No Regression for the Victor - Chapter 9

“What did you say?”

The Emperor could not believe his ears. That Duke Transis had harvested crops with his own hands—he had just heard it clearly, yet he still couldn’t believe it.

“If I heard correctly… are you saying the Duke walked out to the field on his own two feet?”

It wasn’t as if anyone at the frozen lake exile could carry an alpha of the Duke’s size out to the field on their back. As the Emperor trailed off doubtfully, the man replied in a confident voice, solidifying the claim.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. He even asked about the planting method for Osbrandt pumpkins. Can you believe it?”

Everyone who heard this doubted their ears. The young master who used to throw a fit and demand something to wipe off even the smallest speck of dirt on his hands had actually harvested something in the field himself? The sun must be planning to rise in the west tomorrow.

It would have been more believable if they said Osbrandt pumpkins contained some magical component, and the Duke was secretly researching them to create a magic bomb for the imperial family.

“I can’t believe it. Send an investigator to look into it thoroughly.”

“As you command.”

At the Emperor’s order, the secretary who delivered the caretaker’s report bowed deeply and left the office.

No one but Hyun—now Duke Transis—knew that the real story was simply that, with nothing better to do, he was just looking for ways to pass the time instead of tormenting the caretakers as the original Duke had done.

Not long after, in the records room where imperial investigators were gathering and organizing reports, the young investigator Marcel received the Emperor’s order, let out a long sigh, and returned to his own room.

Even if special permission was granted to use the gate for travel, it wasn’t as though he could go, investigate for a day or two, and return immediately. He would have to stay for at least several weeks, and the thought of spending the golden autumn in that barren place gave him a headache.

‘It’s the Emperor’s command, so there’s no way I can refuse.’

Other investigators, having more years of service, could make excuses and push these jobs off onto juniors, but not Marcel.

Having only just become a direct investigator of the imperial household, there was no way he could pick and choose his assignments. Being the least senior, Marcel found himself stuck with the trip to the frozen lake, and there was nothing but bitterness in his mouth.

‘Just wait. Someday I’ll get promoted, dump all these annoying jobs on my juniors, and never set foot outside the palace again.’

As Marcel was daydreaming about his future and closing the door to his room, he sensed someone inside, and immediately tensed, raising his voice.

“Who’s there!”

And then—pop!—the one who poked their head out from behind the bed was…

“Haa… Did you run away to my room again?”

It was the youngest prince, someone closely connected to the very person Marcel had just been ordered to investigate.

“The detached palace is so noisy. I can at least be quiet here…”

Honestly, his heart was too soft. For someone so brave on the battlefield, he became the shyest of children the moment he returned to the palace. He really was still young, with several years yet before he came of age.

Who would believe that this was the very prince who, all alone, had subdued the endless monsters erupting from the volcano and was hailed as the hero of the South?

He was tall for his age, with the delicate and flawless beauty as if personally sculpted by Timete, the god of beauty, but his actions were more like those of an easygoing mercenary than a lofty member of the imperial family. His impression was closer to that of an open-hearted young man.

“You achieved such great military exploits at the Delwyn Mountains, but you still don’t have a fiancée—no wonder everyone’s so impatient. If you don’t like all the attention, you should just find a good omega and make a match.”

At Marcel’s textbook remark, the prince winced, squeezed his eyes shut, and covered his ears.

“Even you, Marcel? I’m sick of hearing about marriage!”

Seeing the prince’s exasperation, Marcel replied with a laugh.

“You’re at the age when an alpha should be entering rut and finding a proper fiancée, and you’re even a member of the imperial family. Didn’t you expect at least this much fuss when you came to the palace?”