Chapter 1088: Chapter 1088

The screams outside stirred up a commotion.

“Young Lady... No, Your Excellency! Are you alright?!”

A group of people burst in with a loud clatter, their faces freezing in shock, then they saw what was happening inside. Her clothes were slightly disheveled, and her neatly styled pink hair was now a mess. In front of her was a man groaning on the floor, subdued, and Davey, who had taken him down.

They looked flustered at first, but quickly regained their composure, surrounding Tsuna defensively while keeping a wary eye on Davey and the man on the ground.

“P-Prince Davey?! What in the world is going on?”

“This is the first lesson. Remember it well,” Davey said in a firm tone.

The man on the floor gritted his teeth and shouted, “Y-You son of a—Ugh!!”

He didn’t get far before he retched and collapsed completely limp onto the floor.

Davey released the pressure from the man’s nape and slowly stood up, brushing himself off lightly before turning to look at Tsuna de Murgent.

“Is the security of a ducal household supposed to be this sloppy?”

The man lying on the floor, though dressed neatly, was clearly one of the soldiers Davey had seen when first arriving at the mansion.

“Your Excellency! What on earth happened?”

“It looks like Salan fell for the Marquis’s tricks.”

Judging by the situation, the man had originally been a liegeman of the ducal house, ultimately lured into betrayal by the marquis. He must’ve been planning to either kill her or ruin her in some way. Given that disturbing her already fragile mental state would already be a big win for them, it made sense for that kind of thing to have happened.

“W-What?! You bastard!!”

Those who tied up the fallen Salan shouted in fury.

“If Prince Davey hadn't arrived, who knows what could’ve happened...” Tsuna said as she looked at the unconscious Salan with a complicated expression.

In her eyes were clear signs of confusion and doubt. Davey wasn’t certain what she was thinking, but it was obvious the incident had dealt a major mental blow to her.

“Restrain Salan... and... ugh!”

She staggered and began to collapse, though Davey quickly caught her before she hit the floor. Unable to withstand the extreme stress and chaos, her body had given out before ultimately losing consciousness. The attendants and maids looked panicked, unsure of what to do.

He quickly checked her pulse and infused her with holy power. Since the body was still young and, frankly, not very sturdy to begin with, the intense stress and overwork had caused her to shut down. More precisely, she had been barely holding on by sheer willpower until the incident finally pushed her past her limit.

“Head Butler, go lie her down so she can rest. For the next three days at least, pay special attention to her nutrition, and make sure you don’t serve anything heavy on the stomach.”

“Do you really think I would lie when treating a patient?”

His reputation as a healer was already known across the continent. He had resolved the Melting Acceleration Virus in the Ordem Territory once ruled by Baris and Winley, contained plagues comparable to the Black Death, and saved countless lives during wartime.

“We must hear the opinion of the Lady’s attending physician even if you are a Saint, Prince.”

It was then that the room’s door burst open, an elderly man wearing a monocle promptly entering.

“Stop talking nonsense! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince.”

“I am Ramses, currently serving as Lady Tsuna’s attending physician.”

Both his name and appearance rang a bell in Davey’s head. “Are you by any chance related to Sir Ramdas from the Royal Court of Rowane?”

The old man chuckled, “Yes, he and I are relatives.”

“Quickly, see to Her Excellency! Prince Davey is someone even the Continental Disease Control Bureau can't compare to, so his expertise must not be questioned. He may even be able to cure ailments this old man couldn’t possibly resolve!”

‘What a slippery old snake.’

“You’re pretty adept at roping me into treating her chronic conditions, huh?”

“Haha. As a physician, it's only natural not to overlook a patient in need, right?”

“Actually, the Lady’s been losing her appetite lately too.”

Davey smirked slightly, seeing the old man still putting on a pure-hearted act.

Having watched Tsuna faint from extreme exhaustion, the Chancellor’s spirit seemed restless and uneasy. Although she had eventually regained consciousness, from a medical standpoint, she was in no condition to push herself with work.

“I am ashamed before you, Prince.”

“It’s best for you to rest for now. If you push yourself too hard even still, your body won't hold up much longer. Also, about your chronic condition...”

Her eyes widened, attention firmly focused on what he was about to say.

“It’s a kind of mental illness, caused by excessive stress and psychological pressure. It sounds odd to say it like that, but basically, because your mindset is unstable, your body is similarly weak.”

“That's... a bit hard to believe.”

“That illness is why you shouldn't overdo yourself. You’d do well to think about who’d be happiest if you collapsed altogether,” Davey said as he finished checking her pulse and stepped back slightly.

She gave a faint, bitter smile. “Thank you for your concern, but it’s alright. I’m used to it.”

“My father was a truly good man, but he was extremely strict at the same time. That's why, ever since I was young, I’ve never let anyone know when I was feeling sick.”

Perhaps having been rendered unusually emotional, she began saying things Davey didn’t ask for.

[P-Prince, tell me! How is Tsuna’s condition? Is she seriously ill?! She needs medicine to be well!]

'Quiet down, old man. You’re making my head ring.'

Davey glared briefly at the spirit that had suddenly retreated, then confirmed, “Was the former Chancellor really that strict?”

She smiled weakly in response. “Of course he was. When I was little, he once gave me a ridiculous test. I wanted so badly to earn his praise, to the point that I pushed myself and ultimately completed the task. But...”

Her expression began to cloud over. “But during the final part of the test, I got seriously injured and collapsed. Want to know what my father said in response?”

- You fool. If you can’t even take care of your own body, how do you expect to lead the ducal house?

“At the time, I truly couldn't understand him, and I resented him so much... Ah. Wait a second!” She looked at Davey with wide eyes. “I didn’t notice because it felt so natural until now...”

“What are you trying to say?” Davey asked.

“Why are you speaking so casually with me?”

For a moment, silence fell between them.

Davey moved on, “Ahem. Go on.”

“I’ll explain after you finish your story.”

She sighed softly and continued, “Thinking back now, I realize he was preparing me for when I would have to stand alone as an adult. He wanted to make sure I wouldn't get torn apart by the vultures always circling my position. I also got scolded by him for every little mistake I made. Once, I was even slapped for working the servants too hard without considering their condition.”

Listening to her traumatic story, Davey turned his head to the side.

[Damn it. Damn it! She has to get better!]

‘A man who slapped his own daughter and pushed her even when she was sick? I don’t see him here.’

Thinking back, when Davey first met the late Chancellor, he had bragged endlessly about his daughter. Davey couldn’t resist criticizing the old man.

Davey muttered to himself, “So you’re acting like a proud father after never once having given her a warm hug?”

Turning his attention from the speechless spirit, Davey sighed and said, “First of all, your father, the late Chancellor, left me a message.”

“Yeah. He asked me to teach you everything you’d need to fully take on the role of chancellor. He promised to pay me for it, so it’s only fair that I do my part.”

She tilted her head in confusion. “What does that have to do with you speaking so informally to me?”

“It matters. Have you ever seen an instructor speak formally to a trainee?”

Her face immediately twisted into a frown. “What kind of nonsense is that?”

“From now on, I'm your instructor. For the next week, while I’m teaching you, you shall treat me as an instructor. After that, you can treat me however you want, leveraging your status as Alberta’s Chancellor or whatever else.”

“Wait a minute, I don't even understand the situation yet! My father only passed away just a short while ago, and now you’re throwing all of this at me?”

“So, are you going to do it or not? If not, let’s call it off right now, and I’ll leave.”

A mess of emotions, she stared quietly into his eyes. “Those aren’t the eyes of someone lying.”

“One of the reasons I came here was to honor your father, the late Chancellor.”

“Did my father... ascend well?”

Davey couldn’t help but glance aside at the question. The late Chancellor’s spirit was shaking his head with a sigh.

She covered her mouth with one hand. Her body trembled slightly before she asked, “What can you teach me?”

“Well, that depends on how much you're willing to learn.”

Her expression twisted slightly.

“I already taught you one thing: Don’t let troublemakers sway you,” he said with a smile.

She gave a hollow laugh.

“Anyone can say something like that. I’m asking about real, tangible changes,” she said, looking at him squarely in the face. “I understand your intentions. Still, even if I take these lessons from you, there’s no guarantee anything will change, or that I’ll even be able to use what you teach me. And...”

She hesitated for a moment, then parted her lips again. “You’re a major figure from another country. If someone like you becomes my advisor and mentor, how are the people of this kingdom going to look at me?”

“Was your status ever so low that you had to worry about that kind of thing? Just think about who’s standing in front of you right now. Really think it over.”

The reason for her trepidation was simple, having investigated his achievements. When analyzed through an objective lens, the way Davey had developed Heins Territory was something that should’ve been impossible by any conventional means.

“I know you're an extraordinary strategist, but your methods only worked because of your strength and abilities. For someone like me, who only has her wits to rely on, how could your way possibly be replicated?”

Seeing her carefully pointing everything out, Davey smiled softly, “It’s alright. You’ll figure it out once you get thrown into it.”

Her face twisted even further at those words.

Rumors began to spread throughout the Alberta Kingdom. Davey O'Rowane, First Prince of the Rowane Kingdom and Grand Duke of Heins Territory, was currently staying at the ducal house of Murgent. Such news naturally caused a stir within the Alberta royal family, wondering what Tsuna could possibly be planning to accomplish with him.

Some recalled that she had once proposed marriage to Davey, speculating that he was there to discuss the marriage proposal in secret. Others thought he was simply having a brief stay to pay respects following the death of the late Chancellor. However, once there was an informant on the inside, it was only a matter of time before information on the truth leaked to the outside as well.

“What exactly are you doing?” Tsuna looked at Davey with a puzzled expression, having gathered all the servants of the mansion.

“I already laid a little groundwork before starting.”

“Yeah. I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m here.”

“That’s true,” she agreed.

“No one else should know exactly what I'm doing here, or why I'm staying. Yet, why are rumors already spreading?”

“Remember this well: the most important asset for a skilled merchant is information. If someone leaks information, you need to cut them off at the root.”

She frowned, knowing where he was going with his statement. “Are you suspecting my servants right now?”

“You’re a capable ruler, Tsuna.”

Despite receiving his compliment, her expression didn’t soften in the least.

“But humans are too kind. That’s their problem.”

Davey borrowed a staff from a nearby guard, then scattered a shimmering light into the air.

“I’m sure everyone’s curious about what this is.”

The servants glanced at one another nervously.

“It’s simple. It’s a curse that makes your heart explode if you answer any of my questions with a lie.”

The servants' faces twisted in horror.

“I only have one question to ask,” he said with a wicked smile. “Since I arrived here, have you reported my or Tsuna’s movements to external enemies?”

He was hunting for a snitch, and the servants began to stir.

“You may know I'm a Saint, but I am also a mage. A simple curse can’t even be considered somewhat difficult for me. If you never betrayed Tsuna, there’s no reason to be scared, right?”

Grinning, Davey let the magic seep into the servants and left an excruciatingly long silence before beginning his interrogation. Before long, a few of the servants were unable to endure the unimaginable pressure and began trembling violently.

Davey stepped up to one of them without hesitation. “Want to try answering?”

In a flash, Davey kicked the man’s legs out from under him and pressed the staff against his throat. “If you get caught lying, it won’t just be your hand getting chopped off. After all, why should your hand pay when it’s your tongue and brain that committed the crime?”

The servant cried out in terror, “P-Please! Please spare me, My Lady—no, Your Excellency!!”

Tsuna quickly tried to stop Davey. “Don’t do it! He’s served the ducal house faithfully for a long time!”

“Just answer the question, faithful servant. Did you, or did you not, report my and Tsuna’s movements to the marquis?”

The servant didn’t answer.

Seeing that, even Tsuna began to hesitate. “Salang... why can’t you answer?”

“M-My Lady... that’s...”

“Take him away.” The knights, though clearly displeased with Davey giving them orders, eventually dragged Salang away.

A heavy silence fell. The reason for his betrayal didn’t matter, as it wasn’t what Davey was trying to show Tsuna.

“This is the second thing I’m teaching you. The most dangerous enemies come from within.”

“This is what you meant when you said you’d give me a lesson? I still can't believe Salang would betray us like that. If it weren’t for your skills...”

Davey shrugged. “The magic I cast just now wasn’t a curse.”

“It was just a simple light spell. Curse? That was just me saying gibberish,” he said with a smile. “It may be simple, but you and these people know too little about magic. That’s why you got fooled by such a cheap trick.”

Watching the blank faces of the servants when they realized they had simply been tricked, Davey said, “The Alberta Kingdom despises magic. That’s why you can hardly find magical artifacts here unless they were alchemically crafted.”

She didn’t know what to say.

“Being unwilling to even learn about something just because you hate it means you've already lost.”

“Starting now and over the next three days, I’m going to teach you a variety of things. Knowledge is power, and that power will become your foundation. Let me ask you a question, Tsuna de Murgent.”

“What is it?” she asked, meeting his eyes.

“Why did you believe me when I said I cast a curse?”

“Well, because you're a mage and—” She suddenly flinched and stopped speaking.

“Right? You believed it just because I’m a mage, but do you think that kind of blanket assumption only applies to mages?”

Her expression grew more and more complicated.

“This is the third lesson. A merchant must never blindly trust even what they see with their own eyes.”

“The Alberta Kingdom despises magic.”

She murmured, “That’s...”

“Yet, if Marquis Barogo used magic to stab you in the back... would you still refuse to believe it happened? All just because you’re trapped in the assumption that nobles here hate magic?”

She went silent, at a loss for words. The source of thɪs content is Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

“Knowledge is power, and you’re too restricted by your preconceptions. You act like someone who’s never lived anywhere with magic.”

Her eyes widened in shock, realizing what he meant. Davey noticed her brief flustered expression, but he chose not to dig into it. Frankly, it wasn’t his business who or what she really was.

“But realistically, how could he have used magic...” She trailed off, then widened her eyes again. “The locust swarm!”

“Did you ever bother to investigate it?”

She gave no response. She hadn't even considered doubting whether the locust swarm, which had caused a disastrous famine in Alberta, might’ve been orchestrated by magic. After all, it was hard to suspect that a marquis, one of the very pillars of a nation that despised magic, would secretly wield such a thing.

“Haah.” A middle-aged man turned his head from where he had been gazing out the window in his dark office. “So, how are things proceeding?”

“We were unable to grasp the full details once all the people we had planted were exposed and rooted out.”

“Tsk. I thought that foolish girl Tsuna would never notice, always trusting others too easily.”

“It’s said that Prince Davey was the one who rooted them out.”

“Why is he even here?”

“Apparently, he's acting as an advisor to Chancellor Tsuna.”

“A nuisance has appeared, eh?” he muttered to himself before turning his head again.

A faint, ghostly figure stared back at him.

“What are you going to do? At this rate, you won’t be able to achieve the goal you desire,” Marquis Barogo questioned.

The figure trembled slightly.

[Chase him out or kill him. Either way, you must get rid of him. I still need more vitality.]

“Alright. Tomorrow, I’ll pay him a little visit. At the end of the day, he’s probably just another brat drunk on power, just like Tsuna.”

[If things go wrong...]

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen. All you need to do is honor the contract you made with me. You’ll siphon off the vitality, and I’ll use your power to drag that girl Tsuna down into the depths of hell. Then, once the ducal house of Murgent finally collapses, I’ll reach out my hand to her.”

He laughed sadistically and spoke with determination, “Plucking a flower from the edge of a cliff is all the more thrilling is made all the more thrilling by the danger.”

The ghostly figure soon began to slowly dissipate into the air.

[I’ll trust you on this, but if anything goes wrong, you better make sure you call me immediately.]

“Alright, then I’ll trust that you have the strength to kill him.”

[I’m not so weak that I can’t deal with a mere living being.]

“You spiritual entities really are curious creatures.”