0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 53: The Prince's Invitation (1) (Part 2)

“Irina Astrea. I invite you to my ball.”

There were no fancy words. Only one sentence was written in the letter. After reading it, Karos made a perplexed face.

“……At this timing?”

With the sudden invitation from the prince, Sinclair, Bathesia, and Lillis gathered to discuss.

“Irina. Do you know what kind of ball it is?”

“……It’s just a ball. Nothing special.”

It was a ball directly led by the prince, whose splendor looked down upon other balls. Many nobles yearned to attend.

In other words, that was all there was to it. It wasn’t a place for conspiracies or negotiations among nobles, just a simple ball. There was no reason for her to go, especially now.

“Is he trying to protect me?”

No noble would dare attack if the prince showed interest in her. After the prince’s invitation, the incessant flow of letters ceased. Even the Hareida family sent a letter saying they would wait for a while. It was possible.

“No way.”

Karos immediately denied Irina’s hopeful thought.

“Do you really think so?”

“……I must have lost my mind for a moment.”

“Whatever it is, it’s an opportunity! Karos!”

Bathesia stomped her feet with an excited face.

“Let’s kill him! The prince! The second most powerful person in the Empire! Great, really great!”

She twisted her lips as if genuinely pleased. Uncontrolled demonic energy began to spread around.

“Ah! Serving under you was worth it! A chance to kill the prince! Let’s go now! Go and kill him!”

“Calm down, battle maniac.”

Karos clicked his tongue.

“The prince isn’t an idiot. He won’t die easily.”

“I can go! I can go!”

“With your face known to everyone, what are you going to do?”

Karos pressed Bathesia’s forehead as if to say she was talking nonsense.

“Besides, there’s a sword right next to the prince. Can you break through it with your current power?”

“Ugh…….”

Bathesia puffed her cheeks in frustration but didn’t argue. As she barely calmed down, Karos waved the letter.

“So what will you do? Will you go?”

“I can’t refuse.”

Even without the current situation, refusing the prince’s invitation was madness. Irina accepted the letter.

“I will be traveling alone, then.”

“I can’t go.”

The prince had seen Karos’s face.

‘……He saw me.’

Karos frowned.

‘What is he thinking?’

* * *

Time passed quickly, except for Vivaldi’s constant complaints.

The day before leaving for the ball, Karos visited Irina’s room for a final check.

“……What are you doing?”

He frowned as he entered the room. Irina was wearing a silver dress.

“I tried it on. How do I look?”

She spun around, the silver dress shimmering with her silver hair.

“Beautiful. Really beautiful.”

“……Even if it’s flattery, I wish you’d show some sincerity.”

Irina, uncharacteristically sullen, grabbed her dress hem, but Karos casually closed the door.

“Stop it. Why are you suddenly wearing a dress?”

“The ball is tomorrow. I need to check if there’s anything strange.”

“In this situation?”

“This is my first ball.”

She had stayed in the territory until adulthood, and after that, she was imprisoned by her brother.

“Even in this situation, I am looking forward to it.”

She, too, had dreamed of a prince at a ball as a child.

“You’re acting like a little girl.”

“I am a girl.”

“Is that so.”

Karos responded indifferently to Irina’s confident words.

“Your reaction is weak. I heard men like this kind of thing.”

Irina twirled her dress, and Karos clicked his tongue.

“Don’t expect that from the Demon King. So, how’s the plan? All set?”

“More or less.”

Irina calmly answered.

She had anticipated and prepared answers for the prince’s potential questions.

“But it won’t matter. His Highness won’t ask predictable questions.”

“The hedonistic, feather-brained prince.”

“A peculiar person indeed.”

The Empire’s heir. The prince, second only to the emperor.

But the prince didn’t behave accordingly. He constantly held balls and spoke in a vulgar manner close to that of commoners. Nobles subtly mocked him for his lack of princely demeanor.

Thus, he earned the nickname “Hedonistic Prince,” the Empire’s fool. Remembering the old days, Irina murmured.

“I heard that His Highness was once praised for his wisdom in childhood, but time is indeed fleeting.”

“Whatever the past, he’s now a hedonistic prince, an irresponsible one.”

“That’s what makes it more confusing.”

Why was such a prince seeking her? There was no clear answer.

“A hedonistic prince who changed over time.”

“Are you still pondering?”

“It’s strange.”

The prince didn’t summon her to protect her. There had to be a different reason.

It was unlikely he had discovered Karos’s identity. A hedonistic prince wouldn’t be capable of tracking him down where the Empire couldn’t.

Moreover, if he had been discovered, there’d be no reason to send an invitation. He would just send the “sword” to dispose of them, erasing the Demon King from the Empire.

‘……Erased.’

Karos clicked his tongue.

“Crazy prince.”

“……Why are you suddenly cursing His Highness?”

“I have my reasons. Irina. What time are we leaving tomorrow?”

“After lunch, so around three o’clock.”

“I’m coming too.”

“……My ears must be failing me.”

Irina dug at her ear. It was a posture devoid of any ladylike grace.

“Maybe being with the Demon King for too long has affected my hearing. Say it again?”

“I’m coming too.”

Karos answered clearly.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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