Thirty minutes later.
"Lord Jared, I apologize on behalf of Brother Jess. He has such a fiery temper..."
"It's alright. It's not like I didn't know. Haha."
Izuel and I were walking along the garden set up outside the banquet hall, chatting. Although Jess had caused a scene, the atmosphere of the banquet began to warm up again, given the day it was. Meanwhile, King Deckard IX entrusted the continuation of the banquet to Ptalyn and returned to his quarters. However, seeing that he left holding the hand of a concubine instead of the queen, it seemed there were adult matters at play.
In any case, once the king left, the dynamics changed significantly. The atmosphere of the banquet began to flow around Ptalyn and Jess. The two princes seemed to compete openly, raising their voices to lead the mood. The retainers from both factions matched their rhythm, and thanks to that, the attention that had been on Izuel naturally shifted away. It seemed there were hardly any nobles who considered the fourth prince a priority in the succession race.
"I've heard a lot about Lord Jared. It would be wonderful if a lord like you were a subject of our kingdom."
At that moment, a woman who had been quietly following us at a distance of about five steps spoke to me.
"Everyone says the same thing, and I'm not sure how to respond. But I'm just a minor local lord for now."
I replied humbly.
Princess Myra. The youngest and only princess among Deckard IX's four sons and one daughter. Since I arrived at the royal castle, she had been following Izuel closely, and I wondered why. It turned out she was playing the role of his bodyguard. Her stats were quite high. She felt like a lower version of Ella? However, she had honed a special trait with 'One Strike Kill S,' making her capable of delivering a fatal blow. With this level of swordsmanship, she was more than capable of serving as a prince's bodyguard.
"Please lend your strength to my brother, Lord Jared."
"Myra, hold your tongue."
"I'm sorry, brother. It's just frustrating how the retainers completely ignore you..."
Izuel quickly silenced Myra. He seemed aware that a single wrong word could be used against him by the enemies – the second and third princes. I quietly looked around. There were royal guards walking at a distance, as if escorting us. It was only natural since there was a prince present. At that moment, the royal guards' attention turned elsewhere.
I deployed the Mute Magic. A transparent dome formed, enveloping Izuel, Myra, and me.
"Prince."
"Speak freely. You have something to say to me, seeing as you're using Mute Magic."
Izuel's eyes sparkled. I nodded and continued.
"How much do you know about Princes Ptalyn and Jess?"
"Well... I don't monitor their every move. But I know what I need to know."
"Let me get straight to the point. Are you aware that the two princes believe in the Umbra Cult?"
At that moment, Izuel stopped walking. His expression and movements froze as if he had turned to ice. Myra was equally shocked, turning around urgently to check the royal guards, even though the Mute Magic was controlling all sound. Her rational thoughts crumbled in her startled heart.
Izuel spoke belatedly.
"That can't be. It's just a rumor."
Was it the remaining brotherly affection or sympathy? Izuel shook his head.
"Can you swear on your name, Prince, that you can guarantee it to me?"
When I sharply questioned him, Izuel's expression wavered even more. He seemed genuinely surprised that I knew something I shouldn't have known.
"How on earth... How did you know? Only Myra and I are supposed to know about that..."
Izuel trailed off but nodded. It was an affirmation. It seemed he knew but had kept it hidden. I understood. If he raised suspicions without evidence, he could be caught in a backlash and lose his life.
"There are likely secret gatherings or rituals happening without anyone knowing. Prince, to win every battle, you must know your enemy and yourself."
"Know your enemy and yourself, and you will win a hundred battles."
"Yes. Prince, from now on, discreetly investigate and gather information on all the heretical activities of the two princes. This device will come in handy."
"Device?"
I made my move. I sided with the fourth prince and devised a plan to catch the second and third princes off guard. It was a strategy only I could choose, as I could see through the secretive wrongdoings of the two princes.
I took out a video device from my subspace. It could record about an hour's worth of footage and capture clear images from a distance of 100 meters.
"If you use this magical tool, you can capture gatherings or secret rituals on video. It will be irrefutable evidence."
"Lord Jared, are you helping me?"
"I am not a subject of the kingdom. I am merely speaking as an outsider who wishes for the kingdom to flow in the right direction."
I maintained a suitable distance. Izuel was smart, so he would understand my underlying meaning. My words meant not to trust and rely on me unconditionally. Until the moment you draw your sword, no one should know that you were sharpening it to be the true victor.
"Remember. The Kingdom of Sinders has long pursued the divinity of Radius. And the Umbra Cult is a perfect antithesis."
"I understand what you mean."
"Yes, Prince. Don't be swayed by the power you see on the surface. Depending on the situation, connections can crumble like a sandcastle."
Izuel nodded repeatedly, as if he had realized something. Although I am not particularly religious, I know how important a religion that has been with you since birth can be as a guide in life. My father and younger sister were devout believers.
I had made Izuel aware that he had a powerful weapon and advised him to use it as a means to exploit his brothers' weaknesses. The fight for the throne should never involve emotions, sympathy, or compassion.
"I look forward to the day we meet again. Feel free to send me a letter anytime. I wish Princess Myra peace as well."
I bowed my head and greeted Izuel and Myra. Although no direct words were exchanged, we were clearly communicating with each other.
The next day.
Hayes and I were walking along the main street of the royal castle, waiting for Aki to return from her work.
"A lord waiting for the merchant leader, it's kind of strange. Hoho."
"Indeed. Usually, the lord should be the one being waited for, but with no work, I have no choice but to be idle."
"Even so, it's really nice to see you smiling so cheerfully, my lord!"
Hayes showed a bright smile. She is someone who truly suits laughter. Just being by her side, it feels like her overflowing bright energy is constantly being transmitted.
"Hayes, since we're at the royal castle, should I buy you a new outfit?"
As I kept looking at her, her clothes caught my attention. Of course, she chose to wear simple casual clothes, but they seemed overly modest. While there's no need to avoid frugality, she was one of the people who accompanied me closely. She was also a promising healer I was strategically nurturing.
"What? Clothes? No, my lord! I'm perfectly comfortable and happy with what I'm wearing now."
"Clothes make the man. And the attire of an attendant can affect the perceived value of the person they serve."
I didn't want to become a lord who indulges in luxury, but I did want to be a lord who elevates the value of those around me.
"It's okay, my lord. Don't worry about it!"
"No, no. Let's go. I'll get you a new outfit."
Convincing Hayes, who always had a passive skill of humble refusal, was difficult. I knew that rational persuasion didn't work well. So, I tightly held her hand.
And.
"Ah! My lord!"
I started moving towards the clothing store visible ahead. Clothes are indeed wings. And I wanted to give Hayes wings. Considering her fair skin and sparkling eyes, she would look like an angel in new clothes.
"My lord, how about this outfit?"
"It looks good."
"Hmm, I'll try one more! The finish seems a bit lacking!"
"Try on as many as you like until you're satisfied. That's why we're here."
'I overlooked the fact that waiting is a basic option when accompanying a woman shopping.'
I chuckled. It was a moment when I recalled the dating stories that had 'never' been part of my previous life. I didn't understand why friends with girlfriends or married friends were so reluctant to go shopping together back then. Experiencing it firsthand, I think I understand now.
When we came in, I told her not to worry about the price and to choose the clothes she liked, but she kept asking the owner about the price! And if it was more expensive than expected, she didn't choose it. Still, while watching Hayes' fashion show with a pleased heart, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten. It was an issue that had been erased from my mind at some point because I had been too busy with administrative work in the territory.
I checked the territory window connected to the Crivia territory.
[Special Situation 1: The Crivia territory is adjacent to the Forest of Nightmares. Every year on July 1st, when the main star Deus and the guest star Vendela align in the sky, a large-scale invasion of monsters occurs towards the Crivia territory.]
'Today is June 9th, so there's about three weeks left. Although I have thought of a response method, as the D-day approaches, I can't help but feel anxious.'
A large-scale invasion of monsters. In <Paradiso>, this was called a Monster Outbreak. If faced unprepared, it becomes a disaster, but if met with preparation, it becomes a bounty of experience points.
'Using a large number of soldiers and hunters for a frontal response isn't fun in terms of fighting, right? More importantly, I can't monopolize the experience points. If I use the dimensional gate bug well, a one-person defense might be possible.'
My mind began to work busily. It would be more efficient for me to grow rather than relying on ordinary soldiers or hunters with no ties.
'Let's see...'
Just as I was about to delve into my thoughts.
"Tada! My lord, how about this? I've decided on this one!"
Finally, Hayes seemed to have made up her mind, shouting energetically as she came out of the fitting room.
"Wow! You look really pretty. Like an angel."
"Hehe, really? I'm glad you see it that way, my lord!"
At that moment, I set aside my thoughts about defense and couldn't help but admire her appearance. Her emerald hair cascading down to her shoulders, her lips shining red. Her dazzling shoulders and fair milk-white skin. The flowing dress barely covered half of her thighs, revealing her long, straight legs. Who wouldn't call her beautiful? I dare say no one.
"And with healing magic too!"
Hayes created a deep white sphere in both hands, symbolizing healing.
"How do I look? Do I really seem like an angel?"
In response, instead of answering, I simply raised my thumb.