Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 178

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“Your Highness Seian.”
It was Sunbird’s voice. Seian Crowell, startled, quickly wiped away his tears with his sleeve. Yet his swollen, reddened eyes and the tip of his nose could not be concealed, so Sunbird, noticing this, handed him a handkerchief.
“You must have been shocked. That Evan Laef was Mitchell Neftis. That she joined hands with Cecilia.”
Shocked was an understatement. Because of Evan Laef, Seian Crowell had experienced heartbreak without ever having been in love. Until now, he had simply wept in betrayal, but at Sunbird’s words just now, his complexion drained of color. That’s right—Mitchell had joined hands with Cecilia.
“Evan Laef went too far. Even knowing what kind of relationship Your Highness has with Lady Cecilia, to cooperate with the Crown Princess like that….”
That truly was too much. Seian Crowell, inwardly agreeing, suddenly came to his senses. Come to think of it, when exactly had Mitchell and Cecilia begun holding hands?
During the Evan Laef days, he had only pitied how his family was held hostage, making him Cecilia’s subordinate. But what if it had all been orchestrated from the start? What if Mitchell had cooperated with Cecilia from the beginning, intending to swallow Seian whole and share him with Cecilia? It was merely speculation, but once doubt took root, everything became suspect.
“I find myself suspecting that those two were colluding from the very beginning. Mitchell’s execution was certainly carried out, but if she were actually alive…. Given that the Crown Princess was involved, she would never have pretended ignorance.”
The Crown Princess’s hand had touched Mitchell’s execution. Given that woman’s nature, there was no way she would have allowed an execution of Mitchell without Mitchell present. Surely the two of them had formed some alliance from that point onward. The suspicion Sunbird had planted took root in Seian Crowell’s mind as certainty.
“But why? Why would they go so far?”
“Considering the temperaments of both of them, it might have been….”
Aten Polat assumed a grave expression and covered his mouth. His lowered voice etched itself into Seian Crowell’s ears.
“Entertainment, perhaps.”
“!”
It was possible. Those two could easily toy with people for amusement. During his Academy days as Evan Laef, how much fun they must have had. How much they must have mocked him as he foolishly fell for their deception.
At this thought, Seian Crowell’s face flushed red—but for a different reason than before. He was angry. Indignant. Yet he could do nothing about it, which only fueled his frustration.
“Damn it, damn it…!”
Without power or faction, lacking any force to oppose them, Seian Crowell could only kick at an innocent flower bed. It was then that Aten suddenly recalled something and brought him good news.
“Now that I think of it, there was a marriage alliance proposal sent to the late Emperor.”
Aten said he had discovered it while handling the late Emperor’s affairs, and produced documents as if he had been waiting for this moment. The letter contained a proposal from the Current Monarch of Holy Kingdom requesting a marriage alliance with Seian Crowell.
“It was sent by the Current Monarch of Holy Kingdom. The most capable priestess choosing you, Your Highness—that carries great significance.”
Seian Crowell was familiar with Postum of Holy Kingdom. It was a nation where temples and priestesses spread throughout the world, and the one among them with the highest communion ability with the divine becomes the reigning monarch. Among previous monarchs, there had been those with the gift of prophecy, and thanks to their remarkable foresight, despite being a small nation, they had never been conquered by neighboring powers and maintained their lineage to this day.
“Me? A marriage alliance for me?”
“Yes. She specifically chose you. She must have seen the potential you possess.”
If the Current Monarch of Holy Kingdom’s foresight and insight were accurate, then Seian Crowell was a talent the Empire could not afford to lose. But given how closely they had associated until now, and to ensure Seian Crowell gained the strength not to be swayed by Cecilia and Mitchell, it seemed wise to inform him. Sunbird, gripping Seian Crowell’s hand firmly, continued with earnest words.
“Regarding your freedom after marriage, I will do my utmost to negotiate with the kingdom. I truly cannot bear to see you suffer like this, Your Highness.”
Watching Sunbird’s eyes glisten with tears, Seian Crowell’s own eyes reddened. So he appeared so pitiably wretched even in the eyes of this common bird. He felt pathetic, wronged, and utterly furious.
“Though Postum is small, as the representative nation of priestesses throughout the world, its influence is immeasurable. It will surely become a strong backing for Your Highness.”
“Hmm….”
If the marriage alliance were concluded, he could escape Cecilia and even strike back at Evan Laef. The proposal was tempting at first glance, but the necessity of marriage loomed as a major obstacle for Seian Crowell.
“The Current Monarch of Holy Kingdom is, from what I know, a woman approaching her fifties….”
“That is precisely why it is a marriage ‘
alliance
‘. As a ‘
alliance
‘, there is a high likelihood you will not engage in actual married life. With proper negotiation, you might not even see her face, and Your Highness could continue residing in the Crowell Empire.”
Could something so favorable be realized so easily? As Seian Crowell harbored doubts, Sunbird struck his flat chest confidently and spoke with self-assurance.
“As Sera’s representative, I shall conduct the negotiations myself! If Her Highness must depart for the Holy Kingdom, then we need only declare that the alliance never existed in the first place, yes?”
Yet there remained the matter of imperial prestige. The Crowell Empire stood alone as the sole empire in the world, and since concluding its conquest campaigns, it had become a supreme power without a single hostile nation to its name.
The mere consideration of an alliance by a nation as formidable as Crowell granted the other party immeasurable advantage, and even should the announcement come that an alliance could not be forged, the Holy Kingdom could do nothing but lament their misfortune.
“Then, shall we at least attempt negotiations?”
“Yes! Leave it entirely to me!”
Sunbird’s bold declaration put Seian Crowell at ease. Having this commoner stand at his side brought reassurance.

◇ ◆ ◇

The marriage alliance proceeded in secrecy, and its revelation surfaced only after news arrived that the Holy Kingdom’s delegation had departed. With merely two days remaining before the kingdom’s envoys reached Crownpolis, Evan Laef indulged himself luxuriously, sipping a peach milkshake through White One’s communication while coordinating with Gerth.
“You’re certain he’s safe, Evan?”
“Yes. I’ve said so several times already.”
“But I heard that Count Ilam’s Townhouse burned?”
“That building can burn. But the Neftis Townhouse remains untouched.”
“Why is that?”
“Because humans, by nature, only throw tantrums at those they deem defenseless.”
Count Ilam Evan Laef was of commoner birth and bore the suspicion of alliance with the Demon Race—a frayed thread among nobility. Thus the citizens of the Crowell Empire could vent their frustrations without restraint, for their target was of commoner origin like themselves and currently amounted to nothing.
“Is House Neftis not defenseless?”
“House Neftis has never been defenseless in five hundred years.”
Regardless of lost former glory, Neftis remained one of only two ducal houses in the Empire. To the people of Crowell, they were beings to be revered since five centuries past—figures too fearsome to openly insult, flaws notwithstanding.
“Human society is… difficult to comprehend.”
“I understand it, so you need not.”
“Is that so?”
Gerth found this curious, yet his tone brightened somewhat. If Evan understood well, then he himself need not. This reasoning seemed sound. Everyone possessed strengths and weaknesses in different domains. It was fortunate that Evan grasped what Gerth did not. Thus he could trust.
“Very well. I trust you, Evan.”
“Thank you. Just ask Hubert and Leri to manage the atmosphere in Ilam properly. Since I and the Demi-humans of Ilam are taking Cecilia’s side, I’ve also declared that any violence from the human faction will be punished according to law.”
“Understood.”
Gerth, currently sharing White One’s body, nodded. He blinked his nictitating membranes several times before voicing a question that troubled him.
“Does this Cecilia possess strength formidable enough for Evan to rely upon?”
“She lacks physical strength, but her bloodline is exceptional.”
“Like a thoroughbred?”
“Uh, well… yes…”
If Cecilia heard this comparison, she would be furious. Yet Evan could only acquiesce to the truth.
“A thoroughbred.”
As the Imperial Court’s eldest daughter, her excellence could only be expressed in such animalistic terms.
“Then you are gambling? Gambling is unwise.”
Predicting who would claim the throne and positioning oneself accordingly was indeed akin to gambling. Evan acknowledged this, yet denied that he currently engaged in such an act.
“My purpose is not victory, so it is not gambling.”
“I see.”
Though he did not fully comprehend, Gerth accepted Evan’s words as truth. Finding the blinking White One endearing, Evan hoisted the massive lizard aloft and spun about the chamber. Gerth grew dizzy. Yet he endured.
“Miss Crazy Dog, I have some bad news and some really terrible news. Which would you like to hear first?”
When I heard that the Neftis Intelligence Chief had stopped by the house, I sensed there was bad news afoot. But I hadn’t anticipated there would be really terrible news as well, so I decided to hear the really terrible news first.
The most competent woman in Neftis—the one who earned the highest salary—scratched her lower back languidly as she spoke.
“An alliance envoy is coming from the Holy Kingdom.”
So Sera had finally decided to drag in outside forces. As I contemplated how every development felt like a first-class express train barreling toward national collapse, I clutched my head—but quickly recovered.
Come to think of it, even if the nation fell, it wouldn’t particularly concern me. I could simply raise the flag of the Ilam Autonomous Region and let the locals live in peace among themselves. If some larger kingdom emerged later, I could hover about, negotiate, and be absorbed into it. That would be the end of it.
“And the bad news?”
“The alliance is a marriage alliance with the Transparent Crown Prince.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————