Chapter 13: Cave Meetup

The welcome gala ended.

Most of the high nobles had already cleared out of the Emerald Palace, retreating to the lavish accommodations they’d booked across the capital.

It was now night in Gilishon.

Dressed in a dragonscale cloak, Prussia left the hotel for the private stables where House Dunamis kept their beasts. Resting inside was Eldrossa, her massive black-scaled wyvern.

"Where are you going at this hour, Lady Prussia?"

Korgan stepped out from the darkness of the stable entrance with his arms crossed over his heavy armor.

She didn’t stop walking regardless.

"To Lake Ribra. I am retrieving the golden fairy soil."

Korgan frowned, stepping forward to block her path slightly.

"It is far too early for that. The auction still has three days left. Moving now is unwise and will draw unnecessary eyes to our movements."

"So? I’m leaving now. And I plan to go alone."

Prussia narrowed her eyes at him.

"You will stay here."

"Y-, Yes, milady."

Korgan bowed his head and stepped aside.

Eldrossa let out a low rumble, lowering its huge head to the stable floor. Prussia mounted the wyvern, pulled the reins, and took off into the night sky.

Within minutes, the wind lashed against her cloak as Lake Ribra appeared below. Prussia landed Eldrossa near the edge of the sparkling, golden waters and dismounted. Pulling a map from her cloak, she scanned the terrain. According to the Marsofian Union spies, the soil was hidden deep within a cave behind the lake’s massive waterfall. Finding the entrance in the open landscape was trivial for a trained hunter like her.

Centuries ago, a Fairy King had died in this very cavern. His decaying corpse gradually fused with the surrounding earth over generations, forming the rare magical substance known as golden fairy soil.

Prussia stepped inside the cavern with her hand resting firmly on her sword as her eyes searched for pillars or sediments of glowing soil.

THUD!

Prussia’s instincts flared. SHING! Her dragonbone sword unsheathed in a blinding flash, pointing straight toward the noise. She paused to catch her breath. It was merely a crumbling stalactite hitting the stone floor. Exhaling softly, she began to lower her blade—

Suddenly, a warm hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

"Hey..."

SHING!

With feral speed, Prussia whirled around and slashed her sword straight at the intruder’s neck! The razor-sharp edge stopped a hair’s breadth from the man’s throat.

"It’s you..." Prussia narrowed her eyes, lowering her blade.

Standing there was Fifth Prince Adonis Kallias Falsbane.

He gave her a polite wave and a gentle, dazzling smile.

"Good evening, Lady Prussia."

Prussia didn’t bother returning the greeting.

She sheathed her sword, turned her back on him, and began walking away.

"Leave here now."

"So soon?" Adonis called out, taking a step after her.

Against her will, Prussia stopped.

She glared at him over her shoulder.

There was disgust in her eyes.

"You followed me here, didn’t you?"

She’d made up her mind when she first saw him: she had zero interest in talking to womanizing scum, and ignoring him was the best course of action.

Adonis gave her a flat look, dusting off his blue tailcoat.

"No, I didn’t follow you. I’m actually looking for the golden fairy soil, just like you are—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Prussia’s sword vanished from her scabbard again.

CLANG!

Adonis threw his body backward as a lethal arc of sword light grazed his nose! The resulting shockwave slammed into the cavern wall behind him, blasting loose rocks everywhere.

Prussia glared at him.

There was bloodlust in her usually beautiful blue eyes.

And her face looked ferocious like a mad dog’s.

"How do you know about the soil?! Are you after the immortal dragon egg too?! Anyone who interferes with House Dunamis is an enemy!"

A red info panel flashed urgently before Adonis’s eyes:

[ALERT: Target ’Prussia Dunamis’ dislike for Host has mutated into pure hatred!]

[Current Affection Level: -65!]

Adonis brushed some dirt off his shoulders as he sighed.

"Lower your weapon, Lady Prussia. As you must’ve heard, I’m an [Enchanter]. Obtaining something as rare as Golden Fairy Soil is vital for my research."

He placed a hand over his chest, looking determined.

But he also looked hurt.

"As you well know... everyone in this kingdom views me as trash. A useless prince. I have to work twice as hard just to prove them wrong and earn their respect."

Prussia’s murderous expression softened.

Her grip on her sword lightened.

"A member of the royal family... working hard to prove himself?"

Adonis turned his face away, looking down at the cavern floor with a sad, self-deprecating smile.

"It sounds stupid, doesn’t it?"

Prussia silently walked over to him and gave his golden hair a gentle, cheering pat despite the very expressionless look she had on her pretty face.

"No. It is very admirable."

[Congratulations, Host. Target ’Prussia’ feelings toward Host have experienced a massive shift!]

[Affection Level: -65 -> +5!]

’She actually fell for that lie?’ ಠ_ಠ

Adonis inwardly shook his head disappointedly.

’Well... it makes sense.’

In the webnovel, a strong culture of the Marsofian Union was their despise for lazy, entitled bloodlines. So they deeply respected nobles who relied on hardwork over lineage. He just didn’t expect it to work THIS well.

Prussia returned her hand to her sword hilt, though her eyes remained soft as she looked at him.

"Fine. We will search for the Golden Fairy Soil together."

Adonis shook his head.

"Difficult, considering it’s already been stolen."

Prussia’s eyes widened in shock. "HOW?!"

"I got here about an hour ago. I saw a group of shady men moving heavy bags into a merchant carriage. Judging by the crest on the doors, it’s Baron Korvan Thale’s doing."

Prussia frowned. "And he is?"

"Baron Thale is a reclusive gem prospector and whale of a merchant. I initially thought they were just mining common minerals, but few people know about this hidden cave unless they’ve studied the ancient texts on the Fairy King. I searched the cavern after they left and found nothing. He clearly knew the soil’s worth to enchanters and took it."

Prussia shook her head.

"That is not the soil’s only use. And a merchant like him wouldn’t use such a valuable resource for himself, he’ll likely put it up for auction. I’ll simply have to wait and buy it."

Adonis sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You’re lucky you have the gold for that. I don’t have the money to bid on it, and it’s crucial for my research."

Prussia ignored his subtle plea and began walking deeper into the cave system.

"I will search the lower tunnels myself to be sure."

She had no reason to fully trust a Falsbane prince just yet.

Adonis watched her walk away and shrugged.

"Considering how many Archmages from Naxos arrived today, they’ll spend a fortune to get that soil. If I weren’t a prince, I’d probably just steal it from Thale myself."

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

Prussia killed her brisk footsteps.

She turned around, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"Stealing it might be a much better choice."

Adonis raised a eyebrow. "How so?"

Prussia couldn’t reveal the secrets of her house, that hatching the immortal dragon egg required the egg, the Dragon Crucible, and the Golden Fairy Soil together, but she sighed and offered a practical reason.

"If my family gets into a bidding war with the Naxos Archmages, we’ll either lose a large sum of gold or lose the item entirely. My family can’t afford to let that happen."

"Why?" Adonis asked mildly.

"That is none of your business."

She paused, then took three quick steps toward him, grabbing his shoulder in a iron grip.

"You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to help me steal both the immortal dragon egg and the golden fairy soil, whether you like it or not."

Adonis leaned back slightly, but the more he did that, the more she leaned closer with her adorably mean face and hands that rested firmly on her wide, voluptuous hips.

"Is that clear?"

Adonis gave a slow, compliant nod.

"So... what, we’re partners now?"

Prussia narrowed her gem-like blue eyes, a smug, dominant smirk on her luscious lips.

"No. Far from that. You’re more like my royal dog. You will follow me everywhere I go until I acquire the dragon egg and the soil. Is that clear?"

Adonis gave her a deadpan stare.

"I am nobody’s dog."

Prussia chuckled as she stepped up on her tiptoes to pat his cheek condescendingly.

"Falsbane men are spineless, feminine disgraces. I know you’re far too much of a filthy womanizer to reject an opportunity to be near me. Don’t you want to be with me, even if it means I’m just using you?"

She turned away, flashing a dazzling, arrogant smile over her shoulder.

"Doesn’t a pathetic prince like you enjoy being used?"

[Prussia’s Affection Level increased to +10! But the target views Host purely as a tool to achieve her goals.]

’I hate this bitch.’

Adonis thought blood boiled viciously beneath his skin.

In his mind, he was shaking with rage. Just because he was a "trash extra" in this world, she thought she could talk to him like a piece of dirt? It made his stomach churn.

Yet, on the outside, Adonis restrained his anger, hiding his clenched fists behind his back. He forced his features into a sweet, angelic smile.

"Well... it’s not like I have much of a choice, Lady Prussia."

Prussia didn’t even bother looking back at him, dismissively waving her hand.

"Now leave. I’m going to double-check the inner chambers."

Adonis chuckled softly. "Good luck, then."

...

An hour later, Adonis returned to the Emerald Palace, making his way directly toward the Fourth Queen’s private chambers. Queen Minerva had demanded his presence tonight, and it wasn’t a request he could easily ignore.

It wasn’t that they were sleeping together.

Well, physically, at least. ℯℯ𝘭.

She simply insisted on having him in her room at night.

Truthfully, Adonis preferred resting his head against her soft, lilac-scented chest over sleeping in the dusty servant quarters he had been assigned.

Reaching the doors, he saw Maid Clara standing guard.

"Prince Adonis..." Clara greeted with a low bow.

Adonis ignored her and stepped inside the chambers.

Queen Minerva was already loungeing across her grand bed, wearing her usual transparent silk dress that barely contained her voluptuous curves.

She looked up, offering him an affectionate, mature smile.

"You look exhausted, Little Fifth..."

Adonis nodded quietly with a tired smile.

Minerva opened her arms wide, revealing the soft, inviting warmth of her chest.

"Come here. I can fix that~"

...

Outside in the dark corridor, the soft sound of the bedroom doors locking caught Maid Clara’s ears.

She hurried to the regal figure down the dark hallway.

Clara bowed deeply before Third Queen Lucelia.

"Her Royal Highness Minerva has locked the doors with Prince Adonis inside."

Lucelia’s eyes narrowed in dark disgust.

"So it’s true... that filthy whore Minerva really shares a bed with her stepson. How utterly revolting..."

But beneath that, jealousy clawed at Lucelia’s heart. A part of her still craved the breathtaking Fifth Prince for herself. But this was even better... now she had undeniable leverage over that proud Blood Witch.

Lucelia acknowledged the maid with a nod.

"You’ve done well, Clara. I will ensure your family lives in luxury for the rest of their days."

"Thank you, Your Highness."