Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 194

194

Ah… What will happen to the Prince…

As Prince Erader predicted, the battle with the pirates last night was the last.

The invaders, led by a man named Captain and composed of a fairly elite group, were either reduced to ashes by the crimson flames that lit up the night sky or drowned in the water. The few remaining pirates who made it to land were immediately captured by the royal army.

Those who volunteered as bait to lure the invaders to the harbor mostly died fighting or were captured without escaping. The remaining pirates escaped to the sea on a handful of ships, bringing the battle to a close.

‘If you only look at this, it’s a perfect victory.

A victory that no one can criticize.

But…’

Originally, this should have been a time to celebrate everyone’s achievements, filled with laughter and chatter.

However, only Sion and Count Bremen Isik were sitting in the room.

While others were celebrating the successful pirate extermination and holding a festival in the city, these two were unable to hide their gloomy expressions.

Ah, let me correct that.

There was one person who kept trying to burst into laughter but couldn’t, forcing himself to maintain a somber atmosphere, and one person who was genuinely gloomy.

Of course, Sion was the one who was forcibly holding back his laughter.

‘They say you never know what will happen in life.

It’s unfolding perfectly.

Wow, damn!

I feel so relieved!

This is what Gaviscon [antacid medication] is for!’

He had been trying to push Prince Erader out of the position of heir to the throne.

However, the ‘eldest son’ title was such a powerful justification that even when he provoked the nobles by mentioning treason, they only showed slight caution. In the end, they couldn’t completely abandon Prince Erader.

While Sion was growing anxious, something he hadn’t even imagined happened, and things were unfolding perfectly.

“…This is our fault.”

Count Bremen finally spoke, his voice heavy.

He wasn’t just paying lip service; he genuinely felt responsible and burdened by guilt.

He was on the same ship as Prince Erader, and while he was busy fighting and commanding the battle, the royal knights had to take on the task of guarding Prince Erader. It couldn’t be said that he was entirely at fault, but he couldn’t claim to be blameless either.

“I should have told the Prince not to go out to the captain’s cabin…”

“Would Prince Erader have listened to you, Count?

He probably would have said that if the Prince didn’t show his face, it would be seen as a weakness and harm the kingdom.”

“Still, it was too chaotic.

I knew better than anyone how dangerous the deck of a ship on a dark sea is, but I failed to pay attention to the Prince.”

Just as Count Bremen was blaming himself and about to continue speaking,

Clack.

The magician and doctor who had been in charge of treating Prince Erader entered the room.

The number of people who knew about this fact had to be kept to a minimum, and even those who knew had to be tight-lipped. Therefore, the magician was from Raido’s network, and the doctor was the Isik Count’s personal physician.

“How did it go?”

“How is he?”

Both men already knew the situation to some extent.

Nevertheless, the reason they asked was because both men felt a sense of disbelief.

One wanted to hold onto some hope, and the other wanted even the last hope to be shattered.

“That is…”

The magician and doctor hesitated for a moment, looking at each other, and then groaned.

Then, they looked around to confirm that only a minimal number of people were in the room and opened their mouths in a very cautious voice.

“We tried our best.

But… we couldn’t do anything about what was already broken…”

“I don’t doubt that you did your best.

So, tell me the conclusion.”

At Count Bremen’s urging, the two men took a deep breath and continued.

“We are very sorry to have to tell you this, but from now on, the Prince will…”

–

The only two who could hear the opinions of the magician and doctor in charge of the treatment were Count Bremen Isik and Sion Clausen.

It was such a serious matter and should never be leaked to the outside, but Count Bremen already knew the Prince’s condition to some extent while escorting Prince Erader. He was also a pillar of the southern coastal cities and one of Prince Erader’s supporters, so it was judged that it would be better for him to know.

And Sion Clausen was the person dispatched from the royal castle to the south with Prince Erader.

In other words, he was in a position to know about Prince Erader’s condition before anyone else, as he was the one who would have to fill the vacancy if Prince Erader left for any reason.

“Ha, haha.

Hahaha…”

Count Bremen couldn’t stop laughing as if he was dumbfounded.

The words that came out of the magician’s and doctor’s mouths contained the worst possible situation he could not have imagined.

‘From now on, Prince Erader… will not be able to have children.’

It was like a bolt from the blue, a thunderbolt out of the clear sky.

Especially for Count Bremen, who had been supporting Prince Erader, it was news he never wanted to hear.

‘Wh, what!

Are you sure?

You must be able to take responsibility for that statement!

Do you know that the future political situation and future of this kingdom may change depending on what you say now?’

‘This is the conclusion we have reached by combining our opinions.

In fact, he was almost in danger of losing his life, but fortunately, the magician here was skilled enough to treat the wound as quickly as possible, so he did not reach a critical condition.’

‘I tried to do something with magic, but I would like to inform you that there is a limit to treating permanent damage to the body with healing magic, Count.

I can say this with my magician’s life and a lifetime of research data.

We did our best, and there was nothing more we could do.’

Recalling the stories he had shared a little while ago, Count Bremen once again let out a weak laugh.

‘How can I handle this situation?’

Prince Erader, the eldest son of King Edgar IV, the current King of Hispania, and the most likely candidate for the next king, can no longer have children.

This was a nightmare-like, terrible event that was different from the problem of the Prince dreaming of treason.

The Prince can’t have children?

The Count, who had been deeply involved in politics, knew too well what this meant.

“Count Bremen.”

While he was out of his mind, Sion, who was sitting next to him, spoke slyly.

When the Count slowly turned his head to look at Sion, he continued in a low voice.

“I think you know how serious the current situation is.”

“…How could I not know?”

This was like uprooting Prince Erader’s position as ‘the number one successor’ itself.

Think about it.

The most important things for the monarchs of the kingdom include the talent and effort to lead the country wisely, but they must always have a successor to take over to prevent the kingdom from becoming a mess.

This is to prevent the royal family from infighting and the kingdom from being divided and torn apart.

But the person who was mentioned as the next king can no longer have children.

A man in his early 20s who has not been formally married yet and has never had children.

‘This is a checkmate for Prince Erader, a checkmate, and a real mess.

Hehe-loopy-pong [onomatopoeia for silly laughter]!’

What’s even funnier is that this situation didn’t happen because Prince Erader did something terribly wrong.

Rather, he worked hard for the victory of the kingdom even while suffering serious injuries, but what came back was a flaw that he should never have as the next king and the scream of ‘I’m a roe deer! [Korean slang for being tricked or fooled]’

Sion forcibly suppressed the laughter that kept bursting out inside.

If he really laughed here, he would be dragged away for insulting the royal family, and he would have nothing to say.

“…This will be the deciding factor.”

“What are you talking about?”

When Sion spoke, pretending not to know, Count Bremen shook his head as if he didn’t have to pretend anymore, with a weak smile.

“I’m talking about the next king.

If Prince Erader’s condition is conveyed to His Majesty, and if it is according to his nature, he will surely kick out the Prince and call Vanessa back to appoint her as his successor.”

“Princess Vanessa should have left as the commander of the Holy War expedition by now.”

“It will be one of two things.

He can just call her in and appoint another person as the commander, or he can say that a big change has occurred inside the kingdom and move the entire expeditionary force back.”

Oh, that’s not bad either?

After showing off all the pomp and circumstance to participate in the Holy War and displaying Hispania’s wealth and power, if they show that they have no choice but to call in the army due to internal problems in the royal family, it will be like feeding the Holy Prussia twice [taking advantage of them twice].

Sion looked at Count Bremen, who was telling him about the part he hadn’t even thought of, and was able to realize once again that he was a person with good political sense.

He is a tiring person to have as an enemy, but if he becomes an ally, he is someone who can be trusted, at least to some extent.

‘The south will continue to be turbulent in the future.’

Although they almost completely crushed the pirates, they couldn’t say it was completely over.

In any case, there were guys who survived and ran away, and as the continental situation becomes more chaotic day by day, bandits are bound to run rampant.

At such times, it is much more reassuring than before if there is someone in the south who has been recognized and respected by the local people from the beginning, has more than average ability, and has a good political sense.

Above all, Sion liked Hemon Isik enough not to throw away the Isik Count family like the Kashgar Count family.

‘Honestly, it was unavoidable that Prince Erader ended up like that; it’s not like Count Bremen couldn’t command properly.

The king also has his own thoughts, so he won’t punish the Isik Count family greatly.

It means that there is no crash even if there is no pump [no risk of failure even without extra effort], and if I push it, it can rise steadily, so there is no reason to give up.’

In addition, if the Isik Count family is persuaded here, Prince Erader, who already has fatal flaws, will only become a duck in the Nakdong River [hopeless situation].

He only has the justification of being the eldest son, but he has no support and no ability to succeed.

Who would be crazy enough to say that Prince Erader is likely to be the next king?

“The Clausen Frontier Territory seems to have already decided to support Princess Vanessa, so there won’t be much to worry about.

Unlike here.”

“Are you saying that because I supported Prince Erader?”

“It’s a little uncomfortable to keep asking questions when you know everything, Sion Clausen.”

“I’m not asking questions because I know, but I’m saying this because I think you’re misunderstanding, Count.”

At Sion’s words, Count Bremen Isik looked at Sion as if asking what he meant.

“Count Bremen, what was the reason why the Isik Count family supported Prince Erader?

Wasn’t it because he had the strong justification of being the eldest son and you wanted him to quickly become the successor and quell the chaos of the kingdom? That’s why you supported the Prince?”

“That’s… right?”

“It’s not like the Isik Count family conspired with Prince Erader, nor did they show any intention of connecting their daughter with the Prince to build strong power.”

“…That’s right.”

“In other words, Count Bremen, you chose Prince Erader not for the sake of Prince Erader, but only for the sake of this huge community called Hispania.

Not the Prince, but for this country.”

“…?”

“Princess Vanessa can’t not know that, right?

She knows that’s not Count Bremen’s true intention, and that if she was the eldest daughter, you would have taken her side instead of Prince Erader.”

Count Bremen was about to retort at Sion’s words, asking what he meant.

He slowly looked back at what Sion had said so far and soon realized what this war hero was trying to say to him.

“…Are you telling me to abandon Prince Erader….”

“Abandon him?

You’re saying strange things.

Isn’t the Isik Count family originally a noble family that is loyal to the kingdom?

The reason why they supported Prince Erader was only because they thought he could rule without plunging the royal family and the kingdom into chaos.

But hasn’t the situation changed?

If Prince Erader becomes the next king as it is, can’t you see with your own eyes that the country will be in chaos due to the issue of succession?”

“…”

“Knowing that, I don’t think that Count Bremen and the Isik Count family have such low loyalty that they would support Prince Erader. Neither I, nor Princess Vanessa, nor all the nobles and people of this country will think so.”

It wasn’t about abandoning him; it was just about pushing him back because he didn’t meet the standards and then supporting the person who should become the king for the sake of this kingdom.

It’s not betraying anyone; it’s not committing disloyalty.

Sion was whispering that this was just a matter of making a different choice for the sake of the country and the people, only that.

“But… I have already pledged my support for Prince Erader to most of the nobles….”

“Who would say anything if you said you wouldn’t support a prince who can’t have a successor?

Rather, if you still support him, it will only bring greater suspicion and greater confusion, suggesting that there is some collusion with power.

Count Bremen.

This is just a choice and decision for the sake of the country and the people.

Prince Erader won’t be upset, and Princess Vanessa won’t despise you as a traitor.

It’s extremely natural and obvious.”

It was truly the whisper of the devil.

But that whisper of the devil is sweeter and more irresistible than anything else in the world.

There was not a single weakness in Sion’s words, and there was no part that contradicted logic.

As he said, supporting the eldest son who cannot even produce an heir will only increase confusion.

If a strong support force like himself shows the will to turn to supporting Princess Vanessa, the weight will naturally be on the latter in the question of whether it is Prince Erader or Princess Vanessa, and the king will be able to hand over the position of the next king to the princess without worrying about the division of public opinion.

Yes, as Sion Clausen said, without bringing any chaos to Hispania.

“Kkeueung…”

“Princess Vanessa will respect the Isik Count family and welcome Count Bremen at any time.”

So, throw away the ship that already has holes and a broken keel without any regrets.

No one will applaud you for staying on a sinking ship and dying with it.

Get on the rescue ship that just came next to you, wave your hand coolly, and live a new life.

Sion was whispering very kindly.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

Recommendations are always a great help···!

Many people gave me advice and support regarding esophagitis···!

Thank you ㅠㅠ

I went to the hospital two months ago; I take medicine, and I don’t drink alcohol in the first place!