Chapter 3
After dad’s showy speech we then made our rounds greeting our guests, while Sophia was dragged away from the venue by a furious Queen which is who was furious about our stunt.
Usually, Sophia has two escorts that followed her wherever she goes, so when I heard her request I was sure that they would stop her but when I stepped out of my room, the guards that should have been there weren’t, which made me think of Chelsea’s mood.
A willful master and troublemaking maid, putting those two together made me realize that I was completely set up.
Since I already promised Sophia to do anything she asked for, I obediently abide to her request. Knowing that there would be consequences to her actions was also another reason why I did it.
While thinking so, Dad lead me to the lords of each houses that supported the royal family. Including the house of Von Croy that Rules the continent of Ilfis, there are 3 more houses that are tasked with different roles with governing it. Each of them have been bestowed a quarter of land to control in Ilfis leaving the remaining quarter to the royal family..
“Alexander this man over here is Duke Quin of the house Bartram, he….”
I was first introduced to a fat middle aged man that was overdressed with an overgrown gray beard and wore an extravagant amount of jewelries. Due to his appearance I almost blurted out Santa Claus which I forcefully held in.
“Your majesty please let me introduce myself, it doesn’t mean that I’m old that I can’t do a simple introduction to his highness” before dad could finish talking the old man stopped him
“Hahaha, I see then go on...”
“Thank you, your majesty and It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance your highness Alexander...” with father’s permission the duke started his introduction.“As your father have said I am Duke Quin A. Bartram, my house governs the land of Zhery which the late king Dernett bestowed upon me and we...”
To cut the long story short, His house is mainly in charge of Commerce and Trade, and with the Empire’s Blockade on goods from the central continent to Ilfis, they mostly deal with Black Market tradings and smuggling of goods, other than money they also help in collecting information on the movement of the 3 nations within the central continent through the black market.
The 3 nations of the central continent are Atrye Empire, Holy kingdom of Thairus and the Forest of the Demihumans Freora
And while we were talking the crowd around us moved away giving us some space.
After his introduction and some pleasantries he then gave me a small rectangular box, which I gratefully accepted, Opening the box, two small green gems that shone brightly, were neatly placed in silken cloth.
Seeing my astonishment, he gleefully explained the contents but even without him explaining I already know what these two are.
Among the items that empire banned from trade, the mana gems are among the items that have been heavily emphasized as non tradable, a single rumor of a black market dealer holding even a single piece of gem would instantly qualify for a summon from an inquisition team from the empire, that will capture the dealer, confiscate his possession and then immediately sentence him to death without going through trial.
The reason why I was astonished was because of this fact, he must have deep connection if he was able to smuggle these out from the Empire.
Thanking him for this special gift we then excused ourselves and made our way to my next guest..
Following him was a tall slender man with blond hair and crimson red eyes, his attire consisted of midnight blue tux and trousers with white silk undershirt and black necktie.
His name is Duke Belmont II from the house of Drakul which leads the Vampires and Succubus and governs the land of Trares, the land of Eternal Cold and Winter.His house mainly deals with espionage and assassination due to their inherent abilities and powers.
When the 1st king lost the war the Demon race weren’t the only one that were Exiled.
During the course of war, four more races surfaced, each with different origins, the first two that emerged within the later half of the great war, approximately 886 D.G.W, were a byproduct of magical experiment by a group of rogue alchemist. The next two groups surfaced at the end of the war but unlike the first two groups that were the result of another’s action, these two group‘s changes are the result of their own greed.
The first two groups sided with the humans while the race that surfaced at the end of the war the vampire and and succubus were exiled here with us.
The same thing happened with the Duke of Zhery, after some pleasantries he then gave me his gift...
“Your highness Alexander... I’ve heard from your father that your thirst for knowledge is particularly high”
hearing his statement, I simply nodded to confirm his words.
“I see, then I hope your highness will be pleased with my gift then…” saying so, three figures appeared behind him. Two of them were dressed properly for the occasion while the one that was between them is wearing a robe with his face being hidden under a hood.
“I found ‘this’ when ‘someone’ invited me out for a talk” he gestured to take off the hood, showing a face of a little girl with light brown hair was her emerald green eyes, a Human.
“A slave?” I said with my mood turning bitter.
“Hm? is there a problem with the gift your highness?”
“...No” I lied, turning down his gift in front of this crowd would surely turn the relationship between our family awkward.
When dad took over the throne, among the changes he made was that Lope’s judgment about the conviction of the house of Drakul. Seeing that there was not enough evidence that leads to them doing the said crime and knowing the previous king’s disliking to their race was also another reason for their conviction, made dad revoke the previous king’s verdict.
But even when their conviction was revoked, the damage to their house and their people has already been done. The relationship between three races has already been damage due to Lope’s action.
From what I know, the house Drakul is currently divided among two factions, first is the anti-demon alliance which is lead by a vampire from a commoner's house but is being supported by some of the High Elders, second is the faction that Duke Belmont is leading which it’s main goal is to restore the relationship between the three race.
Not only will we be facing some minor problems between Houses if I turn down his gift, We’ll also be seeing some major conflict between our races.
Haaa-... This should’ve been a happy occasion for me.
Why am I caught between a political problem during my birthday!
And whoever said that living a life as a prince would be easy should be hanged for lying
The reason why I don’t have an attendant with me is because I didn’t want to have one.
Before I became a demon and prince, I was human who lived a normal life, I did most of the house chores by myself since my aunt works for our food and bills.
Mom tried to assign some when I was younger but I mostly turned them down. Except for the food, laundry and some others that needed an assistance of a servant, I mostly do things on my own.
Now what Duke Belmont was about to give me is something lower than a servant. Unlike a servant where they can reject a master’s order when they deem it, A slave on the other hand does not have that kind of privilege making them more of an object rather than a living being.
Merchants that catch slaves for a business brand their slaves by inscribing a magic array on the slave’s chest. In the past it used to be a collar-type artefact that binds the slave’s will but since there were some that were able to find a way to unlock the collar without activating its function, they changed their ways of binding their slaves. Instead of inscribing the spell on a collar they thought that it was more effective if they inscribe it on the slave’s chest making it more efficient and unremovable.
The mana that sustains the magic array is slave’s mana itself, which in this case a human even if they have near zero amount of mana in their bodies it is enough to power the magic array for as long as the slave is living.
In Ilfis, since the hate for humans is high they use human slave as a form of entertainment, Males are signed up to arenas where wild monsters that were recently captured are set free letting fighters fight them to the death. For comparison, a common wild monster captured here in Ilfis is ten times stronger than your average demon, making it the most dangerous in all of Tyre. Those that survive that hell hole are then sold again to a different owner as used goods.
For female slaves, the most common use for them are turning them into servants but to some, specially for those that are nobles and knights of high standings, are turned into meat slaves, breaking down their pride, bringing their morals down until they are nothing more than mindless objects and once they have lived their purpose they are then thrown to the wild never to be seen again.
To vampires and succubus they simply use them to sate their own needs and desires.
This Goddamn mosquito, what does a slave have to do with ‘Thirst for knowledge’?
Hearing my reply he then introduce the slave.
“I see, well then, This boy here came from a famous family of scholars that lived off at a town near the borderline between the Nation of Atrye Empire and Holy kingdom of Thairus”
“Boy?” I asked surprised looking at the slave.
A pair of long and narrow eyes, a slim greek like nose, thin lips, narrow chin with hair that was around shoulder length with this face anyone who didn’t know him would definitely think of him as a girl.
“Yes” He smiled seeing my reaction. “Even though his face look like a girl but the part that points out his gender proves otherwise… If you’re in doubt we can check now?”
“There’s no need for that.” I quickly replied.
This… this… is this duke some kind of perv or something
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“hahahahha!”
The Duke and my dad suddenly laughed loudly, Which made me look at them with a questioning gaze.
Guessing what my gaze meant, Duke Belmont stopped laughing and straightened his posture.
“Ahem… I’m sorry for my rudeness your highness but It’s entertaining to know that your highness is already old enough to be aware of the opposite sex.”
“Of course it would be problem if my son’s swings the other way.”
“Dad I’ll definitely tell mom about this.”
Duke Belmont is way too compatible with my dad.
Publicly he acts like a king, privately he’s an easy going person.
He only acts like this in public if the person he’s talking to is someone he trust and with the space the guest gave and noise that are surrounding us giving him a lot of leeway in acting whatever he likes.
“Now-now, I’m sure that having a little fun during a party isn’t bad for your highness and besides I’m sure her majesty would understand.”
“Yeah! Also you’ve been stiff ever since you’ve came in” dad pushed my back as he said so.
“You were saying Duke Belmont?” before these two could really hit if off,I diverted their conversation by letting the duke finish the slave’s introduction.
“Che- you spoilsport.” dad frowned.
“Don’t worry Argus, the night is still young we can continue this after you’ve done your greeting for now... ”
Saying so he continued with the slave’s introduction.
The slave’s name is Denovan Ashton, like the duke said he came from a family of scholars that is well known within the central continent, his family lived in a town between the borders of The Kingdom and the Holy Empire which was attacked by the Crusaders from the Holy Kingdom, the cause for the attack was said to be heretics were living within their town which caused the slaughter of every people in it. Parents and siblings are missing or presumed dead due to the attack.
“Belmont... it seems you’ve did your research properly”
“I’m just making sure that I can give his highness the best of what I can offer, so what do you think your highness, do you like my gift?”
Hmm... I’m reluctant to own a slave But... if I do it this way... I think it should be fine and with his background I should be be able to stretch it out somehow…
“It’s great but do you mind if I ask how much have you spent to buy him?”
“Why?”
“Nothing... just a reference when I come across a slave with the same value...”
“I see… well it nothing worth mentioning... to be exact I think it was around 3 gold plates” he reluctantly answered
What!
“Is that the standard price for a human slaves?”
“Of course not, common humans specially villagers and peasant are priced around 50 to 150 gold coins, for experienced adventurers, soldiers and generals they are priced around 200 to 500 gold coins and for nobilities with well known names within their respective nations is around 800 to 1 gold plates”
There seems to be a slight price between each class of slave but then…
“Then why is he worth 3 gold plates”
“Ah! you see your highness it because...”
Duke Belmont then explained to me why the price greatly differs from the norm. In the middle of our conversation, mom intruded in our talk reminding me that I have spent too much time on talking with the Duke and that there were many guest who would like to have an audience with me.
Excusing myself from the duke and thanking him again for the wondrous gift, while dad stayed with the Duke of Trares and continued their pleasant conversation, mom guided me to the Duke of Zlivaham.
He was a well built man that had an appearance that should be around 35-40 years old if he was human; with a prominent deep scar on his right side of his face, he had short curly red hair and clear black eyes .
His name is Cyrus Denholm, his house was recently established and replaced the former rulers that governed the land of Zliveham which was the head of the previous kings faction.
While he was introducing himself he was kneeling on the ground, with his left knee was on the ground while his right supported his right arm crossing his chest with his head bowed down facing the floor.
This action is how a soldier, military officers and generals do when in front of royalty. This doesn’t just show their respect to the royalty but it is also a sign of loyalty and acknowledgment on their rule.
I hastily acknowledge his actions and made him stand on his feet.
After his excessive display of loyalty our conversation went smoothly.
Unlike the previous dukes that are tasked with information gathering and covert operations, his house mainly deals with military movements and development in national defence which is currently one of father’s major projects.
Among the developments he and my father made was the implementation of Mana gems and artefacts for our military. Even though a single demon is more superior than a single artefact but the efficiency and ease in using an artefact made from the right material and is powered with a high class mana gem and a powerful magic system which is used in numbers is equal to a tantamount of chaos.
Examples of that said artefacts, which left a deep impact with dad and the Duke of Zliveham was the said artefact that is known as an artefact ship. Of course ships that traverse the seas are present in this world but the ship what dad meant was something meant for war, in short abattleship.
Equipped with the highest and purest mana gems that powers a levitation spell, then let’s add a hundred thousand tons of Dwarven metal that has a specialized property that negates most of the magical attacks directed to it, able to float a thousand feet in the air, and spells that are capable of razing a single city that is able to outpower an entire army of mystic rank demons. All of that plus transporting a few ten thousand soldiers and combatants made it more like a mobile fortress than a battle ship.
My closest comparison that I can think of is that of a Nimitz Class aircraft carrier which is the Naval trademark of the U.S army or the Yamato battleship which was the heaviest and biggest battleship of world war II. But unlike these two that I’ve thought of, an artefact ship has one advantage that these two don’t. Mobility.
In my opinion, no matter era, even if you have supremacy in land and sea’s, if your attacks can’t reach their target or if you can’t move your army over certain obstacles with ease then wouldn’t that power turn to nothing more than a bark rather than a bite.
In this aspect, An artefact ship has the mobility and capacity to transport armies over terrains, power to attack and destroy targets that are assigned to it and defense that can tank most of the strongest spells.
A hundred and sixty years ago this was main the reason why we lost on defending our own territories and why it took us a lot of effort in repelling them back. Due to this, it became the sole reason why dad was so insistent at creating our own Ships.
Immediately after his enthronement, dad ordered to search and scavenge of whatever is left of the Human’s artefact ships that could help us creating our own , and with mom’s abilities, we were able to salvage a third of the 36 Mana gems that powered them. Once the personnel that were assigned by dad to examine the Ship’s remains were able to unravel the magic system’s puzzle, we were able to immediately build our own ships within a matter of years.
My conversation with the duke ended in a good note, with him giving me an ornamented sword as a gift. Of course my rounds for greeting my guest didn’t end with just the 3 dukes, after them, I was introduced to officials, earls and marquises that are assigned to govern a plot of land or town within our territory and then there was another group of military officers that are eager to talk with me.
Some of my conversation lasted after a couple of pleasantries and the likes which ends with them giving me their gifts while others took longer due to parents introducing their daughters.
An hour later with all of those troublesome matters, my face is already cramping due to maintaining a smile and my brain was exhausted with thinking of lines to respond to some of my pestering guests that wouldn’t offend them, I was already on the brink of insanity as the endless torrent of guest waiting to have a moment of my time kept flowing, luckily in the middle of my rounds the musicians that were tasked with the music started to play a soft melody that signaled the start of the dance.
Relieved I tried to find a place for respite but….
as the center of the attention during this occasion something like that wasn’t allowed for me.
“Brother~”
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And HERE'S the second chapter for the week....
Also when I said 'I will release 3 chapters" I meant that including this and the previous one there will be 3 chapters which leave us with one more left which will be delayed since Shadow silence will have some important things to do other than PR'ing my novel... but it won't be delayed that long though... the earliest update should be around Thursday and the really late one should be around sat or sun...
On another topic diablo asked me two question which I will gave my answer here
1. Maybe...
2.If you want to know please read and support my novel
And for those who are thinking about denovan's nose decription thinking "What the fuck does a greek nose look like!"
here's my reference..... Noses!
With that out of the way~
Thank you for reading!
Impressions, typographical errors, and constructive criticism(though there's nothing to criticize yet T_T), anything! I will welcome them in your comments!
Credits to:
JFG - writer and author
Shadow Silence- PR
CIAO and goodnight (It's already 4:00 am where I live)~ best regards from JFG