Chapter 334: The Red Prince
At the fortress by the lakeside.
Inside the fortress, near the eastern side, there was a tall tower and adjacent to it, a terrace and a room. These were exclusive activity areas under the Red Rose Society. As a well-known society within the academy, their activity rooms and facilities were not limited to just this location, but only here was the center of the entire society.
A room close to the terrace offered a view of the small garden on the terrace, with a very nice view. This was also where Edlen usually read books and worked.
As the prince of the Verdant Empire, he generally did not meet with Queen Evelyn directly within the academy. It felt like kings avoiding each other. Due to their equal statuses, if they were together, who would the subordinates listen to? At such times, they had to restrain and suppress their personalities, accommodating each other. While this could work occasionally, in the long run, both would feel constrained. Moreover, their backgrounds involved too many interests and groups, and neither wanted to get entangled with the other.
Therefore, his room and the high tower where Evelyn usually stayed were on opposite sides of the fortress—one on the east and one on the west—with the farthest distance between them, and they couldn’t see each other.
The back of the rosewood chair was inlaid with red cushions, gold nails, and carved with rose patterns, making the chair look very exquisite and luxurious. This chair was specially crafted by a renowned craftsman from the empire several generations ago and brought over. Supposedly, to reflect the dignity of the position of the society president, it has been passed down ever since.
Fortress Academy, due to its focus on the Demon Sequence and Nature Sequence, which corresponded to the two major sequences of the Verdant Royal Family, many students from the empire entered this academy. Over time, the academy was influenced by successive generations of students and graduates, evolving into an institution with a strong noble style.
And as a group where students usually gathered, under this influence, a top-tier circle, or rather, a gathering of high nobility, naturally formed. Its name was taken from the crest of the Verdant Royal Family and called the Crimson Rose Society.
The term “Crimson” came from the Crimson Empire, which was the pioneer of the Demon Sequence. It was said that the royal family of the Moonlit Kingdom was a descendant of the Crimson Empire. Of course, some scholars claimed that this was the Moonlit Kingdom’s royal family trying to glorify themselves, given that the Crimson Empire had vanished in the dust for over a thousand years, and no one could refute it anymore. The word “Rose” was easily understood, as it was derived from the forest sprites.
The royal family of Ling, the elves have always liked flowers and often use them as emblems.
Naturally, the atmosphere among the nobility looks up to everything, and the ‘True Crimson Rose,’ which quickly became a gathering of high nobles, soon became the beacon and leader for various clubs within the academy. Sitting in the position of club president was akin to becoming a little king among the students within the academy.
And the current president, Edren, who is indeed of royal descent, has thus earned the nickname ‘Red Prince.’
“Have any of you looked into that mysterious club, ‘Black Veil’?”
Edren, dressed appropriately in a red and black ceremonial robe, sat in his chair as he asked his four subordinates, these few being his close confidants and middle management within the club.
“It’s probably just a bluff; there’s no way one could easily improve their strength like that,” a female subordinate replied nonchalantly. She had always only admired genuine power.
“We’ve investigated, but those who returned said everything was normal and yielded no results,” another subordinate with gold-rimmed glasses wrote down meeting notes on paper.
“I tried entering their gathering place, but I was discovered halfway through and stopped,” Ronald, with his black fringe hair, responded.
“How intriguing.”
Edren clasped his hands behind his back and pondered, leaning back thoughtfully.
“I’ve heard whispers about this club several times recently within the academy, yet none of you seem to know the real situation. How intriguing.”
“It’s as if a group of unknown troops arrived in our nation, yet the aristocrats who are the branches of the nation still hold banquets in their houses. Don’t you feel ashamed?”
“Though I don’t handle much in the club, I do know that the True Crimson Rose’s influence should span every corner of the Fortress Academy. When did we become so uninformed or unable to investigate such matters?”
“My apologies, Prince Edren.” The people present bowed their heads.
“This weekend, gather all the club presidents within the academy. I want to understand what’s really going on.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“But, shall we do it under the name of our club or the student council?”
“Under the club’s name. If it were the student council, it would need to go through Evelyn, and I can’t afford to lose face.”
—
“Alright.”
After saying this, the few people gradually left the luxurious room and began to contact and write invitation letters.
—
South of Fortress Academy, in the dense swamp.
That same afternoon, after the Crimson Rose Society sent invitations to various clubs within the academy, the ‘Black Veil’ group soon received the news.
“How quick! I thought Prince Green would take some more time before noticing something was amiss,” Ousuna said indifferently after hearing the report from her subordinates.
If it were before, she might have still felt reverence and passion for Prince Green, but now that he was so widely adored, her gaze had grown higher. The scions of earls and viscounts, who once seemed unattainable, had become increasingly common in the club, making her feel they were no different from others.
Not every descendant could inherit a title, and not every great noble was exceptional; most were ultimately mediocre.
Facing these lesser nobles who wouldn’t rise to prominence in the future, Ousuna found them beneath her notice. Although Prince Eadlyn was renowned, his actual standing among the nobility was inferior to Princess Evelyn. If she became his spouse, she would be subordinate to Evelyn, which was unacceptable to her.
It had to be someone like Jerenan, the eldest son and heir apparent, who would almost certainly become the Griffin Duke. Even Princess Evelyn, despite her current grandeur, would lose significance if she married and her siblings ascended to the throne, shifting the power dynamics.
She aspired to be the empress and couldn’t afford to be with a cadet branch prince.
Moreover, with the information provided by members of noble birth within the club, Ousuna gained much insight into the internal affairs of the ‘Crimson Rose,’ no longer feeling constrained and hesitant.
Whether ‘princess’ or ‘prince,’ their influence was temporary. Without becoming the actual emperor or king, they would eventually step down. The Verdant royal family, though having Sequence 9 individuals, were too valuable and strategically placed to be spared solely for the protection of two non-top-three heirs.
With this understanding, Ousuna, the ‘Black Queen,’ confidently set about dealing with the ‘Red Prince.’
(The chapter ends here.)
