The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 20: Morning of Resolve ☆

Chapter 20: Morning of Resolve ☆

Under a twilight sky stained red, Eleanor stood before the upscale restaurant “La Crystal,” owned by Earl Silver.

The elegant gold-lettered sign gleamed as if mocking her.

“Here it is…”

She took a deep breath, mustering courage.

Yesterday, she had finally resolved to send her reply.

She would accept Prince Victor’s dinner invitation.

To save her family, it was the only way.

Before taking a step forward, vivid memories flooded her mind.

Long before her engagement to Alexander, they had been close.

Friends since childhood, their hearts naturally aligned.

But Prince Victor had always interfered, constantly declaring, “Become my woman.”

The mere thought of him made her chest tighten with revulsion.

His obese frame, perpetually sweaty red face.

His double chin quivering, spitting as he spoke.

His body, stuffed into tight, lavish clothing, like water crammed into a balloon.

His pig-like snorts and the ever-present cloying scent of perfume lingered in her memory.

One incident, three years ago at the royal capital’s grand theater, stood out.

During an opera’s intermission, she was chatting with Alexander in the lobby.

“Oh, Miss Eleanor!”

A voice from behind froze her.

Turning, she saw Prince Victor standing there. His overly tight formal attire strained against his flesh, buttons threatening to burst.

Wiping sweat from his brow, he wore a leering grin.

“Out alone on such a night?”

The prince asked.

“I’m with Lord Alexander.”

Eleanor replied.

“Oh, this fellow?”

Victor glanced at Alexander with disdain.

“Compared to me, with royal blood, he’s merely a duke’s son.”

Alexander bowed politely, but anger flickered in his eyes.

“Miss Eleanor, don’t waste time with a lesser man. Come to my seat. I’ve reserved a prime spot.”

The prince brazenly reached for her arm.

His fingers, short and thick like sausages.

Before he could touch her, Eleanor dodged.

“I appreciate your kindness, but I must decline.”

“Declining? Isn’t that rude?”

The prince sneered darkly.

“Please, Your Highness.”

Alexander said quietly.

“Silence!”

Victor shouted, silencing nearby conversations.

“I don’t take orders from you. Eleanor is destined to be mine!”

He reached for her again, this time grasping her arm.

His fingers dug in, causing pain.

“Let go!”

“No, you’re coming with me. That’s a prince’s order.”

Unable to endure, Eleanor exploded.

“Don’t touch me! You’re disgusting! I’d rather spend time with a vile orc than you!”

Her voice echoed through the theater lobby, drawing all eyes.

The prince’s face flushed red with rage and humiliation, his small eyes sharp as needles.

“You… insolent…”

He said, voice trembling.

“Remember this. I’ll make you regret it someday…”

Since that day, his obsession with her intensified, but his approaches grew more insidious.

That look in his eyes back then… now, she wondered if it was the start of everything.

As she reached for the restaurant door, a staff member greeted her.

“Lady Frostheart, we’ve been expecting you.”

The employee bowed deeply, ushering her inside.

The restaurant’s interior was more opulent than she’d imagined.

Crystal chandeliers, luxurious furnishings, and impeccable service.

Normally, she might have enjoyed such a place, but today it was pure torment.

“His Highness awaits in a private room.”

Guided deeper into the restaurant, Eleanor’s heart pounded.

She fought the urge to flee, held back by thoughts of her family.

The employee stopped at a large door and knocked.

“Come in.”

The voice from within was that repulsive one.

Prince Victor.

The employee opened the door, and Eleanor stepped inside, legs trembling.

In the lavish private room, a large table stood at the center, already laden with dishes.

And across the table…

“Miss Eleanor! You came!”

Prince Victor waved broadly.

In his usual corpulent form, he was clad in gaudy attire.

A triumphant smirk spread across his face.

“Your Highness.”

Eleanor forced a smile, offering a graceful curtsy.

“Please, sit.”

The prince gestured to the seat opposite him.

Eleanor sat slowly.

The moment the door closed, leaving them alone, she felt a chill of danger.

“I’ve prepared exquisite dishes for tonight!”

The prince said cheerfully.

“Earl Silver is quite capable, running such a splendid restaurant.”

Eleanor nodded silently.

The mere mention of Earl Silver tightened her chest.

She vaguely sensed he was behind her family’s plight.

“Let’s pour the wine.”

The prince filled her glass with red wine.

“A toast! To a splendid evening.”

Eleanor reluctantly raised her glass.

Sipping the wine, it was indeed fine, but she had no capacity to enjoy it.

“Now, Miss Eleanor.”

The prince began, eating as he spoke.

“How fares the Frostheart family?”

His blunt question left Eleanor momentarily speechless.

“…It’s not so bad.”

She lied.

Pride wouldn’t let her admit the truth.

“Is that so?”

The prince grinned maliciously.

“But tomorrow’s the deadline, isn’t it? The 500,000 gold coin repayment…”

Eleanor’s hand trembled.

He knew everything.

“No need for concern.”

“Is that so? But coming here means…”

His leering smile filled Eleanor with disgust.

“I came to enjoy the meal.”

“Hahaha! You’re amusing, Miss Eleanor.”

The prince laughed loudly.

“I understand your pride, but face reality. Your family’s on the brink of ruin. Your sister may become a slave. And you…”

“Let’s continue the meal.”

Eleanor tried to change the subject.

Listening to him any longer would be unbearable.

“Indeed, let’s enjoy the meal first.”

The prince stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth.

His eating was so crude that Eleanor wanted to look away.

After a prolonged silence, the prince spoke again.

“By the way, did you like the gift?”

Eleanor’s body stiffened.

He meant the box.

“I threw it away.”

She said firmly.

It was a lie, but it reflected her true feelings.

“Really?”

A malicious grin spread across the prince’s face.

“But it seems you used it, didn’t you?”

Eleanor’s face drained of color.

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s some fascinating footage.”

The prince pulled a small crystal from his pocket.

“Want to see?”

Terror gripped her entire body.

No… could the box have…

“What footage?”

Her voice trembled.

Instead of answering, the prince floated the crystal in the air.

It began to glow, and suddenly, an image projected onto the room’s wall.

“Just for a moment… I want to forget…”

In the footage, Eleanor’s hand reached for the new product.

“Just a moment…”

She lay on the bed, removed her panties, exposing her pussy completely.

Eleanor was speechless.

There she was… her most private parts, never shown to anyone, displayed in vivid high-definition on the room’s wall.

“Stop it!”

She screamed, but the footage continued.

Her private moment in her room.

Using that “new product.”

And her voice from that moment echoed through the private room.

“My… pussy… feels so good… aaah… I’m going mad! More, more, make my pussy come!! My clit’s too good!!”

A beastly voice.

Even she couldn’t believe she’d made such sounds.

“Turn off the footage!”

Eleanor pleaded, but the prince ignored her.

“Ooh, oho, coming, coooming, how farrr! Too filthy!! My clit’s melting!!”

“Ohhhhoooo!!!”

The footage continued, showing her fainting at the end.

“Magnificent footage, isn’t it?”

The prince clapped.

“Who’d imagine the belle of society, with her clitoris erect, indulging in such fervent masturbation? A masterpiece! Worth preserving forever!”

“No more cruel words… please, turn it off…”

Eleanor covered her face with both hands, sobbing.

This humiliation.

To have her most shameful moment seen by the man she loathed most, in such a way…

“Why… why do this…”

She asked through tears.

“You didn’t anticipate this?”

The prince’s voice was cold.

“Stupid woman.”

Eleanor’s trembling hands reached for a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

But the tears wouldn’t stop.

“Truly a lewd and stupid woman.”

The prince continued.

“Didn’t you think there’d be some trap in a box given by me?”

Eleanor couldn’t respond.

He was right; she’d been foolish.

Far too careless.

“A toast to meeting a fool greater than me tonight.”

The prince sipped his wine, smirking mockingly at her.

“This footage will make a splendid addition to my collection. Shall we show it to Alexander? He’d be disillusioned, no doubt.”

“Please… not that…”

Her voice shook.

To have Alexander see her like this…

“It depends on conditions.”

The prince’s eyes glinted dangerously.

“Conditions…”

“You stay here tonight.”

Eleanor’s heart froze.

She’d expected it, but hearing it voiced sent shivers of fear through her.

“And obey everything I say.”

She looked down, silent.

There was no choice.

“Come, drink more wine.”

The prince refilled her glass.

“It’s a special blend tonight. I’ve been eager to test it.”

Eleanor took the glass and sipped.

It tasted slightly odd.

Different from normal wine…

“What do you think? Like it?”

“Yes…”

She answered, but felt uneasy.

Her head began to fog, her body growing hot.

“What’s… this…”

“I said it’s a special blend, didn’t I?”

The prince’s smile looked sinister.

“What… did you put in it…?”

Eleanor’s vision blurred.

Her limbs grew heavy, and she felt her mana draining from her body.

“A mana absorption potion. My special creation.”

The prince’s voice sounded distant.

She tried to stand, but her legs wouldn’t obey.

“Resistance is futile.”

His voice drew closer. Eleanor clung to the table, summoning her last strength to cast a spell.

But nothing happened.

“My… mana…”

“It’s all being absorbed.”

The prince moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She shuddered at his touch.

“Now, the real dinner begins.”

His voice carried a twisted joy.

Trembling with fear, Eleanor felt her consciousness fading.

“For… my family…”

That was her final thought before her awareness sank into darkness.

—

Eleanor awoke in a dimly lit room.

Her mind was still foggy, but memories of the previous night slowly returned.

The restaurant, the wine, the footage…

“You’re finally awake.”

A sudden voice made her body tense.

In the corner of the room, Prince Victor sat.

Holding a wine glass, he smirked.

“What… time is it…?”

Eleanor’s voice was hoarse.

“Midnight. You slept quite a while.”

The prince stood, approaching her. Eleanor instinctively recoiled.

“No need to be so frightened.”

The prince chuckled lightly.

“Last night, you merely slept under the drug’s effect. I haven’t done anything… yet.”

Relief and terror mingled, overwhelming her.

“You must be worried about your family? Tomorrow’s the deadline… 500,000 gold coins.”

He gave a sly chuckle.

“If you can’t repay, what will happen to that sweet little sister of yours?”

Eleanor’s body trembled.

“Sophia…”

“Don’t worry. I’m a fair man.”

The prince waved a hand.

“If you do as I wish, I’ll pay the 500,000 gold coins.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened.

“Truly…?”

“Why would I lie? I have plenty of gold from selling those devices.”

The prince smirked thinly.

“And there’s that, too.”

“That…?”

“Have you forgotten? The footage.”

Eleanor’s face paled.

That humiliating footage.

If Alexander saw it…

“There’s a bathroom. Freshen up.”

The prince pointed to a door.

“We’ll talk again in 30 minutes.”

With that, he left the room.

When the door closed, Eleanor finally exhaled.

“500,000 gold coins… my family will be saved…”

That hope anchored her heart.

But what would be demanded in return?

And that footage…

Eleanor rose slowly from the bed.

Her body bore no pain, but she felt as if her mana had been drained entirely.

Heading to the bathroom, she froze at her reflection in the mirror.

Disheveled hair, dull eyes, pale complexion.

The trace of the belle of society was gone.

“Is this… me…?”

She filled the tub with warm water, undressed, and sank into it.

The warmth spread through her body, restoring a sliver of strength.

In the tub, she tried to make sense of her situation.

“The prince will pay the 500,000 gold coins… but in exchange…”

Her heart wrestled with itself.

How much was she willing to sacrifice to save her family?

And the shame if that footage were exposed.

“Alexander…”

Murmuring his name, her chest tightened.

She’d rather die than let him see that footage…

Leaving the bathroom, she donned a new outfit prepared in the room.

A simple yet elegant dress.

She didn’t know who had arranged it, but it fit perfectly.

She carefully brushed her hair, composing her face.

It wasn’t her usual perfection, but she strove to reclaim the dignity of a noblewoman.

“No matter the circumstances, I won’t lose the Frostheart family’s pride.”

She told herself.

Even in despair, she still had her dignity.

No one could take that away.

Her mind was in chaos.

Could she trust the prince’s promise of 500,000 gold coins?

How could she ensure the footage’s destruction?

And what would he demand tonight…

Torn between the terror of the footage and her duty to her family, Eleanor felt the 30 minutes slipping away, pressing her toward a decision.