Generally, the prince of Qingxi was accustomed to using a carrot and stick approach to persuade others, balancing kindness with authority.
However, with Helen, he had used the method of a big stick followed by an even bigger stick as a bribe.
The nun did not leave until much later, trembling and unsteady on her feet. She let out a soft burp and patted her ample chest, assuring him that the matter was as good as settled.
【To use this kind of method for subversion is quite rare in a sense. No, even with my experience, I've only seen it a few times.】
Faust also felt that his strategy was rather miraculous. He doubted even a typical nukige would dare to use such a sci-fi setting so casually.
But he did it anyway!
“It's not that much, is it? This is simply my confidence as a Frost Archer!”
After coordinating with the nun, Faust officially set off to return to his kingdom.
However, compared to the train he had taken on the way there, the prince regent would be returning by airship.
To be precise, he was boarding a floating warship gifted to him by Artedinis.
That was right. Upon hearing that Faust was returning home, the Imperial Princess had specially selected a floating ship from her private collection to give to him.
This was no small gift. Even for the Imperial royal family, who were incredibly wealthy and viewed massive fortunes as cold numbers, a floating ship was quite precious.
This was because every existing floating ship in the world was not a product of an assembly line, but a relic from the ancient Golden Age.
The ruins scattered across the continent yielded such things only if one could overcome numerous adventures and solve all their riddles. The number of such Golden Age creations could be counted on one's fingers.
If they were truly mass-producible weapons of war, they would have likely been targeted and eliminated long ago, just like the Earth-Shattering Cannon.
Between humans, the law of slaughtering one another with blades and swords had remained an exception-less rule since ancient times. any attempt to overturn this law would invite consequences too severe to bear.
In essence, the 【frost-walker】 was also a creation of the Golden Age, and an extremely special one at that, far stronger than an ordinary floating ship.
But no matter how rare and powerful a Great Titan was, it couldn't be driven around as a commuting tool; it really wasn't as comfortable as a floating ship.
Until Faust actually arrived at the mooring field on the outskirts of Saint-Vevia, he had remained half-doubting. But the floating ship, with its elegant, streamlined hull and magnificent, noble appearance, sat steadily in the clearing, leaving the prince with no choice but to believe it.
The young Imperial Princess, who had been waiting there, walked straight up to Faust.
She held a bouquet of white flowers, her beige hair that covered her eyes fluttering in the wind, a soft smile playing on her lips.
The princess's figure had always been slender and graceful, and that exquisitely beautiful face, if not for her occasional manic smile, could certainly be described as a picture of serene beauty.
“What is the meaning of this? If you intend for this to be a marriage proposal gift, a single floating ship isn't enough. You'd have to give me half the Empire.”
Faust dealt a percentage of true damage with his opening remark, which even gave Artedinis a start.
“Half the Empire... you certainly have a large appetite. It's not that I'm unwilling to give it, but I only have one governorate under my hand right now. Hmm... if you want it, you'll have to wait a few years.”
The Imperial Princess naturally responded to the prince of Qingxi's teasing with a joke of her own... or perhaps, to her, it wasn't a joke. Then, she handed the pure white bouquet to Faust.
“It's just a parting gift for a friend. To me, whether it's a bouquet of flowers or a floating warship, the sentiment is much the same. However, you seem to prefer the latter, so... mhm.”
“If that's the case, then I'll accept your sugar-coated bribe.”
Faust didn't put on a show of refusing; he liked this floating ship very much, so he accepted it graciously.
“I will prepare a return gift in the future.”
The little princess beside Artedinis was extremely dissatisfied with Faust's attitude. She put her hands on her hips and barked:
“Hey, you! Shouldn't you be thanking my royal sister for her bounty? For such a generous reward, it wouldn't even be too much for you to kneel and kiss her toes right now!”
Artedinis glanced at her and said calmly:
“Eleanor, you should learn to treat Faust with politeness. In the future, Faust will become my partner. You must know how to show respect to a member of the same family.”
Hearing this, the indigo-haired girl's face turned pale instantly. She looked at the Imperial Princess, stammering:
“Royal sister, you... you're joking, right?!”
Artedinis shook her head, ignoring the soul-crushed Eleanor. She rested a hand against her cheek and tilted her head.
“What a regrettable parting. Though our time together was short, I've already grown fond of the amusement you bring. I truly want to chain you to my side and keep you as my companion.”
“!!!”
“Hiss—”
As soon as she spoke, she drew hostile hisses from the girls. It wasn't a metaphor; they literally hissed. The three girls were so provoked by the Imperial Princess's words that they made sounds from their throats like animals protecting their food.
Selena looked the most agitated, while Viviana's actions were the most exaggerated as she drew her sword. But the most vivid hiss naturally came from Alkin, who was essentially playing herself.
Her silver, fluffy wolf ears stood bolt upright, her sharp, glinting canines were bared, and her lake-blue eyes were incredibly cold.
However, to Faust, it all seemed a bit like overacting. How cute.
Seeing this, Artedinis's smile widened as she shrugged.
“But the game wouldn't be fun that way. I have to leave some room for anticipation. Wait for it... wait for the nectar to fall. The process of the fruit ripening is sweet and happy in itself; I will savor this feeling well.”
The Imperial Princess raised her chin slightly and looked at the girls, releasing a wave of blatant threat and contempt.
“Especially the act of snatching a supreme treasure from someone else's arms... I truly... look forward to it!”
Taunting the witches right before leaving? Artedinis, you... 'exceptionally bold' doesn't even begin to cover it.
However, looking at the witches who were almost turning red with anger, Faust had to admit the motivational effect was excellent. From his standpoint, he really couldn't refuse.
...
Faust and the others then boarded the ship for the return journey.
The floating warship gifted by the princess didn't require many hands to operate. As a creation of the Golden Age, it was highly automated, just like the 【frost-walker】. After transferring the control keys, commands could be given by voice.
Selena and Viviana both declared they were going to strictly practice abstinence. Until they completed their training, they would no longer indulge in stepping on his back, and they asked the prince of Qingxi to supervise them and never soften his heart.
This time, they truly meant what they said. Even on the floating ship heading home, they no longer slept in the same room as Faust.
Faust had originally prepared himself to have his sleeve pulled in some corner, with them pleading through tears:
“Just one last reward, just one more time. Brother, just give it to me once! I beg you!”
Fortunately, he didn't encounter that situation. Otherwise, it would have been quite difficult, because Faust truly couldn't find it in his heart to refuse his lovers' requests.
This wasn't even about pleasing the witches; it was Faust's own genuine affection.
After being with a group of girls who were so brain-rotted by love for so long, Faust had pretty much been transformed as well.
If the vow he made to Viviana at the beginning had a bit of 'no other choice' in it, then now, it wouldn't be too much for the prince regent to call himself a Pure Love Warrior.
【Faust, don't make me laugh. What part of this is 'pure love'? Are you just purely 'making' love?】
Rate on N.U.
