■ The End of Childhood □
The peace agreement was held in the Royal Castle of Oz, where traces of destruction still remained.
A total of eleven treaties were drawn up with the help of a notary, and since they were ratified by the royal seal I managed, they held legitimate power on the international stage.
His Demon Majesty desired unity rather than perpetual conflict, so he allowed Prince Tipetarius, the heir of King Oscar, to retain his current status. However, in return, he ensured that Prince Tipetarius would have no involvement in politics whatsoever.
Given the considerable distance between Doom Land, the base of the Demon Tribe’s union, and the Oz Kingdom, His Demon Majesty personally appointed Ozma as the new governor to sit on the vacant throne instead of installing a new king.
Ozma had already distinguished herself among the younger generation of demons for quite some time, allowing her to ascend to her position without much controversy. As a result, Oz successfully became a colony of the Demon Tribe.
Colony Oz.
Thus began the era of Governor Ozma and the Governor’s Office of Oz.[[#]] After witnessing the devastating power that obliterated the Constantinople Wall, five days had passed since the unconditional surrender of the Oz Kingdom.
Ozma and I were invited to Prince Tipetarius’s private residence.
Guided by the butler into what appeared to be a study, a middle-aged man with black hair and eyes rose from his chair.
This was my first encounter with the famed Prince Tipetarius.
He was the prince of Oz and the Duke of Dresden, though aside from his youth, he rarely appeared in public, choosing instead to move only between the royal castle and his own estate.
Even during my time navigating the social circles under the guidance of my venerable master, he had already withdrawn from public life.
The gaunt figure glanced briefly at me standing beside Ozma wearing a dog-shaped mask before bowing respectfully to Ozma.
“Have you arrived, Governor Ozma?”
To which Ozma responded with a wave of her hand, dismissing formalities.
“Enough with the pleasantries. Tell me why you’ve summoned us here.”
At this, Prince Tipetarius placed the sword at his waist on the ground and declared,
“As of today, I renounce my royal status and all privileges associated with it. Please allow me to return to my territory of Dresden to spend the remainder of my days.”
“Hmm?”
Ozma’s voice carried a tone of intrigue, clearly caught off guard by this unexpected proposal.
Prince Tipetarius, however, met her gaze unwaveringly.
“Why do you insist on renouncing your royal status? We’ve already stated that as long as you refrain from political involvement, you’re free to do as you please,” questioned Ozma.
With a self-deprecating smile, Prince Tipetarius replied,
“What good is there in being the sole surviving royalty while our nation has lost its sovereignty and the freedom of its people? Undoubtedly, the world will criticize me as someone who lives comfortably despite the fall of the kingdom. I fear such judgment and wish to leave this city.”
At this, Ozma turned to glance at me.
I responded subtly through telepathy:
‘Let him go if he wishes. Through Gears, we’ve already placed enough restrictions to ensure he can no longer interfere in the country’s politics. He’s essentially a puppet now.’
‘But letting him go too far feels uneasy.’
‘Then kill him.’
‘Shush. Father said not to do that.’
Ozma seemed to decide she needed more time to think about the matter and addressed Prince Tipetarius,
“This is a difficult decision to make immediately. Can I give you an answer tomorrow?”
“As you wish.”
“Is there anything else?”
“This mansion holds memories for me. Though originally a royal retreat, with my renunciation of royal privileges, I humbly request that ownership be transferred to you graciously.”
“…Alright. That’s something I can easily accommodate.”
Upon hearing this, Prince Tipetarius closed his eyes and bowed deeply.
“I am truly grateful for granting such an unreasonable request. With this, I have no regrets.”
With a pale face, he spoke these words and attempted to rise after bowing but stumbled.
Seeing this, Ozma extended her hand hesitantly.
“Are you unwell?”
Tipetarius, barely managing to hold onto the desk, nodded in response.
“I’ve had a chronic illness since childhood, making my body frail. Recently, due to various stressors, I’ve suffered from insomnia, exacerbating my condition.”
Looking at his state, which suggested he was near death, Ozma softened and helped him sit down, saying,
“In that case, I’ll take my leave. Rest well. If you’d like, I can send a doctor to the mansion.”
“…I won’t forget Governor Ozma’s kindness.”
With those words, he bowed his head once more.
“Let’s go, Partarth.”
“Yes.”
Creeak—
As we exited the study, the butler waiting outside escorted us to the carriage.
Once inside the carriage awaiting us, Ozma directly asked me,
“Calblasth, what do you think? Should we let Prince Tipetarius leave as he wishes?”
Removing my mask, I replied,
“Well, his illness seems genuine. The timing might be suspicious, but looking closely, his sickly appearance explains why he avoided public appearances.”
“Does he want to go to Dresden for recuperation?”
“At least living in a place with fresh air and clean water would give him more peace of mind than staying in Oz, where he’d be judged.”
“Hmm.”
Seeing that Ozma was still conflicted, I offered a solution,
“If you’re worried, why not add another oath? Once he goes to Dresden, he must never approach Oz again and must refrain from any actions related to rebellion.”
“Ah. That’s a great idea.”
“He’d accept it if he truly feels disillusioned and wants to retire. Otherwise, it reveals hidden intentions.”
It had only been five days since the kingdom was occupied, and resistance among the people of Oz was still significant.
Therefore, when His Demon Majesty returned, he left two-thirds of the troops he brought with him in Oz.
Out of ten thousand soldiers, one-third were warriors from other tribes, meaning essentially the entire Demon King’s Army was stationed in Oz.
Consequently, even the Four Heavenly Kings were bound and currently residing in the royal castle.
There was no denying His Demon Majesty’s deep love for his daughter.
“Then, tomorrow, we’ll send someone to allow his retirement on the condition of this new oath. Any objections? Calblasth?”
“That was my suggestion, so obviously not.”
“Ho ho, indeed worthy of my fiancé.”
“No, can you stop that? I’m still not used to it.”
“Then would you prefer being called the finance minister?”
“To be honest, I find high positions burdensome. Is there nothing lower?”
“How about becoming my secretary? I’ll make sure you never leave your desk.”
“…Sorry. I’ll stick with being the finance minister.”
Such meaningless banter continued until we reached the Royal Castle of Oz, currently serving as the temporary Governor’s Office.[[#]] After Governor Ozma departed, Prince Tipetarius, his face showing severe signs of illness, sat in the living room with the fireplace lit and conversed with a blonde girl.
“Prince, are you really leaving for Dresden and leaving me alone in this mansion?”
In response to Hero Sophia’s question, he nodded with a wry smile.
“You can call me Tip now. I’m no longer a prince, Lady Sophia.”
“But to me, you’ll always be a prince.”
“Tip.”
At this, the hero reluctantly muttered “Tip.”
Subsequently, Prince Tipetarius explained with a weary expression,
“As I mentioned last night, I have become merely a shell due to the binding contract. Until this contract is broken, I cannot engage in any central political activities, and no one will follow me. Therefore, I chose to renounce all my titles and return to my territory rather than wither away quietly in the capital.”
“In that case, please take me with you! I’m still too young!”
Slowly shaking his head, Prince Tipetarius replied,
“No, Lady Sophia, you are certainly capable. That’s why the goddess in heaven must have chosen you as the new hero. Please, gather your courage.”
“Courage…”
“There is no winter that lasts forever, nor any kingdom that endures eternally. Even if I disappear, the next person can carry on my will. And I have chosen you, Lady Sophia, as my successor.”
The hero looked up at the prince with teary eyes.
“Prince…”
“You are no longer the oppressed Sophia bullied by your stepmother. Please have more confidence. Alfredo, my former butler, will assist you wholeheartedly.”
Having no children due to never marrying, Prince Tipetarius entrusted everything he had in Oz to her, the kingdom’s sole hope—his house, wealth, butler, and even the family lineage he created to operate under a different identity.
“You are now the new head of the Glorious family. Please save this kingdom.”
The prince, who had been happy but ultimately failed, handed over the ruby ring on his finger as he spoke.
After a moment, the hero nodded resolutely.
“If Tip insists, I’ll give it a try.”
She slipped the symbol of the family head given by the prince onto her own hand.
“I will save this kingdom in crisis.”
