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.

Star would eventually stop by the Caro Kingdom

Caro Kingdom's southern region, the land of the Whale tribe, or the Roan

not hide his bitterness. However, there was nothing he could do about it. He suddenly recalled what

thinking about the Caro Kingdom’s feelings? If you think about it, we are the ones who are suffering. Well, you guys, not me. You

certain

the crown might be upset. However, their pride is not more

Cale as

it. That was why Cale

you for granting our

a slightly more relaxed way with Cale thanking

You are truly a hero for what you

moment but

have to gain by fighting in the Caro Kingdom? It’s just trouble for

Cale. At the same time, he felt bitter

was at that

think this

looked toward Cale who was

time. I believe it will be much better

“…Help you next time?”

highness, is it an

looking into Cale’s calm and confident gaze. That forced smile had

not unreasonable at all. The Caro Kingdom will fight

trust that

requested for them to fight by his side

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

means he believes that

had to continue to receive help from others since the battle against the Indomitable Alliance now had a strong determination in

wished for, but

“Of course. I understand.”

accepted. One of the knights walked

window

Clang.

Once the window opened…

floor of the tallest building in this

the window. Human! Isn’t that the Land of Death in the distance?

forest covered in red sand in the

staying here in Young-en with the Caro

Young-en.

slightly away from the Dubori territory that touched the Land of Death, and the most developed city in the

White Star and his subordinates damage the Dubori territory or

Valentino raised his voice.

Brigade and the mages and immediately

Star bothered the citizens. Cale nodded

is completely understandable, your

“Good.”

room for a

just made

return safely without getting injured. I cannot forget the powerful image of the Dark Elves

cheer Cale on and Cale bowed to thank him. Human! The Dark Elves are

comments as

must be on my way

“Sure.”

toward Valentino who was getting up and recalled a conversation he had with him in the past. Cale had talked to Valentino about the Land of

you know the story of people running away into the Land

had shared the truth with the clueless

territory due to the

Land of Death? And did you say the citizens are

been shocked to learn about this. He seemed to have been angry after hearing

returned to the Caro

recalled what Tasha told him this

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

him a good person, but it also made him a bad crown prince at

extremely influential in the central politics. Apparently, he is one of crown prince Valentino's strongest supporters. That’s probably why it is difficult for crown prince Valentino to say anything

smiled as she

would happen if the Caro Kingdom finds out about the Underground City? The fact that they would say the Dark Elves are part

the Caro Kingdom could

who ran away because they could not pay the taxes… They would be severely punished following the laws of the kingdom. Then they would have

taxes. Those people would also need to pay the taxes in addition to extra penalty

I don't know. I can't be sure about that. I can't tell whether that crown prince

our Underground City is not something the Caro Kingdom created. It is our land that our

harmony. Those people did not

“Young master Cale.”

“Yes, your highness.”

reached his

has that formidable necromancer, the youngest sword master

That's not

‘I know, right?’

overcome death. Cale thought about the numerous people like Mary who ran across the desert without being able to look back as well as this crown

there is nothing for us to