The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 198 – Part 2
After arriving at Brahms, the port city in the Southern Continent, we spent a day in the city for personal maintenance.
As Brahms was the kingdom’s largest port and logistics city connecting the Western and Southern Continents, the streets were filled with all kinds of goods.
I decided to buy gifts for the people waiting in Baien.
It would have been better to buy gifts when returning, but since I didn’t know when or how I’d return home after this mission, I decided to buy gifts in advance and leave them at the Branford mansion.
Erina and I were exploring the market.
“Wow… There are so many people.”
“It seems those trying to evacuate to the Western Continent got stuck here. There seem to be many pickpockets, so stay close.”
Erina clung to my arm.
I walked through the market, wary of pickpockets.
I managed to buy gifts for all my acquaintances, but there was one thing that caught my eye.
I tried to send Erina away to look at it, but she seemed to have already noticed and smiled bitterly.
“You want to look at baby clothes, right? I’m okay with it, let’s go together.”
“Yeah… Sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? If it’s for Yumir and Eonia’s child, then that’s… That’s practically my family too! Besides, my child might inherit those clothes! So…!”
She seemed to realize she was getting carried away and started speaking faster.
Eventually, she closed her mouth awkwardly and silently tightened her grip on my arm.
Anyway, we decided to look at the clothes together.
However, during this, the surroundings started to get noisy.
“Step back!”
“Make way!”
A group appeared, parting the crowd. It was the procession of the princes.
While Princess Rosa and the other princesses did not participate in this subjugation campaign, the same was not true for the princes. They were participating in the subjugation as it was important to show their involvement publicly.
First Prince and Crown Prince Proud Divine. Second Prince Landis Divine, who is considered the kingdom’s strongest warrior after winning three consecutive championships in the martial arts section of the kingdom’s military arts competition. Then there’s Third Prince Paris Divine, said to have a brilliant talent for the arts. Lastly, Fourth Prince Joseph Divine.
They were in positions to command the assembled personnel.
In military terms, Proud Divine would be the commander-in-chief, while the rest would be like close aides.
Prince Proud seemed to be planning a light inspection, as he was cautioning the royal guards who were menacingly threatening the surroundings.
“That’s enough. Doesn’t this make it look like we’ve come to cause trouble? Luc, narrow the guard perimeter.”
One of those guards, Lucretia, reduced the number of royal guards to minimize disruption to passersby.
The princes were going around shops, reassuring citizens. They were saying not to worry too much as they would defeat the undead as quickly as possible.
As the princes moved in person, people who were planning to evacuate to the western continent seemed to feel reassured and were changing their minds, saying they would return home instead.
I was looking at children’s clothes regardless of all that. There was no reason for the princes to pay attention to me either.
‘It would be better to prepare both boys’ and girls’ clothes, right?’
Although we still don’t know whether a daughter or son will be born, since three will be born, it seemed better to buy a balanced set.
‘Hmm, they say beast-people grow quickly in infancy… I should buy all sizes.’
Because of that, the purchase ended up being quite large. Even the shop clerk joked asking if I was planning to run a daycare.
Just as I paid the amount and received the packaged clothes, the princes who were making their rounds passed by our side.
I thought they would just pass by since they didn’t know me except for Prince Joseph, but their attention was drawn to Erina.
“Hmm? Isn’t that Erina? It’s been a while.”
First Prince Proud raised his eyebrows, showing interest.
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I greeted you. I hope you’ve been well, Prince Proud.”
Erina gave a formal greeting. As expected of a duke’s daughter, her etiquette was superior to that of other nobles.
Prince Proud smiled contentedly.
“When you suddenly left the palace, I wondered if something had happened… According to Rosa, you found a husband?”
“Ah, we haven’t formally engaged yet…”
Erina glanced sideways at me. Proud naturally turned his gaze to me.
I put down the packaged clothes on the ground and greeted him.
“Pleased to meet you for the first time, Prince Proud. I’m Wade.”
“Oh ho.”
Prince Proud’s eyes narrowed.
“I see, so you’re the… Hm.”
It was a laugh that seemed to imply various meanings.
Next to him, Second Prince Landis Divine cut in.
“Wade, you say? I hear you thoroughly beat down a royal guard in the first academy test? Lucretia, is that really true?”
“Your Highness, that story…”
“Is there any reason to keep it confidential? The royal guards were below standard. Just for something like that. Besides, everyone who should know already knows about it.”
“Your Highness!”
Prince Landis seemed to have quite a straightforward and open personality.
He raised the corner of his mouth looking at me.
“Well, seeing the person in question directly changes my thoughts a bit. It wasn’t that the royal guards were low level. You’re quite something, aren’t you? Why don’t we compete later?”
I felt a piercing competitive spirit from Prince Landis as well.
‘This guy, he’s above Lucretia’s level.’
Above all, he gave the impression of being skilled in fighting against people.
“…Magnificent.”
It was Third Prince Paris’s murmur.
He was delighted looking at Erina and me.
“To think there could be such a well-matched couple! It’s like a painting! Oh! Quickly, bring me a canvas…! Bring me a canvas!”
He roared upon seeing the baby clothes I had put on the ground.
“Woah! They’re even lovers preparing for a child!”
As if inspiration struck him, Prince Paris received something like a sketchbook from a royal guard and started moving his hand frantically.
Joseph looked at his brothers with a sour expression and tried to dissuade them.
“Brothers, shall we move on now?”
“Huh, why Joseph? Is it hard for you to look at?”
The brothers seemed to know that Joseph had taken a liking to Erina, as there was a hint of mockery in their eyes as they looked at him.
Joseph’s cheek twitched as if he was gritting his teeth.
“Well, it’s not good for crowds to gather, so it would be better to move on. Let’s go then.”
At Prince Proud’s command, the group of princes disappeared.
Erina let out a sigh of relief, “Phew!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt scared. Not in a bad way, but… Since His Majesty the King is in poor health… The atmosphere is quite tense.”
“Well, the succession battle is indeed chilling.”
Especially when the princes are talented individuals showing their capabilities like now.
In that sense, Fourth Prince Joseph, who didn’t have anything particularly outstanding, seemed like a mere figurehead.
“We’ve bought the clothes. Let’s go back now.”
The princes’ psychological warfare.
With my habit of looking at situations comprehensively, I had a feeling that the princes’ psychological warfare would create a new incident intertwined with this event, or some other event.
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