Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 24

024

Ttaggeudak, ttaggeudak.

The sound of the horse’s hooves pulling the carriage rang pleasantly in my ears. I slightly opened the window and looked at the scenery outside.

Barona, the royal capital, the capital of the Lionel Kingdom.

The carriage was passing through the market.

“These are the latest clothes trending in the Arya Kingdom! Cheap! Cheap! Hey, pretty lady! Come over here and try this on. Just looking is fine!”

“This is the vigor grass from the Hamel Empire that will even make a dead husband’s thing stand up! Oh my, madam, welcome! Is it real? Of course, come here.”

“Pick, pick, pick anything. Unconditionally 1 crown for 10 items.”

Merchants and customers soliciting business.

I remember coming here with my nanny when I was young. The difference from then is that people don’t care much whether the carriage passes by or not.

Thanks to changing from the royal carriage to an ordinary carriage on the way, I was able to get a glimpse of people’s vivid lives.

‘That guy has some sense of the job.’

I chuckled, thinking of Alfonso driving the carriage.

Against the backdrop of the vibrant market, I briefly recalled the journey to the royal capital.

***

“It’s going to be a mess.”

“Pardon?”

“It sounds good to say that major and minor affairs are decided through the executive meeting, but in reality, there’s no one who can effectively lead the Northern Liberation Army, right?”

“…I can’t deny it. But there are circumstances. The reason why it turned out that way is…”

Alfonso’s explanation followed.

The more I listened, the more the grand dream of gathering the forces of the North, starting with the Liberation Army, and throwing red pepper powder in the eyes of the 1st and 2nd princes faded away like a mirage.

After listening to all of his stories, I summarized the situation of the Northern Liberation Army in one sentence.

“In short, the moderates and hardliners are in conflict with each other after your teacher’s death.”

“It’s an embarrassing story… Haha.”

It wasn’t for nothing that humans were called political animals. Even in a place where humans have a reason to unite, they are fighting among themselves.

‘Revenge and the reconstruction of the family…’

I also thought that it was an inevitable result since there were two goals. Clearly, people tend to lean more towards one direction.

Perhaps revenge is the hardline faction.

The reconstruction of the family would be the moderate faction.

“There are even more extreme guys within the hardliners?”

“Yes.”

“How extreme are they?”

“Well… that is…”

Looking at Alfonso hesitating, I had a hunch.

“Could there be a contractor of the Demon race?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Did they argue that they should contract with the Demon race? Or did someone actually try to make a contract?”

“…Yes. Fortunately, my teacher stopped him before he could cause an accident. The sequelae [after-effects] of the Dark Flower Fever were sequelae, but his body became weaker as a result of that incident.”

That was fortunate.

If someone who contracted with the Demon race was from the Northern Liberation Army, then a quick disownment is the answer, regardless of the unification of the North. It was a problem that could make them enemies of the entire continent.

The fact that someone tried to make a contract was a problem in itself…

“Don’t worry. Only my teacher and I know.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“You think so, but it might not be.”

“That, that’s… right. But I’m really sure. I’ve erased all the records related to that guy too!”

A way to check it came to mind at the word ‘record’ that Alfonso brought up.

“What’s the name of the guy who tried to cause the accident?”

“It’s Chris Baer. But why the name of a dead guy?”

┕ Tell me the humans who know that Chris Baer of the Northern Liberation Army tried to contract with the Demon race.

「It is difficult to answer because the information about your question is not recorded anywhere in this world.」

Check complete.

It is possible to check in the [Library] only if it is ‘recorded’ in any form, such as a document. I was relieved that it was not recorded in the form of confidential documents in some secret place, at least.

The problem is when it is not ‘recorded’ and remains only in someone’s head…

“Prince?”

“Ah, let’s move on from that now.”

“Suddenly? Until just now… Ah! Maybe that of the prince? Is it similar to a stigma?”

I roughly nodded.

“That’s amazing. How did you know just by hearing the name…? Let’s start an information guild if we get kicked out of the palace later.”

“Enough with the nonsense, so are you a hardliner or a moderate?”

“I can be said to be a neutralist who understands the positions of both sides under the influence of my teacher.”

“Can you speak with one voice?”

“…”

Alfonso avoided my gaze.

Is he an outcast?

“About 3 people including me…”

I felt a little sorry for the thought that I had dug into his wound.

The first day of walking the ‘path of the monarch’ with a retainer. I talked a lot with Alfonso all night long.

And the next day.

While Alfonso went to get breakfast, I put the Telliston [a magical communication device] on the table and stared at it.

‘It must be the 1st Prince’s side, right?’

A bomb called the Royal Family Security Agency Inspection Department. I couldn’t find a reason for the 2nd Prince’s side to throw it at me.

Comparing me to the 2nd Prince… That’s right!

‘It’s the difference between a human and a honeybee.’

I’m someone who would be crushed with my insides bursting if the 2nd Prince pressed down with his finger, but still! I also have a stinger to stab the 2nd Prince.

The fact that I can spread the ‘suspicion’ that the 2nd Prince assassinated the 4th Prince to the people. If I reveal to the world that I suggested to him to deal with the bomb called Akard, he will be quite embarrassed too.

Of course, there is no material evidence that the 2nd Prince ordered Akard’s assassination. If the 2nd Prince responds amazingly, there may be no particular damage. Of course, I won’t be safe if I expose it.

So, a human and a honeybee.

Right now, he’s probably leaving me alone because I might be making delicious honey.

Anyway.

No matter how I think about it, there’s no reason for the 2nd Prince to move the Royal Family Security Agency Inspection Department and search around me.

Of course, I can’t guarantee it.

There are several factions in the 2nd Prince’s camp as well. There must be people among them who don’t like me.

If the 1st Prince’s side sent them, who would it be?

The human who was in the lead in investigating Akard’s birth story, the one whose anger was the greatest when he returned as a cold corpse.

Probably…

‘The 1st Prince’s friend, the Chief Secretary of the Royal Family Security Agency Information Department, Count Miloa Christie.’

He couldn’t vent his anger on the 2nd Prince, so wouldn’t he have targeted me instead?

This is why the powerless are sad…

Northern integration.

That word flashed through my mind once again. It’s impossible right now, but can’t I dream?

The good thing is that the Northern Liberation Army hasn’t caused much harm to the kingdom yet. This is because Alfonso’s teacher was the originator of the moderate faction who argued that they should build up their strength first before rising up.

Even if attacks against the Hamel Empire were allowed, they turned a blind eye to enemies within the kingdom for a while.

‘There are even beneficial aspects to the kingdom.’

Some people see the Northern Liberation Army as acting as a buffer between the Hamel Empire and the Lionel Kingdom. This is thanks to them sporadically carrying out guerrilla activities near the newly drawn border, and sometimes beyond the merged areas.

They occasionally robbed merchants run by Eastern and Southern nobles, and sometimes detained people, but they cleanly released the hostages as long as they were given the money they demanded.

The most encouraging thing is that there has been no news of nobles dying yet.

…I felt like I was defending a terrorist group. I pray that they don’t cause any major accidents until the day I meet them later.

Knock, knock.

“Prince, I brought your meal.”

“Come in.”

Alfonso, who opened the door, put a sandwich and milk on the table.

“Sit down, you eat too.”

“I’m okay.”

“Eat when I tell you to.”

“Please eat first.”

As soon as I took a bite, he also reached for the sandwich.

‘Did he say he can’t taste?’

I heard that he lost his sense of taste because he ate something wrong while learning about poisonous herbs. Strangely, his sense of smell increased remarkably.

‘Wasn’t it originally that you could only taste when you smelled it?’

I had questions, but I didn’t try to understand it. In this life, there were many things that I couldn’t understand if I applied the standards of my previous life.

“How’s the atmosphere among the Emerald Palace people?”

“It’s the worst.”

He didn’t even say it was okay in a nice way.

Well, there were more than one or two people who saw the Royal Family Security Agency Inspection Department trying to take Alfonso away. At that time, there were two people whose relationship with me deteriorated in real time.

It’s also a bit frustrating because falling is instantaneous compared to the effort it takes to improve the relationship.

“How about the new kitchen assistant?”

Did he say they were trained under the same teacher?

“…He deserted.”

“What?”

“He ran away. Out of the palace. Anyway, unlike me, his name and surname were all pseudonyms, so there won’t be any problems.”

After finishing speaking, Alfonso gritted his teeth. He must be quite angry that he abandoned him and ran away without looking back.

I focused on filling my hungry stomach for a while.

When I was somewhat full.

“Are you going to ask the 2nd Prince for help?”

“…I’ll have to. After I finish eating all of this.”

I don’t feel like it, but if I get help from the 2nd Prince, I’ll be able to reliably prevent the invalidation of the right to not be arrested that I exercised.

It’s just a matter of the Royal Committee members who support the 2nd Prince participating and casting a dissenting vote.

The problem is…

Unlike the royal trial, I will be unilaterally indebted.

Originally, powerful guys don’t have to repay debts, but if a weak human like me owes a debt to such a human, I have to repay it 10 times, 100 times.

But I can’t let my first retainer be taken away.

Is there another way?

That was the reason why I was staring at the Telliston that the 2nd Prince gave me, which was placed on the table until Alfonso came.

After eating the sandwich, I held the Telliston in my hand.

‘The magic code of the Chief Secretary’s office of the Royal Finance Department is…’

I felt like I knew what the desperate feelings of someone who was inquiring to borrow private loans were. Just as I was about to finish manipulating the Telliston and try to communicate.

Ziiing- Ziiing-

The Telliston I was holding in my hand began to vibrate.

Who is it?

When I checked the Telliston, the magic code of the place I was trying to communicate with was stamped on it.

Ahem, I cleared my throat before answering.

“What’s going on?”

「This is Count Clian, 5th Prince. I heard there was something interesting yesterday.」

“It wasn’t very interesting. Why, are you going to help?”

「I wish I could, but that’s not my business, and I’m contacting you to ask you to refrain from acting for the time being.」

Suddenly, I felt really bad.

“By any chance, the Royal Family Security Agency Inspection Department. Did you send them?”

「Surely not. Don’t you have any idea who sent them? If not, I’m a little disappointed.」

“Okay. But what do you mean by refraining from acting?”

「So that the name of the 2nd Queen does not enter her ears. She woke up this morning. Well, I’m busy, so I’ll be on my way.」

Clian, who only said what he had to say, cut off the communication.

– She woke up.

– She woke up.

– She woke up.

That sound kept ringing in my ears. Honestly, I wanted the 2nd Queen to stay in bed for a while.

Begging for help from the 2nd Prince is out of the question.

Right now, the person with the worst relationship with me in the [List of People] was the 2nd Queen. Would the 2nd Prince help me while she’s watching with her eyes wide open? Even if he does help, there are those among the Royal Committee members who have ties with the 2nd Queen.

Alfonso, who heard everything from the side, smiled with a completely resigned look. They say people laugh when they’re sick, and that’s exactly what it was.

My head started to hurt.

For a long time, I pressed my thumb against my temples to wash away the headache.

Without the help of the 2nd Prince, how can I prevent the right to not be arrested from being invalidated? After thinking for a while, I raised my head.

“Alfonso, you said there was a cadre-level figure from the Northern Liberation Army in Barona, the royal capital?”

“It’s not a cadre-level, it’s an old hag like a consultant.”

“That or that.”

“It’s different. She’s not affiliated with the Northern Liberation Army.”

“I have to meet her.”

“You need permission to leave the palace until you come of age, right?”

“Get it.”

“What if they don’t give it to you?”

“I’ll have to go secretly. First, go get permission.”

And.

Before long, Alfonso brought a permit stamped with the King’s seal.

“You got it easily?”

“I know, right? I don’t know what happened either.”

***

“Prince, we’re almost there.”

At Alfonso’s voice, I suddenly came to my senses and looked out the window. We were passing a three-way intersection.

A sign caught my eye.

[Queen’s Three-way Intersection]

Queen’s Three-way Intersection?

‘I’ve heard of it somewhere.’

Ah! I remembered.

– Barona, the royal capital, 34-231 Queen’s Three-way Intersection, shout loudly in front of the door, ‘Beautiful magician. Please accept me as a disciple.’ and bow 9 times.

I had seen such a message hidden by a self-esteeming magician when I fixed the problematic formula in the magic book.