Chapter 13

The First Prince, Ferbias Caseptus, fiddled with the ring on his hand several times.

It was a Treasure he had obtained with great difficulty. Hermai Merhes, indeed. It was an artifact worthy of being called a Treasure.

“You’ve returned, Amethus?”

“Yes.”

Ferbias greeted his confidant without even turning his head.

“So, what did Zionis have to say?”

“He said he just wants to live.”

“Hmm. In detail.”

Amethus explained.

What conversation he had with Shion and what he had said.

Ferbias was quick-witted.

He could understand the course of events with just a short explanation.

“The Black Sword Zamuk? A sword that resides within the body.”

Ferbias scratched his chin.

“It can’t be… taken, can it? The situation is getting quite complicated.”

If he could obtain a Treasure by killing Zionis, it would be a cheap bargain.

This thought was surely not Ferbias's alone.

Compared to the Imperial Throne, the life of the Fifth Prince Zionis was extremely light.

But if the Treasure resided within his body, that was not an option.

If he were to die, there was no telling what would happen to the Treasure within him.

“That Zionis brat, I shouldn't touch him anymore.”

Could this also be a ploy?

No, even so, it was hard to believe it came from the head of an eleven-year-old kid.

Perhaps, though unknown, there was someone behind Zionis……. No, going that far was just delusion.

Ferbias shook his head, clearing his distracting thoughts.

“Anything strange?”

“There was a sense that he was hiding something, but what he showed was undoubtedly a Treasure.”

“Even so, he wouldn't have revealed all its abilities. I should assume he hid about 20 percent.”

In truth, what Shion had shown was not even one-hundredth of Valziart’s abilities.

However, Ferbias and Amethus had no way of knowing.

They would never have imagined it was Sen Sorti’s masterpiece.

“More importantly, Amethus, it seems your strange sense of unease was spot on. To think Zionis would find a Treasure like this.”

Even if it was a coincidence, it was a fact that he had become a threat.

Four of the Ten Treasures had already been discovered.

One by the master of each of the three largest factions, and one by Zionis!

“Ugh. Complicated, so complicated……”

Ferbias scratched his head in annoyance.

To think that Zionis of all people would find a Treasure.

How would things unfold now?

I should call the staff and hold a meeting all night.

Perhaps because he was worn out with fatigue, his irritation wouldn't subside.

“I knew your intuition was good, but at this rate, aren't you a fortuneteller?”

“……”

Amethus's face flushed red.

He said nothing, but it was clear he felt deeply insulted.

It was not something to be said to a man living the life of a knight.

Ferbias noticed this and waved his hand.

“Ah. My apologies if I wounded your pride.”

“…It is fine.”

Ferbias changed the subject.

He didn't have the leisure to tend to his subordinate's wounded pride one by one.

“Amethus, what do you think Zionis will do now? Will he try to find another Treasure on his own?”

“That is unlikely.”

“He’ll try to join a faction, won’t he?”

“Since he said he wants to live, naturally.”

Shion would only be free from threats for a few days at most.

There would be those who would try to win him over, and those who would rather eliminate him than let him fall into another's hands and Shion did not have the strength to protect himself.

“However, it will not be our side, as he has consistently avoided Your Highness.”

“Hmm. How disappointing. I think of him as a cute younger brother.”

A lie.

Ferbias’s golden eyes flashed.

The Ars that gripped and controlled the opponent's spirit, the ‘Prince’s Eye’.

If Shion knew about this power, his avoidance was understandable.

Ferbias's desire for control and possession was on a level rarely seen anywhere.

“Will he try to side with Leniar?”

“Would Her Highness the First Princess welcome him?”

“I suppose not. She may be my sister, but Leniar is hardly human.”

Leniar de Volmark, the First Princess.

Owner of a disposition as cold as her silver hair.

She did not trust people.

To her, there were only two kinds of people: enemies and tools.

The Great Emperor's daughter, who lived her life as if playing a game of chess.

“I guess the answer was already decided.”

Ferbias touched the corner of his eye.

There was only one faction that would accept Zionis, with whom he had little interaction.

Being the weakest of the three, they would be desperate and in no position to be picky.

“What a shame.”

***

The sun rose.

Another guest left the detached palace.

It was someone from Leniar's faction.

“How did the last guest seem, Pies?”

“…He did not seem very interested in Your Highness.”

“That's right. Sister Leniar probably won't even give me a second thought. That eunuch who just came was likely just here to gather the bare minimum of information.”

I knew very well what kind of woman Leniar de Volmark was.

The line between her enemies and allies was clear, and she never blurred a boundary once it was set. It had been the same before my regression.

“Before the Succession War, maybe, but at this point, she's not lenient enough to take me, a stranger, as an ally.”

On the table was a completely cold pumpkin pie. It remained untouched as Leniar’s guest hadn't even laid a hand on it.

I finished it off.

It was still maddeningly sweet.

“Bring a new pumpkin pie, Pies.”

“Will another guest be coming?”

“Yes. Two of the three factions have come, so now one remains.”

The First Prince’s guest, Amethus, came on a rainy night.

The First Princess’s guest just left. Now, only one remained.

“Who will brother Secundus send?”

“Hmm… I wonder.”

“I think I know.”

I snickered.

Curiosity arose in Pies and he tilted his head.

In his hand was a new, steaming pumpkin pie.

It was fresh from the magic oven.

“You’ll be so surprised you’ll faint when you see him.”

“Hmph. Your Highness! This Pies has lived in the Great Palace for seven years. I even met His

Highness the First Prince in person recently!”

“Though you did stutter a lot.”

“W-well, that's true. But this time it's different. I'll show you how much my courage has grown!”

Pies Roesti said so and placed the pumpkin pie on the table. He thumped his chest, his face full of confidence.

“Then shall we make a bet, Pies? If you're not surprised when you see the next guest, you win.”

“Hhmm. Very well, Your Highness. Then what will you wager?”

“Pumpkin pie for a snack every day.”

“What? Not every day!”

This perfect golden pumpkin pie was not something easily made.

It was a delicacy among delicacies, obtained only by begging the head pastry chef of the main imperial kitchen for just one!

To get this every day, how many glares would he have to endure from the fussy pastry chef…….

“A bet is only fun when the stakes are high.”

“…Then what will you do for me if I win?”

“I’ll raise your salary, double what it is now.”

“Deal!”

A powerful shout erupted.

A refreshingly bright smile, one never seen before, hung on Pies Roesti’s lips.

“All I have to do is not be surprised. You shouldn't underestimate these Pies so much……”

His words were cut off by the clang of a bell.

It was the sound announcing a guest's approach.

The person was a fast walker, as the sound soon changed to a knock, knock.

I gestured with my chin.

“Looks like someone from brother Secundus's faction has arrived. What are you doing? You have to go see.”

“Huhu. Very well.”

Pies walked with a meaningful smile.

He was the confidant of the Fifth Prince Zionis.

He repeated this to himself several times.

He cleared his throat softly, neatened his appearance, and placed his hand on his sword as he threw open the door and like an imperial guard, in a confident voice.

“This is the residence of His Highness, the Fifth Prince Zionis. What is your business… uh.”

He opened the door and there was a wall.

A man so huge he could be mistaken for one.

So wide and tall he nearly touched the top and sides of the doorway.

A person this large could not be common.

“…Uh, uh, uhhhh……”

Tore a lion's jaws apart at the age of nine.

Backed by the support of the military.

One of the three closest to the Imperial Throne.

The Second Prince, Secundus Debius himself.

“…P-P-Prince Secundus!?”

Seeing the prince who had come in person, Pies was startled and trembled.

A person of such noble birth he was one of the few in the entire Empire!

‘Pumpkin pie every day!’ I cackled at the sight.

My brother, with his weak faction and slightly foolish nature, has arrived!

Pies did not dare to raise his head.

His opponent was Secundus Debius.

The Second Prince, vying for the throne of the Great Empire of Cordis.

To think he would come here in person instead of sending someone!

He had long forgotten about the bet.

“…H-h-how did you come to a place like this……”

“Hmm. I just came to see my brother.”

I waved my hand.

“I am here, brother Secundus. Please, come in and sit down.”

Hmm.

Secundus sat down and looked around.

A table was visible as soon as the door opened, and next to it, various household items like a magic oven and a ladle. Laundry was hanging just outside the window.

Secundus frowned.

The hanging laundry caught his eye.

If he wasn't mistaken, the clothes of Shion, his imperial guard and the handmaids were all mixed together.

It was a sight so unfamiliar it was bewildering.

“Was there a place like this in the Cordis Imperial Palace?”

“I like it.”

“Hmm. I see.”

A moment of silence.

Secundus seemed to have something to say but was holding it back.

But it was obvious even without hearing it.

It would be about the dignity of the imperial family.

How could an imperial's clothes be with a handmaid's, blah blah.

He was probably not saying it because he intended to win me over to his side.

“…U-uhm.”

Pies stealthily approached.

“I-I-I’ve brought tea, Your Highness……”

“Teateatea?”

“No, th-th-that is, F-F-Fre Leaf Tea.”

“Ah. Fre Leaf Tea. I was wondering what you were saying.”

The muscular giant, Secundus, chuckled and accepted the teacup.

His hands were so large that the teacup looked like a pebble.

The man was unfazed even after downing the steaming tea in one gulp.

“Is that pumpkin pie? I'll have to refuse.”

“I-i-is there a p-p-problem……”

“The sweet smell is overpowering. If I eat something like that, I’ll gain fat.”

The giant laughed, Phahaha, and flexed his biceps.

He claimed to live on lean meat and raw grains, and indeed, he had not an ounce of fat, looking like a statue made of steel.

The rumor that he tore a lion's jaws apart at nine didn't seem strange at all.

The oppressive aura he exuded made even my whole body tingle.

As expected of the one with the strongest physique among the eight princes and princesses.

In terms of strength alone, he would be superior to even Ferbias.

Under that pressure, Pies Roesti’s face had already turned pale.

“Pies, you may leave now.”

“I-i-is that alright?”

“You need to go get tomorrow’s pumpkin pie.”

“Ah.”

Only then remembering the bet from earlier, Pies’s shoulders slumped.

Getting pumpkin pie every day.

What kind of curses would the fussy pastry chef spew?

Still, it was better than trembling next to Secundus, so his steps were quick.

“Your imperial guard needs to be retrained from scratch, Zionis.”

“I am fond of him.”

“I am not.”

Pies Roesti was a timid man, to the point where one wondered how he became a prince's imperial guard.

His skills didn't seem bad, but being so weak, he could never exert his full power.

He was the classic example of a knight with no real combat experience, a type that Secundus even despised.

“Brother, you didn't come here to talk about such things, did you?”

I gave a faint smile while biting into a piece of pumpkin pie.

On the outside, I was undoubtedly an eleven-year-old.

The power I exuded was not great either and yet, there was a strange atmosphere about me.

As if I had died once and come back to life.

Secundus's eyes sank.

“Yes, I came to make you an offer upon hearing that you obtained a Treasure.”

There was no hesitation in Secundus Debius's voice.

A man more like a conqueror than an emperor, or rather, more like a general.

The giant, who made the air heavy just by being there, spoke as if declaring.

“Be on my side, Zionis. I will not accept the refusal.”

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