Chapter 116 The Duke’s Interrogation and the Prince’s Gaze
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Cecilia wore an expression of deep anxiety—and told me her father had called me. Unexpectedly.
A single shaft of light from the high window traced paths through swirling dust motes. The distant noise of other students, coming in from somewhere beyond, only deepened the quiet of this dim hallway.
I couldn’t blame her for being worried.
I’d heard that Prince Liam was still making small advances toward her. That prince, having grown impatient with Cecilia’s careful efforts to keep her distance, may have finally used the heavy-handed method of using his royal power.
That’s what she was afraid of.
She thought he’d been working behind the scenes, using his power to pressure Duke Elick Vermillion—her father—into forcefully ending our engagement.
”Knowing that prince? It’s entirely possible. Then again… no, probably not.”
That was probably overthinking it. But being called by her father—directly, personally—meant the news was almost certainly bad for me.
Called by her father. This event.
I really didn’t want to go.
But I couldn’t exactly say no, could I?
”…Understood. I’ll go see your father after classes today. Does that work?”
I’ve always liked to get unpleasant things over with quickly.
”Y-yes! I’ll send word to Father by messenger.”
She’d arrived in a carriage this morning—she’d send a courier back with the message. On the way home, we could ride together in mine.
Message Magic would be more handy, but some models had strict character limits per send. For non-urgent but important matters, this old-fashioned method of letters was normal among the nobility.
”I truly hope it’s nothing serious…” she said quietly.
”Don’t worry. Leave everything to me.”
Looking into her worried red eyes, I slid my arm around her thin waist. Gently at first—to calm her nerves—but then, drawn by her warmth, I pulled her close with more force.
Cecilia looked up at me with shining eyes, caught in my arms. For a moment, at least, she seemed to forget her worry.
At lunch break that day, I was chatting with Cecilia and Lizel on our usual bench in the yard when Prince Liam’s figure caught my eye. He was laughing with his helpers about something, and for just a split second, he looked our way.
It was truly a short moment.
He probably thought he’d been quiet about it.
But I noticed immediately—his manner was clearly different from usual.
”…That’s not a look aimed at Cecilia. Not jealousy, either. It’s like he’s checking… What is that look?”
I couldn’t guess his true aim. But one thing was certain: I’d never felt anything like it from him before. A look that was careful, watchful—judging me.
”I’ve been playing the role of the “Zero Mana loser” to stay under the radar… but did he get wind of something?”
Come to think of it, I’d been making moves behind the scenes too. Had something caught his information network?
Staying beneath notice…
Maybe that was no longer a choice.
After school, Cecilia and I headed for the Duke Vermillion house. Once inside, I was shown to the same fancy reception room as before.
But I was the only one brought in.
Cecilia, apparently, had been told to wait in the living room.
So this was a private matter—something not even his own daughter could hear.
A strong middle-aged man sat deep in a red velvet sofa, barely hiding his annoyance behind his eyes. Without so much as a greeting, he cut straight to the point.
”—So. You’ve taken Princess Liliana. What exactly do you think you’re playing at?”
Duke Elick Vermillion’s sharp stare pinned me in place. The proud, blunt speech of a high-ranking noble.
The matter at hand wasn’t about our engagement at all.
It was about the missing princess—the one taken by a criminal group.
That question came so suddenly, I stopped a moment before answering.
He’d shortened the question far too much. If I answered carelessly, matching his speed, I’d fall into a mistake I hadn’t seen coming.
For instance: if I’d started with “The princess is currently staying at my home—” as an excuse, I’d have accidentally shown Liliana’s location—the very thing I most wanted to hide.
First, I needed to judge the situation.
The Duke seemed to believe I’d kidnapped Liliana.
But there was no way he knew the key fact that she was actually staying at Grimlock Manor right now.
It was true she was currently living in my home’s comfortable basement, taking it easy. During the day, with her personal maid Mina, the beast-kin Kuuko and Lumia with her, she walked freely through the manor and its large grounds—doing exactly as she pleased.
But I couldn’t imagine the Duke had such detailed information. He likely didn’t even know I’d “saved” Princess Liliana from the criminal group. The royal family was searching for her heavily; if anyone had information, it would reach them first.
Which meant…
The Duke was only speaking from his own “thinking.”
He’d put together that the princess’s sudden disappearance must have been my doing—since I supposedly controlled the hard-to-find “Teleportation Demon.” He’d made that guess and was pushing forward based on assumption.
If that was the case, I just needed to plan my answer well.
”…You’re mistaken, Your Excellency. I didn’t take the ‘Angel of Asgard.’”
Duke Vermillion was one of my few allies.
But the fewer people who knew Liliana was staying at my home, the better.
For now, I’d act dumb and bluff my way through.
I made that quiet, quick decision, meeting the Duke’s sharp look directly.
—
Summary:
Cecilia tells the protagonist her father has called him, and he prepares himself for bad news while comforting her. Prince Liam’s behavior shifts toward watchful suspicion during a midday meeting, raising the protagonist’s worry. The Duke questions the protagonist not about the engagement, but about the missing Princess Liliana—whom the protagonist knows is hiding in his basement—forcing a planned game of lies.
—
Trivia:
The protagonist is reincarnated with knowledge of the game’s story, explaining his careful thinking.
Cecilia’s worry comes from fear that Prince Liam is using royal power to end their engagement.
Prince Liam’s look is described as checking and judging, not romantic or jealous—a big change in his behavior.
The protagonist has been carefully keeping a “Zero Mana loser” image to avoid suspicion.
Princess Liliana is currently hiding in the protagonist’s basement, helped by Mina, Kuuko, and Lumia.
The Duke does not know that the protagonist saved Liliana; he operates only on guesswork.
Message Magic exists but has character limits, making letters the normal way for important noble messages.
The Duke’s lack of greeting shows extreme anger and breaks normal social rules.
The “Angel of Asgard” is a title for Princess Liliana, suggesting religious or story weight in the world.
The protagonist’s pause before answering the Duke is a planned moment to think.
The phrase “act dumb and bluff” shows the protagonist’s choice to pretend not to know about Liliana’s location.
The Duke’s “thinking” centers on the protagonist’s rumored control of a “Teleportation Demon.”
Grimlock Manor is the protagonist’s home where Liliana is being kept safe.
Beast-kin characters (Kuuko and Lumia) are mentioned as part of Liliana’s daily group.
Notes:
• Cecilia – The eldest daughter of the Vermillion Duchy and a former saint, she is Xenos’s fiancée and one of his romantic interests. Known for her flame-red hair, blue eyes, and pet, Lumiá, she possesses a cold yet playful nature. Though she rejected Prince Liam, she adores Kuuko and teases Lizel. Lilia shows no jealousy toward her. She occasionally uses a ring to adopt a revealing dancer’s disguise.
• Liam – Liam Asgard, the golden-haired, emerald-eyed First Prince of Asgard, is Liliana’s older brother and the liege of Elliot and Aldrick. Betrothed to Elisabeth, he is an arrogant yet fundamentally kind man who speaks with elegant grace. Though he underestimates his rival Xenos’s Zero Mana status, he shows consideration toward him, even as his obsessive pursuit of Cecilia threatens his political standing.
• Elick – Cecilia’s father and a duke. A burly middle-aged man with an imposing presence. Speaks with arrogant, tactless diction characteristic of high-ranking nobles. Barely conceals irritation behind piercing eyes. Acts as both an ally and potential threat to the protagonist.
• Lizel – A petite, graceful Blanchet count’s daughter, wind mage, and academy student with pink twin-tails, purple eyes, and a signature smirk. Known for her protective, anxious tsundere nature, she is Luca Dalton’s fiancée, Grimlock’s classmate, and Cecilia’s friend. Disguised in a dancer’s costume, she walks the “Path of Light” and is one of Xenos’s devoted romantic interests whom Lilia does not resent.
• Duke Vermillion – Cecilia’s father and a powerful noble. Disapproves of Xenos but is being blackmailed with private videos. Represents the old guard of nobility and is concerned with maintaining political stability. Grills Xenos about Princess Liliana’s disappearance.
• Liliana – Known as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her golden hair and sky-blue eyes, this princess is the younger sister of Prince Liam and Elenor. While maintaining a refined, angelic public facade, she is a manipulative mastermind who wields explosion magic. As Serena’s liege and the true culprit behind recent assassination attempts, she carefully hides her dark nature behind whispered, noble asides.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
• Kuuko – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Lumia – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Mina – A personal maid for the Grimlock estate, serves Xenos with childlike devotion. With soft brown hair and a playful bunny kigurumi over dancer’s attire, she uses cheerful gyaru speech and remains oblivious to tension. She shares a loving bond with her brother Kai, cares for Lumiá, Kuuko, and the estate kitten, and holds a deep affection for Cecilia, recently announcing Serena’s arrival.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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