The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 221 Leaflet - The Case of Spoiled Young Lady C A certain mansion in the capital of Birka Kingdom. "The misconduct committed by Redbell's scoundrel is increasingly crossing the line." The 2nd Prince, a candidate for the kingdom's next successor. At the words of Jora Müller, who could be called his confidant, a deep silence fell over the conference room. It was not a silence of bewilderment or denial. Rather, it was closer to a silence born from deeply contemplating and agreeing that Jora's words were correct, that his opinion was truly right. It had to be that way. Because everyone gathered in this conference room now had suffered damage, whether great or small, from that 'Redbell scoundrel.' "That's right!! Because of those Blood Demon Beasts, the innocent commoners can't sleep day or night! Wherever you go on the land that woman has invaded, those blood-colored beasts flash their eyes menacingly - how can this be a life for people to live!!" (E/N: Wow, now that's what we call shameless. Cool down guy, you are among friends, there is no need to lie like that) A certain Feudal Lord of Birka spoke passionately with veins bulging in his neck. The fact that security within the Territory had drastically improved thanks to Claudia's Blood Demon Beast security system, and that the 'innocent commoners' he just mentioned could now live each day in peace, was not important to him at all. Because security had improved so much that even the back-pocket businesses the Feudal Lord had been secretly operating were all wiped out. Originally, these things were all supposed to be handled by the high-ranking people working together, eliminating competing businesses while pretending not to see what allies were doing, but Claudia seemed completely unaware of such 'virtues.' The commoners became happy, so isn't that good? Fundamentally, commoners are the Feudal Lord's property. If the Feudal Lord isn't happy, then naturally the commoners can't be happy either. If they're happy, then they're not commoners. Isn't that 'common sense'? "That scoundrel is inciting fraternal strife within the royal family for her own power and profit! How utterly heinous!" A branch member of the royal family raised his voice. The fact that the power struggle within Birka's royal family had existed since before Claudia rose to prominence, making it difficult to call it her responsibility, was not important. The fact that the 2nd Prince he was backing was being pushed out by the Grand Prince that Claudia was supporting, with his influence gradually declining, also had little connection to this statement. Probably. "Absolutely, absolutely! She's a shameless wench! Not only has she joined hands with lowly adventurers, but she's also consorting with the bandits of Levroucq! If we leave her be like this, she might go on a rampage saying she'll kill all of our noble blood!" A knight from the Sarnos Count family also echoed the sentiment. It was clear he was disgusted by the fact that the rebel army that had emerged within the count's Territory, Levroucq, was joining hands with Claudia. As the count family's fortunes gradually declined, the fact that they might be abandoned by the Grand Prince they served was also fueling their anxiety. In addition, various others were part of this gathering, including Redbell bloodline members who had been pushed out in family competition with Claudia, and nobles who had received bribes from human trafficking organizations and requests to stop Claudia. While their detailed reasons differed, their core opinion was the same. That they could no longer leave Claudia Redbell and the forces she led unchecked. Claudia was improving the territory's security, streamlining operations, and actively cracking down on corruption. (E/N: Truly a villain) And that directly conflicted with the interests of the established elite. Because those who had fostered that corruption in the first place were this country's upper echelons. "Your words are correct. If we leave that scoundrel unchecked like this, great disaster will befall our venerable Birka Kingdom. Therefore, we have no choice but to cut her off urgently." At the words of the 2nd Prince's confidant, Jora Müller, those who had been clamoring lit up their eyes. They had realized what Jora was talking about. Assassination. Eliminate Claudia, who was at the core of all these issues. "...Is that possible? Those damned adventurers are attached to her side." Someone asked cautiously. It wasn't that there had been no attempts to eliminate Claudia, but those attempts had never succeeded even once. Because the adventurer party called 'Firefly' was protecting her like an iron fortress around Claudia. -Mere adventurers would be meaningless before real knights or mages possessed by nobles! Assassins who attacked with such thoughts were miserably crushed before the terrifying combat power the adventurers displayed. Especially the leader Blanca's performance was unparalleled - with her characteristic of 'responding to surrounding mana to increase her magical output,' she was virtually a natural enemy to mages. How else would some people have started calling her the Magician Killer? "That's why we need your cooperation. To separate those adventurers from around Claudia." Having gained Claudia as both a political backer and financial patron, the Adventurer's Guild was greatly expanding its influence. However, this also meant that the areas the guild had to manage and the quests they needed to handle had exploded in number. In a situation where manpower shortage was already serious, what would happen if major incidents occurred consecutively in various places? Would they really be able to keep high-level forces like 'Firefly' waiting like fixtures under the pretext of guarding Claudia? It was an extremely irresponsible and selfish plan to cause national-level chaos just to kill one person, but those who heard the plan showed no aversion to it. "Oh! That's truly a brilliant idea!" "If that wench Claudia holds onto her guards and won't let them go for her own safety, that would help worsen the relationship between them as well." "Is that all? The reason they're expanding their influence like that is because the ridiculous false rumor that 'you can live safely under Claudia' is bewitching the ignorant commoners. If multiple casualties occur within their territory, we'll be able to shatter such illusions! Truly a scheme worthy of Lord Jora, who is called His Highness the Prince's strategist!" Knights who know no honor. Feudal Lords who take no responsibility for their commoners. Politicians who prioritize private interests over national interests. These people who wanted to keep Birka Kingdom 'rotting' for their own benefit wouldn't care about the people's suffering at this point. They immediately used their power to incite various disturbances within Claudia and the Adventurer's Guild's sphere of influence, and before long obtained information that 'Firefly' members had been dispatched to various locations to put out urgent fires. And dark hands began quietly approaching Claudia. *** Claudia Redbell is a scoundrel. Her personality is foul, her reputation is terrible, and yet her appearance is excellent. If there had been an academy in Birka Kingdom, she could have played the protagonist of a villainess story - a superstar talent that villain industry companies would immediately hire just by looking at her resume. Even Claudia herself didn't deny that her personality was foul. Through her interactions with a certain crazy servant C, she had at least stopped mistreating her own people and innocent ones, but that didn't mean her basic temperament had disappeared. And in this damned kingdom, there were far too many people who provoked Claudia's temper. (E/N: Scarlet El Vandimion, is that you?) Thwack!! "Ugh!" A scream leaked from the mouth of a middle-aged man who had been kicked in the buttocks by Claudia. Being stabbed by the pointed part of her high heels must have been quite painful, as the middle-aged man rolled around on the floor, but Claudia didn't bat an eye. Instead, she lowered her voice menacingly and spoke. "Hey." "Wh-What is this!! I am the descendant of the great Baron Prelion family—" "If you don't shut that filthy mouth, whether it's Prelion or whatever, I'll stomp your face with my heel next." It was a menacing statement that was hard to believe came from such a doll-like pretty face. Overwhelmed by her terrifying presence, the middle-aged man sat upright with his mouth shut, while Claudia looked down at him with her arms crossed. "I emphasized it countless times when you signed up for the Blood Demon Beast security service. That I wouldn't stand for any nonsense behind my back. But what? You embezzled the consolation money that should have gone to the families of soldiers who died fighting monsters? Do I look like a fool because I just talk?" "L-Listen, Lady Claudia! What would those ignorant fools do with such money anyway? Fundamentally, funds should be held in the hands of noble blood like us who understand their value— Aaaaagh!" "I said I'd stomp you if you didn't shut up." After looking at the middle-aged man rolling on the floor clutching his face as if looking at a bug, Claudia gestured with her chin to the servants waiting nearby. "Throw this thing in prison." "Yes, Miss." The servants dragged the middle-aged man away as if accustomed to this. Only after the middle-aged man's figure completely disappeared did Claudia collapse face-down on her desk with a thud. And soon, as if anger was surging up, she slammed the desk with both arms and lifted her body. Thump! "Aaaagh! These damned bastards!! How is it that there isn't a single one with proper sense!! Is this truly a country? A real country?! Should I just hang them all on the gallows?!" The sight of her kicking the desk with her shoes - thwack! thwack! - looked more like a tantruming child than a rising star dominating the kingdom's political scene. While the orange-haired new maid on her first day of work stood frozen watching this scene, an experienced senior maid approached Claudia and patted her back. "Now, now, calm down, Miss. Oh my, look at how your hair is disheveled. We'll need to brush it again." "It's fine. I don't need it. I won't do it." "But wouldn't Cedric be disappointed if he saw Miss in such a disheveled state?" Cedric. The moment she heard that name, Claudia's body flinched and trembled. She soon leaned back against her chair with a short sigh, and the senior maid arranged Claudia's hair with practiced movements. Perhaps feeling awkward under the new maid's blank stare, Claudia blushed slightly and showed irritation. "What are you looking at? First time seeing someone else's hair being brushed?" "Miss, Cedric would be disappointed to see you taking out your anger on others like that." "...!! Neria! Why do you keep singing Cedric, Cedric all the time lately?! So what if he's disappointed! Do I have to watch his mood or something?!" Claudia glared with terrifying intensity. If those who opposed her had seen this, they would have instinctively stepped back, but the senior maid who received that glare remained calm. Because she knew that unlike before, the current Claudia wouldn't lay hands on servants over such matters. "It's not necessarily that, but it's better to show a good side when possible. You too, Miss." The senior maid and other servants who had long served Claudia knew. The reason Claudia continued to improve security, eliminate corruption, and expand her influence - it was all for a certain servant. To rescue him who was on a leash held by the massive force called the Empire, forced into grueling marches that strained his body, and to have him by her side again - it was the result of her efforts toward that goal. This had actually produced results, so there was no longer anyone who looked down on Claudia as a scoundrel practically disowned by her family. Even those who cursed her had fear as their underlying emotion. Even the Marquis Redbell, a major political figure in the kingdom who had once tried to use Claudia like a mere scapegoat, was now subtly pushing her as his successor. "...Hmph." The very person at the center of the topic that was stirring up Birka neither affirmed nor denied the senior maid's words, merely snorting. It was when the senior maid, who knew this was her way of hiding embarrassment, smiled. -Woof! Woof woof!! First floor of the Estate. The Blood Demon Beasts serving as guard dogs all growled and howled in unison. Realizing what this meant, both Claudia and the two maids hardened their expressions. Crash! With a loud noise, the door to Claudia's office was kicked open, and a suspicious group with their faces covered by masks burst inside. Blood was splattered all over their bodies and bite marks were clearly visible, as if they had already fought on their way here, and upon confirming Claudia's face, they readjusted their grip on their swords. The senior maid retreated to a corner of the room while holding onto Claudia, and the new maid did the opposite, spreading her arms as if to block the assassins' path. The assassins snorted derisively. The slashing attack imbued with sword aura was powerful enough to cut through even thick living wood, not just firewood. A proper knight in armor might be one thing, but a maid wearing mere cloth garments wouldn't even literally be an obstacle. They swung their swords as if to cut the new maid in half in one stroke— "They really came." —and their eyes widened at the sight of the new maid calmly speaking despite being cut by the sword. Strictly speaking, there was a problem with the expression "being cut." The assassin's sword had only cut through clothing. The skin underneath didn't have even a small scratch. Whether she was aware of the assassin's confusion or not, the orange-haired new maid grabbed the assassin's forearm and applied light pressure. Just that alone was enough for the assassin's arm bone to snap with a crack. "Aaaaagh!!" "? Usually assassins have tight lips to prepare for situations like this, don't they? Is it because you're not professionals?" As the maid tilted her head, the second assassin stabbed her side with a blade. But the blade couldn't penetrate this time either, and the maid grabbed the blade itself with her palm, then swung the sword's handle like a blunt weapon to knock out the assassin. The last assassin finally realized things had gone wrong and tried to flee, but a large dog-sized Blood Demon Beast that rushed from outside the door pounced on him and bit him. Watching the assassins writhing on the floor, Claudia, who had briefly retreated, let out a cold sneer. "When Blanca said there was an emergency call from the Adventurer's Guild, I thought something was a bit strange... So this was the real purpose from the beginning? Good thing I took out insurance." The 'insurance' Claudia mentioned. Dahlia, the guard from Levroucq and new maid, gave a bitter smile. Originally, when she heard the request to pretend to be a maid and provide some protection until the guards returned, she had tilted her head in confusion, but who would have thought there would be an attack right on her first day of work. "So, what should we do with these people?" "Just break their arms and legs a bit." A very wicked smile appeared on Claudia's lips. "—Shouldn't I find out exactly which bastards were after my head and make them pay the price?" It was truly an expression befitting the title of scoundrel. ...Or perhaps it was a face befitting a ruler.