The Price is Everything of Yours (76 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 243

Abelus slammed his hand down on the table.

“Damn it!”

His anger was understandable. Considering that the hastily assembled imperial defensive line had been pierced as easily as a straw and that numerous territories had already fallen into Maindlant’s grasp,

and furthermore, despite having coerced nobles—even those with young children—into compliance at the risk of provoking backlash, support was still not pouring in as expected.

“Your Highness, Your Highness—please calm yourself.”

Megara’s chamber in the Crown Prince’s palace held only two people again today. Speaking gently, as Abelus had recently come to prefer—like soothing a child—Megara coaxed him. He quieted slightly, though sparks still flew from his eyes.

“How can those so-called nobles be this incompetent! If they’d just seize that bastard Cledwin, everything would return to how it should be—yet they can’t even manage that!”

By “how it should be,” Abelus meant the court atmosphere as he envisioned it:

where everyone respected the Crown Prince, trusted his capabilities, and the Imperial Household enjoyed ample funds—much like just before Princess Kaymil’s removal from state affairs.

It was precisely this gap between ideal and reality that had lately shifted his preference from appearing dignified and impressive before women to favoring gentle, all-accepting attitudes.

How could he not be flustered when Maindlant, whom he’d assumed would quickly surrender under pressure, continued marching steadily southward?

Megara understood Abelus’s inner turmoil as clearly as if reading his palm. She found his way of thinking utterly ridiculous, yet at the same time, she was grateful for his simplicity.

If Abelus hadn’t been so utterly lacking in strategy, would he have followed her prodding so obediently?

“Oh, if only Your Highness had stepped forward yourself, everything would be settled by now. But truly, how many as brilliant as Your Highness are there in this world? And of course, Your Highness cannot manage every single matter yourself—so we must patiently tolerate the failures of these foolish, incapable people.”

Was that so? Abelus’s expression softened with interest, though irritation still lingered.

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