Chapter 48: A Princely Kind Of Gratitude

The gala had an abrupt ending, and now everyone was heading home.

Mariella stayed behind to discuss with a few nobles who never failed to come up with new business pitches. Out of respect for her fiancé, she felt she had to at least endure them.

Adonis had Tiamat slung over his shoulder as he walked down the hallway with Prussia. A few departing nobles were still giving him uneasy stares.

Prussia glanced at him.

"You said you had a plan to get the Third Prince mad. Did it work? What’s the next step?"

"You’re always so eager to help me these days. Should I be worried?"

Prussia closed her eyes, held her chin up, and folded her muscular arms.

"Hmph. I’m just doing my job."

... Hm? He gave her a slow up-down as she majestically walked beside him.

"I told everyone to put on their best dress, but it seems you decided to go all out."

Prussia sighed. "I... It wasn’t for you."

"Well, that’s sad. Later."

He branched into a side passage and waved at her without looking back. The first person he saw standing there was Third Queen Lucelia, looking feverish.

Adonis smiled calmly. "Goodnight..."

Lucelia watched him walk past her.

The difference between the two of them was clear, one of them was shaking violently.

She looked at her hands trembling uncontrollably.

’The way he pointed that weapon at Leander’s head... oh my goodness. What if he... what if he...’

She couldn’t let Leander fight against that miscreant. Her [Magic Eye of Appraisal] would never lie to her. She was 100% certain that weapon was a platinum-class magic staff. Where did he get something like that?

Lucelia tried to steel her hands, but the trembling wouldn’t stop, so she pressed them hard against her chest. Whatever tears wanted to roll down her cheeks turned to anger.

"No..."

She formed tight fists against her chest.

"Leander won’t pull out. I’ll make sure he wins. I’ll do anything to protect my son!"

That night, Adonis slept in Minerva’s private chambers like he always did. Before getting into bed, he handed Tiamat to Maid Clara.

"Can you keep an eye on it for me? Just for tonight."

Clara bowed elegantly. "I’ll do just that, Your Highness."

That was the last thing he remembered before going to sleep on Minerva’s lilac-scented, soft bosom as she stroked his hair and gently patted his back.

Hours later, when she was sure the Fourth Queen and Fifth Prince were fast asleep, Clara hurried away with the spear. Soon, she was knocking in front of the Third Queen’s private chambers.

She bowed and handed Lucelia the staff.

The queen smiled warmly.

"Hoh~ you work fast. It’s a blessing to have Minerva’s most trusted maid at my side. As usual, I’ll make sure your family receives my deepest gratitude."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Clara lowered her face to hide her venomous scowl.

’Adonis will pay for hissins.’

...

The next day, Adonis woke up with a bright look on his face. Minerva was still laying in bed, smiling at him in her white lace nightdress.

"You look chipper today, dear."

"Oho?"

The Fifth Prince put on his clothes and looked back at her with both a smug and confident face.

"Are you... shocked?"

He suddenly laughed out of nowhere.

Minerva raised one of her elegant brows.

"Is that supposed to be a joke? Sorry if I didn’t laugh, it just wasn’t that funny. And you’re usually funny."

Seeing her looking at him with the same level of pity reserved for a madman, Adonis sighed and waved a hand dismissively like her words deeply hurt him.

"Don’t worry. It’ll make sense tomorrow."

"Hm?"

"Just cheer me on, okay?"

"Oh, did I forgot to tell you I have a son competing as well?"

"Hah... ha... very funny..." (¬_¬)

The day of the duel. It was on everyone’s mind.

Minerva had barely laid eyes on her son since he got consumed with the idea of winning. Then there’s the First Prince, who had been going to the church every single day to pray. Only Adonis and Leander didn’t seem bothered in the slightest, which was surprising considering those two were eager to win against each other for their honor.

"Would you like to have a bath with me? I’ll have Clara—"

The teasing tone from Minerva was accompanied by a seductive smile typical of her, but...

"Sorry, can’t."

Adonis cut her off. He was already dressed for the day.

"I have a lot of work to do at the Artisan Guild, so I won’t be back until the evening."

Minerva sighed. "Fine. I’ll bathe alone."

"Oh, don’t be so sour, next time."

"Like I said, fine..."

"Good, I have to go now."

"Goodluck, dear~"

She called out elegantly as Adonis hurried out.

Before he could even observe his surroundings, Clara held Tiamat right up close to his face, her head humbly bowed.

"I got so nervous holding the spear for you! But I promise it’s in good condition! I even helped you shine it a bit—!"

She sounded so panicked.

Adonis chuckled, making placating gestures.

"Calm down, it’s fine. You seem very nervous."

He noticed she’d wrapped Tiamat in a thick fabric. To prevent scratches, maybe? Strange woman.

Adonis took the clothed water spear.

"Why are you so nervous around me?"

Clara bowed her head even lower, sounding anxious.

"I... I... I don’t want to do anything to disappoint any member of the royal family!"

He reached out, helped her stand upright, and tilted his head with a sweet smile like sunshine.

"Well, I’m barely a member of the royal family, so you shouldn’t be so scared around me. The only reason I’d ever get mad at you is if you did anything to bring harm to Minerva."

"... Eh?"

"Ahaha~ you heard me, yes?"

He laughed softly. Clara didn’t know whether to laugh or not. She stood like a block of ice. He looked like such an angel standing in front of her, yet the air around him felt suffocating.

The prince patted her shoulder gently and walked away.

...

Still feeling ice-cold from that encounter, Clara decided to take her break early to pay a visit to her parents.

In Gilishon, richer neighborhoods were near the citadel, temple, and main thoroughfares; poorer ones were pushed to the farthest ends, lower down or outside the walls.

With a family drowning in debt, it was no shock her family lived in the slums of the capital. Her father was a rat-catcher; her mother was a beggar and an occasional prostitute.

Thanks to her recent treasonous choices, Clara always received sacks of silver coins from Queen Lucelia, which she delivered to her family immediately.

"There must be no paper trail."

Third Queen always reminded her.

Clara reached her rickety family house. She stepped inside and her mother hugged her affectionately, while her father quickly pulled out a chair for her to sit. They always treated her like royalty now because of the money she brought in.

"How are you doing?" her father asked.

"Fine..." Clara replied quietly.

"That’s all?" her mother pressed.

Clara paused, noticing the way her parents were staring at her with big, expectant eyes.

It didn’t look like their usual desperation for money.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, frowning.

Her mother was the first to break.

"Ooohhh, I can’t hold it anymore! When were you planning on telling us about the handsome prince you’re dating?!"

"He’s the one giving you all this money, right?!"

Her father leaned excitedly forward as he asked.

Clara’s confusion vanished instantly. It’s replaced by a terror so violent she refused to believe it... a kind of existential dread she only felt around people better than her.

Thinking of that, only one face came to mind.

"Wh-, What do you mean?"

"One of the princes visited us earlier! Tee-hee! He said he was a very good friend of yours! Very handsome... golden hair, blue eyes, wonderful height, nice scent!"

"Take it easy, honey." The old man frowned a bit.

Clara bolted up from her chair. The money sack slammed onto the floor and spilled silver across the rotting wood.

"Where is he now?!"

Her parents recoiled, shocked by her reaction.

"Are... are you fine?" her mother asked nervously.

"YES! Just—where is the prince now?!"

"He’s gone. But... but he gave us a message for you..."

Clara lunged forward and grabbed her father’s shirt.

"WHAT IS IT?!"

"He... he said he’s thankful..."

Clara’s legs trembled, giving out beneath her. Every breath felt like dragging broken glass into her lungs.

A short distance away from the slum house, Adonis was casually seated on a large stone.

He yawned lazily into his hand.

"Rat-catcher dad and prostitute mother... honestly, if I ended up in a situation like that, I’d just rage quit life."

He stretched his long slender limbs, stood up, and coolly dusted off his buttocks.

"Well, whatever. Time to go see Mariella."

The sun was beginning to set over the capital.

The duel was tomorrow.