Winter had arrived, and swirling snowflakes fell from the gloomy sky, spinning in the howling wind to cover the earth.

  Inside the luxurious carriage, a compound constant-temperature magic array kept the interior as warm as spring. Ground iris branches smoldered intermittently, rising as curling blue smoke and emitting a scent that was both orchid-like and musky. The Prince Highness flipped an imperial gold coin between his fingers, the nimble movement making the coin resemble a golden sprite.

  He was alone in the carriage, leaning against a silk quilt with his eyes half-closed, as if about to open yet not quite. His mind repeatedly filtered through the information Yoberg had instilled in him over the past two days. He was no fool, unlike those royal offspring raised in the depths of the palace by attendants. From a young age, he understood that the throne had nothing to do with him. No matter how much his father liked and doted on him, or how highly others regarded him, the throne was not even remotely within his reach.

  He had no chance to compete, not from the very beginning.

  What would happen in the future depended on whether he was smart enough, calm enough, and rational enough. The Orlando Empire was only so large, and apart from the already enfeoffed territories, there were not many excellent fiefdoms left. Seizing the most lucrative fiefdoms was the most important task for these princes and princesses before being sent out of the capital. The struggles involved far exceeded what outsiders could imagine; the dirty dealings among those seemingly harmonious siblings were no fewer than those in officialdom.

  The Prince Highness was not a fool. On the contrary, those born into the royal family were all quite clever, at least above average in intelligence. Many only saw the nobility of the royal family but not the ruthlessness within it; true fools had long been eliminated!

  Yoberg had instilled in him that Arno was an arrogant, disdainful, lawless, and audacious villain, but he did not believe it for a moment. He knew what kind of place Pramisburg was and who lived there. Putting himself in Arno’s shoes, he did not think he could have done better. He could only admire and be amazed by Arno’s rapid seizure of control over Pramisburg.

  His decision to meet Arno this time was not, as outsiders thought, because he had been persuaded by Yoberg to deal with Arno. On the contrary, the truth was that he came to cooperate with Arno. From Pramisburg’s development during this period, he saw an ancient family with tough and effective methods rejuvenating with new vitality.

  Offering a pot of fine wine in midsummer was far less meaningful than giving a cup of hot water in the cold winter.

  Outside the carriage, the icy world was a stark contrast to the warmth inside. Yoberg, wearing a thick robe and riding a warhorse, wore a smirk on his face. At the thought of Arno facing the thunderous anger of his prince brother-in-law, he could hardly contain his laughter. In truth, there had been few conflicts between him and Arno, but he simply took a dislike to Arno. The world was made up of countless details, each connected by interests from all sides.

  Pramisburg had begun to loom with a ferocious silhouette, and it would not be long before this terrifying interest group fully emerged. Merchants who had never dabbled in politics were now actively colluding with Pramisburg. The privateer licenses issued to private armed forces allowed Arno to have an army completely loyal to him, and the monopolized slave trade would bring him a large number of available people and combat power. Once Arno integrated all his undertakings, this monster would threaten his position as governor.

  The most unbearable part was that he had no share in this huge cake!

  This was the most fundamental conflict of interest between him and Arno.

  The distant Pramisburg was clearly visible beneath the mountains, and they would arrive at its gates in at most three hours. Now, Yoberg could not wait to see the disgruntled face Baron Arno was about to expose, the helplessness of facing the colossal royal family.

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  At this thought, Yoberg could not help but laugh softly.

  He wrapped his thick robe tighter and showed an expectant look.

  On the other side, Arno had already received the envoy’s orders: the youngest prince of the Orlando Empire would arrive in Pramisburg by noon, and the envoy required him to immediately clear a luxurious, independent estate and dispatch corresponding servants for the Prince Highness’s use. He was also required to gather the city’s wealthy merchants, nobles, district councilors, and respected civilian figures to welcome the prince before his arrival.

  After dismissing the envoy, Arno’s mind raced.

  There was no doubt that in political shows like winter hunts, the royal members sent out mostly went through the motions and no longer received commoners in various cities as they had at first. From the reign of Orlando II to the present, many policies and rules had been eroded over the long years, and winter hunts were no exception.

  Then, the prince’s visit to this city, which had a reputation for being unscrupulous, was by no means accidental; he had come with ill intentions.

  Without much thought, the fat and despicable face of Yoberg appeared in his mind. He frowned. Recently, his focus had been on Pramisburg’s urban and spiritual construction, and he had not had time for external expansion, but Yoberg’s repeated provocations had irritated him. Since arriving in Bell Province, he had had no direct or indirect conflicts with Yoberg, yet Yoberg kept creating trouble, filling him with murderous intent.

  This damned bastard would have to be dealt with sooner or later!

  Rubbing the ring on his index finger, Arno said thoughtfully, "Send for Cooper."

  Vox, whose beauty was so striking it bordered on seductive, showed a smile and immediately summoned a maid to pass on the order in a low voice. He was satisfied with his current life. Before coming to Pramisburg, he had been trained as a "neutral" person, a gift to curry favor with nobles. No one respected or valued him; he was like a lifeless commodity on a shelf, waiting to be given away.

  But since being sent here, his gray and desperate life had undergone earth-shaking changes. He loved everything here: Arno scolding him, assigning him various tasks, and even Arno’s allergic reactions when facing him. It was not that he was truly a "bitch," but here, he felt valued and experienced the awakening of self-esteem. Although Arno often scolded him, he knew that Arno also treated him as a human being and showed respect.

  Here, he was a person, not a tool to satisfy desires.

  Cooper soon arrived at the city lord’s mansion. The current Pramisburg was entirely different from the past. The old Pramisburg had been filled with scum, villains, and gang members, every corner rife with crime and evil, the city like a patient covered in sores, reeking, and waiting for death in despair.

  But now?

  The city had come to life, filled with hope and a future. Willingly or not, everyone had to follow the rules set by Arno. Crime had dropped significantly, and the numb people had begun to recover, learning to say no to crime and actively stop it when discovered. Everyone had come alive, treating the city as their home rather than a giant tomb.

  Cooper often sighed that this was the difference between a Golden Noble, with sacred blood, and ordinary people. Even if he were city lord, he could not achieve what Arno had.

  When facing Arno, Cooper was extremely humble, and deep in his heart, a flame of fanatical worship had been ignited, though he had not yet noticed it.

  "You’re here?" Arno’s tone was light, yet it carried weight. Holding the power of life and death and supreme authority, he said, "Take this and do as instructed."

  The official letter sent by the envoy was handed to Cooper. After quickly reading it, Cooper hesitated and asked, "There are seven estates in the city that meet the requirements. Which one should I choose?"

  Arno glanced at him. "Have you read the Imperial Code?" Cooper nodded; it was one of the classics nobles must study, not to abide by the laws but to find and exploit loopholes. Arno continued, "Royal family members touring on behalf of the emperor to hunt, inspect folk conditions, and suppress rebellions is a duty each must fulfill. To help royals raised in the capital better understand and connect with the grassroots, Orlando II required them to stay in civilian homes."

  Cooper’s expression changed slightly, and he immediately took his leave. He was filled with confusion, but he knew these were matters for Arno to consider, not him.

  Under the attention of all parties, the prince’s motorcade finally arrived at Pramisburg’s gates.

  Lifting the carriage curtain, the prince poked his head out and looked at the city walls, which had recently seen war, leaving them riddled with holes and blackened like charcoal, a faint stench still in the air.

  He looked up at the city wall, where a tall and straight figure stood, looking down at him from above. The gaze was indifferent, showing no ripple at the sight of a royal family member.

  This was a man as rumored: unpredictable in character and deeply calculating.

  For a moment, the Prince Highness suddenly felt that this journey might not be as smooth as he had imagined.