Chapter 9: Mob Prince Saves His Mother from Empress Camilla and Gets His Just Desserts
(Prince Victor’s Perspective)
“This is awful! Doesn’t anyone know my preferences? What is this cake?!”
“P-Please forgive me, Prince Victor!”
I, Victor, slammed the teacup filled with hot tea down, and the maid trembled, prostrating herself.
I am Victor, the fourth prince of the glorious Celestia Empire.
Within the Imperial Court, everyone fawns over me, desperately trying to please me. Just like this maid.
And yet, Luke and Diana, with their lowly birth, dared to defy me.
I was holding a tea party in the Rose Garden to vent the humiliation they inflicted upon me.
But even indulging my palate with extravagant sweets and tea did nothing to lift my spirits.
Why is Diana, with her base Mazoku blood, favored by Father more than I, a legitimate prince?
And Luke, when I summoned him for training to bully him, not only dodged all my attack magic but also beat me soundly with a wooden sword.
It seems he’s been dabbling in swordsmanship with the soldiers. His movements are improving drastically.
…I hate to admit it, but can I even win with [Fire Rain] anymore?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my head boiled with anger and humiliation.
“Bring me a replacement, now! Within ten seconds!”
“Aah! That’s impossible!”
I struck the maid with the whip I had set aside. She let out a loud scream.
Bullying the weak is the best entertainment, after all.
“Slowpoke! Hurry up!”
I lashed the maid with the whip again.
If I didn’t, the faces of Luke and Diana would surface, and I would be consumed by hatred.
“Daring to make a fool of the great me!”
After venting my anger for a while, the maid fainted.
“Huh? How dare you ignore my orders and lose consciousness?! You’re fired!”
“You seem quite agitated, Victor dear. I understand, your mother feels the same,”
Empress Camilla consoled me with a gentle voice.
“But rest assured. I’ve come up with a good way to get revenge on them.”
“Really, Mother?! But Diana is favored by Father, so how?”
“Fufu, well…”
“What are you doing?!”
Just as Empress Camilla was about to speak, a clear, beautiful voice rang out.
It was Luna, the mother of Luke and Diana.
Despite being a mother, she was so beautiful that even I couldn’t help but stare. That’s because Dark Elves stop aging in their late teens, and their appearance remains eternally youthful.
After the recent incident, Diana’s reputation rose again, so her mother, Luna, was granted the right to walk freely in the Imperial Court.
Apparently, Diana had begged for it.
She should have stayed quietly in the Prison Tower, but she had to come out here…
Luna helped the unconscious maid up and took out a Potion from her pocket.
“Here, drink this. It’s a Hi-Potion I made.”
“Hmph! What do you think you’re doing, you Mazoku wench!”
Empress Camilla stood up, enraged.
“That is a maid who serves me. Step aside!”
But Luna ignored her and poured the Hi-Potion into the maid’s mouth.
“How dare you disobey my orders?!”
Empress Camilla snatched the whip from my hand and raised it towards Luna.
Luna, who was wearing a Magic-Sealing Collar, had no way to resist. I was thrilled.
“Ahhya. That’s what you get for getting cocky, you Mazoku woman!”
“Know your place!”
“Mother!”
But just before the whip struck, Luke jumped in and grabbed the tip.
“What…?!”
Everyone present, including me, was shocked.
I never thought he could pull off the feat of grabbing a whip moving so fast it created afterimages.
He’s… getting stronger rapidly.
“Empress Camilla. Have you forgotten what His Majesty the Emperor ordered?”
“Hii!?”
Luke exuded a murderous aura that belied his seven years.
I couldn’t help but scream and step back.
“Luke’s life must not be put in danger. That is His Majesty’s will. Please withdraw from this place.”
“What are you saying, you good-for-nothing! That woman did whatever she wanted to my maid…! Victor, do something!”
“Eh, me…?”
At that moment, Luke forcefully snatched the whip from Empress Camilla’s hand.
“I understand. So, it’s a Duel then. At this distance, my whip is faster than Victor-niisan’s magic, but would you like to try?”
“N-N-N-No!”
Empress Camilla gaped at the unexpected counterattack.
I didn’t want to fight him either. I didn’t feel like I could win at all.
“Stop it, Luke. We need to take this person to the Imperial Court mage immediately for proper treatment.”
“Okay, Mother. Then, let’s go right away.”
Luke’s expression became gentle, in stark contrast to the cold look he gave us.
“T-Thank you very much, Luna-sama!”
The maid, who had drunk the Hi-Potion, woke up and cried out in gratitude.
“W-What…? Her injuries are healing instantly?!”
Treatment with Potions was supposed to be only a temporary measure, but unbelievably, the maid’s injuries had completely healed.
I had heard rumors, but was this the effect of Luna’s Unique Magic, [Demiurge], which tripled the effectiveness of the magic potions she created?
Saying they were going for proper treatment was probably just a way to leave this place.
…Regrettably, it was better for me if they did.
“…What an amazing person!”
The other maids looked at Luna with admiration.
What were they thinking, admiring an evil Mazoku… But indeed, Luna’s power was something that made sense why Father wanted to keep her close.
Luna then ignored us completely, gave the maid a shoulder to lean on, and left.
Luke glared at us with a chilling gaze while holding the whip, so we couldn’t do anything.
“O-Onore. That Mazoku woman is bewitching His Majesty!”
Empress Camilla watched Luna and Luke leave with eyes filled with dark hatred.
Recently, Empress Camilla had not been summoned by Father at all, while Luna seemed to be gaining his favor.
Even I could see that Empress Camilla was losing to Luna in terms of feminine charm.
But I also resented the fact that Luna and her children were gaining prominence.
It was unacceptable for me, the legitimate prince of the glorious Celestia Empire, to be looked down upon by my lowly half-siblings.
“…Mother, what is the method of revenge against them?”
After Luna and the others were gone, I asked.
“Hmph, it’s simple. That good-for-nothing Luke is unaware of his place and has asked His Majesty the Emperor to give him a swordsmanship instructor.”
“Swordsmanship…”
If he masters swordsmanship, won’t he become unstoppable?
“We’ll bribe the swordsmanship instructor to kill Luke. We can have him fight monsters under the guise of gaining practical experience. Fufufu, I can’t wait to see that woman’s face when she loses her son!”
“I see, that’s a great idea! Diana will surely despair and cry!”
Empress Camilla and I laughed together.
I felt relieved at the thought of getting the best revenge on Luke and his family.
At this time, I had no idea that this plan would backfire and Luke would grow into an impossibly powerful swordsman.
Furthermore, I had no idea that this would be the cause of my and Empress Camilla’s downfall.