Volume 4, Chapter 10 – The Secret of the Northern Prince

A slender man with long golden hair tied back, dressed in magnificent formal wear, was walking through the royal palace of Blossom.

A white cloak extended from the man’s collar all the way to his ankles. Beneath it was an incredibly stately, milky-white formal suit inlaid with gold thread. A neatly trimmed mustache, various medals adorning his chest, and impeccably shiny leather boots gave the man the initial air of a military officer. But this man was no imperial general; he was the even higher-ranking Imperial Prince.

Aldrich Alexia Diego.

He was the elder brother of the current King of Silvar, enfeoffed as the Northern Prince of the kingdom. As for his white-and-gold attire, it was not the kingdom’s fashion but his own personal taste. Although some nobles had tactfully suggested to him that his clothes looked utterly foolish, he continued to do as he pleased, with no intention of changing.

It was clear that Aldrich was in an excellent mood. His steps were light, his expression jubilant. Not only that, but the male guard following behind him also wore a look of smug satisfaction.

“It’s a pity you can’t smoke in the palace. It really spoils the mood,” Aldrich sighed, smacking his lips as he walked on the red carpet. The male guard behind him hurried forward, bowing obsequiously.

“Once you become the master of this place, my lord, no rules will be able to bind you.”

“What kind of talk is that? Shut your mouth.”

Although he disciplined his subordinate with harsh words, any discerning eye could see that Aldrich was not angry; he was merely putting on an act.

After smacking the guard on the head, he turned and subconsciously made a motion to light a cigarette. Only after his fingers moved did he remember that due to the [Citadel of Silence] barrier, magic could not be used in the palace. And even if it could, he wasn’t allowed to smoke here.

He couldn’t help but click his tongue again, stuffing his hands in his pockets and continuing forward.

Due to the Elf Kingdom’s formidable national strength, no country had ever managed to fight its way to the elven capital since Silvar’s founding. As a result, with the exception of the palace interiors, the open-air courtyards were practically unguarded. Aside from the passing maids, there were only sparse patrols of soldiers. He wasn’t worried that his conversation would be overheard by knights lining the red carpet; that kind of formation only appeared when welcoming honored guests.

After weaving through a complex maze of walls, courtyards, and gardens, Aldrich and his guard arrived before a massive blue building.

It was as if a giant, rectangular sapphire had been placed upon the earth and then carved from a single block. The palace stretched out of sight to the left and right, its dome reaching into the clouds. The exterior walls were crisscrossed with a great deal of grayish-white phosphorescent rock, which divided the entire palace into countless rooms. Complemented by reliefs and curved lines, the layered exterior, even from a distance, exuded an aura of magnificence and elegance.

Among the many palaces in Blossom, this grand blue hall was the audience chamber where the King received the various nobles and ministers.

This should have all been mine.

At this thought, Aldrich snorted heavily through his nose. He quickened his pace towards the main entrance in the distance. And just at that moment, a woman wearing a black gauze dress with a longsword at her waist entered his field of vision. Aldrich recognized her at a glance—a woman with long green hair tied into twin tails who still possessed a queenly aura, and who was permitted to carry a weapon in the palace. There was no other person like her in the entire Elf Kingdom.

Erin Slate, Captain of the Silvar Imperial Guard.

This woman has ignored my every advance, as if she looks down on me, a Prince.

This time, I’ll put you in your place.

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The memory of the last time he had professed his love to Erin Slate and been rejected flashed through his mind, and a wave of anger and shame washed over Aldrich. He subconsciously took a step to the side, blocking Erin Slate’s path.

“Well, well, Captain Erin Slate.”

Aldrich waved with a smile, greeting her.

Erin Slate immediately stopped, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword in a combat-ready stance. However, when she saw that it was Aldrich, her hand dropped. She first crossed her hands over her chest and performed an elven courtesy, then looked up and returned the smile.

“Prince Diego, it’s been a long time. Do you have time to return to the capital? How come I wasn’t notified?”

His gaze lingered on Erin Slate’s deep red eyes, and Aldrich was momentarily stunned. As the daughter of a former duke, Erin’s appearance and demeanor were both perfect. The authority of the Captain of the Guard and the elegance of a noble lady were combined in one person. The horn-like ornaments on her head, in particular, gave her the dignified air of a demon queen.

That seductive, smiling gaze is practically an invitation.

Unconsciously, Aldrich’s gaze drifted down to Erin’s chest, which was covered by the black gauze dress. Although her bosom was concealed by a large bow, her fair and alluring collarbones alone were enough to make his heart race, to say nothing of her beautifully shaped breasts and the long, slender legs outlined in graceful curves beneath the dress.

—Full where it should be full, slender where it should be slender. The high-quality black silk stockings added an endless charm to those legs; who knows how many men had fantasized about their wonderful touch.

Walking around the palace dressed like a demon queen is simply shameless. She’s deliberately seducing men!

Aldrich swallowed, his eyes moving to Erin Slate’s hands, which were covered in long, black gauze gloves.

Even her hands are evocative…

Dammit.

And of all things, this woman is an inflexible simpleton who only knows how to protect the royal family. Exiled by that hideous man, and she still says she’ll protect the capital for life. Her duty is to serve a man in bed; protecting a capital that will never be in danger is a reckless waste of her gifts!

Aldrich’s anger flared once more.

“Prince Diego?”

As if she hadn’t noticed his impolite gaze, Erin Slate tilted her head slightly, a look of confusion on her mature and elegant face.

Her slightly parted red lips are also very tempting…

But if he didn’t answer soon, even someone as staid as Erin Slate would notice something was amiss. Aldrich averted his gaze and deliberately coughed into his right hand.

“Ahem, this is a matter of utmost urgency. I had to return personally.”

“Utmost urgency?”

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Just as Aldrich had expected, Erin’s face immediately tensed. Her large chest even jiggled as she straightened her posture.

“May I ask what it is specifically?”

“Well…” Aldrich tilted his head back, his white-gloved hand stroking his chin. “Although I feel I should inform His Majesty first, the audience hall is right here. It wouldn’t hurt to tell you, Captain. What I want to say is—”

“His Majesty is not here.”

“Not here? Then where is he?”

Aldrich’s heart sank. If the Elf King wasn’t here, the impact of the secret he brought back would be greatly diminished. He might even miss the chance to savor the delightfully grim expression on his younger brother’s face.

“Does Prince Diego not know? His Majesty went south two days ago. There was an earthquake on the border with the Netherworld a while back, and it’s said that a whole section of the earth collapsed. To prevent the undead from the Netherworld from taking advantage of the situation, His Majesty left the capital as soon as the news arrived.”

“This… what is to be done…”

As Aldrich frowned, the guard behind him hurried forward and whispered in his ear.

“My lord, we can first ask who is currently presiding over the court.”

“Ah, right, I can do that.” Realizing this, Aldrich regained his noble composure and looked at Erin Slate. “Captain Erin Slate, if His Majesty is not in the capital, then who is presiding over the court?”

“It is His Highness, the Second Prince. Although His Highness is inexperienced, he is assisted by the Prime Minister and Count Evan, which is sufficient to handle simple government affairs.”

“Leaving the court to the Second Prince? How can that be! This should be the duty of the Eldest Princess!”

“Uh… Her Highness the Eldest Princess left for the Milcandis Holy Kingdom three months ago. She is not in the palace.”

Of course I know the Eldest Princess isn’t in the palace , Aldrich answered internally.

I’m only standing here because I’ve grasped her secret. Erin Slate really is a stupid woman who only knows how to practice her swordsmanship.

Aldrich couldn’t help but sigh.

“So the information I received was correct.”

Aldrich deliberately paused, subtly observing Erin Slate, who wore a tense expression. To heighten the suspense, he feigned a look of distress, beating his chest.

“Alas, I received news that Her Highness the Eldest Princess was gravely injured in the Milcandis Holy Kingdom and nearly lost her life. Although she is still alive, her mind suffered a severe blow. She has lost her memory and cannot even remember His Majesty’s name. The Holy Kingdom really went all out this time, even using the Unsinkable Moon… In any case, the Eldest Princess is in trouble.”

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“Lost her memory?!” Erin Slate exclaimed, her wide eyes testament to her shock. “How is that possible? Her Highness is a Seventh-Rank magic-caster, how could she lose her memory? Even if she couldn’t win, she could always retreat. What about the Imperial Guard with her? What about Anastasia? Where did they go?!”

“I am not clear on the details, but the intelligence I have matches what you said, Captain, about Her Highness going to the Holy Kingdom three months ago. I believe it is highly credible.”

To make it seem like he knew a great deal and to make Erin Slate admire him, Aldrich deliberately put on a worried expression—men are like that, always wanting to show off in front of a woman they like.

As Aldrich expected, Erin Slate asked with concern.

“Who told you this news?”

“A group of refugees from the Holy Kingdom who ended up in my domain. At first, my reaction was the same as yours, Captain. I thought they were exaggerating just to get me to take them in. However, when all the subsequent refugees said the same thing, I had no choice but to believe it and come here personally to confirm.”

That’s what Aldrich said, but the reality was different. He had learned of the princess’s amnesia a few days ago from members of the Imperial Guard who had returned by sea. As a Prince with many powerful nobles behind him, it was not difficult to plant spies in the Imperial Guard.

When the few guards escorting Count Evan and the Second Prince’s tutor came ashore, his spies had immediately sent the intelligence out. Sensing an opportunity, he had made some preparations before setting out for the capital.

Thinking of this, Aldrich couldn’t help but admire the ingenuity of the male guard behind him. In the past, he had only focused on the maids around the Eldest Princess. It was this guard who had reminded him to plant spies among the Imperial Guard members as well. As it turned out, that choice had been absolutely correct.

Her expression full of worry, Erin Slate frowned and lowered her head.

“This is no small matter. I must immediately send someone to inform His Majesty.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Captain. I must go to the audience hall to inform the others.”

“Of course.”

With that, Erin Slate quickly walked past Aldrich. He couldn’t help but turn to look at her graceful back, the sight of her black gauze dress bouncing as she walked filling his mind with fantasies.

Although my clever niece is also very beautiful, she pales in comparison to a voluptuous beauty like Erin Slate.

“My lord, your gaze is too obvious,” his guard reminded him in a low voice. Aldrich quickly snapped out of it.

“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After walking another hundred or two hundred meters, Aldrich arrived at the entrance to the audience hall.

“We welcome you, Lord Aldrich.”

Seeing Aldrich arrive, the members of the Imperial Guard standing on either side of the main entrance tapped their long spears on the ground, making a neat, uniform sound.

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However, almost every guard had a hint of surprise in their eyes.

The title of Northern Prince sounded impressive, but everyone knew the conditions in the north were harsh. Not only was it cold year-round, but it was also frequently harassed by monsters from the Frostlands. Logically, the Northern Prince should not be leaving his post to come to the capital with winter fast approaching. The guards couldn’t help but wonder what had brought Aldrich here today.

This was exactly what Aldrich wanted. The surprised expressions on the guards’ faces made him look smug. He straightened his back, adjusted his cloak, and then walked into the grand hall under the gaze of all the guards.

Before the Elf King’s arrival, the nobles and ministers of the kingdom had to wait in this hall before entering the audience chamber. During this waiting period, they would exchange pleasantries to pass the time.

It sounded boring, but it was an extremely important activity for the nobility.

Because all the nobles and ministers were here, one could easily see which two nobles were on good terms, and which faction each noble belonged to—nobles of the same faction would gather together, maintaining a certain distance from other factions. At the same time, nobles of the same faction would take this opportunity to exchange less-secret intelligence they had obtained the day before. Its importance was comparable to the morning assemblies in the church states.

Just as he stepped into the spacious and bright hall, Aldrich felt several gazes fall upon him. He saw his friends, Count Reinhardt and Count Lafaria, walking towards him. As he was about to greet them, the many nobles in the hall suddenly fell silent and parted to the sides, as if a great figure was about to arrive.

Subconsciously, Aldrich turned to look at the dazzlingly bright doorway behind him.

The newcomer was a young man with a slightly pointed chin and sword-like eyebrows. Although the lines of his face and his slender shoulders showed traces of youth, his red eyes were filled with a resolute will.

The Second Prince of Silvar.

If it weren’t for that freak, this nephew of mine would surely become the kingdom’s excellent successor, and my mortal enemy. No matter how many times he saw the Second Prince, Aldrich would think this. Those determined eyes were unforgettable.

When Aldrich saw the Second Prince, the Second Prince also saw him. He quickly led a group of ministers to greet him.

“Uncle, you’ve arrived. Why didn’t you inform me beforehand?”

His voice was as mature and steady as his appearance. He seemed more like Dofilia’s older brother than her younger one. It was hard to imagine that Dofilia, who was nearly an adult, still maintained the physique of a young elf.

Thinking this, Aldrich feigned a deep sigh.

“Alas, I was in a great hurry and didn’t have time to send word.”

“What was so urgent?”

“This…”

Aldrich glanced at the other nobles in the hall, deliberately raising his voice so that everyone could hear, and said with feigned gravity.

“The Crown Princess… Dofilia was gravely wounded in the war and has lost her memory. She has forgotten all of us.”