Inside a noble mansion in Volantis City, within the grand hall.
“Your Highness, rest assured. With us here, no matter how formidable the City Lord may be, they won’t be able to stir up any trouble!”
At this moment, the once spacious and empty grand hall was packed with leaders from various classes and factions across Volantis City.
Among them were powerful business magnates, controlling vast wealth.
Others were military generals who commanded portions of the city’s forces.
There were also crucial officials overseeing Volantis City’s administration and finances.
Naturally, the majority consisted of various nobles. While their social standing might not have been exceptional, their very status as nobility granted them the right to be present.
“Haha, exactly! Administrative power, financial authority, military command—representatives from every influential sector of Volantis City are gathered here. I’d say, Your Highness could seize Volantis City with a single word now!”
Amidst clinking goblets and lively chatter, the elegantly dressed crowd either engaged in conversation amongst themselves or encircled Alcius, tirelessly showering him with flattery.
This… was an utterly tedious banquet.
Though Alcius had long prepared himself for such an event, it was only by experiencing it firsthand that a profound sense of ‘disgust’ truly surged from within him.
“Ah… Your Highness, where is Lord Harvey? Er… you see, just a few days ago, Lord Harvey had made plans to meet my daughter…”
“…………”
Forcing a thread of energy into himself, Alcius strove to appear genuinely pleased, speaking with an elegance that never faltered.
“Harvey is momentarily indisposed and unable to attend. How about this? Tell me your daughter’s name, and I will personally inquire with Harvey.”
“Re… really? This… this would truly be too much trouble for Your Highness, haha!—”
His eyebrows nearly scrunched together in a smile, the middle-aged man, who appeared to be past fifty and slightly stout, then added with a fawning grin: “Beatrix… my daughter’s name is Beatrix J. Linster.”
“Mm… very well…”
Alcius gave a slight nod, indicating his understanding.
He then waved, summoning two girls dressed as maids, and instructed them: “I have matters to attend to and must depart for a while. This place is now in your care. Ensure every guest is well-attended and that they feel no discomfort whatsoever. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Highness…”
Both maids bowed deeply, speaking with utmost humility.
****
“Hmph—”
‘I finally escaped, didn’t I? Heh heh…’
Alcius glanced at the somewhat desolate and silent corridor around him, letting out an involuntary sigh of relief.
‘This is precisely why… I detest doing such things…’
Not far ahead stood a tall, floor-to-ceiling window.
From this vantage point, one could clearly behold the night sky, adorned with stars that shimmered like fireflies.
A crescent moon, precisely like a drawn bow, hung above.
‘If only I could be as carefree as the stars in the sky, how wonderful that would be…’
He walked to the window, gazing entranced at the serene expanse of stars.
In that moment, devoid of any desire for power or the clamor of the world, Alcius felt himself nearly lost in its tranquility.
[Thump, thump, thump—]
“…………”
Yet, pleasant moments always seemed to pass too swiftly.
Snapping back to reality, Alcius couldn’t comprehend why, having just stepped out, someone was already coming to fetch him back.
Thus, hearing the unexpected footsteps, Alcius immediately spoke with irritation: “I shall rest out here for a while. Whatever the matter, it can wait!”
“No… Your Highness…”
“What! You dare to contradict me? Are my words truly so incomprehensible to your foolish mind? Hmph…”
Subconsciously, upon hearing such a retort, the highly exasperated Alcius could no longer contain his volatile temper, immediately erupting into a loud, stern reprimand.
However, once his outburst subsided, Alcius finally realized something was amiss.
“No, this… this voice… are you Cyborn?”
“Heh heh, indeed, Your Highness.”
“…………”
As expected, a man with explosive muscles, towering like a giant, emerged from the shadowy corner of the corridor.
Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Cyborn, Alcius’s personal bodyguard.
“This is truly… ah, you’ve seen quite a spectacle, Cyborn…”
Shaking his head, Alcius let out a bitter chuckle, sighing.
“What… has Your Highness encountered another displeasure?”
Moving his massive frame, Cyborn positioned himself about half a step behind Alcius, inquiring tentatively.
“Displeasure? Heh heh… since I became a prince, has there ever been a single day that went as I wished?”
“…………”
“Well… let’s not dwell on that. It’s rare that fellow Harvey gives this young master another chance to escape. Wouldn’t it be a pity to waste it? Haha… Beatrix… Beatrix… Hey, tell me, wasn’t the person Harvey found in the capital last time also named something-trix? Hahaha… truly amusing—”
“…………”
“Tsk… laugh, why aren’t you laughing, Cyborn? It’s rare for me to joke in front of others. Can’t you at least humor me a little?”
“…………”
Yet Cyborn remained expressionless, his demeanor and actions unchanged from before, as he gazed indifferently at the starry sky.
Truthfully, if Alcius hadn’t already known Cyborn’s nature, he might have genuinely wondered if they harbored some irreconcilable feud.
‘Tsk tsk,’ he thought, ‘did he truly need to maintain such a stiff expression at all times?’
“Sigh… you truly are dull, fellow… So, tell me, what brings you to me so suddenly? Didn’t I instruct you to secretly embed our forces within Volantis’s garrison? Has the task been completed?”
[He shook his head.]
“Er… if that’s the case, then you’ve come to…”
“Your Highness, it concerns her…”
“Her?”
“Yes, her, the Blonde Sword Princess…”
“…………”
Silence fell once more, Alcius’s expression shedding its previous nonchalance.
He transformed abruptly, his eyes now gleaming with a sharpness akin to polished blades.
After a long pause, Cyborn continued, his face still impassive: “She… not long ago… attacked the Guild of Roseland’s [Underground s*ave Prison]…”
Upon hearing this, before Cyborn could elaborate further, Alcius’s lips seemed to twitch inexplicably, his expression becoming noticeably unnatural.
“Furthermore… the Guild of Roseland seems to have learned of this incident through some channel.
They have already used vast sums to bribe the Inner City Patrol officers and are now rushing towards the Underground s*ave Prison…”
“Also, our Light-elementalist spy stationed there coincidentally recorded the Blonde Sword Princess’s intrusion using an energy crystal…”
As he spoke, Cyborn retrieved a square stone from his sleeve, which glowed with a strange blue light.
Then, at Alcius’s silent command, he activated the magic switch on the crystal.
****
“Hey, do you… know who I am?”