Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Whether it be her body language or disposition, it was seemingly perfect with not even a single flaw to be found. This on the contrary was very frightening as there was no way of knowing what she was actually thinking.

"I see in that case, we shall go forward with the plan we made" Cynthia could only believe in the demon and that he meant every word he said. In any case, she who has formed a soul contract with the demon, it was already too late for her to turn around.

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Dukedom of Montford, Castledor city…

Inside the Castle Montford, Alstin Elrand Ellesmere, the first prince of the Kingdom of Ellesmere could be seen sitting around a table discussing matters of importance with his retainers.

The once handsome prince who could make all the girls in the kingdom smitten to him with just his looks, at this moment looked extremely haggard and weary.

There were dark circles around his eyes, indicating that he was sleep deprived, his face looked sunken causing his cheekbones to pop out and his once long hair had thinned out to the point where one could see his hairline receding.

The contrast was so much that, if one hadn't seen the first prince for a while, they would have difficulty believing that it was him.

In just a couple of months, he had changed drastically. However, his change wasn't the result of him being ill or anything, it was because of all the pressure and stress that he looked the way he did right now.

"Alright everyone, dismiss. Keep an eye on the movement of the enemies and notify me as soon as the spies send their reports".

At his command, the people got up and left the room.

"Dammit, each and every one of them is useless. They can't even do a single fucking thing I tell them to" Alstin cursed violently scratching his head.

"Ahh noo!! My hair they are falling again. This is all because of him, if only he hadn't brought foreign aid with him, our kingdom wouldn't have fallen in their hands"

The one he was cussing and swearing at, was none other than his brother, the second prince of the kingdom. If not for his brother fighting him over the throne and bringing those foreign invaders, he would have already become the king and their country wouldn't have fallen so easily.

"Dammit, why can't anything go the way I want"

BANG... He kicked a chair that smashed onto the nearby wall.

"Calm your anger down Your Highness" The room that seemed empty, wasn't actually empty. There was one man who was sitting on the couch, casually drinking his tea who was yet to leave the room.

The man had a handsome face with a well groomed hairstyle that reached till his shoulders and lurid red hair. He was wearing a gaudy red robe that was made of some high class material and tailored to complement his noble aura and handsome looks.

On his side, he carried a staff that had a large core stone, as big as a human skull, embedded on its top. Obviously, the staff was of a very high rank and pulsed with a dense amount of mana.

The man had a scholarly look and was calmly reading a book. No matter how you look at him, the man was a mage through and through. However, he wasn't just any mage but a renowned genius of the kingdom who surpassed all records and became the first person to step on level 500 at such an early age.

The man was none other than Lucas Blackwood, the chosen successor of Duke Montford and a powerful fire mage in his own right.

"How can I calm down in a situation like this Lucas? Everything is falling apart in front of my eyes. Have you not heard the report? The eastern and southern regions of the kingdom have bowed their head and surrendered to the Blackthorn and are now completely under the control"

"Those ingrateful traitors have they forsaken their pride and dignity? I'll chop every one of their heads once I become the king"

Alstin slammed his fist on the table in rage. Just the thought of those bastards who didn't hesitate to change sides the moment the capital fell and things looked dire for them, made him sick.

Suddenly as if remembering something, his face brightened up for a second as he asked "It has been more than a month, did those people send any message back?"

The mysterious aid who he was clutching onto was a powerful underground organisation that operated in the shadows of the Mainland. They were a powerful and mysterious group who have many powerful fighters on their side.

Before gaining Lucas and the Duke's support, he had been getting aid from them. However, for some reason a few years ago, they completely stopped all communication or business with him.

He had been trying to reestablish a connection with them ever since then. If he could gain their aid again he could turn the situation around in one go.

That was how powerful that underground organisation was.

However, to his disappointment, Lucas shook his head saying "They are yet to send a reply. It doesn't look like the money Your Highness sent to them was able to persuade their minds".

"kugh… then what should I do Lucas? I sent them all the treasures there were in the treasury of our kingdom. If even that isn't enough to bring the Cerberus to our side, then I don't know what will."…

"Maybe the Cerberus doesn't see any benefit in saving the kingdom that is why they holding onto giving a reply. Or it could be that they are helping the enemies instead" Lucas speculated flipping the page of his book.

"Watch what you say Lucas, even if it's you, I won't forgive blasphemy towards the kingdom. Besides, I don't understand why you are not at all concerned. You a noble of this kingdom and the chosen heir to Duke Montford. If the kingdom goes down, it would affect your status too"

As Alstin had mentioned, Lucas looked all relaxed and calm as he flipped through the pages of his book. Even though the kingdom was on its last leg and almost about to be occupied by Blackthorn, one cannot see even a trace of anxiousness or panic on his face far from it, he looked like everything that was happening, had nothing to do with him.

"Haha, Your Highness you misunderstand. Of course, the fall or survival of the kingdom affects me too. However, what good would it do if I started panicking too? If the both of us get paralysed by anxiety, then we won't be able to make any sound decisions. It is for this reason that I am diverting my mind by reading a book"

Lucas answered while still looking at the book.

"I see… you are right. Both of us cannot panic, one of us has to stay composed to respond to the worsening situation.."

As Alstin was muttering that, he suddenly noticed the book Lucas was reading starting to glow and disappear into thin air.

"Huh?!! Where did that book of yours go? Did it just disappear into light particles?".

"Haha, don't worry too much about it, it's just a trick book" Brushing aside the question, Lucas now free from his activity, walked out to the balcony and picked up a different topic.

"By the way Your Highness, while your subordinates were giving their reports, I couldn't help but overhear an interesting matter"..

"What do you mean?"…

"You know, how there are reports coming in regarding Princess Cytnhia and how she may be still alive"…

"What?!" The expression on Alstin's face changed for a second but he quickly covered that before it could be noticed.

"Hmph, those are all nonsense. Don't tell me Lucas you believe those reports? I told you she died in an accident when the army of Blackthorn invaded our capital. How can she still be alive much less be in that remote region of a place?".

Lucas was silent, his clear eyes observed Alstin and although there was a smile on his face, it by no means a smile that gave others a sense of ease.

"It's not that I don't believe you your highness, it just that I wonder if you still remember the agreement we had"…

"I know, my sister the princess of the kingdom was supposed be bethroed to you in return for your and the Duke's aid. However, how is it my fault that she died in that incident?"

"I tried to do everything in my power to bring you two together. Trust me, nothing else would have made me happier to see my sister with a genius with a great future like you"

While outwardly Alstin said all that with a clear conscience on his face, he was inwardly making an extremely ugly expression. It was a lie that his sister died in the incident where the capital was invaded.

The truth was that his sister was against this political marriage and fiercely resisted his decision.

To make things worse, that foolish father of his even tried to make Cynthia his heir. He already had his hands full fighting the faction of second brother as such, he couldn't be lenient to her even if she was his sister.

Therefore to keep his promise to Lucas and make Cynthia bow out from the power struggle, he tried to capture her by sending people after her.

Who would have known that stupid sister of his would rather dive inside the dungeon than surrender. His plan to build a solid relationship with Lucas and Duke Montford was ruined because of her.