Chapter 73

7. Territorial Battle

Rupert looked at the man in front of him with great annoyance.

A man who had just turned 20 with beautiful golden hair and gray eyes was looking at him with a cheerful smile

“Marquis, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

“I just met you two days ago. How long do you plan to call me?”

The man did not give up despite his cold answer. Rather, he responded brazenly with a charming tone.

“But if I don’t do this, it’s hard to see your face, right?”

“If you don’t have any business, don’t call me.”

“You’re still cold-hearted.”

The way he whistled while saying that was absolutely disgusting.

“…….”

He wanted to give him a punch. But as long as his common sense persists, that would be impossible.

The name of the young man in front of him is Benjamin Romstro. Unfortunately, he is the Crown Prince of the Empire.

“I’ve finished everything you ordered before,” said Rupert sarcastically.

Is there more business to attend to after this?

For some unknown reason, the prince always called out to him with the excited face of an immature child whenever he came to the capital.

Knowing this all too well, Rupert never came to the capital unless absolutely necessary.

From the moment he set foot in the capital, Benjamin had been a nuisance.

“I know, I know. I’m truly grateful. So I thought of something to repay you.”

“…….”

Rupert was a little nervous.

“It’s enough that you handled the Opion family matters well. I don’t want to bother you with useless things.”

Benjamin smiled broadly and added, “Oh, it has something to do with the Marchioness Ainel.”

“―what is it?”

When the Marchioness was mentioned, Rupert suddenly looked wary.

Benjamin looked at him curiously.

He’s known the Marquis for over six years, but it’s the first time he’s seen him care about someone.

‘I’d like to have a one-on-one meeting with the Marchioness Ainel someday.’

He was seriously curious about the secret to getting along with someone as rough as that iron scrubber man.

“When I heard about the incident in the Opion family, I thought that a medicine that could replace the Miracle Herbs should be made quickly. So I thought about how to help the Marchioness.”

Hearing those words, Rupert became a bit uneasy.

This is because the crown prince usually caused a major accident after such a lame explanation since he was a child.

“I heard that there are many things you need to have for mass production, such as complicated equipment?”

“Thank you for your kindness, but the power of the Ainel family alone is enough―”

“After hearing that, I found someone who could be a great help!”

At the same time, an attendant’s voice was heard from outside.

“Your Highness, Lord Michael Berris has arrived.”

“Come right in!”

“…….”

Damn.

At this point, Rupert realized that his hunch wasn’t wrong.

The door to the drawing room opened and a young man with long aqua hair in loose ponytails entered.

“Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May the light always be with you.”

He bowed to Benjamin and then looked at Rupert.

Their eyes met for an instant, and a graceful smile appeared on his face immediately.

Benjamin said, “You two are people who are hard to see. Since you’re both famous, you probably know a little bit about each other, right? Marquis Rupert, this is Lord Michael Berris. The second son of the Marquis of Berris… Well, this is a long story, so I’ll skip it.”

It was a really insincere introduction.

“Lord Michael, this is Marquis Rupert Ainel. He is said to be driving blood and wind on the battlefield… Oh, this one is also long, so I’ll skip it.”

Clapping his hands once, he sighed and said, “Now, let’s stop introducing and get to the point. Only the Marquis doesn’t know yet.”

“I would appreciate it if you could explain quickly, Your Highness.”

Benjamin, who inadvertently met Rupert’s eyes, shuddered.

‘He’s angry, he’s angry.’

Although he’s known him for a long time, he often got scared when he made eye contact with him when he was angry as he is now.

‘I’m sure if he wasn’t my subordinate, I wouldn’t be able to talk to him….’

Thanks to being born as the crown prince, he was truly fortunate to be able to play at the top of the marquis’ head.

Marquis Ainel has something that aroused the primal fear of creatures.

Usually, he hides it well because he knows it, but when he is angry, he reveals it like this.

‘I’m the crown prince, so please treat me with care.’

It’s like going back to puberty.

“This is all to help the Marquis. Because Lord Michael here will volunteer to help mass-produce penicillin, a medicine that could replace Miracle Herbs.”

“Volunteer?”

Even though he personally doesn’t like him, he couldn’t deny that Michael Berris’ skills are outstanding. There are lots of people who want to work with him.

But, at this point, he was offering to help Ainel’s family?

‘What kind of ulterior motive do you have?’

“Thank you, but I wonder why you want to do that, Lord Michael Berris. It’s not even directly related to magic.”

While Benjamin was thinking, ‘The Marquis’s roughness has grown again.’, Michael replied, “When the medicine is completed, it will surely save many people.”

That’s an okay answer so far.

He continued, “And since it’s related to Noel, it’s only natural that I step forward.”

Rupert’s eyebrows twitched.

“What will you gain?”

Michael smiled. “She is very precious to me.”

“…….”

‘Oh, I’m screwed.’

Upon hearing the conversation up to this point, Benjamin had a hunch that something was wrong with this combination.

In fact, he thought that the personalities of the prickly Marquis and mild Michael would complement each other and get along well.

‘It was a pure intention that it would be nice if the two young pillars of the empire could get closer.’

I think it’s a mess from the start. 

But it was already spilled water.

In the end, Benjamin decided to believe that since both of them are adults living a normal social life, they would be able to keep the basic lines.

‘You two aren’t going to fight, are you?’

Caught between the great wizard and the war maniac, the prince smiled brightly at the confrontation between the two.

And he muttered as if he had nothing to do with the situation.

“I hope you two get along well.”

***

Returning to the Ainel Territory, I spent peaceful days.

Everyone involved in my kidnapping was put on trial. And it was decided that the title of the Opion family would be inherited from the collateral side.

It was not an agreed-upon territory battle, but a case involving a crime.

It seems that the crown prince stepped in and intervened before the situation snowballed with more high-ranking nobles involved.

Upon hearing the news, my mother fell ill, and Goth was thrown into prison for drunken brawling.

He was an incorrigible brat to the end.

“Sir Aren, do you like sweets?”

And I became very close to Aren.

Her wound hadn’t completely healed yet, so all she could do was leisurely chat in an empty infirmary.

“Yes, I do like it.”

The knights often came in and out of the infirmary, but rarely used it.

This is because there are only very strong people around, so there are not many cases of being sick for a long time.

“Good, let’s eat cake when you feel much better. There’s a new dessert shop.”

Aren smiled lightly. “It’s an honor, ma’am.”

After sharing secrets with each other, Aren often shows a smile.

The smile shown by the usually expressionless person had something that made my heart tingle.

‘I’m glad I didn’t give up then.’

I had heard how her wound reappeared.

As expected, after a certain period of time, the wound appeared as it was.

‘It was similar to rewinding.’

It’s not like healing power, I can only buy time.

‘Still, it’s amazing.’

It is an unbelievable power. I’m still wondering how I ever used something like this.

By the way, while Aren was receiving treatment for her wound, I received an unexpected answer to my concern about whether she had been caught dressing up as a man.

“Selam knows I am a woman.”

I heard that it was a relationship that started even before she joined the Knights. She was not caught because it was Selam who had tended to her wounds so far.

‘Well, that’s a relief.’

I’m glad that she is the female lead.

“Wow, my whole body hurts so bad!”

“Don’t you think Master is in a particularly bad mood these days?”

“I feel like I’m going to be crushed by life….”

Just then, a loud conversation was heard from the hallway.