Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 103

103

I nodded slightly to Lucas, who met my gaze. He gave a bitter smile and looked back at Miloa.

“Miloa, didn’t you clearly say just yesterday that it was possible for me to inherit the throne?”

“I told you to focus on sword training, but I changed my mind when I saw you couldn’t resist escaping the palace in the meantime. It didn’t seem like you were fit for it.”

“That’s harsh, isn’t it? So you’re abandoning me and siding with Evan?”

His face, as he spoke with Miloa, showed no signs of betrayal or hurt.

Rather, he looked relieved.

“Lucas, as your oldest friend, there’s something I really want to ask of you.”

“Tell me. I’ll do anything except for things I can’t do.”

“Die. Take responsibility for the atrocities of the southern nobles. Declare that you are handing over the throne to Prince Evan in front of the southern people.”

“…That’s a little hurtful, even for me.”

Lucas, who had been talking to Miloa, turned his head towards me. He glanced at Reina, who was standing next to me, and spoke.

“Evan, seeing you, who always avoided me, come looking for me like this, I guess you’re really after my head?”

I straightened up from leaning against the tree and said,

“Isn’t that because you kept chasing me for a duel whenever you saw me? And… I think you’re letting your imagination run wild. Count Miloa isn’t finished speaking yet.”

At my words, he turned his gaze back to Miloa.

“Miloa, what does that mean? You’re telling me to die?”

“That’s why you should listen to the end. There’s only one way for the First Queen to live, for you to live, and for me to live. You have to die. But you don’t want to die, do you?”

“Isn’t that obvious? I’m seriously considering running away right now.”

“And yet you leave the safest place, the royal palace? Knowing full well that the magic tool that transports you to Commander Gallard won’t work if the distance gets this far?”

“A man sometimes has to do things even when he knows they won’t work.”

“Always so talkative. Anyway, you can’t escape, so don’t cause trouble by running away. I’ve already revealed the range and limitations of your emergency magic tools. Besides, no matter how fast a 6-star knight runs, they can’t outrun an airship, can they?”

“…Keep talking about what you were saying earlier. You told me to die, but you made it sound like you’d save me.”

“Don’t overthink it. I’ll create a third identity for you. The First Prince of the kingdom, Lucas Lionel, will die.”

The First Prince was lost in thought for a moment.

Just as the awkward silence was becoming uncomfortable, he spoke.

“What about my mother? What will happen to her?”

“She’ll have to return to the path of a mage, which she gave up because of your maternal grandfather, Duke Moria Runtia. Just like the Second Princess.”

“The fact that I’m alive…”

“Of course, she shouldn’t know. The fact that you’re alive must be a top secret that even the First Queen doesn’t know.”

“…Is this the best you could come up with?”

At the First Prince’s question, Miloa bit her lip. And then, she nodded slightly.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep my promise to put you on the throne. However, I promise you this. If anything happens to you after Lucas Lionel dies, I’ll be with you.”

“I won’t make any more promises with you. So you don’t have to worry about me if something goes wrong.”

The First Prince, who silenced Miloa, met my eyes.

“You promise me, Evan Lionel.”

“I promise. If you change your name, appearance, and hair color, and live as a butler in some baronet’s family, there will be no reason to harm you. Ah! And be sure to practice strict birth control from now on.”

He stared intently into my eyes without answering.

Just as it was becoming a little uncomfortable.

Finally, his voice was heard.

“There’s something I want to confirm before I answer.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to duel with me. Giving it your all, without hiding anything. The answer to what you’re proposing… I think a definite answer will come after the duel.”

“Very well.”

I reached for [Varisada] [The name of Evan’s sword].

I had a vague idea of what the First Prince wanted to confirm.

***

Since childhood, Lucas had been running with the dream of building the Lionel Empire.

He wanted to confirm.

Whether Evan was the person he could hand over his dream to.

Looking at Evan’s achievements alone, he was qualified enough. Miloa, a close friend with a relationship deeper than family, also acknowledged him.

But he hadn’t confirmed it with his own two eyes.

Swish-

Lucas looked at Evan drawing his sword.

‘The famous sword that the chief of the Black Anvil Tribe made for Evan.’

He had never seen him use it.

Evan had always used a training sword during duels and training. There were rumors that he had used it during the Eastern Pirate Suppression.

The fact that he drew it meant that he was answering that he would duel him with all his might.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen that sword drawn from its scabbard.”

“Didn’t you say to give it my all, without hiding anything? Let me properly introduce it. My sword, Varisada.”

“Varisada?”

Lucas’s eyes widened.

“No way, from the first time you visited the Black Anvil Tribe!”

Miloa, who was standing far away watching, burst into astonishment.

“Well, it just so happened that I drew it around the time Count Miloa mentioned, so I’ve been using it ever since.”

Lucas gave a hollow laugh.

Everyone knew how dangerous it was to draw [Varisada]. If it were announced to the people of the kingdom, Evan’s already high popularity would soar even higher.

But what did it matter?

[Varisada]’s recognition?

‘Amazing. It’s amazing, but…’

The sword recognized him, but he himself hadn’t recognized him.

Lucas soon strengthened the hand holding his sword.

Woooong- Woooong-

Strands of mana wrapped around his sword, and the sword’s name echoed.

Woooong- Woooong─

As if in response, Evan’s Varisada also spat out its name.

‘He was hiding his skills after all.’

Evan was known to the public as a 4-star knight. Where was there a 4-star knight who used swordsmanship so skillfully?

“Use Aura, please.”

Lucas frowned at Evan’s words.

“Are you serious? I’m going to attack you with all my might. You could die.”

“Didn’t you say to give it your all? I’m fine.”

“Don’t regret it!”

Gooooooo.

The color of Aura resembles its owner.

Golden Aura bloomed on Lucas’s sword. Evan, who was watching it, nodded and spoke.

“I won’t regret it. Because I’ll use it too.”

Flash─!

The sunlight Aura that burst from Evan’s sword illuminated the surroundings. Lucas momentarily felt like he was going blind from the brilliant light that engulfed the surroundings.

“You, Aura…”

“It’s a trick using Varisada.”

Lucas also knew that [Varisada] amplified mana. But not just anyone can use Aura just because they have a lot of mana.

Only a knight who puts his will into his sword can bloom Aura.

Aura at 16?

No, thinking about it, seeing how skillfully he wields it now, he must have bloomed Aura at 15.

The meaning of the duel became meaningless the moment Evan showed his Aura.

It was a truly violent talent that was hard to describe even with the word genius.

“I can’t maintain it for long. Come on.”

Evan conceded the first attack.

It was something to be proud of, but Lucas didn’t feel that way at all.

‘Yeah, show me. Show me what kind of person you are.’

Thud-!

Lucas kicked off the ground.

Lionel Imperial Swordsmanship, 5th Form.

‘Beast King’s Rampage (獸王猛進) [Shūō mōshin – Beast King’s Wild Advance].’

The strongest charge technique that crushes everything in its path.

Kwaaa kwa kwa kwa-

To those watching the duel, it looked like a lion was charging towards its prey, its golden mane fluttering.

“Try to block it! Evaaaaaaan!”

The essence of Lucas’s life was put into his sword.

Swaeeeeeeek-

Evan stood like a weak deer. The golden lion swung its forefoot to break his neck.

But.

Just before Evan’s neck was cut.

Abruptly!

His sword stopped as if by magic.

Sweat poured from Lucas’s entire body like rain.

He couldn’t move.

‘Th, this is…’

He had experienced this feeling before.

Coercion (强制) [Kyōsei – Compulsion/Coercion].

He was being forced not to cut Evan.

It felt like he was trapped in darkness, his whole body wrapped in chains.

‘N, no way.’

He had awakened the mysteries of Coercion at 16?

It couldn’t be expressed with the word talent.

Lucas stared at the incomprehensible creature in front of him with a dazed expression.

Evan, whose complexion had become somewhat pale, slowly spoke.

“I think you’ve confirmed enough of what you wanted to confirm. May I hear your answer?”

Lucas snapped out of it.

The illusion of the chains that had been binding his whole body disappeared one by one.

This was enough.

No, it was more than enough.

Lucas decided to hand over the dream he had dreamed of to Evan.

“How do I have to die?”

At his words, Evan gave a faint smile.

“Let’s go to my airship first.”

***

The Black Wyvern, carrying everyone, set off for the royal palace.

I asked for Lucas and Miloa’s understanding and locked myself in the cabin, calming my shaken insides under Reina’s strict protection.

It was because I had recklessly done the same thing I did when I tried to awaken Reina when I faced Joe Bayley, which had forced me to rest for three months.

But it was a little better than before.

Unlike before, I was a little richer, so I had prepared elixirs for times like these.

‘I’m going to die.’

But it was just as hard.

Just breathing felt like being beaten with a club.

Rare ingredients like Sky Flowers cannot be obtained even with money. There was a limit to the elixirs that could be made. It only reduced the three months of rest to one month?

‘Ugh.’

I groaned inwardly and got up from my seat.

I couldn’t show that I was in pain.

“Your Highness, are you really alright?”

Even if I didn’t show it, the people around me were making a fuss.

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re having a hard time, please tell me anytime. I’ll support you.”

“I’m really fine.”

I waved my hand and left the cabin.

I moved to where Lucas and Miloa were.

Knock knock.

“I’m coming in.”

I opened the door and went inside.

The two of them seemed to be sitting across from each other at the table, talking.

“I apologize for leaving my seat for a moment.”

“Your complexion looks better than before? Were you pushing yourself that hard?”

“Didn’t I say during the duel that using Aura was already pushing it? I’m far from being a complete 7-star knight.”

“Far from it… I think you’ll be there in at least two years?”

I shrugged at Lucas’s words.

“Well, that’s that. Where were you in the conversation?”

“We weren’t saying much. Just Miloa summarizing the current situation of the kingdom and telling it objectively?”

I nodded and glanced at Miloa.

If she hadn’t given up on the First Prince’s succession to the throne, would she have been able to sit in this place with him and talk about his death?

‘That’s impossible.’

If Miloa hadn’t given up, Lucas would never have given up either.

In fact, I was planning to meet with Lucas alone before the southern rebellion grew any larger and persuade him to give up the throne. While crushing any hope with a show of force like today.

Any future troubles that might arise?

Wouldn’t the future me take care of it?

If Cliang and Julian hadn’t brought Miloa to me with the opinion of having him commit suicide, I would have definitely done that.

Cliang, Julian, Miloa.

A pleasant smile hung on my lips at the fact that the result created by the three of them together was better than what I had planned.

It felt like I had been playing solo and met a party with good chemistry to play with.

“Why are you suddenly smiling?”

Miloa narrowed her eyes and examined my intentions. I quickly erased my expression and shook my head.

“It’s nothing. It’s just that things are going better than I thought.”

“Congratulations. You must be happy. We… lost our dream, though.”

“Dream? You mean making the Lionel Kingdom an empire? While reclaiming the Ellenbeira region that was taken by the Hamel Empire 150 years ago.”

At my words, the two of them started a conversation with their eyes. They seemed to be questioning who had told me that.

Soon, the two of them looked at me and spoke at the same time.

“How did you know that?”

I had heard it directly from Lucas himself when I received the crown in the ‘future.’

“Well, I just thought it would be like that. Don’t worry. You can dream that dream with me now.”

The two of them made strange expressions at my smiling words.

“Shall we start talking in earnest now? About how your brother will die. Hara-kiri [A form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment]? Throwing himself off a cliff? Poisoning? What do you like the most?”