Episode 31| Dismantle from the bottom
The royal family owned several estates throughout the Empire.
Most were public knowledge.
A few were not.
One of those hidden places belonged exclusively to Crown Prince Raymond Lucille.
It was a vacation residence located far from the capital-a quiet estate hidden among hills and forests, guarded more by secrecy than soldiers.
Riley stared at it in silence.
Large white stone walls.
Flower gardens.
A lake reflecting the evening sky.
Too luxurious.
Too peaceful.
It irritated her.
---
"You live like this?"
Riley asked as she entered.
Raymond glanced at her.
"...I'm a Crown Prince."
---
"You have three houses and still blackmail people for favors."
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Raymond looked thoughtful.
"...I prefer efficient resource management."
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"...You mean scamming."
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He smiled.
"...You taught me well."
---
Riley ignored him and entered further.
She was in her female form today.
Long blonde hair.
Simple white dress.
No rings.
No Ryan.
Just Riley.
Only Raymond knew that this was her. Well and Michael too....
For now.
---
They entered a private study.
Maps were spread across a long table.
Documents.
Temple records.
Financial reports.
Lists of names.
Riley blinked.
---
"...You already prepared?"
---
Raymond leaned against the table.
His expression shifted.
Less teasing.
More Crown Prince.
---
"We're running out of time."
---
Riley immediately understood.
Asmedious.
The seals.
The clock was moving.
---
Raymond pointed at the reports.
---
"The High Priest has protected himself well."
---
Riley nodded.
---
"If we attack directly, he survives."
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Raymond smiled.
---
"Exactly."
He tapped lower on the page.
---
"So we dismantle from the bottom."
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Riley walked closer.
The documents listed priests.
Temple administrators.
Regional managers.
Donation officers.
---
Raymond continued.
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"These people."
His finger moved.
"The corrupt priests beneath him."
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"Bribery."
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"Donation siphoning."
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"Artificial shortages."
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"Selling healing priority."
---
Riley's eyes darkened.
She recognized some names.
People she met.
People she smiled at.
People who preached kindness.
---
Raymond continued calmly.
---
"The High Priest built dependency."
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"He doesn't need to commit every crime."
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"He only needs enough loyal people below him."
---
Riley crossed her arms.
---
"So if we remove them..."
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Raymond smiled.
---
"He notices too late."
---
She slowly nodded.
Then her expression shifted.
---
"...Actually..."
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Raymond looked at her.
---
Riley sat opposite him.
---
"There's someone."
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Raymond raised a brow.
---
"When I first joined the temple..."
She thought back.
The interview.
The priest.
The hesitation.
The careful words.
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"The High Ranking Priest that approved my application."
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Raymond nodded.
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"The noble?"
---
Riley leaned forward.
---
"He never said anything directly."
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"But..."
She narrowed her eyes.
"...he looked disappointed."
---
"He questioned why healing allocation favored nobles."
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"He questioned temple expenses."
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"He looked like someone who wanted change."
---
Raymond watched her.
Then smiled slowly.
---
"So you want allies."
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Riley nodded.
---
"I became Ryan to rise."
---
"But overthrowing the High Priest alone..."
She shook her head.
"...won't work."
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"I need priests."
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"People inside."
---
Raymond stared at her.
Then unexpectedly laughed quietly.
---
Riley frowned.
"...What?"
---
He smiled.
---
"You really haven't changed."
---
She blinked.
---
"In another world..."
He folded his arms.
"...you stole from criminals."
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"In this world..."
He looked amused.
"...you're staging a political coup."
---
Riley frowned.
---
"It's not a coup."
---
Raymond stared.
---
She corrected-
"...It's ethical restructuring."
---
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
---
Then silence settled.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
---
Riley looked back at the documents.
Focused.
Thinking.
Planning.
---
She didn't notice Raymond watching her.
---
His expression slowly softened.
---
Then suddenly-
he moved.
---
Riley blinked.
---
He stepped around the table.
Slowly.
---
She looked up.
---
"...Raymond?"
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He kept walking.
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"...What?"
---
He stopped directly in front of her.
---
Riley blinked.
---
Then-
he took her wrist.
Not rough.
Firm.
And before she realized-
he pulled.
---
She fell backward onto the couch.
---
Her eyes widened.
---
Raymond leaned down slightly.
One hand against the couch.
Expression calm.
Too calm.
---
Riley stared.
---
"...What are you doing?"
---
His voice was quiet.
---
"What did I tell you?"
---
She blinked.
---
"...About?"
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
"What did I tell you..."
He leaned slightly closer.
"...about dating others?"
---
Riley froze.
---
Then realization hit.
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"...You cannot be serious."
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Raymond smiled.
Dangerously.
---
"Your date."
---
She stared.
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"...Date?"
---
His expression remained pleasant.
Too pleasant.
---
"With Michael."
---
Pause.
---
"And apparently..."
His smile widened.
"...Duke Edward was there too."
---
Riley stared.
Then immediately pointed.
---
"HE BLACKMAILED ME!"
---
Raymond looked unconvinced.
---
"Interesting."
---
She frowned.
---
"It wasn't a date-date!"
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
"So Michael blackmailed my fiancée."
---
She nodded immediately.
---
"Yes."
---
Raymond thought.
Then nodded.
---
"...Reasonable."
---
She relaxed-
until-
---
He looked back at her.
---
"And Edward?"
---
She froze.
---
"...That one just appeared."
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Raymond stared.
---
"...You collect male leads like achievements."
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She gasped.
---
"I DO NOT."
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He looked unconvinced.
---
She looked away.
---
"...It just happens."
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Raymond stared.
Then suddenly-
he reached out.
His fingers brushing her jaw.
Turning her face back.
---
His voice softened.
---
"You remember what I said."
---
Riley blinked.
---
He looked directly at her.
---
"I'm jealous."
---
Silence.
---
Then-
he smiled.
---
"And I can become difficult."
---
Her heart unexpectedly skipped.
Annoying.
---
Then he leaned in.
Not rushed.
Not rough.
Just enough to silence her complaints.
A brief kiss.
Warm.
Possessive.
Before pulling away.
---
Riley stared.
---
Raymond looked entirely satisfied.
---
"...Keep them away."
---
She stared.
Then narrowed her eyes.
---
"...You're acting like I'm building a reverse harem."
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Raymond looked horrified.
---
"...Don't even joke."
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Riley snorted.
---
Then she smiled.
Small.
Soft.
---
And quietly said-
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"...You're annoying."
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Raymond smiled.
---
"...And?"
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She looked away.
---
"...I'll be careful."
---
He looked satisfied.
---
Then immediately ruined the moment.
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"...Good. Now let's continue planning temple embezzlement."
---
Riley stared.
---
"...We really are terrible people."
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Raymond smiled.
---
"No."
He looked at the temple reports.
"...We're just efficient."
And somewhere far away-
the High Priest unknowingly continued sitting at the top of a tower...
while the foundation beneath him quietly began to crack.