Until a while ago I had Scheat work in Wilhelm.

I had him pretend to be Andre's ally and guard Princess, to not let any harm befall her until I came to pick her up.

The man called Andre who contacted us had no pride in spite of being a royal. He was very easy to handle, but he tended to vent his frustration on women.

Andre said to bring him women. I lent him three Black's women per my father's orders, but when I judged that the operation failed, I pulled them out. When I ordered one of them to a.s.sa.s.sinate Black's guild master after they came back, she expressed her considerable discontent with Andre.

It seems he was quite a troublesome man.

I felt uneasy leaving Princess, who'd become my consort, with such a man.

My father intended to kill Princess, so he didn't care what Andre would do to her, but I was troubled.

I overwrote my father's order in a way that wouldn't be noticed to make sure Princess wouldn't be harmed.

Still, just in case I had Scheat observe from hiding, and it seems I was correct to do so.

Listening to the story that he'd sent slimes on her, I felt sick.

It's unforgivable to make a demon violate the woman who will become my princess consort. I'm not interested in broken women.

I want the confident Princess.

"I wish you'd come a little earlier. It's a shame we couldn't bring the princess with us."

"There was no way. I also had various preparations to do here. Moreover, Prince Friedrich moved faster than expected. It couldn't be helped when he acted so quickly.

"That prince, huh. Just as rumors said, he was very strong. To my surprise, he was able to stop my serious attack."

"Oh. Did you fight?"

"A little bit. Even I have some pride."

After all the name Flawless, Nightmarish Crown Prince isn't for show.

As if recalling, Scheat said.

"The princess was interesting too. She ran away from that man on her own…. And she could even use that magic. And then she vigorously rushed into a vent, you really can't get bored with that princess. It would be interesting if she became your princess consort."

"… Neutralization magic, huh."

The magic that neutralizes magical power and is said to have almost no users nowadays.

When I heard the report from Scheat, I thought that there'd be no way that Princess would be able to use it, but when I recalled the magical reduction bottle, I became convinced.

When I tried to bring Princess in the magical reduction bottle to Sahaja, the magical tool didn't react at all.

I thought it was broken, but that wasn't the case. It was rendered useless by Princess's own magic ability.

Princess became even more valuable. With neutralization magic wars will proceed smoother. After all, she's suitable to be my princess consort.

"If I take Princess as my princess consort, she'll come with s.h.i.+nigami and neutralization magic. It's too funny."

"That princess is interesting, and I'll be happy to work together with Cain. Really, I should've brought her by force. We could have afforded that much, right?"

"… There is time."

As Scheat said sulkily, I informed him.

"This time I intended to obtain either Princess or the throne. Regarding Princess… As we know, Andre failed. I wish that man had delivered Princess to us at a suitable time, but ultimately it didn't happen."

"Because the prince came to pick her up before."

"That's right. The plan was to receive Princess and afterwards feign complete ignorance about Andre handing her over on his own. I intended to claim legitimacy by objecting to Wilhelm that it's not necessary to return her because the traitor was from their country. But with Prince Friedrich coming, we couldn't use that."

"And so I would deal with Andre so that he doesn't say anything unnecessary."

"That's right."

In case Prince Friedrich made it in time, I intended to kill Andre to silence him.

And even if he didn't make it in time, after obtaining Princess I intended to kill Andre, leaving only the evidence that he'd kidnapped Princess.

I intended to kill him either way… But with Prince Friedrich himself standing in the way, it would be difficult even for Scheat. At any rate, Andre will be dealt with by Prince Friedrich, so I told Scheat in advance that he didn't have to force himself.

Scheat is a useful tool just for me. It would be regrettable to lose him like that.

"Cain didn't move as expected either. I was sure he'd do it.

"There's no helping it. s.h.i.+nigami must've been unexpectedly moved by Princess's kindness."

s.h.i.+nigami resents my father for killing his clan.

There were no guards either. I thought that if I created a situation where he'd be alone with my father, s.h.i.+nigami would definitely kill him, but it wasn't so simple.

I wonder if Princess, his master, declawed him.

I thought it'd be a good idea to spearhead war with the murder of my father as the reason, but I readily gave up.

War shouldn't be started without a just case. If you can't say justice is with you, you mustn't do it. My father didn't understand that.

The same goes for the operation to kill Prince Friedrich.

Depending on the details I could go along with my father's operation, and we did actually cooperate, but after hearing the specifics I changed the plan.

My father's operation was too terrible. It seems he intended to have Andre kidnap and kill Princess, then deal with Friedrich who'd go insane seeing it, but there's no way I'd let him kill Princess. When I learned of the details, I had the order overwritten.

"Hmm… A shame. I wanted to see Cain's face warped by despair. Cain's face as he learned he caused war would be a sight to see for sure."

"I have no doubt that he intended to kill. But he stopped at the last moment. I have no way of knowing what changed s.h.i.+nigami's heart, but whatever. For the time being, I dealt with one evil."

Princess and the throne.

From the start I thought that I could only obtain one, so I don't mind. I won't ask for a luxury like obtaining both at once. I'll obtain them one by one for sure.

"Now then, it'll get busy."

"Hey… Do you remember the promise with me?"

I answered indifferently to Scheat's testing question.

"I'll show you it if you follow me to the very end."

"… Yup. Got it."

"Stand by. I'll call for you if I need you."

"Yup."

Scheat nodded and disappeared.

I recalled a little how I had met him first in the past.

Scheat, who was still a boy, was crying alone on a battlefield. Then, he implored me.

"Hey? You――――."

I promised to grant it. Of course I remember it.

Follow me. Saying that, I reached my hand to him. I haven't forgotten that.

"If you obey me, I'm willing to grant your wish."

It's just that you have to give me everything――.

And so, he took my hand.

That's all.

"… Esteemed Father. Let me fulfill the dream you couldn't see."

I'll defeat Prince Friedrich, and I will - Sahaja will become this continent's, no, this world's supreme ruler.

And I'll make Princess stand next to me as my princess consort.

"Let's leave it for now. Something like a wedding doesn't matter."

I'll be busy with ascension to the throne and office work. It will take some time to calm down the country.

Until then she can be free.

If I get back my consort at a suitable fine, it's fine.

I hope she won't be pregnant with Prince Friedrich's son.

So what if she's another person's princess consort?

I obtain what I want. No matter what the situation is.

I just have to steal her and make her mine.

"First of all… I have to inform about my father's death inside and outside the country."

The army that my father withdrew will be back soon.

Should I greet them with my saddest face?

"An unforeseen accident, huh. Kuku… Kukuku. What a joke."

Thinking of the actions I need to take from now on, the corners of my mouth lifted in a smile.