Chapter 157: Jealousy and Admiration

Ian was sitting on top of the fallen people.

The First Princess shouted at him.

“What on earth happened?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, sister.”

“Nothing, you say?”

The First Princess looked around in surprise.

The nobles were covered in blood, and the blue wolf and soldiers were all cornered.

It was clear that Ian had done something.

The First Princess couldn’t overlook such behavior.

“Even though you bear the title of royalty, I cannot simply ignore this incident.”

Even though she had come at the request of Sir Nathan, the First Princess always prioritized the authority of the royal family.

She could not let this behavior slide.

With a stern gaze, she pointed at Ian.

“Why do you stand idly by? Immediately apprehend the Seventh Prince.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”

“Carry out the order without delay. Chamberlain!”

“I will obey your orders.”

At her command, the chamberlain and soldiers rushed towards Ian.

It was right then.

“Aaaah!”

One of the nobles who had been lying down screamed and stood up.

But he didn’t look normal.

“Princess! H-His eyes are black.”

“T-That appearance… It’s like the one described in the reports…”

It was the likeness of a minion of Jealousy.

Indeed, the nobleman was running with foam frothing at his mouth.

The chamberlain of the First Princess exclaimed in shock.

“What… What are you doing? Can’t you see the princess?”

However, the nobleman, consumed by Jealousy, remained oblivious to his surroundings.

He continued his attempt to attack the princess.

The chamberlain stepped forward and issued a command to the soldiers.

“Stop him!”

The guards surrounding the First Princess extended their spears towards the nobleman.

But at that very moment…

Bang!

A huge hammer fell from the sky.

It shone brightly, it was Patience.

The nobleman who was charging towards the First Princess was instantly pinned to the ground.

“What in the world…”

“Could it be the Seventh Prince?”

Both the Chamberlain and the First Princess stared in amazement.

Ian, who had just smashed the nobleman with his huge hammer, Patience, shrugged at the First Princess as if nothing had happened.

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

The First Princess was left dumbfounded.

“You’re telling me it’s nothing? When there’s a problem with the nobles of this country?”

“They are fine now.”

“No matter what you say…”

But at that moment, Marquis Adelas staggered and stood up.

“It was nothing, really.”

“Look, Marquis!”

The princess questioned him, but he remained resolute.

Rather, the Marquis Adelas spoke firmly with a stern expression.

“The prince saved all of us.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“What?”

“So, can’t you just let this go this time?”

The Marquis’s plea left the First Princess astounded.

But it did not end there.

As she surveyed the scene, the fallen nobles were gradually regaining consciousness and rising to their feet.

“We are truly fine, Your Highness.”

“Prince Ian… helped us.”

“!”

The First Princess could hardly believe it.

Those who had previously displayed hostility towards Ian were now uttering such words.

‘Their countenances do not reflect the fact that their lives were just saved.’

However, the nobles were sincere.

‘If it weren’t for the Seventh Prince…something terrible would have happened.’

‘To think I showed such an ugly side driven by jealousy and resentment. It’s better to bury this matter.’

It had to be that way.

They were people who were proud of themselves as nobles of Kaistein.

They couldn’t reveal that they had been possessed by something and attempted to kill the royal family.

The First Princess looked at the nobles in wonder.

“What on earth happened to everyone?”

It was the same not only for her but also for the chamberlain and soldiers behind her.

This situation itself was surprising.

Of course, there was someone else who was most surprised right now.

It was not a person, but a fragment of the Seven Sins.

[I didn’t think you could actually do this, did you?]

Even if the power of Jealousy was weakened by Greed, it was still formidable.

Nearly a dozen people had become his minions.

They were even partially deranged under the influence of Jealousy.

[I never thought you would beat monsters who couldn’t feel any pain like this.]

Moreover, Ian had not a single scratch while dealing with them.

It was natural for Jealousy to be surprised.

[What are you?]

‘I told you, it was easy.’

Of course, Ian just shrugged his shoulders.

Actually, it wasn’t really difficult for him.

‘They are the ones I’ve defeated before. Moreover, they are weaker now, so it’s natural that I can easily deal with them.’

He had Patience and Faith.

Moreover, he had recently been able to use both Nathan’s and Galon’s oaths.

There was no way he could be intimidated by the nobles.

That was why he had pretended to be weak in the first place.

‘I just wanted to know your weakness.’

[Y-You’re acting weak like a human.]

‘Thank you for the compliment.’

[!]

Jealousy trembled with anger.

Of course, it wasn’t as easy for Ian as he made it sound.

If he had made a mistake, it could have turned into a big problem.

‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier?’

[Huh? What? I’ve told you everything!]

‘Jealousy is contagious. Did you think I didn’t know that you didn’t tell me on purpose?’

[Uh… I don’t know what you’re talking about.]

Jealousy stepped back, stunned.

How the hell did this human know that?

But Ian was looking at him with a cold glare.

It was inevitable.

‘At first, it was just a few people, but then it started spreading and even reached the soldiers.’

The minions had multiplied like a plague.

If Ian hadn’t displayed overwhelming power to break the chain of jealousy, it could have spread beyond the royal family, infecting all of Kaistein.

[!]

Jealousy was startled and tried to flee, but it was already in Ian’s palm.

It struggled against his grip.

[Let go of me!]

‘So, is that why you spoke like that? To crush it with overwhelming strength?’

The only way to halt the spread of jealousy was to eliminate jealousy itself.

For that, Ian started the fight by using Patience to destroy the enemy.

After that, he used Nathan’ Oath of Swiftness to give overwhelming advantage to the enemy. Galon’s Oath made the enemy’s attacks useless.

And ultimately even Faith.

‘You are weak against the strong and strong against the weak. That is your essence. That is who you are.’

[Let go of me!]

Jealousy tried to avoid revealing its weakness, but Ian had already figured everything out. Through one fight, Ian was able to grasp most of Jealousy’s weaknesses.

But that wasn’t all.

‘By the way, you. You’ve changed.’

It was just as Ian said.

A horn grew on Jealousy’s head, which had only a mouth and teeth.

It appeared as though Jealousy was absorbing something, or perhaps, it was something slightly different.

‘Did you absorb a fragment of ‘Greed’? So, the Seven Sins can devour each other.’

[H-How did you know?!]

‘I can see everything with my eyes.’

Through the black-and-white world that Ian had obtained by obtaining fragments of Jealousy, he had witnessed the absorption of the black substance from Cesare’s body into Jealousy.

‘It seems like we have a lot to talk about.’

[You… you cursed human…]

If Jealousy could absorb other Seven Sins, it was possible.

Ian was certain that he could become stronger.

But there was something strange.

‘But let me ask one thing.’

[Huh?]

‘Why weren’t they jealous of my sister? No, they became normal after seeing her?’

It was because the world changed after the appearance of the First Princess.

The appearance of the nobles who were supposed to be black was changing because of Jealousy.

No, they were losing their Jealousy to the First Princess.

Jealousy grumbled as if nothing was wrong.

[Well, because she’s a pretty lady, isn’t she?]

‘What?’

[Even though it’s disgusting and dirty to feel jealous towards someone of the same sex, we admire the person we like instead of feeling jealous, right? Even if they haven’t even gotten married yet. Isn’t it all like that?]

‘…’

It seemed like there was a need to know more about Jealousy.

That’s when Ian and Jealousy had a conversation.

“Ian. His Majesty is calling.”

At the call of the First Princess, Ian had to move from his current position.

He had to meet King Eloin, who was waiting inside.

***

While Ian was fighting Greed, Nathan was moving around busily.

“Huff… Next… Next!”

“It’s over there.”

He moved quickly, drawing his sword as the saintess instructed.

He did as she asked, moving quickly and drawing his sword.

And he swung it.

Slash!

“Ugh…”

Nathan’s sword fell on the Duke of Lavaltor’s servant.

Nathan clenched his jaw tightly, though he could see the face that usually took good care of him and the saintess.

‘How many more are there?’

It couldn’t be helped.

He had already brought down several people as prophesied by the saintess.

And after searching their belongings…

“This guy is the same. Poison and bombs… such dirty acts…”

To think that this servant was a spy for Duke Lavaltor.

The amount of explosives enough to blow up the mansion was staggering.

But the saintess’s prophecy still stood.

“The time is approaching for that butler to detonate the bomb.”

“Will he really do such a crazy thing?”

It was not an easy task to reach the position of the butler.

But to do such a thing.

Why?

However, the saintess answered Nathan’s words in a calm voice.

“He is part of that group. Perhaps he believes that diverting the Duke’s attention is necessary to carry out the theft.”

“That…”

Unfortunately, the fate of the butler had already been decided.

“He will die at the hands of Duke Lavaltor. Even if Sir Nathan doesn’t kill him, the fate of the others won’t change either.”

“But why do I have to act like this? Can’t we just wait…”

“If Sir Nathan doesn’t act… besides Duke Lavaltor, everyone else will die.”

The saintess stopped speaking.

Having read the fate of the butler, she realized that his terror would be half successful.

‘Even if the mansion is blown up, Duke Lavaltor will survive. And the duke will be furious and will kill them all.’

The problem was that both Nathan and herself were among the dead.

In order for the two of them to survive, they had to act first and eliminate everyone.

That’s when it happened.

“!”

The saintess trembled.

Nathan was surprised and walked closer to her and touched her.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s okay.. Sir Nathan.”

The saintess’s expression hardened.

There was definitely something wrong.

Soon, she spoke with a trembling voice.

“We must hurry. Death has started gaining momentum.”

“What’s happening?”

“The danger is not yet over for my brother, nor for us.”

Nathan swallowed hard.

The saintess had always been accurate with her words.

Instinctively, he sensed that true danger was approaching.

And then, something happened.

“But… Sir Nathan, did you happen to touch me just now?”

“What?”

Nathan was taken aback.

He suddenly remembered that he had unknowingly touched her just now.

But the saintess said in confusion.

“I… I did read your fate, but I was in the midst of reading another fate. Perhaps… the future was not set.”

Nathan instinctively flinched at the saintess’s confusion.

Could she have seen his future?

But why was she so flustered?

At that moment, Nathan could only stammer.

“D-did you… see my future partner? Maybe… she’s not the first princess…?”

“I… I’m not sure.”

The saintess hurriedly made excuses and moved to the next location.

Only Nathan, in a state of confusion, called out to her.

“Please tell me. Did… did you really see my future… my future wife…?”

No, he grabbed the back of his neck and fell down.

***

Thomp. Thomp.

Ian entered the grand hall alone.

Although he tried to report the incident with the First Princess, King Eloin refused and dismissed everyone.

“Did you summon me, Your Majesty?”

Even with Ian’s words, King Eloin remained silent.

He simply stared at the lilac flowers placed on the table.

Then, in a chilling voice, he questioned Ian.

“Did you say this flower is alive?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

King Eloin grabbed the lilac flower with one hand and, with indifferent eyes, crushed it.

“!”

Ian was startled and was about to say something.

But the king’s eyes were even more fierce than before.

“Who was it that spoke such vain words to you?”

No, it was anger.

The king looked angrier than ever.

Ian was momentarily at a loss for words.