15. Third Prince
“...Lord Robben?”
That beast was Robben.
Robben, who was lying on the floor with pieces of wood that had been the shattered door as it fell, barely managed to get up.
“Ugh, oh my.”
Robben writhed and writhed, making a death-like sound.
Ceres growled as he watched the sight, desperately trying not to pounce.
It was the first time in a while that a human, not a bird or a cat, appeared, so he was more excited than usual.
The sound of Ceres's heart beating wildly filled the arms of Diarin, who was hugging his waist.
“Calm down, calm down.”
“...”
Ceres didn't answer, but he stiffened and remained still as if listening to Diarin's words.
If he was going to rush in, he would have jumped out of the way long ago.
After watching the situation for a little longer, Diarin carefully let go of the arm that was holding his waist and stood opposite Ceres.
“Are you calm down?”
Ceres nodded.
The tension and murderous intent that had filled both eyes subsided.
Only then did Diarin relax her shoulders and look back.
“Why did you come up without making a sound?”
“I did.”
Robben protested with a look of extreme injustice on his face.
"Then there's no way Mr. Ceres couldn't have sensed it. You didn't do it on purpose, did you?"
“Why would I do that?”
“...That’s true, but...”
“It seems to have stabilized a lot.”
Robben was the first to notice Ceres' change.
Diarin's eyes widened when Robben explained what she had been wondering for a long time.
Finally, the achievements were objectively recognized.
“And it seems like you’ve become much more skilled, too, sir.”
“Do you see it...? Can you tell...?”
“It looks like you’ve had a hard time.”
Diarin nodded, her head choking up at Robben's consolation.
“I really did my best, pouring my body, soul, and faith into it.”
“It looks like that.”
“It was pure effort, irreplaceable by anything.”
Diarin, moved by this moment, passionately appealed to the audience about her hard work.
It provided pure labor that cannot be replaced by anything else!
How precious and 'expensive' is labor?
“...? Ah, I won’t forget the appropriate compensation.”
Robben soon realized what Diarin was trying to say.
Only then did Diarin bow her head with a kind expression befitting a priest.
“I was just following God’s will.”
But if you give me compensation, I will be grateful.
Robben didn't say anything as inconsiderate as, "It's God's will, so there's no need for compensation."
“Then can we go in and talk?”
Diarin checked Ceres' condition once again and nodded.
“I heard that the Third Prince, Sebian, is visiting to cheer you on.”
“Who is it?”
Diarin asked again.
There's nothing wrong with her hearing. She just needed to confirm what Robben said because it didn't feel real.
“Wasn’t this project confidential?”
“It can’t be kept secret even from the royal family who entrusted the project.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
She made a mistake because she only talked to Robben, and it felt like Robben was the best.
In the end, Robben only moves according to the royal family's orders.
“I’m busy with work, why...”
Diarin grumbled, unable to hide her true feelings.
Robben was the one who was in charge of practical matters, so she could at least speak freely.
But the royal family said something different.
The more attention you get from someone higher up, the less pleasant it is.
Since ancient times, superiors are most grateful when their subordinates are indifferent to the tasks they are given.
“It seems like he wants to visit those who are working so tirelessly on the front lines to offer his support and to check on how things are going.”
To put it nicely, it's cheering, to be honest, it's watching, and to be honest, it's surveillance.
Diarin let out a long sigh.
It's hard enough to take care of just Ceres, and now she has to greet her boss on top of that.
“But, isn’t His Highness the Third Prince nine or ten years old?”
What kind of project would that kid be assigned to?
When the 8th Unit's operation began, the 3rd Prince would have just been born.
It was even more surprising that the Third Prince knew about this operation.
“The Third Prince has a guardian. His mother.”
"...Ah."
It would be understandable if Charlotte, the mother of the 3rd Prince, had taken the lead.
There are three Princes of the empire.
The mothers of the Princes were each different.
The Empress, who was the First Prince's mother, died.
After that, Empress Fenelia, who was His Majesty's mistress, ascended to the throne.
This was after the Second Prince, Endin, had already been born.
But the empire also had a Third Prince.
Charlotte, who is publicly referred to as the Third Empress, although she has not yet been formally granted the title of Empress, as there is already an Empress. And the Third Prince, Sebian.
The First Prince died in an accident after the Empress's death.
In the end, there are two existing Princes and two Empresses.
The fact that the two were fighting fiercely was so well known that even the indifferent priests knew about it.
On the surface, the Second Prince, Endin, acts like the Crown Prince, but he has not been formally crowned Crown Prince.
Currently, the ones who are favored by the Emperor are Charlotte and Sevian.
Second Prince Endin, who had established himself through his ability and swaying the public's hearts, and Third Prince Sebian, who enjoyed the Emperor's favor, were in a precarious situation, with no one knowing who would inherit the throne.
In that situation, the 3rd Prince took interest in the warriors of the 8th division?
The 8th Division is an irreplaceable war hero.
The emergence of a being who, if done well, could cause a seismic shift in the social world.
For Charlotte, who is in a precarious tug-of-war between the Emperor's favor and no position, this would be a hand she would not want to miss.
'So... to put it simply...'
In the middle of political strife!
Diarin wanted to lie down.
It's hard enough to take care of a dog, but now she has to deal with a visit from the prince, who is in the middle of a fierce battle for the throne.
What if I get caught up in it?
Diarin thought her life was too precious.
“My child is not ready yet, so can I refuse for safety reasons?”
In fact, even putting aside Diarin's annoyance, Ceres was still too dangerous to just go sightseeing.
If you really move slightly, it could lead to an accident.
Ceres has become less sensitive now, but his reaction to Robben just now was telling. He still has a long way to go before he can calm down.
If this were the case, even for Robben, whose face was relatively familiar, she didn't know what kind of reaction people would have when they saw him for the first time.
Robben also scratched the ball at Diarin's concern.
“That’s right, from what I’ve seen, Ceres is the best.”
“...The best?”
"It's so real. It's the most human-like appearance. I'm truly amazed and deeply moved."
Diarin looked back at Ceres, who was quietly listening to the conversation from the side.
Well, now she doesn't throw the bed because it's noisy.
Seeing him sitting like this, listening to the conversation, he seemed quite human. He was a real person, after all.
“Other dogs... what are the kids like...?”
Diarin asked, trying her best to hide her true feelings that almost came out unintentionally, saying, "Iother dog."
Robben was a man of good sense who would ignore such mistakes.
"I'd be grateful if it flew off with the door. There were even instances where it ran all the way to the mansion's front gate and tried to pull out the iron gate and swing it around."
“...”
Diarin looked back at Ceres with a dumbfounded expression.
"...Thank you."
Thank you for saving my life.
Ceres tilted his head at the sudden expression of gratitude.
But he handled it calmly as he had learned.
"You're welcome."
Robben was deeply moved by the sight.
“I think you should visit this house first!”
“No, I don’t think that will work!”
“I think you can do it!”
Ceres was as unpredictable a variable as the weather on picnic day.
No matter how hard the two tried to get along, no one knew when or where Ceres's sensitivity would explode.
The argument between the two men, who fought with guesswork, ended in Robben's victory after he uttered the magical phrase, "If you're going to criticize, you have to criticize!"
“I really don’t have confidence.”
She has no confidence and no motivation.
Since they can't use people, it will end up being a visiting event that Diarin has to take responsibility for from start to finish.
Occasionally, events are held at the shrine where high-ranking officials visit.
How many people died every time that happened?
From organizing the environment to practicing the order of events, they went through intense training without sleep or rest.
If you asked her whether she wanted to go to the battlefield or attend three visiting events, she wouldn't be able to choose which one she would choose first.
Now she has to take responsibility for it herself.
With Ceres, who is not well controlled.
“Don’t feel too pressured.”
“You know that’s the hardest part.”
“That is true, but.”
Robben didn't even deny it.
“Wouldn’t it be unfair if he were to be executed for offending the royal family when he saved their lives on the battlefield?”
“Always risk your life.”
"...No..."
It was a stupid question to ask someone who didn't feel like their life was their own.
Ceres didn't live a life of pretending to be rough around the edges like Diarin.
It was a life where if you were told to die, you would die right away.
How can we teach self-love to someone like this?
Even without being taught, Diarin took care of herself first and thought of what was best for her.
Since God told us to love others, she thought it was right to give it to herself first.
Especially in a group society like a temple, one had to have such thoughts and feelings to survive as a human being.
“How many lives does Mr. Ceres have?”
“There is one.”
“There’s only one.”
“All are one.”
“That’s why everyone should save their lives. They only have one.”
Ceres blinked, as if he still didn't quite understand.
Diarin, who was feeling frustrated, gave honest advice.
“Use sparingly when you have it.”
“...Lord Robben?”
That beast was Robben.
Robben, who was lying on the floor with pieces of wood that had been the shattered door as it fell, barely managed to get up.
“Ugh, oh my.”
Robben writhed and writhed, making a death-like sound.
Ceres growled as he watched the sight, desperately trying not to pounce.
It was the first time in a while that a human, not a bird or a cat, appeared, so he was more excited than usual.
The sound of Ceres's heart beating wildly filled the arms of Diarin, who was hugging his waist.
“Calm down, calm down.”
“...”
Ceres didn't answer, but he stiffened and remained still as if listening to Diarin's words.
If he was going to rush in, he would have jumped out of the way long ago.
After watching the situation for a little longer, Diarin carefully let go of the arm that was holding his waist and stood opposite Ceres.
“Are you calm down?”
Ceres nodded.
The tension and murderous intent that had filled both eyes subsided.
Only then did Diarin relax her shoulders and look back.
“Why did you come up without making a sound?”
“I did.”
Robben protested with a look of extreme injustice on his face.
"Then there's no way Mr. Ceres couldn't have sensed it. You didn't do it on purpose, did you?"
“Why would I do that?”
“...That’s true, but...”
“It seems to have stabilized a lot.”
Robben was the first to notice Ceres' change.
Diarin's eyes widened when Robben explained what she had been wondering for a long time.
Finally, the achievements were objectively recognized.
“And it seems like you’ve become much more skilled, too, sir.”
“Do you see it...? Can you tell...?”
“It looks like you’ve had a hard time.”
Diarin nodded, her head choking up at Robben's consolation.
“I really did my best, pouring my body, soul, and faith into it.”
“It looks like that.”
“It was pure effort, irreplaceable by anything.”
Diarin, moved by this moment, passionately appealed to the audience about her hard work.
It provided pure labor that cannot be replaced by anything else!
How precious and 'expensive' is labor?
“...? Ah, I won’t forget the appropriate compensation.”
Robben soon realized what Diarin was trying to say.
Only then did Diarin bow her head with a kind expression befitting a priest.
“I was just following God’s will.”
But if you give me compensation, I will be grateful.
Robben didn't say anything as inconsiderate as, "It's God's will, so there's no need for compensation."
“Then can we go in and talk?”
Diarin checked Ceres' condition once again and nodded.
***
“I heard that the Third Prince, Sebian, is visiting to cheer you on.”
“Who is it?”
Diarin asked again.
There's nothing wrong with her hearing. She just needed to confirm what Robben said because it didn't feel real.
“Wasn’t this project confidential?”
“It can’t be kept secret even from the royal family who entrusted the project.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
She made a mistake because she only talked to Robben, and it felt like Robben was the best.
In the end, Robben only moves according to the royal family's orders.
“I’m busy with work, why...”
Diarin grumbled, unable to hide her true feelings.
Robben was the one who was in charge of practical matters, so she could at least speak freely.
But the royal family said something different.
The more attention you get from someone higher up, the less pleasant it is.
Since ancient times, superiors are most grateful when their subordinates are indifferent to the tasks they are given.
“It seems like he wants to visit those who are working so tirelessly on the front lines to offer his support and to check on how things are going.”
To put it nicely, it's cheering, to be honest, it's watching, and to be honest, it's surveillance.
Diarin let out a long sigh.
It's hard enough to take care of just Ceres, and now she has to greet her boss on top of that.
“But, isn’t His Highness the Third Prince nine or ten years old?”
What kind of project would that kid be assigned to?
When the 8th Unit's operation began, the 3rd Prince would have just been born.
It was even more surprising that the Third Prince knew about this operation.
“The Third Prince has a guardian. His mother.”
"...Ah."
It would be understandable if Charlotte, the mother of the 3rd Prince, had taken the lead.
There are three Princes of the empire.
The mothers of the Princes were each different.
The Empress, who was the First Prince's mother, died.
After that, Empress Fenelia, who was His Majesty's mistress, ascended to the throne.
This was after the Second Prince, Endin, had already been born.
But the empire also had a Third Prince.
Charlotte, who is publicly referred to as the Third Empress, although she has not yet been formally granted the title of Empress, as there is already an Empress. And the Third Prince, Sebian.
The First Prince died in an accident after the Empress's death.
In the end, there are two existing Princes and two Empresses.
The fact that the two were fighting fiercely was so well known that even the indifferent priests knew about it.
On the surface, the Second Prince, Endin, acts like the Crown Prince, but he has not been formally crowned Crown Prince.
Currently, the ones who are favored by the Emperor are Charlotte and Sevian.
Second Prince Endin, who had established himself through his ability and swaying the public's hearts, and Third Prince Sebian, who enjoyed the Emperor's favor, were in a precarious situation, with no one knowing who would inherit the throne.
In that situation, the 3rd Prince took interest in the warriors of the 8th division?
The 8th Division is an irreplaceable war hero.
The emergence of a being who, if done well, could cause a seismic shift in the social world.
For Charlotte, who is in a precarious tug-of-war between the Emperor's favor and no position, this would be a hand she would not want to miss.
'So... to put it simply...'
In the middle of political strife!
Diarin wanted to lie down.
It's hard enough to take care of a dog, but now she has to deal with a visit from the prince, who is in the middle of a fierce battle for the throne.
What if I get caught up in it?
Diarin thought her life was too precious.
“My child is not ready yet, so can I refuse for safety reasons?”
In fact, even putting aside Diarin's annoyance, Ceres was still too dangerous to just go sightseeing.
If you really move slightly, it could lead to an accident.
Ceres has become less sensitive now, but his reaction to Robben just now was telling. He still has a long way to go before he can calm down.
If this were the case, even for Robben, whose face was relatively familiar, she didn't know what kind of reaction people would have when they saw him for the first time.
Robben also scratched the ball at Diarin's concern.
“That’s right, from what I’ve seen, Ceres is the best.”
“...The best?”
"It's so real. It's the most human-like appearance. I'm truly amazed and deeply moved."
Diarin looked back at Ceres, who was quietly listening to the conversation from the side.
Well, now she doesn't throw the bed because it's noisy.
Seeing him sitting like this, listening to the conversation, he seemed quite human. He was a real person, after all.
“Other dogs... what are the kids like...?”
Diarin asked, trying her best to hide her true feelings that almost came out unintentionally, saying, "Iother dog."
Robben was a man of good sense who would ignore such mistakes.
"I'd be grateful if it flew off with the door. There were even instances where it ran all the way to the mansion's front gate and tried to pull out the iron gate and swing it around."
“...”
Diarin looked back at Ceres with a dumbfounded expression.
"...Thank you."
Thank you for saving my life.
Ceres tilted his head at the sudden expression of gratitude.
But he handled it calmly as he had learned.
"You're welcome."
Robben was deeply moved by the sight.
“I think you should visit this house first!”
“No, I don’t think that will work!”
“I think you can do it!”
Ceres was as unpredictable a variable as the weather on picnic day.
No matter how hard the two tried to get along, no one knew when or where Ceres's sensitivity would explode.
The argument between the two men, who fought with guesswork, ended in Robben's victory after he uttered the magical phrase, "If you're going to criticize, you have to criticize!"
“I really don’t have confidence.”
She has no confidence and no motivation.
Since they can't use people, it will end up being a visiting event that Diarin has to take responsibility for from start to finish.
Occasionally, events are held at the shrine where high-ranking officials visit.
How many people died every time that happened?
From organizing the environment to practicing the order of events, they went through intense training without sleep or rest.
If you asked her whether she wanted to go to the battlefield or attend three visiting events, she wouldn't be able to choose which one she would choose first.
Now she has to take responsibility for it herself.
With Ceres, who is not well controlled.
“Don’t feel too pressured.”
“You know that’s the hardest part.”
“That is true, but.”
Robben didn't even deny it.
***
“Wouldn’t it be unfair if he were to be executed for offending the royal family when he saved their lives on the battlefield?”
“Always risk your life.”
"...No..."
It was a stupid question to ask someone who didn't feel like their life was their own.
Ceres didn't live a life of pretending to be rough around the edges like Diarin.
It was a life where if you were told to die, you would die right away.
How can we teach self-love to someone like this?
Even without being taught, Diarin took care of herself first and thought of what was best for her.
Since God told us to love others, she thought it was right to give it to herself first.
Especially in a group society like a temple, one had to have such thoughts and feelings to survive as a human being.
“How many lives does Mr. Ceres have?”
“There is one.”
“There’s only one.”
“All are one.”
“That’s why everyone should save their lives. They only have one.”
Ceres blinked, as if he still didn't quite understand.
Diarin, who was feeling frustrated, gave honest advice.
“Use sparingly when you have it.”
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