Chapter 135 - 62: The Princes’ Plan

Chapter 135: Chapter 62: The Princes’ Plan

Recently, rumors about the Light Kingdom had been circulating among the populace.

This neighboring kingdom of theirs had been making quite a few moves lately.

By all rights, after a major war with the Demons, the Light Kingdom should have been in a phase of rebuilding and recovery.

Merchants, being the most sensitive to economic shifts, expected the Light Kingdom to reduce trade with its neighbors after the war and focus on licking its wounds.

However, the reality was just the opposite.

It seemed completely unaffected by the war. In fact, the post-war Light Kingdom recovered its former vitality with astonishing speed. Not only were there no issues like food shortages, but they even had a surplus, going so far as to discuss grain exports with merchants from Ovis.

And all these changes seemed to be connected to a princess named Lilia Seville.

They say she was the hero who fought back the Demons, personally reclaiming all the land they had occupied. The highly effective anti-Demon weapon was supposedly her invention as well.

They say that not long after the war, she was named the Crown Prince of the Light Kingdom. Barring any surprises, she would ascend the throne and become the next Monarch of Light after the current King passed away.

They say the other Princes and Princesses, who had been locked in a bitter struggle for power, immediately ceased their infighting upon her arrival. It seems they were won over by her immense power and exceptional personal Charm, willingly submitting to her authority and serving under her command...

There were so many rumors about Lilia, they had even reached the ears of the King and his princes.

「Inside the Royal Palace.」

The King was discussing some of the recent street-level rumors with Colin Reinhardt.

"That Lilia Seville certainly has some ability. I’ve heard she’s not only skilled at leading troops, but her Magic has also reached the level of a High-level Mage."

Colin, sitting opposite the King, said respectfully, "And most importantly, she’s not even twenty years old."

"A High-level Mage before the age of twenty..."

The King mused, his voice filled with a hint of wonder.

Across the entire continent, individuals with such talent were likely few and far between.

And that wasn’t all. Her Magic Talent was formidable, but she hadn’t neglected her other skills. One only had to look at the recent policies enacted in the Light Kingdom to know this princess was a ruler with vision.

Granted, those policies were still in their early stages, so their ultimate effects remained to be seen. But a capable Monarch who was also willing to experiment was always better than a mediocre one content to cling to the old ways.

Moreover, the rumors suggested she wasn’t arrogant or obstinate. She was even capable of treating former rivals like Veronica—now her vanquished competitors—as equals, assigning them to positions that suited their talents.

When they first learned the Light Kingdom was the primary target of the Demon attacks, the King and his court had felt a sense of relief, even a hint of schadenfreude.

As the four most powerful nations on the continent, they cooperated, but more often, they competed.

After all, the pie was only so big, and resources were finite. If one nation took a larger slice, the others would get that much less.

Ovis hadn’t wanted the Light Kingdom to be crushed by the Demons, because if Light fell, they would be next in line for disaster.

However, the Light Kingdom’s rapid emergence from the shadow of war was also contrary to Ovis’s hopes.

They had originally thought they could use this as an opportunity to extort the Light Kingdom, perhaps by inflating the prices of basic necessities like grain... But they never expected that the Light Kingdom wouldn’t need their aid at all. Their wishful thinking was shattered in an instant.

Colin hesitated a moment before asking, "Father, do you think this Princess Lilia... is someone we should cultivate a close relationship with?"

"You’ve heard that rumor as well?"

The King smiled, his expression as inscrutable as a Monarch’s.

"...Yes. Nothing escapes your notice."

Colin lowered his head. "I have a friend who works at the port. He mentioned that the princess’s name is on the passenger manifest for the Conqueror."

Lilia had made no secret of her trip to Ovis, nor did she have any intention of hiding her identity.

When a nation’s Crown Prince pays a visit to another, the reception must naturally be of the highest standard in every respect. This included her vessel—the Conqueror, the most luxurious ship that sailed between the Light Kingdom and Ovis.

Given Lilia’s status, the passenger list had been sent to Adrian well in advance and placed on the desks of the King and his princes.

"We don’t yet know her purpose for coming to Ovis, but her movements are completely transparent. We can assume this is a friendly visit."

The King continued, "Perhaps the Demon attack left the Light Kingdom with some lingering fear. Both the Light Kingdom and Ovis were victims of that assault, so she may see our two nations as natural allies. That would explain why she’s coming to Adrian now."

Colin nodded. "So, she’s here to cooperate with us?"

"It’s highly likely. Otherwise, there would be no need for such fanfare, especially since she is coming alone."

"Then in your opinion, should we cooperate with her, or..."

"What do *you* think?"

Faced with his father’s scrutinizing gaze, Colin contemplated for a moment. "I believe she is worth allying with. Perhaps even... worth using certain methods to secure that alliance."

’This Princess Lilia is the future King of the Light Kingdom. The significance of a nation’s sovereign versus a mere princess is entirely different.’

’Most importantly, if our intelligence is correct, this princess is currently unmarried.’

’If we could place someone close to us by her side and win her favor... it would be tantamount to securing the support of a Monarch.’

’That’s more valuable than the backing of any Noble.’

The King laughed. "Then proceed as you see fit."

For him, cooperation with Lilia wasn’t strictly necessary, but it would be a welcome bonus.

If Colin could actually pull it off, he certainly wasn’t going to stop him.

Upon hearing this, Colin’s delight was written all over his face. "Yes, Father! Please leave the matter of receiving Princess Lilia to me. I will not disappoint you!"

After bidding farewell, Colin was about to leave and make preparations when the King called out to him again.

"The position of Crown Prince is something you must fight for, but not unscrupulously."

The King didn’t say it outright, but his meaning was clear. "Some things shouldn’t be done too often, or it becomes easy for others to find leverage against you."

"After all, he isn’t your only competitor."

Colin, who had just stood up, froze for an instant.

He lowered his head. "Yes, Father. I understand."

"As long as you understand."

The King gave a slight nod, dismissing him.

Colin respectfully exited the parlor, an unshakeable, sinister glint in his eyes.

’It seems I’ll need to assign more men to Lucian’s case.’

’Since I can’t make a habit of this... I might as well solve the problem once and for all. Just get rid of him.’