In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 171 Frustrated Crown Prince

This unintended side effect had worked in Michael’s favor. The disappearance of opportunistic nobles trying to ingratiate themselves with him had been a welcome change. Anyone with genuine business wasn’t deterred by a sphinx’s presence nearby.

Unknowingly, Miaomiao had become an excellent deterrent to sycophants.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Randolph sat deep in thought, holding a letter from his father.

He was already troubled by the embarrassing scene he’d caused during the military meeting, and the contents of the letter only added to his unease.

The message, written by Charles V, urged Randolph to remain safe within the fortress and avoid unnecessary risks. Though phrased diplomatically, it was clear his father supported Michael’s role as supreme commander.

Turning to Duke Capone, who sat beside him sipping tea with elegant composure, Randolph asked cautiously, "Duke Capone, was I too hasty?"

Without losing his refined demeanor, Capone replied, "I have told you many times, Your Highness, that you need not compete for glory. You are far above such concerns."

Randolph let out a long sigh. "Hah… I suppose you’re right. I should apologize to Michael before the situation worsens."

The duke smiled approvingly.

Despite Randolph’s flaws—his emotional nature, arrogance, and stubborn need to win—he possessed one redeeming quality: the ability to listen to advice.

Though young and inexperienced, his shortcomings could be remedied with time. Much of his insecurity stemmed from being compared to his brilliant father. However, Randolph was neither malicious nor irredeemably foolish.

Perhaps Duke Capone’s optimism was influenced by years of watching Randolph grow, but he believed the prince had potential.

Setting his teacup down, Capone reassured him, "Count Michael is a pragmatic man. He will appreciate Your Highness’s apology. It’s important to maintain a good relation with him—he is a talent with great potential, provided he survives this war."

Randolph flinched slightly at the praise for Michael.

For years, Randolph had basked in the unreserved admiration of the royal court. His father, Charles V, had always hoped that his only son would not repeat the painful struggles of his own reign.

Randolph Crown Prince had always been celebrated for even the smallest accomplishments, with both his father and mother doting on him excessively. The prince had grown up in an environment of unrelenting praise, which inevitably fostered arrogance.

When raised in such conditions, it becomes easy to see everyone else as inferior. Michael’s emergence as someone objectively superior was something Randolph simply couldn’t accept. For the first time, he was consumed by a feeling of inferiority, a notion he wanted desperately to reject.

Perhaps the educational approach of Charles V and the queen had been flawed. While the naturally docile Astrid Princess had been raised under strict discipline, Randolph, with his fiery temperament, had been coddled with constant compliments.

Duke Capone, observing the crown prince, considered this thoughtfully.

Randolph’s behavior had often been disappointing, but this wasn’t merely about Michael. It seemed to stem from a deeper seated inferiority complex, fostered by years of implicit comparisons with his illustrious father, Charles V V. Growing up under the shadow of such a renowned monarch was no easy burden.

Still, Capone was relieved to see Randolph reflecting on his actions and showing a willingness to accept advice. How many kingdoms throughout history had fallen because their rulers ignored sound counsel?

If Michael had known Capone’s thoughts, he might have pointed out the downside of Randolph’s ability to take advice. Being open to others’ suggestions also meant being easily swayed and having a lack of conviction.

Michael accepted Randolph’s apology.

It was better to mend fences and allow the prince to collect himself rather than let him continue sulking. Whether the apology was heartfelt or merely perfunctory didn’t matter to Michael. After all, their paths would diverge in time.

While some might praise Randolph’s humility in apologizing to a subordinate, Michael thought differently.

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The prince’s actions were far too frivolous for someone destined to ascend the throne. Without any significant war experience or accomplishments, Randolph had no right to demand genuine command authority solely based on his title. If he truly wanted that position, he should have either crushed his opposition through sheer force or used cunning strategies to secure it.

Storming out of a meeting and then returning with an apology? It was a display of weakness that left Michael increasingly disappointed.

For now, the firm presence of Charles V concealed these flaws. But if anything were to happen to the king, such behavior would become a grave concern for the kingdom.

Michael pulled himself out of his musings. There was no time to dwell on the future of the kingdom; immediate matters demanded his attention.

As supreme commander, Michael’s first actions were to review the soldiers’ training and inspect the traps laid outside the fortress.

While his appointment as commander drew grumbles from the central nobles of Lania, no one dared openly voice dissent against the young man flanked by a dragon and a sphinx.

Even so, the disarray in military discipline and the hushed murmurs among the troops reflected the unrest. Michael knew that brute force alone wouldn’t resolve this situation.

Once again, he decided to employ a strategy that had worked before: offering opportunities for glory to win over the nobles.

Having successfully integrated Elonian aristocrats into his command by giving them meaningful roles, Michael was confident he could do the same here.

The announcement of a new special operations unit sparked excitement among nobles whose offspring hadn’t been selected for the original task force.

The first special task force had focused heavily on individual combat skills, leading many noble heirs to be disqualified. Others had been held back by their families, who deemed the unconventional unit too dangerous.

But things were different this time.

The success of the first task force had been monumental, with an exceptionally high survival rate. Most members had returned alive, save for a few unlucky individuals. Additionally, the selection criteria for the new unit were less stringent, drawing a flood of applicants.