Chapter 22: Warning

“His Highness, the Second Prince?”

“Yes. He has just passed through the main gate and is heading towards the mansion.”

The news of Albireo’s unexpected visit without any prior notice.

The appearance of an uninvited guest cast a heavy tension over the room.

“Oh, my brother has come to see the Grand Duke. What should we do?”

From behind the translucent magic crystal, Justia’s voice trembled with anxiety.

From her perspective, embroiled in a secret struggle for the throne with the Second Prince, this situation was akin to a rival seeking out her greatest ally.

She must be racking her brains, wondering what Albireo’s true intentions are in coming to see me.

I reassured her in a calm tone.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Nothing will happen.”

“But… he might be here to try and pull the Grand Duke to his side!”

“Hmm. If it’s His Highness, the Second Prince, he probably already knows that we’ve joined forces. Rather than trying to persuade us forcefully, I think he’s here to gauge what kind of person I am.”

“Ah…”

With a short sound, Justia nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with my words.

She, too, has the ability to see through people’s true nature.

About Albireo.

That man is ruthless when it comes to eliminating those he deems uncontrollable.

In the original story, he even tried to kill his own sister when she became an obstacle to his plans.

Would such a psychopath really try to win over someone like me, who doesn’t pledge loyalty to him?

Even if he attempts to recruit me, he would surely try to stab me in the back later.

He’s definitely here today to meet me in person and assess what kind of person I am.

“Is the head maid there?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be going out now. Prepare to receive His Highness, the Second Prince.”

“Understood.”

The sound of Vanessa’s hurried footsteps faded beyond the door.

Leaving Justia, who was deep in thought, I rose from the chair in the study.

Creak.

“Then I’ll go to receive His Highness, the Second Prince. I’ll contact you again later.”

“Wait, Grand Duke.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful with my brother.”

A statement laden with meaning.

Justia’s golden eyes were filled with genuine concern.

Well, it was understandable.

Having lived in the palace, she must have seen and heard plenty about that bastard’s despicable nature.

A man who toys with people like puppets and then kills them.

She must be worried that he might try to harm me.

But she doesn’t know.

That Albireo can do nothing to me.

“Understood.”

Without adding anything more, I gave a simple reply and left the room.

I walked down the corridor towards the entrance of the mansion.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ll be meeting him in person.’

One of the major antagonists in the original story.

The Second Prince, Albireo Delarucia of Arcmenes.

He kidnapped Liliana’s sister and nearly put Lucy in danger.

When facing someone I want to kill, can I really suppress my killing intent?

It’s not easy to hold back the urge to kill when a mosquito is buzzing around in front of you.

Thinking about it, it’s a good thing Liliana and Lucy aren’t here right now.

If he were to leer at them, I really wouldn’t be able to hold back.

I continued walking down the corridor, past the servants who were quietly holding their breath.

Just as I was thinking that the servants must be having a hard time with so many guests today.

As if opening the curtain to a play, the mansion’s doors swung wide open.

‘You’re here.’

I stood in a composed manner, gazing intently at the figure entering.

Head maid Vanessa was bowing deeply, and the mansion’s servants were lined up in rows.

Through the long path formed by the people.

A young man with golden hair more intense than the sun walked towards me.

I offered him a formal greeting.

“Welcome to the Develion Mansion, Your Highness Albireo.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Grand Duke.”

A haughty attitude hidden beneath a polished exterior.

A voice that grated on one’s nerves like licking a nerve.

The sapphire-colored eyes inherited from the Second Princess gleamed as if trying to assess me.

“I heard you were in the capital, so I decided to pay a visit. It’s truly a pleasure to see you like this.”

“Thank you for coming all the way from the palace.”

“Not at all. It’s only right to visit the Empire’s Grand Duke.”

Albireo spread his arms and boasted.

He was dressed in elaborate robes adorned with fabrics and decorations, resembling King Midas from Greek mythology.

‘In a way, he’s similar in that his greed accelerates his own downfall.’

Turning my gaze, I saw a middle-aged knight in blue-white armor standing beside Albireo.

“Sir Gawain is here too.”

“It’s been a while since we last met on the battlefield. I’ve come today as His Highness’s escort, so I hope you’ll understand that I’m armed.”

Sir Gawain Calinant, captain of the Imperial Second Knight Order.

A key force under Albireo’s command, he gave me a slight nod.

He was considered one of the top ten strongest in the entire Empire, exuding an aura befitting his reputation.

Definitely stronger than Luke at this point.

Even if all five of the Gladrocks attacked him at once, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Bringing Gawain along, huh.

Albireo must be quite wary of me.

‘…’

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Perhaps because I’ve awakened the traits of an absolute monarch.

Despite possessing abilities that would undoubtedly trouble the original protagonist.

To me, they feel like nothing more than insects.

If they pose a threat to me or my people.

I’ll simply crush them.

“Please, come in. I’ll escort you inside.”

“Very well.”

With a silent sneer directed at the unwelcome guests.

I guided Albireo towards the mansion’s reception room.

* * *

The reception room of the Develion Mansion.

Albireo narrowed his eyes at the man sitting across from him.

‘It’s been a long time since I last faced him.’

The Iron-Blooded Grand Duke, also known as the Swordmaster.

Behirit Develion.

He sat on a long sofa, his jet-black hair and crimson eyes gazing indifferently at Albireo.

It had been quite some time since they last met at a royal event.

At first glance, he seemed similar, yet there was a stark difference from before.

‘…An unfathomable man.’

Crimson eyes that exuded pressure just by looking at them.

A mana capacity so vast that even he, who had been personally taught by the Tower Master, couldn’t gauge its depth.

This was no ordinary human.

It was almost suspicious if he wasn’t a polymorphed dragon.

Why did it feel like he was looking down on him even though they were sitting face to face?

To hide his trembling legs, he placed one hand under the table and gripped his knee tightly.

‘…Wait, am I actually feeling intimidated?’

Me, the future sun of the Empire?

I can’t accept that.

Even when I was in the same space as my elder brother, I never felt this overwhelmed.

To feel such humiliation despite being acknowledged by the Tower Master.

‘It’s impossible. It must be a misunderstanding.’

I am the man destined to reign supreme over the Empire.

I just need to lead the conversation as always.

Albireo, who had been fiddling with the cup on the table with his other hand, broke the silence first.

“We’re both busy, so let’s get straight to the point. You must be aware of the ongoing imperial succession struggle.”

“That’s correct.”

“How about joining my side? If I become the Emperor, I promise to make you the king of a nation. A nation second only to the Empire on the continent.”

An offer to make him the ruler of a nation.

But that wasn’t Albireo’s true intention.

‘He’s a man who must be killed eventually. If he doesn’t pledge loyalty to me, he’s far too dangerous.’

He didn’t expect him to accept the offer readily.

If this proposal could shake his relationship with his sister even slightly, that would be enough.

But then.

Behirit quietly raised both hands and suddenly clapped.

Clap!!!

“Huh!?”

“My apologies. There was a bug in the room, so I dealt with it.”

“…”

Behirit spoke without a change in expression.

The room fell into a brief silence.

As he brushed back his hair, he spoke.

“So, what were you saying?”

His demeanor suggested as if nothing had happened.

Whether he genuinely didn’t hear or if it was a form of rejection, both Gawain, who was standing guard, and Albireo, sitting across from him, were left dumbfounded.

Should he repeat the offer, or scold him for his rudeness?

He should say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.

As Albireo quietly swallowed dryly.

Behirit broke the silence by wiggling his fingers.

“Your Highness, would you like to play a game of chess?”

“Chess?”

“Yes. Games often reveal a person’s true nature. Sometimes, honest words might slip out. It seems like Your Highness came here to have a sincere conversation with me.”

A posture that seemed to sneer.

With a slow tap on the table, Behirit posed the question.

“How about it?”

“Very well.”

If he could grasp his true intentions, it would be even better.

Through conversation, he might be able to uncover if he was the one who disrupted his plans.

As Albireo pondered, Behirit flicked his fingers and spoke to the maid outside the door.

“Bring the chessboard and pieces.”

“Yes.”

After the response, a short time passed.

A neatly dressed maid entered the reception room and set up the chessboard and pieces.

Creak.

Leaning slightly, Behirit spoke.

“I’ll take black.”

“…Then I’ll take white.”

Seeing Behirit’s consistently relaxed demeanor, Albireo gritted his teeth invisibly.

‘Insolent bastard.’

According to the rules of chess, white moves first.

Thus, white holds the initiative in the game, and the superior usually offers white to the inferior as a courtesy.

By taking black, he was treating him as an inferior.

‘He’s been disregarding me all along. I won’t let him die easily.’

Glancing subtly at Gawain beside him, he gave a slight nod.

After thorough preparations, we’ll deal with him starting from the Sword Demon.

I’ll kill everyone around him and take his women.

Hiding his anger-filled thoughts, Albireo moved his piece first.

The pawn in front of the king advanced two squares.

A standard opening.

When it was his turn, Behirit moved the pawn in front of his king as well.

The pawns faced each other.

Then, white moved the pawn in front of the queen as a decoy.

And black’s pawn captured it, beginning the exchange.

The quiet reception room.

Only the sound of chess pieces moving echoed mechanically.

The pieces moved in turn, and the battle of wits began.

Then, the white knight advanced towards black’s side.

As everyone’s attention focused on the chessboard.

Behirit spoke.

“Do you enjoy playing chess?”

“I play occasionally. How about you?”

“I play from time to time. There are other pastimes, but sometimes it’s fun to use your brain.”

Tap.

Behirit moved his black bishop to capture the white knight.

‘…What is this man saying?’

A man who wouldn’t bleed even if pricked with a needle, saying something is fun.

Ah. I see.

Now I understand.

Why he suddenly suggested playing chess.

To him, the imperial succession struggle is like a game of chess.

He wants to lead the game and savor a sweet victory.

Just like he captured my knight.

‘He said he wanted to have an honest conversation.’

After staring at the white knight lying beside the chessboard for a moment.

Albireo slowly opened his mouth.

“You’ve killed my knight.”

“Yes.”

“Your Highness is targeting my queen.”

A direct question.

Crimson eyes poured down as if looking down on everything.

Albireo’s sapphire eyes gleamed as if resisting.

“Do you intend to hinder me?”

“The flow of the game is in my hands.”

“How arrogant.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

A calm tone that suggested the answer was already decided.

In the face of that conviction.

Albireo couldn’t offer any rebuttal.

“Do not target my queen. This is a warning.”

The reception room, frozen in time.

Under the piercingly cold gaze, Albireo gripped his trembling leg.