Meanwhile, Andrea was under a lot of stress.
Recently, he heard that the top of Teramo was in someone else's hands, so he went crazy and started swearing.
Then, he tried to give up and look into other businesses and places to invest that would make money, but he always got rejected, even when he tried to give them money because there were investors lining up.
And that's not all. Even when he finally finds a place to invest, it always ends up in bankruptcy.
It felt like someone had already figured out which businesses would succeed and had taken over them, leaving only the ones that would fail.
He feels like he's fallen into a trap.
“Eu..."
Andrea was in agony, clutching his head.
He used to dress up like a gorgeous peacock, but lately he has been looking increasingly shabby and disheveled.
It can't be helped.
He used his position as the Prince to issue a lot of promissory notes, but he was unable to recover his investment, so his debts piled up to an unmanageable level.
Since every business he touches has failed, some people even joke that they now trust and avoid any business he touches.
Oh, what a disgrace this is.
For Andrea, it was more humiliating to see people laugh than to see his debt pile up.
“Everyone is probably pointing fingers at me. Laughing at me...? Ugh.”
He was so embarrassed and inferior that he couldn't even eat.
“Damn it, this can’t be happening! Damn it! Damn it!”
It was while Andrea was writhing on the sofa in denial of reality.
His executive secretary came running and reported.
“Your Highness!”
“Why, what is it...”
“Her Majesty the Empress seems to be planning to move the Prince’s private soldiers. Are you aware of this?”
"What?"
Andrea, who had been leaning against the sofa, sat up.
“How would I know that? You, as the secretary, should tell me!”
“That, that’s why I’m telling you now...”
Andrea leaned back on the sofa, feeling a bit uneasy.
In fact, they were Andrea's private soldiers, but they were Kavala's private soldiers who raised them in the name of his son.
There were quite a few nobles who would rise up in anger if it were said that the sorcerer Kavala, who was busy cleaning up her image as a black magician and not even an Empress, was raising a private army.
It was difficult for Kavala, who became Empress and was already suspected of having bewitched the Emperor with sorcery, to raise soldiers who moved privately.
For that reason, Andrea had no complaints about Kavala using her private soldiers, as he was only lending them his name.
He's just curious.
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“I don’t know. Marquis Dnieper Blanco himself should step forward and say so...”
“Really? Then I should go and ask.”
Kavala was discussed with Dnieper.
Her expression was unusually good today.
This was because she recently received a very interesting report from Sernia.
It was a story about the key to awakening the Holy Grail.
She thought she just had to retrieve the Holy Grail from Ronheim, but the key is Callius.
Although the prospect of a battle was inevitably daunting, she was still thrilled to finally have figured out how to activate the Holy Grail after a dozen years.
“Marquis Rodrian was a thorn in my side anyway, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this opportunity to completely cut off his hands and feet.”
Dnieper spoke cautiously at Kavala's words.
“The Princess will soon die from the curse. Wouldn’t it be better to hold off on military movements until then, my lord?”
Ronheim is already a vassal territory, and there is no justification for sending troops there again.
If the lords near Ronheim learned of this while moving the army, they would be wary of Kavala.
In the worst case, it could have given rise to the misconception that Arrental was moving its troops in preparation for war between Ronheim and the nearby northern kingdoms.
Kavala frowned slightly at Dnieper's words, asking if there was any need to risk the time to strike Ronheim earlier, when the justification would naturally arise once Chloe died.
“It’s clear that Callius has taken the Grail, but what if he reorganizes Ronheim and starts a rebellion while we sit back and wait for the right time?”
Ronheim was never an easy place.
It is a remarkable feat that this small kingdom has maintained a firm independence against the successive Emperors of Arrental.
The reason Ronheim was able to do that was because the Saint had been protecting the land using the Holy Grail.
"Now, with the Holy Grail so close to my hands, may be our last chance. There's no need to risk the bloodshed we endured when we subjugated Ronheim."
Kavala was confident.
And above all, she was impatient.
She wanted to feel the power of the Holy Grail.
She wanted to regain her youth as soon as possible.
She was dying to regain the elastic, glowing skin, vitality, and overflowing life force she had in her teens and twenties.
"I've been planning to install a movement magic circle. Using it, I can move soldiers without having to go through other territories. Prepare to send troops as soon as the magic circle is completed."
Dnieper was worried about Kavala's hasty appearance, but if Kavala said she would do it, she would do it.
It was when he nodded in understanding.
Andrea's voice was heard along with a knock.
“I’m here, Mother.”
Kavala, who was feeling good for the first time in a while, sighed as soon as he heard Andrea's voice.
“Come in.”
Dnieper knew that if Kavala hadn't been in a good mood today, Andrea wouldn't have even set foot in her office.
This was because Andrea's behavior these days was really irritating Kavala's nerves.
"Mother, you're trying to move the soldiers? What's going on?"
As soon as he entered the office, Dnieper shook his head as he watched Andrea get to the point quickly.
Kavala glanced at Andrea with a face that suppressed his irritation.
Andrea flinched at her pitiful gaze.
Andrea would become violent and threatening in front of others, especially those he looked down on, leaving them speechless.
But in front of Kavala, it was the exact opposite.
Even with just one glance from her, he would flinch and cringe.
Andrea was already frozen in Kavala's gaze and didn't know what to do.
“What if it happens?”
“Ah, no... Moving the army is a big deal, so I thought it would be good to know what’s going on.”
"What good would it do you know? I think it'd actually be better for me if you didn't know anything. Just play around like you're doing now, spending the money I gave you. Don't meddle in the adults' business."
Andrea's shoulders hunched slightly at the barbed words.
“Oh, I forgot. I worked so hard to invest...”
“I heard you’re having trouble paying off a matured bill. Is that true?”
"That's just how investing is, Mother. It takes time to see results..."
Andrea desperately tried to persuade Kavala.
Then Kavala waved her hand as if she were annoyed.
"Don't talk too much. I don't think it'll make you feel better. You came here to ask for money anyway, right? I'll give it to you, so go ahead and get out."
“...”
Andrea bit his lip, not expecting anything and just looking annoyed.
Andrea was already feeling down due to the recent series of investment failures.
But when Kavala ignored him like that, his inferiority complex flared up uncontrollably.
'But I don't think you looked down on me that much when I was taking care of Chloe...'
After Chloe left, he felt like she had become increasingly indifferent to Andrea.
As expected, that Callius guy is the problem.
'If only he hadn't existed! If only Chloe had married Viscount Pelsus back then! With the enormous sum of money he gave me, I could have made my businesses successful and earned my mother's approval!'
If that had been the case, Kavala's warm gaze and smile would have stayed with him at least once more.
"I have to get rid of that bastard, Callius. He ruined everything. It's all his fault. I'm going to kill him and get my mother's approval. I'm going to get her approval. I'm going to do it!"
Andrea gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
Meanwhile, Kavala ignored him as if she had forgotten Andrea's existence and resumed her discussion with Dnieper.
"You command the army yourself. You've fought in the battle against Ronheim, so you'll be better than anyone else."
The word Ronheim rang in Andrea's ears.
'Is Mother finally going to strike Ronheim herself?'
Is she trying to get Dnieper to get rid of Callius?
Andrea raised his hand as if possessed.
"Me too! I want to go with you! I'll join you in attacking Ronheim!"
Kavala and Dnieper looked back at Andrea as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
That would be the case, as Andrea had absolutely no talent for swordsmanship.
What kind of battle are you saying you're going to fight in when you're making a fuss just by cutting your hand on a piece of paper?
But Andrea's will burned.
"I will capture Callius and present him to Mother myself. It was something I should have done a long time ago."
In fact, Andrea was secretly thinking, 'Since Dnieper is coming with us, things will work out somehow.'
He was planning to add a spoonful of credit to Dnieper's achievements.
Kavala laughed at him for that.
“Andrea, I told you not to meddle in adults’ business.”
“I’m 33 now, Mom! I’m an adult!”
Andrea insisted strongly.
"I'm confident I can win over Count Elbern of the North. He'll send me more soldiers. Please let me go too."
Recently, he heard that the top of Teramo was in someone else's hands, so he went crazy and started swearing.
Then, he tried to give up and look into other businesses and places to invest that would make money, but he always got rejected, even when he tried to give them money because there were investors lining up.
And that's not all. Even when he finally finds a place to invest, it always ends up in bankruptcy.
It felt like someone had already figured out which businesses would succeed and had taken over them, leaving only the ones that would fail.
He feels like he's fallen into a trap.
“Eu..."
Andrea was in agony, clutching his head.
He used to dress up like a gorgeous peacock, but lately he has been looking increasingly shabby and disheveled.
It can't be helped.
He used his position as the Prince to issue a lot of promissory notes, but he was unable to recover his investment, so his debts piled up to an unmanageable level.
Since every business he touches has failed, some people even joke that they now trust and avoid any business he touches.
Oh, what a disgrace this is.
For Andrea, it was more humiliating to see people laugh than to see his debt pile up.
“Everyone is probably pointing fingers at me. Laughing at me...? Ugh.”
He was so embarrassed and inferior that he couldn't even eat.
“Damn it, this can’t be happening! Damn it! Damn it!”
It was while Andrea was writhing on the sofa in denial of reality.
His executive secretary came running and reported.
“Your Highness!”
“Why, what is it...”
“Her Majesty the Empress seems to be planning to move the Prince’s private soldiers. Are you aware of this?”
"What?"
Andrea, who had been leaning against the sofa, sat up.
“How would I know that? You, as the secretary, should tell me!”
“That, that’s why I’m telling you now...”
Andrea leaned back on the sofa, feeling a bit uneasy.
In fact, they were Andrea's private soldiers, but they were Kavala's private soldiers who raised them in the name of his son.
There were quite a few nobles who would rise up in anger if it were said that the sorcerer Kavala, who was busy cleaning up her image as a black magician and not even an Empress, was raising a private army.
It was difficult for Kavala, who became Empress and was already suspected of having bewitched the Emperor with sorcery, to raise soldiers who moved privately.
For that reason, Andrea had no complaints about Kavala using her private soldiers, as he was only lending them his name.
He's just curious.
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“I don’t know. Marquis Dnieper Blanco himself should step forward and say so...”
“Really? Then I should go and ask.”
***
Kavala was discussed with Dnieper.
Her expression was unusually good today.
This was because she recently received a very interesting report from Sernia.
It was a story about the key to awakening the Holy Grail.
She thought she just had to retrieve the Holy Grail from Ronheim, but the key is Callius.
Although the prospect of a battle was inevitably daunting, she was still thrilled to finally have figured out how to activate the Holy Grail after a dozen years.
“Marquis Rodrian was a thorn in my side anyway, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this opportunity to completely cut off his hands and feet.”
Dnieper spoke cautiously at Kavala's words.
“The Princess will soon die from the curse. Wouldn’t it be better to hold off on military movements until then, my lord?”
Ronheim is already a vassal territory, and there is no justification for sending troops there again.
If the lords near Ronheim learned of this while moving the army, they would be wary of Kavala.
In the worst case, it could have given rise to the misconception that Arrental was moving its troops in preparation for war between Ronheim and the nearby northern kingdoms.
Kavala frowned slightly at Dnieper's words, asking if there was any need to risk the time to strike Ronheim earlier, when the justification would naturally arise once Chloe died.
“It’s clear that Callius has taken the Grail, but what if he reorganizes Ronheim and starts a rebellion while we sit back and wait for the right time?”
Ronheim was never an easy place.
It is a remarkable feat that this small kingdom has maintained a firm independence against the successive Emperors of Arrental.
The reason Ronheim was able to do that was because the Saint had been protecting the land using the Holy Grail.
"Now, with the Holy Grail so close to my hands, may be our last chance. There's no need to risk the bloodshed we endured when we subjugated Ronheim."
Kavala was confident.
And above all, she was impatient.
She wanted to feel the power of the Holy Grail.
She wanted to regain her youth as soon as possible.
She was dying to regain the elastic, glowing skin, vitality, and overflowing life force she had in her teens and twenties.
"I've been planning to install a movement magic circle. Using it, I can move soldiers without having to go through other territories. Prepare to send troops as soon as the magic circle is completed."
Dnieper was worried about Kavala's hasty appearance, but if Kavala said she would do it, she would do it.
It was when he nodded in understanding.
Andrea's voice was heard along with a knock.
“I’m here, Mother.”
Kavala, who was feeling good for the first time in a while, sighed as soon as he heard Andrea's voice.
“Come in.”
Dnieper knew that if Kavala hadn't been in a good mood today, Andrea wouldn't have even set foot in her office.
This was because Andrea's behavior these days was really irritating Kavala's nerves.
"Mother, you're trying to move the soldiers? What's going on?"
As soon as he entered the office, Dnieper shook his head as he watched Andrea get to the point quickly.
Kavala glanced at Andrea with a face that suppressed his irritation.
Andrea flinched at her pitiful gaze.
Andrea would become violent and threatening in front of others, especially those he looked down on, leaving them speechless.
But in front of Kavala, it was the exact opposite.
Even with just one glance from her, he would flinch and cringe.
Andrea was already frozen in Kavala's gaze and didn't know what to do.
“What if it happens?”
“Ah, no... Moving the army is a big deal, so I thought it would be good to know what’s going on.”
"What good would it do you know? I think it'd actually be better for me if you didn't know anything. Just play around like you're doing now, spending the money I gave you. Don't meddle in the adults' business."
Andrea's shoulders hunched slightly at the barbed words.
“Oh, I forgot. I worked so hard to invest...”
“I heard you’re having trouble paying off a matured bill. Is that true?”
"That's just how investing is, Mother. It takes time to see results..."
Andrea desperately tried to persuade Kavala.
Then Kavala waved her hand as if she were annoyed.
"Don't talk too much. I don't think it'll make you feel better. You came here to ask for money anyway, right? I'll give it to you, so go ahead and get out."
“...”
Andrea bit his lip, not expecting anything and just looking annoyed.
Andrea was already feeling down due to the recent series of investment failures.
But when Kavala ignored him like that, his inferiority complex flared up uncontrollably.
'But I don't think you looked down on me that much when I was taking care of Chloe...'
After Chloe left, he felt like she had become increasingly indifferent to Andrea.
As expected, that Callius guy is the problem.
'If only he hadn't existed! If only Chloe had married Viscount Pelsus back then! With the enormous sum of money he gave me, I could have made my businesses successful and earned my mother's approval!'
If that had been the case, Kavala's warm gaze and smile would have stayed with him at least once more.
"I have to get rid of that bastard, Callius. He ruined everything. It's all his fault. I'm going to kill him and get my mother's approval. I'm going to get her approval. I'm going to do it!"
Andrea gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
Meanwhile, Kavala ignored him as if she had forgotten Andrea's existence and resumed her discussion with Dnieper.
"You command the army yourself. You've fought in the battle against Ronheim, so you'll be better than anyone else."
The word Ronheim rang in Andrea's ears.
'Is Mother finally going to strike Ronheim herself?'
Is she trying to get Dnieper to get rid of Callius?
Andrea raised his hand as if possessed.
"Me too! I want to go with you! I'll join you in attacking Ronheim!"
Kavala and Dnieper looked back at Andrea as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
That would be the case, as Andrea had absolutely no talent for swordsmanship.
What kind of battle are you saying you're going to fight in when you're making a fuss just by cutting your hand on a piece of paper?
But Andrea's will burned.
"I will capture Callius and present him to Mother myself. It was something I should have done a long time ago."
In fact, Andrea was secretly thinking, 'Since Dnieper is coming with us, things will work out somehow.'
He was planning to add a spoonful of credit to Dnieper's achievements.
Kavala laughed at him for that.
“Andrea, I told you not to meddle in adults’ business.”
“I’m 33 now, Mom! I’m an adult!”
Andrea insisted strongly.
"I'm confident I can win over Count Elbern of the North. He'll send me more soldiers. Please let me go too."
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