The Crown Prince In Hiding

The opening of this chapter was split into two frames, depicting two events unfolding side by side.

It was the morning routine of Nora and Rafinya, utterly different from one another.

While Nora was still lying in bed, the other frame showed a white tank top being pulled over Rafinya's skin as she headed out to run laps around the field.

By the time Nora rose to greet the morning sun and sat sipping her coffee, Rafinya's blade was ablaze, clashing against a senior's in the sparring ring.

Both bathed at nearly the same time.

And once they had put on their school uniforms, both stepped out of their dormitories.

Nora's attendant came running with a letter from the royal palace. Meanwhile, Rafinya was walking past students reading the newspaper on her way to class when a headline made her stop.

Both received the same piece of news.

As did every person in the world.

THE DIABLO EMPIRE OFFICIALLY OPENS ITS BORDERS

Without arranging it beforehand, both of them rushed to find Dan during the lunch break, searching high and low because he had no classes that day. They finally found him in the Sheffield Library.

"Mr. Fury... is this what you were talking about?"

The newspaper was laid down before him.

Dan looked at it, then lifted his gaze.

"That's right."

Diablo had officially opened its borders. All ships would now be free to enter and conduct trade within Diablo, and humans could travel there as well, subject to certain conditions set by the empire.

They were confident that the infrastructure was ready. The population was ready.

And what Fury wanted Nora's help with was this:

"I want you to come visit us."

Diablo was like a newcomer who had just opened their doors, sending invitation cards to the neighbors, or in this case, allied nations, so that their leaders could make the journey and build the diplomatic ties that Diablo was forging.

It was a matter of reshaping their image. A proclamation to the world: "Hey everyone, we're friends with everybody now."

Snowhaven had received an invitation written by the personal hand of the Demon King himself, addressed directly to Empress Ophilis XIV, just as other nations had.

But... what made Snowhaven special was this: while every other nation received only one letter of invitation, Snowhaven received two.

The first was for Nora's mother, Ophilis XIV, through official channels.

But the second, sealed with the Diablo crest,

had been sent privately to Princess Nora.

To Princess Nora,

I extend my warmest greetings through this letter, along with my deepest admiration for Your Highness's remarkable wisdom and courage, which are widely known and spoken of with great esteem.

The Kingdom of Snowhaven stands as a land upheld by astute leadership and formidable military strength. Your family has endured the trials of time and sacrifice over many long years, forging scattered lands into a unified whole. This path is not unlike the one Diablo itself has walked.

It is this very current of shared history that binds us together.

Now, for the first time, Diablo has opened its gates to the outside world. I am profoundly aware that true peace cannot be born from those still clinging to the conflicts of the past. It must instead be built through the united effort of a new generation, those who will walk forward and coexist in the days to come.

In this moment, as honored leaders from the human lands journey to visit Diablo, it is my sincere wish to welcome a representative of this new generation, one who possesses vision such as yours.

It is for this reason that I humbly extend this personal invitation to Your Highness. Your visit would serve as an important bridge of goodwill and a symbol of cooperation that will guide us toward our shared future.

I shall await Your Highness's arrival, along with your delegation, with the greatest anticipation.

Signed:

The Royal Seal of the Demon King

Ruler of the Diablo Empire

When she first read it,

Nora's hands trembled with shock. Even someone as composed and ice-cold as her could not remain still when a personal letter from the Demon King himself had been sent directly to her.

Though Nora had never met the Demon King in person in her entire life, she was fortunate beyond measure that, right now, the person beside her was the one whose authority was second only to the Demon King's, and who was about to explain what was happening.

"You want me to go to... Diablo...????"

"Well, it's kind of... hmm... it's hard to explain..."

Dan looked slightly sheepish about having to ask Nora for help.

"It was my idea... If it's just the adults coming, it'll be nothing more than a visit and then it's over. But if you... or your peers came to our homeland... it would help with the promote side of things."

Put simply, Fury wanted Nora to serve as a bit of promote for him in this grand project of opening the nation.

If news got out that Princess Nora would be visiting Diablo, nobles from other countries would certainly talk about it, and might even send their own children along with their diplomatic delegations.

Of course, Fury did not expect countries like Luminus or Velmount to send anyone. Those were never the targets his team had in mind. The targets were Mathema, Zentinel, and Snowhaven.

"I borrowed Father's hand to write to you."

He explained.

"If I had written to you directly, your mother would have found every possible way to block it... But if it's a letter directly from the Demon King, it becomes pressure that the Empress has to yield to. I believe we can flip this narrative. We just need to show them that we're not trying to keep you for ourselves..."

A little diplomatic maneuvering was necessary.

"That's what I wanted to ask... I'm not sure if it's too much..."

"Mr. Fury, this is an invitation to visit your home... That's hardly what I'd call too much. I wouldn't even call it asking for a favor."

"Just having you come would already help me more than enough."

"Mr. Fury, I owe you so much already... What reason is there for you to feel like you have to ask me?"

Nora looked like she very much wanted to go. He could see the sparkle in her eyes.

"As for you, I don't know if you'd be able to come. But I'd like you to."

Dan spoke to Rafinya.

Rafinya looked every bit as eager as Nora, but for her, the situation was a little harder to navigate.

"Every major noble house in Luminus answers to the royal family, Mr. Fury... If they don't issue an order to go... I probably won't be able to."

"Is that so..."

But right then, Nora offered another way.

"What if I invite you?"

Nora continued,

"If there's no official order to go, but a princess from another nation sends a personal letter inviting you to come along as a fellow student from the academy, then that gives you a legitimate reason."

Even if the top leadership in Luminus hadn't ordered it, this would be a personal invitation from a princess to Rafinya as a close friend.

For Luminus to refuse, they would have to weigh the consequences very carefully.

Would they really dare reject an act of goodwill from the Princess of Snowhaven, risking damage to international relations?

Rafinya rested her hand on her chin, thinking.

"It's worth a try."

She said,

"Because it would count as maintaining a connection, not defying an order."

Looking at it that way, the Saint Pauli family would likely grant Rafinya permission to go. They held no love for Diablo, but there was no reason to create an unnecessary rift with Snowhaven either.

"Then I'll have someone draft the letter and send it to Newcastle by the end of today."

"Mm."

Dan sat watching the two of them and thought to himself,

Starting to get the hang of it, aren't you...

He gave himself a small nod, but Rafinya noticed.

"Mr. Fury?"

"Nothing."

Dan waved it off,

"I was going to say, if you come to Diablo... you might learn something important from the Demon King. Especially you... Nora. Some questions, my father can answer better than I can."

Just as some questions, some lessons, Nora was better off learning from others. Like Everton.

In truth, the one who stood to gain the most from Fury wasn't Nora... it was Rafinya.

"As for you, Rafinya, I'll take you to see how the Diablo military operates. What our philosophy is. When you're there, stay with me."

Rafinya's eyes went wide. At that very moment, Nora stole a glance with a faintly displeased expression.

"Really...?"

Dan nodded.

"How should I conduct myself, Mr. Fury?"

"Don't be afraid, Rafinya. My father is far less frightening than I am."

"You're not frightening in the slightest."

Nora said.

"Am I frightening, Rafinya?"

"....."

"Rafinya?"

"Yes?"

"Am I frightening?"

".... Yes?"

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me."

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