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Chapter 46: Roy’s Schemes

The attack from the South Sea faction began almost instantaneously.

In the Academy, the South Sea faction constantly initiated private challenges against the Lionheart faction under various pretexts, even picking fights, while smashing their shops. Outside the Academy, they directly gathered members to destroy the Lionheart faction’s strongholds and attack their territory.

The calm, mundane days turned into a storm, leaving the Lionheart faction completely unprepared.

One was a fledgling faction that hadn’t yet found its footing and was weak, while the other was one of the three major factions with a solid foundation and numbers. The gap in strength was clearly visible.

Fortunately, the Lionheart Kingdom valued martial prowess, and most of its students had frontline experience, allowing them to respond to the sudden attacks. Otherwise, if it were any other first-year faction, they would likely have been completely crushed by the South Sea faction in just one day.

But even so, under the highly organized attacks of the South Sea faction, the Lionheart faction fell into an overwhelming disadvantage.

Most members of the Lionheart faction either got injured and took leave or had to stay back at various strongholds for defense. A week later, the members were utterly exhausted, and morale sank even lower.

Charlotte had anticipated the strength of the South Sea faction; she just didn’t expect that prince from the South Sea to act so quickly.

With the soldiers arriving, all they could do was brace themselves and endure.

However, when an invitation arrived on her desk that Saturday night, even Charlotte couldn’t sit still.

“Negotiation? Hmph, isn’t that just a threat?” Charlotte clenched the letter in her hand, flames igniting in her palm and turning it to ashes. Then she squeezed out her anger through gritted teeth: “If he thinks this can crush the Lionheart faction, he’s underestimating us too much.”

The red-haired princess turned to her loyal subordinates and slowly stood up. Despite her petite stature, she exuded an aura of dominance, coldly stating: “Reply to them, saying the fight is only just beginning. Even when hunting rabbits, a lion puts in its all. If they push us to this extent, even in defeat, they must pay an unbearable price!”

The fire of indomitable spirit burned in the girl’s eyes, and as if infected by this fighting spirit, the Lionheart members also regained the fire in their eyes.

“Make them pay the price!”

Everyone shouted in unison, like knights prepared for battle!

But just then, a sudden call broke the passionate atmosphere.

“Wait, wait, Charlotte, don’t be so impulsive!”

Roy emerged from the crowd and came directly to Charlotte, advising: “We should talk to him.”

Upon hearing this, Charlotte’s brow immediately furrowed: “Are you telling me to surrender to him?”

Isn’t the South Sea faction all about making them surrender before ambushing? Isn’t going to negotiate just playing into their hands?!

Feeling the heat of tension in the air, the members exchanged glances, falling silent.

It’s still the sworn knight with the grand vow.

Actually, no one was entirely against temporarily conceding to the enemy to avoid the forefront.

But for anyone else to dare contradict Charlotte’s decision, they would probably get slapped out of the room—complete with fireballs and all.

Roy leaned closer, jokingly asking, “Do you really think I could bear to see the princess bow her head to anyone else?”

Charlotte’s expression softened slightly: “So, what do you suggest?”

Roy glanced back at the members.

Without waiting for Charlotte to say anything, the Lionheart members proactively exited the room.

In the original story, the Lionheart faction and the South Sea faction both suffered significant losses. Although the South Sea faction had overall greater strength, a cornered Charlotte didn’t back down and abandoned all strongholds, charging into the South Sea Mansion.

Despite the Lionheart faction’s ultimate defeat, the South Sea faction didn’t come out unscathed either; they fell prey to sneak attacks from the Gold Sand and Black Magic factions, becoming the weakest among the three major factions.

Though time was a bit ahead, everything happening now was practically a repeat of the scenario Roy was familiar with.

Now that he possessed enough strength, why should he follow the original plot?

The Lionheart faction would be his lifeline for the future; Roy wanted nothing more than for it to grow rapidly—how could he tolerate others trampling it?

Especially now that the Gold Sand faction was absent, the South Sea faction had one less worry. If a real fight broke out, the Lionheart faction might end up worse off than in the original plot.

Once the two were alone, Charlotte retracted her aggressive aura, returned to her seat, and tiredly rubbed her temples, showing signs of fatigue.

As usual in recent days, Roy stepped forward to massage the princess’s shoulders, who, as per tradition, feigned a little reluctance before settling comfortably under his hands, humming.

“So, what brilliant ideas do you have?”

“Hold the line and minimize losses while also negotiating, seeking to get the South Sea faction to withdraw their aggression.” Roy purposely spoke in a lighthearted tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle the negotiations.”

But Charlotte sharply caught the strange undertones in his words, frowning: “You’re going to negotiate?”

“No way, that’s too dangerous; after all, that’s their territory.”

“Faction struggles don’t usually result in fatalities.”

“Even if they don’t kill, they have a hundred ways to make you suffer, like…”

Charlotte couldn’t finish her sentence.

There were certainly more than a couple of girls who were drooling over Roy, which was fine in ordinary times, but what if he fell into the hands of those scandalously dressed, shameless dancers from the South Sea…?

Just thinking about it caused Charlotte to shudder in horror.

Charlotte turned and grabbed Roy’s hand: “No way! If you go, I’m going with you!”

Facing the girl’s concern, Roy felt warmth in his heart yet remained patient: “Only the two of us can handle Sequence 7, and since you’re the faction leader, without you around, morale will drop, and they won’t be able to hold out.”

“Besides, I suspect Jason is after me.”

Roy explained to Charlotte about his meeting with Jason that day.

But after hearing it, Charlotte became even more stubborn: “In that case, won’t it be even more dangerous for you to go?! Who knows what he’s planning for you?!”

With a sigh in his heart, Roy realized the reasoning had been made clear, yet emotionally, she still couldn’t accept it.

“I have my ways.”

“I already said you can’t…”

Just as Charlotte raised her eyebrows, on the verge of anger, looking like an irritated little lion, she froze a moment later.

Because Roy had cupped her chin, effortlessly placing his thumb on her lips.

Her delicate lips slightly parted, trembling, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.

“Charlotte, just trust me to go.”

Charlotte’s gaze became evasive. “But, but…”

Roy adjusted her face, gazing into her increasingly misty eyes, “Just think of it as protecting our home for my sake, okay?”

“…I really can’t do anything about you.”

As long as he had the princess’s agreement, that was enough.

However, Roy hadn’t even had the chance to smile when Charlotte suddenly yanked his tie, pulling him harshly closer.

Roy had to brace himself against the armrest to avoid falling onto her.

Charlotte pouted angrily, glaring at him with flushed cheeks: “You treacherous advisor, always planting schemes!”

With that, the princess raised her head to punish her rebellious subject.

The young man was caught off guard, flustered by the unexpectedly hot and soft punishment.

But a rebellious subject is still a rebellious subject; he quickly mustered his courage to counterattack, putting the princess through her paces.

With chaotic breaths, the red-haired princess trembled and swayed, leaving one to wonder just who was punishing who.

Until a polite knock on the door broke the princess’s final dignity.

 

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