ABSCS 25

Chapter 25

  “When You Open the Prince’s Head (6)”:

The misunderstanding between the two—no, the three—was finally cleared up only after I woke up and gave a brief explanation.

“So, what you’re saying is… that our brother has been brainwashed by a demon all this time?”

“That’s right.”

At my answer, Diold blinked blankly.

“Brainwashed? Me?”

“Didn’t you find it strange?”

I began to explain slowly.

“You probably felt like you were being forced to do things you didn’t want to do. In that moment, it felt right, but deep down, it wasn’t.”

“…Come to think of it.”

A furrow formed on his brow.

“It is strange. I have no idea why I did something so disgraceful. Ah…”

Diold seemed to be recalling his past deeds. Mid-sentence, he suddenly buried his flushed face in his hands.

“How could this happen? I’ve no face to show my parents or the people. The crown prince, who should be the pillar of the kingdom, was seduced by mere sorcery.”

“…Diold.”

Lilliana looked at him, confused.

Of course she was conflicted.

Lilliana had despised her brother.

It was unbearable to her that the crown prince would assault and kill his subjects without remorse.

And now, it turned out Diold had been a victim?

‘I’d be confused too.’

Meanwhile, Cedric—

“……”

—seemed entirely uninterested.

Once he realized Diold hadn’t harmed me, he immediately lost all interest in the prince. His shift in attitude was shockingly swift.

Instead, like a large shepherd dog, he simply sat beside me and quietly listened. Every so often, he’d glance at me and nod as if he was focused on what I was saying.

Even though he still thought I was blind.

“Then, Saintess, we must hurry to expel this demon.”

“Exactly.”

“Just give the order. I will cleanse that filthy demon as your sword, whenever you wish.”

Said Cedric (note: actually a demon himself, unbeknownst to him).

“Yes, but… there’s something I want to resolve before we go demon-slaying.”

My gaze turned toward Diold.

He was still shaken. His crimson eyes, now as clear as rubies after the brainwashing had lifted, trembled with guilt and shame.

“Prince Diold.”

“Y-Yes?”

He answered as if startled.

“What is it?”

His demeanor had become gentle in an instant.

Feeling a little strange at how he now spoke so politely, I asked,

“Is there anything else that’s bothering you?”

“Bothering me… Ah!”

After thinking for a moment, he exclaimed,

“I’ve been personally funding an illegal slave ring. They captured children, women, and non-human races to sell them as slaves… Shameful, truly shameful.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“I even dragged in Duke Bia, my mentor. I’ve tainted a once-honorable man.”

“Oh, there’s no need to worry about that.”

I gave a light smile.

“The demon who brainwashed Your Highness is actually Duke Bia himself.”

“…What?”

He froze.

Blink. Blink.

Like a computer just being booted up and searching for data, he tried to make sense of the situation. But Diold, who was quite intelligent, soon grasped the meaning behind my words.

“T-Then this is bad! If he realizes I’ve broken free from the brainwashing, he might try to destroy all the slaves at once to erase the evidence…!”

“Calm down, Diold.”

Still caught in turmoil, Lilliana grabbed his arm.

It was the first physical contact in a long time. Both flinched and met each other’s eyes.

“For someone to brainwash the crown prince, there must’ve been a specific goal. …But with nothing confirmed yet, would he really throw away ten years of carefully built influence over mere suspicion?”

“Ah…”

He sighed.

“You’re right.”

Agreeing with her, he ran a hand through his hair after a moment of silence.

“You’ve matured a lot, Lilliana.”

“We saw each other every day, what are you talking about?”

“Just seeing someone doesn’t mean you understand what they think. Don’t you agree?”

Lilliana was at a loss for words.

Before she could say anything, Diold smirked and muttered,

“Maybe you would’ve made a better successor. Compared to weak-willed me.”

“…A woman can’t be king.”

“True. A meaningless what-if.”

An awkward silence fell over the room.

Then it happened.

“Your Highness, it’s Duke Bia. Things seem a bit noisy inside—may I come in?”

The atmosphere, heavy with bitterness and regret, turned icy cold.

Most noticeably, Diold changed. Like a mouse cornered in a trap, he took a step back with a terrified expression.

“Your Highness? Are you all right?”

A deep male voice called from beyond the door.

Diold’s fingers shook uncontrollably. I reached out and grabbed his hand after feeling around for it.

Then I whispered.

“Your Highness.”

Flinch.

“Say you’re having a lovely time with the Saintess.”

“T-That’s too inappropriate…”

“Hurry.”

At my urging, Diold cleared his throat several times.

“D-Do not disturb me! I am, h-hah, quite busy… at the moment!”

“Ah… My apologies. I’ll see you in the morning, Your Highness.”

Thanks to his nervous panting, the performance sounded all too real. It genuinely gave the impression of a steamy moment.

Lilliana’s face went pale.

“…I get that it’s part of the plan, but your moaning was disgusting.”

“…Sorry.”

*

Ricardo Bia.

Chancellor of Terra and tutor to the crown prince. In truth, he was a high-ranking demon under the command of the Demon King’s general, Changcheon.

‘Looks like the brainwashing is working nicely.’

Satisfied with the crown prince’s breathless voice, Ricardo turned around with a pleased expression.

Though he hadn’t heard the Saintess crying… well, he figured the prince’s tastes were a bit eccentric. He assumed she’d been gagged or something and paid it no mind.

‘But the Saintess showing up… That could become troublesome. I’ve got her suppressed for now through the prince, but she might still be a pain.’

Looking back at history, saints were always a headache.

No matter how deep into the abyss they were cast, they always clawed their way back. Saints were rampant with supremacist ideals and were terrifying enemies of the demons.

He recalled the Saintess who had appeared five hundred years ago.

Back when Ricardo had just been born.

It had been the opposite of now. Demons ruled the world, and humans barely survived in the shadows.

Ricardo, the youngest and most beloved child of a noble family, had a happy childhood.

Then the Saintess ruined it all.

“They are evil. The only salvation for them is to be returned to the Lord.”

Claiming divine revelation, she united the humans who had been treated like slaves and began conquering lands.

“Don’t worry, Ricardo. I will defeat the Saintess and bring peace to our territory.”

His older brother, who said that, went to battle and was vaporized within a day—no body left behind.

They had no chance.

“I pray to the Lord. Take everything from me, and destroy the demon before me in the most agonizing way possible.”

One prayer from her. One breath.

That was all it took to annihilate the old race.

No, they weren’t even considered part of the old race anymore.

The Saintess didn’t even acknowledge them as human.

“Exterminate all demons. That is the will of the Lord.”

From then on—

Those born from decayed elements, who could control the power of nature at will, came to be known as demons.

The elemental power they once wielded became twisted magic, and their diet of negative emotions became a demonic trait.

The world flipped.

Many of their kind died.

Only a few survived.

Ricardo, now the sole survivor of his family, pledged allegiance to Changcheon of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings.

His goal was singular:

To destroy the wicked new humanity and restore the paradise of the past.

‘To do that, I must first fill every nation’s leadership with demons.’

The Eastern Continent, with its centralized monarchy, was far easier to control than the West.

The amount of blood and effort it took to brainwash just one crown prince…

Changing faces over time, rising through the ranks until finally earning the title of Duke and becoming the prince’s tutor.

He grinned.

‘Not much left now.’

Once the prince ascended the throne, he’d replace all his inner circle with demons. And then, this country would slowly return to the lost paradise.

How glorious that day would be—

“Ah, Duke! What are you doing here?”

“…Poli?”

His thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected voice.

Turning around, he saw Izumi Poli, holding a plate of dessert and smiling innocently. His impression was overwhelmingly… dim-witted.

“I was just coming back from the Crown Prince’s chambers.”

“Perfect timing!”

Poli beamed brightly.

“I was heading there too!”

“Pardon? Why?”

“Because I think the Saintess is there.”

Ricardo fell silent.

“The Crown Prince is alone. And more importantly, you’re not allowed to enter his chambers freely.”

“But didn’t the Saintess go that way? I can smell it…”

“…Smell?”

What smell?

“Oh! The Saintess always smells nice. If she’s within five kilometers, I can find her.”

“…What?”

What the hell is wrong with this pervert?

Ricardo’s face twisted.

‘Is this guy insane?’

At least the prince had been brainwashed into acting like that. This guy was just naturally like this.

Chasing a woman by her scent? Ricardo inwardly groaned and took a step back.

Then Izumi followed.

“By the way, Duke.”

“Y-Yes?”

Grab.

His arm was suddenly caught.

‘…When did he get this close?’

Realizing the man had crept up on him without notice, Ricardo swallowed hard.

Though he didn’t think someone would dare attack a duke, if this guy did intend to kill him, Ricardo wouldn’t stand a chance.

“What is it…”

“Why are you lying?”

Clear green eyes stared straight into him.

And for some reason, a chill ran down Ricardo’s spine.