The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 44: The Price of Saving a Friend ☆

Chapter 44: The Price of Saving a Friend ☆

(Leia POV)

“I’m going.”

From the stable at the back, I chose the fastest black horse.

“Shadow,” my prized steed.

I leapt onto his back, gripping the reins.

“I’m going to save Eleanor. Lend me your strength.”

As if understanding, Shadow neighed and stamped his hooves.

The city streets were silent at night.

The quiet after the nobles’ grand ball enveloped the capital, with only Shadow’s hooves echoing on the cobblestones.

The prince’s detached palace sat on a hill in the capital’s northeast.

A renovated former palace, it overlooked the city from a prime vantage point.

“Halt! Who’s there?”

At the outer gate, guards raised their spears to stop me.

Under the moonlight, my red hair and armored figure must have stood out.

“Leia Braveheart. I wish to see the prince.”

“At this hour…”

“It’s urgent. Not a courtesy call. Tell the prince I’m here.”

The guards looked confused but one ran toward the palace.

I waited on Shadow’s back, scanning my surroundings.

There seemed to be more guards than usual around the gate.

“Lady Braveheart, the prince will see you.”

I was slightly surprised by the returning guard’s words.

I hadn’t expected he’d actually agree to meet.

“Leave your horse here.”

I dismounted, keeping my sword, and followed the guide.

Normally, entering a noble’s residence armed is forbidden, but the guards didn’t stop me.

That felt suspicious.

The palace interior was filled with lavish furnishings.

Heavy drapes, gold-embellished furniture, a space reflecting royal extravagance.

As I walked the corridor, my anger swelled.

Prince Victor had a poor reputation in the kingdom.

A fat, arrogant man, known to all.

The thought of him claiming Eleanor as his fiancée set my chest ablaze.

“This way.”

A man, likely a butler, stopped before a large door leading to the basement.

He knocked, and a low voice from within said, “Enter.”

The door opened to reveal a strange room with a raised platform.

A fireplace’s flames flickered, and in a large chair before it sat Prince Victor’s bulky form.

“Second Prince! Where’s Eleanor?”

Unable to contain my anger, I shouted.

Brushing past the guards’ attempts to stop me, I confronted him.

“Well, well, the Sword Princess of House Braveheart.”

The prince greeted me gracefully.

“What brings you here so late?”

His demeanor lacked any tension, as if he’d anticipated my visit.

“Don’t play dumb!”

I pressed closer.

“Eleanor’s state at the ball was unnatural. What did you do to her?”

“We’ve grown… close. That’s all.”

He spoke with a knowing tone.

“But it was her choice.”

“Liar!”

My voice trembled.

“Eleanor… she loves Alexander. She’d never be with someone like you…”

“Is that so?”

The prince placed a hand on a crystal ball.

“Then why did she show such a display?”

“What…”

Cutting me off, he rose from his chair.

His movements were surprisingly light for his bulk.

“First, you should calm down. You seem overly excited.”

Glancing around, I felt something off.

A small incense burner sat on a decorative stand by the wall, emitting purplish smoke.

A sickly sweet smell filled the room.

“Something… strange about this scent…”

As I tried to speak, my head grew dizzy, my vision wavering.

My knees weakened, and my hand, gripping my sword, felt heavy.

“What…”

“Slow to notice, aren’t you?”

The prince smiled, satisfied.

“This incense is a special blend. It has paralyzing effects. Even a warrior like you can’t resist it.”

I leaned against the wall, struggling not to collapse.

I reached for my sword, but my fingers, numb, wouldn’t obey.

“A bold woman like you would suspect a drink.”

He smirked maliciously.

“But incense works unnoticed. Don’t worry, I’ve taken the antidote, so I’m fine.”

“Coward…”

“Now, everything’s ready.”

He raised the crystal ball.

“You’ll fully enjoy how splendidly your dear friend performed.”

My body weakened further.

The incense’s effect made movement sluggish.

My limbs wouldn’t respond.

My sword fell to the floor, clanging loudly.

As he held up the crystal ball, Eleanor’s image appeared.

“No… so strong… I… I won’t lose!!”

“I’m sorry!! I came!! I can’t take it!! I’m cumming!!!!”

The proud visage of the Ice Flower was gone, replaced by scenes of her forced into the most shameful acts.

“No… this isn’t… me… I’m cumming! Cumming, cumming!!”

“Nooo!! It’s coming out… my poop is coming out!! It’s coming, coming, coming!!”

“Hiii!! It’s being shot in my ass…!! So hot!! Nghh, ohhh, ahhh!!”

Her human dignity was completely stripped, forced to accept further humiliation.

“No…”

My voice trembled.

“Eleanor… this can’t be…”

The drug kept my body sluggish, but my mind remained clear.

The footage before me was cruelly vivid.

“Can’t believe it?”

The prince sneered.

“Your revered Ice Flower accepted such acts.”

“Why…”

My voice cracked.

“Why would Eleanor…”

“Her choice.”

He spoke cryptically.

“For Sophia. To protect her sister, she sacrificed everything.”

Sophia—Eleanor’s younger sister.

I’d heard House Frostheart was in financial ruin.

Did she sacrifice herself for Sophia?

The footage continued.

“This is from today. Freshly captured.”

“Oh, God, forgive me… for doing such shameful things. But I can’t hold back… my pussy… it’s throbbing… throbbing so much… I can’t help it…”

“Ohhh…! Leia… Alexander… I… I’m!! Nghh…!! I… with the prince… we’re in love… hahh!!”

There was Eleanor, violated by the prince while speaking with us.

“Hiii!! It’s shooting inside…! So hot!! The prince’s semen is gushing into my pussy!!”

“My vulgar fart is my failing. I deserve to have my asshole plugged… I’m sorry… please shove your thick cock into my ass!! Let Eleanor serve with her rear!!”

“Ngh… ahh!! Eleanor’s ass-pussy belongs to the prince!! Eleanor is already your meat toilet!! It feels so good I’m breaking…!! I can’t take it…!! I’m cumming… I’m cumming!!”

The scene where Eleanor was forced to cross the final line of her humanity.

Her expression, devoid of resistance, showed only hollow eyes accepting her fate.

“Stop…”

I tried to cover my ears, but the drug’s effect kept my arms from rising properly.

“I… I don’t want to hear Eleanor’s voice like this…”

“I’m thinking of showing this footage to Alexander.”

The prince’s words made my body stiffen.

Alexander… the one who truly loves Eleanor… if he saw this footage.

“No…”

My voice cracked.

“Not to Alexander… not that…”

“I have an interesting proposal.”

The prince wore a thin smile.

“If you agree to a deal with me here, I’ll promise not to show this footage to Alexander.”

“A deal…?”

“Yes.”

He stepped closer.

“You have feelings for Alexander, don’t you?”

His words made my heart skip a beat.

How did he know my secret?

“If you offer your body to me, this footage will never reach Alexander’s eyes. His pure feelings for Eleanor will be preserved.”

The prince smirked maliciously.

“I’m not saying I’ll destroy the footage, mind you.”

“What… did you say?”

“Think carefully.”

He continued.

“Imagine what happens if Alexander sees this footage, completely trampling Eleanor’s dignity. His heart would shatter, never to recover.”

My mind raced with thoughts.

My feelings for Alexander, my friendship with Eleanor, and my responsibility to them.

“But you’ll endure worse than Eleanor.”

His voice lowered.

“I’ll make you my thrall. Look again at how Eleanor screams lewdly, begging for me.”

“Ngh… ahh!! Eleanor’s ass-pussy belongs to Lord Victor!! Eleanor is already your meat toilet!! It feels so good I’m breaking…!! I can’t take it…!! I’m cumming… I’m cumming!!”

The crystal ball’s footage shifted.

Eleanor cried out, calling the prince’s name.

Her face, twisted in pleasure, seemed no longer her own.

“See? That’s what she became. I’ll train you the same way.”

His words sent a shiver through me.

Yet my resolve didn’t waver.

“You can still turn back.”

The prince whispered.

“A happy path with Alexander might open if you sacrifice Eleanor. Show him this footage, and he’ll surely choose you.”

The incense’s effect dulled my body and clouded my judgment.

But I couldn’t lose sight of my heart, torn between friendship and love.

(I will… protect Eleanor.)

“I…”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

I stared at Eleanor’s image in the crystal ball.

The woman who, to save me, killed with her magic and chose to bear that guilt.

That night at the baron’s mansion.

She stood up for me without hesitation.

Her beauty, the “Ice Flower,” choosing to fight for her friend, is still burned into my eyes.

“Fine.”

I forced the words out.

“If you promise not to show this footage to Alexander… I’ll…”

For a moment, something inside me resisted.

But remembering Eleanor’s tearful face, I made my decision.

“I’ll offer… my body. So… don’t defile Eleanor any further.”

The moment I spoke, a triumphant smile spread across the prince’s face.

“A wise choice.”

He approached, grabbing my chin.

Disgust welled up, but I had no strength left to resist.

“Your loyalty to your friend is touching.”

He spoke with sarcasm.

“But in exchange for the humiliation you’ll taste, Alexander’s pure heart will be spared. Eleanor’s dignity is utterly lost, but at least he won’t know.”

I pictured Alexander’s face.

I’d once dreamed of a future with him.

But now, it was a distant illusion.

“For Eleanor’s honor… to protect Alexander’s heart…”

I closed my eyes, ready to accept my fate.

“Good girl.”

The prince whispered.

“Now, shall we begin?”