Chapter 40: A Prince’s Ire and a New Alliance

Narcissus, having returned to his palace after three years.

“Ah! Are you f*cking kidding me, Uncle!?”

He furiously unleashed his anger towards Kardo, who was bowing deeply before him.

“Why are you so slow!? What were you doing, not acting before Anastasia, that b*tch, put on her show!?”

Whoosh!!

Clang!!

“Keuk!!”

Kardo, grazed on the face by the teacup Narcissus threw, let out a groan and hastily knelt.

“I… I have no excuse, Your Highness… I was delayed because the Church said they needed a little more time.”

As soon as Kardo heard the news that Anastasia had given a speech and started relief activities.

He had hurried to carry out relief activities with the Church.

Although he had been preempted.

If the Duchy and the Church joined forces.

The amount of aid they could provide to the “dogs and pigs” would be overwhelmingly greater than what the Imperial Family could scrape together from their non-existent coffers.

‘Then I could have fully recovered and even turned the tables… because of those foolish Church b*stards…’

Now he was suffering this humiliation from this good-for-nothing.

No, that wasn’t all.

Even his sister, sitting next to her son, was glaring at him with a gaze full of contempt.

“Hmph, Duke. You didn’t leave any evidence that Anastasia, that b*tch, could use against you, did you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. That is correct. No matter how much they investigate those who bought the slaves, they will never find out who is behind it.”

A few stupid ones might talk, but since no documentary evidence was left, they could just feign ignorance.

He had proceeded cautiously in preparation for such a situation.

However, Angelina von Sterngart still clicked her tongue in displeasure and said.

“Tsk… That’s a relief, at least. But you know I didn’t yield the position of head of the family to you and become Empress for this, don’t you?”

“I-I know that very well. I truly have no excuse, Your Majesty the Empress…”

Kardo gritted his teeth and bowed his head.

‘Yield, my *ss! You became Empress to wield power by controlling both the Imperial Family and the Duchy as you please, and now you’re spouting such shameless bullsh*t!’

Kardo felt an overwhelming urge to storm out of this place immediately.

Vowing to one day repay this humiliation to this d*mned mother and son.

He was bowing even lower and apologizing when.

A servant from outside the door cautiously entered and announced.

“Your Highness the Prince, a magician has requested an audience.”

“A magician?”

Narcissus tilted his head.

And his mother, Empress Angelina, also wore a displeased expression.

“A magician, you say? How dare such riffraff request to meet our Prince? Drive them out at once!”

She was furious.

No matter how long he had been exiled in the detached palace, he was a Prince, nobler and more dignified than anyone.

For a mere magician to dare to meet her son, and at such a late hour!

At Angelina’s anger, Narcissus waved his hand.

“Ah, Mother. Just a moment, it’s probably Irene.”

“Irene…?”

Angelina searched her memory at her son’s words.

“Ah, surely you don’t mean the magician from the hero’s party, Prince?”

“Yes. I met her a few days ago, through Uncle’s introduction.”

“What did you say?”

Angelina’s eyebrow twitched.

‘How dare he arrange for such a lowly wench to meet my son without my permission.’

With that meaning, she glared at Kardo with a murderous gaze.

At this, cold sweat trickled down Kardo’s back.

‘Ah, that d*mned b*tch… I’ve already been scolded enough. Did you show up now to add fuel to the fire!’

Kardo felt his mind go blank thinking about how much greater Angelina’s anger would become.

“Ah, Mother. Please calm down for now. It’s a good opportunity to see her face.”

“Ha… Prince, are you pleased with just any woman?”

“No, don’t say that, just listen. She’s the magician from the hero’s party, right?”

“Hmph, even so, isn’t she just a lowly commoner?”

“Does status matter now? We’re in a situation where we’re being outdone by a truly lowly b*tch.”

Narcissus soothed the irritated Angelina and gestured for the servant to bring Irene in.

---

Outside the drawing-room door of the Prince’s palace.

“You may enter, Magician.”

The servant who came from inside bowed politely and guided her.

Irene nodded and cautiously stepped inside.

She had visited the Prince’s palace with an excited heart.

But the inside seemed somehow noisy, and the atmosphere didn’t look good.

However, as soon as she entered.

Irene understood why it had to be noisy.

‘Tsk… What an incompetent old man.’

She inwardly clicked her tongue as she saw Kardo bowing deeply and flustered.

Although they were cooperating to bring down that detestable Anastasia and reclaim Logan, he was far too incompetent.

‘Sera, that b*tch, also pretends to be all high and mighty but does nothing.’

The thought that the Church’s Saintess was also incompetent naturally arose, but she quickly focused on the situation before her.

What was important now was not only to deliver good news to Narcissus.

‘Perhaps, that person is Narcissus’s mother, Her Majesty the Empress?’

It was the first time she was meeting his mother.

‘The way she looks at me doesn’t seem very favorable, but it’s probably because of the incompetent Kardo.’

Thinking so, Irene politely greeted Angelina.

“It is an honor to meet you for the first time, Your Majesty the Empress. I am Irene, the magician of the hero’s party.”

“Hmm… Yes, I am, as you can see, the Empress. Angelina von Sterngart.”

Angelina wanted to tell Irene to dispense with such greetings, state her business quickly, and get lost.

But because of her son beside her, she couldn’t help but swallow the words she wanted to say and even used honorifics.

To such a lowly wench.

“Hey~ Irene, you don’t need to be so formal. I told you last time. Be comfortable. It’s the same with my mother. Just call her Mother.”

“Uh… Uh…?”

Irene was momentarily flustered by Narcissus’s unconventional words.

The same went for Angelina.

‘Your-Your Highness, are you crazy!?’

Harsh words almost escaped her lips.

But it wasn’t just Narcissus who made her mind reel; Irene did too.

“Sh-should I, Narcissus?”

‘What is this hussy saying?’

‘No, more than that, how dare she casually call my son by his name and speak informally!’

Angelina was about to finally get angry and shout.

But Irene spoke first.

“Then, as Narcissus said, I’ll comfortably call you Mother.”

‘What kind of crazy b*tch is this!’

‘To actually do it when told!’

‘Moreover, without even asking once out of courtesy…!’

‘She immediately called me Mother!’

Angelina shot up from her seat, about to grab the hair of Irene, who didn’t know her place.

But again, even before that.

Irene spoke.

“I have good news! From this moment on, the Magic Tower will support Narcissus! Uh… Mother?”

At the unexpected report.

Angelina’s hand, which had been reaching for Irene’s hair!

Immediately changed direction and gently stroked her head.

“Oh… That’s truly wonderful! Our new daughter-in-law… Unlike a certain foolish someone, you are truly amazing!”

“That’s right! Unlike Uncle, who does nothing but play around, Irene is indeed the best! Thank you, I knew I could only count on you!”

“Ehehe… Thank you…”

Irene blushed and rejoiced at the praise from Angelina and Narcissus.

And she thought.

‘This is indeed where I belong.’

Irene decided not to go to the Church starting tomorrow.

She couldn’t afford to get involved in a scandal with Lian.

Later, after ascending to the position of Empress, she could just summon him separately, like taking in Logan.

Meanwhile.

Kardo, who was openly compared and insulted by the Prince and Empress.

He couldn’t help but clench his fists and tremble all over.

‘This… this… d*mned b*tch…!’

In the first place, it was his plan to use Irene to draw in the Magic Tower.

But the shameless b*tch had snatched all the important credit for herself.

And made him look like a fool.

---

Before the empire’s large-scale reconstruction project was about to begin, Anastasia and Logan.

Were conducting their final relief activities in the capital’s slums.

Right now, Logan was temporarily separated from Anastasia, distributing supplies to the people of the slums on his own.

If he had his way, he wouldn’t know what might happen to Anastasia.

He wanted to stay by her side and protect her without leaving for even a moment.

However.

Renate had told him to entrust Anastasia’s protection to her and act separately.

– “Logan, if you keep staying by Her Highness’s side, she won’t be able to maintain her dignity. If anything happens, I’ll signal with a flare, so for today, let’s act separately.”

Despite Anastasia acting foolishly regarding Logan not just once or twice.

There was a reason Renate had to make such a suggestion.

When Logan distributed supplies in the slums.

Because of the women and girls who sent him favorable glances.

– “Lo-Logan!!!”

There had been more than one or two occasions when Anastasia was about to lose her composure.

– “If I reduce the time you spend together as punishment like this, she might reduce her unseemly behavior even a little. So for the time being, let’s act separately, at least in front of the empire’s citizens.”

– “…Yes, I understand, Sir Renate.”

Logan was worried about Anastasia’s safety.

But not only was there nothing wrong with Renate’s words.

She was someone more trustworthy and skilled than anyone, so he decided to trust her and leave it to her.

While he was diligently working, recalling that past conversation.

Two women slowly approached him.

“Logan-nim, this area is finished!”

“Let’s go to the next area quickly, Logan.”

Hannah and Fiona.

After resolving the human trafficking incident.

They were the ones who had joined to help him.

In Hannah’s case, she volunteered to serve the poor who suffered like her.

Fiona had decided to stay and help, saying she was worried about her inept disciple.

“Thank you both.”

“Hmph, what’s there to thank between us?”

“Oh my, sis, you’re happy about it, what are you… Ouch!”

“Do you want to keep messing around?”

Logan smiled slightly watching the two bicker as usual.

He had been continuously busy and tired, juggling work related to the reconstruction project at the Imperial Palace and relief activities in the slums.

But Logan loved this peaceful daily life very much.

Then Hannah spoke as if she remembered something.

“Ah, did you hear? They say they’ll follow us and conduct relief activities starting today?”

“Ah, I heard.”

Logan nodded.

As he had expected.

The Prince’s side had belatedly started relief activities.

‘If I hadn’t struck first, the situation would have worsened to the point where they couldn’t even attempt the project itself.’

Recalling Sera’s speech when the Demon Lord was resurrected, he couldn’t help but feel relieved.

The appeal in her voice was too powerful to be underestimated.

Therefore, Logan couldn’t help but wonder now.

‘Why isn’t the Church joining them?’

Naturally, working with the Church, where that Sera was, would be more effective.

‘For only the Prince’s side to be engaged in relief activities.’

While Logan was pondering such questions.

Fiona patted Logan’s shoulder and said.

“That’s a real relief, Logan. If you hadn’t proposed it to Her Highness first, things could have gone really strangely.”

“Yes, but we can’t be complacent. We don’t know what will happen in the future…”

He was about to say that they needed to work harder and be more careful.

Logan had to stop talking.

Just then, in his line of sight.

People in splendid attire were seen entering the slums.

With a very familiar woman.