Chapter 67 The Desert Prince and the Invitation to Peace
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We won the second round of the Abyss Coliseum. The crowd’s roar shook the colosseum, and that familiar thrill ran through me as the air smelled of sweat and heat, fuel for the fire of victory.
I teased Elenor as she buzzed with leftover excitement, as always, before heading back to the Grimlock estate. I saw her into the royal carriage in the manor courtyard and watched it disappear toward the royal palace.
The next day, I went to school as usual. The concierge gave me a letter. The sender was Azim Rashid of Zahara, prince of the great southern nation—the desert kingdom of Zahara. He had recently transferred to the Royal Magic Academy. A character not in the original game, but as a prince, he was still important.
The letter asked to meet me.
What does he want?
The letter was polite, but I knew he had an agenda and started trying to read between the lines. Still, I had a good idea of his purpose.
Our nation, Asgard, and the Adrastea Empire to the east had been at war for years. The Kingdom of Zahara to the south had profited greatly from it because the only safe overland trade route between the two countries passed through Zahara’s vast territory. So Zahara’s true interest was in keeping the war going.
But recently, the peace movement had gained momentum. I figured he came as an exchange student to observe the peace talks from the inside. Of course, many war-faction nobles in our country opposed peace. But now I, the heir of the Grimlock family—figurehead of the war faction—was frequently exchanging views with Princess Elisabeth of Adrastea, the symbol of the peace movement.
Prince Azim must be worried. He wanted to meet me directly and get a read on me.
Interesting. An event not in the game. My heart stirred with anticipation.
I too wanted to understand Prince Azim’s thinking, so I accepted the meeting.
Three days later, I went to Prince Azim’s private salon on the academy grounds. Someone else was there too. To my surprise, the crown prince, Prince Liam, was also there. The two of them and me. What kind of meeting would this be?
I opened the door, excited but wary. The heavy wooden door swung open with a low groan.
Inside, the salon was filled with furniture and ornaments from the Kingdom of Zahara—red and gold silks hung on the walls, and the faint scent of incense hung in the air. Soft sunlight came through the windows, making the decorations shine. In the center, Prince Azim waited for me, still as a statue.
He was lean and well-built, with a healthy brown complexion from the desert sun. His long black hair had a glossy sheen, and his sharp amber eyes held a deep insight—like looking into the vast desert. My first impression: a calm strategist, skilled at reading people.
Prince Liam, Prince Azim, and I sat down and exchanged greetings. Then we got down to business.
”Thank you for coming today, Xenos. The reason I invited you both here is to ask about the dancers and singer you recently purchased as slaves. As it happens, I have visited your theater once before.”
An unexpected question. I thought he would get straight to the peace talks, but he asked about them first. Was he a fan of Pharma and Leela?
”Certainly, feel free to ask whatever you like.”
I had nothing to hide, so I answered honestly.
”Then, let me be direct. Is it true you purchased those sisters for the incredible sum of eight hundred thousand gold coins?”
”Yes, that is right.”
”And is it true that the dancers and singer currently performing at your theater are entirely different people from those you purchased?”
”Not at all. The ones on stage now are the very slaves I purchased.”
As I answered, Prince Azim glanced at Prince Liam beside him. Prince Liam gave a short, deliberate shake of his head—a silent answer.
”I see. I appreciate your honesty.”
They had some way to check if I was lying. The shake of Prince Liam’s head probably meant I was telling the truth. Maybe a magic artifact—a lie detector—was hidden in the room. Not that it mattered. I had not told a single lie.
After that strange exchange, Prince Azim changed the subject to economics. What he said overturned my expectations. Prince Azim was not in the war faction as I had assumed. The opposite, in fact. He strongly supported peace.
His reasoning: if the war ended, they would lose the trade route monopoly. But trade with both nations would not stop. If peace came and their economies grew, the desert kingdom would benefit more in the long run. Above all, he wanted to stop the pointless bloodshed. Many in his country favored continuing the war, but the royal family had always pushed for peace.
”We hear you have been frequently exchanging views with Princess Elisabeth, Xenos, and that your thinking has gradually shifted. If you are amenable, would you consider forming an alliance with us?”
To Prince Azim’s sincere request, I gave a careful reply.
”I will need to take this back and think it over carefully.”
A safe answer. An unexpected request from a character not in the game. I would have to handle this with caution.
—
Summary:
Xenos and Elenor celebrate their colosseum victory before he receives a letter from Prince Azim of Zahara requesting a meeting. During the meeting, Azim questions Xenos about his slave purchases before revealing himself as a peace advocate seeking alliance. Xenos gives a measured, non-committal response, leaving the political situation unresolved.
—
Trivia:
The Abyss Coliseum is the venue where Xenos and Elenor won their second round match.
Zahara Kingdom profits from the war between Asgard and Adrastea by controlling the only safe overland trade route.
Prince Azim is a character who did NOT appear in the original game, making this an unexpected event.
Xenos is the heir of the Grimlock family and figurehead of the war faction, yet he meets with the peace faction’s princess.
Prince Liam is the crown prince of Asgard and attended the meeting alongside Xenos and Azim.
Azim used some unspecified method (possibly a magic artifact) to verify Xenos’s truthfulness through non-verbal communication with Prince Liam.
Xenos purchased Pharma and Leela, two dancer sisters, for 800,000 gold coins.
The Royal Magic Academy is where Azim transferred in as a student.
Xenos’s theater currently features Pharma and Leela performing on stage.
The desert kingdom of Zahara has a royal family that consistently advocates for peace despite internal opposition.
Xenos’s internal monologue reveals he finds the unexpected event “interesting” and feels anticipation.
The salon where the meeting takes place features crimson and gold silks, incense, and exotic furnishings from Zahara.
Notes:
• Grimlock – Xenos, the mana-less heir of House Grimlock—a powerful Asgardian margrave family leading the war faction—masks his cunning influence as “Zero the Loser.” Alongside his father, Gaius, this “Royal Phantom” employs spatial magic and a Collar of Submission to manipulate others. He asserts family authority to bypass interference from Prince Liam, who maintains a cold, formal distance from him.
• Elenor – Princess Elenor, the “Saint of Light,” is a haughty, blonde-haired princess and skilled swordswoman for Xenos’s Royal Phantom team. Piercing blue-eyed and elegant, she maintains a composed, analytical grace in battle but turns berserk when fighting. Bound by Xenos’s Magic Seal, she masks a stubborn, tsundere nature and secretly harbors twisted desires for his dominance despite her outward disdain.
• Azim – Prince of the southern desert kingdom of Zahara. He is lean and well-built with a healthy brown complexion, long glossy black hair, and sharp amber eyes. A recent transfer student to the Royal Magic Academy, he is a calm, collected strategist skilled at reading between the lines. He is an ardent proponent of peace between the warring nations.
• Rashid – Azim’s last name. Prince of the southern desert kingdom of Zahara.
• de – A particle used in the aristocratic name of the Margrave Albion de Blanchefort.
• Adrastea – Princess Elisabeth bears the imperial family name of the Adrastea Empire, representing the majesty of the enemy nation she rules. As a royal figure, she embodies the power and identity of her lineage, standing at the center of the empire’s influence and its complex relationships with surrounding nations.
• Asgard – Elenor Asgard, the esteemed Saint of Light, and Prince Liam share a prestigious royal lineage. While both belong to the noble Asgard family and maintain a high social standing, they navigate distinct public roles and responsibilities within the realm. Their shared identity defines their status, balancing the expectations placed upon them as they fulfill their unique duties to the kingdom.
• Elisabeth – Princess Elisabeth, the Adrastea Empire’s elegant, amber-eyed princess with lustrous blue hair, embodies royal authority and the peace movement. While officially Prince Liam’s fiancée, she maintains secret, intimate “peace talks” with Xenos. These high-stakes, controlled encounters serve as leverage against Liam, masking a fragile political reality behind her formidable, icy public facade.
• Liam – As the golden-haired Crown Prince of Asgard, Liam is a refined “born winner” whose composure cracks under pressure. Betrothed to Princess Elisabeth and supported by allies like Elliot and Aldrick, his secret, obsessive pursuit of Cecilia jeopardizes his standing. Recently, he leveraged non-verbal cues with Prince Azim to scrutinize Xenos during political meetings, navigating shifting alliances.
• Xenos – Xenos Grimlock, a reincarnated otome game villain and heir to his noble house, hides his genius as a “loser” to manipulate events from the shadows. Known as the jet-clad Black Magic Swordsman, he uses foreknowledge, mind control, and artifacts to orchestrate power shifts. Cold and calculating, he commands a loyal household, including Cecilia and Kuuko, while maneuvering between war and peace factions.
• Pharma – An elven songstress at Xenos’s theater, she was once an auction captive purchased for 80,000 gold. Masking her identity with a magic ring, she performs in glittering costumes alongside her sister, Leela, to protect them both. Though she appears timid, pale, and refined, she is a fierce guardian who uses passionate, elegant performances to hide their traumatic past from the world.
• Leela – A silver-haired elven songstress and dancer at Zahara’s Star of the Desert, she performs with her protective sister, Pharma. Once auctioned as a captive for 80,000 gold and purchased by Xenos, she now uses a transformation ring to mask her past. Though she appears timid, she is resolute, harboring deep inner terror while standing steadfast against underworld threats to protect her identity.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply