The Crown Prince Who Raises a Side Character

#47 Servant Cedric (13) – Invitation from Redbell

Though Father often dismissed them as blithering fools, objectively speaking, the second son, Ervin, and third daughter, Mira, were not entirely devoid of competence.

Unlike most nobles scattered throughout the Kingdom of Virka, who were quite literally disposable, possessing nothing to boast of beyond their bloodline, they could at least manage their own territories with some degree of skill, and each had earned a certain renown in swordsmanship or the social circuit.

It was true they had committed several blunders born of carelessness and haste, but they were not so dim-witted as to fail to recognize that if they did not put an end to Claudia in this very moment, they would find themselves on the receiving end.

Therefore, they spared no effort.

Four initiates – individuals whose skills could have made them knights representing entire territories in other regions. And nearly thirty individuals on par with third-tier initiates to support them.

A substantial amount of scrolls, each with invaluable properties such as night vision, target detection, and noise suppression, were provided.

A trading company deeply enmeshed with Etched was forcibly drawn into their ranks, almost as if they were tossing bundles of gold coins away.

Compared to the entirety of Redbell, it was a mere drop in the bucket, but for siblings who had yet to fully inherit its power, it was a monumental investment on par with slicing off an arm.

Yes.

They had, at the very least, done their best within the limits of their capabilities.

But.

The world sometimes delivers unreasonable calamities that cannot be averted through human effort.

“Welcome! Everyone. I’ve prepared spaces for you in the underground prison, so please, proceed directly inside!”

The assassins had encountered a clear-eyed madman!

Darkness descended before the eyes of the assassins!

*

The Aiseiren Imperial Capital. Kallastia. The Golden Cloud Palace.

“Oh-ho, they possess quite a collection of scrolls of decent quality. When combined with the portion squeezed out of the trading company that colluded with them, I foresee no issues with the territory’s finances for quite some time.”

Lucid watched the crown prince review the spoils with a cheerful grin, her gaze an indescribable and delicate thing.

“May I ask a question?”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“Didn’t you declare you’d be utterly, flawlessly immersed in this role?”

The Crown Prince’s expression betrayed a flicker of doubt.

“And am I not immersed? Not once has my true manner crept through, nor have I displayed abilities unbecoming of the role.”

“No, no, no.”

Lucidra shook her head emphatically.

“Your manner might be as you say, but the abilities? They’re riddled with issues, no matter how you look at it.”

In what world does a servant single-handedly defeat assassins wielding *qi* swords in droves, propose development policies for the territory, and meddle in administrative efficiency?

Isn’t this a grave violation of the very identity of ‘servant’?

To Lucidra’s undeniably just complaint, the Crown Prince responded with an utterly earnest expression.

“That is precisely because he *is* a servant.”

A moment of silence hung heavy in the air.

Lucidra blinked twice before asking again, “What?”

“Haha, it seems you’re rather unfamiliar with the ways of the world. Understandable, given how long you were sealed away. No matter.”

The Crown Prince continued in a measured tone, like a teacher instructing ignorant children.

“If there exists anything in this world that approaches the word ‘omnipotent’, it is the ‘butler’ and the ‘maid’. Perfect execution of household chores is a given, they must be skilled in cooking and the art of tea, proficient in driving, capable of wielding swords and magic, severing buildings with wire, and sometimes even stopping time itself. Although Cedric has not earned the esteemed title of butler, a butler is, in a broader sense, a type of servant. Therefore, Cedric showcasing a variety of abilities is entirely without issue. It doesn’t break the concept, so to speak.”

“……?”

Lucidra tilted her head to the side.

She pondered whether there might be some profound, philosophical meaning hidden within what she had just heard, and swiftly came to a conclusion.

“Just utter drivel.”

“Hmph, trying to mask your lack of comprehension with harsh words isn’t a very wise course of action, I must say.”

“No, it *is* drivel! Do you think if you spout nonsense with a believable face and voice it magically becomes the truth!?”

“Lower your voice. While soundproofing is a basic precaution, if we were to be overheard, even by chance, you mustn’t forget that your head would be forfeit.”

“aaargh!”

Lucidra frantically ran her hands through her hair, despair washing over her.

The sheer agony of not being able to share this stifling frustration with anyone was unbearable.

If only the women who flocked to this man could see him like this!

After a long spell of heavy breathing, Lucidra narrowed her eyes, fixing the Crown Prince with a stare.

“Okay, if I concede, not by a hundred, but by ten thousand paces, that you’re correct, you are aware that this miracle isn’t free, right?”

The Crown Prince was superhuman.

Capable of manifesting even his outlandish nonsense into reality.

But his doppelganger, Cedric, was different.

Unlike his previous doppelganger, the adventurer Verne, whose abilities were deliberately limited and specialized, Cedric had spread his powers too thin, meaning the peak of each individual ability was bound to be lower.

Yet Cedric was clearly performing beyond that peak right now.

“That doppelganger won’t last long. Well, unlike last time, when he was suddenly destroyed, he’s crumbling slowly, so the backlash won’t be as severe… but still, ‘Cedric’ is going to disappear.”

“I don’t mind.”

The Crown Prince declared without hesitation.

“Cedric has already accomplished a significant portion of his initially assigned role. ‘Lord’ Claudia’s greatest weapon is improved public order and the support of her people that stems from it. The more she increases her power, the wider her influence spreads, the more the wretched state of the Virka Kingdom will gradually improve. And the ‘gift’ for achieving that is nearing completion.”

Of course, even with the power of this ‘gift’, Claudia alone couldn’t possibly transform the entirety of the Virka Kingdom.

Even if she were to ascend to the very pinnacle of Redbell and seize control of its entire sphere of influence, there remained areas within the kingdom that Redbell’s reach barely touched.

And some of those places, a cursory investigation revealed, were so wretched that they made Redbell look almost benign by comparison.

The Crown Prince had plans to tear those places down as well, but that was certainly not within the purview of ‘Hein Cedric’.

“Besides, Cedric needed to disappear anyway. A talented person can grow an organization, but conversely, they can also define its limitations. In order to keep Etched and Claudia from becoming people who can’t do anything without me, Cedric has to leave.”

Though Cedric seemed to be involved in every affair, great and small, of the estate, the time he spent actively working at the forefront was steadily dwindling.

Even with the estate’s reformation, he had merely created the environment and systems for people to work efficiently, minimizing the times he directly took over the work of others. This was so the estate would continue to function without a hitch even after he was gone.

“Hmph.”

Lucidra made a dismissive sound.

She understood the Crown Prince’s grand design, but would that unruly young lady truly continue to act according to his will after the servant she was so attached to had departed?

“Then, shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“On whether that spoiled miss will obediently continue to act as the lord of the estate after ‘Hein Cedric’ terminates his contract and leaves. I’m wagering she won’t.”

“In that case, I’m betting she will. Good, I accept.”

“The loser grants the winner a wish?”

“We will need a contract to clearly define the method of determining victory and defeat, as well as the scope of permissible wishes. Shall we prepare about thirty pages to start?”

“A devil more devilish than the devil himself…no, just a prince…”

*

Claudia Redbell had been in exceptionally high spirits lately.

“That sure-fire move they prepared to get rid of me failed, so they must be trembling in their boots right about now. Serves them right.”

These were the people who had glared at her from afar when her mother was alive, and who, after her death, had continued with blatant checks and harassments.

Even when the assassins spat out their names, shock wasn’t the first thing Claudia felt. More like, ‘Figures.’ Family affection was something approaching zero in her world.

So, what to do now?

The old her would’ve plotted sending her own assassins in kind, but she wasn’t that girl anymore. Cedric had taught her different ways.

“Going public would sting the most, but if it threatened the Redbell name, he’d intervene. Hmm, blackmail him with the threat of exposure… ah, no. Maybe demand a ransom and send them back? If he agrees, we bleed him dry of funds and influence. If he refuses, we can turn his abandoned dogs to our side. Yes, that sounds right.”

She was indulging in the pleasant thought, when a knock came at the office door. Claudia gave leave to enter, and the head butler, Bastian, stepped in, his face grave.

“My Lady. The Marquess requests your presence at the family estate. He wishes for you to join them for a meal, a family gathering after all this time. The messenger delivered this invitation.”

“What?”

The glee that had been plastered on Claudia’s face vanished, replaced by bewilderment.

A family gathering? Since when had the Redbells become such a warm and fuzzy bunch?

Claudia hastily tore open the seal on the invitation and scanned its contents.

[Claudia. To witness you, who had once strayed, return to the righteous path and achieve such acclaim fills this father’s heart with joy. It has been too long since our family has gathered to share stories. I implore you, daughter, to attend, despite your busy schedule.]

The letter held back the usual flowery language expected of nobles, it felt as though it came from a father delighted by his daughter’s change of heart.

When she realized that the handwriting belonged to Marquess Redbell himself, a shiver ran down Claudia’s spine and goosebumps erupted on her skin.

She’d rather receive a death threat from an assassin.

“There’s… no way I can refuse, is there?”

Claudia’s voice was almost pleading, but Bastian only answered with a weary expression.

“You already know the answer, my Lady.”

“Yes, of course I do.”

Claudia sighed, a sound heavy with resignation.

It was true, she was doing rather well these days, but that was only possible because she held the title of “Lady of Eched.”

The one who truly governed Eched and the other lands held by Redbell was, in the end, Marquis Redbell.

If he were to reclaim the title of Lady from Claudia, then everything she had built would be plunged back into the mire.

Of course, in a vassal relationship, the right to govern a territory wasn’t something so easily given and taken away, but enough power has a way of making the impossible possible.

Claudia decided to force herself into a positive frame of mind.

‘Right, either way, to have my value recognized, to avoid being easily bartered away, I must settle things with him.’

In a way, summoning her like this was proof enough that the Marquis was interested in the things Claudia was undertaking.

She reflexively reached to call for Cedric, but paused when she saw Bestian’s face so close by.

The advice she’d received from Cedric came to mind.

‘To consider the feelings of the other retainers and servants, too.’

It was what he had said when she kept neglecting the head chef and asking Cedric to cook.

That day, Cedric had scolded her with an unusual seriousness, and Claudia had spent the rest of it feeling thoroughly chastened.

“Uh, ahem. Bestian?”

“As you wish, my Lady.”

“I want to entrust you with selecting the personnel to go to the main estate. Is that something you can do?”

Bestian’s eyes widened slightly, as if surprised.

Then, a faint smile bloomed on his lips.

“Entrust it to me, my Lady. I will prepare the finest selection, one that can ensure both your safety and the management of the remaining territory.”

“Y-yes, well.”

Seeing the way he burned with such obvious enthusiasm, Claudia felt a pang of guilt for no good reason and turned her gaze out the window.

Thinking, as ever, Cedric’s words never proved false.

*

“─Claudia. The royal family seeks to arrange a marriage for you. What are your thoughts?”