Chapter 18

  “What’s up, big brother? Been years. Miss me?”

  Dan expected the harmonic, youthful demon voice of his brother…

  But this was a human voice—a young man’s?

  He hadn’t misheard, had he?

  Why was a human on this ship?

  No.

  Look closer.

  The figure stepped from the shadows into the light, arms spread…

  A strikingly handsome man, 188 cm tall, with jet-black hair, aged 27–28. His alabaster skin and deep-sea blue eyes gleamed, his sharp nose and chiseled face like a master sculptor’s work. The sleek black suit only amplified his elegance.

  Those eyes… like Dan’s, but blue.

  Prince Fury froze for a moment…

  Casca, too, was stunned.

  The man breezed past his brother and sister-in-law, approaching Nora.

  “It’s an honor to have you visit in person, Your Highness.”

  His playful tone and voice were worlds apart from his brother’s. Nora, despite meeting countless men, felt flustered by his beauty…

  He draped an arm across his waist, bowing with a nod to Princess Nora.

  ‘Everton, at your service.’

  Everton—Diablo’s second prince.

  Casca put her hands on her hips.

  “Ho? Got yourself a human form already?”

  “Seeing how humans fear us, I thought showing up like them might break some barriers,” Everton said, flashing a smile at Nora.

  No matter how handsome his human guise, Everton hadn’t mastered one human trait: his eyes.

  They were blank, like a dead fish’s. Nora couldn’t read his thoughts.

  “Wait a sec. Father let you burn mana crystals for this? What’s going on?” Dan demanded.

  “Big brother, don’t you know? Human forms are the trend back home. You’re the trendsetter.”

  “Me? Trendsetter? I just came to find a wife,” Dan scoffed.

  “Brother, you’re so dense,” Everton teased.

  “You’re the most influential guy on the island. Everyone wants to copy you~”

  Everton grabbed Dan’s left hand, where a dragon tattoo marked the back. He rolled up his own sleeve, revealing a similar but smaller dragon on his forearm.

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  Dan looked up at Everton.

  “Great. Less lonely. Now I’ve got someone to share my 150 million debt with.”

  “Actually, I’m debt-free,” Everton said.

  “WHAT?!” Dan’s voice thundered, startling Nora.

  “What do you mean, no debt?!”

  “Here’s the deal, big brother,” Everton said, spreading his hands with a shrug.

  “Four months ago, we found another mana crystal mine under the eastern mountains. And let me tell you—it’s huge. Hand-over-mouth huge.”

  “…”

  “I’m not kidding. You’ve been running around human cities; how was I supposed to tell you?”

  “This mine… what’s it got to do with you not paying a single credit for a human form?” Dan pressed.

  “Because… estimates say this new mine’s mana crystals are worth at least two trillion credits.”

  “Two trillion?” Nora’s eyes widened. She hadn’t misheard, had she?

  Two trillion could sustain them for 500 years, minimum.

  And that’s not counting existing mines, with this discovery still unknown to the public.

  “So, as Finance Minister, 0.1% of two trillion is 200 million. Human forms are now a trivial expense~”

  Everton’s grin widened.

  “That’s why I’ve got no debt, unlike you.”

  “So… you’ve got more than enough to spare,” Nora ventured.

  “Exactly, Princess Nora. Your intellect is razor-sharp,” Everton praised.

  “Ho… really? Perfect. With resources like that, our debt’s gone, right? Right, my dear little brother?” Dan said, leaning in.

  “You still owe it. It’s our contract. You signed it~ Back then, we hadn’t found—”

  The tall, handsome man hit the floor before Nora, his neck gripped and pinned by his brother, now in his true demonic form.

  “Say that again?” Dan growled.

  “Brother! I can’t breathe!” Everton choked.

  “Why am I stuck with the debt while you pay nothing? That’s not fair!”

  “It’s not my fault… you signed it!” Everton gasped.

  Grip tightens.

  “Urk! Brother—listen! Urk…”

  Loosens slightly, but still firm.

  “Here’s the thing. I’d love to waive it, but—”

  “But what?”

  “The contract’s signed. It’s in the central records! Everyone knows about it!”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, if I just cancel it, how do we explain that? It’d ruin Father’s vision…”

  The young man was dropped, coughing and wheezing.

  “We need transparent standards like humans, brother. Plus, I didn’t charge interest,” Everton said.

  “You saddled me with 150 million while you pay nothing. Wow, so transparent. Truly stellar. Look, everyone!” Dan pointed at his brother.

  “This is transparency! Crystal clear! I’m clapping, phenomenal!”

  “Brother, you’re a grown man. Don’t throw a tantrum. We’re in front of Snowhaven’s princess. Keep up our first impression,” Everton chided.

  Nora: (It’s kinda cheating, though…)

  “Only you signed, so you pay. Everyone else is off the hook,” Everton added.

  “Everyone else? What’s that mean?” Dan asked.

  “Hello, Prince Fury,” a woman’s voice called.

  Dan turned… Another figure stepped forward.

  A brunette woman, 165 cm tall, in a black suit. Sharp features, long legs, cinched waist, a mole under one eye. Her skin was pale as snow, with a distinct butterfly tattoo on her right hand.

  Crack!

  Red lightning flashed… Fury reverted to Dan.

  “Galata? That you?”

  Galatasaray—Everton’s personal guard.

  “You got a human form too?” Dan asked.

  “Been a while, Your Majesty,” she said, adjusting her glasses.

  “From a human perspective, you’re impressively imposing. No wonder the surveys say so.”

  “Not everyone gets a human form, brother,” Everton said, rubbing his bruised neck while draping an arm around Dan, trying to make amends. Dan swatted it away.

  “Don’t touch me,” Dan snapped, still sore about the debt.

  “Brother… I saw you wasting away back home. I gave you a reason to live! I did it out of love. Debt’s the ultimate motivator!” Everton pleaded.

  “Don’t talk to me.”

  “You’re mad at me?”

  “Get lost!”

  Nora: (Mr. Fury’s pouting like a kid. So cute…)

  “Wait. Don’t get lost. Come here,” a voice cut in.

  !

  Everton paled, sweat beading…

  He felt a terrifying presence behind him—Casca Saint-Maximin.

  “You little lizard… we need to talk. Good thing you’ve got a human form now. Makes it feel like a real conversation.”

  Her breath steamed, eyes glowing gold…

  Everton swallowed hard.

  “S-Sister-in-law…”

  He forced a shaky smile.

  “What’s up, haha?”

  “Heard you let Skank trail my husband, huh?”

  “…Oh…”

  Everton closed his eyes.

  I’m cooked.

  Accepting his fate.

  “Family’s great, the more the merrier—AAAAA!”

  Prince Everton was dragged into the ship’s shadows, his wails echoing.

  ((Sister-in-law, I’m sorryyyy!))

  Followed by thuds, like someone getting pummeled.

  “No need to worry about first impressions,” Nora said.

  “They’re already shot, Mr. Fury.”

  “Truly thriving, our nation,” Dan said, rubbing his temples.

  “If the public knew, we’d be done.”

  “Nothing’s truly perfect, Mr. Fury. Like you taught me,” Nora said.

  “Yup. And you’re not leaving this ship either.”

  “Kidding… pales,” Nora muttered.

  “Galata, explain. Who else has human forms?” Dan asked.

  “His Majesty permitted only senior officials to have them. Prince Everton, myself… and three or four others,” Galatasaray replied.

  “Those three or four—who?” Dan pressed.

  “Your Majesty!”

  !

  Zeedee’s voice called from another part of the ship. Dan and Nora turned… and froze.

  “You won’t believe what’s happened,” Zeedee said, stepping aside to reveal three more humans.

  “You guys…”

  “Mr. Fury?” Nora whispered.

  “…No way…”

  When Fury attended the summit, all four of his guards had to follow.

  And they all had human forms now.