The Military Princess Won’t Fall in Love with a Magic Scientist

Chapter 244. Prelude

Karlsas’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍brows twisted into a deep furrow. As an old general who had survived countless battles, this eerie silence had already made him smell the most dangerous kind of threat.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the world of extraordinary beings, only the dead were this quiet.

“Close ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the door,” Karlsas suddenly ordered, his voice so low it was terrifying.

Eric ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hurriedly shut the bedchamber doors.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍confirming that no one else was around, Karlsas did not explode in rage or fall into panic as Eric had expected. On the contrary, the old general pulled out a black Communication Crystal from a concealed inner pocket. It looked utterly inconspicuous and had no sheen at all.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an emergency line that connected directly to the royal secret chamber in the Royal Capital. It could only be used when a grave crisis had occurred.

Karlsas took a deep breath and injected an extremely subtle strand of mana into it with his fingertip.

“This is Karlsas,” the old general said in a low voice to the crystal, speaking rapidly yet clearly.

“Report to the highest-priority line. Second Prince Carlisle Van Astrelia was confirmed missing at his residence in Scream Fortress at three o’clock this morning. There are no signs of struggle at the scene, no residual mana traces. It is suspected that high-tier spatial power or an assassin above the sixth tier was involved.”

At that point, he paused, and a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes. “The fortress defenses are currently normal, and there are no signs of enemy assault. To prevent unrest among the troops, I will seal off all news to the outside world. Your Majesty... please make your decision early.”

As the glow of mana dimmed, that piece of news—enough to trigger a magnitude-ten earthquake in the Royal Capital—was sent out in complete silence.

Only after finishing all that did Karlsas seem to age ten years in an instant. He put away the black crystal, turned around, and the iron-blooded chill in his clouded old eyes flared back to life as he stared fixedly at the petrified Eric.

“Listen, boy.”

Karlsas’s voice was cold enough to shed ice. “From this moment on, His Highness is not missing. He is merely in seclusion, seeking an opportunity to break through into a higher-tier combat skill. Until someone arrives from the Royal Capital, no one in the fortress is allowed to step through this door.”

He took a step forward, his withered finger pressing against Eric’s chest.

“If you dare let even a single punctuation mark of that message leak out, don’t wait for His Majesty to sentence you to death. I’ll twist your head off first. Understood?”

Eric’s face was deathly pale. He nodded frantically, a choking rattling sound coming from his throat.

“Get out,” Karlsas said with a wave of his hand. “Tell everyone outside that His Highness is conducting a closed-door tactical simulation. If anyone dares wag their tongue in private, execute them under wartime military law and throw the corpse to the magical beasts!”

The old general strode out with great urgency, his military overcoat snapping loudly in the wind.

He had to show his face at the front lines. In this fortress built on the edge of the abyss, rumors spread faster than plague. He had to suppress the suspicions of those bastard soldiers.

The entire residence was unnaturally quiet. Only the Magitech wall lamps flickering on the walls occasionally gave off a faint sizzling sound.

At that moment, a burst of hurried, chaotic footsteps came from the far end of the corridor, breaking the dead silence. Along with them came the harsh scraping sound of metal crates being dragged across the stone floor, as well as a dispute tinged with a cold, hard edge.

“I think you have misunderstood one thing. I did not come here to beg for an audience. I came here to demand that a promise be honored. Obstructing a creditor is not within the scope of your duties.”

Karlsas’s eyelid twitched sharply. That measured tone that somehow pressed forward step by step was far too distinctive.

He shot Eric a look. The two of them quickly adjusted their expressions and pushed open the bedchamber door.

In the corridor, Logaris was wearing that iconic black research robe of his, though the collar was slightly open, revealing a hint of the exhaustion of someone who had spent far too long bent over his desk. He held a list in his hand and was coldly staring at the sweating captain of the guards with those pale blue eyes hidden behind his lenses.

“The old general is here too? Good. That saves me the trouble of wasting more words.”

When he saw Karlsas emerge, Logaris pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose. His tone was so calm it was almost cutting. “According to the agreement reached at the banquet a few days ago, His Highness the Second Prince promised to pay the Northern Legion’s ‘military expenditures’ and deliver the first batch of magitech crystals. That transfer should have reached my account before sunset yesterday. But up until now, my logistics officer has received nothing but air.”

He lifted the list in his hand, and the paper made a crisp sound in the air.

“What? Not only can you not hold the line, but now the royal family cannot even uphold the most basic spirit of contract?”

Karlsas’s sharp old eyes fixed themselves on Logaris, trying to find the slightest flaw on the young man’s face.

But he failed.

There was only one emotion in Logaris’s eyes: extreme impatience.

“Professor Logaris,” Karlsas said in a lowered voice, probing him carefully, “you are still not resting at such a late hour?”

“Resting?” Logaris seemed to have heard a joke. A mocking arc rose at the corner of his lips. “To calibrate the spellwork for those Magitech Cannons, I have not closed my eyes for a full seventy-two hours. I had originally hoped this batch of high-purity crystals would make it in time for tomorrow morning’s charging experiment. And yet?”

He took a step forward, and the oppressive presence clinging to him from dealing with dangerous magic year after year forced the guards to retreat instinctively.

“My time is very valuable, General. Every second of delay is consuming my patience with the Allied Command.”

Karlsas was, after all, a seasoned veteran. His expression did not change. “His Highness is currently conducting the highest-level closed-door tactical simulation and is not in a position to receive guests. As for the supplies and funds... perhaps it was an oversight in the Logistics Department’s process. I will urge them personally.”

“Tactical simulation?” Logaris arched a brow. His gaze swept meaningfully across the tightly shut bedchamber door, then shifted to Eric, whose face was pale and whose eyes were darting nervously.

“At a time like this, he is conducting a closed-door simulation? His Highness the Second Prince is truly... diligent in a rather surprising way.”

There was undisguised suspicion in his tone, but even more than that, there was the impatience of a man sick of bureaucracy.

“In that case, I will not disturb His Highness’s refined entertainment.” Logaris put away the list and made no attempt to force his way inside, as though he had really come only for the money.

“Tell His Highness that time waits for no one. If I do not see the money and the crystals by noon tomorrow, then I will have no choice but to make what he has done known to the public.”

After saying that, he did not even spare the adjutant another glance. He turned and left. Though his steps were slightly unsteady, his back still carried the arrogance unique to an academic authority.

“Remember, my patience is limited.”

Watching Logaris’s figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Eric felt his back completely soaked in cold sweat. His trembling voice asked, “General... could it have been him...?”

“Him?” Karlsas withdrew his gaze and slowly shook his head, his brows still tightly knitted. “Hard to say.”

“Then where did His Highness go?”

Karlsas turned around and looked out the window toward the Great Howling Rift, black as the jaws of a giant beast.

“I don’t know.” The old general’s voice sounded bleak, carrying a trace of ominous foreboding. “But I have a feeling this is only the beginning. The kingdom... is about to change.”

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