It's clearly an opportunity he created himself!
Perhaps through this opportunity, he can not only broaden his position but even surpass his brother and inherit the family.
To do that, he needs to further win the favor of those two powerful figures.
And the method is still...
The man raised his voice.
It was to make it known far and wide with whom he was having a conversation and maintaining a close relationship.
It was a kind of show-off.
"Yes! Isn't his black hair just like the feathers of a crow? I was worried that even the surroundings would be stained black just by looking at it."
Saying that, the man subtly observed Duke Rodvel's expression.
The Duke remained expressionless, but didn't seem particularly displeased.
'The information that the Duke really hates bastards must be true.'
Recalling the information he obtained by paying a servant of the Duke's residence, the man smiled slyly.
"In fact, I don't even know what qualifications that bastard has to challenge this test! Even if he's young, he should clearly know his place, shouldn't he?"
However, the man didn't know.
That the servant had quit the Duke's residence more than three months ago.
And that there had been many changes in the Duke's residence during those three months...
"...That bastard has a death wish."
Thanks to the man raising his voice, Aen and Ligrin, who were guarding the Duke and the Crown Prince, also heard his words.
Aen glared at the man with eyes that seemed to want to tear him to shreds.
If it weren't for the occasion, he would have drawn his sword immediately.
Ligrin stopped him.
"...Hold back. Not now. I'll arrange a place after the test is over, then..."
The man, who didn't hear Aen and Ligrin's conversation, only observed the Crown Prince and the Duke's expressions.
'Is it not enough? Should I do more?'
While he was pondering, the Crown Prince's lips slowly parted.
"What's your name?"
'Yes!!'
The man inwardly cheered at the gently spoken question.
And hastily answered, fearing the Crown Prince's interest would disappear.
"Andro! Andro Kroll, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Andro Kroll."
Lightly, but in a clear tone, the Crown Prince murmured the man's name.
Soon, he nodded and said.
"Okay, Andro Kroll. You seem to be idle, how about making a bet with me?"
"A bet, you say?"
The man - Andro's eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
Suddenly a bet...
But.
'It's an opportunity to get closer.'
He needs an opportunity to steadily interact with him, be it a bet or anything else.
Moreover, a bet would be perfect.
Whether he loses or wins, or even draws, he can use that as an excuse to keep in touch.
Fearing that the Crown Prince might change his mind, Andro hastily nodded.
"Yes. A bet is good, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Betting is the field I'm most confident in, as it happens."
He smiled playfully.
More accurately, he likes 'gambling' disguised as betting.
"But what is the betting subject?"
"The obvious bet to make now would be."
Eyes resembling the cloudy sky held a strange smile.
Andro stared blankly at the bewitching eyes that seemed to mesmerize people.
"Who will hunt the strongest magical beast."
"Ah... but..."
Andro's expression clouded over.
"If Your Highness and I choose the same person, the bet won't work."
Andro became anxious, fearing that this bet might fall through.
After a moment of contemplation, he opened his eyes wide and turned to Duke Rodvel.
'This is how I build friendships with the Duke too!'
Is this what they mean when they say turning a crisis into an opportunity?
Smiling to himself, he suggested to the Duke with a friendly smile.
"In that case, how about Your Excellency the Duke also participates? Aren't you also curious about which of your two children will hunt the strongest magical beast!"
At Andro's words, the Duke glanced down at Andro.
Soon his lips slightly parted.
"...Two?"
Andro briefly shuddered at the heavy voice that spread thickly.
The undeniable pressure enveloped his whole body just by exchanging words.
The corners of Andro's smiling lips trembled.
As expected.
'I must capture the Duke's heart too.'
Now that he had directly felt his dignity with his body, he felt even more impatient.
Andro nodded as if his head would fall off.
"Yes. Which of Miss Miracle and Young Master Bansis do you think will hunt the strongest magical beast, Your Excellency the Duke."
"..."
"As their father, you must know them even better. How about you, Your Excellency the Duke, participating in the bet between the Crown Prince and me!"
Andro raised his voice and spread his arms wide.
Andro smiled inwardly.
'I also obtained information that the Duke is a daughter fool. But they said he has a clear distinction between public and private matters, so he will rationally choose his second son.'
The Duke will choose his second son, and he and the Crown Prince will choose the Princess.
It's obvious that the Duke, who chose his second son, will win the bet, but victory or defeat doesn't matter.
Andro suddenly felt chills at his thorough and cold analysis and judgment.
'See this! It was only me who could grab the Crown Prince and the Duke at once. Could my brother have ever done anything like this?'
Unlike his smiling face, he was grinding his teeth inside.
'With this opportunity, I might not only avoid investigation but also push out my brother and inherit the family altogether.'
That premonition washed over him.
And that premonition turned into conviction the moment the Duke nodded.
"G, good."
Gulp.
The Duke accepted the bet.
With this, a connection has been created between the three of them.
Andro Kroll was planning to cling tightly to that connection.
His heart was pounding just thinking about it.
The Crown Prince, who had been watching the situation quietly, suddenly spoke.
"Can I decide what to bet on?"
"Please do so."
The Duke nodded and agreed.
Andro Kroll's opinion was not reflected at all, but no one cared.
Not even Andro.
Feeling the thrill of the completely concentrated gazes around him, Andro parted his lips.
"Then I... I will choose Miss Miracle."
And then he looked at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's lips slowly parted.
Andro waited for the name 'Miracle' to come out of his mouth.
But...
"Then I'll go with the Crow."
"Yes?"
Andro's expression went blank for a moment.
The Crow, who's that... wait, could it be...
"Andro Kroll, you said it yourself. You were worried that the Crow would stain the surroundings black."
"Ah."
Andro's eyes widened.
That's right.
Clearly.
'Yes! Isn't his black hair just like the feathers of a crow? I was worried that even the surroundings would be stained black just by looking at it.'
He had said those words.
But so what?
"I like black things."
"Yes? Ah, no..."
The Crown Prince spat out a reason that wasn't even a reason so nonchalantly.
He belatedly sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn't stop the already twisted current.
Andro blankly looked up at the boy who had lightly twisted the current he had painstakingly formed.
The Crown Prince - Vedel, with a mysterious smile unlike a boy, mercilessly looked down on him.
Something is wrong. Something is seriously...
But it's already too late to turn back.
"I'm curious. How that Crow will stab someone in the back. Isn't that right, Duke?"
At the Crown Prince's question, the Duke quietly stared at them and soon responded quietly.
"I don't know if that child will meet Your Highness's expectations."
"If I knew all the capabilities, the bet wouldn't be fun."
The Crown Prince, who smiled lightly, tilted his head slightly and asked.
"So, who will you choose, Duke? As their father, you must know your children better than anyone else."
At the Crown Prince's question, the Duke closed his lips.
Gulp.
Andro swallowed and focused on the shape of the Duke's lips.
Who will the Duke choose?
Miracle, whom he cherishes? Bansis rationally?
'N, not that bastard, right?'
He wouldn't have even considered it if it were normal, but perhaps it was because he had experienced an unexpected variable a moment ago.
He became uneasy for no reason.
Soon the Duke's lips parted.
"I..."
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