Dekan Was Just an Easygoing Imperial Duke, That Was All

Inside the mansion.

On the sofa, Sion nudged Clay beside him and asked:

"Clay, could you do that again?"

Clay sat up straight, his eyes sharpening slightly, and said, enunciating each word clearly:

"I, Dekan, am known for my prudent approach; I don't know how to spell 'crash'."

"Hahahaha!"

Sion leaned back on the sofa, clutching her stomach and kicking her legs.

Mie, who had been covering his face with his hands and pretending he knew nothing, couldn't help but laugh.

At this moment, Croix finally pushed Claire away, looking at her angrily. Just as he was about to scold her, he found that she had already fallen asleep. So, like someone swallowing a bitter pill, he could only gently place her on the sofa on the other side.

However, when he looked at Judith with mixed feelings, he saw that Judith's face seemed to have some tear stains. She successfully comforted the Ice Princess and helped the drowsy Ice Princess to start walking up the stairs.

"Judith ..."

Despite Croix's shouts, Judith didn't turn around, as if she hadn't heard him.

When he tried to catch up, Judith simply whispered, "I'm sleepy."

Croix was left standing there, stunned.

Morion, who had witnessed the brief scene inside the mansion from outside the door, had almost figured out what had just happened.

Alina, standing beside him, tilted her head and looked at him with some confusion.

Clearly, she wasn't as knowledgeable about love as Morion and Cat Teacher.

"This is a classic segment from the Beautiful Soul Squad and the Idol Group; it'll likely be back again."

Morion explained.

Would you join this kind of show?

Alina looked at Morion and asked.

"I won't."

Morion answered decisively.

"Why?"

"Because when a person is killed, they die."

For some people, the "battleground" can truly be life-threatening.

For example, what if your fiancée is a possessive former bishop of the Resurrection Church?

Morion is quite optimistic that Clay will join the next free-for-all.

But he himself was perfectly clear-headed.

Without a doubt, he was just an observer, like Cat Teacher.

At the door, Dekan still harbored treacherous intentions; he still wanted to escape.

Moreover, he planned to take Cornelia's hand, ostensibly to stroll with her through the snowy night view of the Royal Capital.

Cornelia eventually forced her into the mansion.

"--Seriously, you'll catch a cold."

Cornelia's tone carried a hint of reproach and helplessness as she warmed Dekan's hands, making sure they were still warm, before staring at Dekan's shirt.

"Oh oh."

Dekan quickly ran to the suitcase containing his luggage, found a ducal robe given to him by the Salon Empire, and draped it over his shoulders.

"Duke Dekan... I didn't expect you to have another identity now."

Cornelia wasn't surprised that Dekan had resolved the war between the Empire and the Kingdom on his way back, but she really didn't expect that Dekan would also manage to acquire a legitimate Imperial Duke status.

"Having the ability to extract my identity, I've joined the healing game; from now on, my autobiography will be written like this."

Thus said the Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom Association, the Painful Pope of the Resurrection Church, the Lord of Calamity of the Church of Calamity, and the Elector Duke of the Salon Empire.

The scene of their reunion, which they had imagined countless times, turned out to be so ordinary.

Just like those days, they met by chance at school and then traveled together.

So much so that the two of them, who might have had a lot to say, forgot where to begin and simply sat leisurely on the sofa, chatting idly with their friends.

But it seems surprisingly good.

Because they have plenty of time.

There's no rush.

As it gradually approached midnight, everyone was still sleepy.

So Mie went upstairs to sleep in her own apothecary, or perhaps she went to borrow Ikatinos's bedroom to sleep there for the night.

Sion, who already owned property in the Norton Kingdom, left under Clay's escort.

Croix has now achieved his goal of becoming a professor at the Havenlit Academy, where he lives. He also has to take the drunk Claire home.

Morion also left with Alina early on.

"You said you still want to go see the snow in the Royal Capital with me?"

Cornelia stood up and looked at Dekan, asking.

She remembered that Dekan had said something like that when they were at the door earlier.

"Ah, yes."

Dekan nodded somewhat awkwardly in response.

He should take Cornelia home no matter what.

Although it's quite possible they were going the same way.

Havenlit Academy sealed off the dormitories that originally belonged to them, but reserved permanent usage rights for them.

Now that they've heard they're coming back, they've made even more preparations for cleaning.

Although they could both live in better places now, they both long to return to that familiar place and live there for a while longer.

After closing the mansion's doors, Dekan and Cornelia stood at the entrance of the Happy Group, exhaling a puff of white mist.

The scattered lights on the street were the faint reflections of streetlights on the snow-covered ground, like tiny stars.

In the streets shrouded in darkness, lights still flickered and shone faintly, here and there.

In stark contrast to the snowflakes falling from the sky, this fiery red and warm light floated in the air like fireflies.

"If we don't go back soon, it'll be dawn."

Cornelia walked along, looking up at the night sky as she spoke.

Yes, you must be sleepy too.

As Dekan spoke, he turned his head to observe Cornelia's profile.

However Cornelia shook her head.

"What I mean is, since it's almost dawn, maybe you could spend more time with me? Remember that time we interrogated the Resurrection Cultist late at night? Although staying up all night isn't good, once or twice a year doesn't seem like a big deal?"

Back then, after the Royal Capital Bully Trio the Resurrection Cultist, they also took a nighttime stroll through the Royal Capital together.

"Oh! But the food map from back then might have changed by now."

Dekan sighed,

"It wouldn't be bad to explore it together."

Cornelia: "Before we find a good shop, you need to tell some interesting stories."

Dekan: "I have many stories to share with you from that long journey to the Holy Kingdom."

As the two strolled down the street, Dekan seemed to have discovered something.

He habitually lifted his foot, wanting to step on his own shadow.

Every time the Cat Teacher secretly hid in his shadow, this was how he chased the Cat Teacher out.

"..."

However, just as Dekan was about to step down, he paused, stopped, and squatted down to look at his shadow.

He reached out his hands to the shadow.

Two seconds passed.

Cat Teacher peeked out with some skepticism and saw Dekan's smile, which held a hint of helplessness and indulgence. After a moment of stunned silence, she jumped out and leaped onto Dekan's arm.

Two weeks later.

Southern States.

The capital of the Kingdom of Vihart.

The streets of the Royal Capital were now adorned with colorful decorations, many of them wreaths woven from Sun Flower and Star Stone.

They symbolize strength and happiness, a blessing to the many distinguished guests, and a celebration of the nation's bright future.

This kingdom is about to host a major event that will attract attention from all nations.

Many prominent figures who previously held high positions within the Kingdom Association will be arriving in the Vihart Kingdom in the coming days.

Since the Kingdom Association Hero Festival, there has been a war that has lasted for nearly two years, and no other event of this scale has occurred since.

Besides these reasons, there are other reasons why the Vihart Kingdom made the welcoming ceremony so solemn.

The city gates have just been opened.

The Royal Ceremonial Guard waited solemnly in front of the carriage. The horses, seemingly aware of the solemn occasion, were perfectly aligned and quietly awaited the arrival of the guests, thanks to their rigorous training.

As the carriage bearing the emblem of the Norton Kingdom drove into the street, people made way for it without the need for the knights to urge it on, and even shouted for it from time to time.

Clearly, the Norton Kingdom group, who were on good terms with Cornelia, were well-liked by the people.

They continued their journey.

The lively chatter of people on the street could be heard from time to time.

However, they were not the main focus of the discussion.

"Have you heard? Duke Delois, Elector Duke of the Salon Empire, has visited the Royal Capital."

"Who doesn't know that this is probably the biggest news in the Southern States right now! The Elector Duke is visiting the kingdoms!"

"Speaking of names like 'Elector Duke'... can the Emperor of the Empire tolerate this...?"

"The title of Duke wasn't chosen by himself. Think carefully about who bestowed this title upon him and the literal meaning of 'Elector Duke'... The Salon Empire did send an official document regarding this Duke's visit."

"Could this guy be the real mastermind behind the empire...?"

"Maybe... who knows what grand strategy he's playing?"

"What exactly is this guy up to by stirring up this mess...? Could he be eyeing Princess Cornelia?"

"Hiss! Even if he is the Elector Duke, if he dares to cause trouble, Mr. Dekan won't let him off the hook when he returns..."

Listening to people talking.

The members of the Norton Kingdom delegation on the carriage felt they had a lot to say, yet they couldn't express it all.

One of my grandsons has started role-playing here again.

It's almost the finale, and they're still acting? Aren't they tired of it?

However, this might really be the last time, as this is Dekan's last alternate account.

Ahead of the rest of the Beautiful Soul Squad, Dekan and his secretary Clay had already arrived in the Vihart Kingdom.

Dekan did not use his true identity from the Norton Kingdom.

Instead, he used the title of Elector Duke arranged for him by the Salon Empire, and the Salon Empire announced in advance that "the Elector Duke will travel to the Southern Nations to negotiate friendly relations between the Empire and the kingdoms."

The Elector Duke's first stop Vihart Kingdom, where the Card Creation Ceremony was about to be held, as if he were just joining in the fun.

No one even knew if this guy would be eager to try it out and participate.

No one wanted this Elector Duke to cause trouble, but many others wanted to see Elector Duke make a move and test his true abilities.

Even among the Southern Nations that escaped the war, almost none were unafraid of or wary of the Salon Empire.

After all, who knows if this peace is just temporary?

Even if Elector Duke, no king would be willing to be the first to refuse.

It is said that the King of the Vihart Kingdom's expression upon learning of the Elector Duke's wishes was beyond the limits of what words could describe.

A luxurious mansion near the royal palace.

This is the place the king arranged for the Elector Duke to stay.

In the morning, a large number of onlookers had gathered at the entrance to the Duke's temporary residence, which even caused a traffic jam at one point. Fortunately, the Public Security Bureau came and dispersed some of the onlookers.

Not only were there crowds, but also many carriages belonging to prominent families of the kingdom were parked near the mansion.

Logically speaking, when important officials from other countries visit, it is not customary for the king to personally visit the envoy.

But this imperial duke was arrogant to the extreme.

After arriving in the Vihart Kingdom, he never stepped out of the mansion again.

He didn't bring many imperial guards with him, only an imperial officer who acted like an assassin by his side at all times.

However, the nobles didn't feel any pressure. They weren't kings, so visiting a powerful figure from another country wasn't a loss of face for them.

No matter how noisy and bustling it was outside the garden, the Elector Duke's residence remained as quiet as a still lake.

Meanwhile, a considerable number of people had already gathered in the Elector Duke's reception room.

The ground was covered with a dazzling array of gifts.

"Oh no! It's miracle! How could you bring so many gifts to visit me?"

"Dekan, the red-haired man in an imperial uniform, shouted with a tone of extreme pleasure mixed with slight distress."

But he didn't look troubled at all; he was receiving the many nobles from the Vihart Kingdom who came to visit him with a smile.

The nobles in the reception room were all somewhat bewildered.

They had assumed that this arrogant imperial duke, who hadn't visited the king since arriving in the Vihart Kingdom and instead seemed to be waiting for the king to visit him, was actually quite easy to talk to.

Aside from his slightly strange way of speaking, he didn't have the oppressive feeling I had imagined at all.

However, no one dared to let their guard down!

No matter how easygoing this imperial duke may seem, you must never mistake him for a fool!

Every nobleman present from the Vihart Kingdom had exerted all their efforts to obtain crucial information about the Elector Duke from absolutely reliable imperial intelligence channels!

The title "Elector Duke" is by no means an exaggeration.

Back in the Salong Imperial Capital, it was this Elector Duke turned the tide and saved the collapsing empire, personally carrying out a true election ceremony!

This also became a major turning point in the war between the empire and the kingdoms.

This seemingly absurd, mythical story undoubtedly has its protagonist right before our eyes.

If one mistakes this red-haired youth for a young nobleman who matches his appearance, and offends him, one might not even know how one died.

This old monster is countless times more Terror than the former Empress Ikatinos!