Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 30

030

3rd Knight Commander Gert Leon.

He arrived at the training grounds later than usual today, having been occupied with matters concerning the recent western expedition.

‘Reina?’

Gert stopped in his tracks when he saw Reina.

– Commander, I request a sparring match again.

– Commander, just one round of sparring.

– Commander…

.

.

.

Her voice, always requesting a match instead of offering a greeting, echoed in his mind.

‘I should turn back.’

As the Knight Commander, he admired Reina’s eagerness to test her skills against a strong opponent, but frankly, it was becoming a nuisance.

But who is she talking to?

He realized, perhaps for the first time, that Reina was capable of having a conversation—not a sparring match—with someone, and looking so animated while doing it.

Gert turned his attention to the person speaking with Reina.

Dark hair, like his own, immediately caught his eye.

‘Who is it… the 5th Prince?!’

He almost didn’t recognize him.

The last image he had of the 5th Prince was that of a living corpse, shoulders slumped and eyes like those of a dead fish.

– The 5th Prince has changed.

The most common remark Gert had heard upon returning from the expedition. He wondered just how much the prince had changed for such comments to be so widespread.

‘He really has changed a lot.’

He studied Evan closely for a moment.

He was nearly as tall as Reina, who was quite tall for a woman. His once hunched back was now straight, his shoulders squared.

The muscles visible on his upper body weren’t fully developed yet, but they resembled those of knight trainees undergoing rigorous training.

‘He imitated the Guardian Swordsmanship just by watching? They say he’s a monster surpassing Reina?’

He recalled the unbelievable stories from the 3rd Knight Order’s prospective members, tales he’d dismissed before returning to the Knight Order.

Gert was intensely curious about that.

‘What brings him here?’

However, curiosity was one thing; Evan’s visit was not exactly welcome.

Five years prior, three members of the unit guarding Evan had been caught up in the attempted poisoning of the 3rd Princess and had lost their lives in a senseless tragedy.

Of course, he knew that Evan wasn’t to blame for the incident. Still, people’s feelings weren’t always so logical.

‘It must be because of that.’

Gert, as the 3rd Knight Commander, and with his father, Bert, serving on the Royal Council, was privy to information. He was aware of the upcoming hearing regarding the immunity from arrest that Evan had invoked.

‘Is he trying to lobby my father through me?’

A premonition that an unwelcome person would make an unwelcome request washed over him. Gert wondered if he shouldn’t have bothered visiting the training grounds today.

Just then.

Evan, who had been talking to Reina, turned his head sharply. Their eyes met, and they took a moment to size each other up.

Evan spoke first.

“It’s been a while, 3rd Knight Commander.”

“Ah, yes, well. It has been a while. You’ve grown quite a bit. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Could I have a word with you?”

“I’m busier than I look.”

“It will only take a moment.”

“······.”

Gert pursed his lips, considering.

Reina, sensing the unusual tension between him and Evan, excused herself, feeling it wasn’t her place to intrude.

As Reina walked away, Gert spoke.

“······ Just a moment. Say what you need to say.”

“Please help me meet with Councilor Bert.”

“Can’t you just go and see him directly?”

“I assume you’ve heard that a hearing will be held regarding me. It wouldn’t look good for the person in question to visit a member of the Royal Council.”

“Are you asking for such a favor, knowing that?”

Evan smiled.

“Councilor Bert… doesn’t he want to meet me?”

Gert was momentarily speechless.

‘How did he know?’

Indeed, the previous evening, such a remark had been made during a dinner he had with his father.

– While you were away on the western expedition, the 5th Prince has changed a lot. Or, has he revealed what he was hiding? I want to meet him, but the timing isn’t good. I want to see the true face of the guy who shed the shell of the ghost prince.

– Why don’t you meet him yourself?

– The timing isn’t good. Miloa [likely a family member or someone close to Councilor Bert] doesn’t like the 5th Prince. If I meet the 5th Prince in the midst of that, she might get scared and crush him to death.

***

When he made eye contact with Gert, he felt like he was facing a solid shield. Maybe he really was. If the conversation were to be had with real swords.

“Councilor Bert… doesn’t he want to meet me?”

His pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck at my probing question. And he sent a look as if asking how I knew.

‘I was right.’

3rd Knight Commander.

No matter how you look at it, he’s a natural-born knight.

Well, that’s how knights should be. If they learn only bad things and start engaging in political fights, that’s a shortcut to the downfall of the kingdom.

Perhaps the Lionel Kingdom is still functioning because there are still knights like Gert.

‘I knew Councilor Bert would want to meet me too.’

To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure.

The two factions of the aristocratic party, centered around the 1st and 2nd Princes. Councilor Bert and the six former royalists are inherently unable to belong to either side.

······ Actually, I can’t guarantee it 100%.

Originally, there were eight royalists. Two of them had happily defected to the 1st and 2nd Prince’s camps in the past.

Anyway.

In the midst of all that, the 5th Prince, who they thought had been crushed to the roots, suddenly raises his head, so it’s impossible not to be curious.

At the very least, it’s natural to want to talk to him and find out what kind of person he is.

“······ I don’t know my father’s thoughts.”

Gert said that, but he subtly avoided my eyes. I could feel a strong will from his tightly closed mouth that he would never grant my request.

‘This won’t work.’

It seems like it would be fun to poke and prod him to show more interesting reactions, but basically, he seems to be a solid shield.

‘I should give up on meeting Councilor Bert directly.’

I made a quick decision.

It’s not right to hold onto something that can’t be done and torment people.

“Then, just give him my regards. Tell him I’ll be visiting soon with a big gift.”

“A big gift, you say?”

“Something like that. I’m sure he’ll like it very much.”

“Are you really leaving like this?”

Gert had a slightly bewildered expression.

I bowed to him and headed towards Emerald Palace with Alphonso.

As we moved away from the training grounds, Alphonso spoke.

“Your Highness, is it really okay not to meet Councilor Bert?”

“I’m convinced that he’ll at least remain neutral during the hearing. It’s enough for him to attend and abstain from voting.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“When I poked at the 3rd Knight Commander earlier, it seemed like Councilor Bert wanted to meet me. Didn’t you notice?”

“······ I did. He was really bad at managing his expression. I wanted to teach him. I’m good at managing my expression, after all.”

“That’s because you have narrow eyes. If Councilor Bert is the person he’s rumored to be, then the fact that he wants to meet me means he wants to know whether I’m someone who can be of help to the kingdom or not. At the very least, it means he’s watching me carefully.”

“That’s······ probably right?”

“If he receives the gift I mentioned earlier during the hearing, he won’t be able to support me, but he’ll at least abstain from voting. Definitely.”

“What is that gift anyway? I was curious earlier, but I was struggling to keep my mouth shut.”

“You’ll naturally find out what it is if the Northern Liberation Army cooperates with us. It’s a gift that’s only possible with them.”

“Gasp! Then, if the Northern Liberation Army doesn’t participate in Your Highness’s plan······.”

Ha, this guy.

I remember explaining with my eyes that it would be screwed last time.

“So, hurry up and get a response from the Northern Liberation Army.”

“Is that something I can control?”

“The later it gets, the less time your head will be attached to your body.”

“······.”

Was it because of my urging?

Late at night, close to midnight. Alphonso came rushing to me as I was massaging my throbbing head in my study, planning for the future.

“Your Highness! We’ve received a response. They want to meet us first.”

As soon as I heard that news, the throbbing in my head disappeared in an instant.

‘If the Northern Liberation Army joins, then all the preparations will be complete.’

***

Even the lowest-ranking members of the Royal Intelligence Agency are so-called elites. It’s rare for them to be out in the field, working on the ground.

Moreover, there was an urgent report that a new magic zone was emerging in the south.

There was no room to waste energy on tailing the 5th Prince, who they thought was already finished.

Still, it was a job that someone had to do.

“The 5th Prince has come out.”

“Follow him closely. Don’t lose him like last time.”

“Yes!”

The job was passed down to an information organization subcontracted by the security forces that support the Royal Intelligence Agency.

“But, why are we tailing the 5th Prince?”

“It’s not tailing. It’s escorting, escorting.”

“Is that so?”

“Actually, I don’t really know either. When have we ever worked knowing the reason? We just do it because we’re told to.”

The coachman was not very confident in his superior.

“What’s with that look?”

“It’s nothing.”

The two followed the carriage carrying the 5th Prince from a distance.

“By the way, did you report that we briefly lost him last time?”

“When did we lose him?”

“We lost him at the Queen’s Crossroads.”

“We searched the area frantically and confirmed that the carriage was parked in the entertainment district next door.”

“We didn’t see him go in.”

“It’s obvious. If the 5th Prince, who is at the height of his virility, went to a place where women are half-naked, even going so far as to replace the royal carriage with a regular carriage, isn’t it obvious? Do you have to see it to know!”

The coachman shook his head at his superior’s scolding. He thought that he should at least keep his wits about him so that he wouldn’t be scolded later.

He drove the horse while watching the carriage carrying the 5th Prince with hawk eyes.

“Oh, he suddenly turned and went into an alley!”

“Follow him quickly!”

“Ah! I see him again.”

“Phew, get a grip, you idiot!”

They didn’t know.

That the carriage carrying the 5th Prince had brushed past them and was going in the opposite direction.

***

“Your Highness. We’ve arrived.”

Alphonso led me to a shabby tavern. It was a place where the lower classes of the royal capital, Barona, could have a drink after work.

“Go in first. I’ll wait around the entrance just in case.”

“Good work.”

I opened the door and stepped inside.

There was no one there.

As Alphonso had told me, I went down to the basement and removed a large barrel, revealing a secret space.

After walking through a dark, narrow passage for about five minutes, I began to see light and reached a space with a small round table and chairs.

There, a fox-masked figure was waiting for me.

“You’ve arrived. I’m Austin, representing the executives of the Northern Liberation Army.”

As Alphonso had said, a neutral voice and a name that is often used by both men and women.

Even when I checked the status window, the gender was ‘?’.

Usually, if they want to hide it, there’s a high probability that it’s a woman.

‘Well, does it matter.’

Gender was not important at all.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Then.”

At Austin’s invitation, I sat down on a chair and immediately opened my mouth.

“Since you agreed to meet me, I think it’s safe to say that what I told Fran was quite interesting.”

“That’s right. However, there’s something that I and the other executives want to confirm.”

“What is it?”

“You said that you would tell us what would make the people of the kingdom recognize that the Northern Liberation Army is not just a group of thugs if we promised to join you. Can’t you tell us that in advance?”

Ah, that thing.

“Well, you’ve come all the way here, so I can tell you that much. Wouldn’t it be enough to prove that the Northern Liberation Army is a group that rose up for the sake of the Lionel Kingdom?”

“Are you perhaps referring to overthrowing a member of the royal family who supports the 1st Prince? The people of the kingdom will see it as just a dirty power struggle within the royal family.”

I smiled.

“It depends on who the royal family member is and why they’re being overthrown.”

“Could you elaborate?”

“Wouldn’t it be enough to overthrow someone who almost ruined the kingdom?”

“Someone who almost ruined the kingdom?”

“Someone who colluded with the demons and spread a plague in the north, creating a foothold for the Hamel Empire to invade. If we expose such a person and drag them out of the palace, how could the people of the kingdom see the Northern Liberation Army as just a group of thugs?”

Gritting.

“Who, is that?”

The surrounding air turned cold with Austin’s icy voice.

‘Who else, we have to create them together.’

The atmosphere was not right to say it right away.