56 days after the explosions - Army tent

"Sorry sis, I don't feel like hugging right now"(prince) said while looking at the floor

There is no way she was trying to hug you!!!!!!!(x50)everyone had the same thought

"Is she ok?"(Rexford)asked just in case

"Of course, she is just asleep, all this excitement must have made her really tired once it was over"(prince) said with an "innocent" smile

"Ah!yes yes of course. Soooo, what now?"(Rexford) didn't know what to say or do exactly with everything that just happened

"We finish the details, R I G H T ?"(Prince)

"Riiightt"(Rexford) panicked a little

So the prince walked over her little sister cor.. I mean body and follow General Rexford to a table with prince guards behind(just in case)

As for prince Demian, he was so shocked he completely choked, but as soon as the prince said she wasn't hurt, he went to her side with teary eyes and checked if she was ok

Then he demanded that someone took her to a bed and called a doctor to check her out

Both the general and the prince didn't mind since he wouldn't be of much help during the negotiation(since he was a sheltered brat) so they kept going without him and they would make him sign the paper later

As for what happened before his little sister attacked, well....

It started with him trying to show confidence

The prince left his guards and approached general Rexford to show he "trusted them" while showing he wasn't afraid even if they tried something

But for the looks of it, it looked more like he didn't even consider they would attack him by surprise. Not surprising, since most thought he was a moron

Actually, he was completely panicking and was completely paranoid while checking the moment of everyone around him

And with reason, since he was surrounded by enemies that wanted nothing more than beating him to a pulp

So he was showing a confident front while preparing his favorite sleeping powder on his back and checking his surroundings

Luckily, he was suspicious of her little sister eye focus(she was seeing him like a wolf that saw a small little rabbit) and barely managed to dodge her sudden attack by a hair bread, with the help of his inner mana

Then, taking opportunity of her small hesitation, or more like delay in proper reaction after the surprising failure of her sudden attack, he threw the powder at her face and it was done

Simple

He was almost caught, he almost sh-t his pants, but he managed to evade the danger and look threatening at the same time

Making a lot simpler the negotiations after that

60 days after the explosions - Palace

It was over

No more problems, no more dangers, only enjoyment from now on

He had money, done his royal duty, and found a successor to stick the troublesome position of the throne

Life couldn't be better

After the long ours of negotiations, he managed not only to get everything he expected, he even got rid of his little sister

Well, not really "got rid" but more like he married her off to Prince Demian

It was the only way he would agree to sign the papers since he really hated the prince for hurting the love of his life, so he really didn't have much choice(and even took some convincing since he really wanted to kill the prince)

Besides, it was better for the prince if she went far far away

It's not like he didn't want to torture her or at least lock her in a tower for all eternity, but she had a cult so it was dangerous to bring her back

Anything he did to her would have awful repercussions on the common people since she would play the victim card, and not doing anything was even worst, since she would manipulate everything to her advantage

The best course of action was to send her far away and use her as an excuse for peace. Besides, this way they had a reason why they got so much war reparations, while saving face for both kingdoms

He even got some of their forts and lands as collateral in case they play dumb later, so there was nothing to worry about

And the prince even managed to save a few coins since the mercenaries run away after the battle

The reason was that they coerced money and belongings from the enemies they capture, and since it was more than what they would get if they received proper pay, they ran away before someone from the military took it all away saying it was for "safe keeping"

Besides, since they did a proper job, he let them go and even made the Zergeit empire pay their mercenaries(including the stuff they lost) just for fun

And with all the war was over

He got all the forts, all the soldiers, extra land and forts that should become money later, and pay both the elves and dwarfs properly so they wouldn't complain later

And since the recipe worked for them, they gladly paid the prince what they promise

It was actually an inferior version of the one he made, but he wouldn't tell them that

If they wanted a better version, they would have to pay him more or do their own research

Still, it should take them a lot of time since he didn't actually explained them which were the key ingredients and which weren't, and what was the thought process behind everything

But as long as they were happy, why should he care

He would probably offer an improved version to the Griffon empire so they don't fall behind(for a price), and enjoy all the reaches in a mana reach environment while training his inner mana to extend his life expectancy and enjoy a long life of fun and peace

What else could he ask for?

By the way, the duke made a deal to step down from politics and be put on house arrest in exchange for money, information of the weakness of all the nobles and all his misgivings. He felt a little pity for the serious brainwashing his sister did to him, so he agreed

Besides, it turned out the necromancer wasn't actually his employ, so it would be a pointless revenge to blame the duke

As for Susan and Aria, he "free" them from enslavement for their services (he just didn't want to deal with them anymore) but sadly for him, they decided to stick around since they consider they own him for everything he did for them, no matter how much he persistently insisted they didn't own him anything

Since he couldn't get rid of them, when he saw how devastated his little niece was after not seeing him for a couple of days, he asked them to help him look after her until they found her father

They gladly accept it

And with that, it was over. He would look after his niece while keep looking for his brother Paul and forcing his brother Jorge to the throne and enjoying all the money and reached he got from the numerous deals he made along the way

A perfect ending to all the troubles he went through, and a proper reward if you ask him

Or that is what he thought at least

"Excuse me sir"(servant) said the prince "favorite" butler Sebastian behind him

He didn't want to turn back, he didn't want to look at his face. His first instinct as soon as he heard that voice was to run as fast as he could and never look back

That a-s hole always sticks him with the worst kind of news, never something nice, never

To make it worst, his instincts were screaming at him that it would be especially bad this time. He didn't know why, but he knew it was bad really really bad

Maybe it was the tone of his voice, the timing, the flow of developments, his luck or simple instinct, but he knew

And it wasn't on the level of hell paperwork or telling someone some bad news

No, he knew it was way worst, he didn't know exactly what it was, but he knew it would be hell for him

But he couldn't run away. He knew no matter where he run, he would find him, and force him to confront his worst nightmare, a nightmare he didn't know what it was, but if he turned around, he knew he would find out

He had no choice but turn around

So he took a big breath, calmed his nerves, pray to the goods (even when he knew they wouldn't listen) and turned around

"For you sir"(Servant)said while handing him an envelope

The prince reluctantly took it and open it, finding a letter inside

So he read it

And turned completely pale

"Is it true?"(prince) reluctantly ask him

"Of course sir"(Servant) answer

The letter said 3 simple words

"Come meet us"

and had the royal seal on it