Chapter 034. The Crown Prince (1)

"Your Highness, what brings you all the way here...?"

The dean did not hide his discomfort.

Crown Prince Friedrich, the unparalleled talent and heir to the great Vera Empire, had just barged into Vera Academy, and even into the dean's office, without a single attendant.

"I have a question."

"What is it? Please speak candidly."

Despite the dean's response, the crown prince walked silently into the office. After a while of echoing footsteps on the marble floor, he finally asked with a face full of anguish.

"Do you know of a boy with hair like the blue sea and eyes as beautiful as red rubies?"

"Are you referring to...?"

The crown prince's description clearly pointed to someone specific. The dean recognized the student he was talking about.

"You know him."

Though the dean did not say much, it seemed the crown prince understood the implication and nodded.

If the dean knew the person, the conversation would be quicker. It meant there was no need to dig for information here.

"Are you not going to tell me why you came to the academy?"

The dean hurriedly spoke as the crown prince turned his back.

To anyone's eyes, he had the face of someone who would cause trouble. Even if he was a dream man to all the women in the empire, the atmosphere he was giving off did not seem pleasant at all.

"I came to find him. That damn thief."

"A thief...?"

The dean quickly shut his mouth at the crown prince's voice, which was laced with anger.

He knew well who the student the crown prince was referring to.

Veris von Vitelbach. A remarkable genius from the imperial sword family, Vitelbach.

Did he steal something from the crown prince?

The dean owed a great debt to Veris. It was Veris who had skillfully sent back the reckless investigation team that had come from the holy kingdom not long ago, so what more needed to be said?

"Please calm down. Did he really steal something belonging to the crown prince?"

"Not something."

"Excuse me?"

The dean's face quickly turned blank.

Just a moment ago, he had said the boy was a thief, and now he was saying it was not something he stole?

"He stole a precious royal treasure, my sister."

With the crown prince's menacing whisper, the dean quickly held his tongue.

Princess Maria. The fact that she had entered this academy under a hidden identity was a well-known secret.

Only a very few knew her disguised identity, and now suddenly Veris had stolen her?

It was as if the matter was now out of his hands. He could only pray that this furious crown prince would not harm him.

'No, he wouldn't dare.'

The dean prided himself on having an objective perspective. His efforts to build a cooperative relationship with Veris and his request for Veris not to hide his strength were all based on Veris's overwhelming power.

'It's the opposite!'

The dean acknowledged that he had momentarily misjudged the situation. The one who needed to show mercy was not the crown prince, but Veris.

"I will go meet my sister. Please keep my visit confidential."

With that, the imposing crown prince left the dean's office.

The sudden visit from the first in line to the imperial succession, the crown prince, left the dean with a sour expression.

"They say His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince are both hopeless fools, and indeed, the saying holds true."

He had no idea how things would unfold from here.

It would be peaceful if the crown prince took a liking to Veris, but...

* * *

"Maria! You adorable little thing."

"...Brother."

Maria did not hide her discomfort at the visit of her brother, the great crown prince Friedrich, who thought so highly of her.

He seemed to have not even considered hiding his identity, as he boldly barged into the mansion where Maria was staying.

It was a surprise visit, akin to an ambush. If he had sent a letter saying he would come to see Maria, she wouldn't have been so startled.

"So, how is your life at the academy?"

"It's fine. But brother, why did you suddenly come to see me? Aren't you busy with work?"

"Why, you ask?"

Friedrich's eyes sparkled.

Even while drinking tea, his gaze emitted a fierce light, and Maria had no idea what was causing it.

"I came to see the damn fool trying to take my sister away."

"Pfft!"

Maria spat out the tea she had been drinking.

Taking away his sister? What on earth was he talking about?

"Your letters are opened with joy by both His Majesty the Emperor and me."

"...And?"

"Recently, there has been much talk about a certain man. Even if I lack perception, I cannot escape the eyes of my brother and His Majesty."

At Friedrich's bold voice, Maria's face turned red.

Yes, she had honestly written in her letter that she had recently developed an interest in a man. But that didn't mean she liked him... or wanted to get engaged... or anything like that.

"I must meet him."

"Excuse me?"

"Is it strange to meet the man my sister likes? You, Maria, have an eye for men that is so discerning you would refuse an engagement."

"W-well..."

The crown prince was charging toward his target like an angry bull. Maria knew that once her brother set his mind to something, he would not rest until it was resolved.

"'Brother, I have recently developed an interest in someone. He has hair like the blue sea and eyes like the bright spring sun. What's more amazing is that he has the same red eyes as me,' you wrote in your letter."

Friedrich recited the contents of the letter Maria had written by heart. Maria could only look horrified.

She had written it casually, just to check-in. But who could have predicted it would lead to such consequences?

'No.'

However, after a moment of contemplation, Maria clenched her fist.

To be honest, she had indeed developed an interest in a man named Veris recently. Of course, he was accompanied by two beautiful women, but didn't she have a striking appearance herself?

Squish.

As she thought this, Maria crossed her arms. Then, she felt two peaches resting on her arms.

Indeed, while Cecilia, who was with Veris, had a rather impressive figure, it seemed a bit lacking compared to Maria.

She had heard in her childhood that all men liked women with large breasts. If that were the case, wouldn't she have a chance?

For Maria, this could be an opportunity. If her brother, the crown prince of the empire, personally met him and gave his approval, surely their father, the great emperor of the empire, would gladly accept the connection...

"Then, would you like to meet him?"

"Hmm? You're surprisingly compliant."

"...Well, I know your personality, brother."

"What? Haha!"

At Maria's reluctant words, Friedrich laughed heartily.

To him, his sister Maria was truly a lovable child. On the day she got engaged, he would surely feel a heart-wrenching pain, as if he were sending off a daughter.

"Alright, let's do that."

The crown prince readily accepted Maria's suggestion.

After all, he had come with the intention of meeting him during this visit to the academy and settling the matter. If it was going to happen anyway, it would be best to deal with it quickly.

Friedrich left the mansion with Maria. According to her, he lived nearby, so it surely wouldn't take long.

* * *

Creak.

"What is the matter?"

Indeed, it seemed that the abilities possessed were exceptional, as the person Friedrich encountered, following Maria, was a beautiful elf with golden hair.

'What is this?'

Friedrich was filled with questions at the sight.

She was clearly too stunning to be just an ordinary maid in a regular mansion.

Moreover, since she called out Maria's name, it was reasonable to think she was a student from the academy, not just an ordinary maid.

But wasn't it strange? Maria had said she was going to meet the man she had mentioned several times...

'No way.'

Friedrich grimaced at the wicked thought creeping up.

Logically, it didn't make sense. It was absurd to think that a damn lecher would live under the same roof as two female students from the academy.

"Hmm? Mari is here?"

However, upon the appearance of another girl, the crown prince froze.

Surely, there were hardly any people on this continent who did not know her face. A priestess of the holy kingdom, carrying out the will of the great god, and a Saintess who had established a legendary pilgrimage by healing countless sick and aiding the poor.

It was the Saintess Cecilia, appearing with a piece of bread in her mouth.

"What on earth is going on here?"

The Saintess seemed unaware of her own identity, but Friedrich knew her. And the problem was that this Saintess had popped out of the mansion where he had come to meet that man.

"Maria?"

"Yes?"

"I need an explanation."

At Friedrich's firm tone, Maria wore a sour expression.

How could she explain that the man she was interested in was actually living with two beautiful women in the academy's commercial district?

Moreover, the fact that those two women were not ordinary girls was an even bigger problem.

One was Arwen Enixray, who wielded the power of spirits, a spirit sword wielder.

The other was Cecilia de Frey, the Saintess known as the pride of the continent.

They were both formidable individuals, without a doubt.

"Are you here to see Veris?"

"...Yes."

Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere between Maria and Friedrich, Arwen spoke in her usual stiff voice.

"Unfortunately, Veris is currently taking a nap."

"Is that so? What a shame. Then I will come again later."

"What...?"

Friedrich stared blankly at his sister.

She was originally a foolishly kind girl. But even so, she was a member of the royal family, so was it reasonable for her to turn back just because the other party was taking a nap?

"Do you know who I am...?"

"Brother! Let's just go back today!"

Maria's action of pulling his arm was so cute that Friedrich smiled broadly.

Her face was so pitiful that Arwen looked at him with disdain, unable to believe he was the great crown prince of the empire.

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