The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

I woke up when the loud noise of magic cannons firing already stopped.

The battle had already ended when I got up on the deck.

Leo and the others seem to be searching for any remaining monsters.

“If we are done then hurry up and bring me back to the shore. I want to sleep in the castle.”

“Haa……we are going back.”

Being tiredly looked at by the sailors, we headed to the harbor and I set foot on Rondine for the first time.

Well, the harbor itself is not much different from Albatro. Albatro seems to be more prosperous though.

While I was having that impression, Elna came over, jumping over the roof.

“Al!”

“Oh, Elna. Good work.”

Waving my hand at her, I say my thanks.

Judging by my surroundings, most monsters that got on land are probably already annihilated by Elna.

Almost all of the remains of monsters that are rolling around here and there looked like they were slain with only one blow, that’s enough proof.

“I didn’t really have a hard time you know. The one who had it hard should be you right?”

“Yeah. I’m really tired right now.”

As expected of my childhood friend.

She immediately noticed that I’m the real Al.

To be able to see through me so easily like that, I really can’t underestimate her eyes huh.

With that in mind, I look up. In doing so, my position was one that can peek under Elna’s skirt.

Of course, I can’t see her underwear because of the black spat she is wearing. If it’s Leo he would be complaining that her appearance is improper though.

“Oi, Elna. I don’t think climbing to a high place like that is a good idea you know?”

“What? Are you pretending to be Leo now? That won’t work on me you know?”

“No, well, if you don’t mind it then there’s no problem I guess.”

Elna doesn’t break her confident expression.

It seems she has absolute confidence in herself.

When she is that confident it’s only natural that I would want to break it right.

“It’s useless! I’m wearing it properly alright!”

“Ah, yeah….but it’s tearing though?”

All expressions disappeared from Elna’s face.

Then she shouts back at me with her slightly red face.

“I, I won’t fall for that you know!?”

“That’s why I told you that if you don’t mind then there’s no problem. But I got to say, your black spat makes your light-colored underwear stand out you know?”

“ ! ! ? ? “

That was what decided the match.

Elna turns back and peeks at her skirt.

Elna basically prefers to wear white or light-colored underwear. I kept it vague to make her misunderstand on her own but it seems she really fell for it huh.

“W, where is it!? Where did it tear at!? Al～…….?”

“That was obviously a lie. Notice that already.”

Saying so, I nonchalantly head to the castle.

After this, Leo will greet the King again, he will probably ask to speak with me privately due to an emergency situation. Or rather, that’s his only choice

I am free until then so let’s get some sleep at the castle.

“Al….? where do you think you are going?”

“That would be the castle.”

“You think I will just let you go?”

“You are in the position that you can do nothing but let me go right?”

This place was a battlefield until a moment ago.

She has no way to know when the monsters will be back again.

Leo is one thing but I have to quickly evacuate.

“You will be safe if you stay by side so just stay with me.”

“Bring your hand up to your chest and ask yourself. Have I ever been safe by your side? Until now I felt like I almost died several times though?”

“It’s because Al always says something unnecessary! Seriously! Why do you have to make a lie like that!?”

“It’s that you know. You seemed so confident so I wanted to mess with you.”

“That part about you is exactly like the Emperor….His Majesty often says the same thing too.”

“He’s my father after all. Well sorry, it’s my bad. But, it would be better if you wear some adventurous underwear once in a while you know.”

“Mind your own business!”

She grabbed me by the collar and violently shook me back and forth.

Oh, the world is shaking……

When I thought about saying goodbye to my consciousness, she finally let me go.

In the end, I couldn’t move for a while so I ended up riding the carriage that was meant to pick up Leo back to the castle.

—————————

“Wha, What!? The Sea Dragon has awakened!?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Three of Albatro’s state-of-the-art warships have already been sunk. There is also a possibility that the previous monsters attack was also related to that Sea Dragon as well.”

“If, if something like that has awakened then…..will my country be able to survive…..?

Watching the panicking King Rondine, I sigh in my heart.

When I finally thought that I can finally relax, Elna said that [Isn’t it fine if you guys switch places again] and now I am speaking to the King of Rondine as Leo.

Sure, it’s faster to pretend to be Leo and get this done rather than explain all the details to him but….

I am still not convinced.

“Yes. Regarding that, the King of Albatro asked the Empire to bridge the relationship between the Principality of Albatro and the Principality of Rondine. Your Majesty. Allow me to ask you this as the Empire’s ambassador plenipotentiary. To combat this emergency situation, please set aside your past conflict and join hands with the Principality of Albatro in the Anti-Sea-Dragon alliance. I promise you that our Empire will support this alliance as well.”

“U, Umu…..but you see.”

“Is there any problem?”

“Will it really bring harm to my country?”

“I see. Certainly, I do not have any proof. However, I did encounter the Sea Dragon on my way to Rondine. I managed to slip past it but then I found a Sea Serpent which is a creature that rarely approaches the shore approaching your port. I suspect that the recent monster attack happened because the Sea Dragon has entered your water.”

“B, But…..”

“The important thing is that the Sea Dragon’s range of activity also included Rondine’s water. Your Majesty. What this meant is that the sea route to your country is now being blocked by a Sea Dragon. This situation is surely disadvantageous for the Principality of Rondine is it not?”

If possible I don’t want to convince him like this but since I don’t know how long the King will keep hesitating like this I will just explain how disadvantageous the situation Rondine will be in.

“If the sea route is blocked, you will only be able to trade using your land route. Although the Principality of Rondine occupies about two-thirds of the peninsula, most of the gateways to the central part of the continent are still being controlled by the Principality of Albatro. If they have control over the land route then the one that will be at disadvantages here will be the Principality of Rondine, Your Majesty.”

“Is, Is that true!?”

“Our Empire will have no way to support you once the sea route is blocked. Do you understand? If Your Majesty chose to ignore the Sea Dragon’s threat now, it will be the same as accepting that situation. Of course, I will not stop you if you are still confident that you can defeat Albatro in that situation. However, I don’t know which side the Empire will choose to support at that time.”

With that final sentence, King Rondine’s face turned blue.

The Empire is a superpower. Just a hint that the Empire will make such a move will send most small and medium-sized countries into a panic.

Even more so when the Principality of Rondine was trying to get help from the Empire. My words just now might have worked better than I thought.

“U, Understood! We will accept the alliance. My country will spare no expense to help the Principality of Albatro to combat the Sea Dragon.”

He finally made his decision.

The Principality of Albatro can now commission the Adventurer’s Guild.

Rather, they are probably put in a request already. They wouldn’t expect that we would fail after they asked the Empire to intervene after all.

Now then, Arnold’s work is over with this.

I already told Elna and Leo that after I persuaded the King I will have them let me do as I please.

Rondine will probably send a fleet to assist Albatro to fight the Sea dragon but I will not accompany it.

It’s time for a secret maneuver after all.