Chapter 117
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 117
I couldn't refute it.
Crown Prince Kiaros gnawed at his lower lip anxiously, then couldn't help himself and asked his Aide again.
"The other person prefers A more. But A's true identity is B. So should I confess as B, or as A?"
"Ah, so it was a love problem after all. One moment, please."
The Aide lacked some social awareness, but he was nonetheless an exceptional talent. He hadn't risen to that position by chance through such fierce competition.
Having long worried over the Crown Prince's unrequited love, he had been preparing for this very situation beforehand.
After hearing rumors of a love theory expert in the Scroll Department, he had already gathered all available advice and compiled it into a report.
He opened the thick report and found the chapter classified under "Confessions."
"Hmm, there's no advice for such a case. However, it does state that one should not attempt a confession."
Crown Prince Kiaros had already witnessed the results of attempting a confession twice with his own eyes.
Victor had challenged Namia Loapi twice, and both times he was rejected miserably.
"Such an attempt is called a 'confession attack,' and typically the recipient suffers severe emotional damage and becomes extremely cautious never to be noticed by the confessor again, according to this."
"...."
"Oh, here's an applied method. 'A final confession recommended when nothing else works and your heart is in pain.'"
The Aide continued in a brighter tone.
"'I actually liked you a lot. But now I'm trying to forget. I just wanted to express my feelings one last time, so don't worry about it and just live well.' Then you coolly leave, apparently."
"What? Leave?"
"Yes. That's why it's the final method, isn't it? If the other person had even a little interest in you, they say you'd drive them nearly mad?"
"That won't work."
Crown Prince Kiaros spoke decisively.
"Absolutely not."
Thinking the Aide's report wasn't very helpful, he waved his hand dismissively.
Forget? Leave? What kind of nonsense was that? I couldn't even say such things in jest.
I should be coaxing, soothing, pleading, and doing whatever it takes to keep her by my side.
"The expert also said that before a confession, there must be 'signs of affection'—meaning flirtation or advances, I suppose?"
Crown Prince Kiaros rested his chin slowly in his hand.
In truth, approaching Namia Loapi in my Crown Prince form felt like deception somehow, so I hadn't dared to flirt or make advances openly.
But the same was true for Kibon. Even in Kibon's form, I couldn't fully express myself.
"By the way, um... let's go back to the A and B problem for a moment."
As Crown Prince Kiaros fell into thought, the Aide spoke carefully.
"It seems you're corresponding with Namia Loapi while hiding your identity, and if so, the gap between A and B seems far too large."
"Did you realize the other person is Namia Loapi?"
"Yes. I apologize, but I do have that much perception."
The Aide answered faithfully.
"Perhaps it would be best to give hints gradually?"
"Hints...."
He looked down once more at the note he'd been fidgeting with.
All the traps are complete, and we're about to capture the spy soon. Would you be able to join us?
In truth, I already knew the answer.
The special abilities of Imperial Servants were kept secret even from their families.
So I couldn't reveal that Kibon was Crown Prince Kiaros. Instead, I had to say that Kibon had left far away, then approach her in Crown Prince Kiaros's form. No matter how close Kibon and Namia Loapi were.
Then Namia Loapi would never feel betrayed in her entire life. But...
[Ah, that bench is pretty. So natural and eco-friendly. Before we leave the Imperial Palace, let's definitely sit there together once.]
So would Namia Loapi's first date proposal disappear too?
I didn't like that.
In the meantime, the Aide continued speaking.
"If there are too many things to confess, wouldn't it be better to leak the less decisive ones little by little?"
Crown Prince Kiaros crossed his arms. It seemed like quite a reasonable idea.
He imagined confessing everything in this situation right now.
[Actually, I haven't been able to trust Miss Namia Loapi.]
[Ah, yes. I understand.]
[So I was watching you in Kibon's form.]
From here on, Namia Loapi would show a surprised expression once, then immediately close the doors of her heart.
He knew Namia Loapi well, and the situation afterward was clear.
[You understand? I'm Kibon.]
[Ah, yes.]
[But I genuinely like you.]
[Ah, yes.]
[How do you feel about me, Miss Namia Loapi?]
[Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly a wonderful person, but...]
It would probably be a calculated rejection, complete with evasion.
And she'd be thinking something like, 'How awkward to get entangled with my superior like this'...
[You didn't like Kibon?]
[Yes, but since he's gone, I should erase my feelings too.]
And Namia Loapi seemed like she could actually erase those feelings.
Just imagining it made me groan.
'I need to close the distance between our hearts at least a little before that happens.'
Even in Crown Prince Kiaros's form, I needed to get a bit closer to her.
It seemed Namia Loapi was planning to set things up so the High Priest would attack her tomorrow.
If it succeeded, everything between us would change greatly starting tomorrow.
That's what I intended to make happen.
'Maybe I should leak something in advance after all.'
That's when it happened. Ding-ding, a clear bell chime rang out.
It was Namia Loapi calling for Kibon. Crown Prince Kiaros jumped up without realizing it.
"Go on out."
"Yes."
The Aide bowed respectfully and left.
He didn't know the identity of that bell sound, but he'd already noticed that whenever the bell rang, Crown Prince Kiaros would send everyone out with a tense expression.
Left alone like that, Crown Prince Kiaros quickly changed his appearance and even switched his clothes.
'I'll leak a few of my secrets—just a tiny bit, mind you—and then...'
I was determined to attempt what the master had recommended before confessing: a technique called 'maneuvering'.
'Of course, it won't be easy. Namia Loapi is quite unique, after all. She'll definitely respond in ways I can't predict, but I mustn't get swept up in that. I need to handle it well.'
This would undoubtedly be a difficult path. Crown Prince Kiaros steeled his resolve.
* * *
Reconstruction Faction Headquarters.
The executive meeting had just concluded, and people were dispersing.
Bibeus Awin, the leader of the Reconstruction Faction, spoke in a low voice.
"Aran, stay for a moment."
A slender woman with black hair pinned up and piercing blue eyes—Aran—nodded and sat back down. Thus, only two people remained in the conference room.
Bibeus gazed at Aran and slowly opened his mouth.
"I haven't told the other executives yet, but apparently the High Priest has secured Imperial Servants' blood from the Imperial Palace. He'll bring it right after killing Crown Prince Kiaros."
The Reconstruction Faction had taken root throughout the Continent. However, there was one condition to become an executive.
One had to undergo the experiment.
It was also an ideological verification of active alignment with the Reconstruction Faction's principles.
The High Priest, who had healed and harbored the remnants of the Reconstruction Faction, was no exception. He too underwent the experiment before becoming an executive.
"The High Priest will probably skip this experiment. That man is obsessed only with the blood experiments of Otom."
The blood of the monster Otom prevented aging and temporarily granted tremendous strength.
However, since the effect didn't last long, one had to undergo the experiment again once a year.
The pain was so excruciating that even executives rarely volunteered willingly. Yet, driven solely by his desire for youth, the High Priest underwent the experiment once every year.
"But Aran."
Bibeus continued speaking to Aran, who offered no response.
"Neither the Tower Master's blood nor the Imperial Servants' blood had any effect on you."
Aran's position within the Reconstruction Faction was ambiguous.
There was only a very small amount of Imperial Servants' blood and Tower Master's blood. It was different from the relatively abundant monster blood.
However, Aran was able to undergo experiments using both Imperial Servants' blood and Tower Master's blood. It was a privilege for bringing the Tower Master's blood.
Yet she still possessed no abilities.
"When the Imperial Servants' blood arrives, will you volunteer for the experiment again this time?"
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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