Chapter 133 The Prince’s Dark Machinations
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Prince Liam’s Perspective)
In a quiet chamber far from the Royal Palace’s bustling soiree, Prince Liam faced Duke Vermillion-one of the Asgard Kingdom’s most powerful nobles.
The only sound breaking the oppressive silence between them was the occasional crackle of firewood in the hearth at the room’s corner. The duke made no effort to hide his displeasure regarding concerns over the abduction of the prince’s sister, Liliana-hime.
”Nothing of the sort, Your Excellency,” Liam said, offering the polished smile befitting a prince. “I merely thought that with your extensive connections, you might have heard certain… unsettling rumors from the underworld.”
He chose words that honored his counterpart while subtly probing for information.
”…I’m afraid I can’t fulfill Your Highness’s expectations,” Duke Vermillion replied, moving to depart. “If that’s all, I’ll take my leave.”
He had his suspicions about who might have taken Liliana-hime without detection-but for now, he decided to play ignorant.
(That accursed Grimlock brat…) he thought. (What exactly is he thinking, kidnapping a princess? I’ll have to summon him soon and demand the truth.)
The duke already harbored strong suspicions about the young man who might one day become his son-in-law.
”Please wait, Your Excellency.”
”…Is there something more?”
Liam’s quiet voice stopped the duke mid-stride. Turning slowly, Duke Vermillion made no effort to hide his irritation.
”It’s about Lady Cecilia. I’d like to ask you to reconsider the annulment of her engagement to Xenos Grimlock. Would you please… reconsider?”
”…You’re quite persistent, aren’t you?” Duke Vermillion’s irritation deepened. “I believe I already refused that request quite decisively.”
In his eyes, the young prince was nothing more than a lovesick boy obsessing over his daughter.
(Ideally, I’d have my daughter’s engagement to that brat annulled,) the duke mused. (But he’s got that mysterious Teleportation Demon attached to him. Damn it all-for now, I have no leverage.)
”Are you truly satisfied with that, Duke?” Liam pressed. “Are you genuinely willing to marry your daughter off to that ‘Zero Mana’ failure? Would that not bring shame upon the House of Vermillion?”
Liam’s words struck directly at the duke’s deepest concerns.
”I’m not satisfied,” Duke Vermillion admitted. “Far from it. But the Grimlock family and mine have ties stretching back generations. House Vermillion has also deployed many troops to the Eastern Frontier. I cannot-for the sole reason that their heir lacks mana-jeopardize the goodwill between our houses.”
For Prince Liam, this answer was entirely expected.
The duke’s immobility-its root was his political connection to the Grimlock family.
But Liam possessed a trump card to move this stubborn duke.
”Indeed. Your words are most wise,” Liam said smoothly. “However-if Xenos Grimlock were found to have a flaw… if he were to commit a major scandal-would it not then be possible to dissolve the engagement amicably while preserving the relationship between our houses?”
”…What sort of scandal?” The duke’s voice carried a faint note of interest-and wariness.
”I’m afraid I can’t say yet. Not without firm evidence…”
In Liam’s mind, everything had already connected.
Xenos Grimlock had supposedly purchased a weak dwarf princess from slavers, keeping her as a personal plaything, subjecting her to unspeakable horrors.
He would use this information to bring the cautious and indecisive Duke Crowley to his side. Then, by leveraging Duke Crowley, he’d force an investigation of the Grimlock family to obtain irrefutable evidence.
Once that happened, Duke Vermillion could annul his daughter’s engagement without fear of losing his political backing.
(Everything is proceeding exactly as I’ve planned.)
A thin smile spread across his lips.
Meanwhile, Duke Vermillion-
Had interpreted Prince Liam’s provocation in an entirely different light.
(…So it seems this prince already suspects that brat of kidnapping Liliana-hime,) he realized. (Damn it all, stirring up trouble. I need to order that brat to release the princess soon-and if necessary… I may have to cut him loose entirely…)
For the duke, Xenos’s power-Ashraf-couldn’t be ignored.
But if Prince Liam was willing to step into the line of fire, the duke had no obligation to stop him.
(That demon’s stealth abilities and teleportation are troublesome-but if the prince brings overwhelming force, they might just take that brat’s head.)
”…Very well, Your Highness,” Duke Vermillion said at last. “Let us speak again once this… evidence of yours is gathered.”
”Yes,” Liam replied. “I look forward to that moment.”
The duke departed, leaving the prince alone.
”Cecilia,” Liam whispered, gazing up at the cold, beautiful moon floating beyond the window. “I will free you from that man’s corrupt grasp. I swear it. So please… wait for me.”
He spoke those words with resolute determination.
Several weeks later.
A secret meeting was held between Prince Liam and Duke Crowley, who governed the Dwarf Tribe territories.
Unlike the imposing Duke Vermillion, Duke Crowley was a thin, somewhat frail-looking man-refined, yes, but with an air of uncertainty. His very demeanor spoke volumes: he feared conflict and avoided decisive action, regardless of the opponent.
Even now, summoned secretly by the prince, he fidgeted nervously.
”What business might you have with me today?” Duke Crowley asked, his voice trembling slightly. “Has something happened to Princess Elenor, my son’s betrothed?”
The duke seemed concerned only with matters that affected his own position.
”No,” Liam replied. “I’ve asked you here today to discuss the dwarf princess, Eil Eisenfleet.”
Prince Liam’s words sent Duke Crowley into an obvious panic.
”Wh-Whatever do you mean…? Is she well?”
Duke Crowley broke into a cold sweat, fumbling for words as he tried to gauge Liam’s intentions.
”Ah-yes,” he stammered. “I’ve heard no reports of illness, so she’s presumably… well…”
”I see,” Liam said coolly. “From your reaction, it seems the rumors of her disappearance from your domain are indeed true.”
At those words, Duke Crowley looked as though he might keel over. He’d assumed Eil had fled to the prince’s protection, pursuing her political goal-the dwarves’ economic independence-alongside the Royal Family.
Crowley’s oppressive exploitation regime. If its reality became public, it could shake relations with the Royal Family.
”E-even if you are of royal blood, Your Highness!” Duke Crowley stammered, his voice cracking. “When it comes to matters of our domain, I must ask that you refrain from interfering!”
He was desperate to conceal the truth.
”You say that,” Liam countered smoothly, “but how can I remain silent when Eil is subjected to unspeakable horrors as Xenos Grimlock’s slave? She’s not in your domain, Duke-she’s suffering such cruelty here in the Royal Capital.”
At this, Duke Crowley suddenly breathed again.
So the troublesome Eil wasn’t with Prince Liam after all-she was with that young upstart from the Grimlock family.
The Zero Mana failure.
The incompetent derided as “Zero the Loser.”
That changed everything.
Relief washed over his previously worried face-and was swiftly replaced by unmistakable contempt.
Liam did not miss the shift.
The trap was set.
All that remained was to close in.
—
Summary:
Prince Liam confronts Duke Vermillion about annulment of Cecilia’s engagement to Xenos, revealing his plan to fabricate a scandal involving the dwarf princess Eil. Meanwhile, Duke Vermillion suspects Xenos of kidnapping Liliana-hime, interpreting Liam’s provocation through his own concerns. Liam then meets Duke Crowley, exploiting his fear of exposure to set his trap in motion, with Crowley’s relief at learning Eil is with Xenos revealing his contempt for the “Zero Mana” failure.
—
Trivia:
Duke Vermillion suspects Xenos Grimlock of kidnapping Liliana-hime, not knowing Liam is using this suspicion to manipulate him.
Liam plans to use the fabricated story of Eil’s enslavement to force Duke Crowley into initiating an investigation of the Grimlock family.
Duke Crowley’s oppressive exploitation of the dwarves would be exposed if Eil’s political goals became public knowledge.
The “Zero Mana” epithet carries deep contempt, with “Zero the Loser” serving as a derogatory nickname for Xenos.
Duke Vermillion’s political ties to the Grimlock family prevent him from acting against Xenos despite his personal dissatisfaction.
The Teleportation Demon and Ashraf represent Xenos’s hidden power that makes him a threat Duke Vermillion cannot easily dismiss.
Notes:
• Liam – Liam Asgard, the golden-haired, emerald-eyed Crown Prince of Asgard, is Liliana’s older brother, betrothed to Elisabeth, and liege to Elliot and Aldrick. Though possessing royal Light Mana and a sense of justice, he speaks with polished grace to hide a manipulative, calculating ambition. Scheme-driven to destroy his rival Xenos and obsessively steal Cecilia, he uses his authority to incite war.
• Duke Vermillion – As one of the Asgard Kingdom’s most powerful, pragmatic, and prideful nobles, Cecilia’s father represents the old guard focused on political stability. Torn between ties to the Grimlock family and dissatisfaction with his daughter’s engagement, he suspects Xenos of kidnapping Princess Liliana and grills him over her disappearance, despite being blackmailed with private videos.
• 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.
• Cecilia – Eldest daughter of the Vermillion Duchy, former saint, and academy student, she is Xenos’s fiancée, addressing him as “Xenos-sama.” Featuring flame-red hair, blue eyes, and pet Lumiá, she can use a ring for a dancer disguise. Cold yet playful with ojousama speech, she maintains composure as a key intelligence source alongside Lizel. She rejected Prince Liam, adores Kuuko, and teases Lizel.
• Xenos – Job: Heir to a high-ranking noble house; Relationship: Owner of Lilia; Has romantic connections with Elenor, Cecilia, and Lizel; Item/Magic: Summoning magic, [Substitution Collars]; Note: Was caught up in a Royal Palace explosion and missed three days of school. Pragmatic and calculating personality. Job: Noble of Grimlock family, protagonist; Relationship: Manipulator of Princess Liliana, pursuing Serena; Item/Magic: [Ring of Transformation]; Note: Reincarnated villain with game knowledge, calculating and arrogant. Job: Theater Owner and noble of Grimlock family; Relationship: Fiancé to Cecilia; Item/Magic: Game knowledge/metaknowledge; Note: Reincarnated villain protagonist who knows the original game script.
• Duke Crowley – Duke who governs the Dwarf Tribe territories. Thin, frail-looking, and indecisive. He fears conflict and avoids decisive action, concerned primarily with protecting his own position and concealing his oppressive exploitation of the dwarves.
• Crowley – Bearing the Bartholomeus family name, this cowardly, conflict-averse Duke of the Asgard Kingdom oversees the Dwarf Tribe’s jurisdiction. Outwardly posing as a protector of dwarven culture, he deceitfully exploits them and secretly orchestrates Princess Eil’s sale into slavery. He is relieved when Prince Liam’s attention turns toward the Grimlocks rather than exposing his schemes.
• Ashraf – A Teleportation Demon who serves as the guardian of Xenos’s mansion, protecting it against potential attacks. They possess presence-concealing magic, which the protagonist copies and uses to infiltrate the tea party.
• Elenor – Princess Elenor, the haughty, analytical “Saint of Light” and sister to Liliana, is a silver-blonde swordswoman and healer with gray-blue eyes. Though a noble princess and Grimlock’s fiancée, she is the protagonist’s submissive, magic-sealed slave. A tsundere torn between royal dignity and affection for Xenos, she balances sharp retorts with intense devotion, often appearing in revealing cosplay.
• Eisenfleet – Dwarven family name of Princess Eil.
• Eil – Dwarf princess and skilled artisan. Energetic and earnest with a bright, hopeful demeanor. Works alongside her four attendants to forge weapons and build a smithy. Shows shy vulnerability when confronted with romantic advances.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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