Mana.
The energy that ability users called to the energy that allows them to become an ability user. When mana gathers into one person they would be classified as ability users. As they grow up they'd be able to absorb more.
If the ability to 'wield' mana is what makes someone an ability user, 'circles' are the classifications for their innate power.
Based on books that were provided by God in the basement, the more circle someone has the more powerful their attack will be, with [1] being the lowest and [10] as the highest.
Eddie currently has [5] circles while Alex has [4].
In the memories that I got regarding volume two Eddie had [7] circles.
Just yesterday I received the memories about the part two of volume one. While Alex have more circles than 'that guy' it worries me we still need to fight him.
...
Though I want to spend more time Eddie, Alex's current mental state is in complete chaos. If he goes insane I don't know what would happen to this world.
When I got back up Alex was partying with my dogs. It was their first time seeing each other and despite being chased by the royal family, my dogs were quite open to Alex who is a royal himself.
"Anne"
"Yeah, Jerome?"
"You sure that going out with a royal is a good thing? I trust your decisions but I am worried that he would betray us"
Jerome was abandoned by his lord and nearly got killed because he put his faith into a noble. It is understandable that he would feel that way.
"Don't worry everything is fine. Let's just say that he is in the same situation as you were when we first met"
"Really?"
"Yup"
They started playing and celebrating. After they got drunk they slept in the living room. Some were on the floor and some were on the chair.
"Marie. The kid whose name is Charles. Why does he have the same name as my brother?"
'Charles' isn't even an uncommon name to begin with so why is he so curious about that.
"When your brother was seven he killed dozens of drunkards in the street by himself in broad daylight. It spread like wildfire and prince Charles was given the nickname 'Mad tyrant' by the public. And since we are close to the capital it became the talk of the town for some time. Charles was born unwanted by his parents and said that he was the cause of their misfortune which is why he received the name 'Charles'. Because his parents thought of him as the incarnate of misfortune"
Speaking of Charles, I wonder what happened to Chloe. Well, I don't care about the well being of that two-faced anyway.
Is he perhaps wondering about his relationship with his brothers? Considering what happened with the second and first prince he must be doubting everyone else.
"Alex, I want to meet princess Sophia"
"Why so suddenly?"
"Because I need to do business with her. After that let's be the representative of Dilirea to attend the birthday of the Grand duke of Temal"
"Can we not just stay here?"
"But I wanted to go in a vacation with you though"
I stood up.
"Well, if you don't want to I won't force you"
I started walking away.
He then grabbed me from behind and covered my stomach with his trembling hands.
"That's not it. I just thought that staying with the people here who are close to you would be better"
What? Did he just said that it's okay if my attention were to be on someone else?
"I thought you wanted to monopolize my attention?"
".... I'm not shameless enough to do something like that after betraying your trust. While it was an agreement we both made, because of some lingering feelings I still threw you away and replace you just like what you said"
He started crying.
I turned around and hugged him.
"It's okay. I told you it was alright, right? Besides no matter what happens you will always be my favorite"
He's such a a possessive and honest cinnamon roll, there's no way I would hate him.
After things were wrapped up, the dogs who made a huge mess clean it all up before dusk. While they were doing it Alex sent a letter to the princess through Baron Goed that the princess must urgently visit. As well as the request letter to the king that states Alex to be the representative of Dilirea for the upcoming birthday ceremony of the grand duke of Temal.
The traveling time from here to the grand duchy of Temal is two weeks at most since we would be using the teleportation gate stationed located in the palace to the harbor town that Alex governs.
Unfortunately it can only be used by high ranking nobles which is the main reason as to why merchants have to take the hard route whenever crossing it.
"I'm back. Where are the others?"
"The guys split into two teams. Ezra is leading the first one towards west while Andrew is leading the second one towards north"
"What for?"
"Our normal job and to spread some influence. They should be able to rest comfortably since the nobles on their way are my dogs as well"
"Is it perhaps the slave contract?"
"Yeah"
A magic contract is created by a witch/wizard. Then bless by a shaman. Lastly, it will be purified by a priest. And each one of them must be atleast have [3] circles. Once a magic contract is made it is impossible to break it. The same production method is used to the slave contract and slave collars.
Once someone becomes a slave they won't be able to do anything freely anymore. Some says that they would even lose their humanity.
However, regarding to the nobles who became my 'slaves' it's not like assholes like them are humans to begin with. So there is no humanity to lose, for them that is.
"Since we still have some time before the princess arrives I'll be spoiling you for a couple of days"
Five days later, the princess arrived and is currently staying at baron Goed's manor.
"The princess of Dilirea, Sophia Dilirea is now entering"
The princess entered the drawing room alone. Her knights were stationed somewhere else. It's not like she'll need them since Alex is here.
"It is an honor to meet you, your highness"
"You are?"
"I am Marie Anne, your highness"
She's cautious. Cautious enough that even Alex doesn't notice it. Inside that angelic facade of hers, she is observing not Alex but me. It was only the three of us in the room but it felt like someone was watching us.
The public knows that Ale got dumped by Rose Haiden twice. Knowing that, her brother is happy with another woman in front of her. Anyone with a decent brain would be find it weird if not odd.
"So, what is my younger brother wants to send an emergency letter?"
Alex look at Sophia and then turn towards me. She understood that I was the one who was going to do the talking and shifted her eyes to me.
"I'll cut to the chase your highness. I want some blood from your demon"
"Why?"
"For personal reasons"
"And why do you think I would obey what you are saying?"
"Then what if I knew the real name of your demon"
The two froze. For witches and wizards it is an unspoken rule that they should not tell others what is the name of their first demon. If someone recite the real name of their demon that demon will be transferred to whoever that is, regardless whether you are an ability user or not.
This is also the reason why I kept calling Fotrexo as Theodore.
Sophia's demon, Asmodeus appeared behind her. The demon was oozing some fog-like black things around him.
Right at that moment Theodore and Vassago also came out. They appeared in front of me as if to protect me.
"So this is the reason why my brother is here"
"Yes. I'm not stupid enough to do something so reckless without any insurance"
The princess snap her fingers. The demon behind her stop oozing the fog-like black thing and calmed down. Asmodeus then knelt down besides his master.
"I do not know how you knew about something only I know of, however, that sadly doesn't change the fact that you are currently blackmailing me and that I can't do anything about it"
She knew that if she said 'no' then I would recite the name of her demon three times to make him mine. But she can't afford that to happen.
"You wanted my demon's blood?"
"Yes. In exchange I will make sure that you will marry the duke from the north of the Berda Empire"
"Why do you want me to marry that guy?"
"You want to spend your time alone with your demon and nothing else. Alas, for you, you need to marry someone and bear their child as the king wants to use you for the better of the kingdom"
"So you are saying that you want me to marry the duke from Berda so that I can live a life I want while being able to leave the king's grasp. Am I right?"
"That is correct"
"And how will you do that exactly?"
"I recently started going international you see. Now there is a branch office in the Berda empire. Currently, I have duke Dominique and some other high ranking nobles in my side in the Berda Empire"
"You... you are affiliated to the demon hound guild?"
I nodded.
She looked at her demon and pondered for a bit. She then look at me again.
"You are saying that you will be setting me up with the duke from Berda in exchange of some blood. Only for that?"
"Of course not. I also want you to charm the other five princes of Dilirea for me before the duke arrives"
"I beg your pardon"
"I said that the duke will be coming over here officially to propose to you. He will arrive a week from now. And I do believe that you will take a liking to him"
"Why would I?"
"Let's just say that you two are compatible with each other. Especially when it comes to preferences. It won't hurt to try, right?"
I placed the magic contract on top of the table. She then took it and read it thoroughly.
After reading she signed it with a bit of happiness in her face. In the novel she had a huge problem about who to marry while satisfying the king's demand.
A huge burdened have been removed from her shoulders. And the cause of that is me.
I gave her a vial. She then filled it with Asmodeus' blood. She then left and went back to her room that was provided by the baron.
Despite being a [1] circle ability user since her demon is powerful she would be able to turn this kingdom upside down in a day if she wanted to.
Since the king is a druid, a powerful one at that, he is immune to Sophia's demon.
"Let's get going~"
"Where are we going to?"
I ruffled his hair. It became messy.
"I'll spoil you more. You are a very needy dog after all"
...
The next day, an official announcement was spread that the seventh prince will be holding a banquet to celebrate something special. There were no invitations that were sent, instead anyone of noble birth were allowed to go.
As long as that person holds the crest of their family then they are allowed to participate.
Since the public knew that Rose Haiden dumped him twice, the seventh prince's sudden declaration of a banquet made things even more mysterious.
The banquet was scheduled ten days from now which made everyone panic to prepare to the best of their abilities. There is no way that nobles won't attend a banquet made by a royal, a mage no less.
Six days later Eddie and the duke of north from Berda Duke Benedict Urha Azara arrived. Thanks to Eddie they didn't have to travel for a month and got here much faster.
I then led the duke to baron Goed's manor and let Sophia to talk with him in private.
"Where is his highness?"
"Alex? Well, he is busy preparing for the banquet. And also..."
I pulled him in to the house. Locked the door and shut the windows.
"Since you've been such a good and obedient dog I'll be rewarding you greatly today and tomorrow as well"