The Seventh Prince Wants to Bail — Chapter 15

I THOUGHT THE FEEDUS FAMILY WAS ONLY BUILDING A HOSPITAL,

BUT THEY'VE GONE AND BUILT A RELIEF CENTER FOR VAGRANTS AS WELL.

ISN'T IT LIKE THEY'RE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO PISS YOU OFF, BROTHER?

NO MATTER HOW MANY INSECTS SWARM TOGETHER, THEY'RE STILL JUST INSECTS.

THEY'RE NOTHING MORE THAN BEGGARS WHO WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO HANDLE MY MANIS...

...DAMN IT. THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE ANNOYED I GET.

IF THINGS HAD GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN, THOSE INSECTS WOULD HAVE BEEN ERADICATED A LONG TIME AGO,

AND I WOULD BE PREPARING TO START A NEW PROJECT.

AH! FIRST PRINCE, SECOND PRINCE...?!

GREETINGS, YOUR HIGHNESSES.

OH, YES. FANCY MEETING YOU HERE.

YOU WERE TRULY AMAZING DURING THE EVENING RITUAL THIS WEEK.

HOW CAN YOU POSSESS SUCH INCREDIBLE MANIS...?!

AS EXPECTED, YOU'RE THE ONE DESTINED TO LEAD ABIRAN'S FUTURE!

I CONCUR.

...WHEN THAT TIME COMES, I'LL BE BOTH HAPPY AND SAD.

BECAUSE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SEE MY BELOVED BROTHER ANYMORE.

SO THAT I, AS EMPEROR, CAN GOVERN THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL WELL,

YOU'LL FAITHFULLY CARRY OUT YOUR ASSIGNED DUTIES AT THE BORDER REGIONS PROPERLY, WON'T YOU?

TH-THE BORDER... YOU SAY?

O-OF COURSE, IF YOU'LL JUST ENTRUST IT TO ME...

THE NEW EMPEROR WILL BESTOW POSITIONS UPON HIS SIBLINGS IMMEDIATELY UPON ASCENDING TO THE THRONE.

THIS IS A TRADITION MEANT TO PREVENT POWER STRUGGLES AMONG THE ROYAL FAMILY.

JUST NOW, BROTHER HAS PRACTICALLY DECIDED THE FUTURE OF THIS PITIFUL THIRD PRINCE.

BANISHED FROM THE COMFORTABLE AND PROSPEROUS CAPITAL,

HE'S DESTINED TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN THE BARREN BORDERLANDS.

THEN AGAIN, BROTHER ALWAYS INTENDED TO DRIVE EVERY ONE OF HIS YOUNGER SIBLINGS OUT OF THE CAPITAL.

EXCEPT FOR ONE.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL HIM SO SOON.

HE LOOKED UNNECESSARILY PITIFUL.

IF HE'S DESTINED TO LEAVE ANYWAY, IT'S BETTER FOR HIM TO KNOW IN ADVANCE.

IF YOU FEEL SO SORRY FOR HIM, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE UP YOUR POSITION AS THE EMPEROR'S AIDE TO HIM?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

BEING FREED FROM YOUR RELENTLESS WORKLOAD DOES SOUND RATHER TEMPTING.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I TOLD YOU LAST TIME?

I MEAN THE BOLD MAN WITH GLASSES FROM THE FEEDUS FAMILY.

AH, HIM?

IT WASN'T BAD.

INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING STILL FOR A YEAR...

THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE ENTERTAINING.

I HEARD A NEW COAL MINE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SOUTH.

BARON JONES, WHO OWNS THE TERRITORY, WILL CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THE COAL MINE.

HOWEVER, HE BORROWED MONEY FROM THE FEEDUS DUCAL HOUSE A LONG TIME AGO.

HAVE HIM EXCHANGE THE ACCUMULATED INTEREST INTO MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OVER THE MINE.

UNDERSTOOD, ACTING HEAD.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE EMPLOYEES?

AH, YES...! AFTER YOUR SPEECH, THE NUMBER OF DESERTERS TEMPORARILY INCREASED...

BUT THANKS TO THE CENTRAL LAND PROJECT, THINGS HAVE LARGELY STABILIZED.

I SEE. KEEP REPORTING THE TRENDS TO ME.

ALSO... I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TELL YOU EARLIER...

BUT A MESSAGE ARRIVED FROM HOUSE CRYSA EARLY THIS MORNING.

IT SEEMS COUNT CRYSA HAS BEEN IMPRISONED IN THE IMPERIAL DUNGEON.

WHAT EXQUISITE TIMING.

OF ALL DAYS, IT HAPPENS ON THE VERY DAY I'M ATTENDING THE NOBLES' MEETING AT THE INVITATION OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY...

I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO OFFEND THE ROYAL FAMILY YET.

IF THERE'S ONE POSSIBLE REASON...

COULD IT BE THE VAGRANTS, AFTER ALL?

ARE THEY PLANNING TO SUFFOCATE US FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, ONE BY ONE...?

AS THE PRICE FOR DARING TO REBEL AGAINST GOD...?!

...ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

YES, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

I'VE PREPARED SOME MEDICINE FOR YOUR HEADACHE.

THAT CAUSES DROWSINESS, SO I CAN'T TAKE IT. HOW MUCH LONGER?

WE'LL ARRIVE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

...THAT DAMN GARDEN SURE IS HUGE.

THE ACTING HEAD OF THE FEEDUS DUCAL HOUSE IS ENTERING.

OH, TOLLIN CRYSA. NICE TO MEET YOU. I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU.

DUKE MILLIO.

I HEAR YOU'RE SPENDING VERY BUSY DAYS AT THE FEEDUS DUCAL HOUSE.

TO UNDERTAKE SUCH AN ENORMOUS PROJECT IN THE HEART OF THE EMPIRE, TRULY REMARKABLE!

YOU FLATTER ME. IT IS ALL THANKS TO HIGH PRIEST VESPER AND THE GRACE OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HEARD ABOUT THE EVENTS IN THE CENTRAL LAND FROM MY SON.

HE SAID YOU WERE QUITE MAJESTIC IN FRONT OF THE CROWD ALONGSIDE HIGH PRIEST VESPER.

IF THE LATE AGONY FEEDUS HAD SEEN SUCH A SPLENDID SIGHT,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN DREAMED OF BETRAYING THE EMPIRE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO EDUCATING THE YOUNG DUKE WHO WAS LEFT BEHIND.

IT'D BE TROUBLESOME IF HE FOLLOWED IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS AND BECAME A TRAITOR, WOULDN'T IT?

...SPEAKING OF YOUR SON,

YOU MEAN THE YOUNG LORD MILLIO I SAW THAT DAY?

THE ONE HIDING AMONG THE PEOPLE LIKE A RAT, WITH HIS FACE COVERED BY A ROBE.

JUST LIKE A TRAITOR...

IS THAT THE EDUCATION DUKE MILLIO'S HOUSE PRIDES ITSELF ON?

Y-YOU CRAZY BASTARD...!!

I HEARD THAT YOU RECENTLY EXPANDED YOUR STEEL BUSINESS SIGNIFICANTLY, DUKE.

NO DOUBT YOU WERE COUNTING ON BARON JONES' NEWLY DISCOVERED COAL MINE.

HOWEVER, THE FEEDUS FAMILY WILL SOON POSSESS THE OWNERSHIP OF THAT COAL MINE.

IF WE WERE TO REFUSE TO SUPPLY MINERALS TO YOU,

WOULDN'T YOUR BUSINESSES BE IN QUITE A BIT OF TROUBLE, DUKE MILLIO?

...?!

I RECOMMEND YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH DEPENDING ON THE TIME AND SITUATION.

EVERYONE, PLEASE RISE.

HIS HIGHNESS THE FIRST PRINCE AND HIS HIGHNESS THE SECOND PRINCE ARE ENTERING.

RASIA ABIRAN,

DON'T YOU FEEL ANYTHING AFTER KILLING DUKE FEEDUS WITH YOUR OWN HANDS?!

YOU MAY ALL BE SEATED.

THE MEETING WILL NOW BEGIN.

...WE'LL CONCLUDE THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE BORDER ISSUES HERE.

NOW THEN, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CENTRAL LAND IN THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL?

FEEDUS FAMILY, WHAT IS THE CURRENT PROGRESS?

ACTING HEAD OF THE FEEDUS DUCAL HOUSE,

TOLLIN CRYSA, REPORTING!

CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOSPITAL HAS ENTERED THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING STAGE.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE TRAINING MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND CARRYING OUT RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE SURROUNDING SLUM...

...HMM, I REMEMBER NOW. AFTER I WON THE LAST HUNTING FESTIVAL,

HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR GRANTED ME THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO THE CENTRAL LAND BESIDE THE TEMPLE.

HOWEVER, AGONY FEEDUS APPEARED AND SNATCHED MY AUTHORITY AWAY.

SO... THIS IS WHAT BECAME OF IT?

BASED ON VARIOUS REPORTS I'VE RECEIVED RECENTLY,

PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CENTER OF THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY...

THAT IS CORRECT.

IT'S ALL THANKS TO THE HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE FEEDUS DUCAL HOUSE.

THEY ARE ALREADY HIGHLY PRAISED AMONG THE CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE.

IT'S SOMETHING WORTH PRAISING, ACTING HEAD FEEDUS.

I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE.

UNLIKE CERTAIN ROTTEN NOBLES WHO CAN'T EVEN PRODUCE DECENT RESULTS...

A FAMILY LIKE YOURS TRULY DESERVES THE SUPPORT OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.

...I AM DEEPLY HONORED, YOUR HIGHNESS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THIS PROJECT WITH THE UTMOST SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY...

NOW, NOW. HUMILITY IS ADMIRABLE,

BUT THAT ALONE CAN'T FEED YOUR PEOPLE, CAN IT?

BY HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR'S DECREE, I HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO INTERFERE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT...

BUT HANDLING A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE ALONE MUST BE QUITE A BURDEN FOR THE FAMILY, AM I RIGHT?

THE IMPERIAL FAMILY WILL PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AS YOU NEED.

AS LONG AS THE FEEDUS FAMILY ASKS FOR IT.

...THEN ALLOW ME TO HUMBLY ASK THIS OF YOU.

THE HOSPITAL PROJECT IS CURRENTLY LACKING IN PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT.

THEREFORE, SHOULD THE IMPERIAL FAMILY CHOOSE TO ASSIST US,

WE WOULD NEVER FORGET SUCH BOUNDLESS GRACE.

I COULDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I'D BEEN AWAY IN THE FOREST FOR SO LONG.

PERHAPS IT'S FINALLY TIME TO RE-ESTABLISH SOME DISCIPLINE?