-First prince Barbro POV-
Barbro sat alone in his private chamber, his hands clenched into fists as he replayed the events of the recent noble gathering in his mind.
Renner's claims had sent shockwaves throughout the entire kingdom. The mere thought of her holding such influence made his blood boil. 'How had things come to this? How had the useless princess managed to gain control over both the infamous Obsidian Chains and Blue Rose?'
It was absurd, unthinkable, but undeniable. The nobles had confirmed it.
Before, Lakyus had been the only member of Blue Rose to visit Renner, simply as a friend. Now, the entire group was regularly seen with her, a direct acknowledgment of their allegiance. And to make matters worse, she had Brain Unglaus, a knight who could potentially rival Gazef.
His father, the King, had not taken any immediate action against her, which only served to enrage Barbro further. In fact, he started favoring her now.
"Pathetic!" Barbro slammed his fist on the desk shattering it.
The throne belonged to him, the oldest son. Yet, instead of preparing to pass it to his rightful heir, his father seemed indifferent, allowing Renner's power to grow unchecked.
Determined to put an end to this, Barbro had taken action.
He refused to lower himself by negotiating directly with the nobles, so he sent his representatives to rally support for him. But every single one of them had returned empty-handed.
The nobles refused to back him. They feared the consequences of standing against Renner.
Cowards.
'How dare they? How dare she?' He had never hated them more. If no noble would support him, then he would have to turn to the one person who might... His brother, Zanac.
Barbro stormed through the castle halls, his footsteps heavy with frustration. When he reached Zanac's quarters, he pushed open the doors without knocking, his impatience overriding any sense of courtesy.
Zanac, seated behind an ornate desk cluttered with scrolls and half-empty wine cups, didn't so much as flinch at the intrusion. His fingers paused over a missive from the northern lords, his sharp eyes lifting to meet his brother's burning gaze.
He had expected this visit. In truth, he had been counting the hours until Barbro's pride would finally override his stubbornness enough to seek him out directly.
"Brother," Zanac said, his voice calm, measured. "To what do I owe this… energetic visit?"
Barbro's lip curled. No pleasantries, no false courtesies, just the raw seething anger that had been building since the first noble had refused his representative. "You know damn well why I'm here," he snapped, slamming a gloved fist onto the desk hard enough to make the inkwell rattle. "Our dear sister has been making moves, and every spineless lord in the kingdom is bending the knee to her like she's already crowned!"
Zanac leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. He had already weighed the risks and the possibilities. The princess wasn't just some upstart, she had the backing of adamantite-rank adventurers, obsidian chains an organization that took over Eight Finger overnight, and a knight whose strength probably rivaled Gazef's which is undeniable proof of her legitimacy.
To oppose her wasn't just foolish, it was suicide.
But telling Barbro that outright would be like tossing oil onto a pyre.
"I see," Zanac murmured, feigning disinterest. "And you wish for my support in… contesting her claim?"
Barbro's nostrils flared. "Of course! You're my brother, the only one left with any sense! The nobles are cowards, but if we stand together, we can rally the military. The soldiers respect me. They'll follow us."
'Ah, so that's his plan.' Zanac kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, he sighed. Barbro had always been brash, always preferred the sword over the quill. But this? This was desperation talking.
"I'm afraid I have no interest in involving myself in such matters," Zanac said smoothly, watching as Barbro's face darkened like a stormcloud. "The throne is Father's to decide, not ours to squabble over."
A lie. But a necessary one.
Barbro's hands trembled with suppressed rage. "You coward," he hissed. "You'd rather grovel at her feet than stand as a prince of the realm?"
Zanac didn't rise to the bait. "I would rather not die for a lost cause."
The words hung between them, sharp as a blade. For a heartbeat, Barbro looked as if he might draw his sword right then and there. But then, with a snarl, he turned on his heel and stormed out, the door crashing shut behind him with enough force to shake the portraits on the walls.
Zanac exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. 'Fool.' Barbro would get himself killed at this rate. But that was no longer his concern.
Outside, Barbro marched down the corridor, his mind already racing. If Zanac wouldn't stand with him, then he would act alone. The military would still follow him. Gazef would be a problem, but not an insurmountable one.
And if his father refused to see reason?
Well.
There were other ways to claim a throne...
-Meliodas POV-
The sun blazed over the training grounds, casting a golden hue upon the sweat-covered forms of warriors honing their bodies and skills.
Amidst them, Meliodas pushed his limits with relentless push-ups, each repetition driving his somewhat skinny frame deeper into the cement ground. While Brain moved beside him, practicing his swordsmanship in a quiet rhythm, his breaths controlled and deep, under the supervision of Yoriichi.
Meliodas wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and continued his sit-ups, lost in the monotony of training when the sound of approaching footsteps pulled him back. He looked up to find Robin standing before him, her sharp eyes unwavering as she greeted him with a slight bow of respect.
She bowed down to be at the same level as him, offering a clear view of her cleavage, making Melidoas gulp as he stared.
"Meliodas-sama," She said smoothly, "Makima sent me. There is a customer, an important one who wishes to meet the Headmaster of Obsidian Chains for negotiations."
Meliodas exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders as he sat up fully. "That so? Alright. Tell 'em I'm coming, but I need to wash up first."
Robin nodded, turning on her heel to carry out his instructions, swaying her wide hips, while he made his way toward the bathhouse. The warm water washed away the dirt and sweat, refreshing his body.
Once finished, he adorned himself in a luxurious yet carefree outfit, a deep navy vest embroidered with silver filigree, left unbuttoned over a pristine white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. A gold-lined belt secured his fitted black trousers, and he completed the look with polished leather boots. A thin silver chain hung loosely from his neck, adding a hint of nobility while maintaining his usual relaxed demeanor.
Refreshed and dressed, he strolled into the grand meeting hall where Makima sat elegantly at the negotiation table, her composed gaze locked onto their guest.
The man before her was dressed in fine aristocratic clothing, he was bald with very small eyes compared to his head and other features, exuding an air of wealth and superiority.
"Ah, the famous Headmaster," The man said, his voice smooth, cultured. "I was beginning to wonder if I'd have to wait much longer."
Meliodas smirked, dropping into the seat beside Makima. "Sorry 'bout that. Had to look presentable you know..." His gaze assessed the man before him before continuing. "Can't say I recognize you." He admitted with a smirk. "Why don't we start with introductions?"
The nobleman adjusted his monocle slightly before speaking. "I am Osk, third Minister of Trade in the Baharuth Empire." His voice carried a smooth, self-assured tone, the kind of man who was used to getting what he wanted.
"Meliodas. Headmaster of Obsidian Chains," he introduced himself in return, leaning back casually. "So, what's a high-ranking Baharuth official doing all the way out here? Couldn't find what you needed back home?"
Osk chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass before taking a slow sip. "Oh, I could. But when one hears interesting rumors, it's only natural to investigate."
"Rumors?" Melidoas asked.
"Pleasant ones, in fact." Osk leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Meliodas. "An organization that effortlessly dismantled Eight Fingers and completely took them over. Can you believe it? A syndicate so entrenched that even the Baharuth Empire recognized their reach… wiped out in what, a few hours?"
Meliodas smirked. "They weren't that tough."
"And yet, no one else managed it." Osk's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then there's the legendary Blue Rose. An adamantite-ranked team, respected, feared… and yet, they seem to have developed a certain fondness for your princess. Or should I say, for you? Spreading your name wherever they go."
Meliodas didn't react, but his grin didn't fade either. "You've done your homework."
"I don't make deals blindly." Osk set his glass down. "Consider this a test transaction. If I'm satisfied with your services, I'll have far more important work for you in the future."
Meliodas leaned back, arms crossed. "Oh? And might I know what kind of mission you have for us today?"
Osk interlaced his fingers and leaned forward slightly. "I am in the process of gathering maids of various races to serve under me. However, there are still a few I have yet to acquire. Among them are the elves. As you may know, elves prefer to remain hidden within their secluded kingdom, making their procurement... rather difficult."
Meliodas narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head. "You do understand that getting elves won't be easy? Does that mean you're willing to put the right price on it?"
Osk chuckled, his laughter deep and indulgent. "Fufufu, Money is never an issue. As long as you can provide me with 5 elven women, young, healthy, preferably with some grace to them. Proper elven stock. I will pay whatever sum is necessary. Hoping it wouldn't take more than 5 months"
Meliodas received a notification from the system but ignored it for now, he rubbed his chin thinking. "Five months, huh... I'll get them to you in two, maybe three weeks."
Osk's eyes widened in surprise, the monocle almost slipping from his face. "Two to three weeks? Surely you jest. Do you perhaps already have a stock of elves at your disposal?"
Meliodas shook his head, his smirk widening. "Nah. I'll have to go to the Elven Kingdom and get them myself."
Osk studied him carefully. "A journey from Re-Estize to the Elven Kingdom would take at least a month by carriage. How do you intend to complete this mission so quickly?"
Meliodas grinned. "That's my trade secret. You don't need to worry about how, just know that you'll have your products on time."
Osk exhaled through his nose, intrigued but still skeptical.
Meliodas spoke again. "Very well. Let's discuss numbers, then. 100,000 gold."
Osk's eyebrow twitched. "Each?"
"Total."
The man scoffed. "I was thinking more along the lines of 10,000 per elf, plus 15,000 for your services, 65,000 total."
Meliodas smirked. "And I was thinking elves are worth more than that."
A back-and-forth ensued, numbers tossed like blades, until finally, they settled on 77,000 gold. Osk was a good negotiator, Meliodas would give him that.
"Pleasure doing business," Osk said, standing. "I'll expect your delivery within the month, you will receive the payment later today.."
Meliodas gave a lazy salute, shaking his hand. "Don't worry. You'll get your elves. Obsidian Chains guarantees customer satisfaction."
As Osk left, Makima turned to him, her smile knowing. "Planning a trip?"
Meliodas stretched, cracking his neck. "Guess I'm visiting the elves. You will take care of things here."
He looked at the system notification he received during the negotiations and it turned out to be a mission, of course...
[Complete the mission you received before the deadline you set]
[Reward: C-rank sumon]
[Punishement: No more transactions with Osk]
"This oughta be fun."
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Hey everyone! Author here.
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