The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 494: Understanding Concerns

Honestly?

It would have been easier if he had just pushed through with becoming a physician.

Sure. He’d be dealing with diseases, broken bones, mystery fevers, dislocated limbs, phantom pains, and likely even the expected death.

And sure. There would still be heartbreak and loss. Lots of it.

But that wouldn’t be new to him. Didn’t he also have that and more with his current job? At least as a physician, he wouldn’t have to face Orc royalty throwing peace treaty-ending tantrums over marriage. Or the lack of it.

That way, he wouldn’t have to invent the most random excuses that even the Imperial princess wouldn’t buy.

Because really, what could he possibly say to a raging Orc King who clearly wouldn’t accept "irreconcilable differences," or "incompatibility," or the very simple truth that the supposed fiancé didn’t even show up?

This was clearly a matter of utmost importance and could possibly spell the difference between peace and an impending war.

And yet none of these men with allegedly long and stellar military careers were willing to admit that the Orc Princess had encountered a possible scammer.

So here he was.

Chief of Staff Killian Nox. The pitiful, unfortunate, yet not-so-innocent soul who was trying to cajole the King into using his words first.

Though maybe he should’ve just allowed him to take down the palace because those words were clearly worse than those fists.

And while they were visibly sinking into the marble floor that was starting to turn into a crater, at least this wasn’t going to cause more than simple financial damage.

Because hearing his words made him want to cut off his ears.

"Your Majesty, please—" Killian tried, as another thunderous crack split the ground at King Garick’s feet.

"You expect us to go back empty-handed?" the King bellowed, voice so loud that the chandeliers trembled. "While my daughter weeps herself to sleep over some...some stick of a fiancé?!"

"Sir, it’s... not as simple as—"

"Not simple?!" Another fissure opened in the floor. The ground under the King kept lowering, as if the palace itself was too scared to hold him up.

Killian swallowed hard, standing perfectly straight even as his knees screamed. "Your Majesty, I understand your concerns, but—"

"Understand my concerns?! Concerns?! This tarnishes her reputation! My Kira! My baby girl! My precious treasure!"

That last one came out like a roar, but somehow also like a sob, and Killian swore he felt his soul leave his body for a second.

A chair two rows back shattered.

"Your Majesty, the Empire does not wish to cause offense—"

"But with that lackluster response, it wouldn’t seem so to anyone else, especially not to the members of the unified Orc tribes. They had an agreement. And it was broken. Even you could tell what that would look like."

"I understand, Your Majesty—"

"I don’t think you do. Because if you did, you would’ve volunteered to compensate us. Proportionally. Or do you wish to let the Orcs believe that the Empire’s word means nothing?!"

Killian froze.

He did not like where this was going.

And yet, the King pressed on, looming, teeth bared:

"Considering her status...there is only one compensation befitting her dignity. And unless you are planning to marry the Imperial Crown Prince off to the Federation instead—"

Pause.

"—Then the best option would really be to marry my daughter."

The silence that followed could’ve frozen their sun.

Thankfully, Killian’s poker face was impressive...but even he had to grind his teeth to keep it together.

Because this? This was beyond questionable.

Even from the corner, little Princess Nina—a bona fide baby, with wide, horrified eyes—nearly slid right off her Imperial chair.

She stared at the King. Closed her eyes to try and see if all of this would disappear. Only to open them back to see the same grayish green Orc King.

So this was real?

But how so?!

Her little hands clenched into fists as she thought furiously:

No! Absolutely not! Impossible!

Her mind screamed with a flurry of X-marks as she imagined her big brother being separated from his beloved brother chipmunk.

No, no, no! Big brother belongs with Brother Chipmunk!

Her cheeks puffed. Her little legs were almost swinging in outrage, but more from distress.

But by herself, what would she be allowed to do? Especially when she said she’d keep it a secret.

So the Princess thought of the next best thing as her little hands gripped the armrests. With her wobbling lips and big pleading eyes, she slowly stared at Killian, practically boring daggers into him.

She didn’t say anything. Couldn’t, really.

But she didn’t have to.

Because those trembling, watery eyes screamed at him:

Do something!

Please do something!

She even gave him the tiniest, most pitiful little shake of her head, as if begging him to save her brother and his beloved brother chipmunk from doom.

Killian froze under her gaze, feeling sweat bead at his temple. He couldn’t turn back to look at her, but those severely polished hall decorations were making it impossible to miss the suddenly active princess.

The Chief of Staff shut his eyes and let out a long, resigned sigh.

Because somewhere, in the middle of the cratered marble and impending diplomatic disaster...Killian wished he could crawl into that same hole and stay there forever.

He was ready for that already.

To think the Emperor and Empress hadn’t even arrived yet.

He could only brace himself.

It was going to be a long day.

But if he was feeling like this already, it surely was something else for those people who literally had longer days.

Xavier, for one, was out there thinking that he should’ve sewn his mouth shut. Telling Luca not to worry about such situations and encountering one this soon?

Was he cursed?

Or had he already used up all his luck just to meet his wife?

It had to be that. At least that would be a relatively acceptable explanation for why he had to deal with such a thing now.

Luca didn’t look all too well; in fact, he looked so spooked that the normally composed prince was taken aback.

Xavier moved closer. His voice was quiet but steady. "I’m sorry, did that spook you?"

Luca glanced at him, startled, before his gaze dropped. "I...I just realized what it really meant to be like you. Someone in such a grand position."

His voice cracked slightly as he admitted it, each word softer than the last.

"Was it wrong?" Luca finally asked. "For me to end up with you? When there are people with...better status. People who’d fit the position better?"

It wasn’t as if Luca didn’t know about Xavier being the Imperial Crown Prince. He was aware. It was just that with how Xavier treated him daily, he couldn’t help but forget about his position and the prestige behind it. And while he wasn’t too bad in that department, many would still say that he wasn’t the best.

Meanwhile, Xavier’s expression softened at once.

So that’s what this was about. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I am not just my position." He said, tucking in a lock of Luca’s hair behind his ear. "I’m retaining this title because I feel like it would benefit you the most in the long run."

"But if it stops me from being your husband, then I could always let it go.’

Luca looked up at him in surprise, his eyes glistening.

"It’s impossible for me to marry anyone else," Xavier continued. "And no, I won’t even consider taking concubines. Ever."

Tears were already streaking unconsciously down Luca’s cheeks by then. "But...don’t heirs usually...need that? For succession?" His voice was trembling now, just like his hands. "I...saw that once. On the shows..."

Xavier gave a faint chuckle. "At one time, that was true. I won’t deny it. But not anymore. Even if we never have children. Even if there’s no one to succeed me—"

He tilted Luca’s chin up so their eyes met. "It will still be only you."

Luca blinked at him, stunned. Then, before he even realized what he was doing, he threw himself forward, burying his face against Xavier’s chest.

The embrace was tight and reassuring. Just right.

And it was all good. Right up until—

"Host," D-29 chimed innocently in Luca’s mind, "if the issue is succession, then why not simply purchase a baby from the Trove? It’s quite economical at only 500,000 CP. You could even buy ten. Shall I place the order?"

After all, between 500,000 CP and the risk of losing their benefactor, then wasn’t it even acceptable to use up 2,500,000 CP?

But surprisingly, the economical suggestion was rejected, and the host just stiffened. Before he yelped, pulling back with wide, horrified eyes.

"NO! No—don’t buy anything!"

Xavier blinked at him, puzzled. He thought that his little wife was already starting to recover. "...What’s wrong?"

Luca clutched at him, panicked. "D-29 just asked if I wanted to buy babies! I—I said no!"

For a long beat, Xavier simply stared. Then, finally, he let out a low laugh, shaking his head.

"Good call," he said smoothly, leaning closer to murmur in Luca’s ear. "I’m already pushing my luck by being married to the Duke’s son. If we turned up with a child, too? I’m sure that even my soul wouldn’t survive your father’s wrath."

Luca turned bright red, groaning softly as he buried his face back in Xavier’s chest.

"You can reassure D-29 that we’re good in that department."

Then came the strangled whining, which only made the prince chuckle more.

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