Arc 2 Chapter 3 : Blood Prince

[Raul PoV]

I had no idea what had happened to Elena earlier that left her feeling this down. But as her supporter, it was my job to motivate her and help her through it, both physically and mentally.

Right now, she had her head resting on my shoulder. She seemed genuinely stressed about the succession and the arranged marriage she'd just mentioned.

Speaking of that—was the Emperor actually speeding up the arrangement between Elena and Prince Vlad of the Kingdom of Draconia? If so, that meant war between the Empire and the Republic of Venetia wouldn't be far off.

I glanced over at the headstone beside us.

A name was carved into it: "Liana de Grantz."

This character was an Easter egg my friend had put into the game to tease me, after Liana and I ended our relationship. He'd deliberately worked that reference in, rubbing salt in the wound Liana had just left behind.

For some reason, holding another woman in front of this grave left me with a faint sense of guilt, even though our relationship had ended a full year ago.

"Hey, Raul, are you heading back tomorrow?" Elena asked, still leaning against my shoulder. "If you are, we should travel back to the academy together."

That was true—academy activities would resume in just a few days. Several students would likely be starting their journeys back from their hometowns as the break wound down.

"But don't you still need to stay here, talking with the other nobles to draw them into our faction?"

The moment I asked that, her head trembled slightly, followed by the sound of her cute laughter.

Elena lifted her face and looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

"What? I thought you were supposed to be covering for my weaknesses?" Elena said, smiling. "I'm not exactly skilled at political small talk with nobles, you know."

"Ughhh... wouldn't it eventually get out that my family's backing you in the election if I did that?" I said, not particularly fond of the idea.

"Fufufu~ I'm just teasing," Elena said, stepping back. "Alright, let's head back to the palace. Staying out here too long will leave us both freezing."

[Alisha PoV]

This was the first time I'd ever left the Tsardom of Slavia. Right now, we were at the border between the Aragon Empire and the Republic of Venetia, specifically at the port of Tusculum City—a Republic territory located along the coast of the Gulf of Cosentia.

We'd arrived here after eighteen days at sea. The journey hadn't been particularly comfortable, since we'd had to navigate around a storm in the Weimar Sea.

Unlike back home, the weather here was fairly warm, even with winter approaching. Countless ships crowded the harbor, and merchants spilled out along the city streets, giving the place a real sense of life.

This nation truly could be called the center of the world, given how strategic its location was, so unlike my own country. I thought a trip abroad now and then would do Anastasia some good, broadening her perspective on the world.

—Knock! Knock! Knock!

I heard a knock at the door of my room at the inn.

"Come in, it's unlocked."

The door opened, revealing a gray-haired man dressed in butler's attire.

"Ah, Leon. Back from your investigation already?" I asked him. "I already told you, there was no need to go to all this trouble."

Why bother investigating my future fiancé, anyway? As long as the partnership held, everything would be fine. Duke Alvaro had promised the first cargo shipment to our nation would depart today.

I'd already seen the cargo containing the equipment Duke Alvaro had promised, sitting right here at the port. It seemed he genuinely intended to follow through on this partnership.

Duke Alvaro's envoys would be heading to the Tsardom of Slavia to begin building production facilities in regions safe from monster attacks.

Stolen novel; please report.

"I need to make sure this Raul de Garcia isn't some kind of scoundrel, Alisha," Leon answered, walking over to where I sat near the window.

"And if he turns out to be a scoundrel, what then? Should we cancel a partnership our nation desperately needs?" I asked him in return.

At my words, Leon simply fell silent, his head bowed. I could only sigh, watching him act this way.

I stood up and gently touched his cheek, so he'd look me in the eye.

"Hey, I appreciate you trying to protect me, Leon," I said softly, stroking his cheek. "But have a little faith in me, okay? Whoever this Raul turns out to be, I'm sure I can handle him."

Leon could only wear a resigned expression at my words.

"Besides, I found something far more interesting than my future fiancé, Leon."

"Huh? What kind of interesting thing?"

I explained to him about the merchants here. Looking around, there wasn't a single official caravan or merchant from the Empire anywhere in sight.

After looking into it, I learned it was because the Republic of Venetia's authorities imposed steep taxes on merchants coming from the Empire, forcing them to think twice before setting up any trading posts here.

On top of that, they made things difficult for cargo originating from the Empire that was meant for export elsewhere—like Duke Alvaro's cargo bound for my own country. They'd held it at the port three times longer than usual.

"If this keeps up, conflict between the Republic and the Empire is bound to break out before long," I explained to Leon. "Do you understand what that means, Leon?"

"Oh, ughh... I don't quite follow, Alisha," Leon answered, clearly struggling.

"It means war!" I told him. "My guess is war will break out by mid-next-year, maybe even sooner, judging by the situation here."

Still, I had no idea whether this coming war would end up being good or bad for my nation. The Tsardom of Slavia maintained good relations with both the Empire and the Republic of Venetia. But most of our mineral exports went to the Republic.

Would they demand we sever ties with the Empire once war broke out?

I didn't know...

"Leon, how much longer until we reach Grunbelt Academy?" I asked him.

"If I recall correctly... about twelve more days of travel,."

Ughh... still that long, huh? I supposed I should buy a few books to keep myself from getting bored during the rest of the journey.

[3rd PoV]

The Kingdom of Draconia—a nation built by the Wallachian people and several surrounding tribes four hundred years ago. It bordered the Empire, the Grand Duchy of Wiena, and the Kingdom of Pulishia to the south, the Republic to the west, the Novgarad Federation to the north, and the Kingdom of Britonia to the east.

Its highly strategic location made the kingdom essential for connecting the western continent to the eastern one. That was precisely why so many nations sought an alliance with the Kingdom of Draconia.

At the moment, the Kingdom of Draconia held no alliances with any of its neighboring nations.

Their most recent alliance, with the Novgarad Federation, had recently collapsed following the death of Princess Diara mel Dracus, younger sister of King Radu mel Dracus, the current ruler of the Kingdom of Draconia, who had passed away two years earlier. That alliance had originally been built through a marriage between the two ruling families.

At present, King Radu was in his study, accompanied by a mysterious man wearing a black turban.

"Karim, is there an important report that's brought you here?" the King asked.

"Forgive the interruption while you're busy, Your Majesty," Karim said, bowing. "We've received a letter from the Empire."

Karim then handed over a sheet of paper bearing the Empire's official seal.

The King opened the letter and read through its contents. His expression shifted the moment he finished reading.

"It seems our prediction was correct, Karim," the King said, touching his chin thoughtfully. "The Empire is inviting Vlad to become an exchange student at their academy."

"Does that mean war is truly coming, Your Majesty?"

"You're right. Begin the plan we prepared in advance," the King ordered. "This is our chance to weaken that nation."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Just as Karim was about to leave the room, the King suddenly stopped him. "Karim, summon that boy. Tell him to come see me here, right away."

Karim nodded and left the King's chambers. He made his way down toward the palace's underground chambers.

He knew exactly where to find the one the King meant—that boy loved nothing more than shutting himself away in the palace dungeon, spending his time indulging in his rather peculiar hobby.

Before long, Karim arrived outside the dungeon door. But he stopped in his tracks upon hearing a scream coming from within.

"Aggghhh! Please, please, please! Stop this, all of it!"

—Splat!

"Scream louder! Maybe then I'll show you mercy!"

—Splat! Splat! Splat!

"Aghhhh! Stop, please! I beg you, Prince!"

Karim knocked on the dungeon door, and the sounds coming from inside immediately fell silent.

"Prince Vlad, His Majesty has summoned you to his chambers," Karim announced.

"Come in here and speak with me," the prince answered from within.

The moment Karim opened the door, the metallic stench of blood filled his nostrils. Several human bodies lay scattered across the floor of this dark, dark room.

—Tap... tap... tap...

The sound of footsteps drew closer toward Karim. Cold sweat began soaking his body as he felt a powerful, oppressive magical aura filling the room.

"Ah, it's you, Karim. What's Father calling me for, at this hour of the night?"

A man with hair as black as pitch stepped into view before Karim. His face, slick with human blood, gave him a truly terrifying appearance.

"It seems the Empire is about to approach us for an alliance, just as you predicted last year, Prince," Karim reported.

"Guuaahahahaha!"

Hearing Karim's words, Prince Vlad burst into unrestrained laughter. He clutched at his own face, unable to contain the excitement building within him.

"Excellent, excellent! So then, are they arranging my marriage to Princess Elena directly, or simply inviting me to enroll at their academy?" the prince asked, pressing further.

"They're only inviting you to study at Grunbelt Academy, Prince," Karim answered.

"Heee~ They're being fairly cautious, then," the prince murmured. "No matter. I'll enjoy myself at that academy before the war finally begins!"