The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 58: Art of Domination

Chapter 58: Art of Domination

I gazed at the morning sun streaming through the detached palace’s study window.

Holding a silver goblet filled with deep red-purple wine, I traced its rim slowly with my fingertip.

The wine’s hue was profound, evoking memories of that night.

The night I seized Eleanor and Leia’s weaknesses.

The night of their humiliation.

The night their dignity was utterly shattered.

I tilted the goblet, sipping the wine. Its rich flavor spread across my palate.

“The Frostheart family’s vintage collection is truly top-tier, Master,” Iris said, looking up from across the desk where she waited silently.

Her eyes always held a mad glint of curiosity.

But stronger than that was her loyalty to me.

“Indeed. Among the gifts from Uncle Edgar, this is particularly fine,” I said, admiring the wine’s color.

My maternal uncle, Earl Edgar Blackstone, was one of my most crucial supporters.

His gifts were not mere luxuries but symbols of our familial bond.

“The Granblue family matter is proceeding as planned,” Iris said with satisfaction.

She was one of the few who knew the full scope of this strategy.

“Yes, destroying their main business market, imposing high-interest loans, and ensuring they can’t repay. All orchestrated by me as Earl Silver,” I said, rising from my chair and approaching the window.

The capital, bathed in morning light, spread beautifully before me.

From the noble district to the merchant and worker districts, all lay within my view.

“Without Uncle, I wouldn’t have met you two,” I said, looking at Iris.

Iris and Mia, both brilliant, were once slaves.

Earl Edgar found them and gifted me their trading company.

Of course, he likely thought I, the foolish prince, would squander them.

“Indeed…” Iris nodded quietly.

She was once a brilliant Royal Magic Academy researcher, exiled for extreme biological experiments and sold into slavery.

Mia, too, a talented merchant, was enslaved for defrauding a neighboring prince.

“How is Mother faring?” I asked.

Iris produced a report.

“Third Queen Helena endures the usual disdain from the first and second queens. However, since your engagement announcement, her standing in the palace has slightly improved.”

I nodded silently.

Mother, from a lower noble background, was scorned by the other queens.

Giving birth to me, deemed foolish and dull, weakened her position further.

Yet she remained my unwavering ally.

Without her support, my plans would not have progressed.

“Good. I want Mother to gradually enjoy better days.”

“And the two?” I asked.

“After last night’s… ‘training,’ both seem quite exhausted,” Iris replied, choosing her words carefully.

“Leia, in particular, seems to crave gentler treatment.”

“Gentler?” I chuckled softly.

“That she seeks kindness from me is amusing.”

Over the past two weeks, I summoned Eleanor and Leia repeatedly, claiming them.

Using various lewd devices, I marked every inch of their bodies as mine.

I taught them the heights of pleasure, imprinting that only I could satisfy them.

Even I, embracing two such beauties repeatedly, grew fond of them.

Honestly, I’ve become quite attached.

Their pillow talk, initially resistant, now revealed their charming, honest sides.

“Especially surprising was Eleanor, so cold before, now clinging to me with teary eyes,” I said, savoring another sip of wine.

“Her expressions are intriguing,” Iris said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

Yet she, too, was a vital piece in my ambitions.

Her intellect was indispensable.

“Of course, my nights with you and Mia are special too. No need to worry,” I said gently.

They were irreplaceable.

In the future, I planned to grant them more freedom as officially recognized mistresses.

“Master, about today’s schedule,” Mia interjected, standing before the desk.

Despite her petite, girlish appearance, her eyes held a seasoned cunning.

Her global trading experience was vital to my economic strategies.

“Right, I almost forgot,” I said, returning to the desk.

“Morning is the palace council, with Mother attending, correct?”

“Yes, Third Queen Helena will be present,” Mia confirmed, checking the schedule.

“Then lunch in the prince’s study. Afternoon is the magical device development report meeting. And in the evening…”

“Summon Eleanor and Leia to the training grounds,” I said.

“Tonight, they’ll receive new roles.”

“Understood,” Mia nodded, jotting a note. She was a flawless secretary.

“And the report as Earl Silver,” she said, producing another document.

“The refrigerator business continues to exceed expectations. It’s deemed more efficient than the Frostheart family’s ice magic stones.”

“And the Frostheart family’s situation?”

“The demand for ice magic stones has dropped, prices are stagnating. Their finances are strained.”

“The Braveheart family?”

“Earth magic stones are similarly declining due to new construction techniques. They’re also in economic distress.”

I nodded thoughtfully.

“Both families would be economically saved through marriage ties with me.”

“Exactly. Your strategies as Earl Silver and Baron Gray could revitalize their magic stone businesses,” Mia said.

“I’m considering collaborations in road construction and medical fields,” I mused.

“Combining their magic stone technology with my magical device business could yield groundbreaking products.”

“Brilliant idea,” Iris said, eyes gleaming.

“Especially if we bridge with the Blackstone family’s magical device business, the synergy could be immense.”

“Yes, that’s the plan. With Uncle and Earl Silver’s support, we can form a formidable economic bloc.”

“This morning’s newspaper,” Iris said, presenting the capital’s main paper.

The front page featured a large article on my engagement to Eleanor.

Since the ball two weeks ago, the social sphere has been abuzz.

“As expected,” I said, scanning the article.

It subtly questioned how the “incompetent second prince” secured the social flower’s hand.

Speculation swirled around Eleanor’s broken engagement with Alexander Granblue.

“Rumors about the sex toy business profits are spreading too,” Mia noted, pointing to another article.

“Everyone’s envious of the high returns, though they avoid the topic publicly.”

“Naturally,” I said with satisfaction.

Though taboo, the business’s profitability was widely acknowledged.

It was one reason my wealth was respected despite my “foolish prince” reputation.

“Currently, many nobles in this kingdom are struggling economically, while emerging powers like Earl Silver and Baron Gray are rising,” Iris said, summarizing the situation.

“The spread of new magical devices has caused the decline of traditional magic stone businesses, shaking the economic foundations of the nobility.”

“Indeed, it’s a time of transformation,” I  said, standing and changing into formal attire.

A custom outfit tailored for my corpulent frame.

“Now, let’s prepare for the council.”

*

The grand council hall of the palace gleamed in the morning light.

A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, beneath which nobles and ministers had already gathered.

As I entered, a few glances turned my way.

No longer filled with overt contempt, they now held wariness and curiosity.

Since my engagement announcement with Eleanor, the way people viewed me had noticeably shifted.

“Victor,” my brother, Prince Lucius, called out amiably.

Yet his purple eyes betrayed clear calculation.

“Brother, good morning,” I replied courteously.

Lucius, with his feminine beauty and long, silvery-white hair flowing elegantly, was the official heir, backed by many nobles.

“How’s your relationship with Lady Eleanor progressing?” he asked with a malicious smile.

“Very well, thank you,” I responded obediently.

Playing the fat, incompetent younger brother was a long-standing habit.

“She’s quite the beauty. Care to share how you won her over?” Lucius’s words dripped with sarcasm.

He clearly wanted to know the real reason I secured Eleanor.

His suspicion was natural—publicly, our engagement seemed utterly mismatched.

“Just luck,” I said humbly.

“Luck alone, I doubt,” King Arthur, our father, joined the conversation.

With whitish-blonde hair and gentle eyes, the king appeared kind but was inwardly weak and indecisive.

“I hear Earl Silver’s endorsement played a role,” he added.

Lucius’s expression darkened slightly at Father’s words.

Earl Silver, the kingdom’s economic powerhouse, had recently become my public supporter.

Of course, no one knew Earl Silver was my own alias.

“I’m deeply indebted to the earl,” I replied politely.

“Victor,” my mother, Third Queen Helena, approached.

With sharp eyes and alluring beauty, she was known as an ambitious woman.

Rising from the mocked merchant origins of the Blackstone family to queen through sheer talent, she was my sole confidante.

“Mother, good morning.”

“Tell me how you’ve been,” she said, her voice warm with affection and concern.

Despite being treated coldly by others, she always stood by me.

As the lowest-ranking queen, her position was weak, but her resolve was fierce, willing to do anything to protect me.

“My relationship with Eleanor is going well. She’s starting to open her heart to me.”

“Good,” Helena’s eyes shone warmly.

“I’m delighted as more people recognize your strength.”

I felt genuine gratitude for her words.

Mother believed in my potential and always supported my growth.

Even when others saw me as a fool, she never did.

Father took his seat, and the council was called to order.

I sat in my designated place, letting the ceremonial meeting unfold.

Reports on the kingdom’s status, diplomatic issues with neighboring countries, and economic conditions were discussed.

Typically, I feigned dozing during such meetings, but today I chose a different approach.

“The next agenda is the northern mines issue,” a minister said, presenting documents.

“A major accident has reduced magic stone output, and prices are falling due to the spread of refrigerators. Ice magic stones, in particular, have dropped 30% year-over-year.”

“This is a dire situation for the Braveheart and Frostheart families,” another minister noted with concern.

“Improving mining efficiency is key. Compensation for victims’ families is also a significant burden.”

As the discussion continued, I slowly raised my hand.

The room stirred slightly, surprised.

I rarely spoke up voluntarily.

“Prince Victor,” Father said, a bit puzzled but granting me the floor.

“Do you have an opinion?”

I stood slowly, pausing to gauge the room’s atmosphere.

“The magic stone mining issue won’t be solved by efficiency alone,” I said, my voice calm but clear.

I felt the faint surprise around me but pressed on.

“The problem is the over-reliance on magic stones themselves. For instance, ice magic stones are used solely for cooling, but there are alternatives.”

“Such as?” Father asked, intrigued.

“Refining magical formulas. Current refrigeration devices use magic stones directly as energy sources, but a technique to extract and crystallize magic from stones exists. This could generate vast cooling energy from minimal stones.”

The room fell silent.

My statement, based on cutting-edge technology developed under Earl Silver’s name, was unexpected.

“That’s…” Lucius trailed off, speechless.

He hadn’t anticipated my technical knowledge.

“By combining earth and ice magic stones, we could create construction materials.”

I, the great one, continued.

“If the Frostheart and Braveheart families’ technologies merge, we could produce stronger yet lighter materials. This could be applied to road and bridge construction.”

“An intriguing proposal.”

Father nodded with a serious expression.

“You’ve been assisting Earl Silver’s magical device research, haven’t you?”

“Yes, just a little.”

I spoke humbly.

“The earl has been kind to me, teaching me many things.”

“His influence seems significant.”

Father said meaningfully, his eyes showing a hint of reevaluating me.

“Applications in the medical field are also possible.”

I pressed on.

“Combining the preservation properties of ice magic stones with the stability of earth magic stones could lead to advanced medical magical devices.”

“That’s certainly…”

The finance minister nodded thoughtfully.

“Such new industries could provide a lifeline for noble families struggling with declining magic stone prices.”

“Exactly.”

I responded with satisfaction.

“The fusion of tradition and innovation will pave the way for the kingdom’s future.”

A small murmur spread through the hall. No one had expected such foresight from the supposedly incompetent second prince. Mother’s face, in particular, beamed with clear pride.

“Let’s move to the next agenda.”

The meeting continued, and I sat back quietly. But the gazes around me had subtly shifted. Lucius’s face, especially, showed clear concern.

(As planned.)

I felt satisfied inwardly. Without changing my appearance, I was gradually altering their perceptions—a stepping stone to the throne.

Weeks ago, every word I spoke in council drew blatant contempt. Today was different. Their expressions showed surprise and a willingness to listen.

I smiled quietly. The status gained from my engagement to Eleanor, backed by Earl Silver. Adding Leia would further amplify my power.

Of course, they still didn’t know the real me. My magic, my shapeshifting, Iris and Mia’s talents, or the true identities of Earl Silver and Baron Gray. When the day comes for them to learn the truth, they’ll be truly shocked.

*

The council ended, and I returned to the prince’s study. While eating lunch, I reviewed the afternoon’s schedule.

“What time is the magical device development report meeting?”

“Two o’clock.”

Mia reported. She always managed my schedule perfectly.

“His Majesty seemed intrigued by your council remarks.”

“As calculated.”

I said with satisfaction.

“Lucius’s change of expression was amusing.”

“But, Master.”

Iris spoke with concern.

“Won’t such rapid changes raise suspicion?”

“No need to worry.”

I answered calmly.

“It’s not rapid. Showing gradual ‘growth’ alongside the engagement announcement is natural. If they think I’m starting to wise up now, no one will suspect a thing.”

“I see.”

Iris nodded, convinced.

“Still, your purple-eyed brother seemed wary.”

“Lucius doesn’t see me as a threat.”

I analyzed coolly.

“He’s just slightly concerned that his circle is starting to take interest in me. That concern will only deepen.”

“Your meeting with Prince Lucius as Marcus Gray is part of that, isn’t it?”

Mia said, understanding.

“Yes. Lucius thinks Baron Gray—me—is his ally, while Earl Silver supports me as the second prince. Gathering information from both sides will confuse him.”

“Brilliant double-dealing.”

Iris’s eyes gleamed.

“With Uncle and Earl Silver supporting me, combining their strength with the Frostheart and Braveheart families’ technologies will create the kingdom’s greatest economic alliance.”

“Tonight, I’ll summon the two to the training grounds and show them my true self.”

Iris and Mia exchanged glances and nodded.

“They’ll be delighted.”

Mia teased.

“Though it’ll be a different kind of joy than before.”

“Yes, tonight will be a special night.”