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[AI ERROR / SAFETY BLOCK - RAW ENGLISH RETAINED]

Lejoutte was around Oleom’s age. In other words, someone who would typically have been too inexperienced to lead a city of tens of thousands.

“…Did Facrita have a recent change in power as well?”

“Yes. She was appointed around the same time,” Oleom answered.

“I see.” Wein nodded. “Youdohave it hard.”

“Right?”

“What are you two talking about?”

“Only the great responsibility we bear, Lejoutte.” Oleom shrugged, and his fellow representative glared at him suspiciously for a moment before finally shifting her attention to Wein.

“Well, no matter. Prince Wein, I’ll get right to the point. Why have you come here? I must assume congratulating a couple over their engagement isn’t your only motivation.” Unlike Oleom, Lejoutte ditched subtle disdain and went straight for the jugular. Her crossed arms and sharp glare made it clear she had no intention of getting along.

“And if I claimed that truly is the only reason?” Wein questioned with an even tone. “Truth is, I love celebrating others’ happiness. In my country, I’m called ‘The Matchmaker Prince.’ Whenever there’s a new engagement announcement or wedding, I’m there in a heartbeat.”

Lejoutte couldn’t hide a grimace as Wein lied through his teeth. Oleom gave an entertained chuckle.

“How very generous. I’m certain the couple will consider your blessings a lifelong honor.”

“You actuallybelievehim? How can you joke when people claim this prince started the recent famine?”

“…Sir Oleom, I thought you said all the rumors were positive?”

“I think even infamy has its own prestige,” Oleom deflected.Wein sniffed in amusement, and Oleom looked at Lejoutte as he continued, “No one can create an artificial famine. It’s impractical, not to mention heartless. Even if such methods did exist, the culprit would have to be a cold-blooded monster.”

“Or an evil dragon.”

“Oh dear. In that case, you’d better watch out. Your very bones will be charred if you’re not careful.”

Wein and Oleom laughed. It was a dry, disturbing sound.

“…This is a waste of time,” Lejoutte groaned, as if hoping to change the subject. “There’s nothing worse than watching two men bicker pointlessly. Prince Wein, I will leave if you insist on keeping up this charade.”

“It’s no charade. As I said, I’m here to offer my congratulations.”

“Is that so? Then perhaps you could pass on a message to Agata for me: ‘It doesn’t matter what tricks you pull. Your era is over. From now on, Facrita will be the heart of the Ulbeth Alliance.’”

Turning on her heel, Lejoutte exited as boldly as she’d come. Oleom watched her proud figure recede and shrugged. “Goodness, what discourteous behavior toward a crown prince. She’s always been a bit headstrong. I do hope you’ll consider it part of her charm.”

“No offense taken. But do you agree with that last statement, Sir Oleom?”

“Hardly,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Roynock will be the center of the next era. Well then, I must greet the other guests, so if you’ll excuse me. Please enjoy the party, Prince Wein.”

Oleom took his leave.

“‘Get a sense of their characters,’ huh?”

Wein looked around him. No one had admonished therepresentatives for disrespecting a foreign prince. In fact, those whispering seemed to sympathize with them.

“I’m terribly sorry, Prince Wein. I never imagined they’d act so brazen…” Kamil apologized after having silently observed the exchange. His position kept him from interfering, but his face had paled at the discourteousness shown to a visiting dignitary.

Wein himself remained unbothered, however.

“Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t handle foreign diplomacy if I let something like this get to me. Plus, imagine if I were the moody type.”

“What…?”

Kamil blinked in confusion, but Wein ignored it and carried on.

“Anyway, we’re here now. I better rub elbows with more than just the representatives. Kamil, find me a good candidate.”

“Y-yes. Understood.”

Still baffled, Kamil did as ordered. Wein formulated his next plan in the meantime.

In the White Willow of Muldu, Ninym sighed as she walked down a deserted alley.

As I thought, the city’s layout is almost identical to Lushan’s, but…

Most Western cities were modeled after Levetia’s stronghold, Lushan. This was a testament to both the old capital’s degree of perfection and Levetia’s influence. Muldu was no exception, and much of it resembled what Ninym recalled from Wein’s earlier visit to the capital. The atmosphere was markedly different, though.

It’s suffocating.

This was Ninym’s honest opinion after exploring more of the city.

As Levetia’s home base, Lushan had a solemn air that some could find oppressive. Muldu had a tenseness, too, yet it lacked divinity. The climate felt more like a turf war between beasts.

I guess this is another evil of the Ulbeth Alliance.

While not official, Muldu was effectively divided into a few districts. There was one for merchants, one for craftsmen, and one for leaders and the nobility.

Every city in Ulbeth was demarcated, but the distinction was particularly noticeable in Muldu. Each section had its own rules, and any outside presence was highly frowned upon. Therefore, the locals’ talent for spotting strangers was keen, and Ninym drew looks everywhere she went. Nothing could be more troublesome for a person who wished to stay in the shadows.

At least it was worth it.

Through inquiry and investigation, she gathered helpful information about the Ulbeth Alliance, Muldu, and Agata. She’d share it with Wein later.

Lost in thought, Ninym was heading back to the mansion when…

…she saw someone standing in the road ahead.

“”

A part of her had been hoping not to.

After noticing Kamil’s tolerance, Ninym realized the Alliance and Lushan were similar but not identical. She’d wondered if, like Patura to the south, Ulbeth was a unique Western culture untainted by Levetia’s influence. The simple fact that Ninym hadn’t come across any Flahm thus far allowed her to believe that her kin were happy here.

Unsurprisingly, that wasnot the case.

“Ah…”

Ninym instinctively looked down, but the sight was already burned into her mind.

A man in tattered clothes was carrying a heavy load. There were shackles around his feet. His eyes sparkled like crimson jewels, and his hair was a pale white.

There could be no mistaking it. He was a slave—a Flahm slave.

Calm down. This is common in the West.Ninym pressed a hand to her racing heart.

The Flahm man known as the Founder had created a nation for his oppressed and enslaved people. However, their kingdom was destroyed, and the Flahm were persecuted yet again, even worse than before.

Still, the Flahm weren’t the only victims of slavery. Every era demanded cheap labor. Whether victims of war, flesh hunters, or someone else’s financial greed, people were cast into bondage for various reasons.

That’s why this isn’t a big deal. No need to get emotional. Return to the mansion. Hurry.

Ninym was a Flahm, but she also served Natra’s royal family. The nation came first. Stirring up drama with slaves while abroad would only trouble Wein. And so the young woman told herself to leave.

Yet her body refused to move. Before she knew it, Ninym was peering straight ahead.

“Ah…”

The Flahm man was still there. And he was staring right at her.

An instinctual sort of chill ran through Ninym. It didn’t matter if her hair was dyed black. He knew she was a Flahm.

This is bad. Run away. I can’t cause Wein trouble, but—

The conflict between Ninym’s mind and body left her frozen.Had they been gazing at each other for a few seconds or a few minutes? As she sank into endless agony, the Flahm man flashed her a troubled look.