Volume 5 Chapter 10 Each One’s Intentions
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
※Fabulanova’s perspective
The throne room, where state affairs are conducted, is bustling.
The reason for the commotion is simple.
Last night, information from Rosvita leaked to the Ugno faction, revealing my and Clayd’s child, Dee, to everyone in the Dukedom.
Moreover, it has also been reported that Ugno’s daughter, Ludmila, who holds succession rights, went missing during a monster subjugation, plunging the Dukedom into utter chaos.
I was astonished by this shocking information.
It’s true that I had approached Lord Blackdagger through Rosvita about developing southern joint resources, but I had never sold my daughter, which is absolutely nonsense.
However, the Ugno faction, feeling distrust over my concealment of Dee’s existence, is loudly claiming that the royal faction murdered the missing Ugno’s daughter, the princess Ludmila.
Thus, I too had to appear in the throne room from morning to soothe my ministers.
In reality, due to the recent series of mine closures and the failures in new developments, the Dukedom’s administration is becoming strict, but the national treasury is not in such dire straits that I need to offer my daughter to borrow money.
This secret mission given to Rosvita can be covered with our own funds.
Yet, that brat Blackdagger is spreading the word that I offered my daughter to secure funds.
”That brat… trying to seduce my daughter…”
I have heard that Lord Blackdagger is the man whom “Dream Demon Black Dagger” Miriallia, the current Demon Lord, has fallen for.
He has already achieved 3 significant feats in a short time and rose to the rank of a land-holding noble, but I had been told he is only 15 years old.
Above all, what I frequently hear about him is his numerous concubines.
Including lovers, he may have close to a hundred; he is said to be a great womanizer.
As I ponder about Dee, Ugno rushed into the throne room.
”Big Sis! Is it true that you have a child?!”
”Ugno! This is a place of governance! Know your place as a vassal!”
”I apologize! My King, I have received information from Lady Rosvita regarding a person claiming to be your daughter named Delprius. Is this true?”
Ugno is more concerned about the truth of Dee than his own daughter.
For him, if I have a child, the possibility of inheriting the title becomes nonexistent, so he is more interested in the truth of Dee’s existence than his daughter’s well-being.
”…Ugno. Are you asking me, the King?”
”Yes! Depending on the truth, there may be doubts about the succession of the Dukedom, so I wish to know. Is Delprius, the daughter of the Black Dragon clan of Dragonia, truly your daughter? Or not?”
Ugno’s arrogance has grown significantly as his supporters have increased.
Originally, he was a thoughtless younger brother, but since being elevated by the leader of the opposing faction, he has become even more reckless.
Although he is my blood-related brother, knowing he is this foolish makes me want to cut ties, yet I still keep him alive as a valuable Dragonia.
Conversely, the only value this man has is being a Dragonia.
If he were not related by blood and of a different race, he would already be at a level where I wouldn’t keep him alive.
The ministers in the throne room begin to murmur.
They too were concerned about Dee’s existence but had been unable to ask due to my presence.
”…Tch. Fool… Do you not realize that your words and actions could split the nation…”
”My King. I wish to know!”
Lord Blackdagger, anticipating that my Dukedom is on the verge of splitting, may have intentionally conveyed Dee’s existence to Rosvita as a scheme… If so, it is certain that the missing Ludmila is also in Lord Blackdagger’s hands.
Holding key figures from both factions, does he plan to swoop in after Ugno and I exhaust ourselves fighting each other and take control of the Dukedom… just like Gwain and his ilk?
However, even knowing it is Lord Blackdagger’s scheme, if I do not respond, our nation will soon fall into civil war.
I have no choice but to answer, though it is frustrating…
”Everyone, listen carefully. In response to Lord Ugno’s question, Delprius is my daughter-dearu!”
Oh… a murmur spread through the throne room.
Some of the courtiers were shouting “Long live!”
”The reason we have hidden her from everyone as the princess is that since her birth she has been afflicted by illness and deemed unable to fulfill royal duties──therefore, she has no official claim to the throne-dearu!”
The courtiers who shouted “Long live!” began to stir.
They were supporters of the royal family, but they were worried about my lack of an heir.
”Then, my lord, is it acceptable to say that my daughter Ludmila is the foremost candidate for the throne?”
”Ludmila has been granted the title of princess in official status. It’s not something to question now. More importantly, the successor is missing! We must ascertain their whereabouts immediately!”
Ugno wore a relaxed expression.
It may have been a sign of knowledge of certain circumstances.
”In that case, I received contact through my subordinate from Lord Blackdagger. Although Ludmila was injured during the expedition, her life is safe, and it seems she is recuperating at Lord Blackdagger’s residence. I even have a letter from her here.”
Tch, that fool Ugno… responding with such a proud face, I wonder if he bribed Lord Blackdagger.
Why does he not realize that this situation is tantamount to Lord Blackdagger controlling the future of the Dukedom?
If Lord Blackdagger uses Delprius and Ludmila to switch loyalties from the royal faction and the kingdom’s loyalists, a third power could be established in no time.
If mishandled, this third power could become such a massive faction that it might seize control of the Dukedom.
Already, there is a possibility that my trusted aide, Rosvita, has also been absorbed by Lord Blackdagger through Delprius.
She had been urging me to produce an heir every time she met me.
Knowing that I have a daughter must have her overjoyed.
Given her nature, it was certainly not a mistake for her to offer to serve as Delprius’s caretaker.
”I see… then, bring her back immediately! Losing Ludmila over a mere monster hunt is unacceptable!”
”While her life is not in danger, I’ve heard that moving her is risky. My daughter also conveyed that she will stay at Lord Blackdagger’s mansion until her wounds heal.”
Whether it’s being overly carefree or simply not knowing about Lord Blackdagger, Ugno has said he would entrust his important heir-Ludmila to Lord Blackdagger.
If that happens, I couldn’t help but think that by the time she returns, she would undoubtedly be carrying Lord Blackdagger’s child.
”That ceremony cannot be recognized as the prince. Return her at once! If you do not, I will strip Ludmila of her status as a princess.”
The Ugno faction’s vassals began to murmur.
They must have sensed the seriousness in my words.
After all, these were the very people who had claimed that Ludmila’s disappearance was a murder.
They were opposing me, and if Ugno’s daughter Ludmila could not become queen, they would remain in the shadows.
”Why! The monster extermination expedition is a royal decree from the kingdom. Just because she’s injured, removing our commander and representative Ludmila without permission is extremely reckless! If things go poorly, there’s a possibility of being punished for violating the royal decree!”
Ugh, both Gwain and that Blackdagger brat are being cunning, despite their short-lived nature…
”A royal decree, huh… Ugh… There’s no choice. We will wait for the main force to arrive and ensure an early return.”
With Delprius’s presence exposed and Ludmila also bound, it became increasingly clear that my options against Lord Blackdagger were growing narrower.
Is Kent Blackdagger really just a newly adult 15-year-old-nano… or does he have excellent brains among his close aides… Either way, like Gwain, he seems likely to become a threat to my Dukedom.
”I am tired, so I will take my leave. Discuss the subsequent responses among the ministers and present them.”
Feeling fatigued, I departed the throne room and returned to my chambers.
* * *
When I returned to my room, the combat fool (Clayd) who caused this ruckus was asleep in bed.
It seems he flew back from the south using magic without a wink of sleep, but seeing him drooling as he sleeps makes my anger rise.
Without thinking, I punched him in the gut.
”Hmph!”
”Ggghh!! Gah! Gah! It’s a misunderstanding, not Fabulanova!”
Clayd jumped up and smacked his head on the floor.
”Clayd. You said you would move Dee to a safe place, right? So why is she with Lord Blackdagger, and why does it seem I’ve sold her off? Can you explain clearly and concisely?”
My immense frustration caused part of my body to turn dragon-like.
That earlier punch must have had enough power to cause internal rupture if it was not Clayd.
”That rascal Rashid is to blame! I initially asked him to leave her with the True Demon Clan’s king, but he hesitated, so I was forced to visit this guy Carlamia he introduced me to. She happily took her in, with the condition that Dee would become a member of the Majin Clan. Later, Carlamia sold Dee to Kent, and when I went to cool things down, I found she had been married off to Kent and was already having kids… Guh, damn it!”
The word “having kids” set me off.
I instinctively delivered a straight punch to Clayd’s stomach.
”Did I just hear that unfamiliar word, ‘having kids’? Is that referring to reproduction…”
”Gah, gah… Ah, yes. Kent has planted his seed in Dee multiple times. Ouch, ouch, wait! Fabulanova!”
Dee, at the tender age of 16, became a victim of Kent Blackdagger’s reproductive activities.
Unlike the short-lived Majin Clan’s 16-year-olds, the long-lived Black Dragon race’s 16-year-olds are like newborns.
If Dee weren’t [red], I would never have let her go.
Hearing that Lord Blackdagger has bewitched such a Dee and taught her about pleasure, keeping her by his side, pushes my anger beyond its boiling point.
”Kent Blackdagger! Once I’ve quelled the chaos of the Dukedom, I’ll twist off your head!”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply