Greek Feast (4)

“You mean the dinner…?”

As soon as I hear the Greek boy’s story, I frown. The Duke’s intention is obvious.

It’s a proposal to provide political funds.

In other words, a bribe.

It’s a common occurrence in powerless territories.

In fact, a good lord must also know how to use diplomacy correctly. Being too rigid can be a disadvantage in politics.

In any country, central politics is complex and entangled, always ready to devour.

If you withdraw, you become prey; if you indulge too much, you become a casualty of power.

The Count of Greek’s family has no political power to withstand such turmoil.

The secluded and rooted Greek City. I don’t want the quiet city, in which I finally settled, to become noisy.

All of this is something the Greek boy must overcome on his own, but it’s undoubtedly overwhelming for him alone. Greek is just a budding sprout, not a completed talent.

In that case, it’s inevitable to help the sprout avoid getting trampled. The peace of Greek City is also my peace.

“Master. Is there no way? I really don’t know what to do. My Father is not in a state to give proper advice, and how should we overcome this situation? You’re the only one I can trust!”

The Greek boy shouted with a face close to death. Although he was trembling with a face that didn’t know what to do, there was something praiseworthy. Using his wits to buy time was the best choice he could make.

“Buying time was indeed a good move. By the way, you mentioned that His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly intervened.”

“Yes?”

“The Duke seemed to just want to pressure you, but it seems you were able to buy time thanks to the Crown Prince’s reaction. What kind of person is His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“He suddenly proposed an absurd bet. I hate to say this, but… he seemed very frivolous.”

Frivolous.

The Greek boy seemed to see it that way, but listening to the story, I had some doubts.

The Duke would have wanted an immediate answer right there.

It was the Crown Prince who stopped the Duke’s actions. By proposing the bet, he prevented the Duke from interfering.

Was this just an act of someone who likes to play, or was it intentional?

If it’s the latter, the Crown Prince is a very interesting man. If it’s the former, it’s a result of coincidence.

“Master!”

“Baron, can you calm down a little? If you are this flustered by a crisis of this level, how can you become a good lord in the future?”

“But isn’t the situation too bad? At this rate…”

The Greek boy, clutching his head, fell into a panic.

No matter how much advice I give, if the person who has to take the lead is like this, nothing will be achieved.

First, he needs to come to his senses.

“That’s right. This won’t do. So, will you follow me? Clutching your head won’t bring about any good ideas. Let’s think slowly while catching the ingredients for the banquet.”

“But we don’t have that kind of leisure!”

“Baron Greek!”

I raised my voice, but gently called out the Greek boy’s name and title. Then I stared at him.

Then Greek flinched at my action and quickly nodded with a frightened face.

“Understood. Master…”

The Greek boy began to follow me with his shoulders drooping like an emperor who had lost his country.

As we came out of the reception room and went down to the first floor, there was a handsome man with blonde hair.

A man who clearly looked like the Crown Prince spotted Greek and approached.

“Where are you going?”

“Your Highness! We are on our way to personally gather the ingredients for the banquet with the chef.”

“The ingredients for the banquet?”

The Crown Prince, with a face full of boredom, folded his arms and asked indifferently.

“If you’re with the chef, is this person the chef?”

“He is a chef and also my life mentor.”

There was no need to call me a mentor, but the title is still embarrassing.

But thanks to that, the Crown Prince’s indifferent face turned into a curious expression, and he started to look me up and down.

It was the look of someone evaluating a person. But soon, he seemed to lose interest and turned his gaze back to the Greek boy.

“Hmm, I was bored anyway, so it’s perfect. I’ll follow too.”

It’s not ‘May I follow?’ but ‘I’ll follow’. An order asserting the Crown Prince’s authority. Naturally, Greek has neither the authority nor the power to refuse the Crown Prince.

He can only shoot me a troubled look. I can only nod in response.

“Understood. However… I don’t think you’ll find it enjoyable.”

Greek seemed troubled, but it was rather good for me.

If the Crown Prince had proposed the bet after carefully calculating the conversation between the Duke and Greek, he might be a cunning serpent hiding inside.

This situation was perfect for figuring out his intentions.

Thus, the knights of the 1st Division and the Crown Prince joined the group.

The 1st Knights protect the Crown Prince, not the Duke. The Duke is protected by the knights of the Duke’s house.

Naturally, Derient was also present in the group.

Derient seemed briefly surprised to see me but quickly remembered he was on official duty and didn’t show any other reaction.

Of course, Derient doesn’t know my true identity. He only knows me as a 7th-class mage and a strategist of the monster subjugation army. That’s all he knows, so he’s free.

At the end of the Monster War, he was on the northern front line. After obtaining the Dragon Heart, I was active in the Imperial Capital, which became the dragon’s battlefield.

Dragon, Imperial Palace, and dragon slayer.

The true identity is known only by the high-ranking nobles of the Empire, the Emperor, and other important figures.

Greek’s soldiers. And the Crown Prince. The Knights. The place where the enlarged group headed was near the middle of Greek Mountain.

This is an area where wild uba often appear.

Wild uba have a different taste from domesticated uba. The mountainside is also perfect for catching the wind.

“What are we doing here?”

In response to Greek’s question, I pointed to a wild uba that had its territory invaded and was angry.

“We came to catch that guy. It’s an ingredient. Can you mobilize the soldiers to attack?”

The Greek boy nodded at the word ‘ingredient’.

Following the future lord’s order, the soldiers rushed at the wild uba.

The wild uba was soon surrounded. But the wild uba, breathing heavily, started to struggle even more. The wild uba was cut by a sword. Yet it still charged. Even while bleeding, it showed no sign of slowing down.

An enraged wild uba is known to resist fiercely until it stops breathing or its limbs are paralyzed.

It was resisting with that very temperament right before our eyes. It’s not as strong as a monster, but it has a persistence that surpasses that.

Even when a spear was thrust into it, it headbutted the soldier. Watching that scene, I asked Greek.

“What do you think?”

“…Yes?”

The Greek boy tilted his head as if asking what I meant.

“What do you think when you see that guy? It’s much weaker compared to the surrounding soldiers. But it resists until the end. Even as it dies, it doesn’t lose its spirit.”

“That is…”

The Greek boy turned his gaze toward the wild uba.

Even as it dies, it doesn’t retreat backward. It only advances. The wild uba, charging at the enemy in front, finally collapses.

“Even such a lowly creature struggles fiercely to live, but I’m just holding my head… Is that what you’re saying?”

If he understood what I wanted to say, it means he has some sense.

Greek continued to watch the writhing wild uba. I added a word to prevent any misunderstanding.

“Of course, anyone can struggle. But you must not become an ingredient like the wild uba. Struggle, but become someone who overcomes. Don’t become food for the Duke.”

If the boy is devoured by the Duke, the people of Greek will just become ingredients giving up their blood.

Greek finally walked slowly toward the wild uba. Little by little, closer. Even after collapsing, the wild uba’s body kept writhing.

“Interesting, isn’t it?”

Then the Crown Prince, who was watching from behind, patted my shoulder and approached Greek to speak.

“Whether the lowly creature struggles or dies, it doesn’t matter, but is this delicious?”

“I think it’s delicious. No, it is delicious!”

“Haha, really? Well, good. If you’ve come to your senses, I’ll give you a reward! I’ll change the terms of the bet a bit.”

“What?”

Greek looked puzzled again. Sometimes, one must know how to hide their facial expressions. The boy still has a long way to go.

“If I win, strip all your clothes and walk around Greek City. That’s the same. I’ll change the condition for when you win. If you win, I’ll tell you the condition. It’s a very interesting matter. So make sure to win. Hahaha!”

The Crown Prince began to laugh heartily.

Greek could only stare at the Crown Prince’s back descending the mountain with a face like he had chewed dung. The Crown Prince’s continuous laughter while descending made him look like a madman, at least to Greek.

But is that really the case?

I was convinced by the Crown Prince’s behavior just now.

As expected, that guy is a cunning serpent.

“Master, did you understand what His Highness was saying? I have no idea…”

“Well, how about going to the central region if I help you with this matter? To become a bigger vessel. A vessel big enough to understand the Crown Prince’s intentions. Go to the center and hone your political skills. Of course, I don’t mean you should serve under the Duke. There are many other ways.”

“Does that mean there’s a way to overcome this crisis?”

The Greek boy blinked at me, reacting to the mention of help.

Eyes like a baby bird searching for food.

A method has emerged. Looking at the Crown Prince, an idea just struck me.

A way to overcome the crisis.

It is to use the Crown Prince.

If the Crown Prince is truly a cunning serpent.

As far as I know, the current Emperor is indulged in luxury and pleasure. Therefore, the central imperial power is weakened by the power struggles of several dukes.

If that Crown Prince is moving with the aim of checking the dukes’ power and strengthening the imperial power in the future, an interesting fact can be inferred.

The Crown Prince must think he is the protagonist of this game.

If he is helping Greek under the guise of a bet to prevent the Duke’s power from growing even a little.

There is always someone better in the world.

In the current situation, the bet between the Crown Prince and Greek depends on whether Greek can move the Crown Prince’s heart or not.

In other words, the Duke is rather a bystander.

Using the power struggle between the Duke and the Crown Prince, Greek City can escape the crisis.

But just being dragged along by the Crown Prince isn’t fun.

If my prediction is correct, the current one holding the initiative is the Crown Prince.

That initiative.

I wonder what expression he will make if I take it away.