Chapter 81

"Are you saying... you sneaked into the mansion to seduce me with your charms?"

"......"

In response to Raido’s exasperated words, Shirley Elladin pouted silently.

Just a moment ago, Shirley had been naked, intending to seduce him, but now she was wearing a maid’s uniform borrowed from the mansion. The simple, commoner’s attire was ill-suited to the well-bred Shirley, but given the situation, no one commented on it.

"Shirley, that’s disrespectful to the prince! Change your attitude!"

Next to Shirley, who was sitting in a chair, Sven frowned in anger. His tone, slightly more rough than when speaking to Raido, was that of a boy his age, as if scolding a mischievous younger sister.

Their relationship seemed to be that of childhood friends from long ago. The Abail and Elladin families were both part of the ‘Eight Noble Families of the East’ and had close ties due to their neighboring territories.

Shirley, three years younger than Sven, had often visited the Abail family with her father and had grown up like a sister to them. There had been adult schemes looking ahead to the future, but with the Abail family’s downfall and the Elladin family’s defection to the empire, those possibilities had vanished.

"Because... if things continue like this, my family will lose everything and I won’t be able to live in luxury anymore..."

Scolded by Sven, Shirley reluctantly spoke. The seductive tone and atmosphere from earlier were gone, and the pouting Shirley now looked like a young girl her age.

"But to seduce the prince like that..."

"Wait a moment, Sven. I’ve been wondering, how did this kid get into the mansion?"

As a royal and a general, Raido’s residence was heavily guarded day and night. It was impossible for anyone to enter without permission, even a child.

"Probably... she used a magic eye."

"Magic eye?"

Raido tilted his head at Sven’s response. A magic eye was a magical eyeball, a special ability possessed by some monsters. Raido had fought Gorgons with the ‘Petrification’ magic eye and Basilisks with the ‘Death Poison’ magic eye in the past, both formidable enemies.

While it was rare, magic eyes could sometimes manifest in humans, but he hadn’t expected to actually encounter one.

"The one this girl has is the ‘Enchantment’ magic eye. It amplifies the affection or desire directed at her, making the target fall under her spell."

"Enchantment..."

Raido recalled when Shirley had tried to seduce him earlier. Her eyes had glowed golden in the darkness, which must have been the magic eye in action.

"Most likely, she used it to charm the guards and infiltrate the prince’s chambers."

"If that’s true, it’s terrifying. If she had been an assassin, the prince might not have come out unscathed."

Daren, who had been listening, grimaced. As the person responsible for the mansion’s security, the power of a magic eye that could easily incapacitate guards was a significant threat. However, Sven slowly shook his head in response to the captain’s concern.

"No... while the magic eye is a rare ability, Shirley’s power isn’t that strong. Her eyes only amplify affection or desire directed at her, so they don’t work on someone who doesn’t have any good feelings towards her. They also don’t affect children like me or those with strong magic resistance, like mages."

"I see. That’s why it didn’t work on me."

Raido had no sexual interest in young girls and had high magic resistance due to the blessing of his holy sword. The enchantment magic eye had no effect on him. Shirley had likely managed to reach Raido’s chambers because the magic eye had worked on the guards she encountered by chance.

"Wait a moment. According to your logic, does that mean one of the night guards has a sexual interest in young girls?"

"Um..."

Daren’s face twisted as he asked, and Sven awkwardly averted his gaze, his response evasive. His attitude was answer enough. Daren’s shoulders slumped in disappointment at the revelation about his subordinate’s unsavory preferences. Raido glanced at Daren with sympathy before turning his gaze back to Shirley, who looked uncomfortable in her chair.

"Well... the question is what to do with this girl."

"Ah!"

Shirley flinched. Her childish impulsiveness had led her to attempt seduction, but what she had done was a capital offense. Trying to manipulate a royal with a magic eye was unforgivable. Sven stepped between Raido and Shirley, pleading on her behalf.

"Your Highness! I know it’s impertinent, but Shirley had no ill intentions. Please be lenient in your judgment!"

Despite the Elladin family’s defection to the empire, Sven still considered Shirley like a younger sister from his childhood. He stood in front of Raido, desperately trying to protect her. Raido smiled at the earnest young boy.

"Don’t worry, I won’t kill her. Her power might be useful someday."

While it might only work on people with a preference for young girls now, once Shirley grew into a young woman, many would fall under her spell. It would be a good investment to forgive Shirley Elladin’s crime and bring her into his camp.

"The Elladin family will lose their lands, but if they surrender peacefully, their lives and property will be protected. If she can demonstrate her worth and value under me, she might even be able to restore her family’s name."

"Really?"

"Really."

Shirley looked up at Raido, and he nodded firmly. Reassured, she smiled brightly.

"Alright... then I’ll become your subordinate. I’ll also try to persuade my father."

"Alright... by the way, what do you mean by ‘your subordinate’?"

"Huh? You’re going to make me your concubine, right? To raise me according to your preferences from a young age?"

"......"

Raido fell silent at Shirley’s response and slowly turned to Sven.

"I’ll talk to her."

"Thanks."

It seemed he had given the young strategist more work to do. Raido looked at the slightly worn-out Sven with a sympathetic gaze.

And so, the second of the ‘Eight Noble Families of the East’ to betray, the Elladin family, surrendered without a fight.

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