Ch.228228. The Six Princes

“What?”

Prince Rehul, the second prince, let out a sigh of disbelief at the news that reached his ears.

The maid who delivered the news to him bowed her head deeply while trembling.

When things didn’t go his way, Rehul had a tendency to become excessively violent.

“You dare come to me with this nonsense?!”

He kicked the maid in the abdomen, sending her sliding backward until she hit the wall.

“Kuhak! Kuheok!”

“Damn it!”

Rehul vented his anger while leaving the maid struggling to breathe.

Though he pretended to be a gentle prince in front of Princess Elenoa Luden Griffin and others, his true nature was actually far more vicious and ambitious than the other princes.

This was partly due to his only older brother, the first prince Rahul.

Having grown up watching his less capable brother, he was arrogant to the core.

“That fool! He’s taking command of this subjugation again? Has Father gone senile?!”

The first attempt to subjugate the large monster in the Sahar Desert had already failed.

At that time, First Prince Rahul’s strategy and leadership were truly terrible, and Rehul had deliberately kept quiet and followed his brother.

That way, everyone would see the first prince’s incompetence.

And now they’re giving that utterly failed First Prince Rahul another chance?

It was truly absurd, but…

“Lerhulta…!”

It was because the strategy for subjugating the large monster proposed by the Fourth Prince Lerhulta had been handed over to First Prince Rahul.

Tenlajihmang (Heaven and Earth Net).

It was one of Griffin’s battle formations for facing large monsters, adopted for this second attack.

Princess Elenoa had taught it to Fourth Prince Lerhulta, who had then passed it directly to First Prince Rahul.

“Huuuu.”

Second Prince Rehul swept back his bangs as he thought of the foreign princess.

Why?

When he first saw her, he certainly didn’t have these feelings.

But at some point, a desire to possess her had blossomed, and seeing his brothers want her made him want to take her even more.

Though this time she had helped Rahul.

“She could be quite useful.”

Even if marriage would be risky, maintaining a relationship as lovers seemed just right.

She also appeared quite capable in various ways despite her age.

And she seemed to favor him more than First Prince Rahul.

“Princess Elenoa.”

Rehul began to contemplate ways to win her heart.

* * *

Recently, the atmosphere in the royal palace had become rather strange.

The first and fourth princes were working together, seriously practicing the Cheonlijimang (Heaven and Earth Net) technique that Princess Elenoa had taught them.

Conversely, Second Prince Rehul was focusing on internal matters.

“You’re saying we’re going to implement a strategy taught by a foreign princess?”

“This is ridiculous. What does that make us?”

“The Kingdom of Zerman has excellent tactics for subjugating large monsters. Honestly, wasn’t the problem with the first subjugation that Prince Rahul insisted on taking command…”

He was spending time with the generals, no less.

He was appeasing the hearts of his country’s generals, something First Prince Rahul had overlooked.

“Do you think I don’t recognize the generals’ competence? We’re simply using their strategy this time for tactical diversity.”

“Hmm.”

“If that’s what Prince Rehul says.”

After pacifying the angry generals, he also sought out the kingdom’s mages.

In particular, there was a quite famous Black Mage in the Kingdom of Zerman.

His name was Coltman Bellic.

He was the man Deus Verdi had once mentioned as the epitome of a good Black Mage during the first Grand Debate.

Due to the hot climate, unlike other mages, he didn’t wear a robe but rather dressed in cool attire that revealed his upper body.

His appearance seemed closer to that of a shaman than a Black Mage.

“Does Coltman also view this operation negatively?”

At Rehul’s question, Coltman made a subtle expression. The two were currently leaning against the palace balustrade, watching the first and fourth princes practicing with their soldiers.

“Tenlajihmang. It means spreading a net across heaven and earth.”

“That’s right.”

At those words, Coltman let out a laugh with an ambiguous expression.

“It’s certainly an innovative way to spread a net. Griffin and Zerman definitely have different ways of thinking.”

“…”

“But I think the chances of success are rather low. It’s a method that requires a lot of preparation from the start. How do they plan to deploy this in the desert?”

After considering Coltman’s opinion as well, Rehul couldn’t hide the satisfied smile that formed.

If Rahul failed even after being given a second chance, in a situation where the generals already disapproved?

It would essentially continue to prove his brother’s incompetence.

‘Foolish brother.’

Rehul smirked as he watched his brother continue to rack his brains with Fourth Prince Lerhulta while moving the soldiers around.

* * *

Third Prince Serhul also felt that the kingdom’s atmosphere was unusual.

No matter how little interest he had in palace factions or succession rights, he couldn’t help but notice, having observed certain things since childhood.

“…Haah.”

Suddenly, all six brothers had fallen in love with Princess Elenoa, and naturally, that was developing into a succession struggle.

There were rumors that all this started when Princess Elenoa arrived, but…

In fact, Serhul knew.

The real culprit behind all this was none other than…

Himself.

“This isn’t what I wanted.”

Serhul had simply wanted to live normally. He had wanted his brothers to get along peacefully without fighting.

“You don’t look very happy.”

At that moment, a man appeared naturally from the corner of Serhul’s room.

The white-haired young man wore a sophisticated suit with white gloves on his hands.

“You…!”

The moment he saw him, Serhul wanted to jump up and rush at him, but his body wouldn’t move as he wished.

“It seems you’re not satisfied with the item you purchased from my shop.”

“…!”

Not only his hands and feet, but even his lips and tongue were frozen stiff, preventing Serhul from making any retort.

“What you purchased was ‘brotherly love and peace,’ wasn’t it?”

“…”

“Don’t worry. In the end, your brothers will stop fighting.”

Learic, the Great Demon of Deception, approached Serhul with a slight smile.

“They can’t fight if they’re dead, can they?”

“…!”

Although Serhul’s expression didn’t visibly change, his intense emotions were palpable.

What on earth was he saying?

Serhul wondered if he had really heard correctly—that because he wished his brothers wouldn’t fight, they would all die and then there would be peace, such nonsense.

“Well, I’m not saying I’ll kill them. I’ve just ignited the flames of your brothers’ desires. They’re all working very hard for their own ambitions.”

Like demons.

That one phrase Learic added carried a weight that Serhul could not bear.

But still, he wondered why this man had come here.

The deal had been made weeks ago, and he hadn’t shown his face once since then, so why suddenly now?

As if reading his question, Learic slowly turned his gaze toward the window and hummed.

“There’s a man I’m very interested in, and want to possess, who is coming here.”

‘A man of interest?’

Though Serhul was confused, Learic had no intention of explaining. He continued speaking excitedly.

“I took quite a beating at the last Mongma War. The stage I set was a bit shoddy, but still…”

Beyond the desert.

Waiting for that man who had probably not yet emerged from the Marias Great Forest.

“Please come soon, Deus Verdi.”

The Great Demon of Deception licked his lips as if he couldn’t contain himself.

* * *

“Haah.”

Late evening.

The entire city retained its hot air, but the moment the sun set, an icy chill crept through the window into the room.

Elenoa had heard that deserts had large temperature differences between day and night, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this extreme until experiencing it herself.

But now, nothing was more helpful for cooling her heated mind.

Breathing in the cold night air, Elenoa slowly contemplated what she needed to do next.

The six princes surrounding her.

Each harbored feelings for her to varying degrees, and she intended to actively use that to her advantage.

First Prince Rahul Zerman was overtly bold and most resembled his father, living a life steeped in lust.

She couldn’t count how many times since arriving here she had heard his half-joking, half-serious invitations to share his bedchamber.

Second Prince Rehul Zerman appeared outwardly caring and kind, but inside harbored the most blatant ambitions.

It was plainly visible that he wondered if he, rather than First Prince Rahul, should sit on the throne.

Third Prince Serhul remained uninvolved in all the power struggles and factional fights. He simply wanted to live quietly.

Fourth Prince Lerhulta’s loyalty to his father, King Ramahul, was excessive. He had an almost obsessive tendency to do anything for his father.

Fifth Prince Sarirhul was a jester.

Sixth Prince Sirahul was only eight years old.

The fifth and sixth princes were younger than Elenoa, so they weren’t much of an issue.

Rather, when those two came to visit, Elenoa simply played with them without much thought.

“Hoo.”

Another sigh.

Though entangled in various relationships, what Elenoa was planning wasn’t anything special.

Since she had come to the Kingdom of Zerman and would be staying for a while, she wanted to use this time to create confusion in the Zerman royal family.

Just to that extent.

She didn’t want to get involved any further, as that could bring trouble back to her.

But.

“At minimum, division among the princes or factional formation leading to succession disputes.”

Elenoa murmured, resting her chin on her hand as she envisioned the blueprint in her mind.

Yes, at the very least, she could make the princes fight among themselves.

That alone would certainly provide a significant advantage to the Kingdom of Griffin, but…

“At maximum…”

Various pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. It would require much effort and there would be dangerous situations, but…

If things proceeded according to Elenoa’s intentions, then at maximum…

“Rebellion.”

She was eyeing the possibility that even the owner of the throne could change.