Chapter 34

At those words, Riorem scoffed.

“I wondered what Paletion said.”

Apparently, that stiff man really had reported that “Riorem Belic was punishing a slave.”

“Of course, it’s not a lie.”

Riorem swallowed his laughter as he recalled what had happened earlier.

It was true that he had done something that could be called punishment to Chernea.

But no matter how much he spanked her, Chernea did not consider it a punishment.

Instead, soaking her thighs deeply, she just gazed at Riorem’s manhood with longing.

Chernea was not even a normal kind of human to begin with.

“I would never think that way.”

“What…”

“I’m not saying I never thought about it. But that woman isn’t that kind of person. She’s the kind who even finds it stimulating when her slave comes looking to become her master.”

“…Well, alright. I’ll concede that. But think about it logically.”

“You’re asking me to reason with a woman who doesn’t follow logic.”

“You probably know better than I do about Princess Peroa the Second. But I also know that woman is arrogant beyond measure.”

Riorem frowned at the Crown Prince’s words.

But the Crown Prince, as if expecting such a reaction, continued boldly.

“Such a person doesn’t live by how I feel but by others’ standards. Would she like that? Especially if it’s suppressing herself.”

“Obviously, she wouldn’t. Even if she had no plans at first, she might eventually want to get out of here.”

Riorem didn’t answer further.

The Crown Prince sighed while watching him — a troubled expression.

After all, the king had given him a chance to recruit Riorem Belic, and he didn’t want to waste it.

But beyond that, the situation made him uneasy.

“Then I suppose I should tell you my intentions first.”

The Crown Prince looked Riorem squarely in the eye.

This was basically where the real talk began for him.

“You’ve probably guessed already, but only the king and I know that Princess Peroa the Second is still in the kingdom.”

He hadn’t told the servants who had attended him since childhood or Paletion, who had always been by his side.

Not just for security, but because the weight of this information was too heavy.

After learning it, there were too many worries and concerns.

“My father wants to hide the princess because of the empire. Even if it were Grand Duke Peroa or a minor duke, it would be one thing. But if a princess who carries the blood of the royal family is alive, they could use that as an excuse to attack the kingdom. They might even raise the princess to royal status and declare war to restore the royal family.”

Up to here, it was all predictable.

“But I want to hide the princess’s existence for another reason. Because of that bastard Alpheios.”

The Crown Prince’s face showed undisguised disgust.

“I’m worried that bastard will throw a tantrum wanting to have Princess Peroa. He has a history of causing trouble asking to marry the princess. For nearly ten years.”

Riorem looked at the Crown Prince silently.

It was surprising and also understandable to see a man who never lost composure speak so harshly.

Because the opponent was Alpheios Arete.

Riorem clenched his fist as he recalled Alpheios’s face.

From the moment he first came to the Arete kingdom, Alpheios had picked fights over trivial matters.

He once thought it might be some old grudge, but soon gave up on that idea.

After all, Riorem was just a foot-washing slave who had never even met his gaze.

But…

“It wasn’t just my imagination.”

Riorem recalled what Chernea had told him.

Alpheios’s hatred was truly ancient.

The Crown Prince must have known that as well.

“Besides, that madman… Alpheios really hates you. Even if the one you brought wasn’t Princess Peroa, he would have tried to take her away.”

“Certainly, that cannot be denied.”

If it was Alpheios, just the fact that Riorem had a slave for the bedroom would have made him jump at the chance.

Because it belonged to Riorem.

Moreover, Chernea, who had long been courting him, was the one involved.

It was highly likely he would cause trouble to the point of absurdity.

The Crown Prince relaxed his grip on the reins as he studied Riorem’s expression.

‘They say people grow closest when they share the same enemy.’

This was the first time Riorem had stayed by his side so obediently.

At this point, it seemed safe to bring up the matter directly.

The Crown Prince took a breath.

“To be honest, I found it somewhat comforting that Alpheios existed. I dislike danger, and I don’t want to be in a situation where I could die.”

“Seems so,” Riorem sneered.

The Crown Prince burst out laughing.

He could not deny it — he had used his position to avoid all chances to go to war, while even a foreigner like Riorem risked his life on all kinds of battlefields.

“Besides, Alpheios isn’t interested in the throne. He can do whatever he wants now, and above all, no one complains when he kills people freely on the battlefield.”

Riorem gently stroked the mane of his horse.

The Crown Prince’s next words were somewhat predictable.

“But what if that bastard becomes interested in something more than war? Especially if that something can only be obtained by taking the throne?”

The Crown Prince spoke with disdain.

“My father has no intention of giving the princess to Alpheios. Even if he didn’t have to steal her from you, that’s how it would be.”

“I see.”

“It’s true. If the empire learns that the princess fell into that lunatic’s hands, they would react immediately. But Alpheios isn’t the type to be swayed by logic. Eventually, he’ll aim for the throne to get his way.”

“I understand what you mean. But I don’t think Prince Alpheios is smart enough to consider that far ahead.”

The Crown Prince scoffed.

“Well, at first, he probably didn’t know what he needed. He might have thrown a tantrum asking His Majesty to take the princess from you. But would he really keep demanding when all his demands are ignored?”

A deep sigh escaped him.

“To be honest, I don’t trust you very much. You probably feel the same. But more than that, I want to form an alliance. Even if you don’t agree with other things, I think you’ll agree on dealing with that bastard Alpheios.”

“Is striking the prince something His Majesty also agrees with?”

“Of course he doesn’t know. But he would agree that the princess must be hidden from Alpheios.”

Riorem stared quietly at the Crown Prince.

Seeing a man who usually hides behind hypocrisy and slyly avoids problems openly reveal his true feelings like this, it seemed he really hated Alpheios.

‘Not bad,’ Riorem calmly concluded.

He also did not want Chernea and Alpheios to meet.

And if this gave him a way to keep that troublesome prince in check, there was no reason to refuse.

‘…And the Crown Prince seems to have decent judgment.’

Riorem recalled the royal family’s lounge he had visited recently and spoke up.

“Alright. Regarding this matter, I will help you as much as I can and support your side.”

“Haha, so you won’t swear loyalty after all.”

Riorem didn’t respond.

‘Even if I did, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.’

Instead, he brought up a problem that had been bothering him for days.

“Then may I state my conditions as well?”

“So you won’t just do it for free, huh? Fine, tell me. I’m curious what it costs to have Riorem Velik on your side.”

“I want to observe the royal quarters. It would be even better if I could access that level of things.”

“That’s a strange condition.”

The Crown Prince tilted his head in puzzlement.

Riorem already had all he wanted.

No one mocked his taste as being crude like a slave anymore.

He had everything anyway.

‘He wouldn’t suddenly want to act noble now.’

But then he thought of the person who started this whole deal:

Princess Peroa, the Second Princess.

“Is it because of the princess?”

Riorem nodded instead of answering.

The Crown Prince grew even more confused.

‘They say she torments to the point of giving punishment wherever she is. And because of that woman, you want to buy luxury items from the royals?’

Anyway, aside from the unclear intentions, it was good news.

They were also planning to send luxury goods to comfort the princess who had become a slave.