Chapter 622: Prince

"Sevier."

"Ah, Y-Your... Your Highness."

Inside the carriage, Sevier flusteredly put away a tiny newspaper and looked at the young man who had suddenly stepped in.

The young man wore a gorgeous formal outfit. He was handsome, refined in temperament, and every gesture carried complete confidence. The instant he lifted the carriage curtain and came in from outside, it was as if his whole body gave off light—noble beyond words.

"Call me Milne, or just call me big brother. Between cousins, there’s no need for so many worries."

Milne smiled and waved his hand, then casually sat down across from Sevier. On his chest, the tulip crest symbolizing the Saint Perod royal family shone with dazzling brilliance.

"Big Brother Milne."

Sevier pressed her lips into a smile, a bit playful, then curiously lifted the carriage’s window curtain and asked, "You actually have time to come over right now—are we almost there?"

"Yes, we’re here. The vanguard is about to make contact with the empire’s welcoming envoys. We’ll do a bit of preparation, then we’ll go meet them as well."

"So that’s how it is."

Sevier lifted her gaze. The endless procession linked all the way to the magnificent city in the distance. The delegation the kingdom had sent this time was truly enormous—rare treasures, brocade and silk filling more than a hundred carriages. The empire didn’t dare be negligent either, sending a large number of welcoming officials. So when the two massive processions were about to meet, it was like two colossal beasts each cautiously extending their feelers. The gate passage of Belrand, the continent’s most prosperous city—usually a nonstop flow—rarely slowed to a halt like this.

But Sevier didn’t care about that moment that might affect the direction of two great powers. She was only thinking... that person should be in this city too, right now.

"Looks like it’ll still take a little time." Sevier glanced down out of the corner of her eye at her hand and murmured.

"Then you need to prepare early!"

The wind rolled into the carriage, the curtain was lifted again, and an old man with snow-white hair—but a vigorous, sharp spirit—climbed in after it.

"Teacher!"

"Teacher Hertz."

The two of them rose together to salute.

"Mmn. Sit."

The old man named Hertz gave a light nod. His sharp gaze swept across the carriage. When he saw Sevier’s lazy look, he frowned slightly and didn’t say anything, but then his eyes fell on Milne, and in an instant they softened.

"How do you feel, Your Highness?"

"Which aspect does Teacher mean?"

"Naturally, how your state is. What comes next is of great importance—there can’t be a single misstep."

"Of course there’s no need to worry."

Milne smiled with confidence. "In Teacher’s eyes, have I ever made a misstep?"

"Haha, that’s why you’re my proudest student."

Hertz laughed loudly. "Seems I have nothing to worry about either. With you taking action, things will naturally go smoothly."

"Um..."

Just as the two of them were talking happily, an ill-timed voice carefully slipped in.

Sevier raised her hand, shrinking her neck as she said, "Is that kind of thing really that easy to pull off?"

"What?"

Hertz looked at this student of his who was pouring cold water, clearly displeased.

"I mean proposing to Celicia... no, proposing to the empress of the empire now—will something like that really go so smoothly? That empress... I remember she has a fiancé, doesn’t she?"

"A fiancé, so what? In front of the interests of great powers, a so-called marriage contract on paper is worth nothing."

Hertz snorted coldly and said as if it were only natural, "That empress may have some ability, but she’s still just a little girl. I’ve heard that the moment she took the throne, she carried out a massacre within the empire and executed quite a few nobles of great and small rank with considerable influence. So the empire’s situation must be unstable now, and then she will inevitably seek outside help. Let Your Highness become her husband and obtain the kingdom’s support—this is bound to be the best choice."

"But..."

"I understand what Sevier means."

Milne spoke as if to defend her, deliberately taking over the conversation. "You think that Muen Campbell’s status is special to begin with, and for the imperial empress to obtain the full support of that Duke Campbell, she won’t abolish the engagement, right?"

"Th-That... I guess so." Sevier unconsciously pinched the newspaper in her hand.

"Celicia’s fame is known across the continent, and her engagement to Muen Campbell is also known across the continent. When the news first spread, no one knows how many people who admired her wanted to eat Muen Campbell alive... and now she’s become the emperor, yet she still shows no intention of canceling that engagement. It’s probably not so easy to cancel."

"Heh heh, that’s right. That really is a reasonable explanation, but in the end, everything is for profit."

Milne extended both hands, then slowly clenched his ten fingers as if comparing the size of those fists. The corner of his mouth hooked into an arrogant curve.

"Muen Campbell has value to her, so she chose Muen Campbell. Therefore, as long as I can display greater value than that Muen Campbell, Empress Celicia will naturally choose me. Otherwise, why hasn’t she canceled the engagement for so long—could it be because of so-called feelings? That Muen Campbell’s reputation isn’t exactly good."

"Big Brother Milne, don’t be fooled by those rumors!"

Sevier straightened up, her expression grave. "I took part in that trial in the Holy City together with Muen Campbell. He’s not like the playboy those rumors describe—on the contrary, he’s extremely formidable. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the church’s favor."

"So what?"

Milne laughed softly. "There are far too many outstanding people on the continent. But how many can truly enter my eyes? In fact, last time, if I hadn’t been at a critical moment, I should have gone to participate in that trial on behalf of the kingdom as well. Then it wouldn’t have ended with us gaining nothing, with everything being deceived by the church, and to this day we still don’t know what that so-called Lost Land really is—what kind of damn thing it is."

"...Sorry."

"Sevier doesn’t need to apologize. You already did your best."

Milne patted Sevier’s head, his tone gentle. "You don’t need to be overly harsh on yourself. There are many geniuses in this world. It’s normal if you don’t measure up, because... only your cousin is special."

"That’s right. Your Highness is special."

Hertz stroked his beard and nodded. "That talent—no one can match it. To be honest, at the very beginning I didn’t agree with this plan. I thought that if Your Highness came to the empire, it would be a major loss for the kingdom. And yet those short-sighted fools—sigh!"

"Teacher doesn’t need to worry. I will always be a person of the kingdom, so how could there be any loss? On the contrary, only in the empire can I seize more benefit for the kingdom, and even..."

A fervent heat flashed through Milne’s eyes. For him, compared to staying on the kingdom’s side with more than ten elder brothers above his head, forever unable to see the end of the road as a so-called prince, the other side seemed to have far more room for plotting.

After all, the empire’s royal house was withering—known to the whole world.

Her Majesty the empress had even lost both of her older brothers. In the future, those qualified to inherit the throne probably wouldn’t even fill one hand.

And ambition and desire were like wildfire. Once even a single spark flared up, it was hard to extinguish.

Milne didn’t restrain the wildfire spreading in his heart... because he had immense confidence in himself.

Muen Campbell? Just a pebble on his road forward. Kick it away and that’s that.

"Speaking of it, that empress is a continent-famous genius and beauty. I wouldn’t call it a loss at all. I’d even be making a killing."

"Haha, true. But Your Highness also shouldn’t be too arrogant. Don’t forget we came this time with another task as well."

"Don’t worry. If taking down the empress is nothing difficult, then the other task is nothing more than a matter of reaching out and taking it."

"Indeed, but you still can’t relax."

Hertz sighed. "The kingdom has been suppressed by the empire for far too long. It’s time to win back some face. Otherwise they’ll really think our kingdom has no one left."

"Understood."

Milne looked out the window. "That’s also an excellent opportunity for me to display my value."

...

Soon, the idle talk ended, and Hertz left first.

"Big Brother Milne."

Sevier suddenly called out to Milne as he was also preparing to leave. She hesitated, then abruptly clenched her fist and said, "Good luck! I believe you’ll definitely be able to kick Muen Campbell off that position!"

"Hm?"

Milne turned back, confused for a moment, then smiled. "So that’s why you were saying those things all of a sudden—you were worried about me?"

"Th-That... I guess so."

A shy look appeared on Sevier’s face.

"Thank you."

Milne patted Sevier’s shoulder. "But don’t worry. I already said it—this time, it will definitely be easy for me!"

This wasn’t arrogance. It was simply Milne’s judgment based on his own strength.

From the moment he awakened that talent, any setback or hardship had been nothing more than steps upward for him—unable to hinder him in the slightest.

"Then where should I start first?"

Milne adjusted his bow tie, stepped out of the carriage, and murmured, "How about starting with a private meeting first? A first impression always adds a nice bonus to goodwill, and it’ll make it easier for me to further..."

...

...

"Not seeing him."

"Huh? What?"

"Her Majesty is entangled in countless matters right now and truly cannot agree to Prince Milne’s request for a private meeting. Please forgive us."

After the delegations made contact, Foreign Minister Marquis Angus rejected Milne’s request with an official, businesslike attitude. His reply was so smooth and resolute it was as if he had been instructed in advance.

"However, Prince Milne need not worry. At tonight’s state banquet, Her Majesty will certainly meet the kingdom’s delegation with the highest standard of ceremony."

"A state banquet? But..."

A state banquet was formal and noisy, full of calculations and clashes from every side. Even if he appeared with the best image, he would probably have a lot of it diluted by the surrounding atmosphere.

Milne quickly signaled his teacher beside him, asking him to speak up.

But...

"Before that, please wait patiently, Your Highness. If Your Highness is at leisure and feels you have nothing /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ to do, I can send someone to act as Your Highness’s guide and tour the famous sights of Belrand."

Marquis Angus waved a hand grandly, giving Milne no chance to ask again. Majestic ceremonial music rose, and the delegation began to move slowly forward, entering the city.

Under the curious gazes of the imperial citizens on both sides, Milne’s brows drew together.

"Not seeing me... heh heh..."

He didn’t lose his fighting spirit because of it. Instead, the corner of his mouth hooked up into that confident curve again, and the flame in his eyes burned even more fiercely.

"Interesting... looks like I’ll have to get serious."

...

...

Muen lay on a lounge chair beneath the shade of the trees, staring up through the plane tree leaves at the blue sky with a dead-fish, completely giving-up gaze.

No Evil God.

No villain.

No crisis of world destruction.

And no jealous battlefield.

Ah, this wind, these trees, this sky... how beautiful.

The academy really is great.

Here, even Celicia, Anna, and Liya can’t casually expand their domains and stir up another jealous battlefield whenever they feel like it, right?

Peace on earth, peace on earth.

As for that delegation Pink Bear said wanted to propose... who cares.

If that Prince Milne could make Celicia, outside of official business, privately agree to meet him one extra time, then that guy would have to be so handsome it shook the world and wiped out humanity.

But...

"Can he really be more handsome than me?"

Muen struck a pose toward the sky, narcissistically thinking that after experiencing this unforgettable ordeal, his aura had risen to another level.

Even a jealous battlefield that brutal hadn’t taken him down—who else could...

"You little brat."

Suddenly, a voice sounded by Muen’s ear, making his leisurely expression freeze at once.

"Roll over to the flower sea."

"Huh? Right now? I just went through a life-and-death crisis, I still haven’t—"

"Immediately. Right now."

That old loli said coldly, "If you don’t come, today you’ll get split into three pieces flying in the sky!"

"..."

Three pieces...

That damn old loli.

Before, she definitely hid somewhere and secretly watched again, didn’t she!

Muen ground his teeth, but there was nothing he could do about it. He could only first write this grudge down in his little notebook, then hurry his ass over to the flower sea.