Chapter 28

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Chapter 28 – That Bastard Crown Prince…

“Aren’t you lucky enough to be born into the royal family and enjoy such luxury?” Ashia closed her eyes and smiled as she continued talking, “You must be really happy.”

“…”

“But what about it?” She folded her arms in front of her chest and tilted her head. Her dark blue eyes were unwavering as they turned towards Desian. “All of the conditions you mentioned earlier do not seem very attractive to me, Your Highness.”

“…”

Ashia clearly drew a line. Needless to say, she was very satisfied with her life now. She was free to do whatever she wanted without lacking anything. She was at ease when she received the gold through her deal with the Grand Duke, and she would also be able to take care of the survivors of the fire.

‘The Crown Prince or His Majesty the Emperor, what do you know?’

To her, it was only natural that the position of the crown prince didn’t seem great enough to shake her heart. Of course, it was no question that he had a beautiful appearance, but to be honest, he wasn’t to Ashia’s taste. Her type hadn’t changed over the years. Rather than the crown prince…

‘There is no one like Kaligo.’

Desian’s lips, which had been chattering a while ago, stilled. It was obvious how he was gritting his molars now.

Staring at him, Ashia continued with a gentle smile, “Oh, I was talking too much. Sorry. This will make you want to get rid of my store. I didn’t know how to stop in that moment.”

And then she calmly scolded herself, saying that she spoke violently about a person’s character.

“Hoo…”

“Anyway, I sincerely apologize.” She lightly bowed her head in an apology that was not an apology.

“…Isn’t that your original personality?”

“…”

“I’m asking you if that was your real personality?”

“…You do remember that I am a wizard from the tower, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then be polite.”

“…”

’Be polite?’

As if Ashia was teaching a little kid, she spoke in a gentle tone toward Desian, who was thinking about what she was saying. “Surely, Your Highness wouldn’t say that you didn’t know about Article Three of the Treaty of Alliance between the Magic Tower and the Empire, right?”

Desian raised one eyebrow as if he had just remembered it. “Ah… that treaty. …….I don’t remember our Miss Wizard ever being polite to me.”

“I think I am being polite enough to not kick you out of the store,” Ashia said with a bright smile.

His eyebrows shot up.

“I would think that you are making fun of the Magic Tower if you keep on being rude. You may want to think about the possible effects of it to the relationship between the Magic Tower and the Empire.”

“……”

Ashia was no longer a member of the Magic Tower, but Desian wouldn’t know it as such information was treated with confidentiality.

‘It is uncomfortable to bring up the Magic Tower like this, but he won’t take it that far.’

Wizards who weren’t affiliated with the Magic Tower couldn’t use the rights in the provision, and Ashia’s situation was exactly that. She belonged to the Empire but she didn’t have any right to receive any title nor be treated as a member of the Magic Tower. When Ventus said that Lisa had become the master of the Magic Tower, she thought that she shouldn’t entangle with it anymore.

“Okay… All right. I humbly accept that advice. Thank you. By the way, Miss Ashia Bliss.”

“Yes, tell me.”

After a while, Desian continued, “My birthday is in three weeks.”

He unexpectedly brought up his birthday… Ashia tilted her head in confusion and said, “Ah, yes. Well… it’s still too early to congratulate you in advance.”

“Yes. So instead of congratulating me in advance.” The playful smile returned as he leaned closer. “I want to be congratulated on that day.”

“That…”

“As Miss Wizard had said, I am going to throw a big party because I was so lucky to be born with the Imperial Family’s blood, and with the gold that others who have shed blood and sweat…”

‘Ha! Look at this bastard.’

It seemed that he really liked her expressions. “Please, how about attending and making the event brighter?”

Judging by the way he was speaking, it was clear that he had suggested it even though he knew it would be an uncomfortable place for Ashia.

“I’m thankful for your words, but I am not interested in such positions.”

“Oh, because Kaligo is coming?”

She frowned slightly. “…Kaligo, the Grand Duke?”

Attending a banquet in his condition? No, he had never liked places with many people like banquets in the first place.

“Well, there was no such provision that you can’t meet your client in private.”

“So, Kaligo… the Grand Duke is attending the banquet?”

As she showed interest, Desian smiled more brightly. And he said something that he shouldn’t have, “Yes, he will. He had no choice but to come. That banquet will be attended by a noble person appointed as the Grand Duke’s fiancée.”

Her gaze shifted.

‘…Fiancée?’

He could see that the woman’s firm eyes were shaking subtly now. “It’s a secret. It’s too early to tell.”

“…”

“I think something interesting will happen in the future. Isn’t that right, Miss Wizard?”

His snake-like lips arched into a smile again. It seemed like the appetite of the beast in front of her was painted over his red lips.

Redin came to the bedroom at Kaligo’s call.

“You woke up early. You look nice too.”

Kaligo listened to him and smiled slightly.

“Perhaps because your Aura has been quiet that you seemed to listen to me more than usual.”

“…That’s right.”

Their master was also smiling. In recent years, his big change included him losing his laughter. The atmosphere around him, dominated by bloodlust, was indescribably ferocious and overbearing. Now, he had a fresh smile like those ladies in the flower garden in summer. Maybe he didn’t realize it himself.

Redin put down a letter on the table without a word. Kaligo, who was fastening the cufflinks on his sleeve, stared at the seal. A letter Redin brought not a long time ago had the same one.

“It has the same seal as before.”

“Yes, it is a letter from the same place.”

Kaligo put on his coat. “…Redin.”

“Yes.”

“Did you receive gold from that family? Or territory?”

“Yes?” Redin’s eyebrows fluttered upwards at his sudden question.

“If that’s not the case, then why do you keep bringing in those letters?”

“It’s not just a family, Grand Duke.”

“Then what?”

“It’s from the Perthian Empire…”

“I’ve heard of them before, but I am asking you about what kind of family are they in that empire that you keep on bringing that letter in front of me.”

Redin sighed. “…They are the royal family.”

“…”

“This is a letter from Princess Aileen Encherances, the third princess of the Perthian Empire, Your Grace.”

“So it was the seal of the Imperial Family.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Kaligo kept his mouth shut for a moment, then looked down at the letter and began to button his coat. “Alright, throw it away.”

“Yes?”

“Throw it away, Redin.”

Redin continued speaking again with a slightly bewildered face, “Your Grace, I don’t think it’s going to be this simple.”

Kaligo slowly fastened the rest of the buttons of his coat without saying anything. “It seems that a lot of the rumors surrounding me have waned recently.”

“…”

“Maybe that’s why all of you are slacking off? Is the Grand Duchy a place where dogs and cows can freely come and go?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t let that woman come to the Grand Duchy again. If possible, not even one step into my territory.”

“Your Grace!” Redin called him again with a look of dismay.

“Listen to me, Redin.”

“…Yes, please tell me.”

Kaligo’s voice lowered. “I have someone I have in my heart.”

“….Pardon?” Redin’s eyes widened.

One day, he suddenly started avoiding contact with women and had half given up on welcoming the Imperial Princess to the Grand Duchy. But he suddenly said that he had someone in his heart…

Looking at Redin’s expression, which went beyond wonder and embarrassment, Kaligo continued, “I can’t lose this opportunity just because of some stupid scandal.”

“…”

He stood up straight, adjusted his clothes, and said with a firm voice, “Redin, deal with the rumors They should know their limits.”

“…The limits… of the Imperial Family (of the Perthian Empire)…?”

“I already told you I will bring the Grand Duchess myself quickly.”

“…You did.”

“Every time I said that, you said that I was going to live and die alone.”

“…I did.”

“If I miss this opportunity now, I will really see myself living and dying alone.”

Redin felt a headache building. “That… absolutely won’t happen.”

“You seem to have figured it out.”

“I received your order, Grand Duke.”

Kaligo tapped his shoulder a couple of times and walked out of the bedroom, heading straight to Ashia’s shop.

When he arrived there, he had a brief quarrel with Ventus who refused to open the gate, but Kaligo won at the end and arrived at the entrance of Ashia’s shop. And just then, the door of the shop opened.

“Oh? Isn’t this our Grand Duke Kaligo?”

It was Crown Prince Desian who walked out through the open door.

“…”

After that was Ashia who came out to send off Desian. When she saw Kaligo, Ashia greeted Kaligo and said calmly, “You’re here?”

“Yes.”

His gaze on Ashia turned to Desian again. After that day, he thought that he had lost interest in her but it seemed like he had searched for her.

“What did you come here for, Your Highness?”

“Oh, well. I’m just… passing by?”

“…”

Desian turned to Ashia, took her hand, then kissed the back of it lightly. Kaligo’s brows twitched while he was watching though he knew it was just a simple greeting.

“You seemed to have an appointment with her beforehand so I’ll take my leave.”

“…”

As Ashia gently pulled out her hand, Desian grinned. “When the time is right, I will send someone out.”

“My answer will be the same.”

“You’re being firm. You don’t know what people can do.”

Desian put his arm on Kaligo’s shoulder and continued speaking slowly. As if whispering a very important secret, but in a voice that was not too small, he said, “Congratulations on your engagement, Kaligo.”

“…”

In an instant, Kaligo’s eyes darted towards Ashia, who was standing at the shop door. She must’ve heard it from Desian, but her eyes were still calm and indifferent just like the first time they had met. Her gaze was looking down from the stairs as it met his.

– I have someone I have in my heart.

– I can’t let go of this opportunity just because of a stupid rumor.

– If I miss this opportunity now, I will really see myself living and dying alone.

The conversation he had with Redin suddenly flashed through his mind. Ah, it wasn’t something that can only be done by supervising Redin.

‘That bastard Crown Prince…’

Kaligo silently cursed through his gritted molars the swear words he couldn’t spit out.

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