# 374
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374
Asuka spoke to Helmut with a serious face.
“Helmut. “I want you to go somewhere with me.”
“Where?”
“A precious person in the imperial palace is waiting for you. He… is the crown prince. “First of all, he’s my cousin.”
Asuka sighed deeply. Immediately after the assassination attempt, many restrictions were placed on the Crown Prince.
The emperor, worried about his successor who was about to suffer a disaster, drastically reduced the work the crown prince was responsible for and ordered him to rest for a while.
This was an undesirable situation for the workaholic crown prince.
He didn’t go around much because he was working, but it was unfair to him to get criticized for visiting the library once in a while.
However, since ancient times, national affairs must be managed with a sane and clear mind. The crown prince happily accepted the temporary vacation given to him.
However, I was a bit bored because I had been living so hard and had less things to do. However, you can’t meet just anyone.
Among the nobles in the ‘prayer club’, there were some who had no idea that they were on the side of the temple until they were caught this time.
The crown prince tried to think of someone he could safely meet. Without difficulty, he immediately found Asuka.
It’s hard not to like him because he appears like a savior at the last moment.
He also had the desire to strengthen his friendship with his younger cousin.
If Asuka had intended to become Archduke Farnese, it would have been a good thing since the person who would become the country’s most powerful person in the future had favored him, but Asuka’s feelings were not that way.
His cousin, who holds power over him, is someone he doesn’t want to get involved with.
The crown prince sent people to call Asuka, but Asuka avoided his calls with the excuse of going to class or something.
It was just an uncomfortable thing for Asuka.
I’ve never tried to please someone before, and if I keep nit-picking like I’ve done up to now and we end up having a falling out, it’ll be a problem.
However, it was not a good thing that he gained the crown prince’s favor.
Even if he later declared that he could not become Archduke Farnese because he could not adjust, it was also a problem if the Crown Prince, apart from his father, opposed his free life.
But this time I felt like I couldn’t avoid it. The crown prince sent a knight of the rank of assistant commander of the Imperial Knights to deliver a letter.
‘I hope you will accept my invitation. I also don’t want to use the word ‘order’ on my dear cousin.’
This meant that if he avoided it again, he would give an order. Refusing orders is treason.
‘I hope I can soothe my loneliness for a little while with the new guest in the mansion. ‘I heard there’s an outstanding swordsman among the guests?’
Asuka’s face heated up as she recalled the contents of the letter.
An angry sound came straight out of his mouth.
“Does this kid think I’m just a toy to kill his boredom? “Please soothe my loneliness.”
However, the opponent is the crown prince who will inherit the empire in the future. What can I do?
Asuka realized that the prince’s letter meant to visit the imperial palace with Helmut.
Of the three, Helmut is the only prosecutor.
‘Your father knows, right?’
Archduke Farnese is a thorough person, and Helmut is clearly a guest of the archduke’s family, so this was not a decision made by the crown prince alone.
Asuka shrugged her shoulders.
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go. “I will go and defend myself well.”
If it’s the father, you can somehow adjust it yourself, but if the other person is the crown prince, it’s a different matter.
If you don’t succeed, I might tell you to cut off Helmut’s head right now.
However, if this is Archduke Farnese’s test, it is right to respond.
Helmut nodded.
“No, I will go too.”
[I’m going too.]
At that time, Elaga suddenly intervened and declared. After being shaved by Asuka’s mother, he was depressed for a few days, but he seemed to have gotten used to it and regained his spirits.
Elaga was so used to imitating cats that she couldn’t resist for some reason.
For a while, he went around cursing Archduchess Farnese, calling her a witch, and ran away at the mere sight of her shadow.
[I will come and protect you.]
In a way, it was a touching statement, but Helmut looked at him with a cold gaze for some reason.
Asuka added coldly.
“I’m going to see His Highness the Crown Prince, but I can’t bring my pet.”
[Who is this pet? You cheeky!]
Although Elaga’s claws left a scar on Asuka’s forearm, Helmut and Asuka separated Elaga and entered the imperial palace anyway.
It was just after morning. The crown prince was standing in the garden attached to the palace.
Wearing fancy, impractical hunting clothes that make anyone think, ‘I’m the crown prince.’ It was dark blue and had gold strings and jewels attached to it. Plus a hunting hat with feathers.
‘It’s just superficial. If this child hadn’t been born into the royal family, he would have been in big trouble.’
If he were a moderate nobleman, he would have wasted his fortune while trying to dress up.
What is certain is that the extravagant outfit goes well with the crown prince’s gorgeous features.
When the crown prince glanced at them, Asuka and Helmut immediately greeted him.
“I see you, His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
The crown prince laughed. It was a smile that felt like it should be described as ‘smiling’.
“You said you were going to get an education, but you got caught. “Yes, it’s time to become a bit more royal.”
His gaze focused directly on Helmut. A sharp look shined in the narrowed eyes.
“Is this the guest who was said to be staying at the Archduke Farnese’s residence?”
“My name is Helmut.”
Helmut’s greeting was brief. I looked at him closely, as if the crown prince’s gaze was persistent.
‘It’s really not normal. ‘Is it Rinosa’s bloodline?’
If you are in a position like the crown prince, you will meet many people who are anxious to please him from the moment he was born.
That attitude is so familiar to the crown prince that it does not leave a special impression.
That’s why I liked Asuka.
But Asuka was too rough. It is not like an untamed wild horse, but rather like an angular stone.
A stone with such sharp edges is bound to stand out among the bald stones.
Asuka’s attitude probably wouldn’t be much different in front of the emperor.
But even that was something worth taking, considering the fact that he was a member of the royal family and an excellent swordsman.
It’s not because he looks down on his superiors, but because he has that kind of temperament to begin with. That specialness was enough to attract the crown prince’s heart.
But Helmut was different from Asuka.
If he, like Asuka, was not raised as a member of the royal family, does he necessarily have a noble lineage?
There is not even the slightest humility, let alone servility. Even though he is not showing off or showing off, he is strangely proud and intimidating, as if he is weighing down the opponent.
If it is further refined, it will become the dignity of a monarch.
However, the person to whom Helmut naturally shows such an attitude is the crown prince who will rule the Deus Empire in the future.
Irreverent and arrogant. But ironically, that was exactly what appealed to the crown prince.
Michael also had a unique temperament that seemed docile and gentle, yet strangely arrogant, in all aspects of his speech, appearance, and behavior.
However, that did not fit the crown prince’s idea of the Grand Duke of Linosa.
Grand Duke Rinosa is a completely different person from Michael. Although he had never seen Grand Duchess Charlotte of Linosa, the Crown Prince had high hopes for her.
Rinosa’s successor is decided by the Grand Duke, but wouldn’t the empire be able to do something to give a little push to one side?
It is clear that they also have blood originating from the imperial family of the empire.
However, the Crown Prince who faced Helmut today could tell. A sound came out of his mouth without me realizing it.
“You look alike.”
Prince Rinosa, whom I have only seen a few times. However, it was an impressive sight that was deeply engraved in my mind.
A temperament similar to that of the Grand Duke of Rinosa. Helmut almost matched the successor to Archduke Rinosa that the Crown Prince had subconsciously envisioned. So much so that it is shocking.
‘However, unlike Grand Duke Rinosa, he seems a bit more dangerous than I thought.’
If Asuka was an angular stone, Helmut seemed closer to a sword.
It is disorderly and lawless, and can cut down anyone depending on its intentions. It was clear that a sword was a more dangerous weapon than a stone. It would be necessary to wait and see to find out the extent of the ‘danger’.
Everyone there knew who the crown prince said he looked like.
It became clear to him that the Crown Prince knew about Helmut.
The Crown Prince took his gaze away from Helmut and asked vaguely.
“Do you know why I am here dressed like this?”
“I thought you were catching sparrows in the garden.”
Asuka, who knew the crown prince’s poor swordsmanship skills, responded sarcastically. If you can’t even use a sword, how can you use a bow well?
Asuka was full of feelings for him because he was forced to be there.
The crown prince raised his eyebrows.
“You should know that I am quite close to Archduchess Farnese. “And the fact that I am the one who determines whether you received the class properly.”
Asuka, stung, pursed her lips. This was the place where the crown prince would suffer if he only said one word.
“And I’m mistaken, but I’m pretty good at hunting. “Even after all this, he has a skill with a bow that rivals anyone else’s.”
Disbelief appeared on Asuka’s face.
But if you think about it, the crown prince was aware that his swordsmanship skills were not very good. It means that self-understanding is going well.
“As you know, we can’t go out and hunt because of the last incident, so we prepared something similar to relieve ourselves.”
The crown prince gestured toward the other side.
“I prepared a target over there. Would you like to try shooting an arrow once? It’s kind of a small competition. “If you win, there will be a prize.”
“There are only three, so isn’t the competition rate too low?”
Asuka asked, intrigued because it was a competition. As if he had won the championship. The crown prince spoke in a coy tone.
“three? “Let me be clear, you are not the only guests invited today.”
Asuka asked in confusion.
“Who else is there?”
“Well, it might be a familiar face. “If your memory is any good.”
And Asuka and Helmut soon found out who the other guests the Crown Prince had invited were.
