Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 28

Surviving as the 5th Prince of Hellmanguk – Episode 28

028

Chief Secretary of the Royal Treasury, Count Clian White.

Neatly combed golden hair.

A suit without a single wrinkle.

A face that rarely shows any emotional change.

His appearance alone allows those who meet him for the first time to easily guess his personality.

Clian, who even upon hearing the news of his fiancée’s affair, processed his work flawlessly and left the office with an indifferent expression. Subordinates sometimes whisper that he might be a golem [an artificial being] controlled by a wizard, not a human.

Unknown to others, Clian had an obsession that caused him severe discomfort whenever he deviated from his routine.

“Why at this hour? Haa… Tell me.”

However, now he was feeling something other than discomfort in a situation that might deviate from his routine.

The name of that feeling was interest.

The content of Evan’s proposal was scratching the Second Prince’s faction where it itched the most.

The Royal Committee consists of a total of 30 members.

13 members support the First Prince.

11 members support the Second Prince.

The remaining 6 are… neutral for now.

Most important issues that require a meeting of the Royal Committee can only be passed with a majority vote.

‘If we can bring down just one person as the Fifth Prince said. 13:11 and 12:11 are a huge difference.’

Clian was aware that the First Prince’s faction was slightly ahead of them in every aspect. The very subtle gap had now become noticeably irritating. He was feeling a sense of crisis that it might widen further over time.

‘Moreover, the relationship between the Second Prince and the Second Queen is in a cold war state because of that rascal.’

If Evan really managed to bring down even one Royal Committee member who supported the First Prince, it could be a turning point to reverse the flow.

Even the Second Queen, who hated Evan, wouldn’t hinder him, let alone help him. Clian judged that she, having lived in the royal palace her whole life, would have that much sense.

A place where you can exchange pleasantries with your enemy while smiling. That was the royal palace.

「If the members who support Damian Hyung-nim [term of respect, like ‘brother’] cast a dissenting vote in the vote on invalidating the immunity from arrest that I exercised in the hearing, I will bring down a Royal Committee member who supports the First Prince Hyung-nim on the spot, as I said earlier.」

“How many are we talking about?”

「Of course, one. Count Clian, I didn’t think you were so greedy. If it were that easy, why have you been standing still until now?」

Although he said that, Clian couldn’t help but smile at Evan’s tone, which suggested that he could bring down more than two if necessary.

“I admit it. It’s not an easy task.”

Especially between the First Prince and the Second Prince, who were waging a war in the shadows. Even the slightest movement could startle the opponent, causing them to draw their swords and cause a ruckus.

In that respect, the fact that Miloa had missed the fact that the Fourth Prince’s birth secrets were being dug up was a blemish for the Second Prince’s faction, and a reality they had to reluctantly admit, that the small crack had turned into a subtle gap.

‘That woman still doesn’t know much about the Fifth Prince.’

Clian instinctively realized that Evan’s proposal was a golden opportunity to strike Miloa in the back of the head.

「······.」

Realizing that he had kept Evan waiting too long, he spoke again.

“I apologize for the long thought. Alright. However, if the matters you promised are not fulfilled before the hearing begins… I trust you know what I’m talking about without me having to say it.”

「Of course.」

“But isn’t there a problem?”

「What do you mean?」

“Even if all those who support Prince Damian cast a dissenting vote, we cannot guarantee that we can block the immunity from arrest exercised by the Fifth Prince.”

The 6 members of the Royal Committee who claimed to be neutral.

They were there.

The former royalists who were pushed out of the center of power after being pushed out of the previous succession battle.

「Are you talking about those who followed the late King?」

“Usually, they abstain when they attend… but you never know.”

「I’ll take care of that. Please take good care of Damian Hyung-nim as I said earlier.」

“I promise on my name.”

「To hear those words from Count Clian, who has never broken a promise, is reassuring. Then I’ll hang up.」

After ending the call with Evan, Clian clasped his hands together and pondered.

‘Fifth Prince, Evan Lionel.’

During the royal trial, he considered the Fifth Prince to be a pupa that he didn’t know what it would metamorphose into.

He corrected that thought now.

Evan Lionel had already broken out of the pupa.

‘Bringing down a Royal Committee member…’

However, he had not yet decided whether he was a butterfly to frolic in the Second Prince’s garden or a hideous moth that would make people frown.

The thought that he might be a moth that resembled a butterfly flashed through his mind. A moth that sucks honey from the Second Prince’s flower garden while withering the flowers.

The fact that it was possible to bring down a royal family member who supported the First Prince meant that they could be targeted as well.

‘We need to be wary.’

Clian glanced at his watch.

6:30 PM.

Originally, he would have been passing 50m outside the main gate of the royal palace after leaving work. As soon as he realized that, his wariness of Evan faded, and a terrible discomfort washed over him.

Clian hurriedly got up from his chair.

If he skipped the tea time after dinner, he thought he could keep his routine from 8 o’clock.

“······.”

The protruding parts from the pile of documents were too irritating. After neatly organizing those parts as if cutting them with a knife, he nodded in satisfaction, grabbed his coat, and left the Chief Secretary’s office.

***

“Aren’t you worried?”

After ending the call with Count Clian, Alfonso asked me as if he was curious.

“About what?”

“That Count Clian has never broken a promise. It’s a famous rumor that everyone in the kingdom of Barona knows, but it would be a disaster if you were backstabbed at an important moment.”

“Well, that could happen. But I don’t think you have to worry about that. Count Clian isn’t stupid enough to ruin the trust he’s built up over the years for this matter.”

A promise, especially the promise of political humans?

What could be more futile than that?

In both my past and present lives, there have been countless people who have been backstabbed at crucial moments and dragged down from the throne of power.

In that sense, Count Clian’s political trust might be the Second Prince’s faction’s greatest weapon.

And I’m going to ruin that now?

That’s not going to happen.

However, I don’t know how long that will last.

When a huge storm comes that determines the life or death of the Second Prince, will he be able to protect the trust he has built up over the years?

I don’t think so.

Even if it’s not him, his surroundings won’t stand still. I told Alfonso my thoughts.

“Still, you should always think about the worst.”

“Don’t worry.”

I nodded to him casually.

“Your Highness, you should have dinner. I’ll go to the kitchen for a moment.”

“Oh, ask them to pack yours too.”

“Understood.”

The moment Alfonso, who had gone outside, closed the study door.

「Relationship with Clian White has deteriorated.」

An unwelcome notification popped up.

‘What is this again?’

I hurriedly searched for Clian in the [List of People].

The relationship that was ‘Friendly’ had dropped to ‘Normal’. I was sure we had just had a pleasant conversation, so why?

There was a thought that flashed through my mind.

‘Did he judge that he needed to keep a close eye on me?’

Well, even if I were in his position, I would be very wary of a guy who said he would bring down one of the Royal Committee members.

Rather, should I say it’s fortunate that the relationship didn’t drop further than normal?

[Relationship: Normal]

I felt a little disappointed looking at the word ‘Normal’ on Clian’s status window.

‘It would have been better if it accurately showed the psychology.’

Based on what I’ve gathered so far, words like ‘Friendly’, ‘Normal’, and ‘Wary’ that appear in the status window have nothing to do with the emotional state of others.

It’s not that ‘Wary’ really means they’re wary of me, but simply that they’re feeling a degree of aversion. It’s just a word that means whether the relationship is positive or negative.

It might have been easier to understand if it had been expressed in numbers like ‘+10’ or ‘-5’ from the beginning.

Well, it might change again if I achieve achievements later. For now, making the most of what’s given is the best I can do.

Finishing my thoughts, I turned off Clian’s status window.

There was something more important than this right now.

– Usually, they abstain when they attend… but you never know.

The 6 members who make up the Royal Committee.

It was necessary to meet the person who represented them….

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought dinner.”

“Come in.”

The savory stew smell that I felt as soon as I opened the door made my hunger rush in. It seemed like filling my stomach first was the priority.

***

Northern part of the Lionel Kingdom.

The main base of the Northern Liberation Army, located in a secret place.

Four executives were gathered in the conference room.

A man with a bandit-like, scruffy beard.

A man dressed in black.

A woman with an eyepatch on her left eye.

A female mage who wore a robe hood so deep that her face was not easily visible.

The bandit was whispering to the eyepatch woman, and the black-clad man was whispering to the female mage.

“Everyone’s gathered.”

A figure covered in a black cloak and wearing a fox mask appeared. Man? Woman? It was difficult to distinguish the gender due to the androgynous voice.

“Why are you so late? You know everyone’s busy.”

The bandit grumbled in a gruff voice.

The people of the Hamel Empire call themselves ‘Daein’, meaning people of a great country, and call the people of the surrounding kingdoms ‘Soin’.

The Northern Liberation Army calls them ‘Ttaenom’ in a sarcastic way.

“It wasn’t intentional. There was some trouble on the way back.”

The fox mask pointed to the cloak. There were many bloodstains that were hard to notice unless you looked closely in the dim conference room.

“No wonder, as soon as you came in, I smelled the greasy blood of the Ttaenoms. I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

The eyepatch woman grabbed her nose and frowned as much as possible.

“Anyway, I’m sorry.”

“Well, I understand since you were the furthest away and ran into the Ttaenoms.”
The black-clad man, who had been listening to the conversation between the fox mask and the eyepatch woman, said in a low voice.

“Why don’t we stop the small talk and get straight to the point? Everyone should have received a call from Fran-nim [term of respect]. I’ll give my opinion first. I thought it was an interesting story. I think it would be good to contact the Fifth Prince.”

The Liberation Army executives were lost in thought at his words. A moment of silence hung in the air.

The female mage was the first to speak.

“S- No, the fact that the teacher contacted each of us individually means that she saw the Fifth Prince in a good light, although she didn’t say it. In that sense, I also agree to meet him first.”

“Hmph, I can’t meet a greenhorn whose face I can’t even see just by listening to someone who doesn’t even belong to our Liberation Army! It might be a royal trap to punish us this time.”

“You! The teacher is not a member of our Liberation Army, but….”

“Stop! We didn’t gather here to argue.”

Thanks to the fox mask who quickly intervened, the argument between the bandit and the female mage was blocked in advance.

“I’m against it too. The fact that he, who was called the Ghost Prince for the past 5 years, is suddenly being talked about so much is too artificial. I think we need to be careful.”

The eyepatch woman, who had been quietly lost in thought, also gave her opinion.

“2:2, huh….”

The fox mask muttered quietly and sighed softly.

‘Even these opinions are divided into hardliners and moderates as if they had made a promise.’

The eyes of the four were directed at the fox mask.

“It’s up to you to choose again. Tell me.”

“This time, it’s not a matter of this is good or that is good. Decide for sure.”

“I know you care about Alfonso, but if it’s a trap, our Northern Liberation Army could really be annihilated. Think carefully.”

At their words urging a reply, the fox mask opened its mouth.

“Before my decision, I brought someone who watched the Fifth Prince up close, besides Fran-nim. Thanks to that, I was a little late earlier.”

“Tell them to come in.”

“I’m curious. The evaluation of someone who has seen the Fifth Prince up close.”

The fox mask looked at the door and said.

“Come in.”

A woman entered the conference room with a look on her face as if she had stepped in poop [expression for extreme displeasure].

She was the new kitchen assistant who had safely escaped the Emerald Palace kitchen that day when the Royal Guard’s Inspection Department tried to capture Alfonso.

She had no idea why she, who had only done dishes all day since entering the Emerald Palace, was here now.