CH 22

After filling her stomach with pancakes, Eleni was carried to her bedroom by Thanasios. Wrapped in soft blankets and comforters by the maids, she took a nap. As soon as she got into bed, she fell asleep and started to breathe peacefully. Thanasios looked at her sleeping face and gently stroked her head with a satisfied expression. She was so cute. If he gave her a bath every day and fed her nutritious meals, she would become more beautiful and healthy day by day. It felt more like taking care of a skinny, newly adopted large dog than serving his beloved wife. Thanasios couldn’t help but wish for her to sleep a lot and grow a lot.

Thanasios and the maids left the bedroom quietly. He instructed them to prepare some drinks for when she woke up and took Ioel, who had been waiting outside the room, with him to his office.

On the way, a middle-aged man came and respectfully bowed his head in front of Thanasios.

It was Nikita, a man dressed in black that didn’t suit the white marble royal castle. His navy blue hair was hidden under a black turban, and his rare golden eyes shone mysteriously. He was a member of the royal family, but he was suspicious. It was no wonder, as Nikita never showed himself in public and preferred to work behind the scenes. He was in charge of all activities related to information gathering, espionage, and assassination in the Styx Kingdom.

Thanasios’ face lost all emotion.

“What’s the situation?”

As they walked side by side, Nikita answered smoothly.

“The warlike nobles of Hemerapolis and Amphitrite are focused on the ball held at the Kailus Palace in the north. If it’s the annual festival, the nobles who care more about their reputation than anything else cannot not hold it. There are already spies lurking around the major nobles, and only those who are close to me can open the salon.”

The great war between Hemerapolis and Amphitrite in the northern continent has been in a state of conflict and ceasefire for the past few years. Even they cannot turn away from the ball at the Kailus Palace, where nobles from surrounding countries gather. During that time, they stop fighting and enjoy socializing like nobles, chatting and dancing in gorgeous costumes. It strengthens the bond between nobles, forms blood ties, and allows new generations to enter.

For Styx Kingdom, this grand event has only ceremonial significance and is not really a well-liked event. However, it is a convenient time to conduct peace negotiations led by Styx Kingdom. They must make the peace negotiations that General Stavros failed at recently a success no matter what.

Therefore, Nikita’s cooperation was essential, as he was knowledgeable about worldly affairs and had a firm grasp on the nobility. Of course, Nikita was a man who claimed to be a loyal subject of Thanasios and would lend his strength without being asked.

“Thank you. So, let’s talk about what we’re going to do.”

“We can’t keep killing people every week. Last week, one person died in an “accident” and two for reasons we can’t disclose. It was unexpected, but it worked out well. Even if we do nothing, there will be casualties during the ball.”

“Who should we make disappear? Even if a prominent member of the war faction is gone, I don’t think their morale will be affected. If we’re going to do it…”

“There’s an actor who the Hemerapolis princess is very fond of. They plan to have him attend the ball.”

“Oh?”

“As a patron, it’s a noble intention to help promote the actor. However, that actor is a spy under the control of the Amphitrite Count, and they plan to make it look like a murder-suicide and assassinate the princess.”

“I see. Are we going to prevent it?”

“Well, it would be good for peace negotiations. We’ll leave the suppression of the Amphitrite war faction to General Sophocles, and he’ll have to do something about the Hemerapolis side.”

“Understood. I’ll tell General Sophocles not to overdo it.”

“Surprisingly, that wise man also has a tendency towards violence. But if we don’t do that, peace will not come.”

Thanasios nodded. Nobles are hard to understand. Even if you show them the head of their beheaded son, they will come shouting with the pride of their family and the power of their supporters. Even if you show them the body of their daughter who was killed by thugs, they will stubbornly bring out money and force and threaten with a transparent show of power.

In the end, if they don’t understand, killing each other is the best option. It is only the nobles in the secular world who approve of primitive, barbaric, and uncivilized behavior. Even ordinary citizens, farmers, and rogues have come to follow reason and power and try to find a compromise with each other, but it seems that the nobles are going against the times.

This will not make the world a better place. If the nobles are responsible for violence dominating the earth and the values of cherishing peace are being invaded——

Nikita stopped walking. Thanasios noticed and looked at Nikita’s face.

At that moment, Nikita’s index finger was placed on Thanasios’ forehead.

“If you make such a stern face, you’ll be hated by the cute young lady.”

“Did you see Eleni?”

“Oh, were you hiding her? Or did you want to hide her?”

“Don’t show yourself to Eleni, she’ll be frightened if she sees you.”

“That’s harsh.”

“I’ll introduce you properly eventually. But not now, she’s not used to the new environment yet.”

“…It’s not like she’s a puppy or something.”

Thanasios couldn’t agree more, but he decided to keep quiet.

Nikita chuckled at Thanasios’s sullen expression.

“However, what does our wise prince want to do with the Oracle Maiden as his wife?”

“Don’t ask me now when you already know. We already have things to do.”

Thanasios stared out of the huge single window behind Nikita, ignoring his pointing finger.

The continent of Oceanids must bring true peace under the name of this holy nation.

“If you go against the will of our main god, Styx, we will judge you with an iron fist. To make that excuse, I’ll have you work, Nikita.”

Thanasios knew it.

They were just using the will of the main god Styx for their own convenience. It was disrespectful and even blasphemous.

In comparison, Eleni truly appeared as the Oracle Maiden chosen by the main god Styx. Thanasios hoped that the main god Styx would never punish Eleni and that his own sins would not affect her.

After Nikita left, Thanasios suppressed his swirling emotions and walked towards his office.