The Sweet Alpha Crown Prince Loves Me So Much Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Carl Lindbergh stared in disbelief at the long, arched tunnel, like a giant cave.

“This is a kingdom?”

Adrian Heineken, dismounting, brushed his hair back from his forehead, his expression mirroring Carl’s bewilderment.

“They built dozens of walls, but…”

He’d expected chaos, a desperate struggle between Heineken’s forces and Parman’s soldiers and citizens. But the path they’d carved through the walls was eerily silent.

Even the plains outside, where the combined forces of the Patron Duchy border patrol and the Heineken army were stationed, were more lively.

“There’s no one here.”

Viscount Sangria, who’d taken over command from Count Bourbon, who’d entered the tunnels, frowned. “It’s hard to believe they’re all gone. There are no graves, no markers.”

“It’s as if they’ve vanished. Not even a trace of animal droppings or fur.”

“That’s absurd. How can a kingdom function without people?”

There had been messengers, intermediaries who’d relayed communications from Parman, standing just outside the walls. Where were they now?

Had they been living beside a ghost town all this time? The captain of the Patron Duchy border patrol shivered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Parman is believed to have built an underground city. If you’re looking for people, you should start digging.”

Adrian placed a reassuring hand on Carl Lindbergh’s shoulder, his own body thrumming with a barely contained energy.

He’d been touching the walls, pressing his ear against them, his imagination conjuring scenes from a horror movie—a deserted road, shrouded in fog, an eerie silence, the slow, creeping dread.

This unnatural stillness felt like the eye of a storm.

“Can an entire population truly live underground? This is getting creepier by the minute.”

If they were simply living underground, adapted to their subterranean existence, then they’d be fortunate.

Everything he saw, everything he touched, spoke of meticulous planning, of human intervention.

Where were the people who’d built this, this nation-sized bunker?

“We were instructed to escort you both inside immediately upon your arrival.”

A young knight, his face vaguely familiar, approached, leading two fresh horses.

The horses they’d ridden, exhausted from the journey, had been taken away by other knights.

Carl Lindbergh studied the knight, impressed.

His vibrant violet hair and eyes, his muscular physique, evident even beneath his light silver armor, and his subtly alluring face, a surprising contrast to his warrior’s garb, captivated Carl.

‘So there is a perfect blend of handsome and beautiful. Who does he remind me of…?’

Carl Lindbergh continued to stare, tilting his head, a soft ‘Oh’ escaping his lips, and Adrian stepped forward, blocking his view.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“I was just looking…”

Adrian expertly blocked Carl’s attempts to peer around him, his grip on Carl’s hand tightening possessively. He glared at the knight.

Carl, amused by his jealousy, couldn’t help but grin. Adrian’s eyebrows twitched.

Juniper Hendrick, the eldest son of Duke Hendrick, and captain of the Imperial Knights’ First Division, who’d accompanied them not as a warrior, but as the Crown Prince’s personal guard, chuckled inwardly at his liege’s childish display.

“With that level of suspicion, I’m not sure how I should react, Your Highness. I’ve told you before, an Alpha who doesn’t trust his mate isn’t attractive.”

Especially not after imprinting.

He added the last part softly, a murmur meant only for their ears, watching them blush. ‘They’re so young.’

“It’s not Carl I don’t trust, it’s you, Juniper Hendrick.”

And you’re far too handsome for your own good.

Adrian muttered, and Carl, finally realizing who he was, gasped.

“Ah! You’re…”

Carl Lindbergh pulled Adrian’s arm, pushing him aside, and stepped forward.

Adrian, momentarily stunned by his boldness, simply stood there, watching as Carl approached Juniper Hendrick. Carl, glancing back at him, his expression apologetic, reached out and took Adrian’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

Adrian’s warm palm pressed against his, a reassuring warmth spreading through Carl’s hand. Adrian’s grip tightened, as if reassured by the contact.

Carl Lindbergh sighed internally.

He found Adrian’s possessiveness endearing, but remembering the Empress, confined to her room after her pregnancy, he felt a pang of guilt.

He was almost embarrassed that his only contribution in this fantasy world seemed to be soothing his lover’s insecurities. But seeing Adrian’s pleased expression, he couldn’t help but indulge him.

Adrian, objectively, was the more accomplished of the two. Why was he so insecure, so possessive? Carl didn’t understand. But he was happy that Adrian seemed to value him so much.

He didn’t mind, as long as Adrian didn’t try to isolate him from everyone else.

“My brother is in your care, Your Highness.”

Juniper Hendrick bowed his head slightly, one knee bent in a gesture of respect.

Carl Lindbergh returned the gesture.

“I should be thanking you.”

Belfry was intelligent, resourceful, a valuable ally.

They’d drifted apart recently, for various reasons, but he was still someone Carl valued, someone he hoped to befriend, once they returned to Heineken. Adrian’s best friend, and perhaps, his own.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to properly introduce myself at the engagement ceremony,” Juniper continued. “I was busy with… security.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But you’ve met my second brother, I believe. Jed Hendrick. The royal physician, also a knighted healer.”

He vaguely remembered meeting Belfry’s older brother.

He’d made less of an impression compared to Juniper, but Carl recalled being impressed by his appearance. “Such handsome brothers.”

Carl Lindbergh, lost in thought, nodded.

“Yes, I remember. He was also quite handsome. The Hendrick family is blessed with good looks. And intelligence. That’s rare.”

He and Jae-young had shared the same parents, but Woo-young had been ordinary, while Jae-young had been quite beautiful. Woo-young had been average, relying on hard work and diligence, while Jae-young had been naturally gifted.

Well, considering the Duke and the Grand Duke…

Even the Emperor and Empress… they all seemed to have discovered the fountain of youth. They looked far too young for their age.

He’d have to take better care of himself. He didn’t want to be the only one showing signs of age while Adrian Heineken remained eternally youthful.

A sudden pang of envy filled him, his gaze lingering on Juniper.

Juniper, smiling, said, “Thank you for the compliment,” then glanced at Adrian.

It had been an innocent observation, but Adrian, annoyed, cracked his knuckles.

“Prince Carl Lindbergh.”

He was smiling, but there was a subtle, almost predatory growl rumbling in his chest.

Carl Lindbergh, flustered, offered a nervous laugh.

“A-As I was saying, the Hendrick family is blessed with both talent and good looks, but… I believe I have the most wonderful partner.”

Not just wonderful, but the most handsome, the most powerful man in the Empire.

It was a pointless declaration, a blatant attempt to appease Adrian, but Juniper played along, chuckling.

“Of course, Your Highness. There’s no comparison. We’re… boiled octopus heads compared to the Crown Prince.”

‘If you’re a boiled octopus head, what does that make us?’

The soldiers, overhearing their captain’s self-deprecating remark, glared at him, but Carl Lindbergh, pleased with his efforts, whispered to Adrian, urging him to relax his grip.

Adrian, though aware of their blatant attempt to placate him, let it go.

Carl Lindbergh seemed to have calmed down.

Juniper, catching Adrian’s eye, smiled knowingly.

He’d always believed his father was the most hopelessly smitten man in the Empire, but it seemed the Crown Prince was about to steal that title.

While Carl Lindbergh’s own scent was now masked by the imprinting, Adrian’s pheromones, calm and content, were a potent stimulant.

Juniper, calming their increasingly restless horses, urged them to depart.

“I’ll escort you both personally. At this pace, we should reach Count Bourbon’s position in a few hours. And there are Heineken troops stationed along the route, so you’ll be safe.”

Carl Lindbergh, now accustomed to riding, mounted his horse with practiced ease.

“So, we’re simply marching through? There’s really no one there?”

Carl’s question, laced with a desperate hope, made Juniper scratch his head.

“Yes, Your Highness. The castle is completely deserted. The King of Parman is holed up inside, refusing to participate.”

He secretly hoped there were survivors.

The King of Parman’s actions dwarfed even the worst atrocities committed by Lindbergh’s nobles.

In this world, where technology was still largely medieval, despite advancements in magic, the construction of such extensive fortifications, the creation of those vast underground tunnels, must have come at a terrible cost. A cost of human lives.

And the king… he was just sitting there, doing nothing?

Was he even human? Carl was starting to believe he was marching towards a demon’s lair.

Carl Lindbergh’s jaw clenched, then he muttered, “That bastard is insane.”

Adrian and Juniper, hearing his words, turned to him sharply.

“Well, no one in their right mind would do this.”

Carl, realizing he’d spoken his thoughts aloud, shrugged.

“Even a power-hungry king would at least try to defend his kingdom, his people. But he’s not even making an effort.”

Juniper nodded in agreement, and Adrian, mounting his horse, added, “Or perhaps he’s confident. Confident in his ritual’s success.”

“That seems more likely.”

Juniper’s words made Carl Lindbergh tighten his grip on the large magical device.

As they left Heineken’s encampment, entering Parman’s territory, Carl vowed, ‘Whatever his plans are… I’ll destroy them.’