Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The heroic slavemaster has recaptured his Amontel and all is well again. Eco asks if Belca has calmed down from his racist rage and says he has, wanting to leave to get away from the Amontel and the nobleman. But the nobleman stops them, saying he wants to apologize for the trouble his Amontel has caused them. Eco literally jumps on him, saying "It sure is nice to receive something, even if it's from a guy!"

The nobleman says he reminds him of an old friend...only to then immediately recognize him as Eco. Then Eco recognizes him as Dietrich, the son of Arlon. Dietrich corrects him that his name is Dietrich Noah, Earl of Arlon. How does Eco know him? Eco says in the past, he did student work at different estates. He was a stay-in, writing letters, copying books, nerd shit. Dietrich says that Eco would also sneak out to Sana's red light district and join drag contests (because of course he did) and Eco cuts him off, saying he still wants his apology. Since he knows him, Dietrich denies him the apology (funny how that works) but upon finding out he has a fever, he calls for two horses from his men and says that Belca and Eco are going to stay at the mansion. Belca doesn't want to stay just because he's been told this plus there's his feverent racism towards Amontels to take into account with the slaves the guy has...then it begins to snow. In autumn. So he really doesn't have a choice now, does he?

Mr. Grumpy Racist Pants is seen taking a hot bath in the mansion, asking Eco (in the same room with the tub) if it's okay to accept help from a nobleman. Eco says that one, if they refuse, they'll be suspected and two, the Noahs are one of the lesser noble families, so they're probably not involved with Lord Lagen. Deciding to pull the bandaid off the wound, Eco comes right out and asks if Hector was killed because of the Amontel. Belca says it's none of Eco's business but Eco continues, saying that he saw an Amontel among Hector's ranks when he was walking through the city and that he was rumored to be planning on changing the state of the kingdom to give the Amontels more rights. Belca darkly reiterates that it's none of his business. Eco agrees...correctly guessing that he only wanted to do so because he met a cute Amontel girl anyway.

That sets Belca off.

He yells at Eco to shut up, saying that the Amontels are monsters and they don't deserve descriptors like "cute" or "girl" to be applied to them. Eco calmly asks Belca why he feels that way and Belca begins to answer that it's always been like that...and then he remembers what Hector and Gramps both said about times and attitudes changing. The maid comes in to bring in a change of clothes and wash his dirty ones and tell the two that their rooms are ready so when Belca is done scrubbing his ass, they can get to bed.

Later on, Eco suggests that he and Belca can wait for the right time and escape. But Belca says it's impossible to camp out in that weather and even if they did, they would just get caught while they sleep. Telling Eco goodnight, he thinks about the Amontel, saying the way people act towards them has been decided before there were even humans...

Meanwhile, in the woods, Shingetsu catches himself a bandit and begins the interrogation.

The guy is a slaver and Shingetsu is interrogating him to find out where he sold his fellow Amontel. The slaver fearfully shouts that he and his men sold them all in Sana and that they're under the "Chemist"'s control now. Other than that, he doesn't know anything. Shingetsu is about to kill him before another Amontel stops him, saying if he kills him, he has to kill the rest too. Shingetsu instead puts a "curse" on the man: If he tries to go after them, he will get revenge on his children, and his children's children, and make their flesh rot away. The curse of the Red Forest.

Back to Prince Hour! Belca wakes up to discover one, he's alive and two, he still has his Primseed pendant and three, Eco's fever broke. Looking outside, Belca is amazed by the snow like a puppy seeing his first few inches (of snow...pervert.). Dietrich greets him, saying it's noon already (Really Belca...?) and asks if Belca will spar with him before he eats.

Belca still got the moves (in training, at least) and he gives Dietrich a good fight. Dietrich asks about Eco and apologizes for yesterday's incident, saying it must have been frightening to run into an Amontel in the forest. Belca quickly says no it wasn't...and fucks up enough to have to dodge a straight pierce from Dietrich's blade. He returns with renewed force though, saying that he can't forgive Amontel for looking human even though they're clearly not. Dietrich agrees...but says that Amontels are in fact "human imitations" that they can replace humans and the "real" humans can make them do stuff that "real" humans can't. They take a break and Dietrich continues that Amontel do dangerous work that "real" humans cannot like digging in mines and such. Therefore, he can't really hate them. But! He and Belca have to remain ever vigilant and make sure not to mistake them for "real" humans.

Anyway, Dietrich gets called away on a "matter" and leaves Belca alone, saying they'll talk later. Belca thinks that Dietrich reminds him of Hector, just a bit. Belca then thinks that if Hector just thought of the Amontels the way Dietrich does, he would still be alive. He goes back to his and Eco's room to say that Dietrich is a chill dude...only to not see Eco anyway. And his stuff is missing.

At the Royal Tomb's Palace Villa, at the Sana Town District Gate, the Vandemiel's Squad Captain (whoever the fuck that is) is greeted by the guards when he's about to go on a vacation to see his parents. Then he sees something in the distance that looks like a caravan...but something isn't right. He orders the guards to go over and investigate and it turns out that the caravan contained Moruga merchants...Amontel slave traders. The slave traders were taken to a hospital to recover but what's interesting is the fact that they were not attacked for their money. No...their attackers were Amontel.

And their next target are the traders' client...

A carrier pigeon can't get to them; it's already sunset! The Squad Captain will have to rescue that innocent slave owner before the Amontel reach him!

The chapter ends with Belca exploring the Arlon family estate.

Chapter 9:

Just a reminder:

Because I am NOT typing it out again.

Anyway, Eco says that even if Dietrich put weird ideas in his head, he hopes his words would keep Belca safe for a while. He knows that Belca might be happier as Dietrich's puppet but...that'll be no fun for a little stinker like Eco. Then he hears a bunch of noise from outside...

But the Captain first! He can't relax in the mansion while the Amontel are attacking so he walks outside the room. Then he sees Belca confront the Amontels outside. When Belca is shot at, he manages to dash down and take the arrow for him, protecting his precious Mariebelle.

Then the captain sees his pendant, finally (actually) recognizing him. Tenrou thinks that, with Belca's fancy clothes, he's the young master of this place so he wants him to take him to where the slaves are. But Shingetsu tells him to wait, saying there's a signal from the bank of the lake and that means Dietrich's men already knows they're there. They do a Pincer attack on them, they're screwed. Tenrou says oh well, they got all the information they need from the maid. They can just take Belca as a hostage instead and get out of Dodge. The Captain tries to protect him but ends up with an arrow through his ankle, courtesy of Shingetsu. Belca tries to protect him but he's outmanned; they give him a choice: come with them or the captain and the maid dies. Despite that throwing a wrench in his "return to Orcelito" plans, Belca agrees, becoming a hostage.

Captain is thrown into the waters and the Amontels board a boat with their new hostage. They tell the maid to send a message: they're return with Belca later, offering his life for their comrades.

Later on, Dietrich gets word that Belca was kidnapped, the Amontels cleverly outmanuevering them by going someplace where they weren't expected to show up and thus taking advantage of the lack of guards there. Dietrich's attendant guy says that it's kind of a good thing that this happened before word was sent back that they have the prince in their custody. Dietrich says the prince must be rescued; he can't miss this chance to get a connection with Lord Lagen!

Shingetsu and Tenrou are greeted back at their meet-up spot by another Amontel, Belca in tow. Then the Captain walks up, having swam after them to save Belca. Then he passes out.

Back at the jail, a maid comes with Eco's blanket and heater (Oh, he was serious about that...). Eco recognizes her as Annette, a maid who's been working in the mansion for years. She's happy to be recognized and gives him his blanket...and his missing poem book, knowing how much he missed it. Eco is so happy...which is a feeling he'll want to hold onto as much as possible because Annette then tells him Belca was kidnapped.

Eco demands to be let out to rescue him but Annette says that's impossible. Dietrich has the keys and if she steals them, she won't just be flogged...she'll be subject to the experiments, just like the Amontel!

Wait, what?

Yeah, that's what Dietrich has been using the Amontels for, shooting them up with drugs and stuff like that. Eco asks if he's working with Lagen on that and Annette confirms it, asking how he knows about that. Instead of answering, he asks Annette to do him another favor...

Meanwhile, Hostage!Belca wakes up against a giant fox in a cave somewhere. Shingetsu greets him, currently dressing the Captain's wounds. Belca tries to push him away, thinking he's attacking him, only for Shingetsu to take out a knife and throw it at him...hitting the rat about to pounce on him. Apparently the rats in this setting are venomous...he then tells Belca that because he's their hostage, they're not gonna hurt him because they need him for the exchange. Until then, he should get some rest. His giant fox doesn't bite. Also, the captain's wound is (somehow) shallow and the shot was just meant to scare Belca. Some herbs have been applied on the wounds so he should be fine in 2 to 3 days. Belca is awed that these monsters are behaving in such a surprisingly rational manner. He still wants to leave...but the Captain has a fever so it's impossible to move him. He sighs and calls the Captain an idiot, asking why he had to pull such a dumb stunt for him...

Outside the cave, an Amontel named Izayoi comes in and is briefed on the situation. Then he finds the pendant the Amontel swiped from Belca, horrified that they KIDNAPPED THE FUCKING PRINCE.

Now, at the Royal Prefecture in Neue Favrille, Kiliko and Lagen's men are trying to locate pages from the Rovisco Documents as well as decipher them. Turns out Lagen's family are called the Guardians of History and this is their main duty. Then they find some controversial literature, including some text explicitly speaking out against the royal family. The missing pages were most likely taken out by someone who is against the crown which also means someone else knows about the secret backroom...

Tenrou stomps back into the cave when we cut back to Belca, demanding to know if the latter is actually the Prince. He then comments if he's Hector's brother, he's his exact opposite. That pisses Belca off and he charges him, screaming that it's the Amontel's fault that Hector is dead because he wanted to treat them as human beings and the elders killed him for it. The other Amontels are shocked to hear this...and so is the Captain who just woke up. Tenrou recovers quickly, glad that they can now do a hostage exchange with the Stone Capital's King. Belca laughs at him, saying there's no way that the kingdom will bargain for a troublemaker like him. Sure, the elders want him but that's only because he knows they killed Hector. The Captain tries to get Belca to stop talking but Belca goes on, saying they wasted their time and that the kingdom wouldn't want to negotiate with a bunch of evil disgusting creatures like them anyway.

The Amontel are about to fuck him up but Shingetsu stops them, wanting to ask Belca a question: did he see it? You know, when the Evil Deity that created the Amontel...did it? They were just minding their own business in the mountains and then the Stone Capital guys came in and started colonizing. Being hunted, treated as slaves, eaten like food...they keep calling the Amontel evil but the way the Amontel are treated is evil in of itself!

So...on the Western Trail at the Florel Town Outpost, Musca is being prepared for her stay. While there, she overhears rumors that Orcelito is indeed acting strangely and some think he has been replaced with someone else. Musca thinks to herself: her mom's dead, her dad's sick, Hector's "gone away" and Belca is missing...she's the only one who can save her older brother. But how is she going to get back to the palace?

Enter Ossan.

It's his last day in Florel and he's about to head to Lobnec Peninsula, having already submitted his resignation. The chapter ends with Musca seeing him...

Chapter 4

On the Northeast Border Kuklant Suburb Trail, an Amontel is being hunted by bandits. They're thinking of capturing him to sell before an Amontel in the trees shoots an arrow at them. Not knowing how many of the Amontel there are in the forest, the bandits retreat.

The archer Amontel helps up the other Amontel, Shingetsu, and asks him if he returned from the Holy Land. Shingetsu responds that everyone who went to the royal tomb are already dead. The archer cusses him out for this, saying that with Hector dead, the kingdom has no need to accept them now. Shingetsu was hoping that Hector's wish had reached the elders but the archer ain't having that shit. They say that the only choice now is to fight, cursing Hector for dying so soon...

In a spiffy new outfit, Belca makes it to Sana, the gateway between the palace villa and the town district. If he can get past this town, he can get to the entrance to the palace. And if he can make it in there, he can see Orcelito. But first! He has to make it past a large crowd...headed by the guards. The guards are not only collecting tolls but are also doing searches on every person to search for Belca. Things are not looking good for the prince...and then he overhears a man being manhandled and searched, just for not having any money to pay the toll. The guards try to drag him out but he breaks away, saying he has a daughter who needs him. The guards attack him, saying he's with the "rebel". Belca quietly points out that he's just an old man and they have him confused with someone else but a lady tells him it's no use, the soldiers have their eye on him. I mean, he did try to slip past the gate. If Belca has a problem, why doesn't he do something about it himself?

Belca has enough of this shit; Eco's words have gotten through to him and he approaches the guards, saying that the old man isn't a rebel and using his ring (with a real gemstone!) to pay for his toll. They get through, the crowd is astonished, good times for all...then the guard inspects the ring. The relief on it is of the Twin Lions...the emblem of the royal family.

The guards immediately shout at Belca to stop, saying that he's the royal tomb thief they're looking for. Belca, finally using his brain, turns and shouts at them for their impudence. He reveals his true identity: Prince Belca, 3rd Prince of the Noctircus Royal Family. He has returned to Sana to meet Orcelito. He then demands to be escorted to the Palace Villa. The guards are stunned...until one guard reminds the others that the thief is using Prince Belca's name. One of the guards counters that the ring is the proof of succession but the guard counters that with the information that he's a thief; he probably stole it. The guards advance on him, intending to capture him alive to interrogate him further. Belca's cornered, he has no weapons and his body's in bad shape. This could be it for him. Then, gold coins rain from the sky.

Some dude's cart was overturned and he is not happy about it. The crowd swarms over the guards to get it and Belca is dragged away by Eco, his savior. As Eco takes him to his hiding place, Belca recognizes him...as the bear guy.

(Sadly no.)

Meanwhile, Lord Lagen is scolding K-dog for letting Belca's body escape them. They just lost an important pawn because of that. Lagen tells him to let Orbus handle the situation in the Palace Villa. Meanwhile, Orbus' son has another opportunity to make up for his failure...

The guards are searching houses while looking for Belca, breaking into a random brothel, turning the p;ace inside out. One woman overhears who the guards are looking for and is shocked. A guard (in rather fresh way) questions her, but the other courtesans defend her by saying that she's Prince Orcelito's biggest fan and was upset that he went home. The guards eventually leave (with the creepy saying he'll come back as a paying customer)...and that woman is revealed to be Belca himself.

Eco and Belca live to be ambiguously homosexual for another day. Eco thanks the madam, Ricolise, for helping them out. Ricolise says it would suck if the girls couldn't hear Eco's song again. She offers them a room and the boys retire, the guards still looking for them outside. Eco asks Belca what he did and Belca says it's none of his business. Eco is huffy, saying he's saved his life twice (three times if you count saving Belca's life from Eco). But Belca doesn't want him to get any further involved; it could get him killed. Eco asks why and Belca says every person who has gotten close to him has been killed. Eco tells him to chill if he's worried about someone getting hurt on his account; Eco didn't save him out of the kindness of his heart. No, he has an ulterior motive for helping him. Belca nervously tells him he has no money but Eco has no need for that. No...he wants his song.

No, literally. He wants to sing a song about Belca and his story. If Belca gives him his song, he'll do anything for his sake. Eco offers and Belca says that he wants to see Orcelito one more time. Eco has joined Belca's party! Good thing too because Belca doesn't know jack shit about the outside world. That ring he gave away earlier? He estimates that it can pay the toll for ten people...Eco corrects him that it could have paid the toll for 10,000 people.

So unless Eco is around, he's a dead man.

Orcelito is stuck with Fagen's son as his attendant. and he's not happy about this turn of events. He tries to talk to his dad but the chapter ends with K-dog stopping him.

Chapter 16

Okay, we're trying something different. I will summarize the Omake...and do a quick summary of the chapter itself which apparently I have find on another site. Good? Okay.

Today, we learn about soldiers' uniforms. In the +C world, "soldier" refers a guard with light equipment. In peaceful times, they maintain town security, escort nobles and other stuff. When they're in Neue Favrille, they dress up in a manner suitable for skirmishes. The creator says it was designed as a one piece with puffed sleeves, making it more suitable on women as seen below:

(Why are there no women soldiers? The creator's excuse is because it's a Josei manga. Take it up with him.)

The design is the same across different territories though soldiers tend to put their own touches on it, like family crests and such. And that's it. Hector want Amazon soldiers but he is mocked for it.

In an Omake story, Hector is targeted by the God of Death. The God asks if he has any last words and he says...he wants to be popular with girls. Apparently he heard "last request" and "last words". He torments the God. The end.

Chapter Summary: Orcelito and Kiliko have entered into a deadly alliance to take on the elders of the kingdom and Eco gets to watch girls dance. Good for him.

Sup.

There's this manga called +C: Sword and Cornett, also known as Plus-Si. All I know about it is that it's a Josei and it's about regal politics. I'm gonna review blind and in real time. Anyone who cares, welcome to hell.

A guy who seems like our protagonist is fucking his instructor up in sword training, stopping the blade point end at his throat only to tell him he won.

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His name is Prince Belca and his instructor whines that he fought dirty. Belca coldly responds that it was the instructor who told him to give it everything he had and that if he has a problem, he needs to find himself a replacement. Pissed, the instructor stomps off to do just that, saying he resigns as Belca's teacher. Outside the training area, he loudly gripes about how he treats Belca like royalty and Belca treats him like dirt, even though Belca is just the bastard child of a king and a dancer.

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Belca could hear him.

King Reitz I once saved the entire land while it was covered in darkness. His descendant is Belca's father, the king. The king rules the country with the lords of the Round Table Council. Belca's history teacher says that it's a great honor to inherit the blood of the Hero King and so does everyone else...

Meeting up with some dude, Belca is praised for beating his instructor in combat. Belca says that fancy sword style is useless crap, causing the guy to laugh and ask where he learned those words. Belca says he learned it from him...and the porn books he lent him.

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Belca prefers to be in the infantry because the way Astelion Mercenaries fight is practical which Belca prefers. The mercenary he's talking to says that it's better if no one has to die. He then asks Belca if it isn't the responsibility of royalty to think of ways to avoid war. Belca responds that the future of royalty isn't for him.

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In his future, his Crown Prince brother Hector will be king. After him is the second prince, Orcelito. Belca is basically doomed to be stuck in the castle for the rest of his life. He can't even visit his own father for fear of assassination. That makes Ossan (the mercenary) cry.

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Ossan cheers up and says that since he and Belca both survived the plague, they should both continue living with no regrets. Belca walks away thinking that while they survived the plague, his mom, grandfather and the queen all died from it. Belca doesn't want to die like that. It scares him. While walking, some douche stops him to "congratulate" him on beating his instructor. Belca ignores him as the bitch with him says that it was nice of the noble to talk to him, considering that he was dressed like a bandit. The noble says he owed him that courtesy. Hearing the guards discuss his business out loud too, Belca says that while death scares him, he can't exactly say that he can go on living like this in peace either...

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Prince Orcelito himself leaves his lessons to greet his brother. Belca walks away only for Orcelito to call him out on ditching philosophy class, asking if he's even serious about school. Belca tells him to mind his business. Orcelito counters that he's his brother and he doesn't want to see him get in trouble. He then tells him that Hector is showing up tomorrow to check up on how much they've grown. Belca hasn't seen Hector in years and remembers him being kind to him when he was a kid. Belca says tat he already heard that he was coming back and that he's coming to help with state affairs. Hopefully his presence will give the king some of his health back. That's when Princess Musca shows up. She wants to show Orcelito the new dress she got to show off to her brother Hector. Belca tries to sneak off without starting shit but Orcelito says to show her dress off to Belca too, only for her to grumpily refuse. You see, that's a new dress and she doesn't want a half-blood like him to get it dirty.

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She's definitely a bitch-in-training but I can't get too mad at her. After all, she's just repeating what her punk-ass wet nurse told her (who runs up, begging her not to repeat what she told her). Because of her, Musca says that Belca is a stain on the royal line and that it's a damn shame a bastard like him is in line for the throne.

Then Orcelito slaps Musca, yelling at her to stop it.

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(I would have preferred he hit the nurse but I appreciate the gesture none the less.)

He tells her to apologize to Belca and being the princess is no excuse for using harsh words. She responds by crying and running off, saying that she hates him. Orcelito runs after Belca, apologizing and saying he'll talk to Musca later. Belca tells him not to follow him and that what Musca said is true so he doesn't mind. He then says that Hector is a great man...but he's too kind. That's why he and Orcelito have to look out for him. Orcelito says that they'll look out for him together...but Belca just sees them as pretty words. He points out mentally that Orcelito's retainers raise their guard every time Belca so much as talks to him.

Meanwhile, some bald guy named Lord Lagen bursts into the king's chambers, asking on his condition. When the guards say the king is fine, he then says to let him in. He has news about the crown prince Hector. He also has a lot of hate for the Amontel, whoever they are.

In the Neue Favrille District of the Royal Prefecture, a young man named Eco talks to the waitress Honey about why it's so lively at a restaurant. She answers that it's because Hector is coming back. We can see him ride through the streets on a cool horse:

Honey wouldn't mind being his Princess Bride (despite having told Ego at one point that she liked him...). Then Honey pauses, saying that she thought she saw an Amontel among Hector's ranks. But that's silly! The royal family would have nothing to do with monsters like them. Ego thinks differently though...

Belca watches Hector get welcomed in at the castle gates, Musca and Orcelito being the first to greet him. Hector catches his ass sulking from above the gates and loudly calls out to him, saying hi. He tells his edgelord ass to stop being cool and come down and say hello. Belca mentally protests that he wasn't being cool (he was trying anyway) and heads down as Musca says Hector doesn't need to say hello to him. Hector lifts her up and asks if she and Belca had a fight. Musca begins to give her version of the events before she sees somebody in the ranks and starts screaming bloody murder.

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She points at a man with white hair and red eyes, demanding to know why an Amontel is there in the castle walls. Belca overhears as he tries to push through the crowd. Hector says everything is cool because the Amontel is with him. Orcelita says that although the Amontel in the castle walls are obedient slaves, they should always be bound in chains. Even the guards crawl up his ass, saying that the Amontel are inhuman and regardless of the circumstances, they want an explanation for this. Hector agrees and gives his reasoning for his actions: he wants the Amontel to be recognized as human too. He's going to be bringing this issue up at the next council. Some lords are watching and they are not pleased.

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They say they're telling the king and Hector needs to know how the world works. Some guy tells them to calm down and they should at least listen to what Hector has to say. Lord Lagen tells them to call the elders; it's time for a council.

Meanwhile, Belca is in his bedroom, saying that if anything, Hector has gotten weirder. He's too bothered to just stew in his room so he decides to return his "books" to Ossan (and maybe spar with him) only to hear the mercenaries interrogate Ossan on his intentions with Belca, asking him why he keeps entertaining him. Ossan casually answers there's no war going on and he has some free time. He then asks if anyone has a problem with that and one guy says "yes, there is indeed a big fucking problem with that". You see, if Belca keeps coming over, the nobles can accuse them of planning a rebellion. You can get suspected even if you're innocent, you know? Then we learn the nickname the knights have given Belca: Usurper. Belca leaves as the mercenaries warn Ossan that if something goes wrong with the succession, chilling with Belca won't be funny anymore.

A pissed Belca fumes above the castle walls, yelling at them for being idiots and suspecting him for being a usurper. Do they honestly think he could do something like that by himself? Then his old instructor swings a sword at him, forcing him to dodge before he gets his head lobbed off. The instructor, looking crazed, asks why did he move. Belca asks what the hell he's doing, shouldn't he be resigned? The instructor reveals that because he quit, he was fired from the knights' order and his life is ruined because of Belca. He keeps slashing at Belca while the latter blocks with his own sword sheath, saying that it's fine for him to kill him because if Belca dies, no one will look for the culprit. Belca knows he's serious; if he doesn't fight, he's dead. Belca remembers what Ossan told him about it being best if no one has to die...before Hector dashes in to save him, blocking the blade.

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Belca survives with a face cut to show for it and the guards nervously tell him to leave it to them in the future, taking the instructor to prison. Hector says to let him cool his head and that he'll deal with him later. Belca thanks him, silently bitching himself out because he knows that if it was training, he would have matched the speed easily. In a real life situation, he was too scared to move. Then Hector pats his head, calling him a dummy: he's his big brother first and the crown prince second. Of course he'll help him anytime!

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Oh, and he's only there because he ran away from the argument with the elders so it was really perfect timing. He then asks Belca why is he being so polite with his speech. Belca answers he's the son of a whore so he has to know his place. An annoyed Hector notes that he doesn't need to be so formal with family and says the castle is a bad influence on him, offering to let him study abroad. He can go out, have fun, learn, fuck cute girls...the works! The last part is important because while he was out, Hector found a woman he would like to be his bride.

The woman was an Amontel.

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He asks Belca if he thinks it's impossible. Belca answers that hating the Amontel is the way of the world. Hector agrees but...the world changes. So Hector will face the world head on.

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He says he won't force Belca to agree with him but he encourages him to broaden his horizons by traveling. When he does, tell him how he thinks. A guard runs up for Hector, saying it's time for round 2 against the elders. Hector then asks Belca to see him at the same place again the next rest day. Until then, think about the suggestion on studying abroad...and give him the porn he got from the mercenaries (he has his ways).

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Belca wonders that if he becomes king with Ocelito at his side if the entire country will become surrounded by his kind atmosphere. Then he says if that day comes and he gets to serve beside him, he might not mind life in the castle anymore.

The following week came the day of rest. Hector failed to show up in the agreed meeting spot so Belca goes looking for him. He walks in on his brother collapsed on the floor, the maids calling for a doctor.

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Belca, panicked, asks him what happened. But Hector just scolds him for speaking too formally. The chapter ends on the note that 3 days later, Hector passed away.

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