Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 130

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“Your Majesty! Congratulations.”

“Finally, one of the kingdom’s worries has been resolved.”

“It doesn’t seem like the Queen should be here. Right, Baron Schuetz?”

“That’s right. In the early stages of pregnancy, she should be careful even when walking.”

The conference room instantly became noisy.

It seemed like order needed to be restored.

“Schuetz, take the Queen and give her a thorough examination.”

“Understood. Let’s go, Your Majesty.”

Reina hesitated at Schuetz’s urging.

She had roughly heard the story I was about to tell my vassals tonight at bedtime. She must know how important this meeting is.

I made eye contact with Reina and opened my mouth.

“Reina, don’t worry about anything and just think about the baby in your womb.”

“The baby in my womb…”

She brought her hand to her stomach and murmured quietly, then nodded slightly.

“Schuetz, I’m entrusting the Queen to you.”

“You can count on me, Your Majesty.”

As the two left, an awkward silence fell.

I clapped my hands to lighten the mood.

“Now, shall we continue our discussion? As most of you already know, I didn’t think the Emperor of the Hamel Empire would live long.”

“But it seems he passed away two years earlier than Your Majesty predicted.”

Clian, who had heard about the approximate time of the Emperor’s death when we were speeding up the succession battle, expressed his doubts.

I nodded to him.

“That’s right. So, I’m a little taken aback. I thought we’d have plenty of time.”

“Perhaps the events that Your Majesty foresaw and changed have twisted the celestial balance again.”

Julian, who can faintly read the celestial balance [a mystical sense of cosmic order], offered his opinion.

After finishing his battle against the disease and traveling around the world with Ira to broaden his horizons, he is now working as a member of the Royal Intelligence Agency under Milroa.

“Personally… not long ago, didn’t the Black Knights led by the 19th Prince present the golden fruit of Mandra [a mythical fruit said to extend life] to the Emperor?”

“They did. But how they obtained the golden fruit has not yet been revealed.”

“Was it really the golden fruit?”

His question was full of meaning.

Clian opened his mouth.

“Julian, are you saying it might have been fake?”

“If I were a strategist following the 19th Prince, I would have thought it possible. He was exposed by Your Majesty and fell out of favor with the Emperor, so it would be beneficial for him if the Emperor died sooner rather than later.”

“Hmm… that seems a bit far-fetched? Surely the Emperor would have checked and eaten the fruit of Mandra, right?”

Milroa also expressed her opposition.

“It’s possible if you deceive or bribe even those who appraise it.”

“Come on, no way…”

She muttered, looking at me. Suddenly, she nodded.

“That could be true. There are many people in the world who are as good at deceiving others as Your Majesty.”

“Count Milroa, is that a compliment?”

“Of course, it’s a compliment. But Your Majesty, can you really not read the celestial balance anymore? That’s too bad.”

Milroa quickly changed the subject and licked her lips.

“I’ve been saying it since Count Milroa was pregnant with Cloa. What kind of celestial balance is it if you can’t even guess the gender of the child to be born.”

“I thought you might be saving one for emergencies.”

“I only had one dream about the disaster that would befall the kingdom. Much has already changed.”

“A dream?”

Milroa leaned forward as if she was interested. It wasn’t just her. It was the first time I had brought it up. Everyone gathered in the conference room showed interest.

“Why, saints and saintesses often have them, right? Prophetic dreams.”

“…I have a question.”

“What is it, Count Clian?”

“How much time do you have left, Your Majesty? Now that the Queen is carrying the royal heir, please tell us the truth.”

His expression was serious.

I chuckled and opened my mouth.

“Unless I’m killed by a sword, wouldn’t I easily live for at least 50 more years?”

“I remember reading a report that more than half of the kingdom’s people who should have died survived thanks to Your Majesty’s preparation for the Red Star Fever. Even if you didn’t mention it directly, if you changed the future to that extent, there must be a reaction.”

His eyes urged me to confess quickly.

“I really don’t know.”

I had a hunch, but I felt like I shouldn’t say it out loud.

“If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that I won’t suddenly die young like Count Clian thinks, so you don’t have to worry. And why did the topic of the meeting suddenly change from the Emperor’s lifespan to my lifespan?”

“Hmm… I’ll believe you for now.”

He didn’t seem to believe me completely.

I decided to let him think whatever he wanted.

“Let’s get back to the main point. As you know, the Emperor of the Hamel Empire has not clearly designated an heir to the throne. Or rather, he couldn’t.”

Question marks appeared on the faces of Adol, Vernon, and Berok, who were participating in the meeting.

Knights tend to be ignorant of other countries’ political situations. I opened my mouth to help them understand.

“From the beginning of his reign, the Emperor of Hamel formed blood alliances with the governors who ruled each of the 13 provinces to prevent regional divisions. It was quite a successful measure for him, but now it has become a ticking time bomb. The princes and princesses supported by each governor are in fierce conflict. It’s much worse than before I was inaugurated as Crown Prince.”

The Emperor of Hamel couldn’t have failed to predict the fratricidal strife that would occur among his successors after his death. Perhaps he knew and neglected it.

He must have thought it would be fine as long as it wasn’t him.

It was a typical case of passing the buck.

“Then, if things go well, the Hamel Empire could be torn to pieces, right?”

Adol’s hopeful question.

It would be great if that were possible.

“That’s impossible.”

“It’s impossible.”

“It’s impossible.”

Clian, Milroa, and Julian.

The three expressed the same opinion simultaneously.

They flinched for a moment and looked at each other.

I answered for them.

“Adol, don’t you know the guardian dragon of the Hamel Empire?”

Like Arya’s native god, Etrim, there is a similar being in the Hamel Empire.

The Golden Dragon Aurelis.

It’s not even a cult like Etrim. It’s a legitimate god recognized as a lower-ranking deity in the Pantheon [a collection of all recognized deities].

Hamel Empire has the largest population in the world. Aurelis rose to the rank of god by receiving the faith of such imperial people.

It’s a story that only people interested in theology or non-Hamel Empire people know.

“Hmm… Guardian Dragon Aurelis, wasn’t that just a nonsensical legend that the imperial people were spreading?”

“Unfortunately, it’s not. The Golden Dragon Aurelis exists. It’s even listed in the Pantheon.”

“Then… is it okay for a god to favor one country like that?”

“Don’t try to understand God from our perspective. But you’re right. That’s why Aurelis was subjected to quite a few restrictions when he rose to the rank of god.”

“Restrictions, you say?”

“The exact details are top secret. Maybe even the Emperor doesn’t know the details? But if we take only what’s been known so far as an example… he can’t intervene in the empire’s invasion of other countries or such acts. The same goes for small-scale local wars. However, since he rose to the rank of god by consuming the faith of the imperial people, theologians generally believe that he can intervene in the empire being torn apart by infighting. The division of the empire means that Aurelis can no longer exist as a god.”

“So it’s not certain.”

“That’s right.”

The atmosphere became a little heavy.

Everyone looked regretful as to why the Lionel Kingdom didn’t have beings like Etrim or Aurelis.

Barisada was the closest thing, but… she was a little lower in rank than Etrim.

‘About Wonhuwang?’

「I suddenly felt terrible. You just had a weird thought, didn’t you?」

I flinched at Barisada’s voice that suddenly rang out. I looked at the scabbard and shook my head slightly.

I was really glad that she couldn’t read my thoughts, and I looked back at the people in the conference room.

“Everyone can relax. We’ll only be able to see that being when we try to occupy the imperial capital. Just focus on what we can gain from the chaos in the empire.”

Ttak-!

As I snapped my fingers, a map of the kingdom and neighboring countries appeared on the conference room screen. The screen zoomed in, highlighting the northwest region that the kingdom had lost.

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

It hasn’t been 10 years since it was taken away.

“When the Emperor of the Hamel Empire dies and it’s at its most chaotic, we will reclaim this place. Today is a day to express my will.”

Anything is important to start.

I officially declared to my vassals that the kingdom would reclaim the northwest region that had been taken away.

“So now, everyone, give me your opinions. What are some ways you’ve been secretly sharpening your swords [preparing for war]?”

***

On the way to Reina after the meeting.

“Wouldn’t Assemblyman Bert be disappointed if he knew about today’s meeting? He was completely left out.”

“He’s in the North. And he already knows, so it’s okay.”

Winter is approaching.

It’s about time for the barbarians to start moving south.

Bert, who is also the Minister of National Defense, left a few days ago to tour the northernmost Berington Fortress.

“It’s only a mediocre harvest again this year, but it’s a mess every year. The North is already struggling to survive. I don’t know why the barbarians only attack us every year. The Hamel Empire and the Lavian Empire have much more to eat.”

“Because we’re the easiest target. Wouldn’t they value their lives more than food?”

“That was a very reasonable choice.”

While I was talking to Alfonso, I arrived at Reina’s room.

I asked the maid guarding the door.

“Where’s Reina?”

“She’s resting after receiving treatment from Baron Schuetz.”

“Didn’t Schuetz say anything else?”

“All he said was to rest.”

I nodded and turned to Alfonso.

“I’m going to talk to Reina for a bit and then go to my office. Do your work.”

“Understood.”

I sent him away and entered the room with the maid’s guidance.

“Ah! Your Majesty, is the meeting over?”

Reina, who was lying in bed, got up as soon as the door opened.

A soft music box sound was flowing from the room. It seemed that everything for prenatal care had been prepared during the meeting.

I glanced at the maid, and she quickly left the room.

“Has the morning sickness gotten any better?”

“Baron Schuetz pressed my palm a few times, and it quickly subsided.”

“That’s a relief.”

“How did the meeting go?”

“It went well.”

“You said that the Hamel Empire would soon fall into chaos, right? That’s the right time for the kingdom to find the northwest that it lost.”

“That’s right.”

“…You’ll be on the battlefield yourself, right?”

“I have to.”

“I’m sorry.”

Reina lowered her head.

I could clearly see what she was thinking.

“There’s no need to be sorry at all. From the beginning, Reina was excluded from that war.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’ve been working hard every night to create an heir.”

Her face turned red.

“Rather, wouldn’t it be a bigger deal if Reina participated in the recapture of the northwest? That means that I won’t have an heir to succeed me by then.”

“Ah…”

Reina, who let out a sigh, was lost in thought for a moment.

She was contemplating which was a bigger deal, not having a child or not being able to protect me in the war.

“I, I shouldn’t have become Your Majesty’s partner.”

No, why is your thinking going in that direction?

“So, do you regret it?”

“…No.”

“Then that’s enough. Ah! For the record, I’ve never regretted it, so you can rest assured.”

“Your Majesty…”

The atmosphere became strange.

Her red lips were strangely captivating. Without realizing it, I brought my face closer.

“Hmm…”

Tongues intertwined.

It tasted like chocolate.

Did she eat one before I came?

My mind was momentarily blurred by the pounding of Reina’s heart and her warm body temperature. Without realizing it, my hand slid down-

Thump.

“Baron Schuetz said that it is absolutely forbidden to make love during pregnancy.”

Reina, who had been a shy woman until just now, transformed into a mother with a determined expression and grabbed my hand that was heading to the wrong place.

Smack…

***

Two days later.

I was in my office, lost in thought while looking at the map of the northern part of the Lionel Kingdom, when I heard someone running towards me.

It was the kind of urgent footsteps that reminded me of when Alfonso had announced the news of the King’s death. The probability of it being bad news was overwhelmingly high compared to good news.

I raised my head and looked towards the door.

Thud, the door opened, and Alfonso ran in.

“Your Majesty! This is a disaster! Assemblyman Bert is unconscious!”

My heart sank.