I didn't go straight back to Raswaria. Instead, I went around the Empire in disguise, buying more trade goods and foodstuffs from the local traders. I focused on the local specialties and obtained excellent prices. In some cases, I even bartered for what they were in great need of.

I couldn't do it very often as it disrupted the supply chains and I was sure these merchants weren't reporting our black-market trades to the local lord, evading taxes. If they only knew the Crown Prince was behind that…

Although I felt an urge to visit the local lords' treasury, I refrained from doing so. As news of the duel spread like wildfire through the Empire with magical and normal bird messages, the several alliances and factions became wary. They'd lost the support of the Princes, and suddenly Seyham became the center of all attention. That was my last stop before Raswaria.

I appeared in the room with the Count and his were-tiger son. "Count Seyham, Lord Seyham, greetings."

"Your Imperial Highness!" Both men and their advisors knelt where they stood as they recognized me.

I updated my fake Status, revealing my true level. Okay, not so fake. I had no need to hide Percival's power now.

> > [Imperial Prince] Level 100 human male [Anima Lancer]

"You may stand, good friends," I stated magnanimously. "It pleases me to find you in good health. How are things with your neighbors? Are any of them giving you any trouble or grief?"

"No! Not at all, Your Imperial Highness!" The Count hurried to dismiss. "They even offered us funds, workers, and resources to finish the cathedral! We were planning it right before you arrived."

"We have plans to inaugurate it during the summer solstice," Lord Seyham said. He seemed to like his hybrid were-tiger form. I had to admit, he seemed imposing and powerful.

"Good. Count Seyham, your daughters are very happy in Raswaria, but I'm afraid they are a little homesick. Do you mind if I bring them back home to spend some time with their family? And please, you and your family may call me by my given name out of a formal setting like when in court. Percival is fine."

It seems Lord Seyham kept my secret from his family. He didn't reveal I was the one to convert him into a were-tiger and he only shared that it was a blessing from the Matriarch.

"Your Highness honors us with your friendship. No, we don't mind having them back for a short visit at all. But their place is at your side, Your Highness," Count Seyham replied. His words meant, 'I should keep them as part of my harem'.

I put a hand on the father's shoulder. "Do not mistake me. They did not displease me in any way and I am not throwing them out. They are young and spent a year learning the gospel of the Matriarch. The [Priestesses] educating them only lay praise at their feet. They deserve to spend a few months with their family. They are eager to stay here, share what they learned, and help guide your people. They might even be blessed with ecclesiastic Classes by the Matriarch if they wish. I will repeat it to you, Count Seyham. So long your House stays fair to your people and works for the prosperity of your fief letting your people be free and happy, you will have my friendship and unlimited support. I have no need for hostages and my mother is very fond of your daughters. Now tell me, how was your year?"

"We cannot complain, Your Highness," the Count said but I interrupted him.

"Percival. You shall call me by my given name if we are not in a formal setting, Seyham. That's an order."

"Of course, Your… Prince Percival," he said respectfully.

I grinned. "That's better. Now, the good news. Let's shift to your great hall. Summon your retainers, Count Seyham."

While the Count sent a summons to the important people in the fief, I penned letters to the neighbors, urging them to enter an alliance with Seyham. I also stated that the conquest season was coming soon. I missed the hunting grounds this year on purpose and some of these neighbors were stealing glances at Seyham's prosperity with greedy hearts. The messages were already delivered by summoned eagles by the time I went to the meeting.

Finally, everyone gathered in the great hall. I sat at the center of the table, with the Count and his family at my right. The seat to my left was empty upon my request. It was to show I wasn't allying with House Seyham by marriage as that would be the seat of my wife or the lady I was courting. That empty seat was the most significant symbol of the whole meeting.

Once the blurb ended, I used a few seconds of {Cosmos Within} to catch everyone's attention. "Greetings. I am Percival, Crown Prince of the Empire. We are here today to celebrate the end of the County of Seyham."

I let the surprise sink but before the people started speculating, I caught their attention again. "And to celebrate the birth of the Duchy of Seyham. My father, the [Emperor], granted me a request. Here's the Imperial Charter, signed and sealed by the [Emperor]."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I stood from my seat at the table and blinked to the front, urging Seyham to join me. Once he went around the table, I started the ceremony. Everyone knelt where they stood but the Count remained standing up. "Kneel!" I ordered him and he did. "Seyham, you were deemed worthy of this title by the [Emperor]. Do you swear loyalty to the Empire and pledge to remain my faithful retainer along with your family and their descendants?"

The man's emotions were on the verge of overflowing. A year ago, he was impoverished, almost destroyed by his greedy neighbors, now he ascended to the top of Imperial nobility. I spent a charge of {The Leader} to calm him down with a mental nudge.

"I do, Your Imperial Highness," I let him use my title since this was a formal ceremony. "With the Matriarch as my witness, I pledge my House and my life to the [Empire] and to you. Let all know that Seyham shall be Crown Prince Percival's ally to the end of days!"

After the ceremony, I excused myself. I rushed to Raswaria and brought Rhiannon, Madge, Mona, and the Seyham sisters to participate in the festivities.

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Holding the crook of my elbow, Rhiannon was glowing so much it hurt to look at her. Not literally, of course. "My son, the Imperial Crown Prince," she proudly crowed to herself.

"Yes, mom. I would lay this world at your feet if you wished for it."

"I don't. Don't tell anyone, but I'm quite happy with what I have right now. Raswaria is alive again, you earned the [Emperor]'s favor, and our family only grows. Now I just want to enjoy what we earned."

I tried to hide a frown. Any time now, the dragons would descend from their mountain chain. I had to act soon. My mind wove dozens of plans and countermeasures for the dragons, running simulations. In most of them, I was unable to stem the tide. This world was ruled by numbers and the dragons had the upper hand.

"Your Highness!" Lord Seyham the were-tiger approached fast.

I snapped out of my musings. "What is the matter?" I asked. "And calm down."

Just to be sure, I pinged {Detection} and found riders at the gate. And a couple more were approaching fast.

"The neighboring fiefs sent representatives. They demand to see you," the therianthrope explained.

"Beggars knocking on a Duke's door when he is entertaining the Crown Prince make no demands," I glared at him. "Would you please go and convey these exact words to them?"

"As you wish, Your Imperial Highness!" The were-tiger growled and turned to leave.

"Lord Seyham, wait. Imperial Mother, would you excuse me for a moment?"

Rhiannon tapped my hand. "Be merciful and magnanimous, my son. Even if what they are begging for is death."

I bowed and kissed her hand as I unwrapped our arms, "I will heed your wise words to heart, Your Majesty."

Incorporeal, I walked through the gate. "Who dares summon me!" I boomed.

The look of sheer horror in the young nobles' faces was priceless. The usual case of brick-headed noble pups who would think themselves above anyone else until proven wrong. They were all teenagers younger than me although to the Empire and the world, they were full-fledged adults. It seemed the neighbors sent their third or fourth sons to check on the truth of the news, although it would be ridiculously easy for anyone with twenty points of [Spellcaster] Proficiency to confirm the magical seal on the letters.

One of them had the mind to {Appraise me}. I met his eyes. The guy jumped out of his horse, stumbled on the dirt, and hit the ground with his forehead. He decided to stay on the ground and do a very poor dogeza grovel.

"At least one of you has the presence of spirit to be respectful," I said to the befuddled young Lords who couldn't stop staring between me and the guy on the ground.

"Forgive me, Your Imperial Highness!" The groveling one whimpered.

All of them were sweaty from the fast ride. I could see the muscles of their mounts twitching.

"I was having a good time with my mother and our guests. Then someone appears at the gates demanding to see me? GUARDS!"

The gates swung open and a squad of knights poured out.

"Your Imperial Highness?" the captain snapped to attention next to me.

"Here is a Quest for you. Escort these esteemed visitors to the underground 'guest accommodations' and keep them there until I make time to visit them. Do not harm them but do take care of their travel luggage." Basically, strip them down, throw them in the dungeon, and sit on the key until second order. "As for you newcomers, "{Follow and obey the knights unless they physically molest you. Otherwise, stay where they put you and do not attempt to escape}," I put a geas on them.

"You honor us, Your Highness," the Captain cheered with his men as they read the prompt.

I dove into my own shadow and returned to my mother's side.

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The festivities went long into the night. Before it ended, Mona called me for a private conversation. She was a bit buzzed but with her Endurance, she would need to bust into Baritono's private booze stash to get really drunk.

"What troubles you, my very giddy sister?"

In private, Mona treated me as Raina even if I was in Percival's form. It was her way to cope with the charade of pretending to be my lover. One drawback of having a keen sense of smell was that I could tell she was aroused. One drawback of having empathic senses was that I could tell she was infatuated with someone. Adding that to whom she was dancing with most of the night, the answer to my question was easy to guess. And I knew she deserved to be happy and free to explore that facet of life.

Mona clung to my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder, staring up at me. "I think I'm going to invite myself to Lord Seyham's bedroom tonight." I moved my eyebrow slightly as I stared at her. "His fur is so soft! Please, tell me if I'm doing something wrong, sister."

In a brief bout of panic, I checked our surroundings for any eavesdroppers. I found none. Then I raised the usual privacy ward. "Why would it be wrong?"

"I'm a lady!" She protested with a giggle. "I shouldn't be sneaking into men's bedrooms! And to the general public, I was supposed to be your woman!"

It was an unfair burden I placed on her. Fortunately, I had a solution for that. "Do you like him?"

She snorted, "It's a bit too early to like. I met him today! But his sisters speak so highly of him. I think I like him."

Ignoring her incongruent ramblings, I brought Pandora to my hand. The other went to Mona's forehead. "I grant you the {Birth Control} Perk." That cost me 1,500 permanent HP and Energy. "Now, go and see if he's receptive. If he is, contact me with a prayer and I'll make sure he keeps our secret. He's part of the church too."

She laughed and kissed my cheek. "That's why I love being the Goddess' sister!"