The Sweet Alpha Crown Prince Loves Me So Much

Hendrick was enveloped in an atmosphere of mourning.

This was because their beloved, innocent, and worldly-unaware youngest son was suddenly going to Lindbergh to be a military expert.

In reality, only his two older brothers were creating this mournful atmosphere, and neither the Duke nor the Grand Duke seemed particularly concerned.

“Could you not speak to His Majesty on our behalf, Father?”

Juniper, who had returned home after a long time, said to Duke Hendrick upon hearing the news that his younger brother would be going to Lindbergh.

“What? A boy who can’t even wield a sword is being sent to a place that is practically a war zone?”

Jed also urged his father.

Born as an Alpha with extraordinary physical and mental strength, his older brothers always had Belfry, the only Beta in the family, under excessive protection.

They still vividly remembered their youngest brother who used to call them ‘big brother, big brother’, and they intended to keep him close until he got married if possible.

Seeing his sons, who avoided the family home whenever Grand Duke Balvenie was around due to their discomfort, rushed back at the news of Belfry’s departure, Duke Hendrick shook his head in frustration.

“It’s already decided, and he himself wants to go. It’s not like he’s leaving forever. He’ll be back as soon as Lindbergh is stable, so don’t make a fuss.”

“Father.”

Juniper, the eldest son, expressed his dissatisfaction to his uncooperative father. It was an inappropriate thing to say, at least for now.

“There’s no reason why Belfry has to go, is there? Leia Lindbergh and Carl Lindbergh are involved in their own country’s affairs, and Adrian is engaged, so he can help them, but what good can he possibly do?”

Juniper’s words were met with a nod of agreement from Jed.

He was not happy with the sight of Belfry, who looked like he would eat books if there was no food, staying next to Adrian, a carnivore, for almost twenty years. Furthermore, Leia Lindbergh was no pushover. She was a strong alpha despite her delicate appearance. One couldn’t let their guard down around her.

They had to stop him.

As Duke Hendrick was about to admonish his sons who were insisting on stopping the departure, it was Grand Duke Balvenie who intervened.

“Stop bothering your father. And don’t underestimate Belfry.”

Grand Duke Balvenie, who had a special affection for the youngest son who resembled him the most among his children with the same purple hair and bronze eyes, draped a blanket over Duke Hendrick’s shoulders as he sat on the plush sofa.

“His Majesty must have had his reasons for ordering it. No matter how much you plead, all you’re doing is making your father’s wrinkles deeper. Do you think it’s easy for him, just because he’s a parent?”

Even though he said it was fine, Grand Duke Balvenie insisted on handing Duke Hendrick a cup of hot tea and cast a cold glance at his sons.

The eldest and second sons, who were usually popular with women and would be sought after by many brides, shrank before the Grand Duke, and retreated from the Duke.

“It’s not like they’re causing me any trouble…”

Duke Hendrick muttered in protest, only to be silenced by Grand Duke Balvenie.

While Juniper and Jed openly showed their displeasure, Balvenie ignored them and continued to scrutinize Hendrick. After a lengthy examination, Balvenie finally released Hendrick from his embrace and gave him a tight hug.

It was uncanny how similar Balvenie was to the Emperor, even though they weren’t blood relatives. Was this the way it was for the dominant traits? The two brothers silently wished Carl Lindbergh good luck for his future.

Balvenie, still holding Hendrick, addressed his sons.

“Belfry, who will become a strategist surpassing his father in the future, needs new experiences. His Majesty had this in mind when he decided to send him to Lindbergh. Belfry understood this and has made up his mind to go without any complaint.”

“But I am deeply concerned about the moves of Parman, which has hidden intentions.”

Juniper Hendrick, the young commander of the First Knight Order, who protected the Emperor, had heard the news that a group of demons had crossed over from Parman to the Mibari Forest.

“It’s probably because of the magic stone.”

“Magic stone?”

“This is just my speculation, but Parman must be producing magic stones on their own. Judging from the fact that they have never traded with the outside world. But it seems they have run out of them. So, they probably intend to ally with Kitchener to aid his rebellion while devouring the magic stones from the Mochu Mountains.”

Balvenie’s words left his sons in stunned silence.

“But why did they send demons instead of soldiers? Isn’t Lindbergh a good target for attack now that the throne is officially vacant?”

Jed asked, looking puzzled.

“To be more precise, they sent not demons, but riders.”

“Riders?”

Jed, puzzled by the term, looked confused, but Juniper’s tone grew sharp.

“Are you saying that they tame demons and ride them?”

Balvenie nodded silently.

“Taming demons is difficult, but once it’s done, it’s an incredible power. Parman has been working on this for a long time, and the medium is probably magic stones. It’s now good enough for them to use, and they need more magic stones.”

Duke Hendrick explained to Juniper, as if he already knew.

“If that’s true, then this is a big problem!”

Based on his experience, Balvenie’s deductions were always close to the truth.

There was no place on the continent, or even outside it, that wasn’t touched by Balvenie’s influence in the merchant group, except for the Kingdom of Parman.

“What Parman is waiting for is Leia Lindbergh’s restoration. Since the mining rights have already been given to the Empire, if they attack Lindbergh now, it will be like taking a hollow shell.”

“There will be a lot of international backlash, won’t there?”

When Juniper asked this, Balvenie snorted dismissively.

“Do you think a warmonger would care about such things? They’re probably showing off their confidence. After Leia Lindbergh is dead, they will question where the imperial seal is and how Heineken got the magic stone mining rights. By then, other countries aiming for the Mochu Mountains will be clawing at the Empire. Parman will try to exploit that gap.”

Jed, startled by the escalating problem, said, “Shouldn’t we strike Parman first?”

Both the Duke and the Grand Duke exchanged glances.

“We lack the justification for that. His Majesty plans to set a trap himself.”

“What?”

Looking at Jed’s bewildered face, Hendrick wore a peculiar expression, half-sad, half-amused.

“To be more precise, he plans to put a delicious cheese on a trap set by Kitchener and Parman.”

The frustrated sons demanded to be told more, but Balvenie stopped them with a wave of his hand.

“Details are still under discussion, so it’s not something to share with you at the moment. Stay in place; you’ll be the first ones summoned when the time comes.”

The sons fell silent at the implication that war might be unavoidable.

“Our children worry too much. Don’t fret; everything will work out. Isn’t that why the Empire is what it is? Right, my love?”

Despite his sons’ serious faces, Balvenie was surprisingly relaxed. He kissed Hendrick and put his hand into the blanket to feel the old scars he had made decades ago.

“Stop doing this in front of the children.”

Hendrick whispered, annoyed by the public display of affection, and Balvenie grinned playfully.

“Does love diminish with age? Do you think so?”

“No, who said love diminishes?”

Hendrick, whose love for Balvenie had never waned, clicked his tongue softly.

Eventually, with a deep sigh, Juniper shook his head at his father.

“It’s fine, Father. It’s nice to see that you two are still the same after all these years.”

“More. Say it more.”

The quick-witted sons understood that supporting their father would help avoid awkward situations for Hendrick. Hendrick gave a stiff smile.

“Anyway, I understand your concerns, but don’t say things that would make Belfry hesitate to leave. That way, he can depart with peace of mind.”

The two sons nodded silently.