craning their necks up toward Aubrey, and recited the risks and downsides in trembling voices:

"The Princess is of the most precious constitution—she absolutely cannot be permitted to put herself in danger!"

"The south's Magical Creature gathering grounds have the First Prince commanding troops there—that is more than sufficient!"

They looked genuinely alard.

Whatever the Princess herself was thinking was one matter.

But what Viktor was capable of in a fight—that they understood perfectly well.

The War Magic that had ignited across the entire Royal Capital's sky that day had been witnessed by countless nobles and officials with their own eyes.

If he were actually allowed to take the Princess there, what room would that leave for the First Prince?

What Magical Creature uprising?

This man drops 1 spell, and how many Magical Creatures would even be left alive?

But constrained by the indirectness required in court, they naturally could not voice their true thoughts plainly.

They could only feign concern for the Princess's safety as a pretense to persuade Aubrey to deny her request.

Before they had even finished speaking, Auréliane's gaze drifted over toward them, utterly calm.

"Master Quintin, I believe you are the Director of the Magical Creature Managent Bureau."

The man called Quintin appeared not to have anticipated that Auréliane would have committed his identity to mory.

Watching Quintin's expression of blank bewildernt, Auréliane began to speak in asured, unhurried tones:

"The army my eldest Imperial Brother commands is composed predominantly of 1st to 2nd-Tier Warriors and Knight formations, with 3rd-Tier individuals being few and far between."

"And there are only a handful of 2nd-Tier Mage corps that could be charitably described as logistical support."

As she spoke, an imnse and sweeping torrent of Magic Power surged from within Auréliane's body.

The Magic Power instantly subrged the entire Grand Hall, as though flooding it with a deep and boundless sea.

Countless ministers felt that terrifying aura and couldn't help but blink in disbelief.

Hadn't they been told that the so-called Decorative Vase Princess was rely an ordinary 1st-Tier Mage?

Then what on earth was the aning of this volu of Magic Power that might not even be matched by a 2nd-Tier Mage?

She was only 15 years old!

Auréliane took in the stares of the assembled ministers with perfect composure and said:

"Do you believe my capabilities fall short of theirs?"

Her words carried within them an undeniable, unquestionable air of dominance.

At this, Quintin was left utterly speechless by Auréliane's rebuke.

He turned his gaze toward the Second Prince's faction.

The nobles and ministers on that side understood perfectly well.

Taking this opportunity to pile on and attack the First Prince's faction—that was no good thing to get involved in.

What happens once happens twice. If this ti Auréliane were truly allowed to leave with Viktor under the na of real-world experience—

then it would be the First Prince's side taking the hit this round, and next ti, it might very well be the Second Prince's turn.

And so they were willing to back Quintin up.

A minister from the Second Prince's faction stepped forward and said:

"Your Highness, you do indeed possess exceptional ability for your age. Yet Prince Aubeny has departed with an entire army, ensuring adequate protection."

"With all due respect, while Count Viktor is powerful, in the midst of combat, I fear he may not be able to look after you..."

"Then just add to the mix, yeah?"

A languid voice suddenly rang out from outside.

Without exception, everyone was drawn toward that voice.

What they saw was a mass of white cloud.

Drifting slowly, from outside the Grand Hall, floating in.

When they fixed their gazes upon the figure seated atop the cloud, their pupils contracted sharply in an instant, utterly stunned.

Cocotte Yadh!

Ever since Leah had brought her to make an appearance in the Imperial Palace that one ti, those nobles and ministers had ford a deep and lasting impression of this Elf.

The future Elven Queen—and likewise, a forr Mage Council mber who had been acquainted with the current Emperor from long ago.

The minister who had just stepped forward was so startled he almost lost his voice.

"Y—Yadh Council mber."

The 5th Tier—a realm that countless people could only dream of, or could scarcely even conceive of.

And Cocotte was that 1-in-tens-of-millions existence who stood on the verge of crossing into the 5th Tier.

In this mont, every word of concern he had just spoken seed to have turned to rubbish.

If a Mage of this caliber couldn't protect a Princess, who on earth could?

Would they have His Majesty the Emperor co out in person?

But they still weren't willing to give up, and soone else stepped forward, continuing:

"Even so... Your Highness, you ought at least to have a guard unit capable of protecting you..."

The mont those words fell, from outside the Grand Hall ca the ringing clang of iron armor.

Everyone without exception looked outward, wanting to see where this sound of steel was coming from.

Suddenly, their eyes went wide.

Outside the doors, a legion of Demi-humans had assembled in formation.

Atop their heads, various animal features—cat ears, dog ears—twitched and quivered in the morning sunlight.

They wore iron armor forged from bone, gleaming brilliantly.

Raised spikes protruded from the plating, lending them the visage of wild beasts, inspiring a creeping sense of unease.

Amid this entirely Demi-human legion, they spotted a single human woman.

She stood out strikingly.

Her body radiated an overwhelmingly powerful 4th-Tier aura.

She wore the sa armor as the Demi-humans, carried the sa weapons.

A few sharp-eyed ministers recognized the woman.

"Isn't that the 4th-Tier Adventurer from the south—the Blade Assassin, Elsa?!"

"How can this be—wasn't she taken on as Lady Cassana's guard?"

Amid a wave of collective shock, an even crisper sound of tal armor clashing slowly drew near.

Gwen walked out, step by step.

Her back to the morning sun, the brand-new silver armor on her body glead brilliantly beneath the light.

Like a Sun Goddess stepping forth from a radiance all her own, she embodied a dignity and strength that belonged to her alone.

At her waist hung a red blade that radiated a terrifying aura—one glance was enough to sense the boundless fla that burned within it.

She stepped forward slowly and took her place at the head of all the Demi-humans, standing just outside the Grand Hall.

The instant they caught sight of Gwen, those nobles froze.

There before Emperor Aubrey, she slowly raised one arm across her chest and lowered herself onto one knee.

Shhhk!

Behind her, the entire Demi-human guard unit followed in perfect unison, saluting the Emperor alongside Gwen.

A surge of iron-blooded, powerful energy rose from this Demi-human legion—like a mighty entity possessing its own primal will.

A terrifying hunting instinct pierced into the Grand Hall, making every minister's hair stand on end.

But then, that ferocious aura vanished from the Grand Hall—utterly still, like the surface of a lake.

Those ministers naturally understood: no matter how complex an aura, it could not simply vanish entirely of its own accord.

Unless.....soone of far greater power had arrived.

Their guess was not wrong.

From the shadows of the Grand Hall, traces began to erge—that black ink-like substance, rapidly condensing across the floor beneath the ministers' feet.

Before long, a patch of pitch-black began to churn, and a powerful, solid figure began to reassemble itself piece by piece.

A man in a Coat stood in the midst of the crowd.

A calm, detached voice, entirely familiar to them, slowly rang out.

"The army you wanted—I've brought it."

Both hands in his pockets, the familiar pitch-black Crow perched on his shoulder, declaring his identity without a word.

Beneath the stunned gazes of countless people, he tilted his head back ever so slightly, and regarded them with cold arrogance.

"Well then."

"Nothing left to say?"