Chapter 71
“How did it turn out with Arendtert? I mean, the Second Prince. He went on campaign too, didn’t he?”
At Sylaria’s question, Marin’s lips pressed into a thin line. She hesitated, brow furrowing in discomfort.
“Well…”
“Arendtert’s destination was Lekan Forest, wasn’t it? Don’t tell me he managed to earn some merit too?”
“If that’s what you’re worried about, don’t be. His Highness the Second Prince didn’t even depart in the first place.”
Realizing what Sylaria had really been asking, Marin relaxed and finally answered. She glanced around the empty room as if to make sure no one was listening, then lowered her voice.
“He seems to have delayed his campaign. Said he came down with a fever.”
“A fever?”
Sylaria’s voice rose, incredulous. Regular monster subjugations were a prince’s duty, yet he dared postpone it over a mere fever?
“Amazing.”
“Exactly. That’s why the Second Prince’s palace is said to be like a funeral hall right now.”
“Pfft.”
Sylaria couldn’t hold back and let out a laugh. Marin, who had witnessed firsthand the humiliation Arendtert inflicted on her in the past, also looked quietly satisfied.
“I heard that even Her Majesty the Empress is furious, that she’s throwing a terrible fit.”
“I can imagine. Even if he couldn’t match Euclid, he should have at least slain a few monsters. But not departing at all?”
Sylaria leaned back lazily against the sofa. She had half-feared he might run to the temple, have his divine power purified, and still manage to claim some achievement. It seemed she had overestimated him.
“Poor thing, to earn a fever and now a headache as well.”
“I’ve heard he plans to depart tomorrow, but who knows if that will really happen.”
“It’s already too late. The optics are terrible.”
“Right? It’s obvious he’s scrambling out of fear of falling behind.”
Sylaria nodded. Even if the Empress forced him out tomorrow, he’d be late. Whatever he did would be overshadowed completely by Euclid’s feat.
‘Sending Euclid to Shastir was the right move.’
In her previous life, Arendtert had gone to Shastir as originally planned. Having already been engaged to her and received purification, he’d destroyed the ‘Maw’ there. That single incident skyrocketed his support base.
Euclid, on the other hand, had originally been slated for Lekan Forest, where no ‘Maw’ would appear. She had deliberately switched him to Shastir because she knew fully that the purified Euclid could claim merit equal to, if not greater than, Arendtert.
And judging from what she’d heard, Euclid had surpassed even her expectations. What a truly remarkable man.
‘For once, Arendtert played right into my hands.’
So he hadn’t even gone out at all.
Then again, he always despised monster hunts. No surprise there. When faced with beasts, he lingered at the back, fighting only with words, yet he excelled at stealing others’ credit.
The only reason he had obediently gone to Shastir in her past life was to show off the effects of her purification to the First Prince. Pure chance had stacked in his favor until he stumbled into real merit.
His rise to Imperial Crown Prince had been possible only because of her. It was through the ‘coincidences’ born from her presence, one after another.
But in this life, those coincidences would not exist. Sylaria would make sure of it.
From here on, his path would be paved only with misfortune.
* * *
Clang!
The glass Arendtert hurled smashed against the wall, grazing past Grizelle’s cheek. Tears welled in her eyes as he roared,
“GET OUT!”
“Your Highness!”
Grizelle sobbed, collapsing to the floor and clutching at his legs.
“Why are you doing this? Last night you said you liked me!”
“Me?”
Arendtert barked out a disbelieving laugh, glaring down at the woman clinging to him. He jerked his legs, trying to shake her off.
“I never said that. Let go!”
“But you let me purify you!”
Arendtert froze mid-kick and glanced down at his own hands. His gaze narrowed dangerously as he stared at them.
“This barely made a difference.”
“But your shoulder, the wound healed!”
“Sure. After I spent three nights pounding into you just to manage that much.”
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