Trash of the Count's Family

“This is quite a cozy and quiet location.”

Cale looked around as he said that.

They had teleported to a small reception room. The room was decorated with the Caro Kingdom's unique exotic and vintage decorations, but it was too small to be one of the crown prince’s rooms.

“Isn't a stealthy place best to have such secret conversations?”

Crown prince Valentino responded in a friendly manner before taking a teacup from the guard knight. Only Cale’s group and Valentino's close confidants were in this small reception room.

"Alright, let’s sit down and chat. We made it so we cannot hear anything from the outside either.”

The door was closed shut and the large window on the west side of the reception room was closed as well. Valentino sat on the couch as he started to speak to Cale.

“Do you know how quietly I came to this city from the palace to see you?”

Cale recalled when he had a meal alone with crown prince Valentino. The Mogoru Empire. The crown prince who said that he would only feel refreshed after seeing the fall of Imperial Prince Adin who betrayed him seemed to have matured a bit.

“I didn’t know you thought so highly of me. I am touched.”

Cale responded as he sat across from Valentino.

“It is nothing compared to what our Caro Kingdom has received from you and the Roan Kingdom.”

Tap.

Valentino heard a dull noise at that moment. His gaze headed toward the table.

“…It’s a golden plaque.”

It was crown prince Alberu’s special golden plaque. The smile disappeared from Valentino's face.

“I heard the gist of what is going on. The person responsible for everything, this White Star, is coming to the Caro Kingdom?”

The smile disappeared and was slowly replaced with quiet anger.

“How shocking. Do you know how shocked I was after hearing about everything from crown prince Alberu? We thought that only the Empire was involved with the Indomitable Alliance that threw our Caro Kingdom into chaos.”

Crown prince Valentino's fingers were slightly shaking as he held the teacup. In some ways, Cale thought Valentino was the most human of all future kings.

“But there is someone worse than the two of them? This person is the White Star?”

He had heard the rumors that had spread across the Western continent about Cale and the White Star. He had then heard the detailed explanation from Alberu.

The night Valentino heard about the White Star and everything he had been involved with from Alberu… There was a secret meeting in the Caro Kingdom’s central palace. Most citizens, nobles, and administrators had no idea that this secret meeting happened. It was because Valentino listened to Alberu’s warning.

‘I wish to keep the information that the White Star is heading to the Caro Kingdom as quiet as possible. This is someone who had installed his people inside the Mogoru Empire. That is why I am keeping everything about this person under wraps in the Roan Kingdom as well.’

Valentino started to share the results of that meeting.

“The Caro Kingdom with me, Valentino, as its representative has chosen to accept crown prince Alberu Crossman and our savior, young master Cale's request.”

The thing that Alberu and Cale had asked for.

“We will overlook your battle against the White Star in the Land of Death. Also-”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak.

"We will not involve ourselves in it either. We will not enter the battlefield on our own accord.”

This was a battle that was happening in the Caro Kingdom's territory. In addition, the White Star was their bitter enemy. That was why Alberu and Cale's request for the Caro Kingdom to not get involved in the battle in any way was hurtful to their pride and a big embarrassment.

This was because telling them not to get involved was saying…

‘…It means our kingdom's forces are not helpful at all in their fight against this White Star.’

Valentino felt bitter that the Caro Kingdom's strength was this useless.

“Furthermore, we will approve of the Dark Elves and the Roan Kingdom’s forces coming and going through the Caro Kingdom for this battle.”

The position of a ruler who had to allow foreign forces to come and go for a battle happening in his own territory… Valentino could not smile at all.

“Your highness.”

He forced himself to smile after hearing Cale calling out to him and quickly added on.

“Thank you. I heard that this White Star is very strong. I heard about the black mages who follow him as well, so I want to thank you on behalf of our entire kingdom for stepping up to fight against them.”

Cale quietly listened to Valentino's words and observed his expression. Mm, human! Isn’t the truth that we called the White Star to the Land of Death?

He heard Raon's voice in his mind.

As Raon mentioned, Cale was the one who led the White Star to the Land of Death. He naturally hid that fact from the Caro Kingdom.

Otherwise, the Caro Kingdom would not cooperate with Cale and the Roan Kingdom and would instead point their blades toward them.

by the Caro

was located in the Caro Kingdom's southern region,

bit sorry for Valentino who was trying his hardest to smile but could not hide his bitterness. However,

it, we are the ones who are suffering. Well, you

was certain

Valentino and the crown might be upset. However, their pride is not more important than the lives

was thanking Cale

That was why Cale was honest

highness, thank you for granting

slightly more relaxed way with Cale thanking him as Cale Henituse and not

hero for what you

moment but Valentino continued to share his honest

you have to gain by fighting in

of warmth as he looked toward Choi Han and Cale. At the same time, he felt bitter that his kingdom had

was at

you think this

Cale who was

I believe it will be much

“…Help you next time?”

your highness, is it

started to smile while looking into Cale’s calm

The Caro Kingdom will fight beside you

you. I will trust that to

hero, a person who was becoming a hero, requested for them to fight by his side next

alone was enough for Valentino to draw out the Caro Kingdom's future. It was because Cale’s voice and gaze

that our kingdom

upset that they had to continue to receive help from others since the battle against the Indomitable Alliance now

grant you everything you wished

“Of course. I understand.”

his hand once Cale accepted. One of the knights walked over to the

window was

Clang.

Once the window opened…

the top floor of the tallest building in

the window. Human! Isn’t that the Land

could faintly see the forest covered in red sand

plan on staying here in Young-en with the Caro

Young-en.

city slightly away from the Dubori territory that touched the

and his subordinates damage the Dubori

Valentino raised his voice.

will take the Knights Brigade and the mages

White Star bothered the

completely

“Good.”

room for

because they had just

getting injured. I cannot forget the powerful image of the Dark

bowed to thank him. Human! The Dark Elves are originally from the Land

Raon’s comments as he started to

must be on my

“Sure.”

up and recalled a conversation he had with him in the past. Cale had talked to

story of people running away into the Land

the truth with the

in the territory due to the high tax rates. They run away to this desert that nobody is said to return

the Land of Death? And did you say the citizens are running away because of high tax

to learn about this. He seemed to

the Caro

Tasha told

climbing the walls and escaping to the desert. They said the taxes keep going up. They said that they could not survive

prince Valentino was a very humane person. That made him a good person, but it also made him a bad crown

Valentino's strongest supporters. That’s probably why it is difficult for crown prince Valentino to say anything

had smiled as

City? The fact that they would say

that the Caro Kingdom could not find out about the Underground City during this

Kingdom's people found the citizens who ran away because they could not pay the taxes…

people who ran away to not pay taxes. Those people would also need to

people who ran away alone, but I don't know. I can't be sure about that. I can't tell whether that crown prince is

not something the Caro Kingdom created. It is our land

Dark Elves and humans lived in harmony. Those people did not want their home

“Young master Cale.”

“Yes, your highness.”

his hand

necromancer, the youngest sword master next

grabbed his hand. That's not true! Mary’s hometown is

‘I know, right?’

about the numerous people like Mary who ran across the desert

nothing for us