How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 7.11
Father smiled warmly. Then he gently stroked Resena’s head.
“I’m really grateful that you’ve become so mature. I’m thankful that you’re no longer at odds with Saint Lorona and have improved your relationship, and I’m also grateful that you’re managing the merchant guild well.”
“Father…”
“I’ve also heard that you’re doing well as the heir. Your aide was praising you. Moreover, I hear you haven’t been verbally abusing or hitting the maids lately. You’ve really matured.”
Resena listened to her father’s words silently. He lowered his head to meet Resena’s gaze.
“Thank you, Resena. Thank you. Sermaria also told me that she noticed how much you’ve matured. And according to His Highness the Crown Prince, you’re going to Amarast as an envoy because you wanted to. I hope you can stop Amarast’s war preparations.”
“Yes. I’ll be able to stop them.”
Resena took her father’s hand and then released it. Father turned toward his wife, stroked her forehead, and held her hand tightly. As a quiet stillness settled in the room, the ticking of the clock’s second hand was particularly clear.
“Then go and sleep, Resena. It’s already three in the morning, and you should get some rest to prepare for your trip to Amarast.”
“Yes, Father. Then, sleep well.”
“Yes, Resena. Sweet dreams to you, too.”
As Resena closed the door, the Duke bent down toward Sermaria and kissed her on the forehead. Although Sermaria was sleeping soundly, the corners of her lips turned up slightly as if she were having a good dream. Alec watched her and placed his hand on his own cheek.
“Darling. Our Resena has grown up wonderfully.”
The Duke spoke tenderly as he watched the sleeping Sermaria.
“Her efforts to avoid making enemies essentially saved your life. She’s really grown up splendidly. It seems like just yesterday when you and I were holding Resena when she was just born, rejoicing. My heart swells when I think about how quickly she’s grown up to become so admirable.”
The Duke wore a gentle smile as he fiddled with Sermaria’s hand.
“You would have been pleased to see Resena like this, too. But Resena will accomplish even more in the future. To witness that, you need to be healthy, Sermaria. So, let’s continue to live happily with our family, healthy and without any troubles. Darling.”
The Duke adjusted the lamp on the bedside table to a very dim setting. Although Sermaria had recovered her leg through surgery and healing by holy power, her shocked feelings had not yet fully calmed down… He didn’t think he would be able to sleep until she got up the next day.
“I love you, darling.”
And so the Duke stayed awake all night.
Until the navy blue curtain of night was lifted and dawn broke.
He did not move from his place.
***
“You say an envoy is coming from Crevasta?”
The black mage Ain Festa, standing next to the throne, frowned. The king looked down at the messenger with an expressionless face, but since Ain Festa’s words were essentially the same as the king’s, the messenger answered carefully while sweating nervously.
“Yes, that’s right. Crown Prince Serdat said he would trade about 30% of the supplies stockpiled for war preparations on the condition that Crevasta doesn’t interfere in the war, so Crevasta is satisfied and is sending a small delegation to supervise the import and export of goods.”
“…Hmph. So the Crown Prince, who’s been withering away in the palace without any motivation, has done something properly.”
They had already stockpiled too much, to the point where they didn’t even have enough warehouses to store the goods. If they traded with Crevasta, sending out unnecessary luxury items or raw gemstones and storing only the supplies needed for war, they wouldn’t lose in the fight against the Kingdom of Serma.
‘Of course, I don’t intend to overwhelmingly defeat the Kingdom of Serma. I just need to lead the war in a way that maximizes sacrifices through a protracted war of attrition. However…’
If Amarast were to lose to Serma, they would have to abandon the royal family they had controlled with black mana and escape, so they couldn’t afford to lose.
To prevent such a troublesome situation, they had to maintain the upper hand in this war, even in the midst of a stalemate.
“Go out and call Eldark.”
“Yes.”
The messenger bowed and slowly withdrew from the audience chamber. Soon, as the court magician Eldark entered, Ain Festa raised the corner of his mouth and called to him.
“Eldark. What do you think about the return of a prince who hasn’t been brainwashed? Would it be better to dispose of him immediately since he’s received a blessing?”
Eldark spoke bluntly with unfocused eyes.
“Since he’s a human not controlled by black mana, it would generally be better to dispose of him. However, if we want to hide from Crevasta that Amarast’s royal family is controlled by black mana, it would be better to keep him alive. If Crevasta were to intervene in the fight between Amarast and Serma, having a human not controlled by black mana would allow us to deceive them into thinking that the royal family is functioning normally.”
“Hmm… Well, that’s true.”
Ain Festa looked down at the court magician Eldark, who was controlled by black mana, with a deep smile.
Black mana could not only make a person a puppet, but also make them obey without reducing their normal intelligence by subjugating humans to black mana. That’s why he could freely use the strategies of Eldark, a 5th circle magician, while keeping him subjugated.
“Then, Eldark, dispatch people to monitor the prince. And make them report if the delegation that enters with him shows any suspicious behavior. It would be good if there were someone among them who could be controlled by black mana. I’ll do the subjugation control directly, so tell them the king has ordered it and bring them to the audience chamber.”
“Understood. Then I’ll look for someone who hasn’t received a blessing.”
“Good. You may go.”
After dismissing Eldark, Ain Festa took out a transparent crystal ball from his bosom.
When he chanted a spell, a young man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a black mask appeared inside.
-Ain. Are things going well?
At Zergard’s words, Ain chuckled softly.
“Things are going well. Crevasta has been completely deceived and is sending a delegation along with the prince for the import and export of goods.”
-Good. It seems to be flowing quite well.
“Hehe. Thank you.”
-It seems we made the right decision to keep the prince alive. In Crevasta, if there’s black mana and someone is subjugated, they would be freed after receiving a blessing, and if someone wields black mana, they would be considered a black mage and eliminated. But the prince has received a blessing, so he doesn’t fall into either category. He’s the perfect hostage to show to Crevasta.
“That’s right. Moreover, since he always follows the king’s orders, I plan to extend the period of keeping the prince alive. Although Crevasta says they won’t participate in the war between Amarast and Serma, you never know.”
-Yes. Your judgment is correct.
“Thank you.”
As Ain’s eyes gleamed and the corners of his mouth turned up, Zergard chuckled and raised black mana in his hand.
-But there’s something I want to ask of you.
“Please tell me what it is. I will accomplish anything for you.”
Zergard created a sphere with black mana. The sphere gradually became smaller and transformed into a necklace with a black pearl.
To the eye, it appeared to be merely a pearl necklace hanging from a beautiful rose gold chain. But the moment someone wore it around their neck, it became the worst accessory that would subject any human who hadn’t received a blessing to the control of black mana.
-Have Resena Arnasus wear this.
“That necklace?”
As Ain extended his hand, Zergard levitated the necklace. The necklace slowly disappeared and was transmitted to the side of the crystal ball. Ain received the accessory that took form in his hand and lowered his gaze to examine the necklace.
With black pearls meticulously set into a rose gold chain as its focal point, it was a necklace that would truly complement fair skin. Although Ain had never seen Resena Arnasus in person, it seemed like something any noblewoman would like, making him curious about Zergard’s intentions.
“I will give it to the prince and have Resena Arnasus wear it. But is there a reason you specifically want to control Resena Arnasus?”
-Resena is a very intelligent woman. She’s also the heir to the Arnasus family. So if we subjugate her, we can use her wisdom and power.
“Ah…”
-Not only that, but she also has a merchant guild, and if we use it to distribute items made with black mana… we can easily control the upper class with black mana. So her subjugation is essential to taint Crevasta with black mana.
“…I understand.”
