Chapter 134 Duke Crowley’s Calculations
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Prince Liam’s Perspective)
Prince Liam of the Asgard Kingdom continued his secret conference with Duke Crowley in his private chambers. What Liam had disclosed to the Duke was an exceedingly grave piece of intelligence – that Princess Eil Eisenfleet, who fell under the Duke’s jurisdiction over the Dwarf Tribe, had been purchased as a slave by their sworn enemy, Xenos Grimlock, and was now enduring harsh treatment.
Liam’s aim was to drag the cowardly and cautious Duke Crowley into a political struggle against the Grimlock family – one that could potentially escalate into a bloody civil war.
* * *
Meanwhile, upon hearing this shocking news, Duke Crowley first breathed a deep sigh of relief – inwardly.
”It appears the prince has no intention of censuring me,” he thought.
To the Duke, the dwarf princess Eil had always been an irritating and troublesome presence.
”That barbarian, so ignorant of her place, demanding ‘fair compensation’ from us humans for the weapons and ornaments crafted by dwarves…”
Fortunately for the Crowley family, Eil’s parents – the dwarf king and queen – had no interest in moneymaking and held moderate views. They simply wished to maintain their current peaceful existence, where they could devote themselves to smithing to their hearts’ content, and thus turned a deaf ear to their radical daughter’s words.
If Eil – who had fled her homeland in what was essentially a runaway act after deepening her rift with her parents – were to ever ally with a powerful noble of the Royal Capital, matters would become exceedingly troublesome. Duke Crowley had secretly dispatched spies and orchestrated behind-the-scenes manipulations to ensure she would ultimately be sold to a slave trader.
”That too, was for the peace of the dwarves as a whole. A little sacrifice is unavoidable,” he rationalized.
And when Eil was finally sold into slavery to the Zaitz Merchant Guild, he had removed his surveillance and breathed a genuine sigh of relief. He had assumed that whatever became of her from that point on, there would be nothing good in store.
That was precisely why, when Prince Liam began speaking of the dwarf princess today – the Duke’s blood ran cold as he wondered, “Could it be that Eil was purchased by Prince Liam and has come to plead the dwarves’ dire plight?”
The Asgard Royal Family had, for generations, produced many with powerful Light Mana, and they tended toward an abnormally strong sense of justice. There was ample danger that they might sympathize with a girl like Eil who sought “fairness” and interfere with the Crowley family’s “enterprise” – the excessive exploitation of dwarves.
”When my son became engaged to Her Highness Elenor, I honestly thought we’d landed in a troublesome situation,” the Duke reflected.
The Crowley family outwardly presented themselves as protectors of the dwarves, respecting their independent culture. But if that paragon of justice, Princess Elenor, were to see through the lucrative exploitation system they had painstakingly built over the years – that would be extremely troublesome.
The same held true if Prince Liam before him were to notice.
”But… it seems this young prince has yet to realize that,” Duke Crowley mused with relief.
And so, events had taken a turn most convenient for Duke Crowley. That troublesome Eil had been purchased as a slave by some young upstart from the Grimlock family. And Prince Liam’s blazing sense of justice was aimed not at himself, but at the Margrave’s heir – Xenos Grimlock.
”Truly, a blessing in disguise,” he thought.
A vile smile of relief curled at the corner of Duke Crowley’s lips. His vigilance relaxed in an instant.
”Slavery is currently permitted by law,” Prince Liam began, his tone measured yet firm. “However, to purchase a princess of a nation – a dwarf princess, no less – as a slave is utterly unconscionable. Xenos Grimlock’s cruelty cannot be overlooked. Duke Crowley, as one entrusted with the protection of the dwarves, do you not agree that you must also dedicate yourself to resolving this grave issue?”
At Liam’s gentle yet unyielding inquiry, Duke Crowley felt a sharp knot tighten in his stomach.
”One disaster averted, and another awaits… what a pain,” he thought bitterly.
Above all, he detested conflict and strife.
”…’Dedicate yourself,’ you say?” the Duke asked, his voice wavering.
”Naturally,” Liam replied, his eyes never leaving the Duke’s face. “The Crowley family must deploy its forces and mete out punishment to that villain. You must personally rescue the poor Princess Eil, who has been so cruelly oppressed.”
”…I thought as much,” Duke Crowley muttered under his breath.
Duke Crowley’s expression became as though he had just been handed a death sentence.
If it were merely a matter of suppressing the Grimlock Margrave’s estate in the Royal Capital, the Holy Knights of the Royal Family that Prince Liam could mobilize would be more than sufficient. By insisting that they deploy troops, there was a significant political meaning beyond mere military action.
”By having us do it, rather than the Royal Family-” the Duke realized with dread.
It would declare to the nation and beyond that the Crowley family had officially joined the Peace Faction. If that happened, they would be completely targeted by the Pro-War Faction and treated as clear enemies.
Above all, being thrust to the forefront of a conflict with the militant Grimlock family – that was the very last thing the Duke wanted.
”The Grimlocks’ main forces are engaged on the Frontier. Only a worthless Zero-Mana heir remains in the Royal Capital,” he reasoned. “However…”
”B-But, Your Highness!” Duke Crowley stammered, his composure cracking. “Deploying troops is far too excessive! I’ve heard that the Grimlock heir has no Mana – just a failure of a son. Surely the Royal Capital’s elite Holy Knights alone would be more than sufficient?”
The Duke attempted a desperate resistance.
”That assessment is far too naive, Duke,” Prince Liam countered, his voice calm but carrying an edge of steel. “Indeed, Xenos Grimlock himself possesses zero Mana. That much is certain. However, under his command exists an unknown and extremely powerful sorcerer – one capable of turning a dwarf princess into a ‘Magic Slave’ with ease. To ensure the princess’s safe rescue, I must request your house’s assistance.”
Liam gazed straight into the Duke’s eyes, which darted about searching for an escape, and made his case quietly yet forcefully.
”To keep such formidable talent here in the Royal Capital, rather than sending them to the Frontier frontlines…” the Duke mused, his resistance crumbling.
This faint-hearted Duke could no longer resist the prince’s powerful persuasion and demands.
”V-Very well…!” Duke Crowley conceded, his voice barely above a whisper. “I shall immediately dispatch five of my finest high-ranking sorceresses from my territory to the Royal Capital – along with two hundred soldiers…!”
He nodded weakly, like a condemned man receiving his sentence.
The audience concluded, and events finally began to move in earnest.
Troops from the Crowley family were covertly transferred to the Royal Capital, and under Prince Liam’s command, preparations for the assault on the Grimlock Margrave estate proceeded steadily.
So as not to be discovered by the enemy.
Quietly, and in secret – the hour of execution drew near.
* * *
(Xenos’s Perspective)
Three days had passed since that duel with the arrogant new student – David.
The fervor of the duel had cooled, and the Academy had returned to its usual peaceful flow of time.
As I entered the classroom, Cecilia and Lizel rushed over to me, their faces shadowed with concern. Their usual radiant smiles were absent.
”Even a melancholic expression is beautiful in its own way, though…” I mused privately.
”Something happen?” I asked, my tone casual but attentive.
”Xenos-sama,” Cecilia began, her voice lowered with urgency, “there’s something we need to discuss in private.”
”It’s absolutely terrible,” Lizel added, her eyes wide with alarm.
They agreed to meet at the old terrace behind the library, away from the lunchtime commotion.
”So,” I said, leaning against the weathered stone railing, “what’s this about?”
They had their own formidable information networks within the Academy. Had they caught wind of something ominous?
”…Actually,” Cecilia said, her aristocratic composure barely containing her distress, “a grave plot is currently underway behind the scenes.”
”A grave plot…?” I repeated, my brow furrowing.
- What on earth could that be?
”Violetta Azalea,” Cecilia announced, her voice dropping to a near-whisper, “is plotting to assassinate the Empire’s princess – Elisabeth Adrastea!”
Violetta Azalea. The “villainess” of this world, with her distinctive voluminous purple curls.
According to the intelligence Cecilia and Lizel had gathered – that spoiled only daughter of the Azalea Dukedom had apparently acquired a powerful poison through underground channels, together with her sycophantic followers, for the purpose of assassinating Princess Elisabeth.
That announcement froze the tranquil afternoon air in an instant.
”…What the hell?” I breathed, my casual demeanor evaporating.
Indeed, this was absolutely terrible.
—
Summary:
Prince Liam successfully pressures Duke Crowley into committing military forces against the Grimlock family by revealing Princess Eil’s enslavement, while Duke Crowley inwardly celebrates that the prince’s righteous anger is aimed at the Grimlocks rather than his own exploitative schemes. The conversation shifts to the Academy, where Xenos learns from Cecilia and Lizel that Violetta Azalea is plotting to assassinate Princess Elisabeth Adrastea. The unresolved variable is whether Xenos will intervene in this assassination plot or remain focused on his own objectives.
—
Trivia:
Duke Crowley was the one who orchestrated Eil’s sale to slavery, viewing it as necessary sacrifice for dwarven “peace.”
The Crowley family secretly controls a lucrative exploitation system of dwarves while publicly presenting as protectors.
Princess Elenor’s engagement to Duke Crowley’s son is viewed as a political liability due to her strong sense of justice.
Xenos Grimlock possesses zero Mana yet commands an extremely powerful and unknown sorceress.
The Grimlock family’s main forces are currently engaged on the Frontier, leaving only Xenos in the Royal Capital.
Cecilia’s Ojousama speech pattern includes the distinctive sentence-ending particles “desuwa” and “kashira.”
The Academy has a powerful information network operated by Cecilia and Lizel that uncovered the assassination plot.
Violetta Azalea is the “villainess” archetype in this world, distinguished by her voluminous purple curls.
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 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.
• Eisenfleet – Dwarven family name of Princess Eil.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• David – Second son of the Hargrave Count family. New student at the academy with neatly groomed brown hair and handsome features. A top performer among first-years with a crowd of followers. Ambitious and seeking to make a name for himself by challenging Xenos to a duel. Wants to earn royal favor through the search for Princess Liliana.
• 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.
• Lizel – A petite, graceful Blanchet count’s daughter, wind mage, and academy student with pink twin-tails, purple eyes, and a signature smirk. Disguised in a dancer’s costume, this protective, anxious, and emotionally expressive tsundere is Grimlock’s classmate, Cecilia’s close friend, and Xenos’s devoted fiancée. Sharing Cecilia’s info network, she helps expose Violetta’s assassination plot.
• Elisabeth – Princess of the enemy Adrastea Empire, Prince Liam’s fiancée, and the game’s main heroine. Dignified and diplomatic even when cornered or falsely accused, she is targeted by Violetta’s assassination plot. While Xenos exchanges opinions with her, her heart has shifted from Liam to the protagonist, showing visible relief at his arrival while unconsciously avoiding relying on her fiancé.
• Violetta – Daughter of Duke Azalea. The orchestrator of the tea party trap, using poison to frame her romantic rival. Displays refined superiority and honeyed cruelty. Possesses a sharp, calculating mind wrapped in elegant manners.
• Azalea – Violetta’s family name. The villainess of the world.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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