"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Creed calmly expressed his final request without the slightest excitement.
"I want to enroll in the Imperial Academy of the Holy Empire."
"But haven't you already learned various things from Duke Eseled?"
"Well... the Duke, after finding out that I'm a prince, has decided not to teach me anymore. He's planning to suspend all external activities for a while."
"Suspension again..."
Yulrich couldn't quite grasp Duke Eseled's actions and, with a sigh, he smiled at Creed.
"I've asked them to prepare a room for you. Let's have a meal together shortly and discuss the academy."
"I will follow Your Majesty's words."
Before following Helen Sinnyang, Creed suddenly spoke with a thoughtful expression.
"Oh, by the way, what about Vamillo Stanly? He was pressuring me before the match."
"What? Pressuring you?"
"He said it was an opportunity intended to ensure his victory by Your Majesty the Empress, and told me to go easy if I didn’t want to die."
Diana, shocked by Creed's unexpected revelation, turned pale.
"What do you mean? Why would he take my name!"
"Well, I rejected his offer, and it seems he intended to kill me from the beginning of the match. It looks like we need to investigate this further, Your Majesty."
"Very well, I understand."
Creed shrugged and, pretending not to know anything, bowed his head and followed Helen Sinnyang out.
As they turned a corner, Helen Sinnyang suddenly stopped walking.
"What is the Empress's daughter doing here?"
The term "Empress's daughter" referred to Monica, the daughter of Empress Sophia.
"It's my business."
It was a voice that revealed a young but confident personality.
Creed's indifferent gaze met Monica's challenging look as she leaned against the wall with a provocative glint in her eyes.
The moment their eyes met, Monica's eyes sparkled.
It was as if lions and tigers were meeting in the same territory, carefully examining each other.
"Are you the Second Prince?"
Creed nodded slightly and tried to continue on his way.
Thud!
Monica didn't let him go so easily and grabbed his arm firmly.
Creed raised an eyebrow in response. The strength that held him was far from that of a child.
‘Her strength is abnormally strong.’
Among mages, those with significant talent in mana control could use that power to enhance their physical abilities. Nero was a perfect example of this.
Nero could not only use long-range magic but also demonstrate exceptional physical prowess through mana.
Creed was no different.
However, the young girl in front of him, who wasn't even a mage, exhibited a strength that seemed like she had used such abilities.
It was at a level slightly below that of an adult man.
‘I've heard that there are humans with innate body conditions that can sense mana. This girl seems to be one of them.’
Monica spoke up.
"Let's talk. We're siblings, after all. Shouldn't we greet each other properly?"
Creed replied firmly, "No."
"Why?"
"Because it's bothersome."
Monica made a displeased expression at first but then chuckled. She had a demeanor that didn't quite match her age in various ways.
"Honesty is refreshing. Ares used to beat around the bush, which annoyed me."
Then, a gentle tone but a cold voice chimed in.
"Is that a pity?"
Ares, still dressed in flashy ceremonial attire, was walking towards them.
"I did it out of consideration for you, Monica. I didn't know you'd feel that way."
Monica made a face as if she were about to gag.
"Ugh, pretending to be nice."
At this point, the Helen Sinnyang interjected, saying, "Show respect to Prince Ares, Your Royal Highness."
Monica twisted the corner of her mouth and teased, "Hmph, I didn't learn such things because I couldn't."
Inside the palace, various rumors circulated about Monica, such as "She's raised outside, so she's uncultured," and "Being the child of a low-status empress, she's quite coarse."
Even though Monica was young, she couldn't help but hear the whispers of the courtiers.
Of course, Monica didn't hold back and retaliated vigorously, using her fists and tearing hair, thoroughly exacting revenge.
"You must exercise restraint, Your Highness."
Helen Sinnyang was a high-ranking noble, the closest aide to the empress, and had earned Yulrich's trust through impeccable task handling.
Ignoring the warnings from the chamberlain, it was Monica's loss in any case.
Creed inwardly smirked at his cunning step-sister and spoke to Ares.
"Nice to meet you, Prince Ares."
As intended, all eyes turned to him.
Ares smirked slyly, like a snake.
"It's good to see you, Creed. I've always been lonely, you know, being alone."
Creed sneered, "Is that so?"
"Speak more comfortably. We are brothers after all."
Ares extended a handshake to Creed with an almost affectionate smile.
Monica, who had been watching the situation with a dissatisfied expression, made a disgusted face and left her seat. Her attitude clearly showed that she had no intention of flattering Ares.
Ares didn't pay the slightest attention to Monica's hostility. After all, Monica was nothing but a lowly creature not worth his concern.
His focus shifted entirely to Creed, who had suddenly appeared like a comet, disturbing his inner peace.
"Take care, Creed."
Creed stared at Ares' outstretched hand and recalled Lark's words.
"Be cautious of Ares. Seeing how he's obsessing over Navia, he's definitely not someone who'll back down easily."
"What did Navia say about this?"
"Kid, being a returner is a real pain. When you repeat so many extraordinary things, they cease to be extraordinary anymore."
"..."
"I find it most dreadful that what's 'extraordinary' for my daughter is no longer so for her."
Saying that, Lark laughed.
Lark's smile at that moment was so complex and filled with sorrow that even the inexperienced Creed remembered it vividly, as if it had happened just yesterday.
Creed slowly shook Ares' hand.
Crack!
Ares' face stiffened as he barely suppressed a groan in response to the strong grip.
"Sure, brother."
Navia, after all, considered Ares to be a big deal. So, he became a big deal to Creed too.
"Let's get along well."
'Whether that will actually happen, I don't know.'
For a brief moment, a sinister glint flashed in Creed's eyes and then disappeared.
* * *
At that moment, in the third-floor office of Eseled's mansion, a fierce meeting was taking place, unlike the festive atmosphere outside.
"We've acquired all the commercial properties in the necessary location, and it seems we can now begin constructing the 'department store,' Lord Suleiman."
Navia, seated at the head of the table, nodded approvingly as she checked the documents with her petite frame.
"By then, we should merge Familie Workshop and Hart Botique. How are the new products at Hart Botique coming along?"
In response, Minerva elegantly handed out catalog books, dressed in a sophisticated suit.
"The theme this time is 'nature.'"
Navia, with a hint of irony, unfolded the catalog as she listened to Minerva's explanation.
"Minerva, didn't you say it was 'natural'?"
Minerva nodded confidently.
Navia raised an eyebrow and glanced at the catalog again. It was undoubtedly the rabbit squeaky slipper that Navia had once purchased.
"I never thought I'd see this again..."
Margaret sighed in pure admiration as she looked at the squeaky slippers.
"It will certainly be helpful for parents with toddlers who are just starting to walk."
"Carry on."
"Yes!"
The discussion then shifted to how many technicians the Titan Knights' mages had trained in the mana stone factory and how far they had progressed in preparation for the next war.
Knock, knock.
"My Lady, Viscount Edward Wayne requests an audience."
Navia set aside the documents and spoke.
"In that case, let's conclude the meeting here. Thank you all for your hard work."
As the meeting participants left, only Nero remained in the office, and soon, Edward entered.
"My Lord."
Over time, he had firmly adopted the title of "My Lord" when addressing Navia.
This was because on the day he decided to become her dog, Lark had sternly instructed him to address Navia as his master.
"Come here."
Navia allowed Edward to approach politely, and he knelt beside her, looking up at her with one knee raised.
Could one dare to look down on their master?
"As you instructed, I have encouraged Princess Ares and Lady Vivian's marriage to proceed. I will soon apply pressure to the Empress by threatening to cut off the mana stone supply."
Navia smiled contentedly.
"While revealing the intermediate mana stone technology will undoubtedly be significant no matter when it's disclosed, it's still better to use it to our advantage, don't you think?"
If he could simultaneously create a rift between Agnes, the royal family, and Lucia, there would be nothing better.
"You've worked hard."
Under Navia's authority, Edward bowed respectfully with a straight posture.
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